Chicago gears up for 43rd annual gay pride parade

Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to turn out for the annual Chicago Pride Parade celebrating the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community.

The parade begins at noon Sunday and will last about 2 ½ hours. Grand marshal is Evan Wolfson. He is founder and president of Freedom to Marry, a national campaign to win gay marriage rights.

This year's parade is being held a month after 25 Illinois couples sued for the right to marry. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Cook County State's Attorney Lisa Madigan have refused to defend the lawsuit, saying the state's gay marriage ban violates the constitution.

About 200 entries have registered for the parade, which is traditionally held the last weekend of June.

Last year's event drew an estimated 750,000 people.