A scheduling mix-up led to a brawl between parents and participants of a transgender fashion show on Dec. 19 at the New City YMCA, 1515 N. Halsted, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
A YMCA member had reserved the entire facility from 11 p.m., Dec. 18, to 8 a.m., Dec. 19 for a fashion show and ball that featured cross-dressing and transgendered models in a competition similar to the ones in the documentary Paris Is Burning. However, the YMCA was also scheduled to host a youth swim meet that was slated to begin on 7 a.m. Dec. 19. When the swimmers and their parents showed up after 6 a.m, many of the adults were upset to witness the ‘House of Escada’ fashion show and dance. Kashma Avery, who was in charge of the security detail for the gala, told WBBM-AM that ‘it was like [the parents] didn’t want to see the gay people at all.’
The parents and other YMCA members began to complain; that reportedly resulted in the New City staff closing off access to bathrooms and locker rooms—preventing the fashion show attendees from using the facility. At that point, party guests and parents started to confront each other. Avery said ‘some of the guests started hearing sexist slurs and an altercation ensued.’ A chair was tossed; police were called when a witness mistakenly reported shots were fired.
Luis Diaz-Perez, a spokesman for YMCA, said that ‘the [organization] regrets any confusion or concern caused to our members by this scheduling conflict.’ Diaz-Perez added that New City will review its renting policies.