Lake County News-Sun
Apr 01, 2022 3:32 PM
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.
Kristal Larson of Hainesville, treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County and Avon Township clerk, addresses the audience at American Eagle Outfitters. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)
On Transgender Day of Visibility, Carolyn Pinta said strides have been made in support of the community, but there is a lot more work to be done.
“We are definitely making progress (politically), especially in our state,” said Pinta, an organizer of a Transgender Day of Visibility event Thursday at American Eagle Outfitters at the Deer Park Town Center. “But, this event is more necessary than ever this year because of this slew of legislation across a lot of Southern states, really … that is marginalizing this community more and more.
“It’s just horrible,” Pinta said.
Pinta of Prairie View is director of The Pinta Pride Project and the parent of activist Molly, 15, an Adlai E. Stevenson High School of Lincolnshire sophomore.
American Eagle Outfitters hosted the Kildeer/Deer Park-area event with BG Pride and The Pinta Pride Project. Event partners this year included OMNI Youth Services of Buffalo Grove, the LGBTQ+ Center at Kenneth Young Center (Schaumburg location) and the newer LGBTQ+ Center Lake County.
Center, wearing the “Let’s Get One Thing Straight, I’m Not” shirt is Harmony Rich of Highwood. Second from left is Michael Ligda, 18, of Palatine, a William Fremd High School senior. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)
Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual global awareness day in support of the transgender community.
“If you are an accepting human, show it, every second of every day,” Pinta said. “Wear a pin, have a sticker on your phone, put a magnet on your car that shows you are loving and accepting, and that’s so easy to do.”
Molly Pinta knows of many Stevenson high school students who are transgender.
“There are a lot of people out there that do not accept them, unfortunately,” Molly said. “But there also are a lot of people that will accept them. And a lot of the people that are really mean about it in school, it’s because of peer pressure.”
The two-hour event included refreshments and a pink unicorn character. A photo opportunity balloon arch read, “Seen & Loved.”
Posing with the pink unicorn is Elsie Smith, 6, a kindergartner from Glenview. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)
“We always try to do as much as we can to just be allies and be supportive,” said Kristin Smith of Glenview, who accompanied her children Elsie, 6, a kindergartner; Murphy, 12, a sixth grader; Luke, 8, a second grader and Carson, 10, a fourth grader.
Event attendee Chelsea Laliberte Barnes of Palatine, a Lake Zurich clinical social worker, said, “Trans Visibility Day is critical because it promotes hope and love, and saves lives. We need to make sure our trans community knows that they’re loved.”
Kate Versage of Highwood, known as the performer Boi Toi Sebastian on the area drag show scene, said, “Representation, visibility, it is extremely important, especially with our political climate the way it is right now.
“Kids need to know, we’re there for them,” Versage said. “But kids, more than anything, our youth need to know that they are in an environment where people absolutely support them.
“It’s not just about being seen and being heard,” Versage said. “Those things are important, but it’s about being there for them and showing up for them. And that’s why events like this, opportunities like this, having community events out in the ‘burbs … that’s why this is important.”
Michael Ligda, 18, of Palatine, a William Fremd High School senior, said, “I am one of the people that is willing to speak out and embarrass myself for the greater good. I identify as he/him, as a bisexual man.”
Ligda recalled being 9 when, “I had come out to my parents and I first thought I was gay because … I only like men. No, that’s not true. I like women as well. I didn’t know there was this whole community.
“Finally,” Ligda said, “I feel at home with my friends.”
Riley Roberts, 23, of Mundelein, said coming out as transgender more than a year ago, “to my friends was easy; family was a bit harder.
“We exist,” Roberts said. “There’s no real reason to be so like, mean and stuff.”
Roberts promoted the work of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, along with Kristal Larson of Hainesville, treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County and also Avon Township clerk.
Kristal Larson of Hainesville, treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County and Avon Township clerk, is emotional while addressing the audience at American Eagle Outfitters. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)
Larson said the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, a virtual organization launched nearly a year ago, serves about 20 to 30 individuals weekly. Educational seminars and support groups are part of its growing outreach.
In 2019, Larson came out as being transgender and, “posted something that I need to be visible.
“This year,” Larson said, “it’s progressed from, ‘I want to be visible for me,’ to, ‘I want to be visible so other people can see that it’s OK.’
“Please,” Larson said, “just reach out, be friends to us, understand our struggles and stand up for us, because we can’t do it alone. We really need help.”
