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WORLD Trans women arrested, death threats, Russian film, leader apologizes
Two transgender women facing charges of "attempted homosexuality" (as well as public indecency and not carrying identification) in a high-profile case in Cameroon will spend more than two months behind bars without a trial after a ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans singer, 'Pose,' Kate Winslet, Lil Nas X, Broadway
Trans femme indie-punk artist Evan Greer (she/her) released a dystopian new music video for the song "Surveillance Capitalism," a press release noted. She is using it to launch StopSpotifySurveillance.org with Fight for the Future, where she ...
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NATIONAL College items, Easter rally, mental-health study, Chuck Schumer
The NCAA LGBTQ OneTeam—a group of NCAA-trained facilitators at colleges across the country—published an open letter condemning the actions taken by 28 states across the country to introduce, pass and ...
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The Amazon Trail, How to Write a Book
I'm not giving away any secrets here. Not saying it's simple or that anyone can do it if they send $25.00 to Post Office Box 1,2,3. Nope, it's a personal journey and every story has a story. Here's mine, about the ...
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HIV/AIDS Report: Vaccine may hold promise
Preliminary data from an early stage clinical trial out of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, suggests that a new HIV vaccine may hold promise, ABC News ...
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SPORTS Red Stars, Dash open Challenge Cup with scoreless draw
Two Chicago Red Stars made their professional debuts and held the Houston Dash to three total shots as the opening game of the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) Challenge Cup ended in a scoreless draw in ...
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Open TV (OTV) to return April 17 with virtual event
The intersectional Late Show #OTVTonight is back, with a virtual event on OTV's app and on Facebook Live that will air Saturday, April 17, at 8-9:30 p.m. CT. Hosted by Open TV (OTV) founders Elijah McKinnon ...
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Mayor Lightfoot announces Chicago Blueprint for Fair Housing
--From a press release
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES BLUEPRINT FOR FAIR HOUSING New Assessment Outlines Actions the City will take over the next five years to advance fair housing to reduce residential segregation CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced ...
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Study: 30% of young LGBQ people have attempted suicide in their lifetimes
--From a press release
A new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds younger LGBQ adults experience greater psychological distress and suicidal behavior than older LGBQ people. Researchers examined a representative sample of LGBQ people in ...
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Lifetime presents Variety's Power of Women The Comedians Special May 10
--From a press release
Los Angeles, CA (April 8, 2021) — Variety and Lifetime announced today the one-hour special Lifetime Presents Variety's Power of Women The Comedians which will premiere on Monday, May 10th at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime. The ...
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Roommate of victim of 2004 Chicago stabbing seeking justice for unsolved cold case
--From a Cook County Crime Stoppers press release
On Wednesday, March 24, 2004, 31-year old Kevin Clewer was found brutally murdered with over 40 stab wounds in his Lakeview apartment in Chicago. Kevin's body was discovered by his father on the evening of March ...
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GLAAD Media Awards honors creative forces of change in media, culture
--From a press release, video below
Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, April 8, 2021 — GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, tonight hosted a virtual ceremony to announce the award recipients of the 32nd Annu ...
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Attorneys general challenge Tennessee abortion law
A group of 20 attorneys general filed an amicus brief in a case challenging a Tennessee law that requires women to have two in-person appointments at least 48 hours apart before having an abortion, The Hill ...
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Kinzinger calls on Gaetz to resign
In the midst of an investigation that U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) had sex with a minor and violated sex-trafficking statutes, fellow Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois) has called on him to step down, The Hill reported. ...
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Movie about art sensation born into slavery to premiere April 16
Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts—a film about a man who was born into slavery, and whose works became sensations in the art world—will premiere Friday, April 16, in local virtual cinemas of Music Box Theatre and Facets. ...
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THEATER 'A Portrait of My Mother' to start streaming May 9
Jarrott Productions will present the world premiere of A Portrait of My Mother, written and performed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia and directed by David R. Jarrott. The autobiographical tribute to Garcia's mother, Maria, begins streaming on ...
