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Judge orders restoration of DACA
Judge Nicholas Garaufis, of the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, ordered the Trump administration to fully restore Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)—an Obama-era initiative that protects undocumented immigrants brought ...
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THEATER About Face airing festival with Black LGBTQ+ artists
About Face Theatre is launching its 25th season with Kickback—an online festival of 10 newly commissioned short plays and performances by Black LGBTQ+ artists, inspired by the Rebuild Foundation's collections at the Stony Island Arts Bank. ...
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Harmon to continue to lead state Senate Democrats
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) will continue to lead the chamber next year, WSILTV.com reported. Illinois Senate Democrats caucused virtually Dec. 3 to discuss the upcoming session and hold their leadership election. The caucus ...
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LGBTQ Victory Fund celebrates Sean Patrick Maloney's election to DCCC Chair
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ people to public office, celebrated the election of U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney to serve as the next chair of the ...
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HRC report: Cities, not states, lead charge for LGBTQ+ protections
A report from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) shows that cities continue to lead the way on equality, even in times of national crisis and absent state and federal leadership. The organization's Municipal Equality Index (MEI) ...
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Andersonville Chamber of Commerce highlights COVID-friendly shopping, dining
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Dec. 2, 2020) — From shopping in your pajamas to late-night curbside pick-up to Glogg-to-go, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is rolling out a festive line-up of COVID-friendly ...
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Black Ensemble Theater's 'Holiday' event Dec. 18-25
The Black Ensemble Theater is celebrating the 2020 holiday season with The Black Ensemble Virtual Holiday Extravaganza, written and directed by Producing Managing Director Daryl D. Brooks. Filmed from the performers' homes and the theater, the ...
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PASSAGES LGBT activist, former Oak Park, Illinois mayor Joanne Trapani dies
LGBT activist and former Oak Park, Illinois Mayor Joanne Trapani died Nov. 29 due to complications from her endometrial cancer diagnosis. She was 71. Trapani was born in Corona, Queens, New York City on Aug. 5, ...
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Cancer dangers from alcohol surrounded by misinformation
Reporting by TheCounter.org highlights the efforts of the alcohol industry to obscure awareness of the known cancer dangers of alcohol by spreading misinformation and undermining research. An article focuses on a 2017 Canadian study of health ...
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Howard Brown, Open Door announce collaboration
Howard Brown Health and Open Door Health Center of Illinois—a suburban counterpart with clinics in Elgin, Aurora and Joliet—have agreed to collaborate for the mutual benefit of their respective patients. The entities entered into the agreement ...
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U.S. Soccer reaches partial settlement with World Cup women's team
The U.S. Soccer Federation reached a settlement on working conditions with the U.S. women's soccer team in a gender-discrimination lawsuit that the World Cup champions filed, NBC News reported. The agreement was filed Dec. 1 in ...
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Big Fat Socially Distant Holiday Adventure Show defies depression
--From a press release
CHICAGO, IL (December 1, 2020) — Experimenting with new forms of live, interactive performance, focused on creating space for conversations on loneliness, depression and anxiety, LevityTV presents the day-long stream-a-thon ...
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Adler Planetarium showcases work of Frank Kameny
Adler Planetarium,The Kameny Papers and Google Arts & Culture have created and made available the Frank Kameny/Pride exhibition, an online graphic slide show, viewable at Google Arts & Culture. Thirteen slides document Kameny's life and work. ...
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Actor formerly known as Ellen Page comes out as trans
Elliot Page has come out as transgender. The star of movies like Juno and TV shows like The Umbrella Academy, formerly known as Ellen Page, posted about his transition on social media on Dec. 1, according ...
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NWSL opens registration for rebranded 2021 Draft
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced the opening of player registration for the rebranded 2021 NWSL Draft. The 2021 NWSL Draft will stream live exclusively on the NWSL's Twitch channel Wed., Jan. 13, 2021, at ...
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Chicago parking ban begins Dec. 1
The Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) is reminding motorists that the Chicago winter overnight parking ban begins on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, and runs through April 1, 2021, according to the city's website. The parking ...
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Chicago Cabaret Professionals make a gift of their free gala concert
--From a press release
For over twenty years the Chicago Cabaret Professionals' (CCP) annual Gala has been a festive live event. This association of over two hundred singers refuses to be deterred by the pandemic and will make a gift ...
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Prominent lesbians of color will join Biden administration
Two prominent lesbians of color have been appointed to major roles in President-elect Joe Biden's communications department, the transition team announced in a news release November 29. Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as a Biden senior adviser ...
