Chicago celebrates Pride Month with festivals, history, and resistance in the streets

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Translated by Fefo Campos

In June, Chicago becomes a space of identity affirmation, historical memory, and celebration of diversity. LGBTQ+ Pride Month is marked by an extensive and symbolic schedule that transforms the city into a cultural and political hub, engaging residents and tourists alike through festivals, parades, artistic interventions, and community initiatives that honor and amplify the queer community’s journey.

This commitment to visibility has deep roots. Chicago is home to one of the oldest histories of LGBTQ+ activism in the country. It was in Chicago, in 1924, that German immigrant Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights, recognized as one of the first gay rights organizations in the United States. Although it was quickly shut down by authorities at the time, the initiative is considered a foundational milestone of the modern movement for sexual equality in the country. Gerber’s legacy lives on and is extensively documented at the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, located in Rogers Park, which houses one of the largest LGBTQ+ collections in the American Midwest, including books, periodicals, photographs, correspondence, and institutional records.

PRIDE MONTH

Chicago Pride Fest, scheduled for June 21 and 22, takes over the streets of Northalsted — formerly known as Boystown — with three live music stages, art fairs, drag performances, food vendors, and shows that span generations and styles. The event draws more than 100,000 attendees and stands as one of the most significant LGBTQ+ festivals in the country. In past years, the festival has featured artists like Amber Riley, JoJo Siwa, and Sapphira Cristál, and expectations for 2025 include similarly high-profile acts.

The highlight of the program is the Chicago Pride Parade, which will take place on June 29. First held in 1970 as a direct response to the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion in New York, the parade is part of the first generation of Pride marches in the United States. Today, it is one of the largest in the world, drawing over one million people each year along a route that spans approximately 20 blocks. This year’s theme, “Pride is Power”, emphasizes the importance of public presence as a tool of resistance, especially in times of political and social backlash. The parade route runs through the neighborhoods of Uptown, Lakeview, and Lincoln Park, featuring around 150 floats, activist collectives, cultural institutions, and progressive religious groups.

Outside the more touristy areas, the neighborhood of Andersonville also takes center stage in the calendar with Midsommarfest, held from June 13 to 15. The festival celebrates the area’s Swedish heritage while engaging with contemporary diversity, featuring musical performances, traditional food stalls, folk costumes, and a stage dedicated to the LGBTQ+ scene, the Balmoral Pride Stage. The event stands out for its strong community spirit and for promoting the visibility of independent artists and local groups. Andersonville is also home to spaces that blend culture, cuisine, and activism, such as Nobody’s Darling — a bar founded by Black lesbian women — and Bar Roma, a well-known spot for Italian cuisine.

ALWAYS ON

Beyond the official schedule, Chicago offers institutions that deepen the experience for those seeking a connection with the history and complexity of LGBTQ+ culture. In Rogers Park, the Leather Archives & Museum is dedicated to preserving leather, kink, and BDSM cultures, housing rare collections and documents essential to understanding the many expressions of sexuality. The institution combines a library, gallery, and research center, highlighting practices that are often marginalized, even within the LGBTQ+ community itself.

Another key space is the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, which honors the pioneering feminist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Jane Addams played a significant role in social causes and in advocating for minority rights, including those of the LGBTQ+ community. The museum preserves her legacy through permanent exhibitions and programming focused on social justice.

The previously mentioned Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, founded in 1981, remains one of the most important LGBTQ+ documentation centers in the United States. With over 14,000 volumes, collections of newspapers, magazines, and personal and institutional archives, the library hosts exhibitions, book clubs, discussion series, and events focused on queer literature, health, and citizenship. It serves as both a center of memory and an active space for political and cultural engagement.

Among the city’s highlights is the Legacy Walk, located on Halsted Street in Northalsted. It is the world’s only outdoor museum dedicated exclusively to LGBTQ+ history. Spanning more than 20 blocks, commemorative plaques honor figures such as Alan Turing, Audre Lorde, and Harvey Milk, integrating collective memory into the urban landscape in a permanent and accessible way.

The area is also home to businesses with a strong community identity, such as CRAM Fashion, which focuses on alternative menswear; Unabridged Bookstore, a reference for LGBTQ+ literature and independent titles; the vintage shop Ragstock; and Reckless Records, specialized in vinyl records and underground music culture. These establishments enhance the itinerary for those looking to explore the city from an inclusive and multifaceted perspective, where consumer experiences and culture go hand in hand.

