Illustrative ballroom photograph: a performer at the Voguing Masquerade Ball at the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., October 15, 2016. This is not TaskForce’s Chicago event.
Photo: Voguing Masquerade Ball (30384499391) (cropped) by S Pakhrin, CC BY 2.0. Pre-existing crop by MassiveEartha; resized.
TaskForce brought ballroom performance and Black LGBTQ+ health leadership together at its second annual Vogue For Good event October 15. Windy City Times reported on the awards and performances the following day.
Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus Executive Director Keith Green received the Antonio King Stars Award. HIV/AIDS activist and healthcare advocate Sidney Thomas received the Dr. Margo Bell Icon Award, and AIDS Foundation Chicago’s Cynthia Tucker received the Dr. Lisa Henry-Reid Legendary Award.
Antonio King, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ affairs director, presented the awards. The event was held at the City Hall event venue in the West Loop and featured Figure 8’s vogue performances and music from DJ Hannah Viti, the report said.
Ballroom is also part of TaskForce’s regular work. Its Vogue School program description centers Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ ballroom history and teaches the foundations and discipline of voguing.
The organization says the school welcomes both beginners and experienced performers. Its stated purpose includes preserving ballroom’s cultural history alongside teaching movement and performance skills.
The organization also lists healthcare access, essential resources and mental wellness among its program areas. Its current program directory includes free affirming therapy for LGBTQ+ youth and adults and mentorship for young people affected by violence.
On its community-outreach page, TaskForce lists Vogue School as free, with no advance registration or prior experience required. Sessions are listed for Mondays and Wednesdays, 5–9 p.m., at 9 N. Cicero Avenue.
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