Mayor Scott Levin (far left, facing audience) issued an official proclamation declaring “LGBTQ residents are welcome and valuable members of our community and Elmhurst is dedicated to fostering acceptance of all its citizens and preventing discrimination and bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
The lawn of the Elmhurst Art Museum was the place to be on Wednesday, June 9, when the Elmhurst Pride Collective (EPC) hosted the City’s first-ever celebration of Pride Month.
Rainbow colors were everywhere and free ice cream was on the menu as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community shared hugs and conversation while enjoying an evening of beautiful weather.
The program began with Peter Thomas, owner of local favorite Pilot Pete’s Coffee & Treats, who talked about his experiences growing up in Elmhurst and starting a small business in his hometown.
The highlight was when Mayor Scott Levin presented the city’s first Pride Proclamation to the Elmhurst Pride Collective (EPC), giving it to EPC president Stephanie Wargin.
The Proclamation states, in part, that “Elmhurst’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) residents are welcome and valuable members of our community and Elmhurst is dedicated to fostering acceptance of all its citizens and preventing discrimination and bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
It goes on to declare June 2021 “LGBTQ Pride Month” and encourages “all community residents to eliminate prejudice wherever it exists and to celebrate our diversity by celebrating our LGBTQ friends, neighbors, and children.”
Pride Fest coming to EPC on June 26
Another Pride activity scheduled for Elmhurst is the Pride Fest, scheduled fr Saturday, June 26 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., co-hosted by the Elmhurst Presbyterian Church and the Elmhurst Pride Collective in the church parking lot, located at 367 Spring Rd., on Saturday, June 26, 12-3 p.m.
In addition, the EPC has recruited dozens of talented volunteer artists to paint storefront windows around the town with Pride-themed art (for a full list, see the
EPC website Pride page at www.elmhurstpridecollective.com/Pride2021), and the EPC is holding a free prize drawing and a Share Your Pride contest for the best home/yard Pride décor, with prizes donated by several local businesses.
For more information on these and other local Pride events, visit www.elmhurstpridecollective.com/Pride2021.
