C-U Pride Fest Organizers Focus On Inclusivity, Not Fear

This weekend's C-U Pride Fest is the first since the mass shooting in Orlando and renewed national debate over transgender rights. The theme is Love > Hate.

Tanya Diaz-Kozlowski is with the Uniting Pride Center, which organizes the event. She says it will focus on inclusivity, not fear.

"The first thing you'll see will be rainbow flags and lots of people doing lots of different things, it won't be police," she says. "We're going to focus on the positive and our events. And also bring into awareness in realizing we need to do a better job as a community building coalitions with one another to do the things that make all environments inclusive for LGBT people."

Diaz-Kozlowski says the weekend events include a kids' area, music, workshops, a Queer prom and a drag brunch.

The Pride Fest parade through downtown Champaign starts at 3pm Saturday. US Senator Dick Durbin will serve as grand Marshall.