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PRIDE 2009: "STONEWALL:
40 YEARS AFTER"
By PRIDEChicago
This year, Pride takes on a special
meaning because it's the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion.
On June 28, 1969, patrons of a New York City Greenwich Village
gay bar, the Stonewll Inn, fought back during a raid by police.
At that time, gay bar raids had become commonplace in cities
throughout the country. That night, patrons of the bar battled
police, and street demonstrations continued for several days.
During that week, gay liberation organizations were formed, thus
giving birth to the modern day LGBT rights movement.
In the four decades since Stonewall, the world has changed dramatically
with the accomplishments and the setbacks too numerous
to detail here. Currently, there are still dozens of LGBT issues
on the front burner including same sex marriage, repeal of the
military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, hate crime
laws and passing federal legislation forbidding discrimination.
Although a lot has been accomplished during the past forty years,
there is still a long way to go.
 Every year, Pride is commemorated
and celebrated around the world in many different ways. Events
include parades, marches, workshops, street fests, athletic competitions,
choral concerts, etc. The bottom line is that these events bring
together millions of people worldwide. Chicago commemorates and
celebrates Pride with over one hundred different events during
June Pride Month, culminating with the Annual Pride Parade that
draws up to 450,000 people.
This year, the Chicago 40th Annual Pride Parade is scheduled
for Sunday, June 28 at 12 Noon, stepping off from the intersection
of Halsted Street & Belmont Avenue. Presented by the PRIDEChicago
group, the parade will proceed north on Halsted to Broadway;
turn right and head south on Broadway to Diversey; and then turn
left and head east on Diversey before ending at Cannon Drive
in Lincoln Park.
Each year, parade registrants, as well as groups sponsoring June
Pride Month events, have the option of using an international
theme or a slogan of their own choosing. One choice for 2009
is "Stonewall: 40 Years After" which is featured in
Chicago's Pride logo. An alternate international theme this year
is "Your Rights, Our Rights, Human Rights."
The Grand Marshal of this year's Chicago Pride Parade is Alexandra
Billings, an actor, teacher and activist. This year, in commemorating
the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion wherein gays,
lesbians, bisexuals and especially transgenders fought back at
a police raid...it is especially fitting that Alexandra, a transgender
woman, be Grand Marshal. Alexandra and her wife, Chrisanne Blankenship,
who were married in Chicago in the mid-1990's, were recently
re-married in California. An obvious proponent of marriage for
LGBTs, she is adamant about her views on the issue of marriage.
Alexandra, a former Chicagoan
who now resides in California, filmed her first movie, Socket,
in 2007 and has had guest starring roles on several television
shows, including E.R., Karen Sisco and Grey's Anatomy. She's
acted with the likes of Lynn Redgrave, Joseph Fiennes and Blyth
Danner and performed extensively on stage in Chicago, Los Angeles
and New York City. Alexandra also worked with GLAAD (Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and performed at GLBT and
AIDS fundraisers over the years. She is a frequent Chicago visitor,
where she is a (summer) teacher at Steppenwolf Theater, an Artistic
Associate at Bailiwick Theatre and an About Face Theatre member.
The web site www.alexandrabillings.com lists all of her theatrical
credits as well as her interview in POZ magazine where she discusses
her HIV-positive diagnosis in her mid-twenties
Alexandra will be featured in
a WTTW Chicago special, Schoolboy to Showgirl: The Alexandra
Billings Story that will premiere on WTTW HD on June 19 (repeated
on June 22 & 23) and shown on WTTW PRIME on June 21, 22 and
24. Alexandra can then be seen live riding in a classic car near
the front of the Chicago Pride Parade on June 28.
In addition to organizing the Chicago Annual Pride Parade, PRIDEChicago
also compiles and publicizes the June Pride Month Calendar of
events via www.ChicagoPrideCalendar.org; in the Pride Guide booklet;
and in advertising in community publications. The Calendar features
Pride events whose coordinators have sent in listing form or
press release to PRIDEChicago for inclusion.
Capping off Parade day, for the sixth year in a row, ABC-7 Chicago
is planning to air a taped one-hour version of the parade to
be shown on the night of Sunday, June 28. Check local television
listings or www.ABC7Chicago.com for time.
For more information about the Chicago Pride Parade go to their
website:
www.ChicagoPrideCalendar.org
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