3rd annual Lighthouse LGBTQ+ Pride Party to kick off in Homewood

Pride Party 6/28 Features Music, Food, Kids Crafts and Celebration 5 to 9 p.m.

Rainbow Flags in Downtown for Pride Month

The Village of Homewood is proudly hosting the 3rd annual Lighthouse LGBTQ+ Pride Party on Friday, June 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. in Martin Ave. Square as part of Homewood’s Pride Month Celebration. This is the first time Homewood is hosting the party and celebrating Pride during the month of June with rainbow flags decorating the downtown area. The Homewood Business Association is sponsoring the commemorative flag program which kicks off at the Homewood Artisan Street Fair on June 7. The Lighthouse Pride Party is free and open to the public. More information is at www.HomeSweetHomewood.com

“We are thrilled to expand and move the party to Homewood,” said Lighthouse LGBTQ+ Founder Stephanie Wright. “It is especially impactful that Homewood is embracing Pride month with rainbow flags throughout the downtown. It really shows how welcoming the community is.”

The Lighthouse Pride Party starts at 5 p.m. with Wright giving opening remarks at 6 p.m. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. with members of the Homewood Flossmoor High School singing a variety of numbers from musicals. HF’s own The Eppersons perform their mellow crowd-pleasing hits at 7 p.m. and The Lakeside Pride Ukulele Ensemble closes the evening from 8 to 9 p.m. Food vendors include: Cilantro, Mae’s Que House Food Truck, Empanadus, Sno Daze Tropical Sno, The Sunshine Kitchen, Aurelio’s Pizza, Panda Cookies, and LaVoute Bistro and Bar.

Lighthouse Pride Party features free activities for everyone including hair spray color sponsored by Jonathan Kane, face painting sponsored by John Harrell State Farm Insurance, and a fun rainbow craft sponsored by The Village of Homewood. Cookie decorating, sponsored by Panda Baby, is available with a donation to Lighthouse.

Lighthouse LGBTQ+ provides free support for teens & young adults in the South Suburbs who are processing their sexual & gender identity. Lighthouse also provides special programming throughout the year for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies.

Lighthouse LGBTQ+ was founded in 2016 by Homewood/Flossmoor residents Valerie Litchfield and Stephanie Wright who connected as moms of LGBTQ+ kids. Working with Homewood Flossmoor High School, they created an informal and affirming opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to come together, share stories, concerns, questions and experiences. Lighthouse LGBTQ+ meets at the Flossmoor Community Church where the past two Pride celebrations were held.

Proceeds from the flag sales benefit Lighthouse LGBTQ and the Homewood Business Association. All proceeds from the Lighthouse Pride Party go to Lighthouse LGBTQ+.  

The third annual Lighthouse LGBTQ+ Pride Party is on Friday, June 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. in Martin Ave. Square as part of Homewood’s Pride Month Celebration. The Lighthouse Pride Party is free and open to the public. More information is at www.HomeSweetHomewood.com