CHICAGO ( June 9, 2017 ) — The organizers of the LGBTQ Chicago Equality Rally are expecting over 500 attendees for the event scheduled this Sunday, June 11 at 11 a.m., hosted at Andersonville Midsommarfest. The Rally will be held in solidarity with the Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington, D.C. Speakers and performers will promote visibility, unity, and pride. Actor, writer, and producer Fawzia Mirza will helm the program as emcee. A full list of Rally speakers, performers and elected officials scheduled to appear can be found at andersonville.org/equalityrally .
"Given the current political climate, it's essential we continue to come together across our intersectional identities and celebrate equality for all people," says Mirza of her role with the Rally.
The Rally will be held at the intersection of North Clark Street and West Balmoral Avenue. This intersection is home to Midsommarfest's Pride Stage and is anchored by local, gay-owned businesses. The Rally is being hosted in partnership with the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, Windy City Times, Women & Children First Bookstore, Hamburger Mary's, Vincent Restaurant, Andersonville Coming Together 2018, LGBTQ Impact, Andersonville merchants and business owners, Roger's Park Montessori School and with the support of 40th Ward Alderman Patrick O'Connor and 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman.
The Chicago Equality Rally will also mark the one-year anniversary of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting with a moment of silence near the beginning of the program. A memorial rally for Pulse was held on the same stage on June 12, 2016 during last year's Midsommarfest.
Chicago Equality Rally attendees are encouraged to RSVP via the public Facebook event. For those who cannot attend the Rally in person, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce will live stream the event via their Facebook page starting at 11AM. Updates can also be found on Twitter: @ChiEqualityRally and Instagram: @avillechamber.
In its 52nd year, Andersonville Midsommarfest is a beloved community festival hosted by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce that celebrates the history, diversity and localism of the Andersonville community, as well as the arrival of summer in Chicago. Andersonville Midsommarfest will donate $1 from each individual gate donation Sunday, June 11 to be divided among three Illinois-based organizations: Equality Illinois, Center on Halsted, and Ava's Change4Youth.
The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce fosters a vibrant environment in which Andersonville businesses can thrive by attracting a diverse customer base; providing business support services and advocacy; and engaging in business attraction, long-range planning, and economic development. The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce will provide the Chicago Equality Rally a gathering space in conjunction with Andersonville Midsommarfest 2017. Any views expressed by individual speakers of the Chicago Equality Rally are independent of the views held by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce.
Related coverage at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Chicago-Equality-Rally-on-June-11/59389.html .
