As Chicago activists continue to shout Black Lives Matter in the streets, a few local LGBTQ+ centered community groups are working to make sure the message conveys that all Black lives matter — including Black trans lives, a group that is often targeted by police and subjected to other forms of violence.
Beginning Friday, June 26, Reunion Chicago is joining Slo ‘Mo and OTV – Open Television to host a three-day virtual Pride festival, titled #4theQulture Fest. According to Reunion Chicago’s director of development, Elijah McKinnon (pronouns: they/them), the three-day event is in celebration of Pride month. Despite the cancellation of the 51st annual Chicago Pride Parade, which is now going digital on Saturday, June 27 due to COVID-19, #4theQulture Fest is meant to create an experience for the LGBTQ+ communities that allow for entertainment, art and free-spirited vibes.
“This is really a platform for us to really celebrate and honor the past, present and future of pride. Chicago is approaching the 50th year anniversary of Chicago Pride,” McKinnon said, highlighting that the first gay liberation march took place in 1970 while the Stonewall uprisings took place in 1969. “We also want to be mindful that we are in this present moment where we’re experiencing a lot of injustices and we want to highlight that.”
On the evenings of June 26-28, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., OTV will livestream #4theQulture Fest. Each night will feature separate forms of art for viewers to dance, sing and laugh out loud right from their homes. There will be drag and comedy shows, musical performances and more by some of Chicago’s iconic Black LGBTQ artists, activists, poets, advocacy groups and more — including a cameo performance by 16-year-old queer Chicago rapper Kid Kenn, queer Chicago-based art collective Molasses, award-winning interdisciplinary artist Avery R. Young and LGBTQ nightlife and drag collective Unfriendly Black Hotties.
An additional Pride Month bonus: Slo ‘Mo, an LGBTQ-focused party that celebrates people of all identities bodies and expressions through music, will also be featured in HBO’s first-time ever digital Pride Festival, alongside LGBTQ+ music artists and celebrities such as Grammy-nominated singer and actress Janelle Monae, MTV award-winning singer Todrick Hall, NYC nightlife art collective Papi Juice and queer comedian Cameron Esposito. The 10-day HBO digital Pride festival will air June 18-28 on its Human by Orientation platform.
The TRiiBE caught up with McKinnon who also serves as the executive director of OTV, co-host and the director of the upcoming HBO segment for Slo ‘Mo and is a 2020 recipient of the Field Foundation’s Leader for a New Chicago award. McKinnon talked about their excitement for this week’s Chicago Pride festivities and why the inclusion of Black LGBTQ+ lives matter in the Black Lives Matter movement. They also give exclusive details about this weekend’s lineup.