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Chicago Sky, WNBA unveil new uniforms ahead of 2021 season
As the WNBA prepares for its 25th season, Nike and the WNBA collaborated to unveil a uniform collection. The new WNBA uniform system from Nike feature three game uniform editions for each of the 12 teams ...
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Russian leader Putin officially bans same-sex marriage
On April 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a series of constitutional amendments that, among other things, formally defines marriage as between a man and a woman in the country, The Washington Blade reported. ...
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SAVOR Sam's Crispy Chicken and Umami Burger
Sam's Crispy Chicken (SamsCrispyChicken.com) and Umami Burger (UmamiBurger.com), both from C3 (Creating Culinary Communities) and both at 945 W. Randolph St., have launched new food and beverage menus—although indulgence i ...
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Ald. Pat Dowell announces secretary of state run
Pat Dowell, alderman and committeeman of Chicago's Third Ward, formally announced her candidacy for Illinois secretary of state, and has established a campaign website (www.IllinoisForDowell.com). The elections (primary and general) ...
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Andersonville Chamber of Commerce marks Earth Day with Andersonville in Bloom April 22 - 25
CHICAGO (April 7, 2021) — In celebration of Earth Day Weekend, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) celebrates all things spring with Andersonville in Bloom, returning to the neighborhood April 22 — 25, 2021 after a ...
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New study shows discrimination, stigma, family pressure drive transgender "detransition"
--From a press release
BOSTON—A new study published in LGBT Health found that 13.1% of currently identified transgender people have detransitioned at some point in their lives, but that 82.5% of those who have detransitioned attribute their decision to at ...
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Equality Illinois celebrates Black trans woman's electoral victory in Decatur, Illinois
From a press release
A statement from Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state's civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Illinoisans: "We are extremely proud of Alana ...
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LGBTQ+ History Podcast Queer Serial launches third and final season
--From a press release
Queer Serial, the acclaimed LGBTQ+ history podcast produced and hosted by 2021 GLAAD Award nominee Devlyn Camp, returns Monday, April 12, with its final season. Season 3 picks up in 1963, as militant gay activists, taking ...
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Joffrey Ballet presents world premiere of Nicolas Blanc's "Under the Trees' Voices"
--From a press release
THE JOFFREY BALLET PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE OF NICOLAS BLANC'S UNDER THE TREES' VOICES World Premiere streamed online: April 30 at 7:00 PM CST Audiences are invited to experience a rehearsal via livestream TODAY: April 7 at ...
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Mercury Theater to reopen; new artistic director named
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave., has announced its reopening—along with new leadership. New Artistic Director Christopher Chase Carter returns to the theater where he collaborated on the hit productions of Little Shop of Horrors ...
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Suburban LGBTQ candidates mostly prevail in April 6 elections
Illinois LGBTQ candidates mostly prevailed in their respective suburban elections on April 6—with two victories marking rare wins by transgender candidates.
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COVID Chicago to follow national vaccine-eligibility call
As Vice President Kamala Harris visited Chicago on April 6, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city will meet President Joe Biden's call to open vaccine eligibility to all U.S. adults by April 19, The Chicago Tribune ...
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45% of employees report hearing anti-LGBT remarks in the workplace
--From a Williams Institute press release
Employees in all sectors report high levels of discrimination and harassment of LGBTQ employees at work Significant proportions of Americans believe that LGBTQ people are treated worse than non-LGBTQ people at work and school, and by ...
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Story of Chicagoan and Broadway influencer Sister Rosetta Tharpe on to Broadway
--From a press release
NEW YORK (April 4, 2021) — Prolific writer and Chicago native Cheryl L. West (FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer; Jar the Floor), will be joined on the creative team of SHOUT SISTER ...
