‘A legacy of progress’: Rockford prepares for first officially sanctioned Pride Parade
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — As Andrew J. Mertzenich walked the route Wednesday of what will be the city’s first officially sanctioned Pride Parade, he thought back to that first nervous phone call he made 10 months ago to put the wheels in motion for the event.
At the time, he worried no one would say yes to the idea of shutting down city streets to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride.
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But 10 months later he sees a city that has embraced the idea with 55 parade units signed up to march the route, speeches planned from Mayor Tom McNamara and Congressman Eric Sorensen, and downtown streets shut down for the parade to move through on Saturday.
“People started saying yes,” Mertzenich said.
On Wednesday, he and members and supporters of the Rockford Area Pride Committee made a symbolic first walk of the parade route.
“I’m holding myself together, but I’m on the verge of tears of happiness,” he said. “All of the work we’ve been putting together for the last 10 months is finally coming together into a parade that is actually happening.”
The city has been home to several Pride events before, including unofficial parades with vehicles moving through the streets. Saturday will mark the first time that streets have been shut down for an officially sanctioned parade. For organizers, that’s a big step that symbolizes progress in their hometown.
“I’ve grown up here my entire life and never has this place ever felt as welcoming as it does now,” said Stephen Ramberg, the Pride Committee’s drag czar. “What’s so special about this is it’s not just a small band of queers trying to make something happen once or twice: The community is really coming together and we only want to grow from here.”
Ramberg said people will drive from our area to Chicago to see its annual Pride Parade fill the streets with drag performers, floats and other entertainment.
“Now we’re bringing that here because Rockford has so much incredible talent, so many amazing LGBTQ voices that now are going to be not only heard but seen out on the street,” said Ramberg, who is a headlining drag performer as Auntie Heroine. “We’re not just creating a one and done, we’re creating a legacy and a legacy of progress.”
Ramberg credited the progress, in part, to the presence of the Liam Foundation, a nonprofit which works to support, heal and empower members of the LGBTQ community. The foundation is named for Liam Burdick, the son of the organization’s founder Phyllis Gallisath. Gallisath is also a founding member of the Rockford Area Pride Committee. Burdick came out as transgender in 2015, and he died by suicide in 2018 just weeks before he was set to graduate from Harlem High School.
“When I look back from when Liam came out to now, so much has changed,” Gallisath said. “I don’t think he’d recognize the city. I don’t think he’d recognize all the changes that have been made, and the progress we have and how many people there really are in this community that do support these efforts.”
The parade’s chief marshal is Kelly Kulak, a straight, married mother of three. She said it’s important for people to stand up as allies and support the LGBTQ community. She’s quick to push back at suggestions that the parade is inappropriate or vulgar.
“I’m the chief marshal, and my three young kids are going to be there,” she said. “I assure you that it’s absolutely family-friendly and there’s going to be nothing inappropriate.”
The city’s first official Pride Parade comes near the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which started after a police raid on a gay club in New York and played a significant role in the movement for LGBTQ rights.
In Rockford, the theme for the parade is “Celebrate, Remember, Unite.”
“Ours is a celebration of self-expression and most importantly self-love, understanding that you have worth, dignity and respect in the community,” Mertzenich said.
He said when the parade steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday it will be a historical moment for the city.
“There’s never going to be another first one,” he said. “But it’s not the last parade.”
If you go | Rockford Area Pride Parade
Route: The main parade route begins on State Street at Charles Street, marching west through downtown. The route crosses the Rock River over the State Street bridge. The parade then turns north on Main Street and ends at Park Avenue
Schedule:
- 8:30 a.m. – flag raising ceremony at Veterans Memorial Hall, 211 N. Main St.
- 10 a.m. – street closures begin
- 10:45 a.m. – speeches at the main stage near Maze Books, 406 E. State St.
- 11 a.m. – parade step off
- 1 p.m. – street closures end
Info: rockfordareapride.org
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=12toWcUms1SrE_MlcqfnZA8HmfgVAYxs&femb=1&ll=42.267991296493335%2C-89.09010416172302&z=15
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
