Conversations with Gabriel Ramírez, Shag, Sam Bolton and J'Vonte Johson on community spaces and their benefits.

Words: Emanuele Barbier
Photos: Norma Ibarra, Emanuele Barbier

It might have been the roaring cheers over the soothing crackling wood in the improvised firepit. Or the string lights sketchily hanging in the tree on this chill October night. At that moment, everything stopped. At that moment, a warmth spread, submerging my sinking heart deeper. It took a minute to understand this new feeling. It was a little part of my soul that had just been healed. In this space, trauma had none.

It might sound like a scene from a hangout at a country cabin. Don’t be fooled. This was the grand closing ceremony of Unity Fest 1: the backyard BBQ and mini ramp jam at the GaySkate7 HQ. A cherished moment concluding four days of memorable mischief gathering freaks and geeks from across the world for the most fun weekend of their lives. 

The brainchild of Jeffrey Cheung and Gabriel Ramirez, Unity Fest 1, took place last October in the Bay area. “[Jeff] had been brewing this idea of a big celebration with music and jams for years,” says Gabe. In the image of the queer trans collective ‘Unity’, Unity Fest celebrated both individuality and community beyond the world of skateboarding. 

“It’s fun because for every aspect [of the festival], it is a chance to get friends involved. They might not always be skaters, but they are part of the queer trans community. It’s the anchoring point.” says Gabe. It’s thanks to this open heart that himself and Jeff have been creating life-long connections with skaters, artists, activists and community builders all around. 

"Jeff and I could stop doing Unity and it would still grow. It was the point, to connect people, for the community to take a life of its own,”

“It’s a lot of people here that we have known since the beginning. There are also a ton of people I have never met. It’s a beautiful thing to see. Jeff and I could stop doing Unity and it would still grow. It was the point, to connect people, for the community to take a life of its own,” he concludes. 

There is power in seeing others live their lives, in seeing them live their truths. More often than not, it’s by witnessing those unapologetic acts of braveness that others can find themselves. For without people breaking the box, there is no room to experiment and imagine. Unity Fest did nothing short of that and J’vonte Johnson, Shag and Sam Bolton share their thoughts and experience.  

J’vonte Johnson is a local Bay skater with possibly the world’s loosest trucks. They witnessed first hand the growth of Unity while skating the same park as Jeff and Cher Strauberry around the time it started.

What was the appeal about Unity then? 

J’vonte: It was the feeling that there are other skateboarders around like me and they’re open to others no matter their skill level. There was and still isn’t any intimidation in that space. 

Truly. It was amazing to see this energy at the fest too! What was your favourite part? 

J’vonte: Finally meeting people I had seen through my phone for years. To see how gnarly they skate and how nice they are. Like Zayah, meeting her in person, it blew all expectation way sky-high for me. Everyone too, no matter who I was talking to, it felt like I knew them for years. 

As someone who has been in welcoming spaces like meet-ups or the fest, what do you think are their benefits?

J’vonte: I find it helps people feel comfortable with who they are, bringing them out of their shells. I am more self-accepting, more open with who I am, and I am making more friends too.

Undeniably, shells were smashed at Unity Fest! On the second day, after a crazy session at Wallers, everyone gathered at Club Waziema for the biggest surprise of the weekend, Shag’s Pro party! 

"To see people being so affirming, saying ‘you deserve this’, I finally believe it."

Tell me about meeting Jeff and getting on THERE.

Shag: We were introduced by Jessie Van in 2019. At that time Jeff was buying blanks and painting them. My first “box” was three, thickly paint-coated 8.25, 8.5 Unity boards haha. Eventually, we met at a sesh when I was living in LA. I was pretty shy then but it’s been really awesome to build such a strong friendship, he is not just my boss, we have each others’ back. 

It might be an obvious answer but in your own words, what’s your highlight of Unity Fest?

Shag: The fact that my very dear friend Rewina was able to do the art and have the event at her family bar, Club Waziema. That and I didn’t expect to be surrounded by some many wonderful people and teammates who made the trip for the fest too, it was really exciting.

We were definitely MANY in that room haha! What are you excited about post-fest?

Shag: I felt such a boost of confidence that I am still thriving on. It was a bit of a stressful year and to see people being so affirming, saying ‘you deserve this’, I finally believe it. I feel it’s gone into other aspects of my life too. I am excited to use my platform, practice using my voice, and having friends involved every step of the way until Jeff says, ‘you’re retired,’ haha.

What can kind of impact do you think events like Unity Fest can have?

Shag: Communities and projects often take a lot of time, it’s a lot of building blocks. It’s many years of having events, of creating the bonds, of understanding each person on an individual level. We might not see an immediate impact but at least right now, we all want to hangout together and feel this energy passed along. 

As Shag mentions, community building is a domino effect, where meeting new people will lead to new bonds and new projects together. It’s a bit like how Sam Bolton, the official Unity Fest tattoo artist, made their way on THERE through team rider Jessyka Bailey in 2019.

"Seeing other queer people has helped me think outside the box and push pass that binary to see myself wholly."

How has being on THERE influenced your skateboarding and identity journeys? 

Sam: Before I started coming out to New York [from Jersey], forget queer skaters, I didn’t know a lot of queer people. It was a very new thing to me. Being involved with them, I am more comfortable with the pace I am growing in skateboarding because everyone skates however they want to skate. As for my [personal] journey, seeing other queer people has helped me think outside the box and push pass that binary to see myself wholly. 

Exactly, it’s such a safe environment! What did you think of Unity Fest?

Sam: Right just being in that space, you can breathe! It was amazing. There were so many people who came from far and wide to be a part of this. I was surprised at the overwhelming amount of support. It goes to show the need for this across the communities. Anytime we get to occupy space in such big numbers, it feels really cool.

A lot of these people got a little memento from you, how was tattooing at the fest?

Sam: It was very fun! It’s nice to give people something to remember the fest by. Plus everyone who got one was all smiles and super happy after. It’s a nice life-long souvenir.

After tattooing 10 people with no break and a headlamp, Sam shuts down the jam with a steezy kickflip back disaster on the mini, concluding a four day long, life-altering experience for a community which bears no prejudice, no judgment, but boundless freedom.

"There was and still isn’t any intimidation in that space."