The Bi Task Force is passing the pink, purple and blue baton off to Good Trouble Makers – thus creating the ever-fabulous, ever-proud Unicorn pARTy to celebrate Bi Awareness Month.
After receiving a grant from the California Institute of Contemporary Arts to produce inVISIBLE the dance theatre work, Good Trouble Makers approached #stillbisexual and The American Institute of Bisexuality to team up and make a larger community celebration. Previously, The Bi Task Force took the responsibility to host an annual Bi Pride event, but with this new event, the transition to Unicorn pARTy felt natural.
Unicorn pARTy is taking place on September 14 at the Bootleg Theatre. Kai Hazelwood is the mastermind event coordinating group Good Trouble Makers – the first bisexual led and focused arts collaborative in the world. The Pride LA spoke with Hazelwood to see what event attendees can expect. Check it out:
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Kai and I, along with my collaborative Good Trouble Makers, produce events, create original dance performances, and make good trouble. We work to raise the profile of bi+/queer and BIPOC community issues through art projects, events, and public speaking.
I received my BFA from UCLA, and have performed across North America. I’m also co-organizer of AmBi LA an over 3,000 person strong social and support group for bi+ people. I have appeared in BuzzFeed videos, led bi+ storytelling workshops, and speak at high schools and colleges about bi+ community issues. I choreographed the 2016 bi+ contingent of the LA Pride Parade featuring the cast of Crazy Ex Girlfriend.
In 2017 I signed with Go 2 Talent Agency, and was an Art Omi International Arts Center Choreographic Resident. In 2018 I was invited to The Black Choreographer’s Festival in San Francisco, named an Artist in Residence for the City of Los Angeles, and invited to Jacob’s Pillow as part of the National Presenter’s Forum. This year I’m thrilled to be a member of the 2019 Dance USA Institute for Leadership cohort. I’m also the Artistic Director of Downtown Dance & Movement in Los Angeles, and Good Trouble Makers a collective of art-agitators based in Los Angeles.
In one sentence, what is Unicorn PARTy?
Unicorn pARTy, in honor of Bi Pride month, is a night of revelry featuring dance performance, live music, and art celebrating love for more than one gender.
Can you elaborate more?
Have you always wanted to go to a Pride event but felt nervous because you thought that you might not be “queer enough?” You’re not alone, and this party is for YOU. If you rock your rainbow joy loud and proud, or if you’re an ally who’s looking to celebrate bi+ pride, Unicorn pARTy, at the Bootleg Theatre is where you should be!
Unicorn pARTy, in honor of Bi Pride month, is a 21+ evening of art, dance, music and revelry celebrating love for more than one gender. Produced by Good Trouble Makers and hosted by Miss Barbie Q.
Where did the idea for the event come from?
Unicorn pARTy came in to being out of a desire to create the party I wish I could have gone to as a baby queer looking for community, and the magical party I would be most excited to go to now.
What can guests expect?
A great time with some fabulous queerdos!
Unicorn pARTy includes inVISIBLE, a dance theatre work directed by Kai Hazelwood featuring recorded stories from real bi+ people, a musical line up of some of LA’s hottest bi+ artists and bands like alt-rockers VATTICA, country pop artist Cindy Jollotta and funk and soul artist DIIMOND, as well as a queer craft market curated by QUEERDO by Kiki!!
What is new and exciting this year?
It’s all new and exciting since this is the first time the event is happening! I’m most exited because everyone involved are seasoned badass artists and I can wait to experience the magic that is made when we all bring our skills together in one night!
Why is this event important?
Because celebration and visibility are vital political acts. Of course we have to march in the streets, change laws and so much more, but joyful celebration and community building gives us a home and helps us thrive!
Why is Bi+ visibility important?
According to The Bisexuality Report, “…of all the larger sexual identity groups, bisexual people have the worst mental health problems, including high rates of depression, anxiety, self harm and suicidality… Bisexuals experience high rates of being ignored, discriminated against, demonized, or rendered invisible by both the heterosexual world and the lesbian and gay communities…This erasure has serious consequences on bisexuals’ health, economic well-being, and funding for bi organizations and programs.”
The best tool we have to combat these statistics is being as visible as possible so that isolated people struggling can find us, and to own our place in the LGBTQ+ rainbow; discrimination thrives in darkness, so the brighter and louder we are, the safer and more accepted our community becomes!
Unicorn pARTy will take on September 14th from 5pm to 9pm at the The Bootleg Theatre 2220 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90057. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unicorn-party-tickets-65969469459. Website: https://www.goodtroublemakers.com/unicorn-party.
