I LOVE A GAY PARADE! (c) Jerry Pritikin 2011

American Style Gay Pride Parade Chicago-1998 (c) Jerry Pritikin
Halsted St. Fairy 2010 Chicago Pride Parade (c) Jerry Pritikin
Chicago Pride Parade 2009 (c) Jerry Pritikin
San Francisco Pride-Polk Street 1976 (c) Jerry Pritikin
Theatre of All Possibilities- Gay Rights S.F. 1977 (c) Jerry Pritikin

June PRIDE MONTH is busting OUT all-over in Gay Communities accross America and around the World! For me it began in the mid-1970s, in San Francisco and now here in Chicago. The early parades did not have coporate sponsors and had very few marching politicians. At first, the crowds were small, and with every passing year they grew larger and larger. Last year, one of the best things that I noticed was the large throngs of non-gay crowds taking part. Often with their young children waving RAINBOW FLAGS and wearing colorful beads.

Gay news is in the air... with New York on the verge of ratifying a gay marriage law. At the same time religious groups and many Republicans keep trying to deny gay citizens their equal rights. I have seen the progress made in Gay Rights first hand. It seemed to always be moving at a snail's pace. However looking back, we have come along way, and still have along way to go before we get Equal Rights as fellow Americans.

This is the time, to remember all those gay pioneers and non-gay friends, who marched and fought for our rights throughOUT our history here, there and everywhere.