Journal & Topics Media Group

Pride Parade Organizers Upset Over Lack Of Inclusion In Village Newsletter


Molly Pinta, 13, of Buffalo Grove will host a parade in honor of the gay and lesbian community June 2 in Buffalo Grove.

Organizers of the upcoming inaugural Pride Parade in Buffalo Grove are upset the village did not provide information about the June 2 event in the most recent newsletter that was mailed to every home in town.

“People have come to me upset that there was no mention of the Pride Parade since the most recent village newsletter goes through June, which talks about all the great things happening in our town like the farmers market and police,” said Carolyn Pinta, whose daughter Molly and the rest of her family are spearheading the non-profit Pinta Pride Project.

“The newsletter even talks about the Diversity Festival that is happening after the parade, but nothing about the parade,” Pinta said. “Those who aren’t familiar with Buffalo Grove may not be aware there is a parade June 2. I am personally upset this was not included.”

According to Pinta, the newsletter should contain information submitted from residents, especially if it is a big event that will affect many people in the community. 

She pointed out the calendar on the village website contains information on the parade, so she was perplexed as to why the village would leave it out of the newsletter.

“It didn’t have to be positive or negative, just factual,” Pinta said. “At the very least, people will be inconvenienced that day since thousands of people will be coming to Buffalo Grove for the parade. It just doesn’t make sense for it not to be listed in the newsletter. This is the most major thing happening in Buffalo Grove, bigger than BG Days, and I am not sure how or why this was left out.”

Deputy Village Manager Jennifer Maltas said the park district pays for two pages in the newsletter that’s published bi-monthly. The rest is for the village consisting of news, policy information and village sponsored events.

“That’s been a policy decision that has been made for a long time,” Maltas said. “We don’t even have enough space now for the newsletter and have to cut out some village content.”

Maltas said the village promotes the parade on its website because the Pinta Pride Project is a non-profit. According to Maltas, if the village had published something in its newsletter regarding the Pride Parade, then any event that was coming up would have to be included as well.

“We do not include private events and that is a policy approved by the village board,” Maltas added.

“My family is hurt since so many people worked so hard,” Pinta said. “I do not expect the village to advertise the event or make a stance, but just factually state it’s happening.”

The Pinta Pride Project — led by 13-year-old Molly Pinta — will include a mile-long parade on Checker Road the morning of June 2. It will conclude at Mike Rylko Community Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Rd., with a diverse “Uniquely Us Festival.” The festival, organized by the park district, will feature music, food and numerous attractions.

The purpose of the parade is to celebrate, normalize and highlight the LGBTQ community in Buffalo Grove and surrounding areas.

The parade, with 81 entries, will kick off at 10 a.m. along Checker Drive between Carry Lane and Ridgefield Lane and work its way north to Community Park.

The Pintas have raised $42,000 for the event and contributed $4,000 of their own money. They are paying for everything associated with the parade including approximately 30 on- and- off-duty police for security.

Pinta came out publicly two years ago that she is gay and pondered the idea of organizing a Pride Parade in Buffalo Grove after attending a similar parade in Aurora.

An estimated 5,000 attended the Aurora parade, and the Pintas would not be surprised if more come to Buffalo Grove.

Support local news by subscribing to the Journal & Topics in print or online.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.