Affinity Community Services
About Affinity Community Services
Founded in 1995 on Chicago's South Side, Affinity Community Services emerged from the grassroots vision of Black lesbian, gay, and bisexual community members seeking visibility and liberation. This Black and queer-founded organization has spent three decades building brave activist communities dedicated to social justice, centering the experiences and leadership of Black queer women throughout Chicago, IL and beyond. Affinity's mission is rooted in the belief that all Black LGBTQ+ people deserve freedom and the ability to bring their authentic selves without fear or marginalization. The organization values community, recovery, healthy shared leadership, accountability, knowledge, safe spaces, critical justice, and reciprocal relationships—principles that guide every aspect of their work. Since its inception, Affinity has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Bayard Rustin Award, the Audre Lorde Legacy Award, and honors from Chicago's municipal leadership for sustained community service. What sets Affinity apart is its deep commitment to healing justice alongside activism, creating spaces where Black LGBTQ+ individuals not only organize for change but also recover and heal from systemic oppression. The organization operates as a welcoming community hub on Chicago's South Side, offering a safe space where Black LGBTQ+ community members and allies can connect, belong, and participate in shaping their collective future. Through three decades of unwavering dedication, Affinity has proven itself an essential institution in the fight for Black LGBTQ+ liberation and justice.