Rainbows in every shape and form, including balloons and umbrellas, brightened the gloomy, rainy skies of downtown Elgin Saturday as the city celebrated Pride Month with a parade and festival embracing its LGBTQ+ community.
Keyera Freund, 19, of Elgin, braved the less-than-ideal conditions to find the perfect spot along the parade route with friends.
“I love it. It’s really cool,” she said. “As a kid, I would think no one was ever going to support me. But this has made me feel like people do.”
The second annual Elgin Pride Parade and Festival was organized by the nonprofit ELGbtq+. Last year’s inaugural events were deemed a huge success, drawing about 4,000 people downtown and to Festival Park.
Despite smaller crowds along the parade route this year because of the weather, those who attended seemed unbothered by the cooler temperatures and falling precipitation, cheering marchers who made up the 52-entry pageant.
The assembly started on Riverside Drive, proceeded to East Chicago Street and South Grove Street and ended on Prairie Street. Among those who participated were Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley, Open Door Health Center of Illinois, Greater Family Services, and several downtown restaurants and social service agencies.
The newly formed PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities chapter, which supports local parents, caregivers and families of people who identify as LGBTQ+, was among the entries participating in the parade for the first time.
“We’re excited to get the word out that we are here,” said Angela, who declined to give her last name.
Parents sometimes need support when their child comes out, Angela said. “We did that journey. It can be lonely and isolating” without the help of others who have gone through same adjustment, she said.
The banner carried by members of First United Methodist Church of Elgin read “Color the World with Love,” and one congregation member offered hugs to people along the parade route.
It was one of many churches and youth groups who decided to take part in this year’s event, organizers said. That impressed parade-goer Christina Heald, who was visiting from Texarkana, Texas.
“This is mind-blowing to see all the churches, like, super supportive,” she said. “I love it.”
Heald and her boyfriend, David Smalec, huddled under an umbrella and waived their rainbow flags while watching the parade. “A little rain doesn’t hurt anybody,” Smalec said.
Waves of precipitation that went from light to heavy throughout the event didn’t dampen the spirits of the smiling, cheerful marchers, who held rainbow-colored umbrellas, wore raincoats, and sloshed through puddles while yelling out positive messages like “Happy Pride, y’all!”
The parade was followed by a day-long festival featuring LGBTQ+ musicians and bands, vendors and food trucks in Festival Park celebrating Pride Month, which started Saturday.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
