Chicago Pride Parade Grand Marshal Announced
Written by Pride Chicago PR Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:00
Chely Wright, popular country singer/songwriter is the the Grand Marshal of this year's Chicago 41st Annual Pride Parade on Sunday June 27 at 12 Noon.
Chely recently became the first prominent country music star to state publically that she is gay. This past month, she appeared on the Today show, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen and in a People magazine story describing the painful process of growing up in a small town knowing that she is gay. Her jouney led her to the point of contemplating suicide because of societal prejudice and pressure.
Chely, who was born in 1970 in small Kansas town, loved music. After years of hard work in the music industry, she was named the Academy of Country Music "Top New Female Vocalist" in 1999. She now has seven albums under her belt and scored a number one hit, "Single White Female." (Other hits include "Shut Up and Drive" and "Jezebel.") She just released her new album, "Lifted Off the Ground" and her memoir, "Like Me" that describes her painful coming out process dealing with religious issues, among others.
She just joined the board of "Faith in America," an organization whose mission is to educate the nation's public about harm caused to gay Americans when certain church teachings are misused to justify and promote hostile attitudes and actions toward LGBT Americans.
In late May, Chely made her first appearance at an LGBT event, the "GLSEN Respect Awards" GALA in New York City at Gotham Hall. The GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) is a national organization that works to ensure safe schools for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity expression. She has included information about GLSEN in the linear notes of her new CD. Chely said that she was drawn to GLSEN because she wants to do all that she can to help young people grow up free from fear and free to be themselves.
During her career she started her own organization titled "Reading, Writing & Rhythm"; she has also entertained the troops in Iraq; and is now making herself available for LGBT causes and events.
Chely will be riding in a classic car near the front of this year's Chicago Annual pride Parade.
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