May 28, 2008
Nation Report
California recognizes Harvey Milk’s birthday
SACRAMENTO—The California Assembly passed a bill May 19 marking the birthday of the late pioneering gay politician Harvey Milk. Lawmakers adopted the bill on a 45-23 vote with no debate. It now goes to the California Senate... Full Story
New briefs filed in Iowa marriage lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa—The Polk County (Iowa) attorney’s office says in new documents that a lawsuit challenging Iowa’s same-sex marriage ban is trying to change the way public policy is made. The lawsuit has led to a series of filings... Full Story
Oregon court upholds anti-gay marriage law
PORTLAND, Ore.—The constitutional amendment banning gay marriage approved by voters in 2004 has been upheld by the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Gay and lesbian couples argued that Measure 36 should be overturned because it amounted to a revision... Full Story
Some workers to opt out on gay marriage licenses
SAN DIEGO—Workers in the San Diego County clerk’s office who object to same-sex marriages may be excused from officiating at gay weddings.
County Clerk Gregory Smith says he is considering allowing his... Full Story
Portland elects first openly gay mayor
PORTLAND, Ore.—City Commissioner Sam Adams easily won the Portland mayoral race, making the city the largest in the U.S. to ever elect an openly gay mayor. Adams avoided a November runoff by winning 58 percent of... Full Story
Miami-Dade commission approves partner benefits
MIAMI—Unmarried couples in Miami-Dade County now have domestic-partner benefits. The county commission approved a measure May 20 to give unmarried, non-related couples—gay or straight—who are at least 18... Full Story
‘Star Trek’ actor Takei to marry partner
LOS ANGELES—George Takei said last week he plans to marry his longtime partner and business manager, Brad Altman, now that the California Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage... Full Story
Opinion
“Marriage,” the minister said, “is a going forth, a bold step into the future; it is risking what we are for the sake of what we can be.” Marriage is a risk. We forget that, I think... Full Story
Governments, often prompted by religions, have long been the chief enemy of gay equality, passing laws and upholding private practices that prevent gays and lesbians from leading normal lives. But in mid-May the California Supreme Court... Full Story
Freetime
A recent report from Australia’s AIDS Council of New South Wales suggests gay men are the least cared for of all the senior groups due to discrimination from the hetero-centric social services. What the Council doesn’t say... Full Story
SAGITTARIUS: The questions you have about your relationships aren’t new. Thinking too much about what’s going on won’t help. Don’t go borrowing trouble where there is none. The truth is everything’s fine. You’ve just forgotten how to enjoy it. More
Back In The Day: Moments in Chicago's GLBT history
Gay bars around the city include the Aragon Lounge, 1113 W. Lawrence; Little Bits, 2519 N. Halsted; drag bar Mama Jan’s, 2629 W. 21st St.; Pepper’s, 1502 W. Jarvis; Knight Out, 2936 N. Clark St.; the Blue Pub, 3059 W. Irving Park; and Marilyn’s, 432 N. Clark St... Full Story
“The 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films” (Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International)—Voters have their work cut out for them, and I’m not talking about the presidential election, either. Those qualified to vote for the Academy Awards... Full Story
CFP reviews "Colt Minute Man" & "Getting It". Full Story
Theater
The right setting or situation can trigger a ton of truths. “Not a Game for Boys,” Simon Block’s 1995 drama of male bonding and dis-bonding, is not, as the title implies, about violent sports... Full Story
Victor Hugo hit posthumous pay-dirt with “Les Miserables.” So it’s inevitable that his 1831 novel “Notre Dame de Paris,” equally ardent as it sprawls across 1482 Paris, would inspire... Full Story
It’s hard to imagine exactly how “Avenue Q” won the Tony for Best Musical. That isn’t to say it didn’t deserve it; certainly, it’s a much better show, overall, than the tiresome “Wicked,” which it defeated four years ago on Broadway... Full Story
News
Has Gov. Rod Blagojevich run out of cronies? It would seem so—a new report by the Illinois Auditor General last week slammed the governor for leaving so many appointments unfilled that about a third of the state’s boards and commissions don’t... Full Story
