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Lightfoot calls resignation rumors 'homophobic, racist and misogynistic'
On April 18, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called rumors that she's resigning "homophobic, racist and misogynistic," The Chicago Tribune reported. Lightfoot tweeted, "1/ Good morning from my mansion in Sauganash. ...
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SHOWBIZ Brandi Carlile, 'Legendary,' children's book, film festival, Janet Mock
Lesbian musician Brandi Carlile memoir, Broken Horses, debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Sellers list, a press release announced. In addition to the hardback book, a very special audiobook edition of the ...
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WORLD Peru items, Kenya, UK government, Poland city
The first lesbian elected to Peru's Congress promised to put up a "strong battle" for LGBTQ+ rights in the South American nation as two social conservatives go head to head for a presidential run-off vote in ...
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SPORTS Rapinoe, Morgan lift U.S. to victory over France
The U.S. Women's Soccer National Team beat France 2-0 on April 13 in a friendly match against France behind goals by veterans Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, The Olympic Channel noted. The duo won Olympic gold ...
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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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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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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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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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'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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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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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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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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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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Gerber/Hart celebrating Pearl Hart's birthday through April 7
--From a Gerber/Hart press release
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives is celebrating the April 7 birthday of Pearl Hart, the "heart" of Gerber/Hart, and raising funds to help Gerber/Hart continue its vital mission to preserve LGBTQ history in Chicago and the Midwest. ...
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k.d. lang to release dance-remix album 'makeover' on May 28
In celebration of Pride Month, Nonesuch Records is releasing k.d. lang's makeovera new collection of classic dance remixes of some of her best-loved songson May 28. The album brings these remixes, made between 1992 and 2000, ...
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Doc honors 89-year old lesbian-feminist icon Sally Gearhart, raises early $30,000
--From a press release
San Francisco, CA — The feature documentary "Sally" is a humorous, thought-provoking and inspiring American road-trip in search of iconic lesbian-feminist activist Sally Gearhart. Brilliant, charismatic, provocative and visionary, Sally ...
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'Disappeared: Chicago's Lost Lesbian Bars' screening April 3
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives will present a virtual screening of the short documentary film Disappeared: Chicago's Lost Lesbian Bars, by Jacob Pieczynski. The event will take place Saturday, April 3, at 1 p.m. The screening will ...
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SHOWBIZ Oscars art, Billie Jean King, Billy Eichner, Randy Rainbow
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the campaign art for the 93rd Oscars, an ABC press release noted. The 2021 campaign illustrates this year's tagline, "Bring Your Movie Love," celebrating our global appreciation ...
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POETRY E'mon Lauren Black talks queerness,
podcast, Black mobility
Even though she's only in her early 20s, E'mon Lauren Black has accomplished so much. Not only was Black named Chicago's first youth poet laureate in 2016 (an honor from Young Chicago Authors, in partnership with ...
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Nearly one-quarter of LBQ women are parents
--From a press release
New research from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law examines the demographic and mental health differences ...
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National LGBTQ+ Women's Survey confronts lack of attention to women's needs in the movement
--From a press release
A group of seasoned activists and scholars have formed an independent national research project focused on the concerns of LGBTQ+ women. The initiative is spearheaded by veteran lesbian activist Urvashi Vaid, one of the first women ...
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SHOWBIZ 'The World to Come' film, Dan Reynolds, Broadway, Green Lantern
The lesbian-themed film The World to Come is available to buy or rent, a press release noted. In this 19th-century romance (from Bleeker Street) that's set in the Northeast, Abigail (played by Katherine Waterston), a farmer's ...
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NATIONAL Lesbian bar closes, COVID survey, trans lawsuit, Andy Towle
The Toasted Walnuta lesbian bar in Philadelphia's Gayborhood that was refuge to queer women for the past five yearswill close for good, according to an Eater Philly item that cited Billy Penn. The bar had been ...
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Lesbian Amanda Nunes defends UFC title
Amanda Nunesa Brazilian lesbian who many consider to be the great women's mixed-martial artist of all timesuccessfully defended one of her UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) titles on Feb. 6. Nuneswho ...
