On June 3, Windy City Times held its annual 30 Under 30 Awards at Chicago History Museum.
Every year, Windy City Times honors 30 outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals (and, occasionally, allies) who live and/or work in Chicagoland. This year, it honored 32 people who have made substantial contributions to the LGBTQ+ community in the fields of entertainment, politics, health, activism, academics, sports or other areas. Among past honorees are Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner/Center on Halsted Chief Strategy Officer Precious Brady-Davis; Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner; former Chicago Fire actor Daniel Kyri; RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Kim Chi; and Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Brett Smiley.
During the ceremony, the honorees received a surprise: For the first time, they will march as a contingent during the Chicago Pride Parade.
Kim Hunt, Vice President of Special Projects and Innovation at AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) and Executive Director of Pride Action Tank, and Markus Pitchford, President of Glenhouse Strategies and a former AFC board member, co-hosted the event. Sponsors included AIDS Foundation Chicago, the Chicago History Museum, and Lime, with the bar provided by SideTrack, and honoree gifts courtesy of Lady Gregory’s, Stay Beautiful Foundation, Richard Dayhoff, and Catbird.
AFC President & CEO John Peller spoke at the start of the awards ceremony. Among other things, he discussed a June 5 vigil at Center on Halsted that was part of Seven Days in June: HEALTH IS PRIMARY—a nationwide week of action marking 45 years since the first reported cases of HIV/AIDS and protesting cuts to HIV care and public health programs.
This year’s honorees included Caro/Kero Aceves, Aderinsola Akeju, Amari Amai, Frida Benitez, Arad Boxenbaum, Bri Cada, Keinan Carpenter, Joseph Jude Castro, Ken Cavanaugh, Kylie DeWees, Ainna Flaminia, Cam Finley, Rin Parker Fuller, Molly Fulop, Devin Gomez, Allan Ayala Hernandez, Esbeidy Torres Hondal, Jahiem Jones, Katia Klemm, D Little, Maricela Lugo, Tyris Manney, Tyris Manney, Angel Marquez, Cj Melendez, Jessie Meltzer, Binx Perino, Elexis Richardson, Josue Javier Rivera, Josue Javier Rivera, Cicilia Robison, Troy Taylor, Tichike Tumulan and Skai Underwood. (Perino is a housing navigator for AFC.)
Reflecting on the ceremony and the honor itself, Hunt said, “I find the 30 Under 30 program to be an inspirational way to begin Pride Month. I’m always impressed by the accomplishments of the honorees who have done so much over a short period of time. I am always more hopeful about the future and the present by the end of the program.”
“It is so inspiring to hear from the young people who are doing so much in the community, from providing safe spaces to experience joy and connection, to fighting on the front lines in the political field to effect change,” said August Spree, senior manager of special events for AFC. “The mantle is being picked up and carried every day by youth, with vigor and passion.”
