Blue sky weather at 81 degrees prevailed at a real deal banner Saturday in the park on July 27 at Ridgeville Park in Evanston at the fourth annual Evanston Pride LGBTQIA+ Pride Community Picnic.
Evanston Pride sponsored the event with music, activities and approximately 30 information tents or tables.
In their colorful wide-brimmed striped hat was Lauren Wszolek of Hoffman Estates, among returning patrons.
“It’s really important to be visible,” Wszolek said.
Rada Yovovich of the north side of Chicago in Uptown, is an Evanston business owner of The Darkest Horse, a founding board member of Evanston Pride and the organization’s co-president.
Yovovich, who grew up in Evanston and is of the Evanston Township High School Class of 2002, said typically the picnic draws a few hundred people.
“One of the things that queer folks, LGBTQIA+ folks do really well, it’s in our DNA, is communal care,” Yovovich said. “We have had to take care of ourselves and each other from the beginning. It’s always been a part of how we operate.”
Yovovich said this need has been fueled by increased lack of support from institutions and those from outside the community.
“This picnic is all about coming together, being resources for each other, having everything we need for us so that we can rely on each other in our communities when institutions fail us,” she said.
Each year, Evanston Pride donates 20% of proceeds from its fundraising to local non-profit organizations working in tandem with the LGBTQIA+ community on the North Shore.
Receiving the larger donations with oversized checks each were Evanston Community Fridges and AntiRacistAF Art Festival.
“It takes a lot of parts to move the movement,” Yovovich said of the organization donor recipients.
Audrey Borden and Michelle Gonzalez of Norwood Park, staffing their business tent for October Cafe – established August 2023 – of Norwood Park, were seen dancing together inside of their cafe tent as the music came from the stage.
“Me and my wife, we’re both queer,” Borden said. “Even owning a queer business is really important just to show people that we’re still vibrant. Visibility matters.”
Christian Lopez, representing October Cafe, wore a festive orange inflatable pumpkin jack-o’-lantern costume.
“It’s nice to express yourselves, nice to just have a fun time and feel safe,” Lopez said.
Elected officials attended including the family of Juan Geracaris, 9th Ward Evanston council member.
“It’s the people, the people here are what make Evanston, Evanston,” Geracaris said. “It’s because we’re open and accepting to everyone and so that’s what makes our community great.”
Illinois State Senator Laura Fine (D-9th district) of Glenview also attended. Evanston is part of Fine’s senatorial district.
“This is just a day of joy, it’s a day of togetherness, it’s a day of celebration,” the senator said.
“Everybody is part of our community and everybody’s accepted in our community and having an event like this shows that we’re all individuals, we are all loved and we are all here to be together and have fun,” Fine added.
Sophia Newman of Evanston, the parent of Kieran Leverett, 3, said, “This is a son of a bisexual mother and it’s important for me to be included and for him to be included,” Newman said. “That’s what it’s about.”
Learn more about Evanston Pride at https://www.evanstonpride.org.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
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