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National Black Justice Coalition Statement on Nigel Shelby Suicide: "This Must End"
WASHINGTON — Over the weekend it was reported that Nigel Shelby, a high schooler in Huntsville, Alabama, died by suicide. In response to the tragic news, National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director David Johns released the ...
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'Intersectional feminist' web series turns dating app disasters into romantic comedy
Unflattering selfie angles, men posing with freshly caught fish and an abundance of "Rick and Morty" references are just some of the horrors one might encounter while swiping for their next Tinder match. These dating app ...
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7th Annual North Shore Pride Fest June 1
HIGHWOOD, IL ( JUNE 1, 2019 ) — To kick off Pride Month, Celebrate Highwood is 'showing its pride on the north side' at its 7th Annual North Shore Pride Fest on Saturday, June 1st throughout ...
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Supreme Court to hear LGBT discrimination cases
On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear three high-profile cases involving employment discrimination against LGBT individuals, ABC News reported. The cases involve Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ...
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Suspects arrested in murder of queer reporter
In Northern Ireland, authorities have arrested two teens ( aged 18 and 19 ) in connection with the murder of 29-year-old investigative journalist Lyra McKee, who was killed during rioting in Londonderry, CNN.com reported. McKee, who ...
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Lambda Legal hosts annual Bon Foster event
Lambda Legal's tagline at its annual Bon Foster event on April 18 at Morgan Manufacturing was "We're Here." The annual celebration is named for Robert "Bon" Foster, a powerful voice in Chicago in the early days ...
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Adoption/foster-care info fair April 27
Adoption/foster-care organization Let It Be Us will conduct an information fair Saturday, April 27, at St. Teresa's of Avila Church, 1037 W. Armitage Ave., 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Attendees will learn about the Illinois children in need ...
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BOOKS Chris Rush looks back on 1970s adolescence in debut memoir
Chris Rush was a closeted Catholic 12-year-old when he took his first tab of LSD. "My older sister introduced me to [drugs] at a very young age," the author of The Light Years said via phone ...
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Theater Review Hannah And Martin
Author: Kate Fodor At: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: www.shatteredglobe.org, or 773-975-8150; $15-39. Runs through: May 25 In Shattered Globe's Hannah and Martin, author Kate Fodor and director Louis Contey invite audiences to look ...
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EVENTS Talking with the stars of 'Heroes & Villains'
Heroes & Villains Fan Fest battled its way back in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on April 19-21. The Easter holiday weekend can be a tough one for planning a massive event such ...
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GLN to Host Fundraiser For Chelsea Manning
The Gay Liberation Network will host a 7 p.m., Saturday, May 4th fundraiser for the legal defense fund of Trans whistle-blower Chelsea Manning at the home of GLN co-founder Andy Thayer and his husband, Aldo P. ...
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'Queer Prom' at Center on May 10
Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., is hosting the 2019 Queer Prom ( theme: "Midnight in Paris" ) for LGBTQ youth on Friday, May 10, 5-8 p.m., on the building's third floor. The annual prom ...
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TELEVISION Transgender model works the 'Runway'
Mimi Tao is making history on the 17th season of Project Runway as the first transgender model on the hit Bravo show. This talented model from Thailand was featured on Project Runway mentor Christian Siriano's "People ...
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Rodriguez Sanchez talks about victory over Mell
The Chicago aldermanic runoff races that were initially too close to call have been settled—and lesbian Ald. Deb Mell ( 33rd Ward ) is out while gay Ald. James Cappleman ( 46th ) narrowly retained his ...
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Wild Nights with Emily offers new takes on Dickinson myths
"Emily Dickinson wished to be published posthumously," says Mabel Todd ( Amy Seimetz ), the poet's editor, at one point in the new dramatic comedy Wild Nights with Emily. "'Posthumous' refers to a soul that wishes ...
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Safe-schools group holds annual 'Night of Noise' fundraiser
The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance held its third annual Night of Noise fundraiser—titled "Onward and Upward"—on April 14 at the Haymarket Pub and Brewing. The event—which included a VIP reception, raffle and variety show—is a direct ...
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Foxx reveals thoughts in Smollett case emails
Thousands of emails and other communications revealed that Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx was involved in the Jussie Smollett case—even after she recused herself, The Chicago Tribune reported. Among other things, Foxx told her top ...
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Reports: Indivisible Aurora raising funds for 2019 Pride Parade
The Indivisible Aurora organization, which last year organizing that city's first Pride Parade—and which last week abruptly cancelled the 2019 parade, citing lack of funds—will hold this year's parade after all if they can raise needed ...
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Wild Nights with Emily screening through April 25
Wild Nights with Emily is a film about a little-known aspect of the iconic poet Emily Dickinson, starring Molly Shannon. In the mid-19th century, Dickinson is writing prolifically, baking gingerbread, and enjoying a passionate, lifelong romantic ...
