Activists urge Village of Palatine to change its code of ordinances, raise flag for Pride Month

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The June special at Coco & Blu Café in north suburban Arlington Heights has begun.

It's a fruit loop matcha latte with $1 from each drink going to Glen's Friends.

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Janet McCarthy started the organization for her late brother, Glen, as the Village of Arlington Heights was entertaining raising a Pride flag during Pride Month.

While the village has not approved a Pride flag, McCarthy started a campaign, Heights Pride, with lawn signs for businesses and residents.

"I feel like everybody should feel proud of who they are and that people need to feel supported unconditional love for everyone and everyone is welcome," said Michael Brown with Coco & Blu Café.

"There would have been such a different life for him if this type of inclusion was there for him in school and in his community," McCarthy said.

Paul Dombrowski with the Northwest Suburban Pride and Action Network is distributing the Heights Pride signs in Palatine.

"The reason I put up a Pride flag at my house is for the grandma across the street who has a gay grandchild or the person who is afraid to come out for fear of bullying and harassment," Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski has urged the Village of Palatine to raise a Pride flag, but as this point, no councilperson has introduced a change to the current Code of Ordinances.

The Palatine code authorizes the flags of the United States, the State of Illinois, the Village of Palatine, and POW/MIA at village buildings.

Dombrowski and McCarthy plan to be at Monday night's Palatine Village Council meeting.

While the Pride flag issue is not on Monday night's agenda, public comment on the issue is expected.

"If it helps one teenager or one person from harming themselves or giving up, that's what we need to do," Dombrowski said.

"Our dream was that we'd been able to go up and down the northwest highway corridor from town to town and share the love," McCarthy said.

The mayor of Palatine declined an interview on Monday the village did post a proclamation from the mayor for June as LGBTQ Pride Month.