LGBTQ+ Affairs Director King feted at Center reception
On the evening of April 30, a full room of LGBTQ+ activists, allies and supporters, among them Mayor Brandon Johnson, welcomed Antonio King as the first and only Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs in the nation. A number of Chicago queer activists attended the relatively low-key event,…
Keep readingRecent News
Citywide Pride kicks off 2026 Pride celebrations
On May 7, Citywide Pride Chicago started up the 2026 Pride season with a networking and problem solving social at Hotel 55, 55 E. Ontario St. The event, geared toward corporate employees, marked the 25th anniversary of the organization and was also a celebration of hotel, which is newly acquired by Marriott Properties. Guests employed at LGBTQ+-friendly companies…
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PASSAGES Harald Anonsen
Harald Anonsen, 69, of Oak Park, a retired physical therapist, passed away April 29. Born in Halden, Norway on April 24, 1957, the third of four children, Harald took his education first at Halden Gymnas, then later at the School of Physiotherapy. He worked as a physiotherapist in Norway first, but it was at a…
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: ‘Ruthless!’ brilliantly plants a bad seed in show business
Take one part The Bad Seed. Fold in one part Torch Song and stir until stiff peaks form. Spread on one layer All About Eve, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Garnish with a dab of 42nd Street, and you’ll have Ruthless! The Musical. Joel Paley and Marvin Laird’s tribute to child stars and Broadway divas—which back in the day gave…
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
‘Sinners’ dominates 2026 Dorian Film Awards, Rose Byrne and Amy Madigan take acting prizes
Eva Victor’s ‘Sorry, Baby’ Garners Two Wins; Ryan Coogler Earns Three Honors in a Breakout Year for Bold, Community-Driven CinemaSponsored by Tello Films March 3, 2026, Los Angeles – GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, the second largest entertainment journalists organization in the world, today announced the group’s 2026 Dorian Film Awards, with Sinners emerging as the…
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…