See ad this issue for big news about changes at Girlbar.
University of Illinois at Chicago’s Office of GLBT Concerns kicks off a month of events in honor of GLBT Heritage Month. Wed., Oct. 2 is a reception with allies Kyle Brandt and Lori Trespicio, both of MTV’s Real World. From 4:30-7:30 p.m., Chicago Circle Center, Illinois Room, 750 S. Halsted, (312) 413-8619.
Artemisia Gallery hosts a benefit preview show for To Kiss the Spirits: An Artists’ Homage to Hollis Sigler, a group show of original work by over 70 artists, created to pay tribute to the late lesbian painter Hollis Sigler. A portion of proceeds from all sales to go to establish the Hollis Sigler Memorial Endowment Fund, which will fund scholarships for students in the visual arts at Columbia College. It is Thursday, Oct. 3, 7-9 p.m., $75, 700 S. Carpenter, (312) 663-1124, ext 3.
The Chicago International Film Festival kicks off Oct, 4 and runs through Oct. 18. Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. catch EXXXorcisms, a chilling psychological thriller from Mexico that takes the audience on a disturbing journey into one man’s self-discovery and revelations. Music Box, 3733 N. Southport. Also, The Happiness of the Katakuris, an outrageous comedy from Japan described as Little Shop of Horrors meets the Sound of Music. 9:45 p.m., Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark, (312) 332-FILM, www.chicagofilmfestival.com.
Unabridged Books features entertainment journalist Dennis Hensley, author of Misadventures in the (213), reading from his new book Screening Party. Thursday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., 3251 N. Broadway, (773) 883-9119
Dorothy Allison is coming to Women & Children First Wed., Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., to sign copies of the re-release of her book Trash, which includes a new intro and new story.
Club Rails hosts its 4th Year Anniversary Celebration Friday, Oct. 4, with Chicago’s DJ Anton and DC’s DJ Sedrick along with other special guest DJs. At Prop House, 1675 N. Elston, (708) 802-1705, www.clubrails.com.
Celebrate the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame with wine, soda and hors d’oeuvres and view photo panels depicting past inductees into the Hall of Fame. Friday, Oct. 4, Gerber/Hart Library, 7-9 p.m., 1127 W. Granville.
CABN’s Matthew Shepard Anti-Violence March is Sat., Oct. 5, 8 p.m., Halsted & Roscoe.
Mr./Ms. Illinois Olympus Leather is this weekend; see olympusillinois@cs.com.
This Sat., Oct. 5, 2 p.m. at Bailiwick, I am hosting a script reading for a new film script by Catherine Crouch, based on my novel Half Life. This will be the first public reading.