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MOVIES Classic lesbian film stages re-'Bound,'and the stars weigh in
The popular 1996 film Bound is a lesbian centered crime thriller written and directed by the Wachowskis in their feature film debut. Jennifer Tilly plays Violet who is a relationship with a member of the mafia ...
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Supreme Court denies appeal for gay man on death row
In an action one civil rights lawyer called "a deeply disturbing message about the value placed on LGBTQ lives," the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from a man on death row ...
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Anti-trans District 211 lawsuit dropped
Long-running litigation involving public-accommodations access for transgender students in the Northwest suburbs came to a seeming end April 15, when U.S. District Judge Jorge Alonso on Monday approved the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to bar ...
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National Black Justice Coalition on Morehouse College's Inclusivity Policy
WASHINGTON — Morehouse College, a historically Black men's college, announced that they would be accepting applications from Trans men. In response to the news, the National Black Justice Coalition released the following statement: "Every student has ...
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Lynn Sage Cancer sports event June 17
The Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation ( LSCRF ) will host the annual Play for the Cure Game Day, featuring a women's round-robin tennis competition, 18-hole golf experience and card games including canasta, mahjong and bridge. ...
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Chicago House brunch and fashion show May 5
Chicago House's Annual Spring Brunch and Fashion Show will take place Sunday, May 5, in the Winter Garden at the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St. Doors will open at 12 p.m. This year's event, ...
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NATIONAL Child-abuse bill, anti-trans attacks, Ariz. HIV/AIDS bill, Michigan gym
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine ( D-Virginia ) introduced legislation for the first time ever that seeks to protect LGBT kids from child abuse, The Washington Blade reported. The Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act seeks to prevent the ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans baritone, Billboard Awards, Kate McKinnon, Lena Waithe
Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions have announced it is greenlighting a documentary entitled Lucia's Voice ( Working Title ), OperaWire.com noted. The new film center on internationally renowned opera star Lucia Lucas will perform the title role ...
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WORLD Mexican marriage bill, Luxembourg PM, China watching Buttigieg
In a secret ballot, the plenary of the Yucatan state congress in Mexico voted against a marriage-equality bill that was forwarded by a committee, YucatanExpatLife.com reported. Fifteen lawmakers voted against the measure, with nine in favor ...
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DINING CBD cocktails, Eataly pizza party, Easter items
—Lincoln Hall and Schubas Tavern ( on 4/20, fittingly ) will offer the "Hi-CBD" cocktail ( Deep Eddy orange vodka, Euphoric CBD-infused simple syrup and lime ) for $10. Also, Brass Heart Restaurant, 4662 N. Broadway, ...
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International LGBTQ refugee organization holds local fundraiser
On April 11, the international LGBTQ organization Rainbow Railroad launched a fundraising campaign at a benefit party held at the home of Phil Palmer (with the help of All Aboard committee member Bruce Koff) on North ...
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Trans singer songwriter Shea Diamond video supports HRC "Americans for the Equality Act" campaign
Video below
WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer ( LGBTQ ) civil rights organization, released a new video from HRC's Americans for the Equality Act ...
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DANCE UK choreographers take leap 'Across the Pond'
The Joffrey Ballet's spring program finally arrives at the end of April, with three out and proud choreographers' work and two world premieres. Titled "Across the Pond", this project mixes all three pieces in one incredible ...
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SAGE Board of Directors Welcomes Two New Members
[New York, N.Y.] SAGE, the world's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT elders, has welcomed Anthony Emeka Harbour and Denise Foy to its national Board of Directors. Harbour and Foy bring ...
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THEATER REVIEW Cambodian Rock Band
Playwright: Lauren Yee At: Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: 773-781-3000; VictoryGardens.org; $32-$65. Runs through: May 5 Cambodian Rock Band makes Victory Gardens the go-to, high-energy Off-Loop theater of the moment, thanks to a ...
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STONEWALL AT 50 Fact sheet answers basic Stonewall questions
NEW YORK, NY — Monday, April 15, 2019 — The NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, Making Gay History, the New York Public Library, GLSEN, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Stonewall 50 Consortium announce the ...
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Lamont Robinson talk April 20
On Saturday, April 20, a town hall-style discussion will take place with Equality Illinois Director of Civic Engagement Anthony Galloway and Illinois state Rep. Lamont J. Robinson at Jeffery Pub, 7041 S. Jeffery Blvd., at 2 ...
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Bon Foster gala April 18
The Bon Foster gala—Lambda Legal's annual civil-rights celebration—will take place Thursday, April 18, 6-10 p.m., at Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N. Morgan St. There will be an open bar, an hors d'oeuvres reception and entertainment. The Bon ...
