Although many in Chicago are curious whether the Chicago Blackhawks – and the Stanley Cup – will accept the invitation to participate in the Chicago Gay Pride Parade on June 27, one Chicago pro team has already said Yes to the event. And now the Blackhawks are set to join them as well.
The Cubs are announcing that the National League team will have its first float ever in the Pride Parade.
The Cubs are a natural to participate in the Pride Parade. Wrigley Field is less than a mile from the popular Boystown section of Chicago and Laura Ricketts, who is openly gay, is among the four primary new owners of the team.
Chicago Gay Hockey Association president Andrew Sobotka said Monday that the team is expecting at least one or two members of the Blackhawks, along with others from the team, to join them in the parade. He said the CGHA still has no confirmation on The Cup, but is still holding out hope.
The CGHA-Blackhawks story has received extensive media coverage, including Yahoo, NBC-TV (chicago) and the Chicago Sun-Times, among others.
Check out more about Ross Forman at his blog.
on Jun 21st, 2010 at 5:14 PM
Good to hear. I’m not surprised about the Cubs joining the parade. They have always been a gay-friendly organization, but I’m really hoping the Blackhawks make an appearance.
As a gay Chicago sports fan, it would mean a lot.
on Jun 21st, 2010 at 7:31 PM
Well that is wonderful news. Makes me want to attempt to get our Columbus Crew and maybe the Columbus Blue Jackets to join us at Pride 2011 in Columbus. Wouldn’t THAT be something.
The world is slowly changing, and for the better!
on Jun 21st, 2010 at 9:12 PM
This is great!!!!!! LOTS OF GAY FANS INCLUDING MYSELF of the Blackhawks!!!!
on Jun 21st, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Excellent news!!!! I was really hoping some Hawks would participate.
on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 12:26 AM
Now maybe they can invite the editor of the Tribune to join the Hawks on the float with a copy of the “Chrissy Pronger” picture just to show that sterotyping is still perfectly acceptable.
on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 AM
With Cub attendance down over 50,000 from last season and 10 of 12 remaining night games NOT sold out, I think the Chicago GLBTQ community is being used once again.
on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 10:04 AM
According to this morning’s Sun-Times, the Hawks have confirmed both the Cup and a player to bring it will be in the parade. Defenseman Brent Sopel will be marching with his wife and 4 kids.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/2417426,CST-NWS-SNEED22.article
on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Just found out that Brent Sopel will represent the Blackhawks at the Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday.
on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 1:36 PM
time for the Bears, Bull, White Sox, Wolves, and Fire join in the fun.
BTW – does anyone know if this is a first for a MLB or NHL team?
on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 8:22 PM
Great to hear that the Stanley Cup will be a part of the Chicago Pride Parade, and great to hear that Brent Sopel is proud to participate with his family (they are friends with the Burke family, I believe). The Cubs will be represented by Hall of Famer Ernie Banks (good on him and the organization), as the Cubs have a game that afternoon.
ESPN coverage: The Chicago Cubs will have a float in Chicago’s Pride Parade for the first time this Saturday, and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Sopel will ride on a float carrying the Stanley Cup.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=5316909
on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 11:11 PM
I was very critical of the Blackhawks for their “Pronger is gay” white board message – as there are many young kids who look up to the Stanley Cup champions and a divisive message is not the way to go. But full marks to them for having a player and the Cup in the parade.
As for the Cubs having a float in the parade, they may not be able to win a World Series, but they sure have class.
on Jun 23rd, 2010 at 1:00 PM
[...] weekend’s Gay Pride Parade — as will Boystown neighbors the Cubs. The boys in blue will run a float for the first time ever, and Ernie Banks will be on [...]
on Jun 24th, 2010 at 5:14 AM
Well that sucks!
http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/report-Blackhawks-send-Byfuglien-to-Thrashers-062310
on Jun 24th, 2010 at 1:37 PM
I have been a Cub fan for almost 50 years, rooting for them during the terrible, bad and mediocre seasons, including this one (so far).
We have homosexuality shoved down our throats in the movies, on TV and by the government. Now, for me, this is the last straw. Like some others, I’m discarding all my Cubs memorabilia and shirts. I’m sorry but I cannot stomach any more ‘queer’ parades etc.
I think I’ll go back to supporting my original team – the St Louis
Cardinals.
on Jun 24th, 2010 at 9:56 PM
Oh, boo fucking hoo, Bob Quick. If equality, and not 50 years of the most pathetic baseball imaginable, is what it takes for you to stop being a Cubs fan, that just shows how smart you are.
You’re just another hatemongering dinosaur who’s that much closer to extinction.
on Jun 25th, 2010 at 8:19 AM
Brent Sopel representing the Hawks with the Cup is great… BUT, he got traded to Atlanta this week!!! He still going???