THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Nuestros Lazos is a fundraising initiative that kicks off on World AIDS Day, bringing together community to benefit and celebrate our poz family. In this space, trans folks, people from the LGBTIQ+ community in general, migrants, afro-descendants, racialized people and more, who have found through Ballroom a platform for art and visibility, come together in a celebration of their identities, as well as in commemoration of the struggles that, as communities, continue to affect them. This year we are raising funds for Jóvenes Cambiando VIHdas, a network of mutual support by and for young people and adolescents living with HIV in Peru.

HIV is an important issue within the Ballroom community, as it is home to people living with the virus who are constantly struggling to cope with a society that discriminates against people based on their HIV status. This reality is faced through actions and information from our platforms, since it is necessary and imperative to impact the community and society in general to maintain an active and visible fight regarding this cause.

Originally a happy hour for trans and nonbinary people set in a tiny Brooklyn dive bar, Body Hack has grown into a transnational project seeking to model a world where trans communities can thrive interdependently. Now a collective, Body Hack throws parties in-person and virtually over Zoom, creating dedicated spaces for trans people to gather, celebrate, and extend support to one another. Each party doubles as a fundraiser for a trans-related initiative, raising over $100k across 20 events in the last three years.

Established in 2019, Kiki House of Prince is the Pioneer house of the Peruvian ballroom scene.

They have organized some of the first balls in Peru, and are disseminators of ballroom culture as a form of resistance and community development. Kiki House of Prince has the support of institutions such as Harvard University, Cayetano Heredia University, UCLA and UNAIDS; which, through our network of contacts, will participate in the events that seek to generate awareness, education, prevention and community outreach for the optimal and responsible development of our event and ball.

For more information or to schedule interviews or site visits, please contact viento izquierdo ugaz (vien222to@gmail.com ).

Detailed Information for Nuestros Lazos presented by Body Hack and Kiki House of Prince can be found here: www.instagram.com/p/ClUX2n3uskv/ .

We invite you to be part of this dream come true—by attending, walking, supporting, and donating towards this initiative. No matter where in the world you are, show your love to this transnational project of love and solidarity for queer and trans family.