Photo of Imani Rupert-Gordon and Anna DeShawn from the 2019 Esteem Awards
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Inductees information from Press Release
PrideIndex was happy to learn that four past Esteem Award finalists will be inducted into The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame this fall. Founded in 1991, The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame is the only city-supported LGBT Hall of Fame in the world. Each year the organization honors individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the well-being of the LGBT community in Chicago. Like the Esteem Awards, finalists are selected from a slate of candidates submitted by the LGBTQ community, including past honorees.
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame organization received a Special Recognition – Local Esteem Award in 2013. The 2023 Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame ceremony occurs on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at The Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., at 6 p.m. It is open to the public.
The four past Esteem Award honorees being inducted into The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame are:
Andrew Davis has been a critical journalist and editor covering Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community for nearly 30 years. He spent almost two decades full-time at Windy City Times, most recently as editor-in-chief.
Avery R. Young is the first ever Black gay male. Chicago Poet Laureate. Avery is an award-winning teaching artist who is an Arts and Public Life Artist-In-Residence at the University of Chicago. He has been instrumental in Chicago’s poetry scene and a teaching artist for Young Chicago Authors and various not-for-profits.
Anna DeShawn was inspired to create E3 Radio, the only radio station in the country dedicated to playing queer music and reporting on queer news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Her annual “Purple Tie Affair: Concert & Silent Auction” has donated over $10,000 to various organizations in the Chicagoland area.
Black Alphabet is now in its 10th year and is the world’s oldest and largest Black LGBTQ+-focused arts organization. What began as a conversation about the lack of exposure to films that explore the Black LGBTQ experience birthed the Black Alphabet Film Festival, Chicago’s first Black LGBTQ film festival, and has expanded to Black Alphabet’s new mission: to promote social equity awareness and education in all aspects of life for the Black LGBTQ+ community using media and the creative arts to foster healthy and whole lifestyles within the Black LGBTQ+ community.
For more information, visit chicagolgbthalloffame.org.
