Media Contact:
Ian L. Haddock
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Normal Anomaly Announces Second Black Queer+ Advancement Festival: A Celebration of Black, Queer+ Culture through Music, Community and Disruptive Advocacy in Houston
Full talent line-up announced for expanded 5-day festival.
HOUSTON, TX. – March 7, 2023 – The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc., a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to assisting Black, queer+ people with overcoming barriers and ending stigmas and problematic narratives, announced the line-up of their flagship initiative, the Black Queer+ Advancement Festival (BQ+AF). BQ+AF’s second year has expanded to five days with its premiere event at Stampede Houston on Saturday, May 6, 2023, featuring a lineup of all-Black local, national, and celebrity entertainers.
BQ+AF is a first-of-its-kind Houston-based music festival that centers and spotlights Black, queer+ voices. The festival and corresponding weekend will be composed of innovative experiences that merge recreation with advocacy. The community-centered event is the epitome of “partying with a purpose” in a safe and creative environment. BQ+AF will include talented performers, immersive games, and recreation, as well as the launch of 13 local, queer+ businesses as part of Normal Anomaly’s Project Liberate.
Project Liberate is a leadership program that helps build sustainability and lasting community impact by providing education, tools, and resources to the Black, queer+ community’s activists, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. It aims to liberate the Black, queer+ community through advocacy, as well as to rebuild and redefine our society.
“As a Black, queer-led nonprofit, we are committed to providing authentic and safe spaces for our community to not only celebrate but also contribute to the culture,” said Ian L. Haddock, Founder, and Executive Director of the Normal Anomaly Initiative. “BQ+AF will bring together communities, creatives, corporations, and changemakers from Houston and beyond to engage in conversations and connections that will further empower our Black, queer+ ecosystem.”
Confirmed talent includes Billboard R&B Soul charting artist Keke Wyatt, BET Hip Hop Awards performers KenTheMan and Kidd Kenn, Greg Mathis, Jr. star of Mathis Family Matters, Queen of the Universe contestant Jazell Barbie Royale, Tiffany Andrews from Sunday Best Season Nine, New Orleans based politician and activist Mariah Moore, international speaker Jotina Buck, award-winning activist Diamond Stylz, TikTok star Team Jamar and rising national star Sevndeep.
The events are the following:
- On Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 7 PM at Hamburger Mary’s Houston, we will have the Mr. and Miss Black Queer AF Pageant. Competitors will vie for the title with prizes that each equal $1,500 and include opening up for the Black Queer AF Music Festival.
- On May 4-5, 2023 from 10 AM- 4 PM each day at Doubletree by Intercontinental Airport we will have the Black Queer Advancement Forum which will include Black Queer Mental Health Townhall filmed by ABC13 Houston and moderated by producer and anchor from ABC13 Houston, Brittaney Wilmore, a live recording of Marsha’s Plate podcast moderated by one of their hosts, Diamond Stylz and will include panelists Joelle Espeut (The Normal Anomaly Initiative), Mariah Moore (Transgender Law Center), Josie Pickens (UpEnd Movement) and Mitzi Henderson (NaMitzi Yoga). Opportunities will also include exhibiting and the ability to contribute to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, along with financial literacy, wellness, community building, arts, and culture components.
- On May 4, 2023, from 6 PM- 9 PM at Doubletree by Intercontinental Airport, we will be having the Welcome Reception and Black Pride Hall of Fame presented by the Charles Law Archive honoring community leaders including Tommie Ross, DJ Tony Powell, Rande Rochelle, Sophia McIntosh, Big Yo and Harrison Guy with a special keynote speech by Greg Mathis, Jr.
- On May 6, 2023, from 2 PM- 7 PM at Stampede Houston, we will have the Black Queer AF Music Festival which will be headlined by KenTheMan and Kidd Kenn, with performances by KeKe Wyatt, SevnDeep, Jazell Barbie Royale, Mikey Everything, Martell Lacey and ALXTHEGREAT, a Hip-Hop Cypher presented by Pink Elephant Radio including Vockah Redu, Doug Thee Savage, TazDaRealist, and Guch and hosted by Greg Mathis, Jr., Elliott Cooper, Team Jamar, and KhaosTalks. We will have attractions such as live animals, mechanical bull riding, axe throwing, vending from our Project Liberate graduates, food, and a separate party upstairs featuring House Music by legendary DJ Sedrick and hosted by Keith and Dexter.
- On May 7, 2023, from 11 AM-1 PM at St. Peter’s United Church, in collaboration with affirming clergy and churches in Houston, we will be having the Sunday Service with special guest psalmist Tiffany Andrews from season nine of Sunday’s Best, speaker Dr. Sande Bailey- Gwinn and guest preacher Pastor P. Kristofer.
- On May 7, 2023, from 5 PM- 10 PM at Balmoral Crystal Clear Lagoon, we will be having Black Queer AF IMPULSEIFied Beach Party in collaboration with Impulse Group Houston. With special guest hosts to be announced soon, this is currently our last event being offered this weekend.
All confirmed talent are KenTheMan, Kidd Kenn, Keke Wyatt, Jazell Barbie Royale, Sevndeep, Greg Mathis, Jr., Elliott Cooper, Team Jamar, KhaosTalks, Martell Lacey, Mikey Everything, AlxTheGreat, Tiffany Andrews, P. Kristofer, Dr. Sande Bailey- Gwinn, Mariah Moore, Diamond Stylz, Bryanna Jenkins, Josie Pickens, Mitzi Henderson, Remmington Belford, Jotina Buck, Chris Hollins, Nishia Jackson, DJ Sedrick, DJ Panda, Vockah Redu, TazDaRealist, Doug Thee Savage, Guch, Kaleb Elijah and Rich Rocket.
Presenting Sponsor for this event is ViiV Accelerate. Other sponsors of this event are ViiV Healthcare, OutSmart Magazine, ABC13 Houston, The Pride Study, All of us LGBT, Gatekeepers, Vintage Thrivals, PrideNet, and Impulse Group Houston.
Collaborating partners for these events are Impulse Group Houston, St. Peter United, Hamburger Mary’s Houston, Alexyeus Paris, ABC13 Houston, Keith and Dexter, Pink Elephant Radio, Fresh Wind Christian Fellowship, Freedom Church, Gatekeepers, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, Nishia Da Diva, Flawless Oz, Heat Thursdays, Lake&Prosper, Root+Yoke Wellness, Charles Law Archive, and Sanctuary of Praises Gospel Church.
Marketing Materials and Media Images for Talent are located in Google Drive HERE.
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About Normal Anomaly – Founded by Ian L. Haddock in June 2016 in Houston, Texas as a storytelling blog, The Normal Anomaly Initiative has grown to become a Houston staple in the community-based social advocacy world dedicated to the forward mobility of all-Black, queer people. In March 2021, The Normal Anomaly opened the BQ Plus Center for Liberation, a Black, Queer-led center located in Houston.
