Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. The purpose of this commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally. A highlight of Pride Month 2025 will be the library's unveiling of the Pride Community Quilt, community created squares patched together into a quilt featured at the center of the new Community & Craftivism summer exhibit. A panel from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt will also be on display as part of this exhibit. Learn more about special Pride programs and booklists below.

Community & Craftivism: June 12 to July 23

This summer, the library is celebrating the art of making with Community & Craftivism, an exhibit showcasing how art can become an opportunity to build community and advocate for change, one stitch at a time.

From June 12 to July 23, the library will display community-driven quilts, art projects created through craftivism and more, all curated by the library in partnership with artist and activist Shannon Downey. An opening event celebration will also take place on the library’s first floor on June 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Register here.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is the unveiling of the library's Pride Community Quilt, featuring more than 50 unique squares created by members of the Arlington Heights community. The Community Quilt was inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and a piece of the Memorial Quilt will be on display as part of the exhibit at the library.

Other elements of the exhibit include sewn blankets from the Welcome Blanket Project, which are created for new immigrants who come to the U.S., a Freedom Quilt from Palatine Library, Rita's Quilt, and traveling for the first time to Illinois, the Let Freedom Read Dress, created to celebrate the American Library Association’s Banned Book Week.

Community Quilt

The centerpiece of the Community & Craftivism exhibit is the unveiling of the library's Pride Community Quilt, which began in June 2024 when members of the Arlington Heights community created more than 50 squares for the quilt. Artist and activist Shannon Downey, having previously worked with the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, fostered a connection with local quilters Maggie Hendricks and Heather Kinion who then assembled the quilt.

The library’s Pride Community Quilt was inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which is considered to be the largest community arts project in history. Altogether, the pieces displayed in this exhibit not only showcase how art can form community, but also how it can be an impactful way to shed light on important issues.

AIDS Memorial Quilt

The AIDS Memorial Quilt remembers the lives of those lost to HIV/AIDS. A piece of the quilt will be on display as part of the Community & Craftivism exhibit at the library.

It was conceived in 1985 by artist Cleve Jones who created the quilt’s first panel in memory of his friend Marvin Feldman. What started as one panel soon grew into a quilt comprised of 1,920 squares and in 1987, it was publicly displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. At the time it covered a space larger than a football field. Today, it is made up of around 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 people, weighing an estimated 54 tons.

The library’s own Pride Community Quilt was inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and the library is proud to be displaying a piece of the AIDS Memorial Quilt this summer.

Shannon Downey

“There’s a million ways to make change, anybody can participate in change making in any way that they feel comfortable with. I want people to walk away feeling inspired and ready to take action.” - Shannon Downey

Artist Shannon Downey, who’s developed an online following as Badass Cross Stitch, has partnered with the library to curate Community & Craftivism, and is contributing several art pieces to the exhibit.

Rita’s Quilt started in 2019, when Downey was at an estate sale in Mt. Prospect and discovered a box filled with unfinished quilt embroidery. It belonged to Rita Smith who passed away at 99 before she could finish it. After more than 1,000 people expressed interest in helping Downey finish Rita's Quilt, pieces were mailed to artists, then Chicagoan quilters assembled it. The quilt traveled across the U.S. and will now be on display at the library.

Pride Resources

General Resources

Glen's Friends is a local nonprofit whose mission is to "nurture a world where all can love and be loved." This organization builds alliances and community initiatives throughout the Chicagoland area, while offering sponsorship and support of LGBTQ+community events and Glen's Friends activities.

Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit fostering healthier communities. Their LGBTQ+ Center offers inclusive and affirming resources and support to the LGBTQ+ community in the Northwest suburbs.

The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning young people. For more than 23 years, The Trevor Project has worked to save young lives through 24/7, free, confidential crisis intervention services.

Anti-Violence Project empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.

GLADD ensures fair, accurate and inclusive representation that rewrites the script for LGBTQ+ acceptance. GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change.

Human Rights Campaign fights to make equality, equity and liberation a reality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people.

LGBTQ+ Pride Flags: Learn more about the different pride flags and their meanings.

Identity Resources

The American Institute of Bisexuality encourages, supports and assists research and education about bisexuality through programs likely to make a material difference and enhance public knowledge, awareness and understanding about bisexuality.

Advocates for Trans Equality fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in America. A4TE was founded in 2024 when two long-time champions for the trans community, National Center for Transgender Equality (NTCE) and Transgender Legal Defense Fund (TLDEF), merged together as one organization.

Bi.org was created in 1996 with the simple goal of letting bisexual people know that they are not alone. Bi.org continues to connect bi people around the world and provide accurate, accessible, scientifically sound information about bisexuality.

Transgender Law Center is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self determination for all people. Transgender Law Center champions the right of all transgender and gender-nonconforming people to make their own choices, and life freely, safely, and authentically

Health

Advocate Aurora Health's experienced and specially trained providers care for the health care needs of the LBGTQ+ community.

Howard Brown Health serves men, women, transgender and gender non-conforming folks. The agency serves more than 40,000 adults and youth.

Chicago Women’s Health Center facilitates the empowerment of women, transgender people and young people by providing access to health care and health education in a respectful environment where people pay what they can afford.

Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is recognized as a “leader in LGBTQ Healthcare and Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign foundation.

GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGTBQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments.

Legal

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) works to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people can live openly without discrimination and enjoy equal rights, personal autonomy and freedom of expression and association.

Lambda Legal represents LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV, both in the court of law and in the court of public opinion.

The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association is a national organization of lawyers, judges, and other legal professions, law students, activists, and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender legal organizations. The LGBTQ+ Bar promotes justices in and through the legal profession for the LGBTQ+ community in all its diversity.