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Racial justice coalition urges prosecutor to drop Jussie Smollett charges
--From a press release
CHICAGO Today, a coalition of racial justice and faith based organizations led by the National Black Justice Coalition and including Black Gifted and Whole, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Community Renewal Society, Black AIDS Institute, ...
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Team USA defends women's soccer title with 6-0 win
The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team won its fourth SheBelieves Cup on Feb. 24 after a commanding 6-0 victory over Argentina, the Olympic Channel reported. The victory makes the team the first to win back-to-back titles; ...
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LGBTs rise to 5.6% of U.S. population
Gallup's latest update on lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identification finds 5.6% of U.S. adults identifying as LGBT, according to the organization. The current estimate is up from 4.5% in Gallup's previous update based on 2017 ...
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National Trust advocates to protect legacy of LGBTQ+ pioneers
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Trust for Historic Preservation will testify tomorrow before the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission in an attempt to secure a local landmark designation for the San Francisco home of pioneering LGBTQ+ ...
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WORLD Turkish items, Gibraltar couple, lesbian lawmaker dies, Australia
In Turkey, four students were arrested over artwork that reportedly depicted LGBT rainbow symbols alongside an image of a sacred Islamic site, the BBC reported. Students at Bogazici University in Istanbul have been protesting against the ...
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GLAAD announces award nominees, Windy City Times receives Barbara Gittings Award
--From a GLAAD press release
GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced today the nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Actress Josie Totah (Peacock's Saved By The Bell), actor and ...
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Actor, writer Lena Waithe to headline screenwriting conference at DePaul U
--From a press release
CHICAGO Emmy Award-winning writer, creator, producer and actor Lena Waithe of "Twenties," "The Chi" and "Queen & Slim" will headline DePaul University's Courier 12 Screenwriting Conference Feb. 5-6. DePaul's School of Cinematic Arts will pr ...
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LGBTQ laws rated in Human Rights Campaign State Equality Index
--From a press release
WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization ...
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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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Affinity Burning Bowl hosts first-ever virtual event amid pandemic
Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Affinity Community Services (Affinity) held its annual Burning Bowl Jan. 9 on Zoom and Facebook Live. This year's theme was "Community Undivided." Among other items, the Barbara "Robbie" Smith Award of ...
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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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NATIONAL Anti-bias rule nixed, trans deaths, lesbian archivist dies
Under the cover of chaos the day after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the Trump administration officially nixed regulations barring federal grantees in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) from discriminating against LGBTQ ...
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National LGBTQ organizations call for Trump's removal from office
--From a press release
New York, NY - Thursday, Jan. 7, 2020 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, along with leading LGBTQ legal, health, youth, justice and equality organizations, is callin ...
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Affinity's Virtual Burning Bowl on Jan. 9
Affinity Community Serviceswhich serves the needs of the Black LGBTQ+ community, with a particular focus on Black womenwill hold its annual Burning Bowl ceremony virtually on Saturday, Jan. 9. At past Burning Bowls, attendees were asked ...
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Affinity seeks new executive director
Affinity Community Servicesa Black- and queer-led organization on Chicago's South Side dedicated to social justice in Black LGBTQ+ communitiesis seeking a new executive director. The executive director will provide visionary ...
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200 athletes support trans women and girls playing sports
On Dec. 21, sports icon Billie Jean King, U.S. National Women's Soccer Team co-captain and World Cup Champion Megan Rapinoe, and WNBA trailblazer and legend Candace Parker joined nearly 200 fellow athletes in women's sports to ...
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International LGBTI Assn reports on criminalization, 69 countries have bans
--From a press release
Geneva, 15 Dec. 2020 — Despite considerable progress in legal protection for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, 69 UN member States continue to criminalise consensual same-sex activity, ILGA World (The ...
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COVID-19 Ellen DeGeneres tests positive; talk-show production halted
Ellen DeGeneres has tested positive for COVID-19, and has stopped production on her talk show until January, according to media outlets such as Deadline and EW.com. "Hi Everyone, I want to let you all know that ...
