A clear sky in Humboldt Park was the backdrop to the 6th annual Latino LGBTQ Pride Picnic. Orgullo en Accion organized the all-day celebration, which was the most highly attended in years. Organizers decided to move the annual picnic from June to July 30 because of the rain that has dampened the celebration in years past.
The outdoor event featured DJs, live entertainment and complimentary food. This year, the increasingly family-friendly event had a number of activities for kids that included a pink inflatable jumping castle and a piñata.
Tony "La Tony" Alvarado-Rivera and Svadhi Couture co-hosted a string of drag-queen and drag king performances. Attendees turned the basketball court into a small theater as they lined chairs in front of the stage.
Latino LGBT community activists from a consortium of organizations were busy navigating between the Saturday outdoor celebration and an information booth at Fiesta del Sol. The booth at Fiesta del Sol, a four-day weekend carnival in the predominantly Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen, was the first for any LGBT group. Orgullo en Accion partnered with other LGBT organizations such as Lambda Legal, Unidos, Association of Latino Men for Action and Amigas Latinas to sponsor the booth to get the word out about each individual organization's initiatives.
More than 100 people gathered in Humboldt Park with lawn chairs, tents and fire grills.
The Uhlich Children's Advantage Network ( UCAN ) , Lesbian Community Care Project, Broadway Youth Center and Center on Halsted's Youth Program sponsored the complimentary food for youth.
Orgullo en Accion is having a Latino LGBT Leadership Summit in December. For more information visit the Facebook page or email orgullloenaccion@gmail.com .
Photos by Emmanuel Garcia