From left to right : Kristen Kaza and Keewah Nurullah
Pride will take on a family flavour in Chicago this Saturday, as the city hosts the first-ever Queer Fam Pride Jam, a celebration aimed at the inclusion of queer youth and families.
Organised by business owners Kristen Kaza (Slo ‘Mo) and Keewah Nurullah (Kido), the event at Chicago’s Salt Shed venue will include activities like a pop-up skate park, house dance lessons, drag queen face painting, and an all-ages dance party.
Kaza, founder of Slo ‘Mo, a queer party company, felt that children should have events to celebrate pride as well.
“So often, queer and trans identity is presented as an adult lifestyle and therefore inappropriate for children, which is harmful rhetoric,” said Kaza. “We need to send the message that it’s okay to be queer and there’s a community to support your identity at any age.”
She and Nurullah, founder of Kido, a children’s boutique in the city, collaborated when they both found that there was a lack of family-friendly spaces in Chicago where queer families could feel safe and express themselves.
“As a new mom myself, I wanted to create a space where families like mine could be celebrated and seen,” Kaza said.
The inclusion of drag queens and drag-related activities in the Pride Jam is a choice the pair felt compelled to make, especially in light of the current controversies and anti-drag legislation in many American states.
“Drag is one of the most beautiful and expansive forms of self expression,” Kaza said. “Our performers will model empowerment, kindness and fun to the kids.”
Their choice does not come without safety precautions, however.
“We are not disclosing any artists’ names or information as a layer of privacy and protection from being attacked or doxxed,” Kaza added.
The pair hope to have a great turnout and to continue the Queer Fam Pride Jam annually in years to come.
“We want people to feel free to be themselves and to have fun!” Kaza said.
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