Blog

Happy Pride Month! Urban Gateways is stronger and brighter for the many LGBTQIA+ individuals who are members of our community (young people, artists, staff, Board and Associate Board members, supporters, partners, anyone and everyone connected with us). We’re grateful to all of you for being who you are and for making us who we are.

For 60 years Urban Gateways has made it our mission to inspire creativity and impact social change – and we recognize that the LGBTQIA+ community has played a major role in moving both our organization and our world forward, through art-making, advocacy, and beyond.

This month we’ll be highlighting LGBTQIA+ artists and advocates of color in particular, since their stories are so frequently underrepresented. We’ll be adding to this post throughout the month with organizations to support (in June and throughout the year) as well as resources and learning opportunities our staff has appreciated – so keep checking back. We’ll also be posting content on our social media channels – @urbangateways on Instagram, @UrbanGatewaysChicago on Facebook. Tag us on social media or comment here with additional resources and help us spread the love! 💜

Did you know that June 30 is Give OUT Day? Considering supporting one or more of the organizations below!

Chicago-based organizations

These Chicago-area organizations are led by or support BIPOC LGBTQIA+ community members. Get to know them and make a donation!

About Face Youth Theatre >>
Brave Space Alliance >>
Center on Halsted >>
The Crib >> (a program of The Night Ministry)
The Fly Honey Show >>
Gender JUST >>
Howard Brown Heath >>(psst: you can donate to or shop at The Brown Elephant to support Howard Brown Health!)
Pride Arts Center >>
Project Fierce Chicago >>
Quare Square Collective >>
Reunion Chicago >>
Sisters in Cinema >>
Wish Me Luck Tattoo >> (Chicago’s first Black-, Trans- and Queer-Owned Tattoo Shop)

Additional organizations

Human Rights Campaign >>
National Black Justice Coalition >>
The Trevor Project >>
Black Trans Lives Matter >> (list of Black Queer & Trans organizations)

Artists

Meet a few of the Urban Gateways-affiliated artists whose work highlights the experiences and creativity of LGBTQIA+ people of color!

Honorary Board Member and Artist Nick Cave‘s exhibition “Forothermore”, upcoming at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago next year, “is an ode to those who, whether due to racism, homophobia, or other forms of bigotry, live their lives as the ‘other’—and a celebration of the way art, music, fashion, and performance can help us envision a more just future.” Learn more here >>

And, meet Urban Gateways touring group Joel Hall Dancers, founded to showcase and celebrate the artistry of Black and LGBTQIA+ performers. They are a valued part of our artist community and we encourage you to support them: https://www.joelhall.org/

Food for thought

Pride, Protection, and Practice: OTV Celebrates Femmes in Film >>
Mildsauce.org is Street Level’s youth-led webzine; check out this recent article by Mildsauce Creative Editor Ty’Kira Smalls, in which she talks with participants of Open Television’s recent “Filmmaking While Femme” roundtable discussion to examine ways of building safe spaces for women, nonbinary, trans, and femme-identifying filmmakers of color – and how filmmakers are challenging unsafe spaces.

10 Black Women and Queer Activisits Working to Change Chicago >>
This article from Block Club Chicago provides an intro to “[local] organizers… supporting protesters fighting for Black lives and providing relief to communities impacted by looting and coronavirus.”

And enjoy this Out Now playlist on Spotify! >>