Champaign-Urbana ( July 26 ) : The Uniting Pride ( UP ) Center of Champaign County announced today that it will host the first gay pride festival in the history of the Twin Cities this August 20, in cooperation with local businesses and not-for-profit organizations representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning ( LGBTQ ) community and its allies in Champaign-Urbana.
"Although the LGBTQ civil rights movement has made great strides in the last several decades, crimes and legal discrimination against LGBTQ people continue into the twenty-first century," said Evelyne Tardy and Caroline Nappo, co-chairs of the CU Pride Fest Committee. "Gay pride festivals show that in the face of grave injustice, the LGBTQ community will not be silenced, celebrating that we are human beings entitled to the same rights as heterosexual people. Continuing in this tradition, CU Pride Fest will be a celebration of pride and hope — pride in who we are, and hope for a world that accepts and affirms us."
The festival will be held at the Lincoln Square Mall and 88 Broadway in downtown Urbana on Friday, August 20, 4-9 pm. CU Pride Fest will feature booths with local artists, vendors, and community organizations. Family friendly entertainment is scheduled from 4-6 pm and will include games for both kids and adults. Food will be provided by Piato Catering and PoBoys, and alcohol will be served by 88 Broadway after 6 pm. Fest-goers will be able to literally "taste the rainbow" with Piato's rainbow cupcakes and 88 Broadway's rainbow drink specials. Several items, including a free weekend trip to Chicago, will be raffled off and door prizes will be given away. The main stage will feature performances by Amasong, Champaign-Urbana Theater Company Choral, Desafinado, Zoo Improv, and many more. The heavenly Leiloni Stars will serve as mistress of ceremonies and music will be provided by DJ Mertz and DJ Kosmo. Commemorative CU Pride Fest t-shirts will be for sale for $15 online and at the event.
An afterparty for 19+ adults with proper identification will follow at
88 Broadway until 2 am.
Pride Fest will be the culmination of events happening throughout the week of August 16 throughout the CU community. The Champaign Public and Urbana Free Libraries will create pride-themed book displays. Businesses in downtown Champaign are also participating in the festivities. Tuesday Night Trivia at Boltini Lounge will feature pride categories, Luna and Café Kopi will show works by local LGBTQ artists, and the Art Theater will show special late night screenings of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch".
"CU Pride Fest has been a real community effort," said Nappo and Tardy. "We are so grateful to our partners, sponsors, and all other community organizations and individuals who have helped make Champaign-Urbana's first gay pride festival a reality this summer."
Although gay pride festivals have become regular events worldwide since 1970, when they were first held in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, there has never been one before in Champaign-Urbana. Nearly 350,000 LGBTQ people live in Illinois, with Champaign County having one of the highest populations in the state.
CU Pride Fest is being coordinated by a committee made up of Champaign-Urbana residents with support from the Uniting Pride Center of Champaign County, the LGBT Resource Center at the University of Illinois, the Buzz, WEFT 90.1 FM, Urban Outfitters, and Fluid Events. CU Pride Fest Committee co-chairs are Evelyne Tardy and Caroline Nappo.
For more information contact CU Pride Fest Committee co-chair Caroline Nappo:
cnappo2@illinois.edu
217-355-1587