UpRising Bakery and Cafe

"Owner Corinna Sac tells the Northwest Herald that barring a 'miracle,' UpRising Bakery and Cafe in far suburban Lake in the Hills may be in its final days after eight months of attacks by anti-LGBTQ demonstrators. In June 2022, the business became a target for anti-LGBTQ threats and vandalism over plans for a 'very, very family friendly' all-ages drag show, with attackers frequently invoking dangerous far-right rhetoric that falsely links queer people to child abuse. Despite the arrest of a suspect and intervening months, Sac tells reporters that customers have all but disappeared but the intimidation has continued. 'Closing our doors is the direct result of the horrific attacks, endless harassment, and unrelenting negative misinformation about our establishment in the last eight months,' she writes in a post on Facebook. 'Local customers no longer come here because of the perceived threat that tarnished our good name and the fears of their license plate [being] photographed [so] they are harassed.'" - Naomi Waxman

"UpRising Bakery and Cafe faces fines from local officials due to zoning issues after enduring weeks of intimidation and vandalism over plans for a family-friendly drag show. Despite a history of community events, the village claims the bakery has fundamentally changed its business nature, leading to concerns from nearby businesses about safety and loss of business. The bakery has received support from the ACLU and public outcry against the perceived discriminatory actions by the village." - Naomi Waxman

"A far suburban bakery, about 45 miles northwest of Chicago, plans to hold a family-friendly drag show this weekend which is expected to draw crowds of protesters and counter-protesters. Over the last few weeks, the owner of UpRising Bakery and Cafe in Lake in the Hills has received both in-person and online threats to her business, according to local police." - Ashok Selvam