Another key space is the aforementioned Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, founded in 1981, which serves as a guardian of over a century of queer narratives in the United States. The library hosts exhibitions, book clubs, discussion series, and events dedicated to LGBTQ+ literature, health, and citizenship, functioning as a center of knowledge and activism.

NIGHTLIFE

Chicago’s nightlife vividly reflects the diversity of its LGBTQ+ community. Spread across neighborhoods like Northalsted and Lakeview, bars and clubs serve not only as spaces for entertainment but also as places for gathering, artistic expression, and everyday resistance.

In Northalsted, the neighborhood considered the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, The Closet is one of the oldest continuously operating establishments. Founded in 1978, it is widely recognized as a lesbian bar, though it welcomes a diverse crowd. Its informal atmosphere, which includes dart games and a strong sense of community, has made it a social hub for over four decades.

Another local landmark is Sidetrack, which opened in 1982. With multiple floors and distinct spaces, the bar can accommodate over a thousand people and is known for its themed music video nights, frozen cocktails, and regular programming geared toward the community. Its owners, active members of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ activism, played a significant role in the fight for anti-discrimination legislation as early as the 1980s.

Roscoe’s Tavern, also in Northalsted, is another cornerstone of the city’s queer scene. With over 30 years of history, it offers a diverse lineup of events ranging from piano nights and themed parties to Roscoe’s Drag Race, a weekly amateur drag queen competition considered the longest-running of its kind in Chicago. The bar is also known for its outdoor patio, pool table, and drink specials that keep the venue lively throughout the week.

In Lakeview, the Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club combines dining and performance in a setting where drag queens interactively perform among the tables. The menu features over 200 variations of martinis, making the venue a hybrid between a cabaret and a restaurant.

Located between Uptown and Edgewater, Big Chicks combines an artistic atmosphere with a laid-back program featuring quiz nights, dance parties, and free Sunday buffets. In the same building is Tweet, a restaurant known for its brunch, which reinforces the community-oriented character of the place.

Finally, Baton Show Lounge, continuously operating since the 1960s, is one of the oldest drag clubs in the country. Nationally recognized, it has welcomed figures such as Madonna and Kirk Douglas among its audience. With programming from Wednesday to Sunday, it is a benchmark for drag performance in the United States.

Quick Guide to Pride Month in Chicago

📅 Main Dates
• Pride Fest: June 21 and 22
• Pride Parade: June 29
• Midsommarfest: June 13 to 15

📍 Neighborhoods to Explore
• Northalsted: Epicenter of LGBTQ+ Life
• Andersonville: Swedish Tradition and Diversity
• Rogers Park: Queer Museums and Libraries

🚇 Transportation
• Subway (CTA): The Red Line covers key regions
• Apps like Uber and Lyft: extensive coverage throughout the city

📚 Cultural Highlights
• Legacy Walk: Outdoor museum in Northalsted with plaques honoring historic LGBTQ+ figures
• Leather Archives & Museum: Collection on leather, kink, and BDSM cultures, with a library and exhibitions in Rogers Park
• Gerber/Hart Library: The largest LGBTQ+ center in the U.S. Midwest, with books, archives, and cultural programming
• Jane Addams Hull-House Museum: Museum dedicated to the activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, focusing on social justice and minorities
• Comércio em Northalsted: Stores like CRAM Fashion, Unabridged Bookstore, and Reckless Records reflect the local queer culture

🌙 Bars and Clubs
• The Closet: Traditional bar in Northalsted, founded in 1978, known for its informal atmosphere and diverse crowd
• Sidetrack: Iconic bar with multiple rooms, themed music video nights, and frozen cocktails, operating since 1982
• Roscoe’s Tavern: Programming includes themed parties, karaoke, and Roscoe’s Drag Race, a weekly drag competition
• Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club: Interactive drag shows and over 200 types of martinis in the Lakeview neighborhood
• Big Chicks: A mix of bar, dance floor, and gallery, with quiz nights, parties, and brunch at the Tweet restaurant
• Baton Show Lounge: Drag club founded in the 1960s, nationally recognized, with shows from Wednesday to Sunday
• Nobody’s Darling: Bar founded by Black and lesbian women in Andersonville, awarded for its cocktail menu
• Bar Roma: Italian restaurant in Andersonville known for handmade pasta and a cozy atmosphere

🔗 More Information
• choosechicago.com