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SHOWBIZ Singer Justin Utley, Gus Kenworthy, video game, 'Jackplot' film
OUTMusic Award winner Justin Utley has released the single "All Is Bright"—his first holiday release, a press release noted. Utley described the song as a little-bit of Lumineers/Mumford & Sons mixed in with a lot-a-bit of ...
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New drive-thru COVID-19 testing site open in Crestwood
--From a press release
Crestwood, IL - The Village of Crestwood announces the opening of a drive-through COVID-19 Testing Center at the Crestwood Civic Center, located at 14025 S Kostner Avenue in Crestwood Illinois. The new Alzein COVID Testing Center ...
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NATIONAL Guv tests positive, lawsuits
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted that he and First Gentleman Marlon Reis have tested positive for COVID-19, The Denver Post reported. Polis said he will work remotely and "continue to fulfill his duties and responsibilities." Polis ...
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WORLD German soldiers, UK HIV rates, OutRight, Chopin
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government agreed on a draft bill that would compensate gay soldiers who faced discrimination in the armed forces between 1955 and 2000, TheLocal.de reported. Under the proposed law, which needs to be approved ...
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Billy Masters
"Will you issue pardons before leaving office? Will you be issuing a pardon for yourself?"—A reporter asked El Presidente this question after the traditional pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkeys. And by turkey, we don't mean anyone ...
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AIDS Foundation Chicago, Cook County Health mark World AIDS Day
--From a press release
AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) and Cook County Health are collaborating for a special virtual event in honor of World AIDS Day, a global movement to increase public awareness and dialogue about HIV and AIDS, on Dec. ...
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Laverne Cox 'in shock' but okay after transphobic attack
Transgender actress/activist Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black) said she was "definitely in shock" and "triggered" but okay after an anti-trans attack while walking with a friend in a Los Angeles park, USA Today reported. ...
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PASSAGES Joanne E. Trapani
According to Facebook posts, Joanne E. Trapani, one-time village president of Oak Park, has passed away. Read about her life and work in the community at the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame: http://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/trapani-joanne/ . and at ...
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Chicago native becomes first Black cardinal; has pro-LGBTQ history
On Nov. 28, Pope Francis formally elevated 13 new cardinals in a ceremony, including Chicago native Wilton Daniel Gregory, who is the archbishop of Washington D.C. Gregory, 73, is the first African-American cardinal. He told the ...
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MUSIC (Colton) Ford tough: Singer is back and 'Stronger' than ever
Colton Ford has been an actor (in mainstream, off-Broadway and adult features) as well as singer, but he had see out of the spotlight for a few years—until now. Ford (who's openly gay) is back with ...
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Award-winning journalist Deb Price dead at 62
Deb Price, the award-winning journalist and author who wrote the first nationally syndicated column on LGBT issues in mainstream newspapers, has died in a hospital at age 62 in Hong Kong, where she had lived for ...
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'The Prom' out Dec. 11 on Netflix
The Prom—a musical-comedy film directed by Ryan Murphy and adapted by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin (from their and Matthew Sklar's 2018 Broadway musical of the same name)—will be out on Netflix on Dec. 11. The ...
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VIEWS Taking care of your mental health during a COVID holiday season
By Adam Ouanes
This holiday season is unlike any before, and it leaves many people feeling unsure about how to get into the holiday spirit. It's not unusual for many people to find this time of year overwhelming, but ...
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New narrative podcast offers lesbian rocker slice of life
Podcast attached below
For audiophiles in search of punk rock tongue-in-cheek lesbian dramedy-driven narrative storytelling, look no further: "Tampon Rock" is here. The podcast, from Anthem and iHeart Radio, focuses on lesbian bandmates Deja and Chloe as they navigate ...
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Chicago native named as state's fifth poet laureate
Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker announced Angela Jackson as the next poet laureate for the state. Jackson, a Chicago native, is the fifth Illinoisan to hold the title, an honorary position selected by a committee of ...
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WINDY CITY TIMES 2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Even as crazy as this year has been, there have been some constants—such as the observations of holidays (although they have been a lot more virtual). Among said observations is holiday shopping, and Windy City Times ...
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Chicago's pandemic budget passes
On Nov. 24, The Chicago City Council passed the city's 2021 pandemic budget. According to a media release, "The $12.8 billion budget was built in close collaboration with City Council members, labor partners and other key ...
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Cook County budget unanimously passes
On Nov. 24, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a balanced $6.94-billion FY2021 budget aimed at advancing Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's work on criminal justice reform, public ...
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PASSAGES Adrian Ford
Adrian Robert Ford, of Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, died unexpectedly Nov. 17. He was 74 Born in Rochester, New York, on May 11, 1946 to Clarence and Ruth Ford, Adrian grew up in Webster, New York, ...
