Uniting Pride of Champaign County

Invitation for UP's Founders' Reception, 2010

Uniting Pride (UP) of Champaign County was formed in 2009 by Kevin Johnson, with the intention of coordinating C-U's first LGBTQ Pride Festival. The organization's original mission was to "support and promote human care, educational, and community-building activities directed at furthering the well-being and development of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and ally (LGBTQA) community of Champaign County."  

In July 2010, UP announced the first pride festival in the history of Champaign and Urbana would be held on Friday, August 20, 2010, in cooperation with local businesses and not-for-profit organizations representing the LGBTQ community and its allies. The event was hosted at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana.  

Backstage pass for the first LGBT Film Festival hosted by UP

One of the programs hosted by UP was their “LGBT Film Festival,” first held in 2010. The festival showcased 5 films, including "The Amasong Chorus: Singing Out," "Milk," and "Boys Don't Cry." The LGBT Film Festival returned for a second and third year to foster community showings of films about LGBTQ stories.  

UP has hosted and collaborated on a variety of services and programs, including but not limited to live concerts, theatre performances, drag shows, an annual LGBTQ prom, consistent support groups, and offering cultural competency trainings for businesses and organizations. 

Letter from The White House received by UP

Signed portrait of President Obama received by UP

In 2011, UP received a letter from President Barack Obama's White House in celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Community Center Awareness Day. The letter recognizes the “vital role that community centers play in the lives of LGBT Americans, by building camaraderie, providing access to health & social services, and empowering the community.”  

Over the past decade, UP has become a cornerstone of the LGBTQ community in Champaign County. With the assistance of partner organizations and the work of many individuals, UP has coordinated LGBTQ spaces in a variety of different spheres, in private and in public, to support and promote the well-bring of the community in Champaign County.