Chicago Pride Parade canceled for second year, organizers blame vaccine skeptics

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The 2017 Chicago Pride Parade – Photo: alison / Flickr

The Chicago Pride Parade was officially canceled for the second year in a row, with organizers saying they were “naive” to think they could trust enough people to get the shot.

Originally scheduled for October 3, the pride parade will now take place on June 26, 2022, organizers told GoPride.com.

“We’re going to believe that in June 2022, we live in a much safer world than today,” said Tim Frye, Chicago Pride coordinator. “We intend to have the best, happiest, most fabulous, and most memorable Pride Parade ever.”

In an official statement, Frye blamed vaccine skepticism – which was spurred on by right-wing media, politicians and religious figures – behind the cancellation.

“With the advent of three effective vaccines, we felt that the [October 3] The date would allow most people to get the shot and therefore make the parade much safer, ”Frye said. “Unfortunately, we were very naive in this belief or, a more precise word -“ hope. ”Everyone knows the reasons why we went wrong in our estimation of the safety of things in the fall. “

Frye added, “To use the words of a song from the 60s, ‘You can’t always get what you want’; we really wanted and hoped that there could be a parade in 2021. We don’t think, however, that we can do it safely for everyone in the parade and the people watching. We have to cancel the parade for the second year.

Frye noted that Pride was personal to him, saying he “came out after watching a pride parade. My husband Richard Pfeiffer too. Many of you too.”

“I always imagine that a person (or more) who comes to the parade sees what can be in his life,” he continued. “They can have happy, productive lives and be LGBTQI +. We missed this or these person (s) in 2020 and now in 2021. We will not miss them again in 2022 or after.

The cancellation of last year’s parade was the first in Chicago Pride’s 50-year history, and came after the 2019 parade was halted due to bad weather.

With the parade officially canceled, Chicago Pride Fest organizers have said the 20th annual festival will take place on October 1-2.

Closer to home, the Capital Pride Alliance Colorful Fest – a block party, street party and more – is still scheduled to take place on October 16 and 17, after the June parade and festival is canceled in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, DC’s LGBTQs graced the Pride Weekend with a walk from Dupont Circle to Freedom Plaza, with thousands in attendance, including Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.

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