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THEATER REVIEW Andy Warhol in Iran juggles art, celebrity and geopolitics
Andy Warhol in Iran. Playwright: Brent Askari At: Northlight Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie Tickets: 847-673-6300 or www.Northlight.org; $30-$89. Runs through Feb. 19 The prolific 20th century gay ...
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ELECTIONS 2023: 49th Ward challenger Belia Rodriguez on why running, differences from incumbent
This is part of a series of interviews Windy City Times is running on LGBTQ+ candidates in the 2023 municipal elections taking place Feb. 28. Belia Rodriguez is a lifelong Chicagoan who attended Chicago Public Schools. ...
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HRC on end of Mpox Public Health Emergency: Today we enter a new phase in a continuing fight
--From a press release
WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — marked the end of the Mpox Public ...
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PASSAGES Gene R. Matterer
Gene R. Matterer died on Jan. 16, 2023 of cancer, according to his family. He was 82 years old. Matterer was born on Feb. 17, 1940. Following his school days in Crystal Lake, Illinois, he enlisted ...
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Chicago theater charges on through the cold months
The ongoing 2022-2023 theater season—roughly September to June—will be the first complete production season in Chicago in three years. A few troupes cautiously returned to live performances late last spring, but most companies waited until the ...
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ELECTIONS 2023: 48th Ward candidate Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth on why running, biggest differences from other challengers
A lifelong Chicagoan, Leni Manaa-Hoppeworth is running to become the next 48th Ward Alderperson. She is currently a small business owner (Chicago Dance Supply, 5301 N. Clark St., for the past 20 years) in the ward ...
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ELECTIONS 2023 Lamont Robinson talks political switch, guns, LGBTQ+ issues
This is part of a series of interviews Windy City Times is running on LGBTQ+ candidates in the 2023 municipal elections taking place Feb. 28. When it comes to politics, Lamont Robinson has, for several years, ...
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ELECTIONS 2023: Candidate Larry Svabek describes his vision for the 48th Ward
This is part of a series of interviews Windy City Times is running on LGBTQ+ candidates in the 2023 municipal elections taking place Feb. 28. Twenty-nine year old Larry Svabek has been an instructor, lecturer and ...
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ELECTIONS 2023 Jessie Fuentes: 26th Ward candidate talks mental health, LGBTQ+ Chicagoans
This is part of a series of interviews Windy City Times is running on LGBTQ+ candidates in the 2023 municipal elections taking place Feb. 28. The 2023 race to represent Chicago's 26th Ward—which includes parts of ...
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ELECTIONS 2023: Incumbent 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa seeks third term, talks accomplishments
This is part of a series of interviews Windy City Times is running on LGBTQ+ candidates in the 2023 municipal elections taking place Feb. 28. A life-long Chicagoan, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) is running unopposed ...
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Chicagoans gather for Jackhammer re-opening
Photos by Joseph Stevens
Rogers Park leather and fetish bar Jackhammer held its grand re-opening the evening of Jan. 27 after a long renovation process. The longtime North Side watering hole opened in 1999, taking over the space previously occupied ...
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Billy Masters: Harry Styles' Pleather pants parting, and all the dish you need
"I will always love Pamela, always in my heart. I left her $10 million in my will. And she doesn't even know that. Nobody knows that." —Jon Peters reveals his bequest to ex-wife Pamela Anderson. Pam ...
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Billy Porter discusses his fashion choices, personal ambitions
Billy Porter—the Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner—needs no introduction—especially to the many fans of his character Pray Tell on Ryan Murphy's hit TV series Pose. Coming up exclusively in theaters Feb. 3, Porter will star as ...
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ELECTIONS 2023 Raymond Lopez on running for alderman, endorsing Willie Wilson
This is part of a series of interviews Windy City Times is running on LGBTQ+ candidates in the 2023 municipal elections taking place Feb. 28. The last time Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez talked with Windy City ...
