June 18, 2008
Nation Report
BOSTON—The youngest daughter of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said in an interview published June 12 that she’s gay, and came out to her parents after lawmakers voted to kill a proposal that could have outlawed gay marriage in the state. Katherine Patrick said her father responded to her announcement by giving her a bear hug and saying, “Well, we love you no matter what... Full Story
Judge Questions State Marriage Laws
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—A Rhode Island Superior Court judge has refused to hear the divorce case of a lesbian couple, but questioned whether the law that barred the women from ending their marriage unconstitutionally denied them a right enjoyed by heterosexual Rhode Islanders. The Rhode Island Supreme Court... Full Story
Gays Win $2.84 Million For Firefighters’ Bias
JERSEY CITY, N.J.—A gay couple who say unruly and drunken volunteer firefighters threatened and harassed them have been awarded $2.84 million in damages by a Hudson County jury. Peter de Vries and Timothy Carter claimed in a lawsuit that town officials in Secaucus did little to protect their civil rights or investigate the firefighters’ actions... Full Story
Man gets three years for slaying of gay man
COLUMBIA, S.C.—A 19-year-old South Carolina man was sentenced June 11 to three years in prison in the death of an openly gay man outside a Greenville bar, the defendant’s attorney said. Stephen Andrew Moller was sentenced after pleading guilty Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter in the May 2007 death of 20-year-old Sean William Kennedy, defense attorney Ryan Beasley said... Full Story
Woman to stand trial with porn-actor sons
PHILADELPHIA—A woman whose twin sons were aspiring models and gay porn actors has been ordered to stand trial with them in the burglary of a Philadelphia business. Keyontyli and Taleon Goffney of Pennsauken, N.J., were arrested Feb. 19 after authorities said they watched the 25-year-old twins break into a South Philadelphia beauty shop through the roof... Full Story
Federal judge upholds ban on gays in military
BOSTON—A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by 12 gay and lesbian veterans who had challenged the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The plaintiffs had all been discharged under the policy instituted by Congress... Full Story
Philly Police Becoming More Gay-Friendly
PHILADELPHIA—The police commissioner in Philadelphia is considering launching a full-time unit dedicated to improving relations with the gay community. Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said the initiative would be a trust-building venture modeled after a detachment he created in Washington in 2000, when he was commissioner there... Full Story
Opinion
“Do you think she’ll recognize me?” the voice behind me said. I turned, and there was Mrs. R, a woman whose kids I had babysat all through high school. The speaker was Mrs. S.—I had babysat for her a few times, too. It was the first time I had been to my hometown since my... Full Story
We often hear from gay leaders of the diversity of the gay (or GLBT, or LGBTQ, etc.) community. Each June we have Pride Parade slogans like “Celebrate Diversity,” or “Unity in Diversity” (or maybe it’s the other way around). But no one ever explains exactly what our diversity consists in nor why diversity is a good thing or why we should celebrate it, nor do... Full Story
Freetime
Dramatic new photographs have emerged of one of the few remaining peoples on Earth who have had no contact with the industrial technological world outside of the Amazon River Basin of South America. The photographs, taken from a plane, show three scantily clad Indians in a forest clearing staring up and waving their handkerchiefs at the “metal bird in the sky... Full Story
SAGITTARIUS: NOVEMBER 21-DECEMBER 20: Before you invite people back into your life make sure that you’re ready for it. Love is a mutual thing and you need to be willing to give more than you get. This won’t work if you’re doing it just to prove that you can. More
“The Witnesses” (Strand Releasing)—Gay filmmaker André Téchiné, who gave us a portrait of gay life in the 1960s in “Wild Reeds,” turns his attention to the 1980s and the impact of the AIDS virus. Effervescent young man Manu (Johan Libéreau) arrives in Paris to the surprise of his aspiring opera singer... Full Story
1976: It’s the Grand Opening of Touché at 2825 N. Lincoln Ave. 1981: It’s Prom Night at Broadway Limited, 3132 N. Broadway, in Carmichael Village. There is a $100 cash prize each for the King and Queen... Full Story
CFP reviews "Roger" & "The Road Home". Full Story
Theater
