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Angela Davis discusses political moment at Brave Space Alliance’s ‘Soirée’
Longtime activist Angela Davis headlined Brave Space Alliance’s second annual Planting Power and Perseverance-themed Partners in Dignity Soirée May 21 at Venue West, 221 N. Paulina St., in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Davis spoke about her long history in activism as well the current cultural moment, particularly threats both political and physical against transgender Americans. She opened by emphasizing that in…
Chicagoan Caprice Carthans builds an enduring legacy of community care
Community advocate Caprice Carthans came of age among a generation of Black trans women who survived by taking care of one another. “It was a whole different set of dynamics back then because we were all unified,” Carthans said. “If you were in the life, folks scooped you up and nurtured you and trained you. It…
PrEP4Teens to host Community Art Showcase celebrating Teen HIV Awareness Advocates
CHICAGO, IL — May 14, 2026 — PrEP4Teens (P4T) will host its Youth Leadership Committee Showcase, an evening celebrating young people who are using art, storytelling, and interactive experiences to advance conversations around PrEP, HIV prevention, and community health amongst their peers. The showcase will feature creative projects developed by 6 Youth Leaders through the…
Equality Illinois CEO warns against complacency on LGBTQ+ protections
Channyn Lynne Parker, CEO of Equality Illinois, told supporters of the statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization that the movement must respond to mounting political attacks with “strategy,” “discipline” and deeper coalition-building during a May 18 conversation in downtown Chicago. Parker made the remarks during a discussion at Winston & Strawn, 300 N. LaSalle Drive, moderated by…
THEATER Playwright McCraney probes the ethics of a ‘Windfall’ at Steppenwolf
Writer Tarell Alvin McCraney’s new drama Windfall, running now at Steppenwolf Theatre through May 31, is billed by its theater company as a story about “the spirit of activism versus money.” The play depicts a Chicago man whose son is killed in a violent police incident. When the father is offered a significant cash settlement, he…
Pride in the Pews rebrands with new focus on Black LGBTQ+ health and wellness
The five-year-old Pride in the Pews organization has a new name, Powering Institutions Toward Pride (Toward Pride) which officials announced at its A Celebration of Our Next Chapter event April 23 at Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside Ave., in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood. Founder and CEO Don Abram said the new name “more fully encompasses the totality of…
Dewayne Perkins dishes on ‘The Studio,’ ‘Sausage Party’ and his new comedy show
The multitalented queer Chicago native Dewayne Perkins is returning to town on Thursday, April 30, for his show, How Being Black And Gay Made Me Better Than You! Perkins is a writer, producer, actor and comedian who has been involved in projects such as The Blackening,The Break with Michelle Wolf, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Sausage Party: Foodtopia and The Amber Ruffin Show. He…
Out the Archives: 1997 forum bridges Black church and LGBTQ+ Chicago
Out the Archives is a recurring feature diving into the Windy City Times collection, offering a look back at the rich history of LGBTQ+ Chicago. In this edition, we look back at the April 1997 issue of BLACKlines. Some sects of the Christian church and LGBTQ+ people have historically been at odds—often with preconceived notions…
Chicago HIV advocate Keith Green honored at national Truth Awards
Chicago-based HIV advocate Keith Green was honored March 21 with the Bayard Rustin Advocacy Award at the annual Truth Awards, recognizing his decades of work advancing care and visibility for Black LGBTQ+ communities. Presented by ViiV Healthcare, the award places Green among a national group of honorees celebrated for their impact of Black LGBTQ+ life, culture…
Out the Archives: U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun on LGBTQ+ Rights and AIDS in 1997
Out the Archives is a recurring feature diving into the Windy City Times collection, offering a look back at the rich history of LGBTQ+ Chicago. In this edition, we look back at the March 1997 issue of BLACKlines. Elected in 1992, Carol Moseley-Braun became the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, wrote…
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