Equality Illinois celebrates Pride Month at annual Kick-Off Brunch
Equality Illinois held its annual Pride Kick-Off brunch June 7 at Venue West in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. This year’s Community Pride Honorees included ACLU Illinois Senior Policy Counsel Aisha N. Davis; 15th District Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison; and City of Chicago LGBTQ+ Affairs Director Antonio King.…
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Chicago Gay Black Men’s Caucus celebrates Pride with Spring Fling
On June 7 The Chicago Gay Black Men’s Caucus kicked off Pride month with its annual Spring Fling Soiree. The event, which took place at The Iron Lab, 3700 S. Iron St., has for many marked the start to queer summer. This year’s edition featured a full lunch buffet, a silent auction; a fundraising paddle-raise segment with…
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Wrightwood introduces ‘Chinatown,’ ‘Dispossessions’ exhibitions exploring queer life
Lincoln Park’s side-street art museum has welcomed two exhibitions to the fold, from a sweeping display of Martin Wong’s work to Dispossessions in the Americas. Wong, a queer Asian-American artist, grew up around San Francisco’s Chinatown before moving to New York City in adulthood. His autobiographical works are spread throughout Wrightwood 659 with the Chinatown USA exhibition, curated…
Nation & World
IN BRIEF Jason Collins, trans student stabbed, Warsaw’s pro-marriage move, Uganda drops bill, INK, Janet Jackson, Sally Field
NATIONAL Jason Collins—the NBA’s first openly gay player, who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion—died at age 47 after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer, according to media reports.…
Theater / Dance
THEATER Handbag’s Golden Girls return with fun ‘Cheese Pyramid’ scheme
I don’t have the bonafides of a true cheesemonger, but I do fancy myself as sort of a minor cheese expert. I come from a small town in southwest Wisconsin, whose high school sports team was known as the Cheesemakers. I know enough to accurately guess how long a cheddar has been aged for, and…
Music
Chicago singers help Belting for Life reach new heights
On May 11, the 11th annual Belting for Life Concert reached a new milestone. The event, a fundraiser for AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) was the most successful Belting for Life event yet, nearly selling out SPACE at 1245 Chicago Ave. in Evanston. Conceived, produced and curated by Christopher Pazdernik—and taking place on his birthday—Belting for…
Film / TV / Gossip
FILM The Chicago Critics Film Festival winds up with a Wilde week in the Windy City
The Chicago Critics Film Festival is curated by the Chicago Film Critics Association and is the only United States film festival programmed exclusively by critics. Founded in 1990, the Chicago Film Critics Association supports filmmaking and is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization. For its 13th edition, the CCFF was held from May 1-7 in 2026, at…
Books / Art
Trans
Advocates celebrate passage of bill ensuring more access to prescription hormone therapy
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – The Illinois General Assembly has passed legislation that supports patients’ access to prescription hormone therapy by requiring insurance policies to cover up to a six-month supply. HB 5492 is the initiative of Equality Illinois, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action, and Planned Parenthood Illinois Action. Sponsored by Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader Katie…
Lesbian
Evette Cardona, Mona Noriega reflect on years of activism ahead of Pride Parade Grand Marshals role
Longtime LGBTQ+ advocates/activists Evette Cardona and Mona Noriega are among this year’s Chicago Pride Parade Community Grand Marshals. Cardona and Noriega were chosen alongside author, Press Forward Chicago Executive Director and Windy City Times Co-Founder/Owner Tracy Baim and the Alliance of Illinois Judges (Illinois’ LGBTQ+ judges’ association). The honorees were chosen through a community nomination process and,…