Let your rainbow flag fly in celebration of Pride Month.
But first, a brief history lesson. Pride Month, held annually in June, celebrates the LGBTQ+ community while simultaneously calling for greater inclusion and equality.
It is celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Inn was a LGBTQ+-friendly bar that was raided by police on June 28, 1969. The patrons stood their ground and, in the days, to follow, riots ensued, coming to be known as the Stonewall Uprising.
A year later, on the anniversary of the raid, gay pride marches took place in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. Today, June 28 is known as International LGBT Pride Day. In 1999, President Clinton declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.
Pride Month includes parades, events, fests and other functions that serve as not only a celebration of the community and its members’ contributions to art, culture, science and beyond, but also a time to honor those lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS.
So get out your rainbow flag — created as a symbol of the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community by artist, activist and former U.S. military officer Gilbert Baker — and join a Pride event.
Here are some local Pride events happening in June.
“Equality, Celebrating LGBTQIA2S+ Artists and our Pride Community”: May 28-June 30; artists reception 2-4 p.m. June 8, at Devonshire Cultural Center, 4400 Greenwood St., Skokie. Free. anatomicallycorrect.org.
Mouths of Babes: 7:30 p.m. May 30 at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $15-$25. 847-492-8860; evanstonspace.com.
Pride Launch Party: 9 p.m.-1 a.m. May 31 at Nightshade and Dark’s Pandemonium Brewing Company, 216 W. Clayton St., Waukegan. Free. At 847-445-2467; facebook.com/NightshadeandDark.
Pride at The Blvd: June 1-29 at Hollywood Blvd. Cinema, 1001 75th St., Woodridge. See website for ticket prices. 630-427-1880; hollywoodblvdcinema.com/events/pride.
Northwest Indiana Pride Fest: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 1-2 at Riverview Park, 2805 Ripley St., Lake Station, Indiana. $10. facebook.com/events; search NWI Pride Fest.
Pride celebration at Six Flags: June 1-2 at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. $41 online. 847-249-4636; sixflags.com/greatamerica/events/new-pride-month-celebration.
Elgin Pride Parade and Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 1 in downtown Elgin. Free. elginpride.com.
Waukegan Pride Parade and Festival: 2-7 p.m. June 1 in parking lot D at Clayton and Sheridan streets, Waukegan. Free. 847-533-0091; waukeganfriends.org/wk-pride-festival.
Pride Night at the Joliet Slammers: 6:05 p.m. June 1 at Duly Health and Care Field, 1 Mayor Art Schultz Drive, Joliet. Tickets, $9-$17. 815-722-2287; jolietslammers.com/promotion-schedule.
Andrew Sa’s Queer Country Review!: 8:30 p.m. June 1 at FitzGerald’s Nightclub, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $20. 708-788-2118; fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/event2/13382594/andrew-sa-s-queer-country-review.
Buffalo Grove Pride Parade and Picnic: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. June 2 at Mike Rylko Community Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. Free. 847-850-2100; bgparks.org/pride-picnic.
Evanston Pride Youth Car Parade: 1-3 p.m. June 2 from Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave. to Ingraham Park, Leonard Place and Asbury Ave. Free. 847-920-7439; evanstonpride.org/the-details.
Interfaith Family Pride Fest: 2-5 p.m. June 2 at Raymond Park, 1445 Hinman Ave., Evanston. Free. 847-864-8332; firstchurchevanston.org.
Waukegan Pride Tea Dance: 3-6 p.m. June 2 at Green Town on the Rocks, 175 S. Harbor Place, Waukegan. $20. 847-533-0091; waukeganfriends.org/wk-tea-dance.
Pride Month Flag-Raising Ceremony: 8 a.m. June 3 at Des Plaines City Hall, 1420 Miner St., Des Plaines. Free. 847-391-5300; desplaines.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/1744/17?curm=6&cury=2024.
Homewood Pride Fest: 5-9 p.m. June 7 at the Irwin Park Bandshell, 18120 S. Highland Ave., Homewood. Free. 708-957-0300; hfparks.com.
Homegrown Comedy with Jen Kober: 7:30 p.m. June 7 at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $40. 847-577-2121; metropolisarts.com/event/jen-kober.
Drag Story Hour: 1-2 p.m. June 8 at Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie. Free. 847-673-7774; skokielibrary.info/events/18691/drag-story-hour.
Lake County Pride Fest: 2-10 p.m. June 8 at the Cultural and Civic Center of Round Lake Beach, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach. $5. 847-975-3561; lgbtqlc.com/lake-county-pridefest-2024.
PFLAG Grayslake Better Together Pride Parade: 12 p.m. June 9 at Center and Slusser streets, Grayslake. Free. 224-300-0675; grayslakevillagecenter.com/event-calendar/4th-annual-pflag-grayslake-better-together-pride-parade.
Aurora Pride Parade and Afterparty: 12 p.m.-5 p.m. June 9 at Benton and Broadway streets and ends at West Downer Place and North Middle Avenue. $10. aurorapride.org.
Pride Candle Lighting Ceremony: 7 p.m. June 9 at St. Paul Park, 760 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Free. 847-920-7439; cityofevanston.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/24993/250?curm=6&cury=2024.
Transgender Awareness & Information Sharing Symposium: 6:30 p.m. June 10 at Unity of Oak Park, 405 N. Euclid, Oak Park. Free. 708-848-0960; unityoakpark.org/events.
Queer in Hollywood: LGBTQIA+ Depictions in Classic Film: 7-8 p.m. June 11 at Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Free. 847-566-8702; fremontlibrary.org/event/10456402.
Pride Family Storytime: 10:30-11 a.m. June 15 at Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Road, Deerfield. Free. 847-945-3311; deerfield.libnet.info/event/10728851.
Hawthorn Mall Pride: 12-5 p.m. June 15 at 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills. Free. visithawthorn.com/events.
Michigan City Pride: 1-8 p.m. June 15 at Guy Foreman Amphitheater, 115 Lake Shore Drive, Michigan City. facebook.com/MichiganCityPride.
Rockin’ the Ville Pride — Dancing Queen: 6-9 p.m. June 20 at Deer Crossing Park, 1050 W. Romeo Road, Romeoville. Free. 815-886-7200; facebook.com/VillageofRomeoville.
Chicago Pride Fest: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. June 22-23 at 800 Waveland Ave., Chicago. $15. chicagoevents.com/event/chicago-pride-fest.
Oak Park Pride Party: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June 22 at 123 Madison St., Oak Park. Free. 708-358-5700; oak-park.us/events/pride-party.
Skokie Pride: 1-4 p.m. June 23 at Oakton Park, 4701 Oakton St., Skokie. Free. 847-677-7001; skokieparks.org/events/skokie-pride24.
Family Pride Night in the Children’s Garden: 5-8 p.m. June 27 at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois 53, Lisle. $5, free under 2. 630-968-0074; mortonarb.org/explore/activities/childrens-family-programs/family-pride-night.
LGBTQIA+ History and Milestones: A Primer: 6:30-8 p.m. June 27 at Indian Prairie Public Library, 401 Plainfield Road, Darien. Free. 630-887-8760; ippl.libcal.com/event/12209325.
LGBTQIA+ Pride Community Picnic: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 27 at Ridgeville Park, Ridge Ave. and South Blvd., Evanston. Free. 847-920-7439; evanstonpride.org/the-details.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News. Myrna Petlicki contributed to this story.
