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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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.…
FILM ‘Castaway’ seeks to create intergenerational dialogue for Latinx audiences through storytelling
An upcoming short film, “Castaway” by director and writer Nathan Marquez, shines a spotlight on the intersectionality between being queer, growing up Latinx and Catholic and learning to find community. The film is currently in pre-production with Z Marc Productions both producing and supporting funding for the short film by hosting the Queer Creative Lounge…
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Frances D’Alessio celebrates 35 years onstage at the heart of Chicago’s Latino LGBTQ+ nightlife
The longtime La Cueva performer reflects on finding the stage, mentoring younger show queens and navigating a new era of uncertainty.
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
Lollapalooza serves up fresh talent and a plethora of pop ‘girlies’ in the park
The annual summer music festival Lollapalooza returned to Grant Park in Chicago for four days in 2026. The gigantic gathering of over 450,000 attendees kicked off on July 30 as the crowd entered the gates. There was a great deal of territory for music lovers to cover with over 170 artists playing on eight different stages. The boundaries of…
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…