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newlenoxpatriot.com NEWS
the New Lenox Patriot | June 21, 2018 | 11
Southwest Suburban Activists show support for LGBTQ community with festival
Megan Schuller
Freelance Reporter
Despite what started out
as a rainy day, residents from
across the southwest suburbs
gathered in Yunker Farm for
the village’s first pride event.
The all-day family friendly
event on Sunday, June 10,
had activities for kids, live
music and performances, as
well as vendors and nonprofit
organizations from
across the area.
Kris Robin, of Orland
Park, works with Southwest
Suburban Activists. Robin
said it was “a dream come
true” for him to work on putting
the event together.
“We really wanted to bring
pride away from the city, because
not everyone can access
it,” Robin said. “We’re
really excited to bring it out
to Mokena and let people
know there is a community
out there for them.”
Palos Hills resident Tammy
Georgiou is a director of
Southwest Suburban Activists.
Last year, the group partook
in a march for equity,
unity and pride in Frankfort,
but this year they wanted to
make it more of a local festival.
“It’s probably one of the
best things I’ve ever done
as an activist. Not only
was it fun to put together,
but it really taught me a lot
about community. We tried
to make it educational and
fun,” Georgiou said. “It’s
about time, it (the pride fest)
is long overdue.”
According to Georgiou,
about 10 vendors and 10
non-profit organizations had
booths set up in the park.
They also showed documentaries
like “Milk” and held
free counseling services to
those who wanted it.
Lisa Donelly, of Mokena,
said that the event was informative
and conveniently
local.
“I have a transgender child
New Lenox residents Katie Pasqua, 4, and Cia Pasqua, 4, play with their balloon swords at the Mokena Pride Fest on June 10 with their 6-year-old brother
Donny Pasqua. Megan Schuller/22nd Century Media
so I try to show support for
everybody. I’m excited we
didn’t have to go to Chicago
for it,” Donelly said.
Residents came dressed
in colorful attire, creating a
rainbow hue of colors within
the crowd.
“It was crucial to us to
let people know you have
a community out here, too.
We’re letting people know
we’re here. That it’s OK to
be queer, it’s okay to be gay,
it’s okay to be LGBTQ. We
got you,” Robin said.
Valerie Pasqua, of New
Lenox, attended the event
with her three young children.
They ran around
playing with their balloon
swords and partaking in the
activities set up for kids.
“I am a huge supporter of
the fight for LGBTQ people
who are trying to get equal
rights here,” Pasqua said. “I
brought my family here so
they can grow up knowing
how to show support and
love for all people.”
The event was not only
about entertaining participants
with a celebration, it
was also about educating
people in a safe environment.
Organizations — such as
the Gay Straight Alliance in
Lockport, Southwest Suburban
Activists, and Cross of
Glory Church in Homer Glen
— tabled and answered questions.
Local businesses, such
as Stuffed with Love, also
came out to show support for
the LGBTQ community.
“I love being here today.
Everybody is here to have a
good time, and to show these
kids a good time, and to help
them build confidence,”
owner of Stuffed with Love,
Heather Giertuga, said.
At the top of the hill on
Yunker Farms was a giant
word sculpture that read
“LOVE” with a rainbow letter
O. It was a simple but
meaningful sentiment to
people who posed for pictures
alongside it to share its
message across social media.
“I hope they do it again
next year,” Pasqua said.
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