The Big Spring Recap
This spring was an exciting time at Howard Brown Health with tons of partnerships, benefits, and Pride events. We’d like to take a moment to celebrate all the highlights. Sit back and enjoy our BIG Spring Recap.
in.power* – Celebrating Queer Survivorship
On May 20, Howard Brown Health launched in.power* the Sexual Harm Response Project at Reunion Chicago. In a 3 hour-turned-6-hour event, community members, survivors, activists, artists, and Howard Brown staff gathered together to celebrate queer survivorship.
The launch party was a first step in addressing the erasure of queer and trans survivors through the celebration of the resilience, strength, and the power of queer survivors and communities that support them.
The event was punctuated by three incredible performances by Darling Shear, R.C. Riley, and Ashley-Ray Harris. Their performance sparked thoughtful dialogue and personified survivorship in all of its complexity. This event would not have been possible without the generosity and hospitality of Reunion Chicago. Kristen Kaza and Elijah McKinnon, co-owners of Reunion Chicago, continue to be fierce advocates and supporters for Chicago’s LGBTQ community
The in.power* team is grateful for the continued support of Howard Brown Health and the wider Chicago network of friends and allies.
Queer Care Day – Queering Self-Care
The world can be a harsh place, and we believe that self-care is a radical act. To help our community recharge, we partnered with Reunion again on June 18 for Queer Care Day, a special day of free care tailored specifically to our vibrant queer community. The event featured R&B yoga, healthy snacks and refreshments, hair and beard trims by Logan Parlor, Thai massage by Tristen Whitfield, eye brow shaping by Coriama Couture, plus manicures from Gigi Lira. We also joined with #PrEP4Love to offer a sexual health workshop & session speaking to the nuances, needs, and questions of queer & TGNC individuals.
2017 Pride Parade – Share the TRUE LOVE
Let’s not forget the Chicago Pride Parade! On June 25, we celebrated TRUE LOVE in partnership with Whole Foods. TRUE LOVE is Howard Brown Health’s guiding message for Pride month and beyond. We believe that everyone can embody TRUE LOVE. Our daily thoughts, actions, and contributions have the potential to bring TRUE LOVE into the world, and that’s what we tried to do this year at Pride. This year was full of exuberance, love, and celebration!
Back 2 Basics Ball: Edition Hollywood
On June 17, we had the honor to co-present the Back 2 Basics Ball again. This daytime vogue event celebrated queer communities of color, their amazing gifts, and those who paved the way. Edition Hollywood was full of competitive spirit and silver screen glam. And during the ball, Howard Brown’s Outreach team offered FREE HIV/STI screenings and PrEP education, plus navigation to social services. We’re looking forward to next year’s festivities!
Making Health Screenings Accessible for More People
With tabling, screening, free condoms and helpful information, the Howard Brown Outreach team went all over the city of Chicago for Pride. From IO Pridefest, Pier Pride, LoveFest, Rock ’n’ Roll Market to the Chosen Few Music Festival, we brought free HIV and STI screening to hundreds of people around the city!
Vogue Performance at Dyke March in La Villita
The BYC made a huge splash this year at Dyke March with a stellar vogue performance! We’d like to thank the Chicago BTGNC Collective for getting the star performers prepared with The Vogue to Get Free workshop leading up to the event.
Pride Benefits
In June we were the recipient of numerous Pride benefits and donations, raising over $3,500 for LGBTQ health! We would like to show our gratitude to those generous donors and partners.
Thank you to…
360 Chicago for the proceeds of your colorful Pride cocktail!
Flowers for Dreams for donating 20% of your proceeds from the month of June
Range Restaurant for donating 20% of your community night proceeds
DMK Burger Bar Lakeview for donating the proceeds from your “Equality Makes Me Thirsty” cocktail
Soap Distillery for making rainbow soap especially for BYC.
Got Her Back for the wonderful performance and helping raise funds for the BYC.
2017 is going to be full of TRUE LOVE!
