More than 100 LGBTs and community allies came together to support StoryCorps Chicago's launch of their OutLoud initiative Sept. 18 at Marwen art school. OutLoud is a multi-year national initiative invested in recording and preserving LGBTQ stories.
StoryCorps OutLoud has partnered with Chicago's Trans Oral History Project to enhance the diversity within the collection.
Tony Alvarado-Rivera, or La Tony of the online talk show The Gay Agenda, emceed the event with performances from YEPP and Saya Naomi to give a visual element to storytelling.
La Tony made a call to the audience of the importance of storytelling and the importance of LGBT stories being documented. "And what a beautiful way to do that with StoryCorps who are rooted in the fabric of Chicago and our community, who want to hear our stories," said La Tony. "No 'T,' no shade but frankly I'm a little tired of white men's stories being told. I need to hear queer, trans*, lesbian, gay, bisexual stories being told."
StoryCorps—largest oral history project of its kind—is a national non-profit organization with a Chicago-based chapter. The stories collected by StoryCorps and its partners are being archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. The OutLoud initiative focuses on LGBT stories and strives to honor and collect stories of all generations. Many of the StoryCorps stories are broadcast on National Public Radio and its website.
Throughout the night, excerpts from stories collected by OutLoud were played over the loud speakers with photos of the storyteller on a projector. The rest of the night focused on the celebration of storytelling.
StoryCorps was excited to have Youth Empowerment Performance Project ( YEPP ) represented that night as their missions closely align. YEPP is a collective that seeks to create a safe environment for LGBT youth experiencing homelessness in order to explore their histories, search for ways to address their struggles, and embrace their strengths through developing a theatrical performance. The ensemble performed a five-minute excerpt of its hour-long show "Face."
"You know how Goodman and Steppenwolf have those shows you need to see. This is the show you need to see," declared La Tony.
La Tony handed the mic over to Bonsai Bermudez, the group's executive artistic director and founder, so he could introduce the performance and describe the involved process of creating this and other pieces by YEPP youth.
Shirley Alfaro, Andre Perez and Alicia Williams were present throughout the night to represent StoryCorps Chicago. Perez, who also works with the Trans Oral History Project, spoke to the project's successes and pointed specifically to the multi-media curriculums created based on the stories collected. Members of StoryCorps Chicago are seeking to find other ways to use voices from the trans* community to make an impact on public policies and perceptions.
Alfaro was the main voice for StoryCorps throughout the night as she introduced La Tony as well as Andrew Wallace, OutLoud Manager who traveled from New York for the event. In addition to thanking StoryCorps Chicago members as well the partner organizations present such as Lambda Legal,Trans Oral History Project, and Affinity Community Services, Wallace spoke to the importance of the OutLoud initiative:
"This is an amazing moment, 45 years after Stonewall, to step back and listen to the lives of this community - to the many experiences that make up this community - to make sure they are preserved for years and generations to come" said Wallace.
The evening events concluded with a performance from Saya Naomi performing to a Beyoncé medley.
See storycorps.org/ .
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