Pfeiffer watched Chicago's first-ever parade in 1970, was a volunteer marshal at the second, third and fourth parades, and he volunteered to be the coordinator at the fifth parade in 1974. 'Under Rich's year-round consistent leadership Chicago's Gay Pride Parade grew from a few hundred participants and observers to thousands of marchers and over a million viewers, reflecting the amazing growth of our communities.'
'One of our earliest and longest-serving activists, Rich Pfeiffer made history as he gave our community decades of committed, effective service,' said Art Johnston, Sidetrack co-owner and co-founder of Equality Illinois. Richard William Pfeiffer, coordinator of the annual Chicago Pride Parade since 1974 and a member of Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, died Sunday, October 6, 2019. He was 70. Remembering Richard Pfeiffer - October 6, 2019 The coronavirus pandemic brought all those plans to a halt in 20, but PRIDE IS BACK in 2022. Pride in the Park, an outdoor music festival in Chicago’s historic Grant Park, made its debut in 2019. in the North Side neighborhood colloquially referred to a ‘Boystown’ the weekend prior to the parade. The Pride festival takes place along North Halsted St. Chicago's Pride celebration consists of a full month of festivities and events, culminating with the annual Chicago Pride Parade, which traditionally takes place the last Sunday of June.
