The organizers of the Chicago Equality Rally have announced the program lineup for the Sunday, June 11 rally to be held at 11AM at Andersonville Midsommarfest 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.
"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 Nort
H 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, and with the support of 40th Ward Alderman Patrick O'Connor and 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman.
The Chicago Equality Rally has confirmed* the following speakers, performers, and attending elected officials:
Event Emcee:
Fawzia Mirza, actor/writer/producer
Speakers: Kim Fountain,
Center on Halsted; Emmanuel Garcia,
Vives Q/Crossroads Fund; Candace Gingrich,
Human Rights Campaign; Kim Hunt,
Pride Action Tank; Brian C. Johnson,
Equality Illinois; Brother Michael C. Oboza,
Bisexual Queer Alliance of Chicago; Channyn Lynn Parker,
TransLife Center - Chicago House; Ava Santos-Volpe,
Ava's Change4Youth; Rabbi
Rachel Weiss,
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Performers:
Jess Godwin,
Darrian Ford, and
Lakeside Pride Music Ensemble
Elected Officials: State Senator Heather Steans, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, 40th Ward Alderman Patrick O'Connor, 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, 46th Ward Alderman
James Cappleman
The program will be American Sign Language interpreted by Heidi Woelbling and stage managed by Danica Milich.
*Lineup of speakers is subject to change.
The Chicago Equality Rally community partners include:
aChurch4Me Metropolitan Community ChurchAva's Change4YouthBisexual Queer Alliance ChicagoCenter on HalstedChicago Theological SeminaryChicago Women Take ActionEquality Illinois
Feminists Instigating Social Transformation
Friends Who MarchGender & Sex Development Program of Ann & Robert
H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
GoPride NetworkHoward Brown Health
Human Rights CampaignIndivisible IllinoisJess GodwinLakeside Pride Music EnsembleLambda LegalNational Council of Jewish Women Chicago North ShoreProud & IncludedRogers Park Montessori SchoolThe Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches
Additional organizations interested in partnering with the Chicago Equality Rally are asked to send their letter of support and logo to
doakes@andersonville.org.
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. The festival's leadership team feels Midsommarfest is a fitting location for a rally embodying the spirit of solidarity, celebration, and change.
Andersonville Midsommarfest will also 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.
Chicago Equality Rally attendees are encouraged to
RSVP via the public Facebook event. More information about the Rally will continue to be updated on the public Facebook event and at
andersonville.org/equalityrally as it becomes available.
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.
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