At Girls on the Run, we know we’re stronger together. When we work with other organizations and communities, we can better serve our girls and non-binary youth. We call it the Girls on the Run Relay—we all play a part in getting young people across the finish line.
We have always been, and will always be, here to serve cis and trans girls. We now serve nonbinary and gender creative/expansive kids, as well, and are working with LGBTQIA+ Chicagoland organizations to build resources to help coaches ensure inclusion for girls and nonbinary kids.
That’s why this Pride Month, we’re passing the relay baton to Chicago-based organizations led by folks who work to lift up LGBTQIA young people. All month, we’ll feature their amazing work and words, and resources for you and your kids to learn more. Follow along all month on Instagram! #girlsontherunrelayPRIDE
Chicagoland Family Pride Events
We've rounded up ways for you and your family to celebrate Pride all across Chicago.
- Queer Escape Game at Uptown Branch
6PM - 7PM, June 5 | 929 W. Buena Ave., Chicago
- LGBT Teens at GPLXC Cultural Center
12PM - 4PM, June 10 | 2711 W. 51st St, Chicago
- Midsommarfest
5PM June 9–10PM June 11 | 5200 North Clark Street, Chicago
- DIY Pride Accessories at West Lawn Branch
4PM – 5PM, June 14, 2023 | 4020 W. 63rd St., Chicago
- Film Screening: Growing Up Trans (2015) at Dunning Branch
2PM–4PM, June 17 | 7455 W. Cornelia Ave., Chicago
- Navy Pier Pride
11AM–11PM, June 24 | 600 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago
- PRIDE Storytime with Juno Dawson
10AM, June 24 | Booked, 506 Main St, Evanston
- Family Pride in Jarvis Square
12PM–10PM, June 25 | Jarvis Square at Jarvis Ave. and Greenview Ave.
- Chicago Pride Parade
12PM, June 25 | The parade steps off at Montrose Ave. and Broadway Ave. in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood
(Look for GOTRC Executive Director Jill Eid walking alongside the CCDPH Here to Hear You Mental Health Awareness Campaign float!)
- Family Pride Day at Gallagher Way
10AM, June 25 | Gallagher Way, 3637 N Clark St, Chicago
- Pride South Side at the DuSable Black History Museum
12PM–7PM, July 1 | 740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637
Lurie Children's Gender Development | @luriechildrens
Lurie Children’s Gender Development services support the physical, mental, and social health of young people and their families as youth progress through gender identity development. They provide family-centered medical and behavioral care to young people—including gender expansive and gender non-conforming children, gender-questioning youth, and transgender kids—up to age 22, supporting them with education and resources, gender-affirming clinical care, and ongoing consultation to ensure that children and families.
To make our programming more inclusive of nonbinary and gender-creative and -expansive young people, we are working with Lurie Children’s team to create resources and training for our Coaches.
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PFLAG Northern Illinois | @pflag
For more than 50 years, PFLAG has supported LGBTQIA+ young people through help lines, support group meetings, advocacy, education, and locally and nationally produced resources. They also serve as a support for their families and allies, educating them and teaching them how to speak up and use their voices as advocates. PFLAG Northern Illinois comprises 16 local councils throughout the Chicagoland area, hosting meet-ups virtually and at various locations including Chicago’s Center on Halsted.
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Youth Services Pride Youth Program | @youthservices_
Next up in the #GirlsontheRunRelayPRIDE lineup is Youth Services Pride Youth Program! As part of their overall mission to support the health of young people, their Pride Youth Program provides social connection, support groups, and leadership programming for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 4-24 and their families in Chicago’s northern suburbs. They offer three programs—prideCONNECT, prideSUPPORT, and prideLEAD—providing young people and their families safe, inclusive, affirming spaces to grow.
They are marking June as their Pride Giveback Month, partnering with community organizations and businesses to offer fitness classes and family-focused events, with a portion of the proceeds supporting their mission. Follow them at @youthservices_ to get all the details!
Learn more about the Pride Youth Program and how you can create inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth below.
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Center on Halsted has been supporting LGBTQIA+ young people since 1973. Their services are for both LGBTQIA+ youth and their families and include social, recreational, cultural, and educational programs; mentoring; arts programming; anti-violence and anti-bullying programs; youth groups; and behavioral health services. Learn more about what the center offers and ways to support the mental and physical health of LGBTQIA+ youth!
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago | @bbbschi
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”) from age 7 through high school graduation. To specifically address the needs of LGBTQIA+ Bigs, Littles, and their families, they have created a LGBTQIA+ Pride Initiatives program. Learn more about the BBBSCHI Pride Initiative and explore their resources and others to help you support the LGBTQIA+ youth in your life!
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Celebrate Pride Forever!
At Girls on the Run, we do Pride year round! You can continue celebrating and learning about LGBTQIA+ experiences and perspectives through this joyful list. Get all the links through the Pride link in our bio/here: