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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Jojo Baby was a foundational and influential | ||||||
| 3 | figure in the Chicago LGBTQ arts and nightlife scene for over | ||||||
| 4 | three decades, establishing a lasting legacy as a visual | ||||||
| 5 | artist, drag performer, doll maker, and hairdresser; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Born and raised in Chicago, Jojo Baby began their | ||||||
| 7 | career in the late 1980s and quickly rose to prominence due to | ||||||
| 8 | a singular, transformative artistic vision that blended | ||||||
| 9 | fashion, theater, and elaborate makeup artistry, setting a | ||||||
| 10 | high standard for creativity in drag; and | ||||||
| 11 | WHEREAS, Jojo Baby gained renown for their innovative | ||||||
| 12 | approach, acting as a crucial bridge between traditional | ||||||
| 13 | female impersonation and modern, avant-garde performance art, | ||||||
| 14 | profoundly influencing generations of younger drag performers, | ||||||
| 15 | artists, and queer youth in Chicago and beyond; and | ||||||
| 16 | WHEREAS, Throughout their career, Jojo Baby utilized their | ||||||
| 17 | platform not only for entertainment but also as a powerful | ||||||
| 18 | force for community building, serving as a dedicated mentor to | ||||||
| 19 | countless aspiring artists and contributing to various | ||||||
| 20 | philanthropic efforts, including HIV/AIDS awareness and LGBTQ | ||||||
| 21 | advocacy; and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, Jojo Baby's unwavering commitment to authenticity | ||||||
| 2 | and self-expression provided a beacon of resilience and | ||||||
| 3 | creativity within Chicago's LGBTQ community, making them a | ||||||
| 4 | beloved and respected elder statesperson whose artistic | ||||||
| 5 | excellence garnered national and international recognition; | ||||||
| 6 | and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, In addition to their work in nightclubs, Jojo | ||||||
| 8 | Baby gained prominence for their work as a hairdresser, | ||||||
| 9 | including as a stylist for former Chicago Bulls player Dennis | ||||||
| 10 | Rodman, and as an artist who handmade dolls that were featured | ||||||
| 11 | in exhibitions across the world; and | ||||||
| 12 | WHEREAS, Jojo Baby's contributions to the cultural | ||||||
| 13 | landscape of Chicago, particularly within the Boystown and | ||||||
| 14 | greater queer community, are invaluable, reflecting the | ||||||
| 15 | diversity, strength, and pioneering spirit of the city; | ||||||
| 16 | therefore, be it | ||||||
| 17 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 18 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 19 | we recognize Jojo Baby's artistic innovation and decades of | ||||||
| 20 | service to the LGBTQ community of Chicago; and be it further | ||||||
| 21 | RESOLVED, That we commend Jojo Baby for their integral | ||||||
| 22 | role in shaping the identity and artistic vibrancy of the | ||||||
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| 1 | Illinois drag performance scene and for their unwavering | ||||||
| 2 | advocacy for diversity and inclusion. | ||||||