Images of African-American Lesbian, Gay,...

"We Are Here," an exhibit of photographic images of African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Chicagoans by Richard Lee Gray opened at 12 noon on Friday, October 6, in the Community Room at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, announced Clarence N. Wood, Chairman of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

"We Are Here" will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and to 8 p.m. until October 30. A reception to celebrate the exhibit will be held today from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m in the Community Room at Garfield Park Conservatory. The exhibit and reception are open to the public.

The Commission on Human Relations is proud to be a sponsor of this groundbreaking exhibit during Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month," said Wood.

"The idea for "We Are Here" came when I saw the 'Just Married' exhibit at Hull House in Chicago, which featured photographs of same-gender-loving people being married in San Francisco," said Richard Lee Gray. "A number of Black people commented that they saw few Black gay people in that exhibit and those they saw were with white partners. As a photographer of African-American descent who is same-gender-loving, I felt the need to respond. "We Are Here" is a result of my commitment to highlight images of African-American same-gender-loving people. It is a naming project meant to put a face on the diversity within the larger Black community."

"This is an expanding exhibit," added Gray, "and additional portraits have been added for this display. Eventually "We Are Here" will include a larger collection of images, videos, art, and voices of African-American same-gender-loving and transgender people and their families."

"We Are Here" premiered at Steelelife Gallery, 4655 S. King Dr., in February 2006 and was displayed at Stephen Kelly Gallery, 750 N. Franklin St., during Gay Games VII.

People currently included in the exhibit are:

Moshe Adams, singer, actor, Chicago native, partnered.

Jacqueline Anderson, activist, philosopher, community organizer; 1996 inductee in the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

Lorraine Sade Baskerville, founder of transGenesis in 1995 as an agency to advocate for and address the concerns of Chicago's transgender community; 2000 inductee in the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

Lois L. Bates, transgender advocate and health educator

Charles "Ralu" Bishop, 71, teacher, poet, mentor; former member of the Black Panther Party and former teacher in the Black Panther Party's school on the West Side; partnered for 45 years.

The Rev. Eric J. Edwards, founder and senior pastor of Resurrection & Hope Ministries, with his partner, Dr. Lee Patterson, pediatrician.

Troy J. Ford, liaison to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities for former U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun; personal assistant to former U.S. Ambassador Carol Mosley Braun.