ELECTIONS Pritzker reflects on LGBTQ+ rights, gay Republicans and ‘character’ in the age of Trump
Since taking office in 2019, Gov. JB Pritzker has overseen efforts expanding affordable healthcare, increasing investments in underserved communities, and creating (then doubling) a state child tax credit. Pritzker’s administration also advanced several initiatives benefiting the state’s LGBTQ+ community. Among them are the launch of Illinois Pride…
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Pride in Aging creates space for LGBTQ+ adults 50+
On June 20, The Closet, 3325 N. Broadway St., was packed with LGBTQ+ adults 50 and older for an afternoon of community, conversation and fundraising. DJ Gloria spun throwback tunes while folks filled the dance floor. The gathering marked Before Sunset’s inaugural Pride in Aging event. “If you get AARP, you’re in,” organizer Laura Young quipped.…
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SAVOR REVIEWS The Japanese-Nordic spot Atsumeru and the Brazilian-inspired Nic & Junior’s
The website of the high-end West Town restaurant Atsumeru says that the spot “is built on the quiet power of gathering. Influences, memories and techniques [that] are brought together with care and intention, shaping an experience rooted in restraint and purpose.” I say that it’s an experience rooted in newness and journeying. Trust me—your taste buds probably…
Nation & World
IN BRIEF Idaho law blocked, Pulse anniversary, Kréyòl Pride, David Hockney dies, Lil Nas X, GALECA nods
Warning: This column mentions suicide and a mass shooting. NATIONAL A federal judge granted a request for a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of H.B. 752, a new Idaho law threatening transgender people with up to…
Theater / Dance
Chicagoans gather to learn about Black queer dance, expression
As massive crowds, former presidents and other celebrities mingled in Jackson Park for the opening of the Obama Center on June 18, a much smaller group on the North Side came together with an entirely different kind of gathering for the second edition of Welcome Home: A Celebration of Queer Street Dance. The event, which took…
Music
Lakeside Pride takes the stage at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall
About 85 members of Lakeside Pride Symphonic Band joined members of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony the evening of June 5 for the Skylines in Sound concert. The performance took place at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Orchestra Hall is home to Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Assistant Artistic Director…
Film / TV / Gossip
THEATER/FILM Chicago celebrates Pride on stage and screen this month
Whether you are in the mood to laugh or cry, Chicago theaters are offering incredible entertainment options to help us celebrate Pride Month. Read below to discover some of Windy City Times’s favorite theater and film options for the month of June. Theater The complexity involved with being a 20th Century homosexual surely played a…
Books / Art
Trans
Brave Space Alliance taps Nikki Patin as new CEO
Brave Space Alliance has named Nikki Patin its new CEO after several months serving as the organization’s interim leader. The appointment follows a national search that attracted more than 100 applicants from across the country, according to Brave Space Alliance. The organization’s board unanimously selected Patin, who has served as interim CEO since former leader…
Lesbian
‘Free to Be Proud’: What freedom means to us
Against the backdrop of the 2026 Pride Parade’s theme, Free to Be Proud, I went out to Pride events with my camera, asking Chicagoans what freedom means to them. Their answers ranged from authenticity and creativity to community, responsibility, and resilience. What struck me was that despite growing concerns about threats facing the LGBTQ+ community,…