Jason Collins, first openly gay player in NBA, dies at 47
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NBA star Jason Collins, the first player to come out as gay while playing in a major American professional men’s sports league, has died from brain cancer, his family announced Tuesday. When Collins came out as gay in 2013, more than a decade…
Keep readingRecent News
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…
New (and FREE) from Windy City Times!
Subscribe to Chicago Social Butterflies,
News on Q, BLACKlines, and En La Vida.
View All News
PASSAGES Peter Bruce Rekdahl
Peter Bruce Rekdahl, 80, of Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood, formerly of Ravenswood, passed away peacefully after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Peter graduated St. Louis Park Senior High School and attended the University of Chicago. Peter worked as the Information Technology Manager at Chicago Read Hospital. He was largely…
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
Drag Racer LaGanja Estranja jump-starts a new cannabis line at Sway
There’s a new fruity cannabis strain coming to the Lakeview area of Chicago on May 16 at Sway Cannabis Dispensary, 3340 N. Halsted St. Sway is the first recreational dispensary in Illinois to be Black and Latino co-owned by José Pepe Peña and Art Johnston, who also own the massive queer bar Sidetrack Chicago across the street. Illinois…
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…