In the middle of a residential subdivision in Buffalo Grove, the inaugural Pride Parade rolled along a nearly one mile-long route down Checker Drive Sunday.
Some 81 participants took part in the parade.
Organizers estimate that the parade drew more than 5,000 people. It was launched by Molly Pinta, 13, who will be a Twin Groves Middle School eighth grader this fall, with the help of supporters that include her parents Bob and Carolyn Pinta,
“It feels really amazing and I think Buffalo Grove definitely needs this,” Molly Pinta said before the parade started at 10 a.m. “It’s a huge deal in the community.”
Organizing the parade including reaching out to the village and raising money.
“The first of something is always hard, but of course, it needs that first start to go off,” she said.
The parade stepped off under blue skies in the upper 60-degree range. Multiple people were overheard commenting what a beautiful day it was for a parade.
“It’s amazing to see everybody get together, everybody here outside, it’s so much fun,” said Sherisa Herran, whose Buffalo Grove house is located along the parade route.
She stood in her driveway where lawn chairs were set on a nearby front step.
“Something that is really important to us in Buffalo Grove is that this parade is for the family and it’s all about the kids and about them starting to have the conversation with their parents that being gay, or being trans, or whatever it may be, is completely normal,” Carolyn Pinta said. “It’s just part of our community.”
Molly, with her rainbow-dyed tresses and tie dye bright summer dress, rode on top of a tall float. People lining the parade route took moving images and cell phone photos.
Along the parade route, people waved to and pointed at Molly, saying she was the person who started the parade.
“It’s amazing, love, love,” said spectator Elisabeth Reigle, of Wauconda, who held her child Stella, 1, along the parade fence line.
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At the end of the parade route, participants could attend the four-hour “Uniquely Us Festival” thrown by the Buffalo Grove Park District.
“I’ve lived in Buffalo Grove 38 years and it’s a great community,” said Rodney Odelson of Buffalo Grove, Buffalo Grove Days Parade co-chair.
Odelson said the Pintas should be proud of their accomplishments.
“I’m just blown away,” he said.
The Pinta family marched in the Buffalo Grove Days Parade last Labor Day weekend, Carolyn Pinta said.
Parade entries included Lake County community organizations, LGBT groups, including one from Mundelein, people in flamboyant costumes and glitter makeup plus musicians.
Carolyn Pinta said that Molly will be a youth grand marshal at the Pride Parade in Chicago later this month and will out front with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot – the city’s new, openly gay chief executive.
As a known fixture in the media, Molly said she is comfortable with her newer visible role.
“Of course, I feel a little pressure, but not really,” Molly Pinta said. “It just feels good.”
Her mother summed up the day, hoping the lasting message could be about a celebration of diversity.
“Love is love,” Carolyn Pinta said.
