Documentary Film Screening & Panel Discussion Features Participants from the 1993 March.
2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the “Ad Hoc Committee of Proud Black Lesbians and Gays” parade contingent who marched in the 1993 Bud Billiken Parade, the largest and oldest African American Parade in the United States. The group’s application was initially denied due to parade capacity, but the group had also submitted a second identical application, not mentioning “gay or lesbian,” which was accepted. The group filed suit for public accommodation discrimination and fought to take their rightful place in the parade.
Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Members of the original contingent are featured in a new documentary by local filmmaker Magdiel Carmona that will debut at the 30th Anniversary Celebration. Carmona interviewed a number of the original 1993 Ad Hoc Committee parade participants over the summer for a short film, “Why We Marched: Black LGBTQs & The 1993 Bud Billiken Parade.”
For Carmona, interviewing the participants inspired him. “Working on this and learning about the parade has given me a lot of strength the last couple of months. It’s fortifying because it reminds me that some incredible people cared enough about our community today that they were willing to face some very difficult challenges back then. It’s important to preserve these stories in as many ways as we can, because that creates history and that history creates language and that language becomes our culture.”
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring an inter-generational panel of both parade participants and young activists who will discuss that momentous moment and the implications it had for Chicago’s Black LGBTQIA+ community. The panelists will discuss both the decision to March in the Bud Billiken Parade and it’s implications for and against Chicago’s Black LGBTQIA+ community.
Jano Layne, who originally proposed the idea of a LGBTQIA+ contingent, will be one of the 1993 contingent members participating in the panel discussion. Layne will be joined by fellow marchers Karen Hutt, Robert Schultz III, and Lisa Marie Pickens, who will co-moderate.
According to Layne, “It’s time that we celebrate this often overlooked historic moment in Chicago history when a group of Black openly LGBTQIA+ folks fought to take our rightful place in our community’s largest parade.” Representing the younger generation of Black LGBTQIA+ advocates/activists, Jayy Jayy, Lil Tree, and Ermalshara will discuss the impact of the Ad Hoc’s historic March and current state of LGBTQIA+ activism.
A reception will be held before the screening and archival materials from the group’s participation in the march will be on display, some for the first time. The reception takes place from 4-4:45 p.m. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Taylors Tacos and Brown Sugar Bakery, and mingle with old friends and new.
The 30th Anniversary Celebration of Proud Black Lesbians & Gays Marching in Bud Billiken Parade takes place Sunday, November 5, 2023 at Affinity Community Services, 2850 S. Wabash, Suite 108 (rear entrance) from 4-8 p.m. Chicago time. There is no charge to attend. Let the organizers know you will be attending by going to www.eventbrite.com.
The event will be live-streamed on Affinity’s Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.
Affinity is a proud co-sponsor of the 30th Anniversary Celebration. The 1993 milestone it celebrates had a tremendous impact on the organization. “Affinity is a direct result of that amazing group of folx that marched in 1993. We are proud to host our community for a long overdue celebration,” stated Latonya Maley, Affinity’s Executive Director.
