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Chicago Tribune
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Northwest Indiana LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride Month with resilience, caution
The first day of June was 'such a breath of fresh air,' as Pride Month kicked off amid President Donald Trump's second term, said Leah Peksenak, president of NWI Pridefest Inc. 'It's been such a stressful year, stressful since last November, and it was just so nice to take a second and prioritize joy for a little bit. Even though it's not like you forget all of the things that are happening and what's at stake, not just for LGBT people but for so many vulnerable communities, but it is nice to just take a second and say joy is itself a revolutionary thing,' Peksenak said. Trump has taken action against the LGBTQ+ community in many ways, like signing an executive order stating that the U.S. only recognizes two genders, a transgender servicemember military ban, and banning transgender athletes from collegiate sports. The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The court's 6-3 decision effectively prevents legal challenges to efforts by Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people, as 26 other states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith called Pride Month a 'rainbow beast' on social media and how it's coming for children. Beckwith's words depicting the LGBTQ+ community as predators give people permission to violently target the members of that community, Peksenak said. 'Nobody cares what happens to predators. Nobody cares what happens to pedophiles. So if you tell people, 'oh these people are targeting children, they are harming children, they are a beast that's coming for your kid,' some unstable person is going to hear that as a mandate to do something about it. That's frightening,' Peksenak said. Jeremy Gregson, the entertainment director for NWI Pridefest Inc., said entering Pride Month was nerve-wrecking this year, especially as the organization planned its second annual pride festival in Lake Station earlier this month. The organization took extra precautions this year, he said. 'There was a heightened sense of security,' Gregson said. 'There was some nervousness, some anxiety. But for my community, I had to step up. I had to show, on my face, that there was no anxiety because others feed off that.' The organization raised about $12,000 for Indiana Youth Group over the course of the two-day festival, Peksenak said. But, there was a bit of a challenge securing organizations to be vendors for this year's festival because so many organizations are stretched thin supporting marginalized communities targeted by the federal government, Peksenak said. 'It's like we're at empathy capacity right now because there's so many areas to care about and focus on,' Peksenak said. The actions against the LGBTQ+ community by the Trump administration are disheartening, but the community will continue to fight for rights and access, Gregson said. 'It makes me sick that we're going backwards instead of going forward,' Gregson said. Earlier this month, Southern Baptist delegates at their national meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on same-sex marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. The wide-ranging resolution doesn't use the word ban, but it left no room for legal same-sex marriage in calling for the 'overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family.' Further, the resolution affirmatively calls 'for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one woman.' Gregson said the church's endorsement scares him because he's currently engaged. 'My wonderful fiancé has already stated no man is ever going to stop him and I from being happily ever after,' Gregson said. 'I would hope that the Supreme Court would never want to hear the case again. But knowing who is sitting on the Supreme Court, could it be likely they would? Maybe.' If the Supreme Court did hear the case, Gregson said the LGBTQ+ community would hit the streets and the intensity would likely be that of the Stonewall Riots in 1969, where protestors and police clashed after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, in New York City. The riots were a catalyst for the gay rights movement throughout the world. Regardless of the Supreme Court's potential action, Gregson said he will be with his partner. 'He's mine. I'm his. No judgment is going to make me not be with the man I love,' Gregson said. 'I think the Supreme Court sees it as we're human, and at the end of the day that's all we want to be treated like.' Peksenak, who is also a reverend at Marquette Park United Methodist Church and Hobart First United Methodist Church, said both parishes have people who support and oppose the Trump Administration. Similarly, Peksenak said she's aware that not all parishioners support her involvement in LGBTQ+ activism. When she preaches, Peksenak said she tries her best to speak to different situations in life, different scripture passages to avoid being 'a one note.' But, she said she also focuses on not compromising her beliefs and values. Peksenak said she tells parishioners that she doesn't have more access to God than they do, and that they can disagree with her. But, she said at the end of the day, Peksenak said as the spiritual leader of the church she has to stick to her convictions and speak to Biblical and current events. At its core, Peksenak said the church is following someone who was executed by the state for speaking his mind and supporting oppressed people. So the church has an obligation to follow that path, she said. 'I have been adamant in my stance that I understand that it might be uncomfortable when we talk about LGBT issues, I understand that it might be uncomfortable if immigration is mentioned in a sermon, but to preach a message that doesn't have anything to do with what's happening in the world today is pointless,' Peksenak said. With increased political and social attacks on the LGTBQ+ community, Peksenak said it's important that people show support for the community. 'The more that powerful people spew hate, that increases our mandate to love and love loudly. It becomes even more urgent that we go out of our way to do as much good as we can, to love and care for and protect this community.' Peksenak said.