Film, discussion focuses on trans parents
Reconciling the seemingly disparate labels of “transgender” and “parent” was the focus of a film screening and panel discussion about transgender individuals and their families at the Center on Halsted May 21... Full Story
Task Force outlines future outreach opportunities
The Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse met May 21 to address strategies on IML outreach as well as plan a number of community forums May 21... Full Story
Chicago attorney William Borah, a longtime GLBT community activist, is receiving the Illinois State Bar Association’s Award for Community Leadership at the ISBA’s annual meeting in St. Louis June 27... Full Story
CBGMC forum talks about GLBT youth issues
A Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus gathering May 22 at Rainbow PUSH headquarters in Hyde Park called attention to two dilemmas facing many GLBT youth in Chicago—where they can go to hang out when numerous forces in the... Full Story
Lawsuit challenges if doctors can refuse GLBTs
SAN FRANCISCO—Do religious beliefs give doctors the right to withhold medical treatment from lesbians and gay men? That’s the question the California Supreme Court was scheduled to take up this week... Full Story
LONDON—Britain said May 20 that it is granting asylum to a gay Iranian teenager who fears that he could face execution if forced to return to his homeland. Britain’s Border Agency said it would allow asylum for Mehdi Kazemi, who traveled... Full Story
Judges order military to prove need for gay ban
SEATTLE—The military cannot automatically discharge people because they are gay, a federal appeals court ruled May 21 in the case of a decorated flight nurse who sued the Air Force over her dismissal... Full Story
Anti-gay group tries to stall California marriages
SAN FRANCISCO—A conservative legal group asked the California Supreme Court May 22 to put off finalization of its decision legalizing same-sex marriage until voters got a chance to weigh in... Full Story
Editorial
May 26, at 3 p.m., our nation paused for a moment to remember the sacrifices of those who’ve given their lives for this country in military service. The next day, members of the Chicago chapter of American Veterans for Equal... Full Story
With California now leading the way for full marriage rights, it is time for Illinois LGBTs to forthrightly reject the demeaning “solution” of second class citizenship offered by civil... Full Story
Freestyle: arts, entertainment & lifestyle
Eco Rider: More Fun, Less Gas, Fewer Wheels
With gas prices pushing ever higher, the Boystown and Girlstown crowds are fortunate that “cruising” the neighborhood usually takes place on foot. And mass transit makes it easy and economical to get... Full Story
Travel: Get Out Of Paris... And Find France’s Royal Past
Flying to Paris in order to get out of Paris might seem, at first glance, to be a bit odd. After all, why travel that far to stay just outside one of the world’s great cities, rather than in the heart of it? One answer is simple—to live like a king, or at least to see how the kings lived... Full Story
The Ravinia Festival in north suburban Highland Park is one of Chicago’s two summer music programs and the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra... Full Story
It’s a big responsibility being the openly queer front-person of a band on the level of R.E.M., but Michael Stipe has handled it with grace and humor. And it is with grace, humor, concern... Full Story
Fri., June 6: Led by queer front man Michael Stipe, R.E.M plays the United Center, 1901 W. Madison, with special guests Modest Mouse and The National tonight. Call (312) 455-4500. More
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (Lucasfilm/Paramount)—CONTAINS SPOILERS: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is set more... Full Story
I certainly do not consider myself to be insulated in the “gay ghetto.” Although I am out at work, my day job is not in the GLBT community. I socialize both within and outside of... Full Story
Summer Chic: Turning your city home into a summer home
At least once a week, workers at Lovell & Whyte, a shabby-chic-style furniture and accessories store in Lakeside, Michigan, load trucks with slip-covered Ralph Lauren sofas, distressed wood tables, striped... Full Story
