Craft It Up meeting TOMORROW 5/17!
Our new meeting times will be the 1st Thursday of the month from 5:00pm-7:00pm and the 3rd Sunday of the month from 1:00pm-3:00pm. This means our next meeting will be Sunday, May 17th 1-3pm!
Bring your personal arts and crafts projects and gather in community! We will meet in the UP Center office. Feel free to drop in anytime between 1:00pm and 3:00pm! No need to come right on time or stay the whole time. Feel free to invite friends!
Masks will be required at our Thursday meetings but not at our Sunday meetings.
Also -- UP has acquired a kettle! So BYO tea + mug and we can have tea together.
Announcing Pride Candle Making with Fire Doll Studios!
Wednesday, June 24th
6-7:30pm
Ages 8+
$25/person
Join Uniting Pride as we take over Fire Doll Studios for a Pride candle making session. The Fire Doll team will take our group on a fun and educational candle making journey where you will make your own candle from start to finish, including a custom scent blend of your own creation. All proceeds support the year-round work of Uniting Pride. Tickets much be purchased in advance!
To purchase tickets go to: /c/rtvgrgkf0n
Equality Illinois LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day is almost here and we need your help!
On May 21, 2026, LGBTQ+ Illinoisans and our allies will come together in Springfield to advance equality and send a clear message to our elected officials: our lives are worth protecting. We must do everything in our power to ensure Illinois remains a true sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people, a place where everyone can live openly, safely, and authentically.
We are looking for volunteers to join the UP team at Advocacy Day! On May 21st, we will be at the State Capitol in Springfield from 10:00am-5:00pm. Our goal is to bring a team of 10 advocates. Some UP staff members will be able to offer rides to Springfield, but we would love to have additional drivers.
If you are interested in participating please email [email protected].
What's the best way to finish a villain's wardrobe? An iconic sword! Lindsay, Jordan, and Matt brought our historic knowledge and a pile of swords to @unitingpride 's villain themed queer prom on Friday.
There's nothing quite like seeing the smile that comes from holding a sword for the first time. We were honored to help create a memorable night while letting people know about our next set of intro classes in June: one for adults and one for teens!
#HEMA #HEMACommunity #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #HistoricalFencing #LGBTQ #Queer
QUEER PROM TONIGHT! 🖤🕸🥀
Doors open 5:30pm | The University YMCA, Champaign, IL
Every student deserves a memorable prom experience, but the reality is that many LGBTQIA+ youth don't feel safe or welcome at their school's prom. We want to change that.
Tonight, Uniting Pride is hosting our free Queer Prom for students ages 13-18, and this year we're embracing our Villain Era. It's a safe, affirming, and joyful space for youth to dance, socialize, and just be themselves.
Come dressed as your most villainous self and compete in our Costume Contest, with both Individual and Group categories. Whether you're channeling a classic villain or creating your own, this is your moment to own the room.
FREE to attend
Open to LGBTQIA+ youth 13-18
Costume Contest with Individual & Group categories
Register today at https://forms.gle/xvWVv7FCTWkfznmS9
Come as you are. Leave as a legend.
Queer Prom is tomorrow! Check out the schedule and get ready to enter your Villain Era. 🕸️🥀
🖤5:30 Doors Open
🖤6:15 Dinner + Drag
🖤7:00 Emily the Band
🖤8:00 Costume Contest
🖤8:30 Royalty Announced
🖤9:00 Event Ends
Thank you to our generous donors who provided amazing items for the raffle!
🖤Horizon Climbing
🖤Fire Doll Studio
🖤Brainstorm Escapes
🖤The Literary
🖤Urbana Boulders
Attention Queer Prom attendees! 🖤
We have SO many free dresses, suits, and blazers for you to choose from when you arrive for Queer Prom! Plus: shoes, makeup, and jewelry.
Get ready to enter your Villain Era in style! Doors open at 5:30 this Friday, 5/8.
One week until Queer Prom! 🥀🖤
Friday, May 8th |6-9PM| The University YMCA, Champaign, IL
Every student deserves a memorable prom experience, but the reality is that many LGBTQIA+ youth don't feel safe or welcome at their school's prom. We want to change that.
On May 8th, Uniting Pride is hosting our free Queer Prom for students ages 13-18, and this year we're embracing our Villain Era. It's a safe, affirming, and joyful space for youth to dance, socialize, and just be themselves.
Come dressed as your most villainous self and compete in our Costume Contest, with both Individual and Group categories. Whether you're channeling a classic villain or creating your own, this is your moment to own the room.
FREE to attend
Open to LGBTQIA+ youth 13-18
Costume Contest with Individual & Group categories
Register today at https://forms.gle/xvWVv7FCTWkfznmS9
Come as you are. Leave as a legend.
There's a new way to support Uniting Pride! ✨🌈
Purchase items from our wishlists or donate to our fund on Pledge It to directly support our programs, events, and more! Check out the links below to make our wishes come true.
Youth Snacks Wishlist: https://a.co/00rOJUU7
Queer Prom Wishlist: https://a.co/0dw4KFQX
Eat UP Food Pantry Wishlist: https://a.co/0bBb0B6N
Pledge It Fund: /pr/12vi7opbbh
Check out UP's revamped library! 📚✨
Uniting Pride has built a small but mighty office library! Visit our website (unitingpride.org) to see the titles we currently offer and come by our office (open weekdays 11am-4pm) to check out a book. We have fiction, romance, nonfiction, memoirs, guides, YA, middle grade, and picture books!
Questions? Email [email protected]
Craft it UP is back! 🧶🖌️
Our new meeting times will be the 1st Thursday of the month from 5:00pm-7:00pm and the 3rd Sunday of the month from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 17th 1-3pm!
Bring your personal arts and crafts projects and gather in community! We will meet in the UP Center office. Feel free to drop in anytime during out meeting hours. Invite friends!
Masks will be required at our Thursday meetings but not at our Sunday meetings.
Also - UP has acquired a kettle! So BYO tea + mug and we can have tea together.
