An Update to the Chicago Leather and Kink Community from David Boyer and Touché
I’d like to provide an update on actions taken by Touchéownership & management following the community meeting that I attended on January 21st, 2023.
On March 28, 2023, I met with the leadership of ONYX Midwest to discuss a path forward, and to define specific steps they wished us to take. Today I can report the following:
Over the summer, Touché hired Praxis Chicago, an LGBTQ+ consulting firm, to conduct individual training and group workshops on the topics of Race and Gender, with additional focus on issues affecting Transgender and Nonbinary people. I participated in a series of individual training sessions, and Touché staff participated in a group workshop. These trainings and discussions happened in the months of August and September of 2023.
I worked with our graphic designer to ensure that our ads, promotions, and videos feature more people of color, especially Black individuals, and that people of color are represented in positive ways in those marketing materials.
The Touché events calendar for 2024 is drafted and Touché is open to sharing our calendar with club and community leaders in order to hear multiple diverse perspectives to identify and resolve any potential problems before they occur.
We have made a donation to The Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, Trans-led, LGBTQ+ center located on the south side of Chicago. Touché is working to expand our support of organizations that serve LGBTQ+ people of color, women, trans, and nonbinary individuals across our larger community, as part of our monthly "Friday Funder" events that raise money for community organizations.
I know this process did not happen in the time frame that the community had hoped. We are committed to creating a space free from racism, sexism, transphobia, and misogyny. We realize that we can always do better, and are committed to that work as requested of us by both ONYX and the community.
It is my sincere hope that the actions outlined above will help us begin to rebuild trust with community members and club leaders.
Sincerely,
David Boyer
General Manager
