June 11, 2008
Nation Report
Wuorinen commissioned to make ‘Brokeback’ the opera
NEW YORK—The New York City Opera commissioned Charles Wuorinen to compose an opera based on “Brokeback Mountain,” the 1997 short story by Annie Proulx that became the basis for a 2005 movie that won three Academy Awards... Full Story
Rosie says she and Kelli won’t marry yet
NEW YORK—Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is doing it. So is “Star Trek” actor George Takei. But comedian Rosie O’Donnell isn’t jumping at the chance to walk down the aisle... Full Story
Virginia high court rules in favor of lesbian mom
RICHMOND, Va.—Virginia’s highest court ruled June 6 that the state must enforce a Vermont court order awarding child-visitation rights to a mother’s former lesbian partner... Full Story
Nevada offers partner benefits to state employees
CARSON CITY, Nev.—A Nevada panel that oversees health insurance benefits for state employees voted June 5 to extend coverage to domestic partners, including those of the same sex, despite budget problems that could make the... Full Story
Opinion
I’ve never been a gay bar type of girl. Actually, I’ve never been a bar type of girl. Mostly it’s because I’m a lightweight when it comes to drinking. “You’re a cheap date,” my mom says, when I water down martinis... Full Story
Thank goodness it’s over—the race for the Democratic nomination, that is. It started way too early and lasted way too long. I suspect that “politics fatigue” has set in for most of us, yet the general election... Full Story
Freetime
As you read this column the rabidly homophobic snot-wipes at the American Family Association are busy gathering like a poisonous cloud of mustard gas for their “Love Won Out” conference in Orlando, Fla., to celebrate... Full Story
PISCES: You have a few things that are about to come full circle. Your efforts to make this work have been challenged by people who won’t budge. No matter how you try to enlighten them it will take much stronger medicine to wake them up. More
“Saturday Night at the Baths” (Water Bearer Films)—Michael (Robert Aberdeen) moves from Montana to Manhattan and gets a job as a piano player at the Continental Baths, the legendary gay sex emporium. Here’s where things begin to get tricky... Full Story
The comedy hit of the year, “Sexual Perversity in Chicago,” is still running at the Apollo Theater Center, 2540 N. Lincoln. At the bars this week the Cabaret Players are back at the Frog Pond, 2917 N. Sheffield... Full Story
CFP reviews "Kiss Off" & "Schoolmates". Full Story
Theater
Drury Lane Oakbrook’s ebullient “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” is not only a first-class musical extravaganza, but also a surprisingly appropriate celebration for Pride Month. Any gay person... Full Story
A stage full of naked male flesh, musical odes to body parts, jokes about dick size—that’s the kind of material you might expect if you were going to see “Barenaked Lads.” But this show’s playing... Full Story
Bohemian Theatre Ensemble throws enough passion, talent and innovation into this production to send it soaring into the stratosphere. But... Full Story
Pride Series 2 of 4
From birthday to legend: The story of ‘Night of 100 Drag Queens’
What started out as a few friends gathering for a birthday party has turned into one of Chicago’s most popular GLBT events. That’s not just my opinion—if you Google “Night of 100 Drag Queens” you’ll get about 500 hits... Full Story
News
He’s rested. He’s ready. He has an Oscar. Frankly, all this talk about who Barack Obama should pick as his vice presidential running mate has me perplexed. I mean, here we have a party that’s in the unique position of having within its ranks the person who... Full Story
Harris: Pressure still needed on civil unions
State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) announced June 9 that House Bill 1826, which would allow civil unions in Illinois, has cleared its final procedural hurdles... Full Story
Mother Nature hurled numerous obstacles before riders on the 2008 Ride for AIDS Chicago this past weekend, but it wasn’t enough to stop any of the riders from completing the 180-mile trek between Evanston and Lake Geneva, Wisc. June 7-8... Full Story
Court says California marriages can start June 17
SAN FRANCISCO—Gay and lesbian couples around California are planning their nuptials following a refusal by the state’s highest court to delay its decision legalizing same-sex marriage... Full Story
Robinson, partner get civil union in New Hampshir
CONCORD, N.H.—The first openly gay Episcopal bishop and his partner have been united in a private civil union in New Hampshire. The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson was legally joined to Mark... Full Story
Federal restrictions hurt efforts to combat AIDS
SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah AIDS Foundation will pass on accepting federal funds for an HIV-prevention ad campaign this year, saying strict federal controls have led to blander, less effective messages... Full Story
Editorial
By the time Chicago’s 39th annual celebration of Pride rolls through Lakeview June 29 thousands of gay and lesbian partners will have something they don’t have now: A piece of paper declaring, de facto, that they at last are recognized... Full Story
I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. Too often the issue... Full Story
Freestyle: arts, entertainment & lifestyle
Evelyn Statsinger: Geometry and Biology
During her long creative life, Chicago artist Evelyn Statsinger has worked in a variety of styles and media, from early black and white pen and ink drawings to colorful pastels and more... Full Story
‘Grace’ under pressure: an interview with gay filmmaker Tom Kalin
“Savage Grace” is gay filmmaker Tom Kalin’s first full-length feature film since “Swoon,” his acclaimed and erotically charged 1992 film dramatization of thrill-killers Leopold and Loeb. Like that... Full Story
Toasting pride: a rainbow of colors, diverse flavors
“Out of the bars, into the streets,” activists shouted as they marched through Boystown in the days after the killing of Matthew Shepard and again in the annual anti-violence marches to follow... Full Story
“OSS 117: Nest of Spies” (Music Box Films)—You could call this movie season the secret agent summer and probably not get too much of an argument from anyone. With “Indiana Jones” already in theaters and the movie version of “Get Smart” waiting... Full Story
Billy Bragg performs at 8 p.m. at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Call (773) 929-5959. More
George Michael is back! Putting the mix of all of his recent bad press and questionable behavior behind him, the Greek god of 1980s pop music is on a cross-country concert tour promoting the expanded domestic... Full Story
Spring may have come late to Chicago (again!), but that hasn’t stopped a number of new dining establishments from popping up like twinks at an open bar... Full Story
The party’s on the roof: Condo buyers embrace outdoor space
Not long ago, if you lived in the city and wanted outdoor space, there was only one solution: Move to the burbs and buy a house with a patio and a yard... Full Story