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SAVOR Le Petit Chef: A singular, (literally) animated experience
There are experiences and then there are EXPERIENCES. If you're familiar with those recent Immersive Van Gogh and Kahlo events, imagine that transferred to a table setting and you have an idea of what's involved with ...
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Candace Parker leaving the Chicago Sky
On Jan. 28, Candace Parker announced on Instagram that she plans to leave the Chicago Sky to sign with the Las Vegas Aces. Just last September, Parker was named to the 2022 All-WNBA First Team. It ...
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WORLD Pope Francis, non-binary minor, athlete dies at 35, Taiwan
Pope Francis made headlines when he told the Associated Press on Jan. 24 that "being homosexual is not a crime," although he also described being gay as sinful, Gay City News noted. The pontiff called on ...
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SHOWBIZ Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, tennis items, Oscars, Queerties
Famed children's entertainers The Wiggles sent parents into a frenzy when they posted a photo with out rapper Lil Nas X to their Instagram account and wrote, "New collab in the wind?," according to LGBTQ Nation. ...
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NATIONAL Missing student, Utah bill, Atlanta Pride, crime items, Castro bar
A New York City law student has been missing for weeks—and his brother said his last known location was The Q, a gay bar in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, NBC News reported. Jordan Taylor, 29, a ...
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Quigley commends progress in FDA LGBTQI+ blood donation draft guidance
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, released the following statement commending long-awaited updates to the FDA's blood donation guidance for LGBTQI+ ...
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Director Lukas Dhont's Oscar-nominated drama gets 'Close' to audiences everywhere
Belgian director Lukas Dhont's new French-language film Close—a nominee for Best International Feature Film for the 95th Annual Academy Awards—tells the touching story of two 13-year-old best friends, Leo (Eden ...
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Lesbian named presiding judge of Cook County Circuit Court's Pretrial Division
--From a press release
CHICAGO (January 27) — The Hon. Mary C. Marubio has been named the acting presiding judge of the Pretrial Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said. Marubio (who Windy ...
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FDA to relax rules of blood donations for gay, bisexual men
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly slated to lift restrictions on blood donations from sexually active gay and bisexual men. However, there's at least one stipulation, The Advocate reported: A gay or bisexual ...
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VIEWPOINT The FBI, Loaves of Bread, Corruption, and Reform
When I was 13 years old I used to ride shot gun with my uncle A. on his Italian bread truck deliveries. My job was to enter the store with him and remove the old, stale loaves of bread while he ...
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Chicago Red Stars unveil 2023 preseason roster
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 25, 2023) — The Chicago Red Stars announced their preseason roster for the 2023 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season. The team kicks off preseason Wed., Jan. 25, with 32 players on the active ...
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Equality Illinois responds to violence, murder of Black and Brown trans people on the south side
--From a press release
Statement by Myles Brady Davis, Director of Communications at Equality Illinois, the state's civil rights organization for LGBTQ+ people, regarding the violences and murders of Black and Brown trans people on the south side of Chicago: ...
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Pope says being gay no crime, cites anti-LGBTQ laws in 70 countries. LGBTQ leaders respond
--From press releases
(January 25, 2023) — Pope Francis called laws that criminalize same-sex relationships "unjust," stating that "being homosexual is not a crime" in an interview with the Associated Press today. The Pope also called for the Roman ...
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Billy Masters: George Santos gets to be a real drag, and all the dish you need
"If you're an enemy of drag, you're an enemy of mine." —George Lopez criticizes Ron DeSantis' "War on Drag Queens." There are some stories I try to stay away from, and that includes George Santos—if I ...
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Lesbian tennis player ends 23-year career
Australian tennis player Sam Stosur has called it a career after back-to-back losses at the Australian Open, Yahoo! Sport noted. Stosur—an out lesbian who played for 23 years—lost in the first round of the women's doubles ...
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SAVOR Bacon Lover's Brunch at Frontier; Chicago Restaurant Week
"Bacon's the best. Even the frying of bacon sounds like applause."—Jim Gaffigan Judging from that quote, revered comic Jim Gaffigan would certainly have had a lot of fun at the Bacon Lover's Brunch at Frontier (1072 ...
