Honoring LGBTQ+ youth advocacy and community care—plus celebrating the 2025 Grand Marshals, Dr. Maya Green and Dr. Catherine Creticos
For the first time, a local community group will lead the Chicago Pride Parade as the inaugural “Out Front” Leader, followed by this year’s Community Grand Marshals.
TaskForce Prevention & Community Services, an LGBTQ+ youth-focused health and wellness organization located on the west side of Chicago, has been selected as the inaugural “Out Front” Leader of the 2025 Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29. TaskForce is being honored for its decades of unwavering service, providing critical resources, advocacy, and support to LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those in underserved communities.
Dr. Maya Green and Dr. Catherine Creticos will serve as the 2025 Community Grand Marshals. Both honorees were selected through an online nomination process, reflecting their profound impact on healthcare, advocacy, and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Pride Month brings a mix of emotions—celebration, resistance, reflection and renewed determination,” said Chris Balthazar, executive director TaskForce Chicago. “At a time when LGBTQ+ youth, especially trans and nonbinary youth of color, are under attack nationwide—from book bans to anti-trans legislation—Pride is more than just a party. It’s a time to uplift our youth, honor those we’ve lost and recommit to the fight for safety, dignity and joy for all of us. Amid these challenges, Pride also reminds us of our strength—our ability to gather, to create and to thrive in the face of adversity.
“Being recognized as an Out Front community group is an honor. It affirms the decades of work we’ve done to serve our community with love, resilience and integrity. It also amplifies our visibility at a time when representation matters more than ever. This recognition says: our youth matter, our stories matter, and we belong.”
The TaskForce Chicago float will center on the theme “Building the Future,” inspired by its new community center. The design will incorporate elements of ballroom culture—mirrors, lights and runway aesthetics—to honor its Vogue School and its role as a launchpad for youth expression. Youth will vogue live throughout the parade, creating an electric, immersive experience that embodies everything TaskForce stands for: creativity, power and community.
TaskForce Chicago will feature 50 to 60 people on its float, mostly youth and volunteers, plus some staff, supporters and community partners. “It’s going to be a full, vibrant crew,” Balthazar said.
As the TaskForce Chicago floats makes the south-bound trek on that Sunday, expect energy, expect style, expect vogue. “Our youth will be showcasing what they’ve learned in our Vogue School, bringing bold, beautiful performances to the streets of Chicago,” he said. “This isn’t just performance—it’s storytelling. It’s the expression of resilience, history and queer joy through movement. Alongside the dancing, we’ll be sharing our message of community empowerment and inviting others to support our future home on the West Side.
“We’ll be showing up (at the parade) with pride—and with purpose. Alongside the float and performances, we’ll distribute information about our resources and invite the broader community to be part of our movement. The Vogue School will take center stage, literally and symbolically, as a reminder of how art can be an entry point to healing, connection and transformation.”
TaskForce Prevention and Community Services is the oldest Black-led LGBTQ+ organization in Chicago, serving LGBTQ+ youth on the West Side since 1990. It is a multi-service, grassroots organization committed to improving the health and overall well-being of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those from underserved and historically excluded communities. From HIV prevention to housing referrals, TaskForce offers a safe space and a wide range of services tailored to the unique needs of the youth.
“What makes TaskForce unique is that we center youth voices in everything we do. We’re not a top-down organization—we co-create with young people, not just serve them,” Balthazar said. “One standout example is our Vogue School, a program where youth can explore the art and history of voguing in a safe, affirming environment. It’s often the first point of connection for youth who come through our doors. Through movement and expression, they begin to feel seen and from there, many engage in the broader spectrum of services we offer—from health and housing to leadership development.”
Balthazar said what stands most about Pride Month in June is that Pride is protest and celebration at the same time. “It’s about joy in the face of oppression. It’s about claiming space when society tries to erase us. The parade, especially, is a reminder that queer and trans youth of color deserve to be visible, celebrated and protected—not just in June, but every day,” he said. “In today’s climate, being visible isn’t just bold—it’s essential. We march to show our community what’s possible when we stand together.”
He added: “We’re marching because visibility still matters—especially for LGBTQ+ youth of color who are too often overlooked, erased or targeted. In a political climate where our very existence is being challenged in legislatures and school boards across the country, Pride is more than a celebration—it’s a declaration. We show up in this parade to say: We are still here; we are thriving; and we will not be silenced.
“This moment also gives us the chance to remind Chicago—and the nation—that the West Side is vibrant, creative and full of resilience. Our youth deserve to be seen, not just in moments of crisis, but in moments of joy, pride and cultural power. The parade is our platform to take up space, unapologetically, and to invite others to stand with us.”
TaskForce has received recognition from partners like Equality Illinois and support from major foundations – and TaskForce annually serves more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ youth, providing them with access to HIV testing, housing support, career development and safe spaces for healing and community. The TaskForce HIV prevention program has helped dramatically reduce new infections among young Black gay and trans individuals on the West Side.
“We’re also proud of the fact that our Vogue School has become an essential entry point for youth who might otherwise never engage with services. Many young people come to us looking for belonging—and they end up leaving with housing referrals, access to mental health resources, and a renewed sense of self-worth,” he said. “In terms of institutional milestones, we’ve raised over $400,000 in private funding—an achievement that’s helping us unlock millions more for our $9 million capital campaign to build a new community center. That campaign is more than just financial success—it’s a community affirmation that our work matters, that people believe in it and that we’re building something permanent for future generations.
“In a city as big as Chicago, where resources often bypass the West Side, the fact that youth trust us, return to us, and grow with us is the highest form of praise.”
Balthazar said TaskForce is in the middle of a transformative expansion. “We’re not just talking about growing our programs—we’re building a new, permanent community center. This will be a safe, accessible and fully resourced space where LGBTQ+ youth can find housing support, health services, creative outlets and leadership opportunities all under one roof. It’s a big vision that reflects our deep commitment to the West Side and our belief that our youth deserve the very best.
“I’d love for people to ask: ‘How can we help?’ The answer is: support our youth, share our message and help us build our new space on the West Side. The future we’re dreaming of is already in motion. With more hands, hearts and voices behind us, we can create a city where every LGBTQ+ youth feels safe, seen and celebrated.”
The 54th annual Chicago Pride Parade steps off at 11 a.m. from West Sheridan and Broadway (viewing begins at Grace and Broadway) in the landmark LGBTQ+ neighborhood of Northalsted. https://pridechicago.org
Article by: Ross Forman
