When Arlington Heights trustees voted last year not to raise a Pride flag at village hall, local advocates and downtown business owners did not wait around for a rematch at the dais. Instead, they started quietly wallpapering the suburb with rainbows. In recent weeks, a grassroots campaign has put "Heights Pride" window clings in storefronts and roughly 100 lawn signs in neighborhoods, with supporters saying the show of color is meant to signal that the suburbs can be a visible, welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ residents.
More than 50 downtown businesses have agreed to display the rainbow "Heights Pride" clings, and volunteers say about 100 lawn signs have sprouted up across the village. Glen's Friends, the 501(c)(3) group organizing the effort, also donated 200 "Palatine Pride" signs for neighbors in Palatine. Founder Janet McCarthy has described the push as a "plan B" after the village board vote. Co-owner Michael Brown of CoCo & Blu said, "it feels like now there's more of a need for it," as reported by the Daily Herald.
How the Heights Pride Campaign Works
Glen's Friends provides complimentary window clings to businesses that sign a short pledge promising a welcoming, non-discriminatory environment, and it sells $15 lawn signs to fund youth programs and outreach. The group's website lists participating shops and explains delivery and pledge details, according to Glen's Friends.
Village Hall Sticks With Its Flag Rules
Arlington Heights' flag policy limits displays on village property to the American, Illinois, and village flags, and trustees voted 5-4 in August 2025 to leave that rule in place. Supporters have pressed councils for more visible gestures of inclusion, while opponents say municipal flagpoles should remain nonpartisan, as reported by the Daily Herald.
Businesses Bet Visibility Sends a Message
Downtown owners say the clings let them signal welcome immediately without waiting for a policy change at village hall. Glen's Friends' member list includes CoCo & Blu and dozens of independent shops, creating a visible corridor of support that organizers hope will put pressure on elected officials. The campaign's pledge, sign sales and membership roster are described on the group's site and used to connect supporters and sponsors, per Glen's Friends.
For advocates, the window clings and yard signs are a daily reminder that local civic choices land very close to home, shaping residents' sense of belonging. Whether that rainbow corridor will eventually nudge trustees to revisit municipal policy is an open question, but for now the color is concentrated where people live, work and shop.