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Big Freedia performances taking place April 20-21
LGBT singer Big Freedia ( known as the "Queen of Bounce" ) is coming to Chicago to celebrate Do312 & Chicago Cannabis Alliance's street festival—the second annual Waldos Forever Fest, at Argyle and Clark streets—on Saturday, ...
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Non-binary license option passes House
House Bill 3534—a measure that allows people to identify themselves as neither male nor female on their driver's licenses—passed the Illinois House on a 67-38 vote, WEEK.com reported. The bill, which state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray ( ...
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Local designer named Kennedy Center fellow
Local designer Sky Cubacub has been named one of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' newly announced 2019-20 cohort of Citizen Artist Fellows. Cubacub—a Chicago native—is an artist, designer and the leader of ...
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'Moonlight,' 'Wonder Woman' part of summer film series
The Millennium Park Summer Film Series will offer a lineup of classic and recent movie selections on Tuesdays, June 4-Aug. 20, at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & ...
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THEATER REVIEW Lottery Day
Karen Topham
Playwright: Ike Holter At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: GoodmanTheatre.org. Runs through: April 28 "If you want to start it, then make sure you stop to finish it." This advice—from a rap song repeated ...
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Queer Queens of Qomedy here April 28
The Queer Queens of Qomedy are coming back to The Chicago Laugh Factory, April 28, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. This funny game of thrones ( Q3 ), lead by Poppy Champlin, has been touring for thirteen ...
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Buttigieg First Openly LGBTQ Democratic Presidential Candidate in U.S. History
Washington, DC — Mayor Pete Buttigieg officially launched his presidential candidacy before a crowd of thousands in his hometown city of South Bend, Indiana this afternoon. The announcement makes Mayor Buttigieg the first openly LGBTQ Democratic ...
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Buttigieg officially declares his run for presidency
On April 14 in his home city of South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg formally launched his presidential campaign for 2020. Buttigieg is the second openly LGBTQ person to run for president, following Republican presidential primary ...
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BOOKS Inclusive anthology 'Halal' launches at Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation was packed the night of April 11 for the book launch of Halal If You Hear Me, a collection of poems and essays by Muslims who are women, queer, genderqueer, non-binary or trans. ...
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Flyers about murder victim distributed in Lake View
Cook County Crime Stoppers distributed flyers April 13 in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood concerning the murder of Kevin Clewer. On March 24, 2004, Clewer, who was 31, was found murdered with 42 stab wounds in his ...
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MOMBIAN Passover Questions for LGBTQ Families
Passover begins the evening of April 19, and although I'm somewhat casual in my observance, I love that the holiday, which commemorates Jewish people's journey out of slavery in Egypt, has become a time for reflection ...
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Nominations sought for 30 Under 30 Awards
Windy City Times is seeking to recognize 30 more outstanding LGBT individuals ( and allies ) for its annual 30 Under 30 Awards. The ceremony will take place Wed., June 26. There will be a 5:30 ...
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SAGE praises bipartisan LGBT aging bill introduced in Congress
[Washington, D.C.] — Today, the Inclusive Aging Act was introduced by Senators Michael Bennet ( D-CO ), Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ), and Bob Casey ( D-PA ). This bipartisan legislative proposal aims to support inclusive ...
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Chicago proceeds with suit against Smollett
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration has said it has gone to court to try to force Empire actor Jussie Smollett to pay Chicago back for an alleged hate-crime hoax even though Cook County prosecutors dropped all charges ...
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Trans military ban now in effect
The Pentagon's controversial policy for transgender service members is in effect as of April 12. The new regulation keeps transgender troops from serving in the nation's military openly and also "blocks all use of [Department of ...
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THEATER REVIEW Utility
Playwright: Emily Schwend At: Interrobang Theatre Project at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. Tickets: InterrobangTheatre.org or 312-219-4140; $32. Runs through: May 4 Literary scholars can speak of the narrative device labeled "a dark night of ...
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Aurora Pride Parade will go forward
[UPDATE April 18] According to local NBC, plans for the Aurora Pride Parade have been reinstated and the event will go forward. See https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/aurora-pride-parade-back-on-after-huge-fundraising-push-508717301.html . Original 2019-04-12 item: After an audacious inaugural Pride Parade ...
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NYC's 2019 LGBTQIA+ Pride March announces Grand Marshals
Cast of POSE, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Gay Liberation Front, The Trevor Project, Monica Helms to lead
NEW YORK, NY, April 11, 2019 — NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50, announces its five Grand Marshals slated to lead both the 50th NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30 ...
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Downton's McGovern and Fellowes reunite for "The Chaperone"
In 1922, Wichita, Kansas, native Louise Brooks left her home to study modern dance at the Denishawn School in New York City. Just a few years later, she'd be appearing in Hollywood films. By the decade's ...