Chicago Tribune
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Pride Fest interfaith service stresses speaking out, spreading love
Allison Andersen walked up to the stage, decorated in rainbow streamers, a rainbow balloon arch with the word pride spelled out in tall, white letters, and bowed her head in prayer. Andersen, of Valparaiso, took a handful of beads and placed them into the clear vase nearby as she prayed that God 'worked a miracle in this place today,' she said. 'We're here to love everybody,' Andersen said when she returned to her lawn chair. 'I'm here to celebrate the light and love of Jesus with a group of people that have been marginalized.' Northwest Indiana Pride Festival began its second day Sunday with an interfaith service, which began with people taking beads and pouring them into a vase while saying a prayer or giving an intention. About 50 people, sitting either on lawn chairs, benches or blankets, spread out across the lawn in front of the stage at Riverview Park in Lake Station to participate in the service, which included faith leaders speaking to the crowd and hymns between each speaker. Rev. Timothy Leitzke, the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, shared with the crowd the impact of Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith's recent social media post, where he called Pride Month a 'rainbow beast' and threatened that it's coming for children. Leitzke said that government officials are 'the beast' for the laws and regulations they pass that marginalize the LGBTQ+ community. 'That's what the bad guy does. Thank you for the exercise in irony, Lt. Governor,' Leitzke said. Rev. Leah Peksenak, with Marquette Park United Methodist Church and Hobart First United Methodist Church, told the crowd that she doesn't believe in reconciliation without reparations, and that the church shouldn't be forgiven for its treatment of LGBTQ+ people until it repents. Peksenak then listed all the things she's sorry for: the qualifiers and conditions placed on LGBTQ+ persons' worth, that so many churches won't celebrate or bless same-sex weddings and the teaching of children to be fearful of the LGBTQ+ community. Further, Peksenak apologized for the church perpetuating the lie that LGBTQ+ people are predators 'when we are the ones with the most skeletons in our closet on that front by far.' Peksenak said she's sorry that some people of faith have taken 'five questionably translated verses out of context and rammed them down your throats.' Peksenak apologized for the church calling LGBTQ+ love a sin, for every conversion therapy session, for every pray the gay away camp. Peksenak said she was sorry for every parent who disowned a child for being LGBTQ+ because of the church's teachings. Peksenak said she was sorry for 'every single soul that is no longer with us,' where her voice cracked and she paused before continuing 'because we made them feel like being dead was the less painful option.' 'I'm sorry that we ever made you think that there was something wrong with you. I'm sorry that we did all of this in the name of God who made you exactly who you are,' Peksenak said. 'I'm sorry if anyone ever made you feel like God doesn't love you.' The LGBTQ+ community has access to God with or without the church, Peksenak said. 'Inside the church, outside the church, in a faith community or otherwise, do not ever let your voice be silenced by somebody else's hate,' Peksenak said. 'You are too precious. Your perspectives are too irreplaceable. Your faith in yourselves and in the power of goodness and joy is too strong for that.' Rabbi Diane Tracht of Temple Israel in Miller Beach shared a blessing that addresses how people are created in God's image. People don't understand the joys of the LGBTQ+ community, which turns them to hate the community, she said. But, that hate causes fear in the LGBTQ+ community, she said. Peksenak, who is also the president of Norwest Indiana Pride Fest Inc., said ahead of the service that this year's pride festival was the organization's second annual festival. In its second year, the festival has grown in number of attendees, vendors, performers and park space. This year's two-day festival raised more money on its first day than it raised in both days last year, Peksenak said. This year's festival funds would be donated to Indiana Youth Group, she said. The current political threat to the LGBTQ+ community has left many with a deep sense of fear and anxiety, Peksenak said. But, it has also 'lit a fire under us' to push back, she said. 'We're going to be doing as much as we can, as loudly as we can for as long as we can, and if they say we can't, we'll do it anyway,' Peksenak said. Maggie Mooers, from Gary, said she came to the festival because she wanted to show her allyship to the LGBTQ+ community, especially at an event in Indiana given its conservative political stance. 'I think it's cool that they're doing this, especially with the service, because it's inclusive,' Mooers said.
