As the Fourth of July fireworks died down late into the night on Friday, so did the weekend’s festivities for many Chicagoans. But for thousands of LGBTQ+ people on the South Side, the party was only getting started. 

On July 5, as many as 6,000 predominantly Black and brown queer people braved the heat and humidity and flocked to the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center campus for the seventh annual Pride South Side festival. 

“All-American Pride” was the theme of this year’s free event. Adrienne Irmer, a co-founder of Pride South Side, explained that “All-American” didn’t mean “Varsity Blues.”  

“What we wanted to create this year is our corner of America where our values are centered,” Irmer said. “Whether or not you have documentation, whether or not your disability is visible or invisible, you are part of our America.” 

In the wake of federal attacks on reproductive health care access, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, immigrant andLGBTQ+ rights, Irmer said that Pride South Side strived to create an all-inclusive space that was both celebratory and in direct protest of the national climate. 

“It’s a time where resistance is very important,” Irmer said. 

Spirits on that Saturday were high. Both the museum’s roundhouse and Washington Park plaza were bustling, filled with vendors, live music and dancing. 

Vendors and organizations included  a number of health and educational resources, as well as Black-owned clothing, jewelry and similar businesses. Offering free massages and salsa lessons in the plaza was ChiWellness Circle, a community wellness initiative for Black gay, bisexual and same-gender loving men that focuses on mind, body and soul wellness. 

“This is year two at South Side Pride for the ChiWellness initiative,” Mikael Slater, one of the ChiWellness volunteers, said as he adorned a fest-goer with a necklace of bright orange beads. “We’re teaching about spirituality, Narcan, sacred practices and a whole lot of other things.”

As Slater went to grab a beach ball for an incoming attendee, joyful yelps from mechanical bull riders rang through the hot air. House music blasted from speakers and the DJs, tucked under their tent to the left of the main stage, hypnotized the crowd. 

Another attending organization was Black Gay Table Talk, a media platform and podcast series. The Table Talk team were part of the event’s Pride Pod, a pop-up production studio that collected stories from attendees with the aim of amplifying Black, queer voices.

“We’re having fun. We’re having a ball,” said Kenan Cooper-Gilmore, co-founder of Black Gay Table Talk. “We’re saying that we’re all American and we have pride in being all-American and all the many faces that we have.”

“What’s even more amazing is it’s family-oriented,” he added. “I was actually able to bring my son and my niece out.”

A few tables over, Kim Randall of Jem Junkies cured the glue on gem fastened to an attendee’s canine tooth. Run by a queer Black couple, Jem Junkies makes custom tooth gems and grills.

“There’s not always much for people on the South Side in terms of being able to creatively express themselves,” Randall said. “Pride is a really, really good outlet.”

Randall and her partner, Kristy Ramsey, said they’re still getting their name out there; tooth gems are just starting to gain traction in the Midwest. Their longer-term vision includes providing free dental checkups, mobile scanning tools and oral health education on the South Side, ideally by the time they return to Pride South Side next year. 

Back at the stage, Jennifair, a Chicago R&B vocalist with red roses peeking out of her red Jordans, had the crowd swaying to her bossa nova–style track as the evening fell. Nobody seemed ready to go home. 

Other performances included those of Haus of Cage, Kain Angel and Black $krippa Brigade. The latter, a Black sex worker organization, also staffed a table by the stage. Ava V. Marie, founder of Black $krippa Brigade, came to South Side Pride to represent queer strippers and dancers and educate attendees on sex work acceptance and inclusivity. 

“We’re excited to be a part of a festival in this day and age where sex workers are finally getting to be a part of events like this,” Marie said. “They can’t take our pride away.” 

As Irmer sorted an assortment of rainbow fans, she felt the festival was a success despite new difficulties raising funds for it. 

“Certain corporations decided DEI doesn’t matter,” Irmer said. “But again, in the spirit of resistance, in the spirit of resilience, we put together this budget and decided we want to focus on Chicago’s talent. Because so much of the history of resistance is in Chicago.” 

She estimated that there were more than 3,000 RSVPs before the event, with attendance almost doubling over the course of the day.

“Despite the attacks from every direction, find joy and find your community. That’s what we wanted to build here today,” she said. “Also, don’t give up. Your ancestors died building this country. This is just as much our country as it is theirs.”

As the sun began to set over Washington Park, Bruce King and Nate Tucker settled down in lawn chairs by the main stage. This year was the couple’s fourth year at Pride South Side. 

“Whenever there’s an opportunity to celebrate multiple communities of identity, we want to be there,” King said. “We are so much stronger than the enemy. Our strength comes in our unity and our ability to stand strong together. Days like today really symbolize what it’s going to take to beat any threat on our lives.”

Nearby, couple Abriel Simmons and Autumn Johnson made their way through the crowd. This year was their first at Pride South Side. 

Asked what Pride South Side meant to her, Simmons replied, “coming to these events shows you that there are other people who are openly gay and Black. That’s important.” Johnson concurred. 

“Invest in yourself. But also invest in your community, your Black community, your gay community, whatever community you’re part of,” Simmons added. “Because they’re really going to be the ones who are there for you at the end of the day.”