Big crowds expected at Chicago Gay Pride parade

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to converge on Chicago for the 42nd annual Gay Pride Parade.

Parade coordinator Richard Pfeiffer says many participants in the Sunday event will be celebrating Illinois’ new civil unions law and New York’s passage of a law allowing gay marriage.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel will be at the front of the parade, and Gov. Pat Quinn also will participate.

Pfeiffer says there are a number of new entries this year, including the Peace Corps, the Chicago Teachers’ Union and City Colleges of Chicago.

The parade begins at noon and is expected to last 2½ hours. It features 250 entries, including floats, musical groups and walking contingents.