howdy all! Its been another fun week here in the ol’ Bravo noggin. What’s going on in the big wide world out there? This week has been pretty slow. I really wish there was more to say… OH…wait….. there is.

So on Tuesday, the Chicago Blackhawks hosted my husbands hockey team, the Chicago Gay Hockey Association. If you purchased a ticket through the team, you got a cute lil hat, a ticket to the Hawks Pride Night, and we got to skate on the ice for an hour about 2 hours prior to the game starting. IT WAS FREAKING EPIC.

Can I just say that being on the floor of an arena, makes you realize the balls an artist must have to get up on a stage and be the only person singing / dancing / whatever the talent may be. It was intimidating for sure.

Look at this cute little hat. My favorite part about it, is that it isn’t loaded with fucking logos / sponsorships. It is just a hat with the teams logo and a lgbtqia+ flag. It is really nice, and actually fits my fat ass head……when on the largest setting. But whatever, still cute n shit.

Ok, so I haven’t skated in a bit. When I was younger, you might, or might not, depending on who you are, know that I was an ice skater! GAY! But it is true. As a kid, I skated for a few years. I took lessons, and my aunt drove me every week. The real reason I went every week though was because of the blue raspberry slushy that my aunt would buy me after each practice. But I digress, after a while, I got bored of the sport and ended up leaving it (ya’ll have no idea how freaking expensive trying to be a professional skater can be, even for 8 – 10 year old’s!) But stepping on the ice at the United Center, was like a mini dream come true!

So we got to skate for a full hour before they kicked us off the ice. It was amazing. I would say total there were maybe 20 – 30 people? So you had a ton of room to skate around. They also had a professional photographer taking our photos, so you know when I get my hands on those I am posting that shit everywhere. There was also a camera guy, so at points, you would see yourself on the jumbo screen and its crazy because that image of you, is literally larger / taller than you. I kept trying to get my face on the screen as much as I could because like, I’m amazing and I need the world to see me as much as possible. Also, one of the neat things was that it was part of “Pride Night,” at the UC. So while we were skating on the ice, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus was practicing, and so we got to skate to their music and it was like the pinnacle of gayness between sport and music at that moment.

I also really liked the flags they hung up in the atrium. The colorful, rainbow-fied Chicago flag is amazing. I want at least one, if not multiples to hang outside and in my house. So you would think that is it, but no.

We also were invited to a panel of Chicago LGBTQIA+ businesses and non-profits that were being honored by BMO Harris bank.

Now, I have a few things to say here. Kurtis Gabriel of the Rockford Ice Hogs was amazing. He is a straight identifying ally. He has been trying to get hockey to be a more open and welcoming sport. He was awesome. The other person I wanted to highlight was Jae Rice. He is a trans man working at #BraveSpaceAlliance to try and get help, resources, and visibility to the plight of gay, lesbian, but especially trans BIPOC. If you can, please take a moment to look them up and donate!

So that was my week. I hope that this weekend is a bit more relaxing. I need a freaking break. A moment to clear my head. I really want to take like a week off and go camping and just forget real-world problems, but that is going to have to wait until the end of summer. So for now, I will enjoy my weekend, who knows, you may see me post a time or two this weekend. But for those of ya’ll who celebrate, have a safe and happy Easter!

If nobody has told you, remember that YOU ARE AMAZING. Never forget it! – Jordan