Party promoters speak about lesbian spaces at Center in Halsted Video below by Melissa Wasserman 2018-05-13
This article shared 2609 times since Sun May 13, 2018
Center on Halsted introduced the women's faces behind the spaces for the program "Courageous Conversations: What the L" on May 11.
While lesbian bars in Chicago have been disappearing over the years, there are still women who create lesbian spaces that encourage women to be themselves and have fun. "Courageous Conversations" featured a panel of these driven women who have and are creating these women-centric spaces.
The event itself was a space for women to mingle, network and learn more about where to go for a party in the city.
"I'm very proud to say that every single panelist is someone I've connected with, talked to, or attended one of their events," said Center on Halsted Art Director Vivian Gonzalez. "I get to see first-hand how hard they work to create space for LBTQ-identified women, and specifically to center lesbian-identified people, I feel like that we're put on the backburner, so it's nice to see us put in the fore front once in a while as a community. These are the people doing that and that's why I thought they needed a platform today."
Gonzalez said the event was intended to elevate and give a voice to the women who are continuing to give women a space, even if the lesbian bars are disappearing. The events, she went on to say, are usually held as a pop-up event and in a bar that is not necessarily known for being a queer or a lesbian space.
"I think it's a two-way win because we're breaking down barriers, as a lot of panelists said tonight, but also we're journeying into different parts of the communities and different parts of our landscape that maybe wouldn't have a queer space to begin with," said Gonzalez. "So we're bringing visibility to communities that need that."
The panelists were: Brooke Webster of Meow Mix and Clandestina; Amie Klujian of Back Lot Bash and Curve Chicago; Bre Berry of Peach; Elena May Sotirin of LezBe; Jenae Williams of LBC and Chicago Dirty Girls; Eva Castro of Stargaze and Castro Entertainment; Pat McCombs of Executive Sweet; Alma Izquierdo of Amigas Latinas and Clandestina; Renauda Riddle of By Women for Women and BrunchReMixed; Kristen Kaza of Slo 'Mo; and Tamara Allen of B.BLYSS! Windy City Times Publisher Tracy Baim moderated the panel.
"The one thing that all these women are selling when you come [to their parties] is that you are authentic," said Gonzalez. "That might be the only time in your busy day, busy week, busy month, that you can be yourself, be authentic and that's a beautiful thing."
Baim asked the promoters questions surrounding their own personal experiences of going to parties and their inspirations that led them to pursue their passions and projects, tips for sustaining their parties financially and staying motivated, and their goals for collaborations across the community as well as the successes and failures they have already encountered within collaborations.
Baim also mentioned existing women-owned spaces, including The Closet, Big Chicks, Spyner's, Forest View Lounge and Joie de Vine.
"I thought it was quite informative and it was good to see the different aspects and to listen to the different voices and how they felt and the different ideals that they had in terms of promoting parties and being a part of the whole LGBTQ community," said McCombs, a retired party promoter, LGBT activist and retired special education teacher.
McCombs, having been a party promoter for over 30 years, added it was enlightening to see how the party scene is carrying on.
"I'm still involved in terms of being involved with what's happening and I want to continue to support even the young people," said McCombs, joking that she still enjoys going to the parties and is not dead in age or spirit.
About 160 attendees filled the theater and also had the opportunity to ask the panel questions. Panelists shared their experiences of being in the party business and the ways in which they make people feel welcome in a space, diversifying programming, promoting connections that make up the party and creating an intergenerational atmosphere within a party.
"I'm just glad to see more women of color starting to do more things," said McCombs. "I just wish there was more women of color that were in involved in not just the party scene, but being more involved in the actual community in terms of a lot of other different things within the community."
McCombs further explained that she thinks more women of color need to venture out of their comfort zones, get more involved in activism, intermingling with others.
"What was important to me is that it continues," said McCombs. "It's the continuing of women having the passion to make things happen for the community and that's what I like. If you noticed throughout the whole conversation, it was about community. Being part of community and filling a gap of what's needed in the community; doing a service for the community. That's what stood out to me, regardless of which way we're thinking or what our ideals are, in the end, it's the community. Satisfying a need."
This article shared 2609 times since Sun May 13, 2018
Out and Aging
Presented By
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Cher, Dionne among Rock & Roll HoF honorees; Mariah snubbed 2024-04-22 On April 21, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its 2024 inductees, per an ABC press release. In the performer category, the inductees are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter ...
City Council passes Lesbian Visibility Week proclamation 2024-04-17 Chicago alderwomen Maria Hadden (49th) and Jessie Fuentes (26th) introduced a resolution at Chicago's April 17 City Council meeting to declare April 22-28 as Lesbian Visibility Week in Chicago. This is part of a nationwide effort ...
'United, Not Uniform': Lesbian Visibility Week starts April 22 nationwide 2024-04-17 --From a press release - San Francisco — Lesbian Visibility Week (#LVW24) kicks off on Monday, April 22 with a private event at the London Stock Exchange USA headquarters in New York City. This exclusive gathering marks the beginning of a ...
Brittney Griner, wife expecting first baby 2024-04-15 Brittney Griner is expecting her first child with wife Cherelle Griner. According to NBC News, the couple announced on Instagram that they are expecting their baby in July. "Can't believe we're less than three months away ...
Lesbian prime minister steps down 2024-04-09 Ana Brnabicthe first woman and the first lesbian to hold the office of prime minister of Serbia, or to be a leader of any Eastern European countryhas stepped down after seven years in power, in a ...
Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame seeks nominations for 2024 induction 2024-04-09 --From a press release - The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame has announced a call for nominations for the 2024 class of inductees into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. Those wishing to may nominate individuals, organizations, businesses, or "Friends of ...
Andersonville Chamber announces Andersonville Midsommarfest entertainment lineup 2024-04-09 --From a press release - CHICAGO (April 8, 2024) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce the full entertainment line-up for Andersonville Midsommarfest, one of Chicago's oldest and most beloved summer ...
Ella Matthes, award-winning publisher, editor of Lesbian News Magazine, dies at 81 2024-04-05 --From an ILDKMedia press release - Los Angeles, CA - Ella Matthes, longtime publisher and editor of Lesbian News Magazine, passed away from a heart attack on March 16, 2024 at The Little Company of Mary hospital in Norwalk, California. She was ...
SHOWBIZ Outfest, Chita Rivera, figure skaters, letter, playwright dies 2024-04-05 For more than four decades, Outfest has been telling LGBTQ+ stories through the thousands of films screened during its annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival—but that event may have a different look this year because ...
Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.
All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).
The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.