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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 Services—which serves the needs of the Black LGBTQ+ community, with a particular focus on Black women—will 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 Services—a Black- and queer-led organization on Chicago's South Side dedicated to social justice in Black LGBTQ+ communities—is 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 movie—based on the August Wilson play—will 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 Services—a social-justice organization serving the needs of the Black LGBTQ+ community, with a particular focus on Black women—will 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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The Passing Parade: Cultural Reporting in an Age of Heroes
There are several large plastic storage bins in my office filled with stacks of clippings of articles I wrote for the Chicago gay and lesbian newspapers GayLife, Windy City Times and Outlines during the 1980s and ...
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WORLD Iran report, Uruguay Pride parade, anti-gay terrorist
A new survey—"Hidden Wounds: A Research Report on Violence Against LGBTI in Iran," published by the Iranian Lesbian and Transgender Network, 6Rang—is shedding light on the atrocities LGBTQ+ Iranians face on a daily basis, Out.com reported. ...
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SHOWBIZ Bradley Cooper, Spice Girls, greatest albums, film 'The Glorias'
Bradley Cooper has found his onscreen partner and a new title—Maestro—for the Leonard Bernstein film he will star in and direct for Netflix, Deadline reported. Carey Mulligan has been cast as Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, wife ...
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Red Stars tie Washington 1-1
Savannah McCaskill scored in the 72nd minute as the Chicago Red Stars played to a 1-1 tie against the Washington Spirit on Sept. 26. For the second straight game, Sarah Luebbert earned an assist with her ...
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Artemis Singers marks 40th anniversary with virtual panel
To celebrate Artemis Singer's 40th anniversary, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives hosted a Sept. 26 virtual panel discussion on the past, present and future of the chorus. Artemis Singers holds the distinction of being the first lesbian ...
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National LGBTQ Task Force to stream "The Power of US" gala Oct. 3
--From a press release
NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE ANNUAL GALA OCTOBER 3, 2020 AT 8PM ET/5PM PT Washington, DC. September 24, 2020. The National LGBTQ Task Force has announced it will stream the 2020 National LGBTQ Task Force Gala, presented ...
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Red Stars' season tickets now available
The Chicago Red Stars have announced that 2021 season ticket memberships are now available. After a breakout 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup that saw the Red Stars reach their second consecutive championship match, Chicago looks to continue ...
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Carey stepping down as Task Force executive director in 2021
On Sept. 23, the National LGBTQ Task Force announced that longtime Executive Director Rea Carey will be stepping down in early 2021. Carey has been with the organization since 2003 as a senior strategist, then deputy ...
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WORLD Barbados items, EU's criticism, Billie Jean King, Equality Act
Barbados is ready to grant legal status to same-sex couples, in a major breakthrough for gay rights lobbying in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region, The Jamaica Gleaner reported. Gov. General Dame Sandra Mason made the announcement ...
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Red Stars rout Sky Blue 4-1
In a National Women's Soccer League match, the Chicago Red Stars had three different players score as they defeated Sky Blue FC 4-1 in the home team's first game at SeatGeek Stadium (in Bridgeview, Illinois) in ...
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Local musician/comic Becky Raisman aims to show passion in performing
Becky Raisman—a 38-year-old singer and comedian who is part of the LGBTQ+ community—has been singing ever since she was in elementary school. She now both covers and writes her own songs, performing them in local venues. ...
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NCLR mourns LGBTQ equality champion Justice Ginsburg
--From a press release
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) mourns the tragic loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — a true champion for LGBTQ rights in her 27 years on the U.S. Supreme Court. ...
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Equality Illinois announces general election endorsements
--From a press release
CHICAGO - Equality Illinois, the state's civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Illinoisans, today announced endorsements for the November 3, 2020 general election. "Equality Illinois is ...
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'SNL' adds lesbian cast member
Saturday Night Live, or SNL, will start its 46th season Oct. 3 with at least one major change: The show is adding a member of the LGBTQ+ community to its cast. Punkie Johnson is an out lesbian comedian/writer whose recent credits ...
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Equality Illinois endorses thirteen LGBTQ candidates for general election
--From a press release
CHICAGO - Equality Illinois, the state's civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer Illinoisans, today announced endorsements of a record number of LGBTQ candidates running for the Illinois General Assembly in a general ...
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Sky's season ends with loss to Connecticut
The Chicago Sky's season came to an end Sept. 15 with a 94-81 loss to the Connecticut Sun in the single-elimination first round of the 2020 WNBA Playoffs at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. When asked ...
