The 1950s and 60s were a time when gay Americans faced an anti-gay legal system. Police raids on gay bars were usual and tensions between the two groups were already high in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, when the police raided the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. Many believe that what unfolded that night, and subsequent events, are what led to the modern fight for LGBTQ rights. The theme of this year’s Springfield Pridefest, Generations of Pride, is a nod to those events 50 years ago. An annual event in Springfield since 2011, Pridefest is an opportunity to embrace and support diversity, and to celebrate the central Illinois LGBTQ community. Hosted by the Phoenix Center, the festival is a family-friendly event. Food, drinks, Pride merchandise, T-shirts, jewelry and art will be available from over 50 vendors. Live entertainment will be ongoing throughout the day. A kids’ area will offer retro games and activities, a large bounce house, petting zoo and make and take activities. Ben Bedford will provide live entertainment in the teen lounge and a teen drag show is scheduled for later in the day. New this year are grownup games including a mechanical bull. Free. springfieldpride.org.
The 1950s and 60s were a time when gay Americans faced an anti-gay legal system. Police raids on gay bars were usual and tensions between the two groups were already high in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, when the police raided the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. Many believe that what unfolded that night, and subsequent events, are what led to the modern fight for LGBTQ rights. The theme of this year’s Springfield Pridefest, Generations of Pride, is a nod to those events 50 years ago. An annual event in Springfield since 2011, Pridefest is an opportunity to embrace and support diversity, and to celebrate the central Illinois LGBTQ community. Hosted by the Phoenix Center, the festival is a family-friendly event. Food, drinks, Pride merchandise, T-shirts, jewelry and art will be available from over 50 vendors. Live entertainment will be ongoing throughout the day. A kids’ area will offer retro games and activities, a large bounce house, petting zoo and make and take activities. Ben Bedford will provide live entertainment in the teen lounge and a teen drag show is scheduled for later in the day. New this year are grownup games including a mechanical bull. Free. springfieldpride.org.