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Aug. 12 dance film to explore gender, queerness in South Asian arts
Ashwaty Chennat, a Chicago Dancemakers 2021 Digital Dance grantee, has continued her collaboration with Abhijeet Rane to explore gender, queerness and the body in South Asian arts and traditions. An excerpt of Chennai and Rane's ...
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Matt Damon responds to anti-gay controversy
Actor Matt Damon is insisting that he has never used the anti-gay "f-word" following backlash from a recent interview, Variety reported. In an article posted by the U.K.'s Sunday Times, the star was quoted saying he had stopped ...
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Olympics: Transgender weightlifter exits competition early
New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard was knocked out of the women's 87+-kilogram competition early after failing on all three of her attempts, according to Yahoo! Sports. Hubbard was the only one of the 13 ...
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Biles takes bronze in final gymnastics event of Tokyo Olympics
Simone Biles ended her 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a bronze medal on the balance beam—the last event of the women's gymnastics competition. Biles missed the finals on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise, as well as ...
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DaBaby apologizes for 'misinformed' comments about AIDS, LGBTQ people
After his headlining sets at Lollapalooza, Governors Ball and Day N Vegas festivals were canceled within 24 hours of each other, rapper DaBaby issued another apology to the LGBTQ community, Variety reported. "Social Media moves so ...
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Olympics: IOC investigating out shot-putter for protest gesture
U.S. shot-putter Raven Saunders—a Black, LGBTQ athlete—has explained what the gesture she made following her silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics meant, according to CNN.com. She raised her hands and crossed them in an X ...
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Billy Masters
"If you are fortunate enough to be in a relationship with a supportive family, in a country or place where living openly is pretty safe, I really would recommend it because it will only benefit you ...
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EI, LGBT Chamber mark approval of LGBTQ-inclusive corporate law
--From a press release
Equality Illinois and the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois celebrated approval by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker of a legislative measure to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion on corporate boards of directors. State law already requires ...
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THEATER 'Intimate Apparel' surfaces in Utah after delayed Northlight staging
Some Chicago-area theaters plan to welcome back live audiences with shows that were physically on their stages at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown last year. That's not the case with Intimate Apparel at Northlight ...
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First-ever managing artistic director of Fine Arts Building named
Following a comprehensive national search, theater director and producer Jacob Harvey has been named the first-ever managing artistic director of the historic theaters at Chicago's Fine Arts Building at 410 S. Michigan Ave. Harvey returns to ...
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'The Chi' picked up for fifth season
Showtime has picked up The Chi for a fifth season. Created and executive produced by out Emmy winner Lena Waithe (Twenties; Boomerang) and executive-produced by Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Common (Selma), The Chi is ...
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Olympics: U.S. women's soccer team loses, must play bronze-medal match
At the Tokyo Olympics, Canada stunned the United States 1-0 in the women's soccer semifinals to advance to the gold-medal match on Aug. 2. According to ESPN.com, the USWNT has now failed to reach the final ...
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Olympics: U.S. women's basketball team tops France
A'ja Wilson scored 22 points and Breanna Stewart added 17 to help the U.S. beat France 93-82 in women's Olympic basketball play Aug. 2, ESPN.com reported. The win was the 52nd in a row for the ...
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Women's soccer roundup: Injured player in Olympics match, Red Stars win
United States women's national team (USWNT) and Chicago Red Stars player Alyssa Naeher was forced off with an injury in the first half of the USWNT's Olympics semifinal against Canada on Aug. 2, according to ESPN.com. ...
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SAVOR Cobblestone Restaurant
It's a case of "better late than never" for Cobblestone (4337 N. Lincoln St.; https://cobblestone-chicago.com/). After selling his Bohemian House restaurant in River North, Cobblestone Restaurant owner Dr. Markus Chwajol—who ...
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Equality Illinois' new deputy director talks goals, position and books
On July 15, Mony Ruiz-Velasco officially started in the new position of Equality Illinois' deputy director. Ruiz-Velasco is an experienced attorney who has worked for immigrants rights for many years, and has even been the legal ...
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OLYMPICS Out U.S. shot-putter wins silver medal
Even in the glittery celebrity-laden world of track and field, U.S. shot-putter Raven Saunders stands out—and now she has a medal. Sporting multicolored hair, Saunders won the silver medal with a toss of 19.79 meters (64.9 ...
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DaBaby out of Lolla line-up after anti-gay rant, video
Following various homophobic comments made at another festival stage as well as on video, rapper DaBaby was taken out of the Lollapalooza line-up for Aug. 1, The Chicago Tribune reported. Young Thug, previously slated for ...