Lake County News-Sun | Apr 01, 2022 at 3:32 PM Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Kristal Larson of Hainesville, treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County and Avon Township clerk, addresses the audience at American Eagle Outfitters. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press) On Transgender Day of Visibility, Carolyn Pinta said strides have been made in support of the community, but there is a lot more work to be done. “We are definitely making progress (politically), especially in our state,” said Pinta, an organizer of a Transgender Day of Visibility event Thursday at American Eagle Outfitters at the Deer Park Town Center. “But, this event is more necessary than ever this year because of this slew of legislation across a lot of Southern states, really … that is marginalizing this community more and more. “It’s just horrible,” Pinta said. Pinta of Prairie View is director of The Pinta Pride Project and the parent of activist Molly, 15, an Adlai E. Stevenson High School of Lincolnshire sophomore. American Eagle Outfitters hosted the Kildeer/Deer Park-area event with BG Pride and The Pinta Pride Project. Event partners this year included OMNI Youth Services of Buffalo Grove, the LGBTQ+ Center at Kenneth Young Center (Schaumburg location) and the newer LGBTQ+ Center Lake County. Center, wearing the “Let’s Get One Thing Straight, I’m Not” shirt is Harmony Rich of Highwood. Second from left is Michael Ligda, 18, of Palatine, a William Fremd High School senior. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press) Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual global awareness day in support of the transgender community. “If you are an accepting human, show it, every second of every day,” Pinta said. “Wear a pin, have a sticker on your phone, put a magnet on your car that shows you are loving and accepting, and that’s so easy to do.” Molly Pinta knows of many Stevenson high school students who are transgender. “There are a lot of people out there that do not accept them, unfortunately,” Molly said. “But there also are a lot of people that will accept them. And a lot of the people that are really mean about it in school, it’s because of peer pressure.” The two-hour event included refreshments and a pink unicorn character. A photo opportunity balloon arch read, “Seen & Loved.” Posing with the pink unicorn is Elsie Smith, 6, a kindergartner from Glenview. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press) “We always try to do as much as we can to just be allies and be supportive,” said Kristin Smith of Glenview, who accompanied her children Elsie, 6, a kindergartner; Murphy, 12, a sixth grader; Luke, 8, a second grader and Carson, 10, a fourth grader. Event attendee Chelsea Laliberte Barnes of Palatine, a Lake Zurich clinical social worker, said, “Trans Visibility Day is critical because it promotes hope and love, and saves lives. We need to make sure our trans community knows that they’re loved.” Kate Versage of Highwood, known as the performer Boi Toi Sebastian on the area drag show scene, said, “Representation, visibility, it is extremely important, especially with our political climate the way it is right now. “Kids need to know, we’re there for them,” Versage said. “But kids, more than anything, our youth need to know that they are in an environment where people absolutely support them. “It’s not just about being seen and being heard,” Versage said. “Those things are important, but it’s about being there for them and showing up for them. And that’s why events like this, opportunities like this, having community events out in the ‘burbs … that’s why this is important.” Michael Ligda, 18, of Palatine, a William Fremd High School senior, said, “I am one of the people that is willing to speak out and embarrass myself for the greater good. I identify as he/him, as a bisexual man.” Ligda recalled being 9 when, “I had come out to my parents and I first thought I was gay because … I only like men. No, that’s not true. I like women as well. I didn’t know there was this whole community. “Finally,” Ligda said, “I feel at home with my friends.” Riley Roberts, 23, of Mundelein, said coming out as transgender more than a year ago, “to my friends was easy; family was a bit harder. “We exist,” Roberts said. “There’s no real reason to be so like, mean and stuff.” Roberts promoted the work of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, along with Kristal Larson of Hainesville, treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County and also Avon Township clerk. Kristal Larson of Hainesville, treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County and Avon Township clerk, is emotional while addressing the audience at American Eagle Outfitters. Images from the Transgender Day of Visibiity in Deer Park on March 31, 2022. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press) Larson said the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, a virtual organization launched nearly a year ago, serves about 20 to 30 individuals weekly. Educational seminars and support groups are part of its growing outreach. In 2019, Larson came out as being transgender and, “posted something that I need to be visible. “This year,” Larson said, “it’s progressed from, ‘I want to be visible for me,’ to, ‘I want to be visible so other people can see that it’s OK.’ “Please,” Larson said, “just reach out, be friends to us, understand our struggles and stand up for us, because we can’t do it alone. We really need help.”