Vendors sat under tents as they greeted people wearing rainbow shirts, some with the pride flag tied around their shoulders or on sticks in their hair, attending Northwest Indiana PrideFest at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Valparaiso.
The air was filled with music as people sang karaoke, like “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes, and chatter as people moved through the tents.
Alejandro Rodriguez, a supervisor with IYG, said he was pleased to see a diverse group of vendors, like a tax services business and a roofing company, among vendors that offer support to the LGBTQ community.
“A lot of people don’t realize how diverse our pride event can be,” Rodriguez said.
Leah Peksenak, the president of Northwest Indiana Pridefest, said this year’s pride fest had 75 vendors. Since the fall, Peksenak said she and the fest’s board have been sharing information about the fest to attract as many vendors as possible.
“We wanted to get in as many people as we could. Anyone who is down to support the queer community, this is a way to say, ‘Hey, we like that you’re here and have rights,’” Peksenak said. “It’s an opportunity for them to make a statement and stake a claim in the community.”
This year’s fest was the third annual and the “best one yet,” Peksenak said. The fest had events like a drag show, a magic show, raffle drawings and an interfaith service.
“The vibe was really good and it just seemed like everyone was having a good time,” Peksenak said.
The fest drew in an estimated $15,000 profit, the highest in the fest’s three-year history, Peksenak said. The profits will be donated evenly between IYG, Porter County LGBT Outreach and Indiana Pride of Color, she said.
In the first year, the fest raised $5,000, and in the second year, the fest raised $10,000, Peksenak said. This year’s attendance was estimated at 2,000, Peksenak said, which is also the highest in the fest’s history.
Peksenak said hosting the pride fest is “the most fulfilling thing that I do.”
“While everything is so heavy politically … we have this weekend and it always feels like paradise,” Peksenak said. “It shows people that neighbors love them as they are.”
Rodriguez said IYG recently opened its fifth location in Northwest Indiana and offers a variety of services for those in the LGBTQ community ages 12 to 24. The services include offering a hot meal, developmental programming, mental health services, a summer camp, and more, all for free, Rodriguez said.
Maria Cruz, a client support specialist for IYG, said some people in the LGBTQ community have to leave their homes after coming out, so IYG also helps secure proper identification and get their Social Security cards. IYG can also help with finding housing and jobs, she said.
Cruz said it was her first time attending Northwest Indiana Pride Fest and she was able to celebrate it with her wife.
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“It’s a good reminder that we have such a good community here in Northwest Indiana,” Cruz said.
Pride is about being in the community while remembering “what we have left to fight,” Rodriguez said.
“It’s about reminding ourselves, in the state of Indiana, that we need safe spaces,” Rodriguez said.
Jack Milanec, office manager with Katz Milanec, a financial management and tax services company based in Homewood, Illinois, said they came to pride to connect with the community and provide them with potential financial services.
“We pride ourselves on being pride friendly,” Milanec said.
Bree Ellis, a staff accountant with Katz Milanec, said pride “is very much about freedom.”
Steph Talarek, the founder of Feed the Region, said she wanted to be a vendor at the pride fest because “food is love and love is love.”
“How can we put the best out in the community? This is it,” Talarek said. “Pride is about being yourself.”
Adam Stranc, Talarek’s husband, who helps with the business, said that Feed the Region aims to offer warm meals to families going through a rough time.
Talarek said she cooks vegetarian, comfort food meals from casseroles to spaghetti. Once a week, anyone can come pick up a meal, either for themselves or for someone they know, for any reason: a hard week at work, a layoff, or a family welcoming a new baby, she said.
“We want to make sure that everyone is not only fed but fed well,” Talarek said.
First Christian Church in Valparaiso had a booth set up with its message that all are welcome. Those who stopped by the booth could pick up a flyer with the church’s opening prayer and mission, which states, in part, “The good news of God’s grace is for everyone regardless of age, abilities, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, income, physical and mental health, education, or strength of faith.”
Deacon Perrin Caristi said he grew up in a restrictive church, so it was important to him to find a community that’s welcoming. The church wanted to be at pride fest to connect with the LGBTQ community, he said.
“We are an open, affirming church,” Caristi said. “This is up walking the walk.”
Kaylee Horton, a member of the church, said many people in the LGBTQ community have religious trauma, so it’s important to the First Christian Church not to give that trauma.
“We want you to know that you’re loved and accepted here,” Horton said.