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SHOWBIZ Ruby Rose, Matt Ryan, Beyonce, The Dinah, Simone Biles
Ruby Rose (Batwoman; Orange Is the New Black) tearfully revealed that it took her hours to get accepted into an emergency room due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, EW.com revealed. Rose took to her Instagram Story ...
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WORLD Central America migration, New Zealand, asylum, Olympics
A State Department spokesperson said the United States will continue to urge the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to protect LGBTQ rights as part of its efforts to address the "root causes" of migration ...
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NATIONAL Trans women's updates, Virginia case, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, gay men's chorus
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office (DAO) announced updates on the murders of trans women Michelle "Tameka" Washington and Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells at a press conference, Philadelphia Troy Bailey, who was ...
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Gerber/Hart comedy benefit Sept. 18
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, 6500 N. Clark St.. will host a comedy benefit, "Stacks of Laughter," on Saturday, Sept. 18. At 6 p.m., there will be a VIP reception with local historian John D'Emilio. Also, a ...
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OLYMPICS U.S. fencers protest teammate accused of sexual assault
Three fencers on the men's U.S. Olympic team wore pink masks during their match against Japan to protest a teammate accused of sexual assault, The Hill noted. Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez wore their ...
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OLYMPICS U.S. women's basketball team wins, but there are concerns
The U.S. beat Japan 86-69 on July 30, three days after beating Nigeria by nine in the opener, according to ESPN.com. That was the first time a team had come within single digits of the U.S. team in the Olympics since ...
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Millennium Park Summer Music Series starts Monday
--From a press release
Millennium Park Summer Music Series, presented by the Millennium Park Foundation, features a wide variety of music from established and emerging artists — in 10 genre-defying concerts at the iconic Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This year's series ...
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HEALTH Face masks recommended indoors throughout Chicago
Chicago now recommends that everyone older than 2 should wear a mask when indoors as the delta variant spreads and the city passes 200 new COVID-19 cases a day, The Chicago Tribune reported. The move, announced ...
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Gov. Pritzker issues executive order creating new office of equity
--From a press release
SPRINGFIELD — Building on the administration's ongoing work to advance equity and inclusion, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order establishing the Office of Equity to promote diversity, equity ...
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Bernie Hansen's gay-rights legacy remembered
Activist Arthur Johnston recalled the late 44th Ward Alderman Bernie Hansen as perhaps "the most unlikely gay-rights alderman." Johnston—one of the activists involved with, among other endeavors, the push for the city's Human Rights Ordinance i ...
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Olympics: U.S. women's soccer team advances to semis
The United States women's national team are through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic soccer semifinals after a penalty shootout win against Netherlands, following a 2-2 draw after extra-time, ESPN.com noted. Vivianne Miedema, who was making her ...
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THEATER Proof of vaccination required to attend 'Teatro Zinzanni'
Randolph Entertainment, presenting Teatro ZinZanni in Chicago, announced that it will be requiring all guests older than 12 to show proof of vaccination to attend its dinner and performance. This requirement will apply to all performances ...
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About Face Theatre's 27th season to be produced at The Den Theatre beginning March
--From a press release
CHICAGO (July 27, 2021) — About Face Theatre is excited to announce its return to live, in-person theatre with its 27th season. Dedicated to telling queer stories that advance dialogue about gender and sexuality, AFT will ...
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Bill would expose schools that discriminate against LGBTQ students
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) and Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-1), Sharice Davids (KS-3), and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) introduced the Exposing Discrimination in ...
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Taste of River North cancelled
On July 29, the River North Residents Association, along with theMART and Duff Entertainment, announced the cancellation of the 2021 edition of Taste of River North. The event was slated to take place Aug. 20-21 at ...
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Olympics: Tennis player apologizes for anti-gay slur
Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini apologized for yelling at himself with an anti-gay slur during a loss in the Olympic tennis tournament, ESPN.com reported. Fognini used the offensive Italian word repeatedly during a three-set loss to ...
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Passenger claims rainbow mask was banned; airline responds
On his flight out of Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month for a 46th birthday vacation in Greece, gay West Hollywood resident Scott Schmidt donned a rainbow-colored surgical mask in order to adhere to the ...
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Pappas introduces legislation to establish LGBTQ veterans advisory committee
--From a press release
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, introduced legislation to establish an ...
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Photographer/activist Ed Negron's funeral will take place Aug. 3
On his own Facebook page, one of the brothers of the late Chicago photographer/activist Ed Negron has revealed the details of his impending funeral. According to Leo Negron Rodriguez, Negron's funeral will take place at ...
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Reeling 39th Chicago LGBTQ+ Internat'l Film Fest in-person, virtual in September
--From a press release
(July 28, 2021 — Chicago, IL) Chicago Filmmakers, Gilead and AARP present The 39th annual Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival. Founded in 1981, the festival is the second longest-running film festival of its kind, ...
