These photos are from the 2024 Baltimore BLAQ Pride Royal Pageant, held at Motor House on October 19. This event was a part of Baltimore Blaq Pride 2024, which is organized by Blaq Equity Baltimore and the Black Arts District to recognize Black LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.
This year’s competition, hosted by Shawnna Alexander, featured contestants competing in categories that honored presentation, talent, and evening wear. Judges Alexis Blackmon, Onyx Revlon, Jeff Harris, and Keith Holt selected the winners.
This year’s newly crowned royal court included Mx. FemmeDaddy Foxx, Mr. Inferno K. Bonet, and Ms. Chanel Janaé Chloé. The night opened with a performance by Shawnna Alexander and included special performances by Naomi Couture, Egyppt Chloe, Prynce Iman Diamond, and Kayden Amore Chloe. Katie D Lite was also in attendance. The event highlighted the talent and pride of Baltimore’s LGBTQ+ community.
Baltimore BLAQ Pride was founded in 2002 by Carlton R. “The Duchess” Smith, Leroy Burgess, Dana Owens, and Kevin Clemons.
According to their website, the organization was founded to create a specific, unique space to celebrate the experiences of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and same-gender-loving (SGL) people in Baltimore City.”
Baltimore Black Pride is produced by Blaq Equity Baltimore annually. October is Black LGBTQI+ Pride Month in Baltimore.This year’s theme was “The Rise and Return,” and several Baltimore Black Pride events focused on cultivating community and celebrating new and elder voices of Black LGBTQIA+ folks in Baltimore.