Chicago Tribune
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Pride Fest returning to Lake Station park
Northwest Indiana Pride Festival organizers are gearing up for a second year of festivities celebrating Gay Pride Month on Saturday and Sunday at Riverview Park in Lake Station. This year's event includes more entertainment vendors and has drawn more sponsors and food trucks, said Leah Peksenak, of Portage, president of NWI Pridefest. 'This year's slogan is 'bigger, louder, prouder,'' she said. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, is slated to address attendees at noon on Sunday, she said. It marks Mrvan's first appearance. On Tuesday, the city's Board of Works approved two agreements with the group for indemnification and liability, protecting the city in case of negligence. A memorandum of understanding calls for NWI Pride to supervise the event, coordinate vendors and parking. The city will provide police officers, within its discretion. NWI Pride agreed to pay $5,000 to hold the two-day event. 'The last one went smoothly,' said Carroll. 'The weather was off, but it was still OK. 'This world, people believe what they want to believe. We didn't see any hate that day. And, you know, that was good. And it's also good that the city of Lake Station is a safe spot.' The two-day event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. A two-day general admission is $17.50 or $10 each day. It's $8 to use the nearby city pool and a VIP admission is $100. Peksenak said the event's beneficiary is IYG, a nonprofit that assists young gay people suffering from housing insecurity. It has a location on U.S. 30 in Schererville. Peksenak said festival-goers are also invited to play pickleball on the city's new courts in the park at 2701 Ripley St. Some of the events include a petting zoo, a mechanical bull, and a magician. Several of the sponsors are faith-based including Marquette Park United Methodist Church, Gary, Hobart First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, Valparaiso, Hobart First Unitarian, Temple Israel, Gary, Immanuel United Church of Christ, Highland, Unity of NWI, and INUMC Diversity, Missions, and Justice Ministries. Peksenak said an interfaith service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday. LGBTQ Porter County is sponsoring several events this month, as well. On June 12, there a dress-up with Pride at the group's location, 201 Washington St. Other events include: June 14: 'Love is Love 5K,' 8 a.m., Bluhm County Park, Westville June 19: Querroake, 7-8:30 p.m., 201 Washington St. June 20: Paint with Pride, 6-8 p.m., Dogwood Park, Chesterton June 22: Coming Together Picnic, 2-6 p.m., Kirchhoff Park, Valparaiso June 26: LGBTQ film screening, 5-7 p.m., Valparaiso Public Library
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Potluck brings together different faiths for fellowship, talk of world events
It was an evening of faith, food and fellowship as some 100 folks from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds came together. Participants from throughout Northwest Indiana gathered on Thursday to dine together at a potluck dinner, to promote social justice and to build strong communities. The inaugural gathering of what is called Interfaith Potluck, Building Bridges Coalition was held at the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center in Merrillville. The purpose of the gathering was to bring about better understanding and to eliminate the divisiveness among people in the area no matter what their religious beliefs or backgrounds, event spokesman Ferass Safadi said. 'This is the first event with plans to hold it quarterly and possibly bring it back in October,' Safadi said. Jawad Nammari, a youth volunteer at Northwest Indiana Islamic Center, called it a joint effort between communities. 'We're a people of peace. We're a people of love and justice,' Nammari said. Those in attendance had been encouraged on the center's website to bring a dish to share. 'This special evening is more than just a meal — it's an opportunity to connect across faiths, build meaningful relationships, and work together toward greater social justice in our communities,' the website said. Religious leaders who spoke at the meeting included Rabbi Diane Tracht of the Temple Israel in Gary; Iman Mongy El-Quesny of the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center; Pastor Rameem Jackson of St. Timothy Community Church in Gary; and the Rev. Tom Bozeman of the First Unitarian Church of Hobart Calumet Region. The Rev. Leah Peksenak of the Hobart First United Methodist Church and Marquette Park United Methodist Church in Gary emceed and posed questions to the religious leaders. 'What we are hoping is that this is the first of many conversations,' Peksenak said. Attendees, including Sarita Villarreal of Hobart and Maryalice Larson of Valparaiso, were also given the chance to ask questions of the religious leaders and to voice their opinions. The thought-provoking questions Peksenak asked of the religious leaders included their feelings on social justice, what social justice tradition they were most proud of, their biggest challenge and in what areas were improvements still needed. Although responses from the religious leaders remained civil and thoughtful, talk included continuing unrest in the world including between Israel and Palestine and Ukraine and Russia. Rabbi Tracht said for her Gaza and Israel would be the 'elephant in the room.' 'The starvation of those living in Gaza is an abomination,' Tracht said. Iman Mongy El-Quesny, a native of Egypt, said he was living in the Middle East in 1979 when the Egypt-Israel peace treaty was signed by Anwar Sadat, the president of Egypt, and Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel. 'We cherish that peace accord. We lived together. We are cousins,' El-Quesny said. He said he blames politicians for creating problems between people. 'The issue is politicians. They are small in number but loud in voice,' he said. El-Quesny encouraged those in attendance not to be silent and to love themselves first. 'We are all the children of Adam. We are all the children of God. He wants us to cherish one another and to love one another. That's what God wants from us,' El-Quesny said.
