Champaign Pride 2026
(URBANA, IL) “Walking in my first CU Pride Parade was surreal. It was the first time I was fully out and proud, marching the streets of my childhood. I was honored to march alongside fellow IPAN leadership members. I’m grateful and thankful that we made that moment happen.” reflected Rev. Jason Carson-Wilson, I-PAN President.
Now in its 16th year, Champaign-Urban Pride Fest serves as Illinois’ second-largest pride celebration featuring various events and culminating in the signature parade and fair hosted in downtown Urbana. I-PAN proudly participated in Saturday’s parade as one of the 60+ entries that marched the area around Main and Race streets.
“I was so proud to walk in this year’s Champaign-Urbana Pride Fest! It was great to see families come out to enjoy the parade, celebrate together, and soak up the incredible energy of the day. Events like these are so important for visibility, celebrating who we are, and reminding our 2SLGBTQIA+ community that we belong and deserve to be celebrated. Already looking forward to next year’s festivities!” shares Elvis Guzman, I-PAN Vice-President.
I-PAN Board Member, Larry Cohen, shares the following: “It was a great afternoon, both marching in the Parade and walking through all of the booths at the Festival, seeing so much university and local community representation, and positive and celebratory energy in the air!”
On Sunday, members of the I-PAN leadership team met with the professional staff at the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) for an Open House to explore their campus space, understand the services and resources offered to students, and deepen our collective partnership with each other. CLICK HERE for more photos.
ABOUT UNITING PRIDE:
Uniting Pride was founded in 2009 as an organization that would serve to advocate for the equality, wellness, and visibility of the LGBTQIA2S+ communities in Champaign County. Since its inception, Uniting Pride has been consistently active in the East Central, Illinois community by providing support and social groups, community-building events, educational workshops, local advocacy, resource provision and referrals, and much more.
ABOUT the GSRC:
Since its founding in 1993, the mission of the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) has been to foster an environment that is open, safe, and inclusive for people of all sexualities and gender identities to be their authentic selves. The GSRC not only empowers the 2SLGBTQIA+, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming community through its educational and social programming, but it also provides a welcoming, learning, and supportive atmosphere for the University of Illinois campus community who is interested in developing their knowledge of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.