Recap: SlayFest 2018 with Glenn Quentin

The 1st Annual SLAYFEST 2018 was a night to remember! Making history stepping out of the digital world into the physical realm, joining the movement to change the landscape for generations to come. SLAYFEST featured an amazing lineup of panels, films and a concert celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ community.  The birthing culmination of two black men (Sean and Terry Torrington) living in excellence who dared to dream, bringing their visions to life.

It’s a joy to witness unfiltered passion, vulnerability, and power in spaces curated to honor our community.  SLAYFEST does that. If there was any doubt about what it meant to slay, artist after artist authentically took the stage exposing their truth encouraging the audience to go out into the world and do the same.  

Jonathan Lykes brilliantly started the concert off with his music reminding the audience of the healing that gets to take place in our circles.  This poured right into the soulful sounds of Davi Akei moving to the electric rock star Fusilier in the first act who blessed us with a mantra of self-love at the end of his set.

We took another turn in the night when Rozay Labeija opened in their first number “I am not a man.” We got to see true acceptance in SLAYFEST, what the world could look like without binary restrictions of the masculine vs feminine outdated customs.  Rahrah Gabor is a lyrical beast on the microphone and both Charlie Xile and Mila Jam added to their performances with background dancers giving the audience a little taste of theatrics.

Our community is vast. We need not accept one seat at the table. We very likely created the table. SLAYFEST represented a new beginning.  SLAYFEST gave a glimpse into what a world of inclusivity and love can look like. We all get to choose how to slay in our own way.  What matters most is that we do.

Recap, Photos, and Video by Glenn Quentin