Belfort House Shows Their Pride During Pride Month

Chicago’s Pride Month parade was cancelled for the first time in its history because of the COVID-19 pandemic and, like so many others, the Ignite community was disappointed not to be able to march to demonstrate our support for the LGBTQ community.

Despite this disappointment, the youth and staff at Belfort House celebrated PRIDE month by decorating Belfort House with PRIDE Month décor, such as posters and rainbow streamers, and engaging in  PRIDE Month activities. One activity focused on the Stonewall Riots of 1969, largely regarded as history's first major protest on behalf of equal rights for LGBTQ people. For this activity, the youth painted foam bricks and taped them on the wall. Behind each brick was information about Stonewall and the LGBTQ community, which the youth had researched. Removing the bricks to read this information symbolized “breaking down barriers” and “removing walls.”

The PRIDE Month activities continued into late July with a t-shirt tie-dying activity out in the yard. These t-shirts were generously donated by Exelon Corporation. All of the PRIDE activities help the youth understand that Ignite is a sanctuary and a safe place for everybody.