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Spots revealed for Chicago Restaurant Week 2021
The venues participating in Chicago Restaurant Week (March 19-April 4) have been revealed. This year's participants include a range of restaurants throughout Chicagoland offering specially priced, prix fixe menus for ...
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DANCE Hubbard Street season to resume with 'In Any Event'
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's (HSDC's) 43rd season will resume Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. with a virtual world premiere of new work by choreographer and former HSDC dancer Penny Saunders. The piece will also be ...
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Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' 'Diva Dracula' in March
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) will present a virtual production of "Lipstick & Lyrics: Diva Dracula," on March 6, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. CT. Featuring 15 drag performers, Diva Dracula embarks on a journey ...
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Andersonville Chamber expands Restaurant Week
The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is expanding its traditional Andersonville Restaurant Week throughout March. Each week will feature a different collection of Andersonville restaurants with meals available for pick-up ...
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THEATER Global, Grindr-based 'Borders' to run Feb. 25-27
Dirty Laundry Theatre's virtual experience Borders, directed by Chicago resident Michael R. Piazza, will feature three live shows on Feb. 25-27. Written by Nimrod Danishman and directed by Piazza, Borders tells the story of two gay ...
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Billy Masters
"Life is about building bridges, not walls."—Elton John, when criticized for performing at Rush Limbaugh's 2010 wedding. Something I say all the time might have also been a good response: "A gig's a gig." Rush Limbaugh ...
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Author and educator Sarah Chadwick talks new book on female sexuality
Sarah Chadwick's debut book, The Sweetness of Venus: A History of the Clitoris, was the result of her desire to understand the status of female sexuality in the West from an historical perspective. During Chadwick's research, ...
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'You For Me For You' benefit on Feb. 28
Sideshow Theatre Company will launch its 2021 season with a one-night-only benefit screening of its 2018 hit You For Me For You, written by Mia Chung and directed by ensemble member Elly Green. The archival recording ...
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Court Theatre announces 2021 Southside Youth Fest, platform for teens
--From a press release
Chicago, IL - Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, announces Court's 2021 Southside Youth Fest, inviting South Side teens to submit original digi ...
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Court Theatre premieres spotlight podcast highlighting Black writers
--From a press release
Chicago, IL - Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, announces the online premiere of its Spotlight Podcast. A key component of Court's community ...
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Next 'OUTspoken' event March 2
The next session of OUTspoken—a monthly storytelling event that centers on tales of fun and fortune from local LGBTQ+ men and women and their close friends—will take place Tuesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. ...
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MOVIES Dutch journalist talks about making 'My Friend, the Mayor'
In the Amazon Prime Video documentary My Friend, the Mayor: Small-town Democracy in the Age of Trump, Dutch journalist Max Westerman profiles friend Sean Strub, an openly gay activist, activist, long-term AIDS survivor and POZ magazine ...
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New dance film features 46 dancers from 20 countries
Films.Dance—a global film series produced by and under the creative direction of LA-based Jacob Jonas The Company—continues with Match, the single most expansive collaboration in the 15-film series. Match features ...
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Billy Masters
"It was the worst 90 seconds of my life, for sure."—Stormy Daniels, while on Michael Cohen's podcast. She also revealed that she first met El Presidente in 2006 at a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe where ...
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Showbiz: Jodie Foster, 'Aretha,' gospel singer, Cody Newman, gay actors
While promoting her new film The Mauritanian, Jodie Foster said she "was a little scared of" acting alongside Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, Yahoo! Entertainment noted. Of Silence (which has its 30th anniversary this ...
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Stage Left Theatre announces new Literary Manager
--From a press release
Stage Left Theatre is delighted to announce Bobbi Masters as our new Literary Manager. She is an artist/educator with a passion for new work who has been involved in various phases of new play development throughout ...
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ART 'Immersive Van Gogh' extended through Sept. 6 in Chicago
Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago—a new venue within Chicago's recently renovated landmark Germania Club Building, 108 W. Germania Pl.—will extend the dates of the U.S. premiere of the art experience "Immersive Van ...
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LGBTQ+ film critics group unveils nominations
The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA) revealed the nominations for the 2021 Dorian Film Awards on Feb. 11. Minari leads the way with six nominations, including best film and best foreign-language film; Nomadland scored five ...
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MOVIES 'Wonder Woman 1984' coming to PVOD, Digital, Blu-Ray
The movie Wonder Woman 1984—the sequel starring Gal Gadot, with Patty Jenkins as director—is arriving on Premium Video on Demand (PVOD), 4K, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital, according to a press release from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. ...