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ONYX Midwest forum tackles racist performance at Touche's anniversary party
In a response to the racist performance that took place at the leather, fetish and bear-focused Touche Chicago's 45th anniversary celebration on Nov. 1, 2022, ONYX Midwest hosted a community forum Jan. 21 at The Leather ...
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NATIONAL Calif. bills, DeSantis, HIV vaccine, Meta, college items
Buried within the bills California legislators filed after Gov. Gavin Newsom released his budget proposal for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is a line seeking to retrieve $13 million back from the state's Transgender Wellness and Equity ...
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WORLD Dutch vote, landmark ruling, French teen, UK items
Dutch senators voted 56-15 in favor of including an explicit ban on discrimination on the grounds of disability or sexual orientation in the constitution, DutchNews.nl reported. This development clears the way for the constitution to be ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Planet Sex,' Critics Choice Awards, Madonna, Theo James
The show Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne will debut on Hulu on Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day), Out noted. Planet Sex is a six-episode docuseries following the model/actress. "On this immersive journey, she puts her mind and ...
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Des Plaines Theater cancels anti-LGBTQ hate group event after outcry from citizens
DuPage County-based Awake Illinois was set to hold an event called "Out of the Echo Chamber: Coalition for Kids" at the city-owned, but not city-operated, Des Plaines Theatre Wednesday, Feb. 8. This event has now been ...
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TPAN announces merger with Vivent Health
Local HIV/AIDS organization TPAN announced Jan. 19 that it would be merging with Milwaukee-based Vivent Health. The merger is expected to be finalized by March 1, according to both organizations. Vivent Health, so named in 2019, ...
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Theater Review: tick, tick...BOOM!
One of the wonders of live theater is that old works can be revived and reinterpreted to respond to changes in culture and society. Often a new directorial approach can make tried-and-true material feel fresh and ...
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Theater Review: Princess Ivona is a dark but comic portrait of power
Playwright: Witold Gombrowicz. At: Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St. Tickets: 773-384-0494 or www.trapdoortheatre.com; $25 (two-for-one admission Thursdays) Runs through Feb. 18 Trap Door Theatre is now tackling the ...
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ABC Audio launches third season of "Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson"
--From a press release
ABC Audio launched today the third season of "Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson," its award-winning podcast focused on LGBTQ+ issues. The new, six-episode season, hosted by ABC News contributor and Emmy® Award-winning journalist LZ Granderson, ...
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One in five older LGBT adults experienced poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic
--From a press release
A new report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that during the COVID-19 pandemic LGBT adults aged 50 and older were more likely to have household incomes below the federal poverty level ...
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SAVOR Uproar; Feb. 2 benefit dinner
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an uproar can be "a loud and impassioned noise or disturbance" or "a public expression of protest and outrage." Scott Horwitch—the owner of Old Town spot Uproar (1252 N. Wells ...
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Controversial conversion therapy doc has its Chicago premiere
Chronicle Cinema presented the celebrated and controversial documentary film Conversion in its Chicago premiere on Jan. 12. The nearly sold-out premiere, which took place at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema, also featured a red-carpet experience and ...
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Rogers Park's R Public House's door destroyed by homophobic vandal
The lesbian-owned restaurant and bar R Public House, 1508 W. Jarvis Ave., was targeted by a hammer-wielding man yelling anti-LGBTQ slurs at about 5:40 p.m. during happy hour on Monday, Jan. 16. Owners (and married couple) ...
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GLAAD announces nominees for 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards
--From a press release. Video below
Jan. 18, 2023 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced the nominees for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. ...
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Asians and Friends holding Chinese New Year dinner on Feb. 4
In a throwback to the days of Hugh Hefner, Asians and Friends Chicago (AFC) will host a Playboy and Playgirl "Bunny"-themed dinner celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, bringing together members of the LGBTQ+ community to ...
