After three years of cancellations and delays, the Elgin Pride Parade and Festival will make its debut this June, organizers said.
The inaugural events had been planned by ELGbtq+ to take place in summer 2020, but efforts were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, group founder Kayla Bates said.
“It was devastating to have to cancel it after putting so much work into it,” said Bates, who uses the pronouns they/them.
While the group considered resurrecting the events in 2022, it was decided the virus was still too present and businesses hadn’t completely bounced back from the pandemic’s effects to proceed with plans, Bates said.
This year, businesses “seem like they are getting back on their feet. Downtown is popping again. We got the team back together. We’re ready to go,” they said.
The parade is scheduled to step off at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, with the fest to follow immediately after at a location still being determined. What organizers do know is it will be in downtown Elgin and will include vendors, food trucks, activities and entertainment, including live music, Bates said.
It’s going to be a family-oriented celebration, they said.
“Sometimes people have concerns that something will be crazy or like Chicago is, but that’s not really what we are planning. The parade and festival are family-friendly,” Bates said.
“I’m still open to ideas if people have activities they want to (suggest). I think we will have space for a lot of things,” they said.
ELGbtq+ is accepting vendor and parade entries until May 3 on its website, www.elginpride.com, and they’re planning smaller events throughout that weekend to keep the party going, including a drag show at the Martini Room, Bates said.
The Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago St., is also hosting an event to raise money for the parade and festival at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 15. The Queer Variety Show will feature comedians, musicians, magic and some drag performers, Bates said.
Tickets are $25 and available at ELGbtq+’s website.
Bates acknowledged the parade and festival are being planned at a time that’s been difficult for the LGTBQ+ community on a national level.
Legislation is being discussed in many southern states and elsewhere that seeks to restrict such things as what can be taught in school and access to books that include LGBTQ+ people and issues. Earlier this month, Tennessee passed an anti-drag law that bans “adult cabaret performances” in public or in the presence of children and keeps them from occurring within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks or places of worship.
“It’s a pretty devastating and painful time for our community, which is why it is extra important that people show up and support us vocally and be physically present for us,” Bates said.
Illinois is a progressive state so laws discriminating against the queer community aren’t likely, “but we are kind of getting bombarded with those messages day in and day out,” they said. “There are people around the world who hate us, don’t value us, invalidate us and don’t want us to exist.”
“You wouldn’t think we would go backward, but in some ways, we are,” Bates said. “(That makes it) so much more important we, as a community, stand up with a positive message and show love and support for the community.”
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
