DeoVonte “Deo” Means & WCT Managing Editor Andrew Davis

On yesterday evening, I was honored to be a guest at the Windy City Times, thirtyunderthirty event. As Chicago’s premier news outlet for the LGBT community, WCT set the bar high; honoring the best and brightest individuals in Chicago’s LGBTQQIA youth community and the honorees lived up to the standard. Held at the Center on Halsted, guest convened for the reception where we casually conversed while being served hor dourves that included phenomenal baked crab cakes, baked dates wrapped in smoked bacon and my favorite, the sirloin beef braised in a honey, lemon-pepper sauce catered by Polo Café & Catering. As the event began, we were leisurely escorted into the main theatre and host Amy Matheny of Windy City Queercast and Kirk Williamson Managing Editor of Nightspots magazine did an amazing job of engaging and informing the guest of the accomplishments of these amazing young men and women. Each honoree was introduced with a small bio and presented their individual award.

Guest and Honorees

As I sat and listened to the bio of each honoree, I felt a profound feeling of pride come over me. In our community, we often-times give awards and bestows honorable titles upon each other based on physical beauty, popularity, clothing, perceived masculinity and other sorts of meaningless accolades. Rarely do you witness such young men and women being honored because of real life accomplishments and community activism. These young men and women are highly educated, vested in local community activism and trailblazing in efforts to improve LGBT issues and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although I was only a guest; I left feeling challenged, motivated and encouraged about our future. I’m excited to see what the future holds for them and my glass is raised to each individual honoree. WCT Managing Editor Andrew Davis did an excellent job at coordinating this event, but then again, I would expect nothing less from him. He’s amazing!!!….Deo

Honorees

Guest

2013 Honorees

Guest

Art Work