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

Join the Defender in (re)learning the histories of phenomenal Black LGBTQIA2+ Kansas City figures from the 70’s–Present Day through this scattered, week-long profile display.

MERCHANDISE PRE-ORDERS NOW CLOSED.

FULL-PRICE PURCHASES CAN NOW BE MADE AT THE EXHIBIT. more info below.


As an extension to their historical anthology on revolutionary Black LGBTQIA2+ Kansas Citians, Nasir Anthony Montalvo and The Kansas City Defender–in partnership with the Gay and Lesbian Archives of Mid-America (GLAMA), BlaqOut KC, and Oddities Prints–will be hosting a public display of these pieces and their archival materials for Black and Women’s History Month, aptly titled “Black/queer Kansas City.”

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“Black/queer Kansas City” is an open exhibit where Kansas Citians will be able to learn about important Black figures from the 1970’s–Present Day through collections of old photos, documents, leaflets, newsletters, magazines and more. Visitors of the displays will also be able to further support our work by purchasing commemorative merchandise.

Three (3) exhibits centered around different Black/Queer Kansas City figures will be hosted from February 27th – March 4th at the following locations:

  • BLK + BRWN Bookstore in Westport (March 1st–4th only)
  • Café Corazón in Crossroads
  • PH Coffee in the Historic Northeast.

As this is meant to be an exploratory, curatorial display, visitors are encouraged to explore each location.


To further celebrate the occasion, The Defender has unveiledcustom tote bags and limited-edition risograph prints, created by Oddities Prints and Paul Santiago, for purchase at each location.

Follow us on Instagram to be the first-to-know when pre-orders go live.

Black/Queer Kansas City social media graphic

For any questions, please contact Nasir Anthony Montalvo at nasir@kansascitydefender.com.

Read the series of articles on Black LGBTQIA2+ figures, written and researched by Nasir Anthony Montalvo in collaboration with GLAMA, below:

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Author
Nasir Montalvo of Young Defenders Fellowship

they/them/theirs.

Montalvo is pursuing an archival project unearthing Black LGBTQIA2S+ Kansas City history entitled {B/qKC}, supported by a plethora of community partners including the Gay and Lesbian Archives of Mid-America, Vivent Health, BlaqOut, Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the University of Kansas.

Montalvo graduated from their alma mater, Stevens Institute of Technology, in May 2021, where they had extensive history as a student organizer–founding their University’s first and only space for marginalized community members, starting a Black writers column in their student newspaper, and leading protest efforts against Gianforte Family Hall (named after racist and anti-trans Governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte).

Montalvo and their work has featured in The Advocate, GLAAD, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, NPR, HelloGiggles, Flatland KC and various other local and national outlets.

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