Chicago Pride celebrations continue after Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Supreme Court's landmark gay marriage decision comes as Chicago's LGBTQ community continues its Pride celebrations this weekend.

The annual Proud to Run 5K, now in its 34th year, returned to Montrose Harbor Saturday, stepping off at 8 a.m. The event, which fundraises for three charities that aid the LGBTQ community, drew more than 1,000 participants.

This weekend's Pride celebrations follow a Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage in every state, which strikes down the Federal Defense of Marriage Act signed into law in 1996. The act federally defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

"I'm so grateful that there are people who fought the fight and made this an issue because the world is changing," said Stu Bakal, a Chicago resident.

The celebrations continue Sunday with Chicago's 46th annual Pride Parade beginning at noon from Broadway and Montrose in the city's Uptown neighborhood.

"I think it's a sense of community and I think it's a sense of belonging for everybody here," said Baltazar Ramirez, a participant.

Watch a broadcast of the parade on ABC7 at 11:30 p.m. Sunday or watch it on-demand after the broadcast on ABC7Chicago.com.

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