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Sisters Walk the Walk In New Community Wellness Walk Program: Sister Outsider
--From a press release
CHICAGO, IL- Working towards a socially just world can begin in one neighborhood and that's exactly what Sisters in Cinema a Chicago-based 501(c)3 is setting to accomplish in their new program Sister Outsider, scheduled to launch, ...
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Gerber/Hart hosts 'Disappeared: Chicago's Lost Lesbian Bars' screening, discussion
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives (Gerber/Hart) hosted a virtual screening of Disappeared: Chicago's Lost Lesbian Bars, a short-film documentary that Jacob Pieczynski directed. A panel discussion followed the screening. The 2017 ...
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Center on Halsted's 'Human First Un*Gala' on May 6
Center on Halsted will host a virtual "Human First Un*Gala" on Thursday, May 6, 5-6 p.m. Each year, Center on Halsted hosts its annual Human First Gala to recognize the contributions of individuals, businesses and other ...
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Arkansas legislature overrides governor on anti-trans measure
On April 6, the Arkansas state legislature voted to override a veto by Gov. Asa Hutchinson on a bill that would ban gender-affirming treatments for transgender youths in the state, ABC News reported. The "Save Adolescents ...
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Longtime LGBTQ activist Julie Valloni dies
Longtime LGBTQ activist Julie Valloni died March 28 in Rockford, Illinois due to complications from a hip fracture. She was 80. Valloni was born July 12, 1940 and grew up in Chicago where she graduated from ...
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Athlete Ally releases Athletic Equality Index of LGBTQ-Inclusion at NCAA D1 Schools
--From a press release
LGBTQI+ student athletes are under attack. Here's how schools can step in. LGBTQI+ student athletes already have a lot on their mind between navigating COVID-19, coursework and their sport. They shouldn't have to also worry about ...
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THEATER 'Security,' with Eric Roberts, running April 10-May 2
Kane Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Daniil Krimer and Managing Director Avery Bowne announced the world-premiere online production of Hammaad Chaudry's Security, as part of the company's new Multiplatform Commission. Security ...
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Chicago Red Stars announce 2021 National Women's Soccer League roster
--From a press release
Chicago (April 5, 2021) - The Chicago Red Stars announced today their 2021 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) roster ahead of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, presented by Secret Deodorant. Chicago's roster consists of 22 players, ...
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Billy Masters
"I didn't watch the documentary, but from what I did see of it I was embarrassed by the light they put me in. … I cried for two weeks and well … I still cry sometimes!!!!"—Britney ...
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'Ma Rainey,' 'Schitt's Creek' win during diverse SAG Awards
On April 4, a one-hour, pre-taped 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards aired on TNT and TBS, celebrating the best achievements in film and TV performances for 2020. According to Entertainment Weekly, it was a historic night, ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Special,' Bonnaroo, Broadway items, Rita Moreno, Bridgerton
The second season of the Netflix comedy series Special will premiere May 20, a press release noted. The series revolves around Ryan O'Connell, a gay man with mild cerebral palsy, and is based on his memoir ...
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WORLD Uzbek activist, hate-crimes report, Ghana arrests, Chely Wright
Uzbek activist Miraziz Bazarov was hospitalized after he was attacked by unknown men hours after his public event was disrupted by dozens of aggressive men in Tashkent, RFERL.org reported. Physicians at the Tashkent Traumatology Hospital said ...
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NATIONAL Non-binary athlete, HRC and Lyft, Tegan and Sara, panic defense
On March 27, NBC Sports California presented the NBA team Sacramento Kings TV's first women and non-binary broadcast announcing and coverage team across all platforms, including pregame and postgame shows, the live-game telecast and social content, ...
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COVID: CDC updates domestic travel guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update regarding domestic travel—and eased restrictions for travelers who are fully vaccinated. The CDC website stated, as of April 3: People who are fully vaccinated with ...
