<LGBTQIA2+>
curated and conceptualized by @1800NASI OR “Nasir Anthony Montalvo“
[as featured in KCUR|NPR, KSHB, KMBC, and The Kansas City St4r]
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.
Founded in April 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 Café Corazón.
Volume_1’s exhibit has, since, had a grand opening and week-long feature at BlaqOut’s newest space on Main Street; and was housed at PH Coffee in the Historic Northeast for the Summer.
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 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.
VOLUME_2
IN PROGRESS. If you’d like to sponsor this project, please scroll to the bottom of this page or view our Sponsorship Guide here.
Media_Features
THE_EXHIBITS
FEBRUARY 27TH – MARCH 4TH
The Multi-Location Exhibit
@ PH Coffee, Cafe Corazon, and BLK + BRWN.
MAY 12TH – 16TH
Special Grand Opening + Temporary Exhibit
@ BlaqOut
View a recap video of the grand-opening event on Instagram.
June + July 2023
PRIDE Exhibit
@ PH Coffee
View interviews about this exhibit on KSHB and/or KMBC.
PARTNERS + SPONSORS
credits:
exhibit curated by @1800nasi through @kansascitydefender.
tvs/computers and foliage displays by @apiarymatrices.
printed display, along with mini zines and zine table by @astringent.press.
photographs of BlaqOut Exhibit captured by @directorvaughan.
–
presented in partnership with @blaqoutkc.
supported by @viventpreventionkc.
in-kind support from @midamericalgbt.
additional thank-you’s to @queerblakc, @queerconnectkc, @umkclibraries and @fountainhauskc.
Aid us in the discovery, liberation, and creation of history for the future generations of Kansas City.
Backer_
Keep the archive growing.
– Logo on {B/qKC} landing page
– Two (2) free tickets to attend the {B/qKC}: Exhibit Grand Opening (Volume_2) | Date TBD.
Supporter_
Support any special exhibitions.
– Logo and “supported by” at bottom of all Volume_2 articles, and {B/qKC} landing page.
OR
– Supporting sponsor of {B/qKC}: Exhibit Grand Opening (Volume_2) | Date TBD. includes:
Logo at bottom of Eventbrite page.
Shoutout during event.
Two (2) free tickets to attend.
Defender_
Fight against Black/LGBT+ erasure.
– Logo and “supported by” on top of all Volume_2 articles and {B/qKC} landing page.
– Logo on social media posts sharing Volume_2 articles.
– “Supported by” in newsletter sharing Volume_2 articles.
OR
– Presenting sponsor of {B/qKC}: Exhibit Grand Opening (Volume_2) | Date TBD. includes:
– Logo at top of Eventbrite page and marketing materials.
– Shoutout during event.
– Two (2) free tickets to attend.
Download a PDF of this sponsorship packet here.
