Chicago Social Butterflies

Chicago Queer History Walking Tours: June 27: The First Chicago Pride Parade
2026-06-27 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Washington Square Park, 901 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, United States
On June 27, 1970 Chicago’s Gay Liberation Front organized the world’s first ever Pride Parade. The unpermitted parade was originally planned to start in Washington Square Park and end at the Chicago Water Tower, but the 150 or so marchers spontaneously extended the route down Michigan Ave, ending at Civic Center Plaza in the shadow of City Hall – followed by 8 police cars and 2 paddy wagons. Fifty-six years later, join me as we recreate the route and learn about some of the Chicago Queer History along the way.
Time: Saturday, June 27, 1 pm
Start: Washington Square Park (Bughouse Square) 901 N Clark St
End: Daley Plaza (50 W Washington St)
Distance: apx 2 miles
The University of Illinois Chicago Gender and Sexuality Center presents a series of Chicago Queer History Walking Tours for Summer 2026. Tours are conducted by Daniel Williams, a political science professor who’s been bringing the details of Chicago’s queer past to life on social media. Follow him on Instagram @Daniel.Edward.Williams
All walking tours are free, with tips gratefully accepted, but not expected.

55th Anniversary of the First Pride Rally & March in the World
2025-06-28 12:00 - 14:00
JUNE 28 EVENT AT WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK (“BUGHOUSE SQUARE”) CELEBRATES 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD’S FIRST LGBTQ+ PRIDE MARCH – IN CHICAGO!

When: Saturday, June 28 – gather at Noon, program at 12:30 PM.
Where: Washington Square Park (aka Bughouse Square), 901 N. Clark Street (at Walton), Chicago, IL.

We will gather to draw attention to Chicago’s rich and vibrant LGBTQ+ heritage as we work towards formal historic federal recognition for Washington Square Park.

On Saturday, June 28, 2025, starting at noon, a coalition of community activists will gather in Chicago’s Washington Square Park – a historic free-speech forum also known as “Bughouse Square” – to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the world’s first LGBTQ+ Pride Rally and March, which took place in Chicago on June 27, 1970, a day before similar events in New York City and Los Angeles (making it the first Pride March in the World).

The 1970 march in Chicago, which began at Washington Square, commemorated the Stonewall Uprising of the previous year and laid the groundwork for the LGBTQ+ Pride Parades that have taken place internationally for the past 50 years.
CONTACT: Gary Chichester

773-209-7389
chicgary@earthlink.net
