Christina Wiesmore Roberts
Christina Wiesmore Roberts found her niche in nightlife when she attracted Chicago’s lesbians to the gay bar where she worked. Since then, nightlife has become her bread and butter. Alongside colleague Amie Klujian, Roberts created the all-women’s Pride party Back Lot Bash and also throws regular Girls’ Night Out events in Boystown, packing the week’s chosen bar with more than 200 women. “I think of everyone who attends my events as one of my friends, and my goal is for them to have a great time and forget about the stresses they have in the outside world,” Roberts says. “Our community deals with so much, whether it’s external pressures or internal divisions, and it genuinely makes me happy to bring a diverse mix of people together for a night or a weekend to listen to music, dance, meet people and just have fun. I can’t tell you the number of people who met their spouse or significant other at one of my events, and I’m honored to have given them that opportunity.” Roberts also contributes as the Marketing & Community Development Manager for the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, and from her seat on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA). “Don’t be afraid to create something,” she says. “If you see a need within your community, find a way to fill it. We never dreamed Back Lot Bash would grow into what it is today, but we worked hard and focused on what people wanted and the rest just happened.” —TB
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