Thank you!!!!!!!! The Peter Pan Syndrome is abundant in Chicago, especially among the gay "men".

From reading the article, no one is proposing a gay "men's" party. I also didn't read anything regarding children not being included. It sounds like a viable alternative that the community could embrace that would carry on a wonderful tradition. Where there is a will, there is always a way; just sad to see the immediate negativity (@Jack Hamilton, @The Truth). To add, life is meant to be lived and I will always live all aspects of life, whether being judged by grumpy adults who can no longer seek out enjoyment or not.

Yup . . i guess I am old school . . Halloween parties for adults were at somebody's home or bar/club. I still struggle with the GPP and Halloween parade where parents take their YOUNG CHILDREN . . .I think its inappropriate . .I have nothing against ANY GENDER ORIENTATION . but talk to your kids and take them if you choose at an appropriate age.

I can understand and agree with that Mari. I was thinking about it and if you look at the pictures posted above, you don't see a single child. Of course there are children in attendance, but that is to the parent's discretion whether they bring them or not. The parade is held during evening hours and is in Boystown; it's intended for whomever wishes to visit, yet clearly geared towards the gay adult community. I guess I'm just confused in what these adults are doing that is so terrible. Remember, it's all about a fun time in the Halloween spirit!

Sure they do. Rather than just stand behind the counter and collect $$$ off of the Halloween deal, they have other responsibilities as well. They STILL don't quite grasp this concept of "greed" yet while pointing fingers at everyone else.

Do you realize you live in BOYSTOWN? I don't know your sexuality or sexual orientation, but this is our community and if you'd care to research, gay men and women have fought long and hard battles only to be accepted in equality. This is our community, our little slice of "home", and this is how we celebrate one another. If you don't like that, I urge you, please find somewhere else to reside because this is Boystown; it's been this way for decades and it's not changing. I am proud of our community!

^And they've taken gays back 40 years by their version of a Pride Parade, Halloween Parade, faux Mardi Gras Festival, Any Reason At All To Drink And Act A Fool Festival, Obamacare Festival, Civil Unions But Keep Our Bath Houses March, I Just Got New Tires On My Car So Let's Get Drunk Festival, We Hate Anything Non-Gay Weekend Drunkfest, Get The Police Out Of Here So We Can Keep Our Drug Dealers March,.........the nation is watching "the first recognized gay neighborhood in the U.S.". Trust me. I can't get away from the comments.

"And they've taken gays back 40 years by their version of a Pride Parade"

Concern troll acts concerned.

Not to mention the charades and crime on New Years Eve, Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Coming Out Day, St. Patrick's Day, Sunday night before Labor Day....oh.....and any Friday/Saturday nights throughout the year.

^Party-up ya'll. That's what we're all about.....

Excuse me Jeff . . this isn't just YOUR little SLICED OF HOME and YOUR community to celebrate as you please. . I live here too!! And if you think its been this way for decades and not changing . .look around . .ITS CHANGING . .

Men are having sex with one another in the streets in front of your building on the regular? I find that laughable and untrue. I've personally seen a man and woman having sex in East Lakeview while out roller blading last Summer. It's so easy to blame gay men, your anger is unfortunate.

JK thats just it . .we HAVE TO STAY HOME to protect what we have!! Drunks trying to get their way into the building, throwing bottles and busting them on the sidewalk in front of my building, puking on the doorstep . . If you want your block party, fine then why can't you all STAY IN YOUR BLOCK and out of mine!!

I understand both sides here . what some of you don't seem to get is a part of what JH is saying. I too reside in Lakeview and lived in a variety of neighborhoods because I enjoy the diversity, cultures etc. What's happened of the past couple years is the change from a parade or festival that used to be fun and exciting and I couldn't wait to see the floats and the costumes. THe last couple years everything has gone downhill. The floats are trucks hauling some slab with a bunch of guys just throwing something on . .the less the better . .even saw a guys who was hanging out of the costume. A bunch of loud speakers and music blasting but nothing exciting anymore. VEry little time is spent on the floats and the costumes any more. This is when I cringe to see little kids . .its not fun any more. I miss what it used to be. What is IS now is a bunch of guys getting drunk, puking on my stoop . . Yes i can['t enjoy the parade or the parties even the block festivals . .I have to watch my building so that drunks don't slide in when someone comes out . .the elevator stinks like beers thats been spilled, my flower pots are distroyed and last year someone actually stole a big plater pot weighing about 100lbs . why?? This is what we have to endure for your enjoyment???

Ok Bill, how about I send some of them over to your house during these wonderful venues to puke in on your doorstep, get into your house/building to party some more and maybe steal a few things along way . no problem . i mean its just a little "hassle"

Maybe I am just not expressing myself properly. Jack I am perfectly happy living in my building which has plenty of gay men, most of whom I adore. Its not bout wanting to change traditions . .its that the traditions are changing . . i like the OLD traditiions. And yes, I am educated on the community and its roots. Its just that what used to be the "traditional" parade, and festivals and fun has now turned to nothing but rowdy, destructive, people and I would not want them to represent my wonderful "gay" community. They are nothing to be proud of . .puking on my doorstep is ok?? Stealing my flower pots is ok? Throwing beer bottles against my fence and the sidewalk is ok? Because its a GAY community its ok? Really? You would be ok with this at your place?

"its [sic] that the traditions are changing"

More cornholing, please.

Lets start with everyone has the right to a voice. I despise homophobes but the reason my parents brought me to this country is for the freedoms. I have to stand guard for all the Cub stuff too. I don't like streets being shut down for any the sporting events either. All the holidays and then Spring fling stuff brings in the tourists which we want to add revenue to our community but also brings with them additional nonsense. I have to deal with the drunks and stupidity during all these times too. Halloween is another excuse for people to act out . . if we COULD just all ENJOY the holiday that would be nice . .but it aint so!

Have you forgotten Cyndi that women were second class citizens not so very long ago and didn't get a voice . . now you acctually subscribe to the notion that someone shouldn;t have a voice . interesting . .

"Have you forgotten Cyndi that women were second class citizens not so very long ago"

They still are given that the ERA didn't pass.

I've discovered this activity to be a "right of passage" from the farmboys that have migrated and "arrived" in a "liberal" city. It is pathetic and not the norm among most of us.

*Your [sic] using the "gay" card to excuse all this behavior? Wow*

Where can I get one of these gay cards?

"Part of the problem is many of the destroyers are not even residents of our neighborhood... They are not accepted in their own communities so they figure they can just cut loose here."

Are these veiled references to black people?

"I think it creates an atmosphere that is fun, like an adult playground, and its a great place to meet the ladies."

Keep telling yourself that those people who have sex with are biologically women.

^ Business owner/worker or COH promoter (to keep the funding).

It's really a pitiful shame what you people have done in sake of the almighty $....and "White guilt". This is pitiful. Somehow work your way into the 21st century Chicago. This has all been played out before elsewhere decades ago.

There's a "tone" here and it's certainly justified but we cannot dismiss the drunk/high suburban straight chicks that have been shunned from their own venues and come to "raise havoc" on Halsted St. either. The "come-one-come-all", EQIL, diversity thing is just a quick $ in this economy and it's not playing out well.