Chicago Equality Rally At Andersonville Midsommarfest Announces Lineup

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 NortH 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 Church
Ava's Change4Youth
Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago
Center on Halsted
Chicago Theological Seminary
Chicago Women Take Action
Equality Illinois
Feminists Instigating Social Transformation
Friends Who March
Gender & Sex Development Program of Ann & Robert
H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
GoPride Network
Howard Brown Health
Human Rights Campaign
Indivisible Illinois
Jess Godwin
Lakeside Pride Music Ensemble
Lambda Legal
National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore
Proud & Included
Rogers Park Montessori School
The 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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