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AIDS Healthcare Foundation Lake View clinic holds ribbon-cutting
Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) held a ribbon-cutting event for its Lake View facility on March 31. The clinic, 3311 N. Halsted St., is housed within AHF's Out of the Closet thrift store and will ...
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Planned Parenthood of Illinois received $20,000 COVID-19 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
--From a press release
CHICAGO—To help ease the ongoing needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) awarded Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) a $20,000 grant to support operations and enhance the delivery of ...
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Chicago's LGBTQ+ Armenian community aims to 'Cher the Love for Artsakh'
Entanik—a queer Armenian-American organization based in Chicago and operating online and whose name means "family" in Armenian—is holding its first event, "Cher the Love for Artsakh." The event is a virtual drag show featuring 12 Armenian ...
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First U.S. exhibition of Greek 20th-century artist Yannis Tsarouchis: Dancing in Real Life May 7
--From a press release
(CHICAGO, IL — April 2, 2021) — Wrightwood 659 is pleased to host the first U.S. exhibition devoted to the work of Yannis Tsarouchis (1910—1989), widely regarded as one of the greatest Greek painters of the ...
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Michigan Court recognizes same-sex parents have parental rights
--From a NCLR press release
DETROIT, MI — Yesterday, the Michigan Court of Appeals recognized two unmarried women as parents where one parent is a genetic parent and the other parent gave birth. LaNesha Matthews and Kyresha LeFever were a same-sex ...
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COVID Lightfoot won't follow Illinois regarding vaccine eligibility
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city won't open the vaccine to everyone 16 and older along with the rest of the state in two weeks because of a "quantum leap" in COVID cases, according to ...
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April 2 is National Out to Win Day
On April 2, LGBTQ Victory Institute will hold its third annual National Out to Win Day, which aims to inspire LGBTQ people to consider a run for office, a press release noted. LGBTQ people make up ...
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LGBTQ critics group holding awards event April 18
GALECA, The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Association, along with Karel Media, will present the 2021 Dorian Film Awards on Sunday, April 18, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on digital cable TV network Revry. The ...
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MOVIES 'The Sound of Identity,' about trans opera star, out June 1
Winner of the 2020 Outshine Film Festival's prestigious Programmers Award of Excellence, The Sound of Identity is a feature documentary that Shout! Studios will present on digital and on demand June 1. Profiling international opera star ...
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WIU LGBTQA Resource Center celebrates 10th Anniversary
--From a WIU press release
MACOMB, IL — In 2011, the LGBT*QA Resource Center was established at Western Illinois University to serve as a home, and to raise awareness for, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning+ community at WIU. Ten years ...
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32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards April 8
--From a press release
New York, NY - Thursday, April 1, 2021 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced that CHIKA, Rebecca Black, and Niecy Nash's wife Jessica Betts will ...
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Yvonne Zipter's historical novel 'Infraction' out June 1
The lesbian historical fiction work Infraction, by Chicagoan Yvonne Zipter, will be out June 1. The publisher is Rattling Good Yarns Press. Set in socially turbulent St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1875, the work follows Marya Zhukova, ...
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Global momentum for marriage equality surges,"Freedom to Marry Global" website created
--From a freedomtomarry.org press release
April 1st marks twenty years since the Netherlands ended the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage, becoming the first of so far 30 countries worldwide to affirm the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Now, two ...
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President Biden recognizes Transgender Day of Visibility
--From a Center on Halsted press release
In a proclamation recognizing March 31, 2021 as Transgender Day of Visibility, President Biden wrote, "Vice President Harris and I affirm that transgender Americans make our Nation more prosperous, vibrant, and strong. I urge my fellow ...
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Pentagon reverses Trump-era ban on trans military service, GLAAD responds
--From a GLAAD press release
New York, NY - Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, celebrates news that the Pentagon will issue ...
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Cook County exceeds 10,000 COVID-19 deaths
--From a Cook County press release
The Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the County's 10,000th death due to COVID-19 infection this morning, just over a year after the virus claimed its first victim here. "We mourn with the 10,000 families in our community ...
