Illinois human-rights protections strengthened by newly-signed bipartisan legislation
A new law ensuring that state-level employment, lending, health-care, education and other civil-rights protections remain strong and enforceable—even when changes are made in enforcement at the federal level—was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on July 31. The bipartisan Civil Rights Safeguard Act (SB…
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Gender Fucked celebrates 5th anniversary with Trans-iliance Fest
Despite the threat of thick rain clouds hanging overhead, the second installment of Gender Fucked Productions’ Trans-iliance Festival went on without a hitch on Aug. 14. The event, actually a three-day happening set to take place in three different public parks throughout Chicago, was canceled on the first day due to rain. The first installment was set in…
BUSINESS ‘Punk, intense and all-encompassing’: Chicagoan Dawn Heilung brings trans artists into focus
Gender Fucked Productions (Gender Fucked) Founder and former Executive Director and Artistic Director Dawn Heilung uses many labels to describe themselves— queer, bisexual, pansexual, polyamorous, trans, non-binary, transfeminine—because “I don’t think one can fully encompass my experience.” “I started [the trans, enby and queer arts and event production focused nonprofit] Gender Fucked Productions in 2022 because…
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THEATER Chicago playwright Matt Schutz explores starting over in ‘Windows’
Playwright Matt Schutz described his new play Windows as a dramedy about a woman trying “to reinvent herself from her girlfriend’s couch.” The play is furthermore for anyone who finds they must quickly determine “what the next chapter in their life is going to be,” after their whole life is up-ended, he added. Running through Aug.…
Nation & World
IN BRIEF Breast cancer risk, Lavender folds, bathhouse measure, Ghana’s anti-queer bill, Alysa Liu, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ken Jennings
Warning: This column mentions suicide, self-harm and child sexual abuse. NATIONAL A new study concluded that transgender individuals undergoing “top surgery” aren’t being provided adequate counseling about their future risk of breast cancer, U.S. News…
Theater / Dance
THEATER ‘GAY Soul Food’ is a personal love letter to family
Talking with Anthony Green, a Lambda Literary fellow and the writer-director of the play GAY Soul Food, is like chatting with a long-lost family member who immediately welcomes you into the fold. We lost track of time, talked over each other and had to circle back to previous points because we went on several tangents. His…
Music
Chicago’s House scene shaped global culture. But some of its artists face housing instability
For some artists, the community sustaining Chicago’s House culture has also become an informal safety net.
Film / TV / Gossip
John Early smells like Maddie’s Secret at the Music Box
Director, writer and actor John Early doesn’t hide who he is as a gay man, but his character struggles with private information in the new Magnolia Pictures movie Maddie’s Secret. On July 2, he brought his latest endeavor to the Music Box Theatre for a sold-out screening accompanied by a post-show question-and-answer portion of the program. Maddie proved so popular…
Books / Art
Trans
Second Annual Dignity Dash cuts through heat to finish first
On the morning of July 26, Brave Space Alliance (BSA) kicked off its second Annual Dignity Dash under cloudy skies and temperatures climbing toward 90 degrees. The event launched at the AIDS Garden at 3003 N. Lake Shore Drive and trailed along the Chicago lakefront, welcoming over 150 participants who gathered to run, bike or walk…
Lesbian
Comedian Jessica Kirson delivers her stand-up act out in the open for Market Days
One out and proud comedian Jessica Kirson, whose act has racked up over a billion views online, is coming to Northalsted Market Days on Aug. 9. Born in New Jersey, Kirson graduated from the University of Maryland and earned a master’s in social work from New York University—she initially wanted to be a therapist like her mother, whose…