BOYSTOWN — Matt Wood was glued to the TV screen in Saugatuck Coffee as CNN anchors announced that the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act Wednesday.
Wood, 29, was "furious" when the Illinois General Assembly failed to vote on gay marriage this past session, but the "amazing" Supreme Court decision makes him optimistic.
"Hopefully after this whole thing, it will be a moot point," he said.
Now, the federal government must recognize same-sex marriages in the states — something that will make Sunday's 44th annual Pride Parade more "meaningful," said Luis Alfaro, 52, a playwright visiting Chicago from L.A.
As a gay man of color, he understands what it's like to be in the "margins" and not feel like a full part of society, he said. Gaining equal rights changes that, he said.
"For the generation that participated in Pride, it might feel like your voice is finally heard," he said.
Marriage equality supporters are expected to gather at 7 p.m. at Roscoe and Halsted Wednesday night in celebration.
The Pride Parade attracted more than 850,000 people last year, and this year's parade will feature more than 200 floats. About two dozen of them will be elected officials who support equal rights for gays, even though some people petitioned to ban politicians after Illinois' failed to vote on gay marriage.
Kyle Russell, 28, expects that more people will be announcing their own marriages on Sunday in light of Wednesday's news. But Wood shrugged off the idea of doing anything different for Pride Parade.
"Pass or fail, I'm still proud," he said.