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Billy Masters
"Go back on the elephant you came on."—Priyanka Chopra Jonas reveals an example of the bullying she received in school. Ironically, when she married Nick Jonas, she rode into her wedding on the back of...you guessed ...
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SHOWBIZ Tian Richards, August Wilson, $88M celebrity home, sports items
Tian Richards has been cast in the title role of the Nancy Drew spinoff, Tom Swift, at The CW, Variety reported. Richards will make his first appearance as the character in an upcoming episode of Nancy ...
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Comics: CAKE postponed to 2022
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) has been postponed to 2022. In an open letter, organizers stated, "While we are encouraged that the State of Illinois has, as of this writing, administered COVID-19 vaccine doses to ...
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FLXST opening exhibit featuring artists of color on Feb. 13
FLXST Contemporary, 2251 S. Michigan Ave.—a fine arts and photography gallery as well as an arts incubator—will open its first 2021 group show, "Against Impossibility," on Saturday, Feb. 13, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The ...
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Andersonville Chamber of Commerce expands HYGGE Fest through February
--From a press release
CHICAGO (February 4, 2021) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is expanding its annual Hygge Fest to run for the entire month of February 2021. The month-long festival will ...
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Five Worth Finding: LGBTQ authors, paczki, skin-care items, Keto Mylk
—Tempest, by Ryan Meyer (NothingPeak.com): In Tempest, young LGBTQ writer Meyer departs from the horror themes in his 2018 poetry collection, Haunt. Using fictional vignettes and surreal personal accounts, he ...
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Wizard World Chicago moved from June to August
Wizard Brands, Inc. announced that its scheduled 2021 live event in Chicago has been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and in continued accordance with federal, state and local guidelines. Instead of the original dates of June ...
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Hubbard Street Dance Chicago names new artistic director
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) announced that former company member Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell has been named artistic director of the contemporary dance company, effective March 1. A native of Baltimore, Fisher-Harrell ...
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SAG nominations announced; Boseman gets four nods
Nominations for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards were announced Feb. 4. On the film side, Deadline noted that the late Chadwick Boseman made SAG Awards nomination history by receiving four nominations: for his lead role ...
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Donald Trump resigns from SAG-AFTRA; group tersely responds
Former U.S. President Donald Trump resigned from SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) after the organization's national board recently voted overwhelmingly to find probable cause of ...
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Where Did We Sit on the Bus? online streaming production starts Feb. 22
--From a press release
Chicago, IL— Victory Gardens Theater and Geva Theatre Center announce the online streaming production of Brian Quijada's music-infused production of Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, written and performed by Brian Quijada and directed by ...
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Golden Globe nods announced; LGBTQ shows, characters and actors included
Nominations for the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards—which honor the best in television and film—were announced Feb. 3. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return as hosts of the event for a fourth time. The Golden ...
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Chicago Restaurant Week returning in 2021
Choose Chicago has announced the return of Chicago Restaurant Week on March 19-April 4, 2021. Chicago Restaurant Week offers local food enthusiasts an opportunity to experience some of the city's most highly sought restaurants. Participating dining ...
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Joffrey Ballet artists create video installation
The Joffrey Ballet announced that a dynamic video installation featuring members of the company will animate the acclaimed 150 Media Stream public art exhibition at 150 N. Riverside Plaza as the inaugural output of Action Lines. ...
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Chicago Dancemakers Forum announces the 2021 Digital Dance Grantees
--From a press release
CHICAGO, IL, 2/1/2021 — To support the growth of local Chicago dancemakers in the era of COVID-19, Chicago Dancemakers Forum is pleased to grant $10,000 each to ten dance creators and their collaborators for the development ...
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Billy Masters
"I am happy to report that today, I took my dear friend Jo Anne Worley to get her first COVID-19 vaccination! Not only that, several nurses and doctors recognized her and came over to the car ...
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'Draw With Me' follows trans teen who's Jennifer Lopez's nibling; director reflects
Draw With Me—an official Oscar entry for Documentary Short Subject—is the story of talented teen artist Brendon Scholl, who identifies as trans non-binary and whose art has been a vital outlet for self expression. The movie—created ...
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MOVIES Director Mike Mosallam discusses queer Muslim film 'Breaking Fast'
A warm romantic comedy that may seem simultaneously recognizable and unfamiliar to many viewers, Breaking Fast follows Mo (played by out actor Haaz Sleiman), a practicing Muslim still reeling from heartbreak. When an All-American guy named ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Tunde Johnson,' John Waters, Jane Lynch, Billie Eilish
Wolfe Releasing has slated the film The Obituary of Tunde Johnson for a theatrical and digital release on Feb. 26, a press release noted. The film—written by Stanley Kalu; directed by Ali LeRoi; and starring Steven ...
