UpRising Cafe Can Again Host Events, Drag Shows

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — Village officials in Lake in the Hills have reversed course on a decision to ban events at a local cafe and are again allowing UpRising Bakery to host performances and a drag show at its business.

The decision comes nearly two weeks after 24-year-old Joseph I. Collins, of Alsip, is accused of using a baseball bat to break a glass door at UpRising Bakery & Cafe. Police say also spray-painted a homophobic slur, "Christ is King" and "groomers" on the side of the building during the early morning hours of July 23 — the same day a family-friendly drag show was supposed to take place, according to court documents.

Since then, village officials ordered Corrina Bendel Sac, the owner of UpRising, to stop hosting entertainment events. According to the village, the zoning for the business does not allow for such events.

The ACLU then announced it would take on the case and would back the business, which openly supports the LGBTQ+ community. On Thursday, ACLU officials lauded the village for coming to a compromise and again allowing events at UpRising.

The agreement reached Thursday also means Sac will not be fined or face losing her business license if she hosts the events, which will include a future drag show, as long as local zoning laws are followed, according to a Thursday statement from the ACLU.

"The agreement reached today ends these threats and denies a potential victory to violent extremists that objected to UpRising’s support for the LGBTQ+ community," ACLU officials said Thursday.

“Today’s agreement is good news for the Lake in the Hills community and a victory for free speech,” said Kevin Fee, Senior Special Litigation Counsel at the ACLU of Illinois. “We applaud village officials for their willingness to quickly engage in thoughtful discussions leading to this understanding that allows UpRising to continue to serve their mission of being a community resource for all people.”

UpRising has been quick to reschedule events. Zachary "Sonny" Edwards Music will perform from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at UpRising, 2104 W. Algonquin Road in Lake in the Hills, and Sac said she's excited to host more "community-centered events" in the future.

“We are elated to have come to a mutual agreement with the Village of Lake in the Hills,” Sac said. “UpRising Bakery and Cafe opened less than a year ago with the goal of providing a safe and welcoming 'home away from home' for all beings, we thank the community, ACLU, KRV legal, municipalities, and our families for helping us reach this goal. We look forward to getting back to baking and holding community centered events.”

Prior to the July 23 vandalism, which caused extensive damage to the business, Sac had been receiving threats in response to the business's "Starry Night Brunch" drag show, which was advertised as family-friendly. Protests and counter-protests were also planned at the business for the day of the drag show, and police said they'd be on the lookout for any disturbances, criminal activity.

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After the vandalism, Sac canceled the July 23 drag show. Last week, village officials told Sac she'd need to stop hosting events due to zoning rules.

The ACLU of Illinois followed up in recent days by sending a letter to the village on Sac’s behalf, expressing concern that if UpRising was not able to reschedule the drag event and host similar events in the future, "the vandal and harassers would take this as confirmation of their power to silence speech," according to the ACLU statement.

“Village officials supported Ms. Sac and her business in the immediate wake of this horrific event,” Fee said. “Today’s agreement ensures an equitable and fair resolution moving forward, and recognizes that violent extremists cannot dictate the discussion in our society.”

“It is a show of good will and sincerity that we were able to reach this resolution without litigation," Fee added.