Mark Brandt, 26, and Wes Conkling, 30, got up at 7 a.m. CT to make it to Chicago from Aurora for Sunday’s Pride Parade. They sat on a corner waiting for the procession to start, holding hands. ”I love the oneness of it all,” said Brandt. “I come from a family that’s pretty homophobic, if I’m being honest. I haven’t always been able to be open with myself and who I am.” Brandt and Conkling said .