Chicago gay pride parade 2008

California Great Bear Republic Resurrected in the Midwest

Anti-Gay Fascists Successfully Confronted at Chicago Gay Celebration Parade

With a bunch of State of California flags and chants like "California Now, Illinois Next," the Great Bear Republic was resurrected in Chicago's Queer Pride Parade this past Sunday in front of a half million spectators.

Transported West Coaster holding up a California (driver's) license.

The Illinois marchers gamely tried their hand at the song, "California here we come," but only knew the lyrics to the first two lines of the song, so just kept repeating them over and over again.

A handful of powerful Chicago politicians have said they favor equal marriage rights for Lesbians and Gays, but the one politician with power to actually issue marriage licenses, the Democratic liberal Cook County Clerk David Orr, has so far refused to execute so. One of the themes of the contingent was that it's not good enough for "gay-friendly" politicians to

Pride Cesar's on Broadway
  |   65 Photos
celebrated Pride at Cesar's on Broadway with DJ Plez!
Photos by Male Image Photography

Pride Parade: Float
  |   38 Photos
The - Brush FM float featuring DreX and The Mayor of Boystown, Bill Pritchard.
Photos by Male Image Photography

After the Parade
  |   33 Photos
Photos after the Chicago Pride Parade at Cocktail and Girlblast.
Photos by Male Image Photography

Hot Pix: March (Four)
  |   69 Photos
The photography of Dave Ouano from the 39th Annual Chicago Celebration Parade, includes Miller Beer, The Chicago Force, Hydrate and more!
Photos by Dave Ouano

Hot Pix: March (Three)
  |   65 Photos
The photography of Dave Ouano from the 39th Annual Chicago Event Parade, includes Obama marchers, The Baton, - KISS FM with Drex, Sheriff Tom Dart and more!
Photos by Dave Ouano

Hot Pix: Pride (Two)
  |   65 Photos
The photography of Dave Ouano from the 39th Annual Chicago Celebration P

The Chicago Pride Parade was among the wackiest yet.

The parade is growing so large that perhaps it is time to reflect on past parades and look to how to manage the future growth. I have been to every pride since , and others include been at still more, so we welcome more input on these ideas.

The gay parade is among the city&#;s largest parades, with some , counted for June 29, The South Side St. Patrick&#;s and Bud Billiken parades are also huge logistical events where the star and liquor can contribute to problems.

But let&#;s fixate on Pride and some of what appears to have happened. This is not to diminish the Herculean work of the Pride Chicago volunteers, spearheaded by Rich Pfeiffer for more than three decades; or the work of the Chicago police and emergency teams.

They all work hard every year. But with the progress and change in tone, we need to step back and assess.

Let&#;s first set out a not many facts about this year&#;s event:

1. It was the largest ever.

2. It started out very hot again, and then was deluged by the first rain on Pride day in many years.

3. A hu