If you’ve been out and about in Chicago lately, you may recognize the face of Kye Adams, a recent City Colleges of Chicago graduate. Kye took part in a photo shoot with City Colleges last fall, and one of the photos is now being used in an advertising campaign on CTA buses across the city.
As summer in Chicago gets underway and more people are spending time outdoors, Kye has been busy responding to calls and texts from friends who have seen the buses pass by. The visibility is significant to Kye, a member of and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, especially as we celebrate Pride Month this June.
The opportunity to participate in the photo shoot presented itself after Kye filled out an online form, leaving an important message:
“I believe that non-binary and non-gender conforming individuals who are seeking higher education do not have the visibility that’s needed for encouragement.”
Growing up as an “out and proud” member of the LGBTQIA+ community was strenuous but necessary, Kye shared, and the main focus was survival, not education. Like over a quarter of LGBTQIA+ youth, Kye experienced housing instability at age 16, and homophobia and discrimination throughout their lifetime. Still, Kye did not want to become a “negative statistic.”
“My primary motivation for pursuing higher education came from my support team instilling in me that knowledge isn’t just a privilege but an indispensable tool for survival,” Kye said. “Now, I’m understanding that education is imperative. The gap needs to be closed, and the way to do that is through mentorship and resources. City Colleges gave me that.”
During Kye’s time at City Colleges, they formed connections with Black professors and found support from the Wellness Centers and Tutoring Centers at Malcolm X College, Kennedy-King College, and Olive-Harvey College. In fact, Kye took classes at six of the seven City Colleges, meeting “a uniquely diverse group of individuals” and furthering their passion for computer science along the way.
While members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to be underrepresented in the STEM fields, Kye is determined to pave the way for future generations. They are currently working on the Evaluation, Data Integration, and Technical Assistance (EDIT) Program at Northwestern University, which works to promote equity and diversity for under-appreciated populations and provides resources to grant-funded institutions.
Kye is a data assistant for the program and is using the knowledge from lived experiences along with skills gained at City Colleges on the job to make a difference. Kye wants to be a symbol of visibility for Black, nonbinary individuals in higher education, specifically in the STEM fields, which is also why they wanted to be a part of City Colleges’ photo shoot last fall.
“The LGBTQIA+ community needs exposure so we can show the world that there are people in our communities that are striving for higher education but require more tools and resources,” Kye said. “It’s all about visibility.”
While Kye prefers to be in the background, they recognize the need to be a vessel for change. In fact, one of Kye’s favorite quotes is one from James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
Kye will continue to be a vessel for change post-City Colleges graduation as an alumnus, saying there’s more work to be done. Kye collaborates with several nonprofit organizations and grant-funded programs in Chicago to promote safety and sustainability for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Representation and safety are imperative in what is defined as gay pride,” Kye said. “Not only for non-binary and trans people’s lives, but we also need to highlight the negative stigmas, exclusion, and discriminatory practices that exist toward Black people under the rainbow.”
Kye is currently working towards a dual bachelor/master’s degree in computer science at Western Governors University through an accelerated program. Their ultimate career goal is to mentor Black LGBTQIA+ people and give them exposure to the STEM fields.