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Lawsuit filed regarding trans exclusion for health benefits
Lambda Legal and Sirianni Youtz Spoonemore Hamburger PLLC filed a federal lawsuit challenging Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois' (BCBSIL's) administration of a blanket exclusion of gender-affirming care in an ...
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Blackhawks hire woman as player development coach
The Chicago Blackhawks hired U.S. women's national team captain Kendall Coyne Schofield as a player development coach and promoted Meghan Hunter, previously general manager Stan Bowman's executive assistant, to director ...
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State Senator Feigenholtz encourages all to sign up for ACA benefits
--From a press release
CHICAGO — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is encouraging everyone to sign up for health coverage during the Affordable Care Act's Open Enrollment period, which lasts until Dec. 15. "The Affordable Care Act expanded health care ...
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Diabetes and HIV
Experts suggest that prolonged antiretroviral therapy (ART) of HIV-infected people is associated with increased risk of insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes. I suggest that this is not an accurate scientific explanation. Here's why. T ...
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NATIONAL Conversion therapy, LGBTQ deaths, Pantene, Ralph Lauren
A federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling and struck down local ordinances prohibiting licensed therapists from practicing the debunked "conversion therapy" on minors, out.com reported. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ...
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WORLD European Union, groundbreaking case, Caster Semenya
The European Union announced its first strategy to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people, out.com noted. Many saw the development as a response to the rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate and rhetoric in Poland and Hungary. The new ...
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SHOWBIZ: Awards, 'Bebop,' Andy Cohen, Mariah Carey, Revry
The American Music Awards aired live Nov. 22 and some of the biggest names in music took home awards; Taraji P. Henson hosted. According to CNN.com, Doja Cat won new artist of the year and Becky ...
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COVID-19 Queer-led FamilyQ helps distribute masks
FamilyQ is an LGBTQ-led volunteer effort to support nonprofit organizations and social-justice groups by donating more than 100,000 disposable face masks. Proceeds help provide resources to overlooked and underresourced communities. ...
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Chicago Red Stars announce annual #SHEINSPIRESME award winners
--From a press release
CHICAGO (November 23, 2020) — The Chicago Red Stars announced the three winners of the 2020 #SHEINSPIRESME award. The Chicago Red Stars #SHEINSPIRESME Award is an annual award that is presented to women who exemplify leadership, ...
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New study: Military transgender ban hurts readiness
--From a press release
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A new study has found that the current ban on military service by transgender Americans has harmed the armed forces, contradicting claims by the Trump administration that the ban was needed to ...
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Billy Masters
"I think maybe I had something to do with it, because I was always a big fan of doing fancy dress with them when they were smaller, which Gemma hated, but Harry always embraced. Who doesn't love playing dress up?"—Harry Styles' ...
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AFC holds virtual 'Gala35' celebration
AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) marked 35 years with a virtual "Gala35" celebration and awards ceremony Nov. 19. Among the honorees were Newsweb Corporation Chairperson, Alphawood Foundation President and social-justice activist ...
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MOVIES Paul Bettany talks 'Uncle Frank' and his own closeted father
In the critically acclaimed Amazon Studios movie Uncle Frank, out Nov. 25, Paul Bethany (the Avengers and Iron Man series; Master and Commander; The Da Vinci Code) plays the title character—a literature professor who has two ...
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MOVIES Peter Macdissi reflects on making 'Uncle Frank'
In the Amazon Studios movie Uncle Frank, out Nov. 25, Peter Macdissi plays Walid "Wally" Nadeem—the partner of the title character (played by Paul Bettany). However, the dynamics are a bit different in that Frank Bledsoe ...
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11th Circuit Court rules on conversion therapy protections, groups respond
--From a press release
ATLANTA, GA — Today, in a split decision, a three-judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit issued a decision today striking down local laws in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County, Florida protecting minors from undergoing conversion ...
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Black transgender artist Heather Hills releases single, video from Trans Trenderz
--From a press release
(New York, NY) Electro-pop/rap artist, Heather Hills, has released the new single and video, "Get Dun," on the Trans Trenderz label. "Get Dun" is not for those expecting trauma porn. "I got a cute beat and ...
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THEATER Harry Lennix to direct Dec. 13 reading of 'Mercy'
Northlight Theatre will present an Interplay New Play Development Program reading of Mercy, written by Felicia Oduh and directed by Harry Lennix (known for his acting roles on TV shows such as The Blacklist and Billions ...
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GLAAD: 81% of LGBTQs voted for Biden
GLAAD released the findings of its 2020 Post-election Poll of LGBTQ registered voters. The findings included a phenomenal turnout of the LGBTQ vote, a surge of first-time LGBTQ voters, an overwhelming vote for President-elect Joe Biden, ...
