Transgender Chicagoan turns his gym into a space for fitness and acceptance
As a transgender man, Alex Martinez knows how it feels to be othered—and he knows he’s not alone. That experience has influenced his work as both a fitness trainer and gym owner. “I knew it wasn’t just me and because I’m trans,” said Martinez, owner…
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Out the Archives: Exploring queer identity in Chicago’s ‘90s hip hop scene
Out the Archives is a recurring feature diving into the Windy City Times collection, offering a look back at the rich history of LGBTQ+ Chicago. In this edition, we look back at the June 1997 issue of En La Vida. Nowadays, there’s lots of talk about how LGBTQ+ people belong in all types of communities.…
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The Politics of Book Banning in 2026
A profound paradigm shift has changed the politics of book banning in the United States. Previously, book banning was primarily initiated by concerned parents as individuals or as advocates with school boards. Today, book banning is primarily the work of highly organized political groups and governmental agencies. According to data compiled by the American Library Association and PEN…
Nation & World
IN BRIEF Trans students, syphilis diagnoses, Egypt’s pro-trans ruling, New Zealand blood donation, Nathan Lane, Madonna
NATIONAL The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association voted on an amendment that would have restricted girls’ sports participation to cis individuals—but the measure failed to achieve the supermajority needed to pass, KXLY noted. The vote was…
Theater / Dance
Jeff Rodriguez jumps into the lake of Eelpout!
Shattered Globe Theatre reels in a fishy tale titled Eelpout! for its 35th-season finale at Theater Wit. Playwright Paul William Kruse serves up a story about society and queer identity set in the wilderness. Longtime friends Sven Svensen and Ole Olson are ice fishing and celebrating Ole’s upcoming wedding at Lake Mille Lacs. The duo swims into…
Music
BOOKS Queer country singer Ty Herndon discusses ‘What Mattered Most’
As everyone knows, life is a combination of sometimes stratospheric highs and devastating lows. In What Mattered Most: A Memoir, openly gay country singer Ty Herndon discusses meeting people in various capacities (personal and professional) and his rise to fame, including appearances on the TV show Star Search. However, this book is also an account of battles…
Film / TV / Gossip
FILM Anne Hathaway takes on ghosts and devils in ‘Mary’ and ‘Prada’
The year 2026 could belong to Anne Hathaway, with her name on the marquee for five films slated for release. Hathaway, an audience favorite since her Princess Diary breakthrough, appears in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey (due July 17) and the erotic thriller Verity (due Oct. 2) where she’ll eventually be landing on Dakota Johnson’s lips. The sci-fi thriller The End of…
Books / Art
Trans
‘Sashay’ celebrates TGNC youth with fashion explosion
‘On April 30, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., in partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, presented Sashay into Spring, a fashion and accessory show celebrating transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth. The event was conceived by model Jae Matthiesen, along with Sophie Buchman. “This event is deeply personal for me,” Matthiesen said in…
Lesbian
Owners of beloved lesbian bar ‘Dorothy’ open queer dive bar ‘Fathom’ in Lakeview
The owners of the popular lesbian bar Dorothy opened a new queer bar in Lakeview this week, with a more casual, “classic neighborhood dive bar” feel. Fathom, 1622 W. Belmont Ave., opened April 9 and was quickly at capacity, with a line of people waiting that stretched down the block. The new nautical-themed bar is designed to…