“Dragons are not only symbols of strength and protection, but also an important part of Rowan’s life story and creative vision.”

The long-lasting legacy of Rowan Shimer will be on full display Sunday, June 29, in the Chicago Pride Parade.

Team Rowan was founded in honor of transgender teenager Rowan Shimer, who died tragically in a horseback riding accident when he was 14. He is honored by Team Rowan and its founders, Aaron and Jeanine, Rowan’s proud parents. Rowan was a passionate advocate and member of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Team Rowan is on mission to support queer and transgender youth and their families,” said Aaron Shimer. “Everyone needs a team, so Team Rowan is a team devoted to helping LGBTQ+ kids and their parents navigate the journey of coming-out and living their truth together.”

Team Rowan is a small grassroots organization, about a year old, that has already raised more than $36,000 for The Trevor Project with The Rowan Shimer Fund, packed hundreds of lunches for Connections for the Homeless in Evanston, and helped clean up the community for Earth Day.

“Rowan Shimer was a prolific artist and writer who drew self-portraits of himself before he came out as a transgender boy,” Aaron said. “Coming-out for Rowan meant communicating his truth—his true self and gender—and his way of expressing how he fit into this world, while letting others in to understand. He also was a fan of the ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ book series and the movie ‘The NeverEnding Story,’ which the Team Rowan rainbow dragon is partly inspired by.

“Dragons are not only symbols of strength and protection, but also an important part of Rowan’s life story and creative vision.”

Aaron added: “At Team Rowan, we’re a team for queer and trans kids, their parents and families. We believe transformation is a team sport and we’re stronger together. In addition to workshops and volunteering opportunities, we help kids explore and discover their authentic self through creativity and self-expression. We seek to create a safe space of peers and allies that nurture and celebrate their unique voices while having fun playing and making: art, writing, gaming, cosplay, crafts and more.”

Team Rowan is thrilled for its debut in the annual Chicago Pride Parade.

“We feel strongly that LGBTQ youth, especially trans kids, must be protected by all of us with love in our hearts. In times of fear and darkness, even the smallest light can make a difference,” Aaron said. “Each of us has the opportunity to be that light in the world for someone. A bright signal of allyship and hope—a reminder they’re not alone and that a community of caring allies is just a whisper away.

“Together, our light shines brighter.”

For Team Rowan’s first year in the Chicago Pride Parade, Team Rowan will feature a Rainbow Dragon car float, joined by the “DRAGon Kings, Queens and Royalty Marchers,” Aaron said. “The rainbow dragon serves as a magical symbol of protection, a gender-affirming guardian, and a powerful ally protecting LGBTQ youth on their courageous journey of coming-out and living their truth—giving them the bravery to become who they are meant to be.”

Team Rowan created the 18-foot dragon over a 10-day span, which involved planning and learning along the way, he said. For instance, learning how to carve foam insulation, which makes up the dragon’s shape and parts. Then, the crew laminated the entire foam core with paper-mâché and painted it with a colorful Pride palette.

More Dragon fun facts:

• Even though the dragon is 18-feet long and 3-feet wide, it separates into three parts (head, body and tail) which only weigh about 10-pounds each, or about the same as a cat.
• The papier-mâché exterior of the dragon was made using about half a gallon of wood glue, making his armor very tough and durable.
• The dragon was featured on ABC 7 Chicago’s broadcast of the 2024 Pride Parade, as well as Chicago Pride Parade’s website gallery.
• At the end of the movie “The NeverEnding Story,” the main character rides a big fluffy luck dragon, Flacor, through his hometown chasing his bullies until they hide in garbage bins to escape. The Team Rowan Rainbow Dragon also has a rider: paper-mâché Rowan.
• Team Rowan debuted its Rainbow Dragon car float in the 2024 parade through the Milliman Group along with the organization Out In Tech. It also has participated in the Evanston Pride Car Parade.

“We’re always energized by the love and high vibration that permeates the Pride Parade experience,” Aaron said. “This energy gives each of us strength to carry forward and stage for connecting our powerful community of LGBTQ+ youth, families and allies in Chicago and surrounding suburbs.”

Team Rowan is expecting a Pride contingent of 30 or so.

“Team Rowan is incredibly grateful for (the) opportunity to march and celebrate LGBTQ+ youth and families together,” Aaron said. “If someone you know comes out to you, Team Rowan invites you to channel the bravery and strength of the rainbow dragon to support to protect trans and queer kids like Rowan … because everyone needs a team.”

• For more about Team Rowan: teamrowan.org

Article written by: Ross Forman