Pictured: Friday, June 12, Cyndi Lauper will be the headliner on the opening day of Milwaukee Pridefest. Photo by Joann To. Monday, June 15, The cast of Mary Poppins will perform at a benefit for About Face Theatre at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Photo by Joan Marcus. Also see www.windycitymediagroup.com/calendarevents.html
Out of the Office, a networking mixer for LGBT professionals, will take place Thursday, June 11, at Wild Pug, 4810 N. Broadway, 5-8 p.m. The event will benefit Chicago2016; the suggested donation is $10. See www.outalumnichicago.com or www.citywidepride.info .
The roundtable discussion Stonewall and Beyond will take place Thursday, June 11, 7-9 p.m., at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Among the slated discussants are activist Vernita Gray, Columbia College's Lott Hill and trans-rights advocate June LaTrobe. There is a $5 suggested donation; e-mail sworthington@centeronhalsted.org or call 773-472-6469, ext. 160.
Brotherhood of the Phoenix, a neo-pagan congregation of GBT men, is sponsoring an interfaith panel discussion titled 'Embracing the Queer Spirit' Friday, June 12, 7-9 p.m. at Center on Halsted's SAGE Center, 3656 N. Halsted. See www.brotherhoodofthephoenix.org .
You Took Away My Flag an original musical about Kosovo penned by out composer/law professor Henry H. Perritt, Jr. will run June 12-13 and 19-20, at the Strawdog Theater, 3829 N. Broadway. Tickets are $22.50; visit www.youtookawaymyflag.com or www.strawdog.org .
Love Goddess Judy Tenuta will perform at the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, Friday-Saturday, June 12-13, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$30; visit www.lakeshoretheater.com, stop by the box office or call 773-473-3492.
The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and the Chicago Architecture Foundation will present 'Jensen Reconsidered: Urbs in Horto-City in a Garden' Friday-Sunday, June 12-14, at at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park. Visit www.hullhousemuseum.org or call 312-413-5353.
The Drama Group Studio will present The Laramie Project which focuses on the late Wyoming student Matthew Shepard June 12-14 and 19-21 at 330 W. 202nd, Chicago Heights. Tickets start at $14 each; call 708-755-3444 or visit www.dramagroup.org .
Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, will host a legal seminar on taxes, property ownership, wills and trusts Saturday, June 13, 1-2:30 p.m. The forum is the second of a four-part legal preparedness series. Attorney Ray J Koenig III, Clark Hill PLC and attorney David Wells of David Wells and Associates, P.C., will present. RSVP to sworthington@centeronhalsted.org or 773-472-6469, ext. 160.
Orgullo en Accion, with the help of Amigas Latinas and the Association of Latino Men for Action, will host its 4th Annual Latin@ LGBTQQ Pride Picnic Saturday, June 13, 12-6 p.m., in Humboldt Park ( southwest corner of Division and Humboldt ) . See www.orgulloenaccion.org .
Windy City Performing Arts will present Windy City Gay Chorus and Aria: Windy City Women's Ensemble in their 2009 Pride concert, 'Walking Hand in Hand,' Saturday, June 13, at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Tickets are $20 each; visit www.windycitysings.org or purchase at the door.
Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS ( DIFFA ) /Chicago will host its 2009 gala, Believe: A Magical Moment in Time, Saturday, June 13, at 7 p.m. at The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore. Single tickets to the black-tie event are $450 each; see www.diffachicago.org/believe.
The Miss Ultimate Dream USofA at Large pageant will take place Monday, June 15, at 10 p.m. at Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted. Tajma Hall 'the current Miss Gay USofA at Large' will be featured, and the emcees will be Mz. Ruff 'n Stuff and Kelexis Davenport. The entry fee for contestants is $100 each. Admission to the event is $12; call 312-719-2880 for details.
Chicago House's 2009 Birdhouse Art Auction & Cocktail Party will take place Wed., June 17, at Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie, 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $60 in advance and $75 at the door. Visit www.chicagohouse.org or call 773-248-5200, ext. 303.
HIV/AIDS-service organizations Vital Bridges and Better Existence with HIV ( BEHIV ) are co-hosting a Mojito Mayhem gathering Thursday, June 18, at Halsted's Bar and Grill, 3441 N. Halsted, 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door; see www.vitalbridges.org or www.behiv.org .
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) will hold a mixer for young LGBT professionals at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, on Friday, June 19, 6-9 p.m. A fee of $35 entitles an individual to, among other things, entrance to this and a July 17 event in Chicago; a one-year membership with GLAAD; and two hours of hosted ABSOLUT cocktails. E-mail tgif@glaad.org for more information.
Of Time and the City 'British filmmaker Terence Davies' look at the Liverpool where he grew up gay, poor, Catholic and movie-mad will run at the Gene Siskel Film Center Friday-Thursday, June 19-25. See www.SiskelFilmCenter.org .
The Artemis Singers will host A Girl Meets Girls Musical Saturday, June 20, at COS Episcopal Church, 530 W. Fullerton, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Visit www.artemissingers.org .
Potluck BBQ & Pride Shabbat Services Friday, June 26, 7 p.m. Bring a vegetarian dish to share at the BBQ. Shabbat
services at 8 p.m. Congregation Or Chadash ( "Stonewall Chapel" in Emanuel Congregation ) 5959 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago
773-271-2148. www.OrChadash.org