Storytelling Workshop: Finding Queer Desi Joy in Chicago

Chicagoan Ronnie takes us on a journey to one of their most favorite spaces in Chicago, an event actually- the recurring South Asian, Bollywood Drag Party, “Jai Ho”. In this piece, we hear Ronnie speaking with two iconic Drag Queens about their experiences with the Jai Ho parties, from its formative days to the present. And through Ronnie’s own insights and experiences as shared in this piece, we learn how social events like these can be the catalyst and cause behind beautiful, untethered, queer, people-of-color joy!

This segment was produced by Ranita Chatterjee for Vocalo’s Fall 2022 Storytelling Workshop. Vocalo’s quarterly Storytelling Workshop returned this Fall with seven segments produced by community storytellers, uplifting the voices of individuals who add to the rich cultural diversity of Chicago. More information can be found at www.vocalo.org/storytelling-workshop.