NIU’s Gay/Lesbian Union will celebrate the gay movement Sunday during the 21st annual Chicago’s Gay and Lesbian Pride Week Parade.

“It’s a sort of family reunion,” parade coordinator Richard Pfeiffer said. He said it makes a statement that says homosexuals are your brothers and sisters.

The parade will march down Broadway, Diversey and Sheridan Roads in Chicago from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and will be followed by a 3:30 p.m. rally.

Pfeiffer said there are 41 cities in the country having Gay and Lesbian Pride Week Parades.

Theresa Brown, president of NIU’s GLU said the parade’s theme is “Looking into the Future” and will probe the future of the gay movement in the 1990’s.

She said, “The parade will help show that NIU has a gay organization and we are important on campus.”

“The parade means a lot. It’s a chance for us to show our pride and educate people,” Brown said. “It’s one day you can really be open and not worry about it.”

GLU member Otis Richardson said the parade is important because it will give homosexuals the means to be open about their homosexuality.

He said the parade might serve as motivation for other homosexuals to be open. “The sky isn’t going to fall down on you if people find out you’re gay,” he said.

Richardson said the parade might inspire openness because there might be a connection with a group of people who are proud and open.

“The parade isn’t a freak show; it’s not people flaunting their sexuality,” Richardson said. “It’s a sense of unity.”