Chicago Reader Inaugural Pride Block Party

CHICAGO – The Chicago Reader celebrates the city’s rich and diverse 50 years of honoring LGBTQ+ community legacy at its first-ever all-day, all-ages block party in partnership with Marz Community Brewing Sunday, June 23, 1-9 p.m, presented by Nue Vodka.

Featuring an array of artists, organizations, and small businesses, the Reader’s Inaugural Pride Block Party aims to be an intergenerational, cross-community effort to honor the people doing the work in Chicago to amplify LGBTQ+ people and stories, as well as pay homage to Chicago’s queer history and the icons who made it possible.
Twenty-five percent of the day’s ticket sales will be donated to Chicago organizations whose missions include supporting LGBTQ communities: Brave Space Alliance, Affinity Community Services, and Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus. Association of Latinxs Motivating Action, Youth Empowerment Performance Project, Equality Illinois, and The Legacy Project. Tickets are $10 donation and are available in advance and at the door.

“As a media outlet that prides itself as being by Chicago, for Chicago, we are excited to support and showcase an array of the city’s queer and trans talent, as well as pay homage to 50 years of LGBTQ legacy,” Tracy Baim, publisher of the Reader, said. “Investing in the local LGBTQ economy is a great way we can truly show our pride.”

This inaugural daytime intentional turn up features a diverse array of programming that highlights music and culture threaded through LGBTQ+ generations:

PROGRAM:

1 PM – Drag Queen Story Hour with Coco Sho-Nell & Vivien Dujour

2 PM – Theater of the future with Youth Empowerment Performance Project & Free Street Theater

3 PM – Sandra Antongiorgi LIVE (Caribbean, Rumba, Jazz, Soul, Rock and Neo-Soul)

4 PM – B.Blyss! presents: Salsa dance lesson with Alex Agudo & DJ Sandra Suave

5 PM – Old Town School presents: House dance music lesson with Boogie McClarin & DJ Duane Powell

6 PM – History of Chicago Drag with Lucy Stoole & friends

7 PM – Young Chicago Authors presents: Queer emcee showcase w./ DJ Cash Era, Eamon Lauren, Henri Mayhem, Roy Kinsey & more

8 PM – Slo ‘Mo Party presents: Janet Jackson LIVE tribute by FEMME/SLASH with special guests: Daryn Alexus, Avery R. Young, Adam Ness & more

Peruse LGBTQ+ historical archives from The Legacy Project and the Reader’s own Publisher Tracy Baim’s collection from over 35 years of LGBTQ+ community documentation.

Marz Community Brewing and other local vendors will have food for sale all day, as well as a bar hosted by the beloved Maria’s Packaged Goods. The bar, presented by Nue Vodka, will feature custom Maria’s cocktails, Marz brews, wine and a variety of spirit-free options including Marz kombucha, matte, coffee and CBD beverages and Red Bull varieties. Tokens to be used for food and drink will sell for $3 each and can be purchased with cash or card.

Access details: Bathrooms will welcome all genders. Sign language interpreters will be on site for all panel conversations inside Marz. This is an all-ages event and those 21 and over wishing to drink alcohol must present a valid ID and wear a wristband to be served.

The graphic design for the Reader Pride event is by internationally known LGBTQ artist Sam Kirk, a Chicagoan who consistently has given back to her communities, including on the South Side of the city. The art depicts iconography from Chicago and its south and west sides in particular, and the women in the foreground are inspired by Chicago lesbian trailblazers and activists the late Vernita Gray and journalis Tracy Baim. Sales from a special Sam Kirk-designed Marz beer can will benefit LGBTQ south side organizations Brave Space Alliance, Affinity Community Services and Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus.

This Reader event was made possible with the support of: Nue Vodka, Marz Community Brewing, Steppenwolf Theatre’s production of Ms. Blakk for President, Old Town School of Folk Music, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sprint, Vocalo radio, Young Chicago Authors, and Windy City Times.

For tickets, see chicagoreader.com/pridetickets.

To stay up to date with all the latest programming updates, visit: chicagoreader.com/pride. The Facebook event page is facebook.com/​events/​3279603228731801/. The event contact is Kristen Kaza, Director of Public Engagement & Programs: kkaza@chicagoreader.com.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO READER: The Chicago Reader is Chicago’s largest free alternative weekly newspaper, nationally recognized as a leader in the alternative press. Since 1971, the Reader has served as Chicago’s political conscience, cultural guide, and music authority. Known for its in-depth coverage of Chicago politics and culture, the Reader explores and exposes news, events, and issues. In 2018, the Reader became independently owned again and moved its headquarters to Bronzeville. It also became an L3C, a business classification prioritizing community impact over profit.

ABOUT MARZ COMMUNITY BREWING: Founded on the premise that the art, culture, food, and liquid we were drinking and enjoying would also be enjoyed by others, we created Marz as a platform for ongoing experimental collaboration—in the beers we were brewing and with the culture of the city as well. In 2018, we moved to the Central Manufacturing District of McKinley Park, where we built our new mothership facility designed to expand our production capabilities while also showcasing the myriad talents of our team of brewers, artists, musicians, designers, weirdos, and collaborators. We pride ourselves on giving back to the community that has given us so very much. As such, we help support numerous non-profits and a wide-ranging cultural and social advocacy community to build a better world for our employees, customers, family, friends, and neighbors.