On July 6, DuSable Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Pl., hosted the 7th annual Pride South Side Festival.
In light of the current political climate—with cuts in funding for LGBTQ+ service organizations, attempts at erasing queer history, and attacks on trans rights—the 2025 edition of the festival focused on community and the true nature of independence.
This time out the festival was jam packed with so much going on that it was nearly impossible to catch everything. Not only was there a stellar line-up of South Side queer DJs and performers (Mickey Everything and The House of Everything; DJ Khali Melon; rappers Taurian Love and Jovan Landry; dance siren Vicky Tingz; gut bucket soul vocalist Zion Ali; sassy rap/soul duo Yng Romance; DJ Santa Cecilia) hosted by performers Terry D’Mor and Monique Greene, there were a host of wellness organizations present in the DuSable Roundhouse.
The Roundhouse also featured a both podcast stage with well-known Black LGBTQ+ influencers, artists, leaders and politicians and a host of South Side craftspeople selling their unique work. There was still more: a mechanical bull for those who wanted to add a thrill to their afternoon and an appearance by Mayor Brandon Johnson congratulating quarterback Sarah Teubner of The Chicago Winds on a breakout year (Teubner hobbled around with a cast on her foot).
Sponsors for the event included DuSable Museum and Education Center, South Side Help Center, Lambda Legal, Legal AID Chicago, Chicago Black Pride, Ubuntu, Chicago Teacher’s Union, Vizzy Hard Seltzer, Project Vida, Molson Coors, Task Force, Insight Hospital and Medical Center, Molina Healthcare, Comcast and Walgreens.
