Some lucky passengers who took Metra to Berwyn on Saturday were greeted with cheers, music and plenty of rainbows.
Shortly after noon, the doors opened and revealed a line of about 250 people excitedly walking on Windsor Avenue between Harlem and East avenues. Some wore colorful leis and capes, while others carried heart-shaped fans and bright umbrellas. One person held a disco ball that sparkled in the sunlight as Donna Summer’s ‘70s hits blared from a portable speaker.
Berwyn Ald. Joshua Bowman (2nd) broke from the crowd and handed the Metra conductor a rainbow flag.
The occasion was the annual Berwyn Pride Walk, hosted by the city and the Berwyn Development Corp. After marching for almost a mile through the Depot District, attendees made crafts, competed in a “strut-your-stuff” competition and enjoyed ice cream from a truck.
Though much smaller than the massive Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday, the Berwyn event still exudes the same power of joy and acceptance. In fact, some say they prefer the more relaxed, intimate suburban celebration, which allows them to engage deeply with the familiar faces they see around town every day.
And the walk has become a way for the predominantly Latino neighborhood to celebrate its diversity and ensure that everyone feels welcome, say residents, organizers and officials.
“It’s great to have fun out there in Chicago, but I think it’s really important to come out and represent and support here in the surrounding small suburbs so that they know we’re here,” said 55-year-old Ivy Blanco, a former Berwyn resident who now lives in Stickney. “And we’re not going anywhere.”
The walk began in front of James Joyce Irish Pub and ended at Lavergne’s Tavern. The idea for the event was born at Lavergne’s nearly a decade ago. Resident Gary Lennon, his brother-in-law, Jousef Mondragon, and 48 other patrons showed up for the inaugural march.
“There was so much going on in the world at that point in time, and there was no outward representation in the community,” said Mondragon, who is also the vice president of economic development for the Berwyn Development Corp.
The early grassroots effort is now officially recognized, thanks to support from politicians, including Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero.
“All we want to show is that everybody’s equal here and we love everybody, and that this is our community,” Lovero said. “We all need to get together no matter what.”
Also in attendance, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, D-Ill., shared his thoughts on the challenges facing both the Latino and LGBTQ+ communities.
“There’s much reason to be concerned on many fronts,” said Garcia, who cited Friday’s Supreme Court ruling that allows Maryland parents to pull their children from public school lessons that use LGBTQ+ storybooks.
“The LGBTQ community is being attacked in education. They’re being singled out for erasure. The immigrant community has been the top target from Day One of the Trump administration with the mass deportation efforts. So everyone who cares about democracy and the constitution should be concerned, mobilized and banding together with our fellow Americans like never before to protect who we are and what our future is going to be.”
Reflecting on the current political climate, Ivy Blanco said, “It feels a little scary.”
Blanco, who is Puerto Rican, participated in the march with her wife, Maria Garibay, who is Mexican.
Blanco said she feels fortunate to live in Illinois and praised Berwyn for taking steps to be more inclusive.
“I can recall a time when Berwyn wasn’t as friendly, about 20 years ago,” she said. “I remember being one of the only Latinas on the block. So to see the evolution and see how the population has grown — it’s nice to see that.”
About 60% of Berwyn’s population of approximately 55,000 is Latino, according to 2024 census data.
During the march, workers from businesses along Windsor Avenue came out to cheer and hand out rainbow flags, vanilla cupcakes and other merch.
Berwyn resident and self-proclaimed “sideline cheerleader” Madeline Sanchez, 42, said she wanted to offer the LGBTQ+ community love and acceptance.
“I wish the parade were longer, but even if it’s 5 seconds, I’ll support it,” she said.