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LOCAL News :: Gender & Sexuality

Queer youth prepare to make history in Pilsen Neighborhood

Latino LGBTQ youth prepare to make history with first ever queer Prom in the predominantly Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen
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Chicago, IL. – Students and community activists met last week in Pilsen to begin planning a ‘prom’ for youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and their allies. The planning committee, which is mostly Latino, feels that it is important to create visibility for the queer community that already exists in Pilsen.

“Many young LGBTQQ people that attend high schools from the area don’t get to enjoy their school’s prom as other kids do” said Tania Unzueta, senior producer of Homofrecuencia, a Spanish-language LGBTQ show that broadcasts from Radio Arte . Although this is not the first time that a ‘prom’ for LGBTQ teens is planned in Chicago, it is the first time that it is done outside of the well established gay neighborhood of Boystown. Pilsen is a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. “That’s part of the point,” said Unzueta, “we want to create a safe space for us within our own communities. We want to be who we are, where we live”.

“We are in honor societies, in sports, in student organizations” continued Victor Gomez, another member of Homofrecuencia, “but, we are still excluded from an event that is supposed to be a celebration of our high school experience”.

“I never got to go to my prom,” explained Alberto Prieto, another member of the planning commitee, “There was never a very welcoming atmosphere in my high school, so this is like my payback”.

This will be the second time that Latino LGBTQ history is made in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. On August 12th, 2002, Radio Arte launched Homofrecuencia, the first Spanish language radio program in U.S. history targeting LGBTQ youth and allies.

Noche de Arcoiris Queer Prom 2005 will include entertainment with a drag show, music, and food. The event will take place at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum on Friday May 27th at 7 p.m. For more information about attending or volunteering, contact Tania Unzueta at tania (at) radioarte.org or (312) 455 – 9455 x 108.
 
 

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