Queer Fest
Midwest to showcase the "alternative to the
alternative," August 25

WLUW 88.7 FM radio show Think Pink and Chill magazine are hosting the first Queer Fest Midwest in Chicago. They hope to provide an "alternative to the alternative" by opening a forum for young queer artists and musicians to express themselves, according to a press release.

Gonia Rejnowska and Justin Polera will curate the daylong festival, to be held August 25 at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk St.

"There are a lot of stereotypes that come with being part of the gay community in a larger sense," Trish Bendix, copublisher of Chill, said in the press release. "With QFM, we hope to bring together a diverse crowd who might feel more at home among other young artists and activists than in clubs."

Queer Fest Midwest will provide a diversity of gender representation, with acts identifying as gay, lesbian, queer, gender-queer, or trans. Musical acts will represent a range of genres, such as rock, pop, rap, and techno, with performers including Katastrophe, a trans hip-hop artist from San Francisco, and Chris Garneau, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based singer-songwriter. The visual and performing arts section will explore the theme of "Cowboy & Pegasus." Artists submitting work to the event include S.I.R., Kean, Sean Fader, Charles Lum, Rob Stone, and Zachary Drucher.

For more information go to https://www.myspace.com/queerfestmidwest. (The Advocate)