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Lopez's office vandalized again
A brick was thrown through the front window of Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez's Southwest Side office Nov. 19—the fourth instance of vandalism targeting his properties this year (including three times in July), The Chicago Sun-Times reported. ...
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BOOKS/ART Local man releases sketches by famous artist uncle
Cuban American painter Gustavo Ojeda (1958—89) is best known for lush and meditative urban nightscapes that brought him recognition in the 1980s downtown New York art scene. He exhibited works alongside artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, ...
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Hubbard Street Dance presents surrealist film online Dec. 3, 5 and 6
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) continues its 2020/21 43rd season with a virtual premiere presentation of new work from former Hubbard Street dancer and acclaimed choreographer Jonathan Fredrickson ...
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Play development series seeks new plays authored by artists of color
--From a press release
(Chicago, IL) Calling all bold, imaginative new plays authored by artists of color for Future Labs—Goodman Theatre's newest artistic program to develop works authored and directed by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI and other artists of co ...
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Five Worth Finding: Restaurants, OUT100, children's book, face mask
—Perry's Steakhouse & Grille (PerrysSteakhouse.com): This suburban spot (with two restaurants in Oak Brook and Schaumburg) is well-known for its delicious cuts of meat, sumptuous sides and hand-crafted cocktails. It's ...
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33rd Creating Change Conference to go virtual Jan. 28-31
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 19, 2021….. Thousands of LGBTQ advocates, activists, leaders, and allies will, for the first time ever, gather virtually for the 33rd Creating Change Conference from Jan. 28 through Jan. 31, 2020. The Creating ...
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Lambda Legal files diversity-based suit against Trump executive order
On Nov. 16, Lambda Legal urged a federal district court to bar the Trump administration from implementing its recent executive order that prohibits federal contractors and grantees from conducting workplace diversity trainings or engaging in grant-funded ...
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Day With(out) Art: Transmissions launches online Nov. 30
--From a press release
NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2020 — Visual AIDS, the only contemporary arts organization fully committed to raising AIDS and HIV awareness through dialogue, art exhibitions and public forums, announces their ...
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Daniel Biss announces run for mayor of Evanston
Former Illinois state Sen. Daniel Biss, a Democrat, announced that he plans to run for mayor of Evanston next year. A statement read, in part, "The election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris was a relief ...
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Women's soccer league announces 2021 competition framework
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced a new competition framework to debut in 2021 that aims to expand opportunities for the athletes of the league to showcase the NWSL. Players will report to camp Feb. ...
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About Face Theatre starts 25th season with Kickback online short play fest
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Nov 9, 2020) — About Face Theatre kicks off its landmark 25th season with KICKBACK, an online festival of newly commissioned short plays and performances by Black LGBTQ+ artists, inspired by the Rebuild Foundation's collections ...
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Congressional co-chairs introduce World AIDS Day resolution
U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon (PR-At Large), co-chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the goals of World AIDS Day, according ...
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Artist Riva Lehrer talks new memoir, career, state of the world
In queer artist, writer and curator Riva Lehrer's recently released memoir Golem Girl, she takes readers on a journey through her life via the lens of her being born with spina bifida and the way that ...
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PPIL extends Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy program statewide
During this year's Transgender Awareness Week (which culminates with the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20), Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) is highlighting its Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) ...
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Feds investigating alleged anti-Semitic activity at Univ. of Illinois
The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it has opened a formal investigation into a complaint alleging Jewish students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) ...
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New guide out for educators, parents advocating for LGBTQ students with disabilities
--From a press release
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation released a new resource to help both parents and educators advocate on behalf of LGBTQ students with disabilities. NCLR partnered with HRC Foundation, the National ...
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THEATER
Lookingglass to present 'Her Honor Jane Byrne' on Nov. 26, 28
Lookingglass Theatre Company, in collaboration with WBEZ 91.5 Chicago, will present a world-premiere audio play of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks. Her Honor ...
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COVID-19 Pritzker institutes Tier Three mitigations starting Nov. 20
With a new wave of COVID-19 surging across Illinois, the Midwest and the nation, Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced, on Nov. 17, additional COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will take effect ...
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PASSAGES Marsha M. Wetzel
Marsha Marie Wetzel, advocate for the LGBTQ community, died peacefully at her Greenview Place home in Chicago, Illinois, on Nov. 1, 2020. In keeping with her faith, she passed on All Saints Day. She was preceded ...
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MUSICALS 1997 version of Anyone Can Whistle out Dec. 4
On Sunday, Dec. 4, Jay Records will release a 1997 recording of the musical Anyone Can Whistle, which originally had music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim as well as a book by Arthur Laurents. The production ...
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