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Millennium Park Summer Films to celebrate Year of Chicago Theatre
The Millennium Park Summer Film Series will offer a lineup of popular classic and recent movie selections on Tuesdays, June 4 through August 20, at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. To celebrate 2019 as ...
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Williams Institute: LGB inclusive nations enjoy higher GDP per capita than previously thought
AMHERST, Mass. — A new study published by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Leiden University, Netherlands and Rutgers University has found that nations offering more rights to lesbian, gay and bisexual people enjoy significantly ...
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Morrison and Lightfoot appear at Chamber of Commerce event
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot was among those taking part in the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois' April 9 Keynote Breakfast at the Drake Hotel downtown. Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison gave the keynote address at the ...
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Cayman Islands court blocks marriage equality
Days after Cayman Islands Chief Justice Anthony Smellie allowed a same-sex wedding to take place, the Court of Appeal blocked Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden-Bush from getting married, on April 10, Cayman 27 reported. The appeal ...
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Lightfoot's transition team co-leaders named
On April 10, Mayor-Elect Lori Lightfoot announced her transition team leadership and the launch of her transition website, BetterTogetherChicago.com . Co-leaders include Chicago United President and CEO Gloria Castillo; NanoGraf Corporation CEO Samir Mayekar; Field Foundation ...
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'Night of Noise' variety show April 14
The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance will be "breaking" the Day of Silence with its third annual variety show, "Night of Noise: Onward and Upward" on Sunday, April 14, at Haymarket Pub and Brewing, 737 W. Randolph ...
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'Still/Here: Torture...' through April 26
Chicago Torture Justice Memorials ( CTJM ) commissioned six artists and artist-teams to conceive and develop fully-realized proposals for an ambitious, permanent public artwork to honor named and unnamed torture survivors—with the result being "Still/Here: Torture, ...
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BOOKS Queer scholar profiles Chicago house music
When Micah E. Salkind was a teenager in Kansas, he found the music that would change his life. "I went to raves and would hear Chicago house music," said the queer scholar, whose first book Do ...
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'FACES: Out and Proud' at Center on Halsted
The Center on Halsted is presenting "FACES: Out & Proud," an exhibition of the fine art photographs by Chicagoan Chuck Kramer. The show will run through Wed., April 10, in the third-floor gallery at the Center ...
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BOOK REVIEW Dugan's Bistro and the Legend of the Bearded Lady
By Owen Keehnen $17; Out Tales Publishing; 148 pages Bob Theiss contained multitudes—most under a completely different name. Known as the Bearded Lady ( or BL ) to gay Chicagoans of the 1970s and early '80s, ...
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Iconic photographer honored in 'Laura Aguilar: Show and Tell'
Laura Aguilar—who died at 58 in April 2018—explored multiple aspects of her identity in her photographs. She was queer, Latinx, working-class and what some might deem plus-sized. She also struggled with auditory dyslexia, depression and diabetes—the ...
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Big Freedia to lead April festival
LGBT singer Big Freedia is coming to Chicago to celebrate Do312 & Chicago Cannabis Alliance's street festival—the second annual Waldos Forever Fest, at Argyle and Clark streets—on Saturday, April 20,, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. In addition to ...
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Critics' Picks
Herland, Redtwist Theatre, through April 14—Empowered by Bruce Springsteen anthems, four women of diverse ages, intents and erotic impulses vow to determine their own destinies, whether destiny mandates pantsuits, jacuzzis or smashing guitars. MSB Sweat, Goodman ...
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Spotlight
We've all said it: "The world would be a better place if there were more people like me!" Oh? Really? How many identical siblings would be enough? Would you clone yourself endlessly if you could? Who ...
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SAVOR Barton G. The Restaurant
It's safe to say that there's no spot in Chicago like Barton G. The Restaurant ( 415 N. Dearborn St.; https://www.bartong.com/restaurants.html ). Restaurants here have been everything from elegant to bright to laid-back and even artsy—but ...
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LETTER Remembering Roe
To the editor: This marks the 48th year of Choices and the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Interestingly enough, these snniversaries have become even more important to me than close birthdays. I remember one January ...
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Catholic bishops stopped my surgery because I'm transgender
After years of working to affirm my identity in a world where transgender people are questioned constantly about their decisions, I felt hopeful as I arrived for the surgery I had waited so long for. I ...
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New alderperson Maria Hadden weds
Newly elected Chicago Ald. Maria Hadden wed partner Natalia Vera on March 18. Hadden told Windy City Times that the ceremony took place "on our eighth anniversary in a private ceremony. We are so excited to ...
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ELECTIONS 2019 LGBT aldermanic races mostly tight
The LGBT members of the Chicago City Council who were in the April 2 runoffs were involved in some very tight races, as opposed to Lori Lightfoot's historic win. ( Lightfoot actually carried every ward in ...
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