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Diversity shown at 4th parade, draws good, bad comments.
by Michael Puente

Daily Herald© -- Friday, July 9, 2004

Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins received some good news and not so good news concerning the village's annual Fourth of July parade last weekend.

A resident called Mullins to tell her that this year's parade was the best ever.

That's the good news.

But then the caller said she was offended to see a group of "Iranians" being allowed to participate in the parade.

Mullins said they were not Iranians, but members of the Sikh religion.  There is a Sikh temple in Palatine with thousands of members.

"I believe that it is up to myself, the council and perhaps the Sikh religious society to do a better job of informing the people of Palatine about the culture differences that we do have within our community," Mullins said at this week's village council meeting.

"(People) have to understand that these are American citizens; they are Palatine citizens, ...We just need to do a better job of informing people who our citizens are."

The Sikhs weren't the only group to display Palatine's diversity.

Members of the Palatine-based PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) marched for the first time in the parade.  Member Deb Hale, a Palatine resident, said, overall, participation in the parade was a positive experience for the group.

The group received applause, a few puzzled looks, and some negative comments.

"It was very positive," Hale said.  "We anticipated that some people wouldn't be pleased to see us.  That's to be expected.  Part of the mission is to provide information, advocacy, awareness".

Hale said the group even had a float, with a theme of "Home-town Fest: You always have a home in PFLAG."