Black/queer Kansas City {B/qKC}: a digital archive

Black/queer Kansas City {B/qKC} is a digital archive educating the Kansas City community on the contributions of local Black LGBTQIA2S+ community members–in turn, liberating their histories from racism and homophobia-fueled erasure.

This project is presented in partnership with BlaqOut. BlaqOut is a united community of individual advocates, community activists and healthcare professionals who work to address the psychosocial and environmental challenges faced by Black MSM in the Greater Kansas City Area. Learn more about the organization here.

Born in May 2022, Nasir Anthony Montalvo began researching various Black queer Kansas City figures and organizations in hopes of finding community themselves, and released a series of pieces each focusing on a different aspect of local Black LGBTQ+ community. After writing Volume 1, Montalvo morphed the anthology into a multi-location, self-service exhibit from February 27th – March 4th, 2023 hosted at PH Coffee, BLK + BRWN, and CafĂ© CorazĂłn.

Through researching these histories–and dually sharing them in the digital and physical realm–Montalvo is building an accessible, living database of Black queer history, and share a widely unknown plight of Midwesterners living on the ‘fringe.’

Volume_1

Remembering Edye and Ray: The First (Documented) Black Drag Queens of Kansas City

READ_NOW

Edye Gregory in a signed headshot to a loved one. Edye smiles with her right shoulder facing the camera, dressed in a light-colored, feathered dress.

Edye Gregory and Ray Rondell are some of Kansas City’s first documented Black Drag Queens and, more broadly, part of the only recorded histories of Black, Queer Kansas Citians at large.


Men of All Colors Together: The Kansas City organization fighting racism amidst gay men in the 80’s–90’s

READ_NOW

In 1980, this group of Kansas Citians founded a social club and safe space for those seeking to fight racism amongst queer men of all races.


Kansas City’s “Out There”: The 90’s Gay & Lesbian Variety Show Featuring Lea Hopkins

READ_NOW

In 1993, a group of 16 people came together to launch Kansas City’s first-ever Gay and Lesbian Variety Show on American Cablevision in light of statewide, anti-queer legislation.


PRESS RELEASE: “Black/queer Kansas City”: a public exhibit and historical anthology for viewing from Feb. 27th – March 4th

READ_NOW

Promotional flyer for the Black/Queer Kansas City exhibit.


PRESS RELEASE: Ticket sales open for Black/queer Kansas City {B/qKC}: Exhibit Grand Opening (Volume_1) on May 12th, 2023

READ_NOW

View our City’s history of Black LGBTQIA2+ community through this temporary exhibit display––hosted @ BlaqOut on Main. Curated by @1800NASI.

Media_Features

This project is supported by Vivent Health, the Gay and Lesbian Archives of Mid-America, Fountain Haus Queer Black KCAstringent Press, and the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
We’d like to thank PH Coffee, BLK + BRWN, and Café Corazón for being Volume I’s exhibit hosts.


Download a PDF of this sponsorship packet here.


Donate So We Can Make Our First Hire!

We want to hire a Development Director to help with fundraising so our news outlet can become sustainable. Will you donate to make sure radical Black news is here to stay?

This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy.

Scroll to Top