Groundbreaking—and controversial—gay politician Barney Frank dies at 86
Trailblazing gay politician Barney Frank has died at 86. Frank died May 19 after recently entering hospice care at his home in Ogunquit, Maine, where he had been battling congestive heart failure, according to multiple media reports. Born Barnett Frank in Bayonne, New Jersey, in 1940, he…
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PrEP4Teens to host Community Art Showcase celebrating Teen HIV Awareness Advocates
CHICAGO, IL — May 14, 2026 — PrEP4Teens (P4T) will host its Youth Leadership Committee Showcase, an evening celebrating young people who are using art, storytelling, and interactive experiences to advance conversations around PrEP, HIV prevention, and community health amongst their peers. The showcase will feature creative projects developed by 6 Youth Leaders through the…
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Man charged in fatal shooting of Nick “Pup Tugger” Calzaretta
A Chicago man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Nick “Pup Tugger” Calzaretta, a well-known member of Chicago’s leather and pup communities, in the Edgewater neighborhood last week. Ammar Houssamo, 53, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the May 14 shooting, which…
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
THEATER Playwright McCraney probes the ethics of a ‘Windfall’ at Steppenwolf
Writer Tarell Alvin McCraney’s new drama Windfall, running now at Steppenwolf Theatre through May 31, is billed by its theater company as a story about “the spirit of activism versus money.” The play depicts a Chicago man whose son is killed in a violent police incident. When the father is offered a significant cash settlement, he…
Music
Chicago singers help Belting for Life reach new heights
On May 11, the 11th annual Belting for Life Concert reached a new milestone. The event, a fundraiser for AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) was the most successful Belting for Life event yet, nearly selling out SPACE at 1245 Chicago Ave. in Evanston. Conceived, produced and curated by Christopher Pazdernik—and taking place on his birthday—Belting for…
Film / TV / Gossip
Doc10’s Speak Truth series tells bold stories cinematically for its 11th year
Since 2016, Chicago Media Project’s Doc10 Film Festival has presented a cinematic celebration of non-fiction films from around the world. In 2026, the festival’s 11th annual edition ran from April 24 through May 3 with special events such as the new Speak Truth programming. Various film selections were hosted at the Davis Theater, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave., and…
Books / Art
Trans
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 of the Above the Bar gym, 2000 N. Western Ave., where he…
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…