On Aug. 31, the John Pennycuff Legacy Fund presented an afternoon of Lucha Libre—a wrestling style popular often associated with Mexico—in Unity Park. The event was organized by Unity Park Advisory Council (UPAC) and Wrestle League (WL), and sponsored by a host of organizations, politicians and businesses, among them the John Pennycuff Legacy Fund (JPLF).
The once-a-year event featured a host of local Lucha Libre talent including Brittany Kay, Pestilence, Joey Mac, Jay Vanity and Shad Jordan competing in exposition matches to the delight of the packed park. The park is located in Logan Square at 2636 N. Kimball Ave.
Longtime LGBTQ+ activist John Pennycuff was a member of Queer Nation Chicago, Equal Marriage NOW, The Coalition Against Bashing, ACT/UP Chicago and Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. He also served on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, and the Mayor’s Advisory Council on LGBTQ+ issues. Pennycuff was also an active member of the Unity Park Advisory Council and spent innumerable hours fundraising, staffing events and making sure the park remained an active community hub. Pennycuff and his husband, Robert Castillo were also the first to sign up for Cook County’s domestic registry in 2003. An affordable housing project in Logan Square is named after him. Pennycuff passed away in 2012.
The John Pennycuff Legacy Fund supports events in both Logan Square and in the LGBTQ+ community. Other sponsors of the Aug. 31 event included JPLF, state Rep. Will Guzzardi, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Boulevard Bikes, Revolution Brewing, Logan Theater and Reno Chicago.