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Book helps families with kids discuss gender roles, same gender attraction
--From a press release
A new book, Pepito Has a Doll, is centered on the experience of a shy young boy who lives with his grandmother. Pepito has only one friend, his doll Lola, until Miguel appears and they begin a joyful adventure together. Bilingual ...
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Ravinia Women's Board unveils winner of poster competition
The Ravinia Women's Board unveiled the winner of its annual Ravinia season poster competition. Minneapolis graphic designer Sean Quinn, 28, is the recipient of the competition's top prize for a second time; his entry in the ...
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Actors Gym opens another venue, will hold in-person classes
Actors Gym announced the opening of a third studio in Evanston's Noyes Cultural Arts Center and a new, expanded class curriculum. The facility will be primarily dedicated to the nine month Professional Training Program's new Clown ...
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African American Arts Alliance, Black Ensemble Theater Martin Luther King Day
--From a press release
The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Ensemble Theater present the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 6:00pm. The jubilant, online event is free will be ...
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Billy Masters
"I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a Pardon from Trump."—Joe Exotic. It was the crazy stretch limo sitting outside the prison that made me laugh. Like there's a pardon, and POOF, he could ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Batwoman,' Village People, Neil Patrick Harris, Mariah Carey
SPOILER ALERT: Season two of Batwoman (featuring the lesbian superheroine) began by introducing Ryan Wilder, the new lead character on The CW show played by Javicia Leslie—and explained how first-season ...
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THEATER A Red Orchid Theatre running magical 'Missed Connections' Feb. 2-28
A Red Orchid Theatre is presenting Missed Connections—a live, interactive play with magic, conceived for virtual experience, co-written by Jon Tai and Alex Gruhin, performed by magician Jon Tai and produced by Alex Gruhin—on Feb. 2-28. ...
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Joffrey Ballet announces Feb. 12 world premiere of 'Bolero'
The Joffrey Ballet announced the world premiere of Bolero—named after the acclaimed orchestral piece by composer Maurice Ravel and choreographed by Joffrey company artist Yoshihisa Arai—on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. Bolero, to be performed by ...
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Billy Masters
"Honey … when you got talent, you don't need all this shit."—Siegfried Fischbacher (of Siegfried & Roy) to Bette Midler, after she commented on the magical duo's high-tech show. (The story was related to me by ...
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SHOWBIZ LGBTQ movies, 'Color Purple,' Nick Jonas, gay coach
The film Draw with Me has launched its virtual theatrical release at ArenaScreen through Feb. 9, and was the subject of the first-ever panel at the United Nations on Transgender Health, a release stated. Featuring Jennifer ...
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Virtual OUTspoken storytelling event Feb. 2
The next virtual OUTspoken Storytelling Night will take place Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. The speakers will be as follows: —Donald Bell is a third-generation Chicagoan, South Sider and White Sox fan who is a retired ...
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'Dixie's Happy Hour' streaming Jan. 26-31
On the heels of Dixie's Tupperware Party and Dixie's: Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull (and 16 other things I learned while I was drinking last Thursday), drag personality Dixie Longate is ...
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Hell in a Handbag Productions to present
Out, Darn Spot!
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2021) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to present the campy comedyOut, Darn Spot!, written by and starring ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* and directed, filmed and edited by Stephanie Shaw. ...
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Report: Here are the highest grossing LGBTQ+ actors on Netflix
--From a Journalistic.org press release
Highest grossing LGBTQ+ actors on Netflix - Kristen Stewart comes in first, with a net worth of 70 million dollars - Bisexual women are the top earning members of the LGBTQ+ community - The TV industry ...
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Artemisia Theatre announces entirely virtual 2021 season
--From a press release
CHICAGO - In order to continue its strong feminist story-telling tradition, Artemisia Theatre announces an entirely virtual 2021 season. The new season includes two World Premiere theater productions and eight audio performances airing on its podcast ...
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'Mombian Database' released
Mombian columnist Dana Rudolph has released the Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books, Media, and More, with more than 500 books, music albums, movies, games and toys for and about LGBTQ families. The site offers multiple ...
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Chicago Dance History Project's Interview Marathon on Jan. 31
Chicago Dance History Project (CDHP) has confirmed the lineup and schedule for its Interview Marathon on Sunday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Interviewees will appear live from international locations and ...
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SHOWBIZ Laverne Cox, lesbian coach, Jim Parsons, 'Brokeback,' theater items
Laverne Cox is teaming with Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones to executive-produce a new documentary exploring one of the most critical issues at the intersection of race, feminism, and power: the sex industry, out.com noted. Sell/Buy/Date ...
