somewhere-under-the-rainbow-Chicago Pride-2011 (c) J Pritikin

#1, Gay Teachers of Chicagoland (c) J Pritikin

#2 Fellow Activist Natalie Kenvin Pride Parade 2011 (c) J Pritikin
#3, Somewhere Under the Rainbow... Chicago Gay Pride Parade (c) J Pritikin
#2, 1940s Bookie Joint

#1, Kevin on Halsted Street-2011 (c) J Pritikin

The Chicago's Pride Parade seemed almost endless. As usual for me, I photographed only a handful (figure of speech) of images. The music was loud, and creative floats were far and few in between. For me it seemed a review of many former Pride Day's. It was over crowded and a mixed bag of sideshows in and out of the parade. However, at least half of the crowd were non-gays, and the kids were having a good time. Here are a few reminders of the 2011 Chicago Gay Pride Parade. I have seen my fair share of Pride celebrations. I really never marched in them, and always liked the creativity in some of the marchers and organizations. This year, a great percentive of floats and flat bed trucks were vandelized, causing over $20,000. damage. The show went on. I really wanted to give Mayor Emanuel a Rainbow Intersteller Propeller Beany Cap, but he was not in my sight. I was invited by Alderman Michele Smith to march with her. I chosed to walk to the end of the parade route,and watch it from that vantage point. I had the usual "I like your hat!" comments, but not as many as I thought I might receive in such a large crowd. With New York now the 6th State to pass a Gay Marriage Law, and the large crowds at the various Pride Parades in America and over seas. I really get the feeling, that the tide of public opinion is changing, and for the good. If your not active in gay or human rights, this could be a good time to get involved. I 'm passing you the torch after 40 years.

I LOVE A GAY PARADE! (c) Jerry Pritikin 2011

American Style Gay Pride Parade Chicago-1998 (c) Jerry Pritikin
Halsted St. Fairy 2010 Chicago Pride Parade (c) Jerry Pritikin
Chicago Pride Parade 2009 (c) Jerry Pritikin
San Francisco Pride-Polk Street 1976 (c) Jerry Pritikin
Theatre of All Possibilities- Gay Rights S.F. 1977 (c) Jerry Pritikin

June PRIDE MONTH is busting OUT all-over in Gay Communities accross America and around the World! For me it began in the mid-1970s, in San Francisco and now here in Chicago. The early parades did not have coporate sponsors and had very few marching politicians. At first, the crowds were small, and with every passing year they grew larger and larger. Last year, one of the best things that I noticed was the large throngs of non-gay crowds taking part. Often with their young children waving RAINBOW FLAGS and wearing colorful beads.

Gay news is in the air... with New York on the verge of ratifying a gay marriage law. At the same time religious groups and many Republicans keep trying to deny gay citizens their equal rights. I have seen the progress made in Gay Rights first hand. It seemed to always be moving at a snail's pace. However looking back, we have come along way, and still have along way to go before we get Equal Rights as fellow Americans.

This is the time, to remember all those gay pioneers and non-gay friends, who marched and fought for our rights throughOUT our history here, there and everywhere.

The More things change, the more etc!

In recent weeks, I have had good reasons to go back into my closet... and under my bed! I recently posted the need for a writer, on CRAIGSLIST to help me write stories behind some of my of my images, for a possible coffee table book. I had only one responce and his name is Liam. I just noticed he signed on as a follower of this blog. Writing is not my forte, however I have not only a treasure trove of images in my photo collection, but also remember interesting facts and stories behind my images. I may ask Liam to help me on this blog,too. This past week, I also met with Andrew, who is a documentary maker. He spent 8 hours in 2 shoots... and together we dwelled on my stories pertaining to quite few of my photographs, and the history leading upto and after the events that I took them. Getting ready for Liam, and Andrew was not easy. I have boxes of non-organized tidbits and memorabilia from the 1960s and '70s. To give you some idea of things to come on this blog, as well as in Andrew's "doc", I posted the clipping in a San Francisco gay newspaper from 1979, about Gay Marriage. Ironically, it was not the reason I kept it, it was the backside of one of my sports columns. Gay Marriage has been in the news for the past few years... however, most people are unaware that it has been in the news for so many years. As I have discovered, many gay issues that we take for granted today, or are fighting for today... have been around for quite a long time. Besides the issues, I have clippings that show hypocrisy within the gay press,too. I like to brag that I have been a one man army, and not because I like to work alone... So in the weeks and months to come, I will be posting interesting, and provocative subjects from my past, along with clips and images. Of course, if you have any questions or comments about this blog, or its contents... please take the time to ask.

Welcome to WHEN THEN WAS NOW...

Years ago, there were so few places to find gay news. Few communities had gay newspapers, and if you read anything during the 1950s and 60s, chances are, it was about a local gay bar being raided. Seldom, did the wire services carry gay news. This was a time before the www. and instant news was transcribed via United Press International, and the Associated Press. There is a new play on Broadway called "PRIDE" taking place in England in 1958, about 2 guys discovering their introduction into a love that dare not speak its name. It was reviewed in the N.Y. Times, and I could not help thinking about myself at the same period in time, except for me it was taking place in Chicago. I posted my comments that follows...

February 17th, 2010 5:34 am

Rating:

Gay, Then and Now-"PRIDE"

I lived "Pride" at the same time this play takes place... and at the time I called it Love! I was 21, and for the first time felt the slings and arrows, except, for us it took place in Chicago. I remember, thinking to myself, as we walked along Chicago's lakefront... Why can't we hold each others hand? Who are we hurting? There were so few pockets of friends... but I felt liberated, and thankfully recall my move to San Francisco in 1960, and discovering all the segments of gay life... "When then was Now!" Today, I see openly gay couples hold hands, march in Parades, and want the same rights that non-gays have, and hope that today's gay communities realize how far we have come, to be ourselves... one day at a time.

– jerry pritikin, chicago

This is my blog... and admit, that I do not keep up with it as often as most blogers. At 73... I have a habit of thinking a lot about the my choices that I made, and I have no regrets. This blog, in a way is similar to a short story I read in the late 1950's by Gore Vidal. It was called "Pages of a Abandon Journal". About someone who also made choices, that were unpredictable at the time they were made. I never thought much about the future more than 5 minutes in advance. I was lucky, even when I was unlucky... to be at the right time and place at the same time. I am not a story teller... however I have been blessed with great recall. I guess I was aided with the help of my camera as a companion. I managed to shoot at interesting times, that record where I been, and the changes taking place before my eyes and camera.

This coming June (For Pride Month) and July, I will be having my first gallery showing ever at Roosevelt University's Gage Gallery in Chicago. There will be over 40 photographs of the streets of San Francisco in the 1970's. Many have never been published, or seen since they first appeared in the window of Georgeanna's Bakery at 420 Castro Street... just a few yards away from today's Harvey Milk Plaza. As I get ready for my exhibit... I will start to reuse this blog as a journal... and share it with you. I would appreciate your comments.