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TELEVISION Actors talk about tackling 'Ratched' roles, working with Ryan Murphy
It takes the winning combination of gay producer Ryan Murphy and lesbian actress Sarah Paulson to bring the fictional story of Ratched to life in unexpected ways. The new drama series on Netflix already has a ...
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Red Stars lose opening Fall Series match
The Chicago Red Stars fell to the Washington Spirit 2-1 in their NWSL Fall Series opening match. Chicago's lone goal came from Sarah Luebbert, who would score her first professional goal. The former University of Missouri ...
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Series to celebrate Mexican artist Frida Kahlo
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. — The McAninch Arts Center (MAC), in association with the Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA), will host a monthly series of events celebrating iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Kicking off the series, ...
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Red Stars to play on CBS and CBS All-Access Sept. 26
The National Women's Soccer League released the remaining games of the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. The Chicago Red Stars will host the Washington Spirit on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 12 p.m. CT live on CBS and ...
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PASSAGES Sandy Potoglou
Sandy Potoglou (Stathoula Dimitria Potoglou), aka "Holly," left this world Aug. 27. She was 54. An obituary sent to Windy City Times stated the cause of death as The Republican National Convention. Sandy (who was born ...
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Quigley becomes Sky's all-time leading scorer, team has donated $17K
During the Chicago Sky's Sept. 2 game against the Minnesota Lynx in Bradenton, Florida, Allie Quigley surpassed Sylvia Fowles for first on the Sky's all-time scoring list. She also reached 3,000 career points in the fourth ...
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Groups file amicus brief for non-discrimination protections in Child Welfare Services
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) and National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. ...
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Artemis Singers virtual panel Sept. 26
Artemis Singers will celebrate 40 years as Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus with a free virtual discussion and Q&A, 3:30-5 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 26. Gerber/Hart Library & Archives is hosting this online event. Artemis Singers, a ...
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HRC removes tweet praising Lightfoot
HRC removed a Twitter posting on Aug. 18 praising lesbian mayor Lori Lightfoot after her participation in programming connected to the 2020 Democratic convention. HRC officials apologized for the initial post and acknowledged pushback they received ...
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World Rugby's proposed ban on transgender women sparks outcry
Citing recent research, a 38-page World Rugby transgender working group draft document is proposing a ban on transgender women from playing women's rugby. An anonymous leaked the draft document to The Guardian. Windy City Times was ...
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Coalition of state lawmakers proposes sweeping ethics reforms
In the wake of the numerous, ongoing federal investigations involving bribery, influence peddling and insider-trading impacting state government officials and lobbyists, a broad coalition of lawmakers gathered Aug. 13 to ...
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Longtime lesbian activist named to be chief of staff for Kamala Harris
Longtime organizer Karine Jean-Pierre has been named chief of staff for Democratic presumptive vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California). Earlier this year, she began serving as a senior ...
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SHOWBIZ Sarah Paulson, The B-52s, NBA player, Issa Rae, Ryan Reynolds
Actress Sarah Paulson will be involved on Ryan Murphy's new spinoff series American Horror Stories—but not necessarily on-screen, Deadline noted. "What can I say?," said the Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress at a TCA Netflix ...
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Virtual OPALGA+ scholarship gala slated for Oct. 24
OPALGA+/Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association will hold a virtual scholarship gala Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. The event will feature video clips from the organization's scholarship winners, the Founder's Award celebration and opportunities ...
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Local lesbian couple celebrate 50 years together
When Alice Cozad and Linda Young met each other as freshmen at the University of Iowa they knew almost instantly that they would be together as a couple for the rest of their lives. "The electricity ...
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BOOKS Yvonne Zipter: Looking at Chicagoan's life, poetry collection
Writer Yvonne Zipter nurtures nature and other ideas in her new book of poetry Kissing the Long Face of the Greyhound. Zipter grew up in Milwaukee and lived there until she was 24. She earned a ...
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Sky end Mystics' undefeated season
On Aug. 1, the Chicago Sky ended the Washington Mystics' status as the WNBA's lone undefeated team by stopping them 88-86. Among other achievements, the Sky shot 48 percent from the three-point line, and Chicago's bench ...
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Teen LGBTQ+ activist aims to inspire with Be You Tiful Initiative
Allison Frank is a 16-year-old lesbian activist from Lincolnshire's Stevenson High School who found her passion for activism and began the Be You Tiful Initiative. It all started when Frank was feeling overwhelmed in a makeup ...
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Chicago Sky players to donate $10 to social justice for every point scored
--From a press release
CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky players will donate $10 for every point team scored, $100 for every win, and $50 for any loss throughout the 2020 WNBA season under a newly-unveiled social justice initiative called #SkyTakesAction, ...
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