From July 10 to 12, Gender Fucked Productions, in partnership with the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks, launched the inaugural Transilience: A Trans Pride Festival.
Spanning three city parks, the festival showcased a vibrant lineup of LGBTQ+ performers and vendors tailored to diverse tastes, all under the banner of being ‘family friendly.’
In an era marked by political tension, Transilience focused on joy, welcoming attendees of all ages to experience a celebratory atmosphere.
On Saturday, July 12, I attended the festival at Gill Park, located at 825 N. Sheridan Rd. The weather was pleasant, and the park buzzed with small children gleefully performing somersaults and playing together.
The festival kicked off with musical circus artists Maria Tate and Shelly Miller, who delivered a captivating performance featuring song, dance, and acrobatics centered on themes of belonging and acceptance.
Later, singer-songwriter may5A took to the stage, accompanied by her acoustic guitar, singing elegant songs that delved into trans romance and environmental issues through tracks like ‘English Muffin’ and ‘Eating My Veggies.’
Excitement surged when Jordan d’Bose and Julian Weslander from Trans Voices Cabaret performed selections from ‘Godspell’ and ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame,’ which thrilled the audience.
However, the festival truly took a remarkable turn when Evern Page stepped on stage.
With a guitar style reminiscent of Pat Metheny and Mark Knopfler, Page electrified the park through his hauntingly beautiful yet piercing playing, which shifted the mood of the afternoon.
Acrobatic dance troupe Such Creatures further elevated the unpredictable atmosphere with a stunning performance that left the crowd in awe.
Next, Toby Blunt took the spotlight, unleashing energetic drag kings Ricky Ruff and Dr. Luv, who thrilled the audience with their high-energy, family-friendly routines that reverberated throughout the park.
The psychedelic art rock group Glad Rags followed suit, featuring the charismatic Lily Mac, who embraced the stage with charisma, while keyboardist Mable Gladly infused a primal energy into their performance.
Bringing the vibe back down, comedienne Delilah Orizaba delivered a thoughtful monologue touching on her loving parents and the experience of immigration, which served as a perfect transition before the next high-energy act.
Then came metal-art-rock group Dog Guitar, whose co-vocalists Hugo Beckett and Kellie Wyatt burst onto the stage as a conjoined tall man.
Their set was a whirlwind extravaganza filled with humorous songs about pop culture including Ariana Grande, amusing antics with mayo, and the cheeky track ‘Nipple Shirt,’ which featured the audience cheerfully chanting ‘I CAN SEE YOUR NIPPLES!!!’
The performance concluded with an invitation for audience members to join in on backflips and a dance jam that had everyone on their feet, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
The festival maintained a sense of groundedness with Queer Country Bandwagon, whose set featured the heartfelt song ‘I Can’t Shake the Stranger Out of You’ by the late Patrick Haggerty, along with a performance from DMB the Etymology.
Beyond the captivating performances, the festival offered a range of engaging activities.
Attendees could enjoy face painting by the Second City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, while Pride Coffee Roasters offered a variety of coffees from around the world.
Other vendors included Watson Wares, Clem Fox, Lotus Holistic Wellness LLC, QueerCare Inc., Camp Stardust Memories, The Hinterlands, The Equity Illinois Coalition, and Ceal’s Rose, contributing to a vibrant marketplace atmosphere.
Transilience is the brainchild of Dawn Heilung, co-artistic and co-executive director of Gender Fucked Productions, which has been cultivating an arts ecosystem over the past three years.
Through community events and initiatives celebrating trans and nonbinary artists, the organization has made significant strides, incorporating previous events like June’s Trans Scribe: A New Works Festival, the Queer Dance Freakout, and regular meetups along the lake known as They Beach.
image source from：windycitytimes
