The Western Illinois University LGBT*QA Resource Center will host Pride Fest 2026, from 1-4 p.m., Saturday, May 2, at the Multicultural Center (MCC) Lawn & Parking Lot on WIU's Macomb campus.
'Our Pride Fest, 'Fabric of Freedom,' offers something for everyone, and is designed to celebrate individuality, unity and the diverse identities that make up the WIU community,' said MCC Director Katy Valentin. 'The event is open to everyone. Please join us in celebrating diversity and togetherness.'
The event will feature food, interactive activities, a photo booth and live entertainment, including a drag show.
In 2011, the LGBT*QA Resource Center was established at WIU to serve as a home, and to raise awareness for, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning+ community at WIU. Ten years later, the resource center provides that home-away-from-home, numerous programming and events and resources for the WIU and surrounding communities.
However, before that, in 1987, Ralph Wagoner, Western Illinois University's eighth president, took a request from WIU's Open Door, a support group for gays and lesbians on campus, to the then-governing body of five Illinois public universities to include in its policies the prohibition of discrimination of students and employees on the basis of sexual orientation. Since its creation in 2011, the LGBT*QA Resource Center has spearheaded a number of inclusive initiatives at WIU, in addition to Pride Fest.
For more information, contact the LGBT*QA Resource Center at [email protected].
