Black LGBT Film Group Hosts Black Alphabet Film Fest

The Black Alphabet Film Festival ( BAFF ) is back for another exciting year showcasing films and other works that highlight and explore the African American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer ( LGBTQ ) and Same Gender Loving ( SGL ) experience. The international film festival will take place before the Independence Day observance on Wednesday, July 2 and Thursday, July 3 at the DuSable Museum of African American History and Center on Halsted, respectively. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning in June.

"We are to glad to be able to provide another year of wonderful programming to share with Chicago's African American LGBTQ community and beyond," stated Janelle Allen, executive director.

Established in 2013 and named precisely because of the mouthful naming LGBTQ/SGL inclusivity can be, Black Alphabet ( BA ) is a non-profit Chicago-based collective of black sexual and gender minorities committed to art, culture and entrepreneurship in the "Black Alphabet" community. Its mission is to empower the African American LGBTQ/SGL community by celebrating, promoting and nurturing untold stories that are often forgotten in the broader LGBTQ/SGL landscape.

In its inaugural launch, BAFF featured a combination of 15 shorts and features from around the world. Highlights included the official Chicago premieres of films such as Friend of Essex, a documentary meditation on the continuing influence of poet activist Essex Hemphill and Glitterboys & Ganglands, a documentary about transgender life on the South African beauty pageant circuit.

This year, BA plans to create an even bigger and better celebration of storytelling, art and community for all to enjoy. To achieve this goal, BA needs the community's support in raising the funds necessary by contributing to the crowdfunding campaign on the website, [campaign ended] . By donating as little as $5 can assist in BA's efforts to reach its target funding goal. The link to donate is [information removed]. Donations through this site will be accepted until Thursday, May 9.

"This film festival was created for our community. BA needs their assistance to ensure that we can continue to tell our stories that are a part of a rich legacy that builds upon our past, informs our present and prepares us for the future," she continued.

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