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Analysis of hate crime laws finds limitations, opportunities, rising hate violence
--From a Movement Advancement Project, National Center for Lesbian Rights press release
With a rise in hate violence across the country, a new report from the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and 16 leading civil rights organizations provides a groundbreaking analysis of state and federal hate crime laws. The ...
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Olympics: U.S. women's 3x3 basketball team wins gold
The U.S. team of Stefanie Dolson, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young won the first women's gold medal in the new Olympic sport of 3x3 basketball, The Chicago Tribune reported. Plum scored all five of ...
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VIEWS U.S. Senators: It's time to act against anti-LGBTQ discrimination
Georgia has had the eyes of the nation on it for some time now. It's just over five years since people across Georgia braced themselves as lawmakers sent sweeping anti-LGBTQ legislation to the desk of then-Governor ...
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Aug. 12 LGBTQ town hall to discuss bar inclusivity
Miller Lite and Equality Federation announced "Open & Proud," an initiative that aims to create safe, inclusive spaces at bars for the LGBTQ community. The program features a series of town halls where LGBTQ individuals older ...
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'Filmmaking on the South Side' on Aug. 21
On Aug. 21, 7-9:30 p.m., Chicago Humanities Festival and local partners from Sisters in Cinema, South Side Home Movie Project and the Chicago South Side Film Festival will host a conversation about the development of community-based ...
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Taste of Andersonville returns Wed., Aug. 11
--From a press release
CHICAGO (July 28, 2021) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is excited to welcome back one of its most popular summer events: the annual Taste of Andersonville on Wed., Aug. 11, 5-8 p.m. This year's ...
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Logan Center Bluesfest to include Shemekia Copeland, avery r. young
This year, the Third Logan Center Bluesfest will take place Oct. 15-17. It will be a hybrid model with a series of intimate concerts, conversations and special events in which select programming is offered in-person, at ...
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Howard Brown Health calls on businesses, LGBTQ events to re-implement COVID restrictions
--From a Howard Brown press release
(Chicago, IL, July 28, 2021) — Howard Brown Health, the Midwest's largest LGBTQ healthcare organization, is imploring local businesses and public event producers to implement strict COVID-19 safety and prevention ...
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Gay Calif. donor convicted in deaths of two Black men
On July 27, a federal jury convicted wealthy California political donor Ed Buck, 66, on charges he injected gay men with methamphetamine in exchange for sex, leading to two deaths and other overdoses, CBS News reported. ...
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9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and Walk taking place at Soldier Field
In remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, members of the public will join area firefighters to climb the stairs of Soldier Field in honor of the 343 firefighters from the FDNY who ...
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Report: LGBTQ elected officials up by 17% in past year; 28,116 more would be equitable representation
--From a Victory Institute press release
Out for America 2021 report finds 986 out LGBTQ elected officials nationwide; Black LGBTQ elected officials increased by 75% in the past year; Mississippi is only state in the nation with zero known LGBTQ elected officials ...
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Pritzker signs bill decriminalizing HIV transmission, other pro-LGBTQ measures
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a legislative package on July 27 at Center on Halsted that, effective immediately ends the decades-long law criminalizing HIV transmission in Illinois. Illinois is now the second such state to repeal ...
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Rapper DaBaby defends anti-gay comments
Rapper DaBaby addressed his recent controversial comments at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami—and drew the ire of many on social media, CNN.com noted. During the performance, he made false and insulting comments about gay ...
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Olympics: Japan tops U.S. in gold-medal softball game
In the Olympics, host country Japan beat the United States 2-0 to take the gold medal on July 27. Softball was added to the games at host country Japan's request, and from the moment it became ...
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LGBTQ advocates celebrate two Illinois marriage certificate modernization bills
--From a press release
Trans and non-binary people who were married in Illinois will now be able to obtain marriage certificates that reflect their authentic selves thanks to legislation signed today by Governor JB Pritzker, according to Equality Illinois and ...
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CDC: Some vaccinated people should wear masks indoors
To prevent further spread of the Delta variant, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance on July 27 to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas with ...
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Winifred Haun & Dancers announces 2021-22 season, return to live performances
--From a press release
Chicago & Oak Park, IL — Winifred Haun & Dancers will return to in person theater events and live programming for the upcoming 2021|22 Season. The Company will be presented at the Pritzker Pavilion, Ruth Page ...
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Donnelley Foundation announces 'Broadening Narratives' grant recipients
The Chicago-based Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (the Foundation)—which supports land conservation, artistic vitality and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina—announces ...
