About WAC

In the Spring of 2024, three Wheaton friends were discussing their wish for a way to show support to the LGBTQ+ community in the Wheaton area, but they were feeling disheartened and saying to each other:

The friends realized that rather than waiting for someone else to do something, they could try themselves. None of the three women were members of the LGBTQ+ community, but had family and loved ones who were, so they decided to work together as LGBTQ+ allies to plan an event. They began to plan a small, family-friendly gathering at a park in Wheaton in June. They reached out to a local pastor of a welcoming Wheaton church community, and he helped them to connect with other allies. But they realized that their outreach needed to include more than just allies, but also members of the LGBTQ+ community, so their network continued to grow. They had quickly become a group of people who all wanted to work together collectively to plan this Pride Event for Wheaton. And that was when the Wheaton Ally Collective began. 

Our first event was small, but mighty, with an attendance of over 100 people, and even more importantly, a place for LGBTQ+ people and allies from the Wheaton area, of all ages, to connect in joy and celebration of Pride Month. 

The response to the event was strong enough that the Wheaton Ally Collective has continued to grow in membership, has hosted other outreach events, and is currently planning an even bigger Pride event, Picnic with Pride, to be held on June 14 in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton.