Celebrating Parker Pride in the Community

Students, teachers and staff combined efforts in support of LGBTQ+ individuals around the world—and within the school—as a part of Parker’s all-school celebration of Pride Week.

The week kicked off with Upper School student leaders of the Pride Committee distributing stickers, buttons and flags to those interested upon arrival to school on Monday. On Tuesday, students gathered for a crown-making competition to celebrate their favorite LGBTQ+ icon/legend. Upper School students hosted a LGBTQ+ Sexual Health teach-in with representees from Lurie Children’s Hospital and Howard Brown, then took selfies and visited with drag queen Alexis Bevels before she hosted a Drag Queen Story Time for JK–5th grade students in the Kovler Family Library. Scout Bratt from Chicago Women’s Health Center led a teach-in on gender identity on Thursday, and all were welcome to share lunch and dialogue with queer faculty and staff on Friday.

Students in the Lower and Intermediate Schools experienced a special Morning Ex on Wednesday featuring several classes, who presented what they have been learning about gender and family structure in the classroom.

The school community was awash in clothing-specific colors of the rainbow throughout the week, and Quest Foodservice served up different types of rainbow-colored sweet treats daily.

The all-school celebration of Pride Week offered something for everyone and helped to reinforce the Parker community’s commitment to valuing and supporting all types of people and ensure future generations do the same.

Click here for photos of this celebration.