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Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Treble Quire begin search for artistic directors
--From a press release
The Board of Directors for Windy City Performing Arts has started their search for two Artistic Directors for the organization's choruses. Applications are now being accepted in hopes to fill these positions prior to the 2023-2024 season. ...
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Early voting in downtown Chicago to start Thursday, January 26
--From a press release
CHICAGO, IL — Early voting in Downtown Chicago for the February 28, 2023 Municipal Election will start at two vote centers — the Voter Supersite at 191 N. Clark and Board Offices at 69 W. Washington, ...
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Billy Masters: Prince Harry tells all and nothing, and all the other dish you need
"As a gay man, I want to apologize for all the gays on behalf of what we tried to do to her on that boat!" —Jerrod Carmichael takes a moment out of the Golden Globes to apologize to White Lotus star ...
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SHOWBIZ Indigo Girls, LGBTQ+ films, GALECA nods, Jeremy Pope
Indigo Girls will perform at an opening-night celebration for the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 19 in Park City, Utah, Variety reported. The Grammy-winning lesbian folk-rock duo are debuting their new documentary, It's Only Life After All, ...
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WORLD Indian marches, delegation in Cuba, anti-LGBTQ+ investigation
Hundreds of people took part in the first Delhi Queer Pride march in three years as pressure grows for legal recognition of same-sex marriage in India, The Manila Times noted. In March, the South Asian's top ...
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NATIONAL Asylum-seekers, equality updates, cannabis, HIV and COVID
Advocacy groups that specifically work with LGBTQI+ asylum-seekers and migrants criticized the Biden administration's expansion of the use of "expedited removal" of Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans who enter the ...
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Pritzker signs bill protecting healthcare providers
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill explicitly offering protections to Illinois healthcare providers working on reproductive and/or gender-affirming care issues for their patients on Jan. 13. The bill, HB4664, also protects out-of-state clinicians who come to ...
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Chicago Red Stars select four players in 2023 NWSL Draft
From a press release
CHICAGO—The Chicago Red Stars took part in the 2023 National Women's Soccer League Draft, tonight, selecting Penelope Hocking from Penn State University with their first-round pick (seventh overall). In ...
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Jordan Vasquez treats Chicago to Fosse's Chicago
Actor and openly gay performer Jordan Vasquez, an Illinois native now living in New York City, is giving Chicago audiences "the old razzle dazzle" in the fabulous musical Chicago. This dynamically talented performer brings with him ...
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Black LGBTQ+ film festival among Chicago NEA grant recipients
The Black Alphabet Film Festival—the world's oldest Black LGBTQ+-focused event of its kind—was part of the first round of grant recipients from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), receiving $20,000. In a press release, Black ...
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Chicago Red Stars add Ella Masar to coaching staff
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 11, 2023) - Ella Masar will join the Chicago Red Stars as assistant coach. "Ella has spent over a decade in professional soccer, both as a player and a coach. She is incredibly detailed ...
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Illinois General Assembly passes legislation to protect reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, leaders respond
--From a news release
From Equality Illinois Statement from Equality Illinois Deputy Director Mony Ruiz-Velasco on passage by the Illinois General Assembly of essential legislation to protect patients, providers, and families seeking and providing ...
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Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame calls for nominations
--From a news release
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame has announced a call for nominations for the 2023 Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. Those wishing to may nominate individuals, organizations, businesses, or "Friends of the Community," up until April ...
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Brittney Griner named 2022 Outsports Person of the Year
The LGBTQ+ sports website Outsports named WNBA star Brittney Griner as its 2022 Person of the Year. Some of the previous honorees include figure skater Adam Rippon, former NFL player Michael Sam, soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe ...
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Billy Masters: A weatherman's thirst trap triggers a bomb cyclone, and all the other dish you need
"Upon arriving home I'd been horrified to discover that my nether regions were frost nipped...While the ears and cheeks were already healing, the todger wasn't. It was becoming more of an issue by the day." —As ...