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Missouri lesbian couple settles discrimination suit against senior housing community
--From a press release
ST. LOUIS, MO — Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), along with co-counsel Relman Colfax PLLC, St. Louis LGBTQ civil rights attorney Arlene Zarembka, and the ACLU of Missouri announced the settlement of Walsh ...
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SHOWBIZ Naya Rivera, Jodie Foster, MTV, Marc Jacobs
Naya Rivera's Glee co-stars are honoring the late actress with a fundraiser launched in her memory, Page Six noted. A GoFundMe account has been established by the crew in her name, with proceeds going toward Alexandria ...
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PASSAGES LGBT activist, former Oak Park, Illinois mayor Joanne Trapani dies
LGBT activist and former Oak Park, Illinois Mayor Joanne Trapani died Nov. 29 due to complications from her endometrial cancer diagnosis. She was 71. Trapani was born in Corona, Queens, New York City on Aug. 5, ...
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Prominent lesbians of color will join Biden administration
Two prominent lesbians of color have been appointed to major roles in President-elect Joe Biden's communications department, the transition team announced in a news release November 29. Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as a Biden senior adviser ...
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PASSAGES Joanne E. Trapani
According to Facebook posts, Joanne E. Trapani, one-time village president of Oak Park, has passed away. Read about her life and work in the community at the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame: http://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/trapani-joanne/ . and at ...
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Award-winning journalist Deb Price dead at 62
Deb Price, the award-winning journalist and author who wrote the first nationally syndicated column on LGBT issues in mainstream newspapers, has died in a hospital at age 62 in Hong Kong, where she had lived for ...
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New narrative podcast offers lesbian rocker slice of life
Podcast attached below
For audiophiles in search of punk rock tongue-in-cheek lesbian dramedy-driven narrative storytelling, look no further: "Tampon Rock" is here. The podcast, from Anthem and iHeart Radio, focuses on lesbian bandmates Deja and Chloe as they navigate ...
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Women's soccer league announces 2021 competition framework
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced a new competition framework to debut in 2021 that aims to expand opportunities for the athletes of the league to showcase the NWSL. Players will report to camp Feb. ...
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Artist Riva Lehrer talks new memoir, career, state of the world
In queer artist, writer and curator Riva Lehrer's recently released memoir Golem Girl, she takes readers on a journey through her life via the lens of her being born with spina bifida and the way that ...
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PASSAGES Marsha M. Wetzel
Marsha Marie Wetzel, advocate for the LGBTQ community, died peacefully at her Greenview Place home in Chicago, Illinois, on Nov. 1, 2020. In keeping with her faith, she passed on All Saints Day. She was preceded ...
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SHOWBIZ Wentworth Miller, Whitney, lesbian author, Mark Wahlberg
Out actor Wentworth Miller said he doesn't want to be involved in a new season of the TV show Prison Break if it happens, according to Deadline. On Instagram, he thanked fans for his support and ...
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The Amazon Trail: Rats fleeing a sinking ship
I've heard the idiom "like rats fleeing a sinking ship" often lately, and while the metaphor is apt for what's going on in the United States, at our house it's even more befitting. Merriam Webster notes, ...
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Chicago offers new contracts or exercises options for all 23 Chicago Red Stars players
--From a press release
CHICAGO — After the completion of the 2020 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) end of year process, the Chicago Red Stars have announced contract statuses for all of its players. All of Chicago's 23 rostered players ...
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PASSAGES Activist John Chester remembered
Longtime LGBT activist and former Chicagoan John Chester passed away Oct. 10 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he had been living since retirement. He was 78. Chester, who was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian ...
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SHOWBIZ Viola Davis, Tyler Posey, Elton John, Tegan and Sara
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom will premiere on Netflix on Dec. 18, a press release noted. The moviebased on the August Wilson playwill star Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman and Colman Domingo. In the film and ...
