For over ten years Ankin Law has supported Pride month by marching in the Chicago Pride parade. Walking alongside the WCIU Channel 26 bus with WCIU on-air talent and staff people, the Ankin team handed out 5,000 bead necklaces with a medallion bearing the Ankin logo. The logo and the Ankin Stickman were customized for the event by sporting rainbow colors.
“It’s important for Ankin Law to be involved in the Chicago Pride Parade because we support ALL people in Chicago. So we want to be very clear about our support of diversity generally and the LGBTQ community specifically. Chicago is a welcoming city and Ankin Law is part of that fabric. Pride is easy for us to get behind because our services are here for everyone.” Said Ankin Law partner, Howard Ankin.
Mr. Ankin appeared on the WCIU Channel 26 morning show The JAM on the Wednesday before the event. He talked about why Ankin Law believes it’s important to support and give back to the LGBTQ community. (See the interview here)
This year’s parade took place on Sunday, June 30, marking the culmination of Chicago’s annual LGBTQ pride festivities with a jubilant celebration. The parade route kicked off at Broadway and Montrose Avenue traveling from Buena Park to Boystown and then Lakeview. Lori Lightfoot, Chicago’s first openly gay mayor, presided over the festivities as grand marshall. Beginning in 1970, the Chicago Pride Parade is one the most popular parades in the world, routinely bringing over one million people to Chicago’s North Side. Even though this year’s parade was shortened a bit by storms, the rain did little to dampen the spirits of parade goers and participants.
This year’s parade was especially significant as it came just a few weeks after the NYPD officially apologized for the police conduct at New York’s Stonewall Inn 50 years ago. Those police actions in 1969, touched off the “Stonewall Riots” which is often regarded as a seminal event for the gay rights movement. You can find the NYPD apology online.
