Ariana Grande’s Chicago concerts spotlight 3 local LGBTQ+ organizations
Three Chicago LGBTQ+ organizations—ALMA Chicago, Brave Space Alliance and Gerber/Hart Library & Archives—will be featured during Ariana Grande’s three-night stop at the United Center, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting the local nonprofits. Before Grande takes the stage Aug. 3, 5 and 6, each…
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Chicago’s Legacy Project sets sail with 6th Annual Yacht Party
Under heavy, pendulous clouds, the Legacy Project set off on its 6th Annual Summer Yacht Party on Aug. 5, for a three-hour boat ride on Lake Michigan The yearly excursion, which included beats by DJ Myles, took place on the Anita Dee II, a 140-foot yacht with seating for 100 guests, an open deck and a dance floor. Despite the…
Frankie Grande headlines Chicago’s 43rd annual Market Days
Frankie Grande is one of a kind with a big personality and a knack for performing. Born in New York City, Frank James Michael Grande expressed interest in musicals at a young age. This led him to regional shows and eventually Mamma Mia! and Rock of Ages on Broadway. As a Big Brother alumnus, he appeared on multiple reality television programs, including Celebrity…
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Street performer details ongoing battle against Wrigley Building, local officers
Andrew David (not to be confused with the writer of this article) enjoys many aspects of being a street performer, including entertaining the masses. David has always been involved in entertaining, even traveling from the suburbs when he was younger to perform in public, including at karaoke bars. He was also a vocal-performance major for…
Nation & World
IN BRIEF Avoiding Idaho, Baltimore gay bar, partnerships vetoed in Poland, UK prime minister, ‘Barbara Forever,’ Michael Urie
Warning: This column mentions a violent attack. NATIONAL Trans journalist/activist Erin Reed updated her Anti-Trans National Legal Risk Assessment Map, adding Idaho to the list of “Do Not Travel” states for trans people because of…
Theater / Dance
The Jeff Awards celebrates 58th anniversary with announcement of the Equity Wing Award nominations
Chicago—In celebration of its 58th anniversary awarding recognition for Equity theater, the Joseph Jefferson Awards announced its nominations for the 2025-26 season. This year’s Equity Jeff Awards feature 209 nominees across 37 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 27 producing entities. During the most recent season, which ran from July 1, 2025 to…
Music
Drag queen and DJ Kevin Aviance looks ahead to Chicago appearance
Kevin Aviance will have an upcoming DJ set as part of the Ladybear party at Smartbar, 3730 N. Clark St., on Aug 8 at 10 p.m. alongside Lucy Stoole, Shaun J Wright, and Rika B. Aviance is a New York City-based drag queen, a part of the iconic House of Aviance, and a DJ and…
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
BUSINESS Revolutionary pleasures: Searah Deysach’s on a mission to bring sex positivity to Chicagoans
Twenty-five years ago, Evanston native Searah Deysach was at a crossroads and realized she needed to shake up her professional life. Deysach had done a pastry program and worked in kitchens for a while before she “boomeranged back to working in an office at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).” She had…