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MOVIES Ruby Rose talks new film 'The Doorman,' LGBTQ actors
In the new movie The Doorman, out actress Ruby Rose (TV's Orange Is the New Black and Batwoman; movies such as John Wick: Chapter 2 and Pitch Perfect 3) stars as the titular character in an ...
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LGBT HISTORY: Surviving the Silence, The Unexpected Story of Col. Pat Thompson
In 1989, U.S. Army Col. Margarethe (Grethe) Cammermeyer was undergoing a routine security clearance interview when she said four simple words, "I am a lesbian." At the time, she was a highly decorated nurse and war ...
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LGBT HISTORY MONTH: SF supe vows to landmark Lyon-Martin house
A San Francisco supervisor has vowed to landmark the home where the late lesbian pioneering couple Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin lived throughout most of their 54 years together. Historic preservationists, friends of the couple, and ...
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Jeannie Tanner releases inspirational song, art-inclusive video
Local singer-songwriter Jeannie Tanner has released her new single and video, "I Wanna Be the Change." According to a press release, the song was inspired by many of the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ...
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Women's pro soccer draft Nov. 12
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced that the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft, featuring Racing Louisville Football Club, will take place Thursday, Nov. 12. The trade/waiver window beginning the expansion draft process will close Oct. ...
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Equality Illinois distributes $115,000+ in COVID relief grants to LGBTQs
--From a press release
Equality Illinois, the state's civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people; through a grant the Illinois COVID Response Fund (ICRF) and community organizations, has awarded over $115,000 in COVID relief grants ...
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Director's cut of 'But I'm a Cheerleader' will be out Dec. 8
People can celebrate the 20th anniversary of a classic lesbian film when But I'm a Cheerleader: Director's Cut arrives on Digital 4K Ultra HD on Dec. 8, from Lionsgate. From Primetime Emmy-nominated director Jamie Babbit ...
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WGN-TV features the life and times of Windy City Times
Video link below
WGN-TV produced and aired on Oct. 9 a segment on the history and contributions of Windy City Times, co-founder/owner Tracy Baim, staff, contributors and delivery crew. The segment was reported by WGN's Sean Lewis. Windy City ...
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Red Stars add new player, lose finale and are part of national camp
The Chicago Red Stars announced the signing of Ella Stevens. The club selected Stevens with the 24th pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft. She made her first appearance for the Red Stars on a short-term contract ...
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Chicago Sky's Courtney
Vandersloot named to All-WNBA First Team
Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot was named to the 2020 All-WNBA First Team. It marks the second straight All-WNBA First Team selection for Vandersloot, who also made the First Team in 2019. This season Vandersloot became ...
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2020 LGBTQ Candidate Diversity Report released;
1,006+ LGBTQs running
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, released its inaugural Out on the Trail report, which details the diversity of LGBTQ candidates who ran ...
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Affinity celebrating 25 years virtually Oct. 9-11
Affinity Community Servicesa social-justice organization serving the needs of the Black LGBTQ+ community, with a particular focus on Black womenwill celebrate its 25th anniversary virtually Oct. 9-11. The virtual anniversary ...
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Jessica Halem to open Transforming Care Conference
--From a press release
The Equitas Health Institute's virtual 2020 Transforming Care Conference on LGBTQ+ HIV & Health Equity opens Wednesday, October 14 with Jessica Halem's presentation of "Mourn the Dead & Fight Like Hell for the Living." As a ...
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LGBTQs likely key percentage of electorate
--From a press release
New York, NY, October 1, 2020 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, released the findings of GLAAD's 'State of LGBTQ Voters' poll which ...
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Nominations open for Chicago Red Stars' #SHEINSPIRESME Award
The Chicago Red Stars announced that nominations are now open for the 2020 #SHEINSPIRESME Award. The Chicago Red Stars #SHEINSPIRESME Award is an annual award that is presented to women who exemplify leadership, practice social responsibility, ...
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The first presidential debate: Chaos unchecked
The first meeting of the two major party presidential candidates Sept. 29 was billed as a "debate" but, as lesbian political commentator Rachel Maddow put it afterward, the event turned out to be a "monstrous unintelligible ...
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