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Billy Masters
"Harry Styles is looking REALLY good. I'm into the fishnets. And we have very similar tastes. I think sharing a closet, sharing a life together, it just makes sense."—Miley Cyrus. I'd rather see Harry with Miley's ...
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Five Worth Finding: Workout gear, $2 subs, LGBTQ book
1. Lived Experience: Reflections on LGBTQ Life: "Lived Experience," in this case, refers to 60 LGBTQ people in this country who are older than 50—those who especially have so much to offer. This is a generation ...
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African American Arts Alliance, Black Ensemble to present MLK event Jan. 18
The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Ensemble Theater will present the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 18, at 6 p.m. The online event will be free. This ...
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Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special extended through Jan. 17
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 4, 2021) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce one additional week of performances of its streaming holiday hit The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, now playing through Jan. 17, 2021. ...
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Billy Masters
"Gay man has too much to drink and legally changes name to Celine Dion."—New Year's Day headline from England. Not only is it embarrassing, it's woefully out of date. I mean, Celine Dion—how retro! I know ...
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Billy Masters
"Although self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths—and of none—are discovering that it presents and opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect in prayer or meditation."—Queen ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans movie, best/worst LGBTQ films, sports items, Whitney
Shout! Studios entered into an exclusive deal with Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions (KKP) and Scatena & Rosner Films (SNR) to distribute the new LGBTQ-focused documentary The Sound of Identity, a press release noted. The movie chronicles ...
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Hell in a Handbag announces annual benefit, "The Morning After"
CHICAGO (Dec. 17, 2020) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce its annual benefit "The Morning After," featuring the streaming world premiere of the smash hit musical that started it all for them, ...
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BOOKS: The best of 2020
You've got a little extra time this month, and you don't want to waste it. You want to read something good, the possibilities are endless, and the best place to begin is with these Best Books ...
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PrideArts to screen one-night-only live virtual readings
--From a press release
PrideArts series of one-night-only live virtual readings resumes with TWELFTH NIGHT on the Twelfth of January Peter Vamvakas to direct a cast of seven Click here for a Word doc version of this release CHICAGO — ...
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Bechdel Fest 8 to highlight femme, female-identifying, non-binary, trans, queer actors
Broken Nose Theatre (BNT) will present Bechdel Fest 8: Realign—the company’s annual festival of new short plays featuring an ensemble of femme, female-identifying, non-binary, trans and queer actors talking about things other than men.
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SHOWBIZ 'Drag Race,' year-end honors, 'Guardians,' Taylor Swift
VH1 unveiled a game-changing twist from the upcoming season of the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race, premiering Friday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, a press release noted. For the first time in Drag Race "herstory," queens ...
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Billy Masters
"You are a weak, scared, stupid, inept, negligent, vindictive, narcissistic, criminal. I hope you live a long life in prison where you become the most popular boyfriend to all the inmates."—Debra Messing's tweet to El Presidente. ...
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Five Worth Finding: Last-minute shopping
—RuPaul Fan Favorites Gift (CannaBellaLux.com): Advertising itself as "a female-forward boutique + lifestyle brand," Chicago-based Canna Bella Lux has a lot of intriguing items, including this gift set. This set includes a RuPaul candle, a 5" ...
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OUTSpoken: LGBTQ storytelling event Jan. 5 on Zoom
Another OUTspoken Storytelling Night will offer the perspective of four Chicagoans telling life stories from their LGBTQ+ viewpoint or that of their close friends and relatives, Tuesday, Jan. 5, starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The ...
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'Pose' star headlining virtual talent benefit Dec. 16
Dominique Jackson—an activist and co-star of the FX series Pose—is headlining the #REFUGEE RAINBOW EXTRAVAGANZA Talent Show "Still Here, Still Queer" on Wed., Dec. 16, 5-6 p.m. CT. ORAM (Organization for Refugee, Asylum and Migration) is ...
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Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Treble Quire present Let There Be Light
--From a press release
Chicago, Ill. — Windy City Performing Arts (WCPA), the not-for-profit parent organization of Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire, is proud to announce its 41st annual holiday concert, Let there be Light: A ...
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PrideArts to screen A Not So Silent Night Tuesday, Dec. 15
To honor the tradition of gathering around with family and singing holiday songs, even in a pandemic. PrideArts is hosting a one-time screening of the film A Not So Silent Night tonight, Dec. 15, 2020. The ...
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HotHouse to stream Cuban jazz festival "Jazz Plaza" Jan. 21-24
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Marguerite Horberg, executive director of the award-winning Chicago-based nonprofit arts presenter HotHouse, today announced that it has been awarded the exclusive rights to stream the 2021 legendary Cuban ...
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