Rebekah Mangles
Rebekah Mangles (they/she) is a musician and organizer based in Central Illinois. In December 2023, they co-founded Gender Envy because of their difficulties in finding bookings as an independent artist. Their goal in establishing Gender Envy has been to create a united front among gender minorities in the music industry, an industry mostly dominated by cis white men.
“I aim to make Gender Envy a space for women, trans, and gender-nonconforming artists to come together and build community,” they said.
Ksenya Kouzminova
Ksenya Kouzminova (they/them) is a Russian-Ukrainian cartoonist and artist based in Central Illinois. They have been working for Gender Envy since spring 2025, and their recent work includes designing the new Gender Envy logo and co-creating Gender Envy merch!
F.U.R.Y.
F.U.R.Y. is a Chicago based rapper who has performed in the Midwest since 2015. The name F.U.R.Y. stands for Finally Understanding the Real You. Throughout the years F.U.R.Y. has hosted events that celebrate the diverse music scene in Chicago. FURY is pushing the boundaries of the genre through a lens of “industrial revolution.” Drawing inspiration from the raw intensity of gothic aesthetics and the narrative power of anime, FURY crafts sonic landscapes that are as haunting as they are hopeful. FURY’s work is characterized by a signature blend of grit and precision—utilizing music not just as entertainment, but as a catalyst for community revitalization.
JADA FULCHER
Jada Fulcher (she/they), also known as Jay Byrd, is a Champaign-based folk musician, community organizer, and journalist.
Whether it’s as Editor-in-Chief of Chambana queer publication The Lavender Newsletter or as lead organizer of Urbana’s queer, trans, and BIPOC-centered open mic Ephemera, Jada is passionate about supporting queer folks in Central IL. Through music, writing, and activism, Jada works to build spaces where queer folks (especially queer folks of color) feel safe, supported, and seen.
