Equality Illinois leader at 2026 gala: Organization “built to face” political challenges
Equality Illinois’s new CEO, Channyn Lynne Parker, gave the keynote at the rights-advocacy’s 2026 annual gala the evening of Jan. 31, where she asserted that the event, which according to estimates hosted about 1,500 attendees, was “not just a gala—it is a sanctuary.” Parker praised both Chicago Mayor…
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Meet the class of Windy City Times’ 2026 community journalism cohort
Six early-career and journalism-curious storytellers will learn the ins and outs of reporting on underserved communities this spring in Windy City Times and E3 Radio’s second-annual Our Stories, Our Power program. The paid, six-week seminar will equip storytellers with foundational reporting skills and cover every step of the community newswriting process, beginning with pitching story ideas and…
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Four Contestants compete for title of Mr. Chicago Leather
The Mr. Chicago Leather contest weekend kicked off at Touche, 6412 N. Clark St., for a meet and greet, on Jan. 30, with Jeff Tucker, International Mr. Leather 1994, as emcee. Judges this year included J-Hummingbird, Mr. Chicago Leather 2025; Voudou Onyx; Andreas Jungemann, Mr. Berlin 2024; Mademoiselle Ceci; Vivian; and Dr. Carlton Thomas. Four…
Nation & World
IN BRIEF Appropriations bills, NYC Pride, marrying abroad, queer Sundance events, Mariah Carey
NATIONAL The U.S. House and Senate negotiated final appropriations bills to fund the federal government through Sept. 30—and all anti-transgender provisions have been removed, per The Advocate. The “most extreme” ones were in the bills to fund the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, Erin Reed noted in her Erin…
Theater / Dance
THEATER ‘Holiday’ update: Wesley Taylor makes Goodman debut in writer Richard Greenberg’s take on the 1928 classic
Gay actor Wesley Taylor (Only Murders in the Building, Smash) is very grateful to be back in Chicago performing in another theater world premiere—except for one crucial detail. “I really wish I could be hired to work here in the summer,” Taylor said. “Every time I come to Chicago, it has been between November and…
Music
Queer ‘rapbrarian’ Roy Kinsey talks hip-hop, dandelions and representation
Have you heard of the “Rapbrary?” For those who haven’t, it’s the brainchild of Roy Kinsey, who developed the one-of-a-kind library to preserve rap and hip-hop as culturally significant literary art forms, foster creativity, preserve marginalized voices and fight censorship, among other things. Kinsey hopes that the Rapbrary will lay the groundwork for an expansive…
Film / TV / Gossip
Tonatiuh spins a web in the Windy City for Kiss of the Spider Woman
Multi-hyphenated singer-dancer-actor Tonatiuh brought the story of Luis Molina to life in the movie musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, released in theaters in October of 2025. Spider Woman continues to have legs and brought this talented queer performer to town to host a special fundraising screening at Music Box Theatre on Jan. 13. Proceeds from the event…
Books / Art
Trans
More than half of transgender youth live in a state with at least one law or policy restricting their rights
According to a new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, 53% of transgender youth ages 13 to 17 in the U.S.—approximately 382,800 young people—live in 29 states with laws or policies that restrict access to gender-affirming care, sports, bathrooms and facilities, or the use of gender-affirming pronouns in schools. In 2025 alone, 24 states…
Lesbian
WCT issues call for 30 Under 30 nominees
CHICAGO—Windy City Times is seeking to recognize 30 more outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals (and allies) who live and/or work in Chicagoland. Nominees should be 30 years or younger as of June 30 and should have made substantial contributions to the LGBTQ+ community in the fields of entertainment, politics, health, activism, academics, sports or other areas. The…