Along the storefronts in Petersburg’s town square, dozens of people sat on benches on a recent weekday, striking up conversations with friends and neighbors who passed by.
Any available seating — usually matching the colors of the business — was quickly filled.
Douglas Pope, owner of restaurant and event venue Broadgauge, made sure to say hello to everyone he saw on the square, including people driving by in cars. He wasn’t just being polite — Pope knew everyone he greeted.
It is this sense of community that inspired Pope to organize the first Pride celebration in this small town of just over 2,500 people about 20 miles north of Springfield.
Saturday’s event, which will include live music, specials at local businesses and art activities for families, is one of many Pride celebrations being held around the state and across the country this month.
Illinois is known for the Chicago Pride Parade — the biggest in the Midwest — which kicks off Sunday. But even a state considered to be a haven for LGBTQ rights has not been immune to attacks on LGBTQ businesses as the national political climate has turned more heated.
Petersburg residents say their festival is a testament to the town’s growth. And many people who moved away from their hometown say they have returned to see this growth continue.
“It’s a real sign of the support that our community has, and it just really blew my mind,” Pope said.
More than 20 businesses and organizations, along with local government leaders, backed the effort, he said.
“The City Council unanimously voted to shut down the streets for Pride in Petersburg,” Pope said. “And, you know, that probably wouldn’t have happened 20 years ago.”
Pope, who is gay and grew up in Petersburg, said the town has always been a welcoming and accepting community. But in the last few years, it’s evolved to become more inclusive of people who “aren’t necessarily like, stereotypical rural citizens.”
A changing town
When Kathy Olesen, a Petersburg native and retired president of the Menard County Historical Society, first heard about Pride in Petersburg, she thought it meant pride in being from the town.
After realizing the actual meaning, Olesen said she is hopeful Pride will give a voice to the silent minority in Petersburg, herself included.
Olesen grew up in Petersburg and lived in Springfield for most of her adult life. She has been with her partner for 35 years and moved back to town 11 years ago.
There’s been a few pockets of pushback, but that’s something that’s true of any place, not just in a small town like Petersburg, she said.
“I’m hoping by doing this, it mainly shows people that they do have a voice. Don’t give up,” she said. “I never dreamed that I would be so welcomed back into Petersburg.”
Olesen said the town is in the middle of a cycle. In the last seven years, people who grew up in Petersburg and moved away have come back to revitalize the town, such as Pope, who started Broadgauge in 2021.
When Olesen used to sit in the town square on weekends, she said the most activity she’d see would be a possum climbing into a sewer.
“But nowadays, you can’t even find a parking spot,” she said.
Becca Newton, director of Three Pines mansion, which hosts weddings and guests from all over the state and Midwest, moved away 20 years ago after graduating from high school. She thought she’d never come back to Petersburg.
Menard County has historically been conservative, which Newton said clashed with her views on LGBTQ inclusion.
“I’ve always felt like a unicorn in this town,” Newton said. “I am not the majority for this town, and I wasn’t sure if Petersburg was ready for me and my views.”
Newton remembers when her older sister was outed in high school and said it was a terrible thing to watch her go through.
“Because seeing how intolerant people were, and how lonely and isolated my sister felt, I don’t want anyone to feel that kind of hurt again,” she said.
Newton moved back in 2020 to run Three Pines, and after seeing how Petersburg has welcomed diverse people, she said she had a change of heart.
“I’ve realized that this town is not what I remembered from my youth,” she said.
Newton said that Saturday’s festivities will also be exciting for the LGBTQ youth in Petersburg. Since moving back, she’s made sure to support this community. Newton has been working on a rainbow mural on the side of the Dairy Queen that’s on one of the busiest streets in town.
“I think just knowing that there are adults, there are people supporting them, even if they’re shunned by their family, there’s still a community here that’s behind them,” Newton said.
Taking a stand
Mary Kate Smith is not originally from Petersburg, having lived in cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles for most of her life.
“When you think about the things that I love about my big city life or sort of a more urban upbringing, Pride to me, it was just everywhere,” Smith said.
Now she is giddy about Pride coming to Petersburg.
Smith is owner of Studio on the Square, a creative space for artists of all ages. In the studio, rainbows and messages of inclusion and diversity line the walls.
Smith said she’s excited to do something public, especially during a time when LGBTQ rights have become a topic of political debate across the country.
There are currently 491 anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures targeting issues such as gender-affirming health care and educational materials, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
“We want everyone to feel safe and welcoming,” Smith said. “And knowing that people don’t always in a small town, I think for Petersburg to have something this public, it’s just so important, especially in today’s climate.”
Smith said she’s proud to live in a place where people support one another. “(Petersburg) has a sort of heartbeat, which I know is like, such a corny thing to say.”
Adam Galassi, a Petersburg native, agreed. He moved back to town after 20 years with the Briar Street Theater in Chicago.
“It almost feels like some metaphysical, cosmic, magnetic energy,” he said.
When Galassi was growing up, he said he felt Petersburg didn’t encourage arts and creativity. Now, he’s the arts and entertainment director at Broadgauge. For Pride, he invited several college bands from central Illinois to perform on the square.
“A lot of the reason I came back, and not in a malicious way, but I always wanted to come back here and try to change things for the me of the past,” he said. “So coming back here and having that goal in mind to create more culture and arts, that’s a pull for me.”
The next step
The community members organizing Pride hope to make the event an annual tradition. They’re all confident that it will last.
Olesen said Petersburg has seen change before — the town used to be all farmers — so this is the next step for a community that always tries to support one another.
“We’re all like, cut from one big happy, dysfunctional family,” she said.
Pope said he’s excited for this new beginning and to see Petersburg continue to grow. Pope married his partner last weekend and said he invited everyone. Days where the whole town gathers are always special, he said.
“This is just gonna be a fun, family event that people can come and have a positive experience,” he said. “I just look forward to seeing the square filled up with people wearing bright colors and flags.”
