People of all sexual orientations came together to celebrate Saturday night at Urbana’s Lincoln Square Mall, where Champaign-Urbana’s second annual Pride Fest was held.
The Uniting Pride Center of Champaign County, or the UP Center, has put the event together both years.
Kevin Bowersox-Johnson, founder of the UP Center, said the center’s mission is “to help provide quality programs and services to better the LGBTQA community of Champaign County.” He said although a goal of Pride Fest is raising awareness within the Champaign-Urbana community, the main idea of the event is to celebrate pride.
“Especially in a year where civil unions are recognized in the state of Illinois, it’s really important that we have time to celebrate,” Bowersox-Johnson said.
The first half of Pride Fest, which took place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., consisted of several vendors selling products geared toward the LGBTQA community, as well as booths offering HIV testing, educational materials and information about the UP Center’s programs.
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88 Broadway, a restaurant and bar located inside the Lincoln Square Mall, hosted the after party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Perry Davidson, 88 Broadway manager, said the event is very family-friendly, particularly in the afternoon hours. He said he brought his wife and kids.
Both Davidson and Bowersox-Johnson said Pride Fest 2011 was a success, with over 2,000 people in attendance. Pride Fest 2010 had a similar turnout, they said.
The idea for Pride Fest began a few years ago when a group of community members felt there needed to be more pride celebration in Champaign, Bowersox-Johnson said. He said with the UP Center developing on a parallel level at the time, it seemed “a natural fit.”
Jimmy Luu, assistant professor of graphic design, said he was surprised Champaign had something like Pride Fest, but “no matter how it is, it’s important that it actually exists.”
Maria Verdos, a University alumna, said she, too, was surprised that so many people participated. But Ashley Waters, another participant at the event, added that the event was “just fun.”
“It’s a great way to meet other queer people,” she said.
The CU Pride Fest was sponsored by the Pygmalion Music Festival, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Ippatsu Salon, East Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Three Degrees of Change, The Cutting Ed, Jon Nadler, the School of Social Work, Strawberry Fields and State Representative Naomi Jakobsson (D-103).
