Myles and Precious Brady-Davis

LGBTQ-rights advocate, environmental activist, and Columbia College Chicago alum Precious Brady-Davis ’13, who graduated from Columbia College with an Interdisciplinary BA in Theatre and Liberal Education, will be a Community Grand Marshal for the 2024 Chicago LGBT Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30. Brady-Davis and her husband, Myles Brady-Davis, were chosen by PRIDEChicago, the all-volunteer organization behind the iconic Chicago Pride Parade for more than 50 years, because of the high-profile transgender couple’s prominence as LGBTQ+ activists and community organizers.

Precious Brady-Davis

As previously reported in this blog, Precious Brady-Davis is the first Black transgender person appointed to public office in Cook County. She was appointed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago in July 2023. Myles Brady-Davis is communications director of Equality Illinois.

“For over 50 years the Chicago Pride Parade has been a source of inspiration, collective strength, and a moniker of our past and present,” says Precious Brady-Davis. “The birth of our movement started with black and brown trans folks at the center, and we intend to honor that legacy and stand on their shoulders at this moment.”

The 53rd annual Chicago Pride Parade starts at 11 AM on Sunday, June 30. The parade will assemble at the intersection of Broadway and West Sheridan (3900 N. Broadway), then will continue south along Broadway to Halsted, then south on Halsted to Belmont. There it will turn east and go down Belmont to Broadway, then proceed south on Broadway to Diversey, where it will turn east and head to Sheridan and disperse at Lincoln Park. Themed “Pride is Power,” the parade promises to be a celebration of love, unity, and resilience, reflecting the incredible culture and spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. For more information, visit PRIDEChicago.org.