A film about Baltimore’s Black queer aesthetic will premiere at SNF Parkway Theatre in October, developed by and featuring members of the local Black LGBTQ community.
“Damn Y’all Fine” is a documentary film directed by Ti Malik Coleman and Dr. Kalima Young of The Rooted Collective, a local organization that develops programming and events for Black LGBTQ people in Baltimore. The film is a journey into the self-stylings of Baltimore’s Black, queer, and trans artists and activists, exploring how the city influences how they express their gender and sexual identities.
“This film is a labor of love and discovery,” co-director Young said. “I have learned so much about myself and my fellow queers in the making of it. It is my hope that audiences leave the film feeling the same way.”
Young is a professor of electronic media and film at Towson University.
The documentary presents an array of stories and reflections on what it means to be both Black and LGBTQ in Baltimore. To co-director Coleman, “Damn Y’all Fine” is a love letter to the people and city of Baltimore.
“I want people to watch this movie and see themselves the way I see them–fine and perfect the way they are,” Coleman said. “Baltimore has loved me so much, I just wanted to love the city back.”
The Rooted Collective provides a place for Black LGBTQ people in Baltimore to gather and heal from oppression, define and dream, and practice joy and pleasure. The collective offers programs like Black Queer Canopy Therapy, which are walks through local parks that include storytelling, gratitude practices, wilderness first aid education, letter-writing, and more.
They also offer a bi-weekly public spiritual practice called “Soul Queeries,” a seasonal tarot reading called “Tarot for a World on Fire,” and a weekly Saturday virtual vinyasa yoga practice.
“Damn Y’all Fine” premieres at the SNF Parkway Theatre on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. There will be a reception followed by the screening. After the film, there will be a talkback discussion in the theater.
Tickets are free, but space is limited, so registration is required. Attendees can also read The Rooted Collective’s “Collective Care and Accessibility Statement” for information on COVID-19, accessibility, transportation, parking, and more.
The SNF Parkway Theatre is located at 5 W. North Ave. in Baltimore, Maryland.
Watch the trailer for “Damn Y’all Fine” below.
