UpRising Bakery and Café owner praises community for their support of rescheduled drag show performance

LAKE IN THE HILLS — Following growing public criticism of the response from Village of Lake in the Hills officials stating that they would not be in favor of allowing UpRising Bakery and Café (2104 West Algonquin Road) to continue hosting paid entertainment events, the village has decided to reverse their stance on the matter.

On Aug. 4, UpRising Bakery and Café owner Corinna Sac posted an update on her business’ Facebook page detailing that she and the village had come to a “mutual agreement.”

Sac not only received an outpouring of support from community members but was also assisted by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU), a nonprofit organization that was founded to “defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.”

“We are elated to have come to a mutual agreement with the Village of Lake in the Hills,” said Sac in a press release statement from the ACLU. “UpRising Bakery and Café opened less than a year ago with the goal of providing a save 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!”

Sac has kept true to her statement, as shortly after, she began posting information on upcoming events as well as was able to hold the long-awaited drag show performance in a sold-out show on Aug. 7.

According to the ACLU, under Sac’s agreement with the village, UpRising Bakery and Café will be free to move forward with plans for future events “in accord with current zoning laws.”

“Today’s agreement is good news for the Lake in the Hills community and a victory for free speech,” stated 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.”

As residents may recall, Sac posted a video on the UpRising Facebook page detailing that after attending a meeting with village officials on July 28, she received a letter from the village explaining that the bakery and café had to stop hosting any entertainment events or else face paying fines, while also facing the possibility of having her business license and liquor license suspended or revoked.

In response to a letter sent from the village’s attorney, ACLU’s Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Glenberg sent a follow-up letter on behalf of Sac and her business, disputing the claims made by the village.

“We dispute the letter’s characterization of UpRising programs as ‘entertainment events’ that are prohibited in a B-2 zoning district,” wrote Glenberg in her letter. “Even if that characterization is correct, however, the Village’s sudden determination to enforce the code against UpRising or Ms. Sac based on their exercise of First Amendment rights constitutes unconstitutional retaliation.”

With the threat of litigation looming, the village saw it in their best interest to come to an agreement with the bakery and café.

“The Village is pleased that through collaborative efforts with representatives for UpRising Bakery and Café, we were able to identify a mutually satisfactory approach going forward which honors the Village’s zoning concerns,” said Village Administrator Shannon Andrews in a press release statement.

In addition, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker stopped by the bakery and café on Aug. 5 in support of Sac’s business, while also discussing ways to find solutions to the hate against the LGBTQ+ community.

“Village officials supported Ms. Sac and her business in the immediate wake of this horrific event,” added Fee, talking about the vandalism that took place on July 23. “Today’s agreement ensures an equitable and fair resolution moving forward, and recognizes that violent extremists cannot dictate the discussion in our society.”

He continued, “It is a show of goodwill and sincerity that we were able to reach this resolution without litigation.”