Text of IL HR 530 (2025)

HR0530LRB104 15984 ECR 29230 r 1HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Jojo Baby was a foundational and influential 3figure in the Chicago LGBTQ arts and nightlife scene for over 4three decades, establishing a lasting legacy as a visual 5artist, drag performer, doll maker, and hairdresser; and 6 WHEREAS, Born and raised in Chicago, Jojo Baby began their 7career in the late 1980s and quickly rose to prominence due to 8a singular, transformative artistic vision that blended 9fashion, theater, and elaborate makeup artistry, setting a 10high standard for creativity in drag; and 11 WHEREAS, Jojo Baby gained renown for their innovative 12approach, acting as a crucial bridge between traditional 13female impersonation and modern, avant-garde performance art, 14profoundly influencing generations of younger drag performers, 15artists, and queer youth in Chicago and beyond; and 16 WHEREAS, Throughout their career, Jojo Baby utilized their 17platform not only for entertainment but also as a powerful 18force for community building, serving as a dedicated mentor to 19countless aspiring artists and contributing to various 20philanthropic efforts, including HIV/AIDS awareness and LGBTQ 21advocacy; and HR0530- 2 -LRB104 15984 ECR 29230 r 1 WHEREAS, Jojo Baby's unwavering commitment to authenticity 2and self-expression provided a beacon of resilience and 3creativity within Chicago's LGBTQ community, making them a 4beloved and respected elder statesperson whose artistic 5excellence garnered national and international recognition; 6and 7 WHEREAS, In addition to their work in nightclubs, Jojo 8Baby gained prominence for their work as a hairdresser, 9including as a stylist for former Chicago Bulls player Dennis 10Rodman, and as an artist who handmade dolls that were featured 11in exhibitions across the world; and 12 WHEREAS, Jojo Baby's contributions to the cultural 13landscape of Chicago, particularly within the Boystown and 14greater queer community, are invaluable, reflecting the 15diversity, strength, and pioneering spirit of the city; 16therefore, be it 17 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 18HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 19we recognize Jojo Baby's artistic innovation and decades of 20service to the LGBTQ community of Chicago; and be it further 21 RESOLVED, That we commend Jojo Baby for their integral 22role in shaping the identity and artistic vibrancy of the HR0530- 3 -LRB104 15984 ECR 29230 r 1Illinois drag performance scene and for their unwavering 2advocacy for diversity and inclusion.