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Lucy Smith. Photo by Tracy Baim -
Karen Williams. Photo by Tracy Baim -
Affinity Board Members Jasmine Thurmond, Maria Glover-Wallace, Anna DeShawn, Ebonie Davis, Michelle Hunt, LaToya Bailey and Executive Director Kim Hunt. Photo by Carrie Maxwell -
Ebonie Davis, Affinity Board President. Photo by Tracy Baim -
Victori Motherwell, Myles Brady and Bonsai Bermudez. Photo by Carrie Maxwell -
Attendees dancing. Photo by Carrie Maxwell -
Emcee and featured comedianne Karen Williams. Photo by Carrie Maxwell -
Sofia Sarabia, Kelly Suzanne Saulsberry and Alicia Vega. Photo by Carrie Maxwell
More than 200 people attended the benefit to honor the accomplishments of the organization’s founders and celebrate the achievements of current staff and board members.
Affinity is, according to its website, “a one-of-a-kind social justice organization that works with and on behalf of Black LGBTQ communities, queer youth, and allies to identify emergent needs, create safe spaces, develop leaders and bridge communities through collective analysis and action for social justice, freedom and human rights.”
The organization was created to bring Black LGB visibility to the South Side of Chicago. Since that time, Affinity has participated in a number of events across the city including the Bud Biliken Parade and Chicago’s Pride Parade as well as received numerous honors and recognitions including induction into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2002.
Comedianne Karen Williams, who wrote for this publication when it was known as Outlines, pulled double duty as both emcee and featured entertainer. Williams brought the house down with her commentary about the script that Affinity provided for her. She also recognized Affinity’s importance as an organization and noted that she was the first out Black lesbian comic in the United States.
Affinity Board President Ebonie Davis provided words of welcome ahead of a video presentation, directed by Mary Morten, chronicling the organization’s history.
Davis’ remarks included announcing Hunt’s departure as executive director after six years as the group’s first paid executive director, and noting the history of Affinity and the work the organization has done over the years.
She also recognized the founders of Affinity—Julie Cole, TED Dobbins, Lajauneesse Jordan, Melissa Liddell, Karen Long, Patricia Nazirah Mickey, Melissa Petty, Lisa Maria Pickens and Christina Smith; founding board members Gaylon Alcaraz, Deborah Benford, Adella Crozier, Kimberly Curtis, TED Dobbins, Cassandra Dorsey, Leslie Givens, Rosalind Glanton, Barbara Smith and Christina Smith as well as current board of directors—LaToya Bailey, Anna DeShawn, Maria Glover-Wallace, Michelle Hunt, Malissa Rainey and Jasmine Thurmond.
“This evening is important because, despite our victories, Affinity’s work is in no way finished,” said Davis. “Our vision for a society where being your authentic self is not a liability and differences are fully embraced is not yet realized. Our communities continued to be excluded, underserved, exploited and oppressed. Tonight’s celebration marks the beginning of Affinity’s future work, the next 20 years of providing critical services and resources for our communities, for beating back the forces that attempt to keep us invisible, keep us divided and destroy our communities.”
Hunt’s remarks focused on the intersectionality of Affinity’s work.
“We pride ourselves on understanding that when we show up, all of us comes into the room,” said Hunt. “We say that we are Black, but we firmly believe that Affinity represents all kinds of people who are invested in both Black communities and other communities of color and who know that their communities can only truly thrive if we end structural racism. We say we’re LGBTQI, but Affinity represents all kinds of people who are deeply invested in a world where people can love whom they choose and can express their love, their gender and their humanness on their own terms.
“Affinity continues after 20 years because we’ve fundamentally understood that we’re whole people with whole lives, representing the wide spectrum of humanity. We deserve quality services and resources. We deserve to be recognized and experience quality lives.”
The event also featured music by the Lucy Smith Quartet, a buffet dinner and desserts provided by J&L Catering, drinks courtesy of Sidetrack, raffle drawings and a live auction Caribbean Escape Cruise with Olivia Travel.
Sponsors included Olivia Travel, Windy City Times, Morten Group, LLC, International Institute of Humor and Healing Arts, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Jim Bennett and Terry Vanden Hoek, Jenner & Block, LLC, Gail Morse and Lauren Verdich, University of Illinois at Chicago Gender and Sexuality Center, McDermott Will & Emery, ASTREA Foundation, Lora Branch and Simone Koehlinger, Pat McCombs, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, the Illinois Accountability Initiative, J&L Catering and Sidetrack.