On the hot and steamy afternoon of June 21, Niles Pride held its third annual Pride Rainbow Walk at Kirk Lane Park just south of the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Niles.
At the May 27 Niles Village Board Meeting, Niles Mayor George Alpogianis read the village’s Pride Proclamation which recognized the pivotal 1969 Stonewall Uprising, and the strength of the village is due to the diversity of its residents.
The Proclamation also spoke about “legal equality and fair treatment for all people … and ensuring acts of discrimination and hatred will not be tolerated … and the diversity of humanity enriches our society and strengthens the bonds that unite all of us” including members of the LGBTQ+ community who contribute to those successes and strengths in countless ways.
Alpogianis and the Board of Trustees called upon the residents of Niles to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and equal protection under the law and eliminate discriminatory policies and practices for any group of people in the Proclamation.
Among the speakers June 21 were Alpogianis; Illinois state Sens. Laura Murphy (28th District) and Mike Simmons (7th District); and Maine Township Trustee Elizabeth Lynch.
But organizers Stephanie McDaniel and Pam Wolff said this year they decided to focus mainly on community groups and not just elected officials. Additional speakers included HANA Center’s Haven Kang; retired United Methodist Church Rev. Marilyn Robb; Samcha Chicago’s Brandon Chong; North Shore Choral Society assistant conductor and musician Tierra Whetstone; and Wolff. McDaniel served as the event emcee.
“We’re here now to show that no one is capable of taking away our right to think, feel and be who we are,” said McDaniel.
Alpogianis, who just got re-elected to a second term in office, said, “At the end of the day, we are all just human beings. All of us need to live in a country and in a world that respects who we are, and we all need to respect each other … That’s what makes Niles a very special place. Ultimately, it takes a small community like us or our neighboring communities … on these smaller levels as we start to make these things change [for the better], make a difference and support each other.”
Murphy added, “There are a lot of forces out there that are fighting [against this inclusiveness]. … People are angry and I’m hoping that they continue to be angry and that they get involved and they stay energized because we, the people, can change what is happening in this nation, and we have to do that.”
Lynch praised the work McDaniel and Wolff have done to make Niles Pride, and this event specifically, possible. Lynch added that she hopes everyone is inspired by this Rainbow Walk event to continue to do things “to make this community better for everyone.”
Simmons recognized his grandmother, who came to Niles Pride on her 80th birthday, and how proud he was to be “celebrating Pride here with you in Niles. I think it’s a wonderful thing. A lot of our suburbs are starting to have Pride festivals. That’s something that we must continue. We didn’t have this 10 or 20 years ago.”
Simmons further made a promise to ensure that Illinois never allows book bans to take place in the state and how proud he was to work with Murphy on that important legislation. He also called upon everyone to support LGBTQ+ youth.
Kang said the HANA Center builds “the power of Korean, Asian American and multi-ethnic immigrant communities throughout Chicagoland. We do this through social services, education, cultural programming and community organizing to advance human rights and Justice for all.”
They added that the HANA Center became their chosen family after escaping a bad family situation. Kang spoke about the immigrants who are under attack right now by the federal government and that the HANA Center will keep fighting for a future where immigrants are treated with dignity, humanity and respect.
“We’re here today because we know that none of us live single-issue lives,” said Kang. “We know that the fight for immigrant justice is deeply tied to the fights for LGBTQ equality, for racial justice, for gender equity and for economic justice. We know that it is the same people who are trying to deport our loved ones are also trying to make it illegal to be trans and too terrifying to love the people we love”.
Robb, a lesbian pastor who was ordained 51 years ago, said that in 2024 “the closet door opened wide” in the United Methodist Church towards LGBTQ+ acceptance, and noted that she has a transgender granddaughter and that she is worried about her access to gender-affirming health care. She also spoke about the library book bans that are designed to keep people from the truth and said this is why an event like the Rainbow Walk and picnic take place.
Chong said Samcha Chicago is an LGBTQ+ organization for Koreans in the region and added, “Whether it’s for gay rights, trans rights, women’s rights, immigration rights, animal rights, there are tyrants and violent wannabes acting against all of us. Regardless if it’s happening in large settings like Chicago or villages like Niles, we need to let one another know we can feel authentic.”
Whetstone said it is important to educate people about things first, not immediately get upset at them for what they say about people or issues you care about.
“You don’t have to be silent, but you also don’t have to do the most,” said Whetstone. “We must use discernment in all situations. Don’t let anybody get you outside of your body.”
Wolff read the preamble of the U.S. Constitution and reminded attendees that Pride is a protest and “means we the people.”
They added that tyranny of the majority is one of the reasons why we have a constitution and that it is a “living and breathing document” not a static entity.
“Every day, we the people have it in our power to change [things],” said Wolff. “We the people have it in our power to stand up against injustice. We, the people, have the power to say no … You will not defund us because this is a government of we, the people, not you, the people, we, the people. You will not go into our cities with the National Guard and turn our own troops against us. You will not make a mockery of the Constitution. You will not make a mockery of ‘give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’”
Attendees also participated in a one-mile walk/ride/roll around the neighborhood. A number of drivers honked their horns in support and some neighbors came out to watch the proceedings.
LGBTQ+ friendly community groups present at Niles’ Pride Rainbow Walk included Niles Maine District Library; Glenview United Methodist Church; Samcha Chicago; Niles United; the Society for Creative Anachronism; and Midwest Garrison of the 501st Division and Rebel Legion Star Wars fan groups. The HANA Center also the hosted multigenerational adult Pungmul group IlGwaNoRi (which means “Work and Play” in Korean), who come together as a community to learn and play Pungmul drumming.
Other elected officials in attendance included Cook County Commissioner Maggie Trevor; Niles Township Supervisor Bonnie Kahn Ognisanti; and Skokie 73.5 School District Board Secretary Pro-Tem Elana Jacobs. Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita (13th District) and state Reps. Mike Kelly (15th District) and Lynch, as well as Kathy’s American Girl, donated funds to make the walk possible.
Prior to the Pride Rainbow Walk, the unaffiliated Bike Walk Niles took a Pride Ride through the village to Kirk Lane Park ahead of the speeches.
