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Light purple equals sign on off white background

Purple was one of a trifecta of colors used by the Women’s Suffrage and Political Union in England at the turn of 20th century. The colors were brought to the United States suffrage movement by women who had worked for British suffrage. The three colors—purple, white, and gold—originally symbolized loyalty, purity, and hope, and have remained symbolic to the modern-day feminist movement. The equals sign with regard to feminism is a statement indicating that women should be equal to men.

Since the mid-1990s, the equals sign has become primarily associated with the LGBT rights movement. This is in large part due to the Human Rights Campaign—an LGBT advocacy group—who adopted the symbol as its logo in 1995. Lavender, similar to the color of the equals sign on this button, has also been historically associated with lesbian rights. 

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Rainbows are often celebrated LGBTQIA symbols since the 1970s, although origins in mythology date to Hebrew text, The Bible, and Norse texts, regarding the Bifrost. Apple computers also used a rainbow in their logo from 1977-1998. LGBTQ Institutions such as the Mazer Lesbian Archives house this button in their Button Collection under LGBT (miscellaneous). The phrase “reach for a rainbow” echo’s the motivational phrase “reach for the stars” and can be interpreted as a call to embrace queer identities.

Russ Berrie & Company is a novelty gift retailer known for its plush bears and figurines.

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When Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates were first manufactured in 1907 by the Hershey Chocolate Company in Derry, Pennsylvania, they were wrapped by hand in foil. The confection is still popular in America today and there is a theme park based on the chocolate kiss in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

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Paula Czupek was elected as the Bremen High School Board President in 1983 and served for fifteen years before retiring after she moved out of the district area. The Bremen High School Board serves the localities of Posen, Tinley Park, Midlothian, Markham, Country Club Hill, Hazel Crest, and Oak Forest in southern Cook County in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. In 1997, Czupek was honored for distinguished service by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. Czupek worked hard to open communication and form a more cohesive district mentality between the representatives and interests of the four high schools the board serves. Her move from the district cut short her fourth term as the board president.

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Tinley Park is a suburb of southwest Chicago and was settled by German immigrants in the 1840s. In 2000, about a quarter of Tinley Park residents self-reported as having German ancestry. On an annual basis, Tinley Park hosts Oktoberfest—a festival traditionally held in Bavaria, Germany—to commemorate the beginning of autumn. Oktoberfest was originally a royal event that marked the marriage between King Ludwig I and Princess Therese in 1810. In Tinley Park, the celebration transpires over a three-day period in September at the 80th Avenue Metra Station and is open to all. Not only is the festival a nod to Tinley Park’s German roots, but it also unites thousands of residents together for a fun weekend filled with locally brewed beer and live folk music. Attendees can also expect a kid-friendly carnival, German food, and Bavarian dancing at Oktoberfest.

Image of popcorn pile dressed like a man with black text on a yellow background.

The Valparaiso Popcorn Festival was founded in 1979 as a way of honoring Indiana native Orville Redenbacher, who began his business career selling popcorn out of a truck during high school, and later went on to found his successful company in 1970. Redenbacher was a resident of Valparaiso and participated in the festival until his death in 1995. In 2012, the town unveiled a statue of Redenbacher in their central park. The festival takes place the first Saturday after Labor Day, and includes a Popcorn Parade, a 5k fun run, and the children's "Lil' Kernel Puff Race".

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The Tinley Park, IL Oktoberfest is one of the only festivals in the Chicagoland area that so closely resembles the traditional Oktoberfest found in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. In the 1840s, German immigrants became the predominant settlers of Tinley Park and the festival celebrates this German heritage while also bringing the entire community together for beer, bratwurst, and music. Oktoberfest began as a wedding celebration for Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to celebrate the royal event on the fields in front of the city gates. For the first few years, amusements were sparse. It wasn’t until 1818 that beer stalls were included, and in 1896, these stalls became the large beer tents seen at Oktoberfest festivals today. At these celebrations, you can find many people drinking out of traditional steins, mugs made for drinking beer. Steins have hinged lids and are known for their ornate, themed decorations.