En La Vida, the voice of Chicago’s Latine LGBTQ+ community from 1996-2004, makes a comeback as a free monthly newsletter. Sign up here.
Latino queer youth are facing a unique mental health crisis: Chicagoans are fighting to reach them
Something as large-scale and daunting as the modern youth mental health crisis could never be solved overnight. Considering queer Latino youth are part of two communities which are underrepresented, underserved and under attack by the federal government, their challenges are especially unique. In a 2024 report by the Human Rights Campaign, over 70% surveyed queer Latino youth…
Gay Chicago couple found dead in mass grave after going missing outside Mexico City
On May 20, gay Chicago couple Guillermo Jaffet Hidalgo Ortiz and Zafar Padamsee Mawani, both American citizens who had moved to Mexico City last October, disappeared. The couple left their home to pay for a chairlift for Mawani’s mother, who has Alzheimer’s and lived with the couple, according to Ortiz’s former roommate of over 10 years,…
Yaritza Perez spreads the word about human rights in Chicago
For many Chicagoans, Yaritza Perez is the face of human rights enforcement. As project coordinator at the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, she is tasked with community outreach and education, speaking to residents about their protections under the Human Rights Ordinance and the Fair Housing Ordinance, and educating them about how to file a complaint if they…
Longtime LGBTQ+ activist and Dreamer makes a play for Florida statehouse
When Brazilian-born Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet came to the United States in 2001 at age 14 his life changed forever. Sousa-Lazaballet was undocumented and experienced many challenges due to his immigration status and queer identity. Now, Sousa-Lazaballet is the sole Democratic candidate for Rep. Anna Eskamani’s seat (she is currently an Orlando mayoral candidate for the 2027 election). The…
Parade honors strength of Chicago’s Puerto Rican and LGBTQ+ Communities
The 45th annual Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade took place in Humboldt Park on June 13. The parade kicked off at Division St. and Campbell Ave, and was Grand Marshal-ed by Hon. Miguel “Ricky” Mendez Perez, the Mayor of Isabela, Puerto Rico, as well as Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward). This year the parade honored…
Puerto Rican Cultural Center named Chicago Pride Parade’s 2026 ‘Out Front’ honoree
The Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) will lead the 55th annual Chicago Pride Parade as this year’s “Out Front” community group, marking a moment of heightened visibility for Latino LGBTQ+ communities amid political adversity. The PRCC will head the June 28 procession as it travels through Lakeview. PRIDEChicago, the nonprofit that organizes the annual parade,…
Evette Cardona, Mona Noriega reflect on years of activism ahead of Pride Parade Grand Marshals role
Longtime LGBTQ+ advocates/activists Evette Cardona and Mona Noriega are among this year’s Chicago Pride Parade Community Grand Marshals. Cardona and Noriega were chosen alongside author, Press Forward Chicago Executive Director and Windy City Times Co-Founder/Owner Tracy Baim and the Alliance of Illinois Judges (Illinois’ LGBTQ+ judges’ association). The honorees were chosen through a community nomination process and,…
Chicago advocate Norma Seledon mentors a new generation
Norma Seledon’s mother was a teacher who often provided additional lessons to her six children after school. Seledon herself didn’t take a traditional path to teaching like her mother’s, but she still felt that call to help and mentor others. Now 63 with decades of service to the Latino and LGBTQ+ communities behind her, seledon…
Out the Archives: Exploring queer identity in Chicago’s ‘90s hip hop scene
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 June 1997 issue of En La Vida. Nowadays, there’s lots of talk about how LGBTQ+ people belong in all types of communities.…
El Bar hopes to give Latino culture a permanent home in Northalsted
Miguel Becerril didn’t initially intend to be in hospitality; he originally started his career in fashion design. But through an opportunity to purchase his uncle’s restaurant, he became entrenched in Chicago’s food and beverage scene—leading to the opening of El Bar, 3209 N. Halsted St., Northalsted’s newest Latino bar. El Bar, which opened on St.…
Meet the En La Vida newsletter writer
Lu Calzada
Pronouns: They/Them
“Lu loves to cook new recipes, read manga and explore the city with their beloved roommates. You’ll hear from Lu every second Wednesday of the month in our En La Vida newsletter.”
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