The third annual Pride in Park Ridge Community Celebration brought together hundreds of people from uptown Park Ridge on June 5 at Hodges Park. This LGBTQ+ event attracted many participants who grew up in Park Ridge, surprised to witness a Pride Celebration in their own town. Organized by local congregations, community organizations, and volunteers, the celebration featured diverse activities such as food trucks, children’s games, drag performances, and information booths by LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Highlights of the event included live singing performances by the Kiki Queens Chicago drag cabaret troupe. They generously donated all performance proceeds to LGBTQ+ community organizations. Over the years, Kiki Queens and supporters have raised over $200,000 for local nonprofits, with additional music by DJ Gloria Entertainment playing throughout the day.
Rev. Carol Hill, Senior Minister of Park Ridge Community Church, played a leading role in the event organization. She expressed the importance of local celebrations, emphasizing the vital role of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals in Park Ridge and surrounding northwest suburbs.
Rev. Hill stated, “Having a local celebration allows us to celebrate the beauty of living authentically and declare proudly and publicly that LGBTQ folks are vital to our community.”
Attendee Kat Labbe shared their positive experience at the event, noting the welcoming atmosphere and the sense of safety and joy it created in Park Ridge.
Pride in Park Ridge began in 2024 as a small-scale event initiated by local churches responding to young people’s calls for public expressions of support for queer identities. The event has since expanded significantly, according to Hill. Last week, Park Ridge Mayor Marty Maloney declared June as Pride Month in Park Ridge and acknowledged the significant contributions of LGBTQ individuals to the community.
Young Park Ridge residents Rae Hill and El McCarty expressed gratitude to the Mayor and City Council for their support in making Park Ridge a safe place for LGBTQ people. They highlighted the importance of fostering communities filled with acceptance and love.
Keynote speaker Channyn Lynne Parker, CEO of Equality Illinois, delivered a compelling message emphasizing universal desires for love and value. Parker is recognized as the first Black transgender woman to lead Equality Illinois and advocates for LGBTQ+ justice and racial equity across the state.
Parker said, “Our community lives everywhere in Illinois, and so does our work; showing up in Park Ridge says something simple and true: we belong here too.”
The event featured participation by numerous organizations and local businesses, including Action Ridge, Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches, and local entities such as Barb’s Custom Rocks and Gabriel’s Closet. Advocate Health was a platinum sponsor, joined by gold sponsors like First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge and Empowering Women’s Health Network.
Local author Ron Stempkowski offered signed copies of his book, “The Luck We Carry,” raising funds for the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois, which provides free legal services to low-income transgender individuals.
According to Rev. Hill, the event fostered growing community support, encouraging neighbors to embrace diversity. “Eyes and hearts were opened on Friday; love and support was realized,” Hill remarked.
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