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NABJ's LGBTQ+ Task Force announces new scholarship named for trans journalist Monica Roberts
--From a LGBTQ+ Task Force press release
As communities worldwide celebrate transgender and non-binary people on Transgender Day of Visibility, the National Association of Black Journalists' LGBTQ+ Task Force is proud to announce a new scholarship named ...
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E3 Radio relaunches with new show hosted by Anna DeShawn
--From an www.e3radio.fm press release
In 2009, E3 Radio hosted its first show Htled "Anna DeShawn & the QCrew". This show had an epic 10 year run educaHng, empowering, and entertaining the Black Queer community of Chicago. During that decade Anna ...
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THEATER 'The Summer of Daisy Fay' out April 5
New American Folk Theatre (NAFT) is presenting The Summer of Daisy Fay—the inaugural production of NAFT's "season of audio theater" that features new recordings of three of the company's past productions. The one-woman show starring N ...
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465+ feminist leaders sign open letter in solidarity with trans women and girls
--From a GLAAD press release
More than 465 feminist leaders sign open letter standing in solidarity with transgender women and girls in honor of Women's History Month and Transgender Day of Visibility. The letter, organized by GLAAD & Raquel Willis, comes ...
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Submissions from Black musical-theater writers sought for album
Broadway Records and Black Theatre Coalition (BTC) announced today the call for submissions for Black Writers Amplified, a new album consisting entirely of new works by Black musical-theater writers to be released in 2021. Black Writers ...
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Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down mask mandate
On March 31, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' statewide face mask mandate, WISN.com reported. The ruling was four to three. Republican lawmakers filed the suit last October. They said the governor did ...
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Chella Man talks media endeavors, the fashion world, upcoming book, AAPI visibility
The multi-talented 22-year-old, Deaf, genderqueer, transgender, Jewish, AAPI, artist and activist Chella Man has done more in his short life than most people achieve in their lifetimes. This includes a successful YouTube channel; TedX talk, modeling ...
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LGBTQ students sue U.S. Department of Education
More than 30 LGBTQ students are suing the U.S. Department of Education in a class-action lawsuit filed March 29, NBC News reported. The students allege that they dealt with discrimination at 25 federally funded Christian colleges ...
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See Chicago Dance Open Call: Dance For Life 2021
--From a press release
Chicago Dancers United is a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the lives of Chicago-area dance professionals by cultivating pathways to holistic wellness of the body, mind, and spirit. Our primary annual fundraiser, Dance for ...
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OP-ED The closet doors are opening
(NOTE: The International Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31.) I recently learned that according to a new report, the number of people in this country who identify as LGBTQ has increased by 60% since 2012. ...
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MOVIES 'Mommie Dearest' to come out on Blu-ray on June 1
The cult-classic drama Mommie Dearest celebrates its 40th anniversary with a brand-new Blu-ray in the Paramount Presents line, debuting June 1, from Paramount Home Entertainment. Based on Christina Crawford's controversial ...
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OP-ED: An AAPI hate crime we dare not say
On March 16, Robert Aaron Long killed eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent. Long's action has not yet been classified as a hate crime because the motive, he stated, was his sex ...
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Nearly half of all LBQ women have been physically or sexually assaulted
--From a press release
New study examines the social, economic, physical, and psychological well-being of cisgender and transgender LBQ women and girls A new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds about 5% of cisgender and ...
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New Equality Map: Bans on transgender youth participation in sports
(March 29, 2021) — Across the country, state legislatures have introduced bills that would ban transgender youth from participating in K-12 school sports, and in some cases in college as well. This year alone, at least ...
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PASSAGES John Stephen Hunt
John Stephen Hunt—a writer, world literati and global human-rights activist based in Chicago—died March 17 of natural causes in Chicago. He was 85. Hunt came out as a 20-year-old gay man during his U.S. Army Service. ...
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