TaskForce celebrates 35 years of empowering LGBTQ+ youth on Chicago’s West Side

TaskForce Prevention and Community Services, Chicago’s oldest Black-led LGBTQ+ organization, celebrated its 35th anniversary this year with its annual fundraiser Vogue for Good.

The event was held at the Columbus Park Refectory on Oct. 9, honoring ballroom culture and raising support for the organization’s free health, wellness and leadership programs for LGBTQ+ youth on the city’s West Side.

TaskForce led the 2025 Chicago Pride Parade as the Out Front Leader, marking the first time a local community organization took the lead. The organization centered its LGBTQ+ youth of color during the parade, highlighting their creativity, resilience and joy, including through voguing (dance) and other forms of self-expression. 

Dr. Christopher V. Balthazar, who is executive director of TaskForce Prevention and Community Services, said the event celebrates the past, while recognizing the ongoing commitment and impact of TaskForce as well as challenges ahead.

“It is not an easy feat that TaskForce still exists today and we want to be open about celebrating that. We are acknowledging our history and also recognizing the important and influential TaskForce supporters who helped the organization through various challenging periods in its 35-year history,” Balthazar said. 

Balthazar hoped that attendees of Vogue for Good felt the love, resilience and commitment of the community. He wants them to experience the spirit of support and solidarity that ensures LGBTQ+ youth are seen, valued, heard and treated with dignity and respect.

He also acknowledged current challenges, stressing that community backing is central to the organization’s ongoing resilience and impact. Ballroom is often described as a space of resilience, creativity and joy. 

“Just like TaskForce, the house and ball community has been a space where LGBTQ+ youth of color can be seen, have their identities affirmed and receive support,” Balthazar said. “There have been and continue to be, times when young LGBTQ+ people are kicked out of their homes because of their identity. In the house and ball scene, gay mothers and fathers often step up to provide guidance and support to these young people,” 

When asked how ballroom culture values are reflected in the youth and communities, Balthazar said resilience is reflected by the fact that they are still here despite all of the current challenges.

“​​Given the current times, our young people are still here and continue to find ways to experience joy while remaining realistic about the challenges they face and participating in advocacy work. This, I believe, is a direct reflection of resilience. As they find joy within TaskForce, they are not just voguing but also using art in creative ways to uplift their voices,” Balthazar said.

Balthazar noted that TaskForce has faced challenging situations in the past and is now relying on the community to help navigate the current challenges, including those arising in the political landscape.

“We are living at a time where, specifically, people with trans experiences are being attacked on every level. Many of their rights are being challenged, even to the point of whether they can access gender-affirming care and healthcare systems. There are just so many challenges.” Balthazar said.

TaskForce advocates for the health and wellness of the community, working with elected officials to secure policy support, amplify community voices and advocate on their behalf amid direct attacks.

The involvement of young people in sharing their ideas and collaborating with the team highlights the community’s resilience and ability to find joy through artistic expression, according to Balthazar.

TaskForce plans to expand its physical space to better accommodate the growing number of individuals it supports each year, which has also required an increase in staff. 

“We now need adequate space to continue this work. We will be focused on that initiative. Additionally, we will continue finding ways to listen to our community and ensure that our work is co-led and well-informed by its members. This approach is central to our identity as an organization, and we plan to continue this work even more deeply and in increasingly meaningful ways,” Balthazar said. 

Success, he said, is seen through the lens of ensuring every LGBTQ+ young person has opportunities to flourish, and TaskForce will continue its efforts until this vision becomes a reality.

“As a Black-led LGBTQ+ organization, we recognize that there are challenges to funding. Galvanizing our community to help us thrive, and continue to thrive during times like these, is both important and central to our mission,” Balthazar said. “We really want to be open about celebrating. We are acknowledging our history and we are also recognizing the important and influential TaskForce supporters who helped the organization through various challenging periods in its 35-year history.”