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Chicago Red Stars defender Zoe Morse leaves Chicago Red Stars
CHICAGO (January 8, 2022) - Defender Zoe Morse will not return to the Chicago Red Stars next season. Morse's contract ended following the 2022 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) regular season. "Zoe showed great leadership and ...
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SHOWBIZ Diversity report, Dave Bautista, Leslie Jordan, greatest singers
The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative's latest "Inclusion in the Director's Chair" report analyzes the gender and race/ethnicity of the directors behind last year's 100 highest-grossing movies in the country, while the San Diego State Center ...
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WORLD Murder suspect arrested, Israeli official, conversion therapy, couple's win
Kenyan authorities arrested a suspect in the death of fashion designer/LGBTQ+-rights activist Edwin Chiloba after his body was found dumped in a metal box by the roadside near the town of Eldoret, according to CNN. Last ...
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NATIONAL Democrats and trans issues, political wins, gay bars, HIV drug
Republicans and Democrats differ widely in their views on gender identity and transgender issues—but there are notable differences among Democrats, too, especially by race and ethnicity, according to Pew Research. Overall, 60% of U.S. adults say ...
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26th Ward alderman withdraws from race; LGBTQ+ candidate still in it
The Chicago Board of Elections confirmed that 26th Ward Ald. Roberto Maldonado has withdrawn from the race, The Chicago Tribune reported. After 13 years, there will be another person representing the ward—which includes Humboldt Park and ...
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Howard Brown, union officials dispute allegations around sidewalk incident
As striking Howard Brown Health Workers United (HBH Workers United) members represented by the Illinois Nurses Association (INA) and their allies were picketing outside of the Andersonville Brown Elephant location at 5404 N. Clark St. on ...
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Cherkasov to head Illinois Holocaust Museum
-- From a press release
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is proud to announce the appointment of national nonprofit leader Bernard Cherkasov as the Museum's Chief Executive Officer. [Cherkasov is gay and has been a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.] ...
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Howard Brown strike reaches third day
Amid layoffs of 60 unionized and four non-union staffers at multiple Howard Brown Health (Howard Brown), Broadway Youth Center and Brown Elephant locations across Chicago, over 400 HBH Workers United non-nurse members represented by the Illinois ...
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Brave Space Alliance to Illinois General Assembly: Don't back down on trans protections
-- From a press release
CHICAGO, IL - January 4, 2023 - Brave Space Alliance (BSA), the South Side LGBTQ+ Center, has been made aware of active discussions to exclude protections for trans people and gender-affirming care from pending legislation that ...
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Cavaliers' Mitchell scores 71 points as Bulls fall again
The Chicago Bulls might not want to see the Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell anytime soon. In Ohio, Mitchell set a team record with 71 points—the most by an NBA player in 17 years—and the Cavaliers (24-14) rallied from ...
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Navratilova diagnosed with two types of cancer
Out lesbian tennis legend Martina Navratilova revealed on Jan. 2 that she has been diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer, ESPN reported. In a statement released by her rep, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion ...
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Billy Masters: It wasn't Jim Parsons' soul Kirk Cameron stirred up...and all the dish
"Look, the best guess I could probably give you is that I did think Kirk Cameron was awfully cute when I watched Growing Pains. So maybe things arose then." —Jim Parsons' response to Andy Cohen's question of ...
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Letter to the Editor: Pope Benedict XVI passes away
The Rainbow Sash Movement mourns the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Dec. 31 in the Vatican. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, known most recently as the pontiff who renounced the papacy—but who was situated squarely ...
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Bears, Blackhawks and NU all lose
The Chicago Bears entered the new year with the same old problems. Lack of offense and defense again plagued Chicago (3-13) as the team lost to the host Detroit Lions (8-8) 41-10 on Jan. 1. The ...
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AFC's World of Chocolate on Feb. 17
After a nearly three-year hiatus, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) will host the return of its famed World of Chocolate fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 17, at Union Station, 225 S. Canal St. This event features a menu ...
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