47th annual Pride parade
CHICAGO (WLS) -- ABC 7 Chicago was the only TV station in the city to broadcast "The 47th Annual Pride Parade" on Sunday.
Hosted by ABC 7 Anchor/Reporter Terrell Brown, reporter Janet Davies along with WXRT radio personality Terri Hemmert, with Anchor/Reporter Rob Elgas street side, this was the 13th year ABC 7 Chicago has broadcast the parade. The parade kicked off at noon on Sunday.
The 2016 parade theme, "Solidarity through Pride," was used in Chicago and other cities around the world. ABC 7 Chicago honored the triumphs while remembering all those affected by the recent tragedy in Orlando.
"We at ABC 7 take our own special pride in the fact that we're the first and only television station in Chicago to broadcast the Pride Parade" said John Idler, President & General Manager, ABC 7 Chicago. "Chicago has a vibrant and thriving LGBT community and we think this is a great way to showcase a community that has contributed so much to our city."
This year, ABC 7's Stacey Baca, Leah Hope, Jason Knowles, Jessica D'Onofrio, Jim Rose, Ji Suk Yi, Hank Mendheim, and Linda Yu rode ABC 7 Chicago's float.
This year's Grand Marshal is Chicago Fire star Monica Raymund.
The 47th Annual Pride Parade, kicked off at Montrose Avenue and Broadway in Uptown. It featured floats, decorated vehicles, marching bands, and walkers representing community businesses, organizations, and elected government officials and religious leaders. The parade concluded near Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.
The parade was originally started to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the most important event in the history of the gay rights movement.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaimed June as Pride Month in Chicago. The Pride Parade festivities support the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities.