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NBC Sports apologizes for misgendering Olympian; GLAAD responds
GLAAD responded to media coverage of the first several days of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, including the misgendering of Team USA skateboarder Alana Smith. Smith made Olympic history July 25 as the first ...
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MacArthur Foundation grants $80M to advance racial and ethnic justice
On July 27, the MacArthur Foundation announced roughly $80 million in grants centered on advancing racial and ethnic justice. The Equitable Recovery grants are funded by MacArthur's social bonds, issued in response to the crises of ...
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Lightfoot: Mask mandates may return to Chicago
People may not want to toss those face masks. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told The New York Times she will consider reinstating a mask mandate and other restrictions if the city starts to consistently record more ...
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Olympics: Women's soccer team advances to quarterfinals
United States women's national team (USWNT) forward Alex Morgan had a goal disallowed as the squad settled for a 0-0 tie with Australia in its final game of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics group stage, ESPN.com noted. ...
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Gay British diver wins Olympic gold
The British team of Tom Daley and Matty Lee narrowly won the 10-meter synchronized diving competition on July 26 at the Tokyo Olympics, upsetting favored China and keeping the diving powerhouse from any chance of a ...
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THEATER Sideshow offers residency, announces digital house parties
Sideshow Theatre Company announced it will be offering a nine-month artistic residency to Chicago-based playwright Preston Choi. Through the residency, Sideshow will provide Choi with artistic and dramaturgical support as ...
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Plaque added to childhood home of Emmett Till
On what would have been Civil Rights icon Emmett Till's 80th birthday on July 25, his childhood home in Chicago's West Woodlawn neighborhood received a historic landmark plaque, CBS Chicago reported. The plaque recognizes Till and ...
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Billy Masters
"I'd still be full of jokes and fun, but no more naked pranks. I can see now my actions were pretty juvenile but this was a different time and it's something I would not do today."—John Barrowman told The Daily Mail ...
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Chicago Red Stars fall to Gotham 2-1
The Chicago Red Stars' Makenzy Doniak scored in the second half's stoppage time—but the team ultimately lost to NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-1 at Harrison, New Jersey, on July 25. Allie Long and Midge Purce scored for ...
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OUTspoken storytelling to host six takes from LGBTQ+ perspective
--From a press release
The month of August is hot - but OUTspoken at the Sidetrack will be even hotter on Aug. 3 when six storytellers will tell tales of fun and fortune from a LGBTQ+ perspective! The program will start at 7:00 pm at ...
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Pelosi names Kinzinger to Jan. 6 committee
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced July 25 that she has appointed U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois) to the House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, bolstering the Republican presence on ...
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SAVOR The Smith
Not too long ago, I sang the praises of "Red Sauce Sundays" at The Smith Restaurant + Bar (400 N. Clark St.; https://thesmithrestaurant.com/location/chicago/). Starting at 5 p.m. each Sunday, this ultimate comfort meal features a chicken ...
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PrEP pills to be free for insured people
The U.S. government has stated that nearly all health insurers must cover the entire cost of HIV prevention treatments, according to U.S. News & World Report. That includes the two approved pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs Truvada ...
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PASSAGES Writer, attorney, activist Takeia R. Johnson
The local organization Affinity Community Services announced the recent passing of Takeia R. Johnson. According to Johnson's LinkedIn profile, she was editor-in-chief and lead writer at Inclusion at Work as well as a Ph.D. student focusing ...
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WORLD Marriage in Chile, Polish website, Toronto news, 'Reclaim Pride' march
On July 21, Chile's Senate approved an equal-marriage bill, DW.com reported. The regulations were presented during the second government of the socialist Michelle Bachelet (2014-2018) and last June 1, during ...
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SHOWBIZ Script contest, LGBTQ film, Lady Gaga, Showtime, out sprinter
GLAAD and The Black List—the writer-centric entity whose work includes its annual list, screenplay marketplace, writer labs, and film and television productions—announced plans for The 2021 GLAAD List, the third ...
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NATIONAL California cases, trans woman killed, Pride staircase, sports law
Proponents of Proposition 8 have to file a brief on or before Aug. 16 to show they have standing to appeal a district court decision to release tapes of the landmark Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial that ...
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Hungarian protesters defy prime minister with sizable march
In Hungary, approximately 30,000 people joined the annual Pride celebrations in the capital of Budapest on July 24, with attendees marching in colorful outfits in support of inclusion and freedom, according to CNN.com. However, this year ...
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Chicago photographer, activist Ed Negron dies [UPDATED]
Ed Negron—an activist, Army veteran and substance-abuse counselor who served for many years as a dedicated bisexual volunteer, mentor, leader and advocate in the LGBTQ, Latino and recovering communities—passed away ...
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