Gay/Lesbian Union members are protesting the breakup of the union’s annual Corn County Picnic by Elburn Police and the Kane County Sheriff’s Police last weekend after an Elburn park ranger discovered illegal alcohol at the gathering.

No arrests were made, but William Greer, GLU public relations director, said the situation was “handled poorly.”

Greer said the gathering, at the Elburn Forest Preserve about 20 miles east of DeKalb, was peaceful until a ranger noticed an open wine cooler. Greer said the ranger then made comments about problems with “you people.”

The ranger then asked the GLU group to leave, calling in three squads of police, Greer said. The picnic was then broken up, he said.

GLU President Brian Subatich said the situation was handled very unprofessionally. He said the Park Ranger on duty “asked us (the GLU) to leave before any alcohol was noticed.”

The GLU has not ruled out legal action. “We are presently checking with legal counsel,” Subatich said. “Minimally, we are going to send letters to the police involved to voice our concern,” he said.

Greer admitted that having alcohol in the park was illegal but objected to the total dispersal of the crowd. He said only a few people had alcohol. “There was no reason for all of us (to have had to) leave,” he said.

Elburn Police Chief Terrence Tichava declined to comment about the dispersal or who was involved. “We (the Elburn Police) assisted the Kane County Sheriff and the Elburn Park Patrol in dispersing a party that had gotten out of hand,” Tichava said.

A Kane County Sheriff’s Police employee said no information was available for release because there were no arrests or injuries.

Elburn Forest Ranger Pat McQuilkin, who was on duty Sunday, could not be reached for comment.