• ThemenofOnyxarereadyforyourdemonstration.PhotobyVernHester
    The men of Onyx. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • RickyEverythingandtheEverythingCollectiveinperformance.PhotobyVernHester
    Ricky Everything and the Everything Collective. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • MzRuffNStuffstrikesapose.PhotobyVernHester
    Mz Ruff N’ Stuff strikes a pose. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • MembersofAllianceCare360atLoveFest.PhotobyVernHester
    Members of Alliance Care 360. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • LighthouseChurchpastorJamieFrazierpreachestheGospelofJamesBaldwin.PhotobyVernHester
    Jamie Frazier. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • JaeRiceofBraveSpaceAllianceandAntonioKingPublicHealthAdministratorfortheChicagoDepartmentofPublicHealth.PhotobyVernHester
    Jae Rice of Brave Space Alliance and Antonio King of CDPH. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • FoundingboardmemberLoriBranchandDarleneJackson.PhotobyVernHester
    Lora Branch and Darlene Jackson. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • FitnesswithPauloColby.PhotobyVernHester
    Fitness with Paulo Colby. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • DrakenForteatLoveFest.PhotobyVernHester
    Draken Forte at LoveFest. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • ChanelMercedesBenzinperformanceatLoveFest.PhotobyVernHester
    Chanel Mercedes Benz at LoveFest. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • AtthetablesatLoveFest.PhotobyVernHester
    At the tables at LoveFest. Photo by Vern Hester.
  • AttheLovefesttables.PhotobyVernHester
    At the tables at LoveFest. Photo by Vern Hester.
After a two-year hiatus following the Covid-19 Pandemic, The Black Gay Men’s Caucus held its annual LoveFest on November 6 at Bassline Bar at 2239 S. Michigan Ave. This year the theme of the festival was “4 All of Us” and worked to highlight the diversity of Chicago (Ballroom, kink, fetish, and youth) while focusing on the holistic health and well-being of members of the LGBTQ community. In short, the 2022 edition of the festival was ambitious and the Caucus went to great lengths to pull it off.

This time out there were drag performances (featuring Chanel Mercedes Benz, Kenya Sanchez, Mz Ruff N’ Stuff, and Eva the Bunny) as well as a talent show, two succinct church sermons, two Gospel performances, live rap and musical performances (from Ricky Everything and the Everything Collective), and dance performances. On the upper floors there was a health and fitness demonstration with Paulo Colby a certified personal trainer, a kink demonstration with the men of Onyx, a demonstration and display of sex toys and novelties by Sex Toy Maven, as well as dialogs and instruction on creating personal spa products (from Emerald Escape Spa Products), candle making (from Wick, Mix, and Pour Candle Class), juicing and nutrition (by Raw Joy Juicery), body essentials and Reiki Healing as well as yoga and skin care.

As is the tradition with LoveFest, this edition featured a health and community village (though it was situated in the bar due to the weather) with tables for The Black Gay Men’s Caucus, Center on 6323 S. Cottage Grove, Howard Brown Health, The Southside Health Center, and Brave Space Alliance. Alliance 360 provided HIV, STD, and Covid tests onsite.

The Black Gay Men’s Caucus is a grassroots organization for and led by Black, gay, bisexual, and same gender loving men with a mission to advance health equity by developing community centered leadership and innovative services. Sponsors of the 2022 Lovefest included Gilead, The Chicago Department of Public Health, ViiV Healthcare, Project Vida, Task Force Prevention and Community Services, and Pride in the Pews.