CHICAGO: City Scales Back Gay Pride Parade To Curb Public Drunkenness

Well, this is a new one. Chicago's city leaders have ordered an earlier start and a reduction in the size of the city's gay pride parade, saying the move is meant to reduce public drunkenness.

Chicago is altering the route, size and starting time of its annual Gay Pride Parade to curb public drinking and accommodate crowds that topped 800,000 last year. The most important change is the starting time. The parade held on the last Sunday in June will step off at 10 a.m. instead of noon. “Unless you’re a hard-core drinker, most people don’t drink at 10 o’clock in the morning,” said parade coordinator Richard Pfeiffer. Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), Chicago’s first openly-gay aldermen, added, “There’s people concerned about alcohol being consumed on that day. Complaints are that people actually bring their coolers and consume a lot. An earlier start time will promote less drinking.”

RELATED: Two years ago New York City reduced the length of its pride parade, but that move was unrelated to drinking as alcohol sales are not permitted at city parades.