NRS staff, volunteers, and friends pose before the parade launch.

For the third time in four years, the National Runaway Switchboard marched in the 39th annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade in Chicago. An estimated 400,000 attendees lined the streets of Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood to watch as hundreds of cars and floats showed their support of the community’s large GLBT community.

More than 30 staff, volunteers, and friends of NRS participated by carrying a banner, passing out candy to the crowd, and dancing along with the music blasting through the streets. Two sudden thunderstorms did little to drench the spirit of the NRS group.

The group wore t-shirts asking attendees to "Call me!", and the 1-800-RUNAWAY number was prominently displayed on the shirts, banner, and car accompanying the participants.