The eighth annual Pride South Side festival took place Sunday at Washington Park’s DuSable Black History Museum in Chicago, providing a dedicated space for Black and Brown LGBTQ+ community members to celebrate and connect. The event featured music, drag performances, panel discussions, art vendors, and wellness activities aimed at fostering a sense of belonging and improving health outcomes among historically underserved populations.

Attendees praised the festival’s inclusive atmosphere and culturally relevant programming. Jordan Scott, a resident of Beverly attending for the second year, said he preferred the event to larger Pride celebrations on Chicago’s North Side. “I just love the vibe, the atmosphere and the people,” Scott said, noting the festival’s unique energy and accessibility.

The festival was co-founded by Adrienne Irmer following a 2018 Chicago Department of Public Health study that found elevated rates of new HIV infections on the city’s South and West sides. Irmer explained that the event blends cultural celebration with healthcare outreach to address the needs of vulnerable communities. “These are historically the most under-resourced communities,” she said. “We know that cultural festivals speak to folks in a culturally relevant way. We thought, ‘Why not blend that with healthcare?’ ”

Multiple healthcare organizations were positioned throughout the event, distributing materials and information related to HIV prevention and other health services. Jordan Braxton, community empowerment manager at Vivent Health, highlighted the importance of providing culturally sensitive care and building trust within the Black queer community. “A lot of people in the Black queer community don’t trust the medical field,” she said. “We’re out here trying to regain that trust.” Braxton also provided voting resources in response to proposed federal budget cuts to HIV prevention funding.

Ken Remé, marketing director of Impulse Chicago, an AIDS Healthcare Foundation affiliate, urged attendees to advocate for continued access to medications such as PrEP amid federal challenges to queer healthcare. He emphasized the value of creating spaces where individuals feel represented and supported. “Finding spaces where people look like you is super key,” Remé said. “There’s a brotherhood here, there’s a camaraderie here that I think is so important to my own development as an adult.”

Artist D. Little, a Bronzeville resident, participated as a vendor for the first time this year, expressing that larger North Side Pride events felt less welcoming. “I don’t feel seen there,” he said. “This feels like my pride and a place where I can be myself.” Edgewater archivist Oriana Koren, another vendor, noted the festival’s ability to bring together a diverse cross-section of Chicagoans, underscoring the shared histories and resilience within the community.

The festival also incorporated wellness activities including Pilates and volleyball, facilitated by Paulo Colby, owner of Continuum fitness studio. Colby emphasized the festival’s role in encouraging attendees to prioritize their health amid broader cultural affirmation. “If the communal belief system is around taking care of yourself, you’re going to take care of yourself,” he said.

The South Side Pride festival continues to serve as a vital gathering for Chicago’s LGBTQ+ residents of color, offering a space where participants can freely express themselves while accessing needed resources. As Colby reflected, “Even if it’s only for a moment, a day, weekend,” the event fulfills a critical need in the community.