Central Illinois

Champaign-Urbana PrideFest and Parade in September

By , Publisher/blogger |

CHAMPAIGN — The UP Center of Champaign County will be hosting a Pride parade and festival the weekend of Sept. 27-29. 

From the Facebook event:
The Up Center of Champaign County is proud to announce the 2019 Champaign-Urbana PrideFest and Parade. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of our local pride celebration, and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village, New York, the community will honor these milestones the weekend of September 27-29, 2019. The popular outdoor celebration and vendor fair will take place in the City of Champaign lot, north of One Main Plaza in Downtown Champaign from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Saturday, September 28, with performances and entertainment on the main stage throughout the day. The Up Center will once again partner with the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum to provide family fun for children of all ages.

Central Illinois

UP Center looking for Champaign/Urbana Pride volunteers

By , Publisher/blogger |

CHAMPAIGN — The UP Center of Champaign County is putting out a call for volunteers for this year’s CU Pride in September. In a Facebook post, the center said they are celebrating 10 years of Pride. Volunteers do need to be 15 years old or older. People are needed for positions such as vendor festival set-up, parade line-up and safety monitor, registration and passing the bucket. 

You can see the full list of positions and sign up at this link. 

Central Illinois

CU at Zero conducting trans health survey

By , Publisher/blogger |

CHAMPAIGN — CU at Zero is conducting a transgender health survey of residents in Champaign County. The organizations said that the anonymous survey will identify key interests of transgender and gender non-conforming people in the county. The survey results will be used to develop action plans to better serve the community. You can take the survey at https://qtrial2019q2az1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ceHfBZBco8rVbf. Please be sure to share the link for the survey.

Central Illinois

Champaign mayor says police won’t help ICE

By , Publisher/blogger |

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen announced on Thursday that the city’s police department will not help ICE officials with going after immigrants. In a statement, the police department and mayor’s office stated:

Champaign Police does not take part in ICE immigration raids or immigration enforcement operations involving suspected undocumented residents. The State of Illinois’ TRUST Act prohibits local law enforcement from assisting with any federal immigration enforcement operation. Champaign Police will not stop, arrest, search, or detain anyone solely based on their nationality or immigration status. If known, Champaign Police will not share information about an undocumented individual with federal officials.