Pride Month: Honoring Our History, Strengthening Our Community

Every June, communities across the country pause to celebrate Pride Month — a time to honor the history, resilience, and ongoing fight for equality of the LGBTQIA+ community. For

Joliet and Will County, Pride Month isn't just a national observance; it's also a chance to

recognize the local organizations doing the quiet, essential work of building a safer, more

affirming community right here at home.

Where Pride Began

Pride Month traces its roots to the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969, when patrons of the

Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village resisted a police raid targeting LGBTQ+

patrons. The uprising, led in large part by transgender women of color and other

marginalized members of the community, became a turning point that galvanized the

modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Among the key figures of that night and the activism that

followed was Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman and self-described drag

queen who became one of the most visible and tireless leaders of the early gay liberation

movement. Alongside fellow activist Sylvia Rivera, Johnson co-founded S.T.A.R. (Street

Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, an organization dedicated to supporting homeless

transgender youth, remained a fixture of LGBTQ+ activism in New York for decades. Her

legacy is a reminder that transgender women of color were not just present at the birth of

the modern Pride movement — they helped lead it. One year later, on the anniversary of

Stonewall, activists organized what is widely considered the first Pride march, then called

The Christopher Street Liberation Day march. What began as a protest has grown into a

global month of celebration, remembrance, and advocacy.

Milestones That Changed the Law

Pride Month is also a moment to reflect on the legal victories that reshaped life for LGBTQ+ people

Americans — many of them hard-won after decades of activism:

• 1973 — The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders, a major shift away from pathologizing LGBTQ+ identity.

• 2003 — Lawrence v. Texas struck down state sodomy laws, decriminalizing same-sex relationships nationwide.

• 2010 — The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" allowed LGBTQ+ service members to serve openly in the U.S. military.

• 2015 — Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, a landmark Supreme Court decision that remains one of the movement's defining victories.

• 2020 — Bostock v. Clayton County affirmed that federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ+ employees from workplace discrimination.

• 2022 — The Respect for Marriage Act was signed into federal law, requiring federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages and offering a legal safeguard regardless of future court rulings.

These milestones didn't happen in a vacuum — they were the result of sustained

organizing, storytelling, and community support, much of which still happens at the local

level today.

Why Local Organizations Matter

National legislation sets the floor, but it's local organizations that do the day-to-day work of

keeping people safe, connected, and cared for. This is especially true for groups serving

foster youth and low-income families, populations where LGBTQIA+ individuals are

significantly overrepresented and underserved.

LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in the foster care system, often as a

result of family rejection after coming out, and they frequently face additional instability

once inside that system — more placements, higher rates of homelessness, and less access to affirming care. That's why organizations built around supporting foster and low-income income families are historically important to the LGBTQIA+ community, even when LGBTQ+ identity isn't their sole focus. By reducing the stigma around mental health, easing financial strain, and making sure no family or young person feels alone, these organizations create the kind of stable, supportive environment that LGBTQ+ youth in particular need to thrive.

Will Find Hope, serving the Grundy-Will region, is one example of this kind of work. Founded to break down the stigma around mental illness, the organization has grown to

provide direct aid to families during challenging times — including its annual holiday event,

which brings foster families together for community, food, and support. Organizations like

this matter because they fill the gaps that fall outside any single advocacy group's mission:

They hold space for foster families, low-income households, and young people who need

stability most, many of whom are also part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Joliet & Will County Resources

Pride Month is a great reminder that support doesn't have to come from far away. Joliet and

the surrounding area is home to several organizations doing meaningful, year-round work

for the LGBTQIA+ community:

Will County Health Department provides behavioral health services, HIV/STD testing, and

broader public health support to Will County residents, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and

families. 501 Ella Avenue, Joliet, IL 60433 (815) 727-8480 willcountyhealth.org

Joliet Pride Network is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting inclusion, dignity, and

acceptance through advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. The organization hosts

community events throughout the year, including the annual Joliet PrideFest, Pride Night

fundraisers, and Pride in the Ballpark with the Joliet Slammers. (815) 954-7314

jolietpridenetwork@gmail.com jolietpridenetwork.org

Youth Outlook Illinois is the first and longest-running social service agency dedicated solely to supporting LGBTQ+ youth ages 5–24. Youth Outlook runs a weekly Joliet/Lockport Drop-In Center, along with caregiver support groups and health and wellness navigation services. joliet@youth-outlook.org youth-outlook.org

PFLAG Homer Glen/Lockport, part of the national PFLAG network, this local chapter offers support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, with monthly meetings open to anyone — no membership required. Homer Glen, IL 60491 (630) 415-0622 pflag.hgl@gmail.com pflagillinois.org

Will Find Hope Supports foster and low-income families across the Grundy-Will region

through education, community events, and direct aid — work that has a meaningful, often

Overlooked impact on LGBTQIA+ youth and families navigating instability. will-find-hope.org

Closing Thoughts

Pride Month is a celebration, but it's also a reminder of how far the fight for equality still has to go— and how much of that fight is carried forward by local people and local organizations. Whether it's a landmark Supreme Court case or a holiday party for foster families in Will County, every piece of this work adds up to a community where more people can live safely and openly as themselves.

If you or someone you know could use support, the organizations listed above are a good place to start — not just in June, but all year long.

This post is for general informational and reflective purposes. Please contact each organization directly for the most current hours, programming, and eligibility details.