FESTIVAL
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PERFORMERS BIOS
FLYANA BOSS
More than just your average duo—they’re running riot over the rap game,
breaking the genre’s archaic stereotypes with their eclectic palette and their self-professed
weirdness.
Since meeting at music college in Los Angeles, Bobbi LaNea and Folayan have been defying genres and making waves across the industry. Committed to breaking stereotypes, championing female friendships, and building a strong community, the two MC and multi-instrumentalists capture hearts with their refreshing authenticity. The duo are officially known as Flyana Boss, “It’s fly and a boss,” as well as it being an ode to Diana Ross.
ANDRE ISAACS
Dr. André Isaacs (he/him/his) is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. In addition to teaching courses in Organic Chemistry, he conducts and publishes research in the area of copper-mediated organic reactions and synthesis. He uses his online platform to challenge the normative STEM culture and demonstrate what an inclusive space could look like for the next generation of scientists, primarily those with marginalized identities. He’s been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America and received the
Department of Justice Gerald B. Roemer Community Service Award for LGBTQ+ outreach in academia.
AMANDA SHEA
Three-time Boston Music Award-winning Spoken Word artist Amanda Shea is a Black, queer creative at the intersection of poetry, music, social justice, and culture. WBUR lauds her EP God Again as “bridging the gap between poetry and music,” seamlessly blending spoken word with genres like hip-hop, rap, rock, opera, jazz, R&B, and contemporary sounds. With work featured in the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Boston Globe, TEDx, Netflix, Prime Video, BBC News, and GBH, Shea’s voice honors African and Puerto Rican oral traditions, while pushing the boundaries of what poetry can be—and who can access it. Her art
reflects her personal life, explores social justice issues, and serves as a tool for healing through trauma. Shea is described by Boston Globe culture columnist Jenee Osterheldt as a “connector of creativity and community".
CURTIS SANTOS
Curtis Santos is a passionate community leader and advocate, committed to advancing social equity, particularly within the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. He is the Executive Director of the Boston Lesbigay Urban Foundation (BLU), where he plays a crucial role in developing initiatives focused on health equity, re-entry programs, and the empowerment of marginalized groups. Curtis has been instrumental in organizing events like Boston Black Pride, aiming to highlight and celebrate the identities of Black LGBTQ+ individuals.
DJ WHYSHAM
DJ WhySham is from Boston, MA. She’s your official Boston Legacy Soccer Match DJ and back with Boston Pride for the People for the fourth year.
DJ HARLOW HAVOC
Harlow Havoc, Boston's queer multi-disciplinary DJ and artist, is known for their hard-hitting, bass-boosted, and tonal EDM productions, drawing inspiration from the techno scene of today layered with classic, euphoric house vocals. In over a decade, Harlow has produced multiple nightlife events celebrating the queer community's close ties to the queer underground music scene and beyond, and they are ready to leave you on the dance floor begging for more.
THE FEMMES
The Femmes are an all-woman and non-binary party band specializing in songs by female and non-binary artists.
The Femmes have been booked solid since their sold-out debut showcase at Club Cafe in February 2023. Finding quick success in the MA market and all across New England, The Femmes have become one of Boston's top party bands, performing for the Museum of Science, the Human Rights Campaign, the Celtics Pride Night, the Southeast Alaska State Fair, First Night Boston, and have been featured on CBS News and the Boston Globe. Attend one of their highly popular Gay Prom events, and don’t miss their Pride Party every year!
HJC
The Hazzel Jinx Collective is a diverse group of dancers from all different parts of
Massachusetts. Founded in 2022 and led by Hazzel Jinx, their mission is to give back to their communities and inspire the next generation to come and show people it’s okay to be unapologetically you.
QWAM
QWAM is an all men dance team of LGBTQIA+ community members and allies. Founded in 2016 as an idea to get a group of friends together, we are now a diverse dance family. Our mission is to represent, and hopefully bring confidence, to those who identify as other by expressing and communicating our truest selves through our dancing. We are thrilled to be celebrating our 10 year anniversary of being a team, being a family, and representing our truest selves in the greater Boston dance community.
LA PALOMA
La Paloma is a Peruvian-American drag performer based in Boston, MA, known for high-energy Latin pop mixes that fuse cultural heritage with dance-driven performance. With a dynamic stage presence and polished delivery, she brings intention and impact to every set. As the founder of House of Lewan, she also creates spaces for diverse entertainers to share their artistry across stages throughout New England.
CHRISTIAN INMAN
Christian Inman is a Gen-Z story teller that is defining the next wave of Electronic Pop and R&B. With Christian’s newest project, STATIC, they show us the world through their eyes and a flashy pair of shades to match. Christian tells all about what romance looks like as a young black queer artist from PG County, Maryland and these stories are told through creating music rooted in resilience, self-love and flirting with the unconventional.
Having opened for Isaac Dunbar, and being recognized as a One to Watch spotlight at BMI, Christian Inman continues to release new music and can be found on all streaming platforms, TikTok (@christianinmanofficial), and Instagram (@christianinmanofficial).
PARRIS
PARRIS is a New England-native actor, musician, composer, and artiste whose creative force commands attention. From composing for orchestras to performing at major festivals, PARRIS is reshaping how we hear jazz, funk, and soul music. Her 2024 debut album All’s Good is a 15-track journey through sonic nostalgia and genre-fluid soundscapes, brought to life onstage with theatrical flair and bold authenticity. This journey continues with the launch of her latest EP, 2002. With appearances in The Boston Globe, MassLive, and Getty Images, PARRIS is the future of performance — and the future is now.