The challenges of change dominate the lives of the hapless men in “Gas for Less,” the latest drama from prolific local playwright Brett Neveu. Issues of gentrification loom in the background—the opportunities it brings and, moreover, the ways of life it obliterates—but this is no mere anti-development screed. Neveu’s too savvy a writer for that... Full Story
Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day
Much more than a jazz-influenced Beat exercise, Lookingglass Theatre and the Museum of Contemporary Art’s “Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day” immerses the viewer in the grimy beauty of early 20th-century Chicago life. Utilizing selections from Algren’s “Chicago: City on the Make” and “The Last Carousel”, this production celebrates the sights, sounds and smells... Full Story
The Kid from Brooklyn—The Danny Kaye Musical
“The Kid from Brooklyn” arrived in Chicago flush with glowing reviews from prior runs in Los Angeles and Ft. Lauderdale—and purportedly headed for New York. I don’t think it will make it there. I feel guilty for not liking this hard-working production, which chronicles the life of legendary entertainer Danny Kaye (1913–1987). There’s... Full Story
Pride Series 3 of 4
Tending Community: Longtime Bartenders have witnessed growth of chicago’s GLBT community
Karen Edens, who’s been bartending at Sidetrack since 1993, gives her job description as “I’m an aunt, a mom, a psychiatrist and a friend.” She then adds to that “concierge for Boystown.” As Sidetrack has gone from being a “neighborhood bar” to a “destination bar,” she often finds... Full Story
News
Want to fix Illinois’ budget deficit and give a boost to the state’s tourism and hospitality industry?
Well, consider how many gay and lesbian couples, including more than a few from Illinois are flocking to California this week to get married. One study projects that California stands to raise more than $20 million... Full Story
Couples celebrate marriages across California
WOODLAND, Calif.: It took a few days for last month’s California Supreme Court decision to sink in for Wes Wilkinson and Jeff Barr. Then it struck them, while they were driving to a rodeo social. “I proposed to him and then Full Story
Daley, others remember McKeon at Truman
Mayor Richard Daley was among the many politicians and community members who gathered June 14 at Truman College to pay their respects to former state Rep. Larry McKeon, who passed away May 13. “All of us feel a sense of loss but all of us feel a sense joy at his memory,” Daley said of... Full Story
Tunney bill tweaks DP ordinance
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) last week introduced a bill he said would modify the city’s domestic partner benefit law to extend protections to gay and lesbian city employees who marry in constituencies where gay marriage is legal. Tunney and local GLBT advocates said the bill was “technical,” but would address a... Full Story
Dyke March readies for move to Pilsen
Organizers of the 2008 Dyke March met with community members at the Center on Halsted June 16 to explain about the event’s change of venue this year and hear questions and comments from participants. Early this year, Dyke March’s planning committee announced that, after several years of stepping off in Andersonville, this... Full Story
LAC convention focuses on homeless youth and police
Lakeview Action Coalition’s annual convention June 16 at Anshe Emet Synagogue drew attention to growing concerns about resources for homeless youth who come to this neighborhood. LAC usually invites prominent politicians and other community leaders and calls upon... Full Story
Forum discusses sex and safety for gay men online
A forum at the Center on Halsted June 12 explored the potential benefits and pitfalls of cruising for sex online. “Sex on the Superhighway” brought together Stephen Adelson, former general manager of Manhunt.com, Beau Gatzer, of... Full Story
Trans rights make steady advance across the country
NEW YORK—As more state and local governments extend anti-bias protections to transgender people, fierce opposition is surfacing. In Colorado, conservatives contend a new state law will enable sexual predators to frequent women’s bathrooms; in Maryland a “Not My Shower” campaign seeks to overturn a comparable county law... Full Story
Editorial
Editorial
Sen. Barack Obama has made much of his commitment to the GLBT community and there is a record there to commend. As a state senator in the Illinois Legislature Obama supported efforts to outlaw bias against GLBTs in employment, housing and public accommodations and this year has spoken on a number of occasions... Full Story
After much consideration by our board and members, it is with regret that we write this letter announcing our decision to forgo this year’s Human Rights Campaign dinner in San Francisco, scheduled for July 16. We also encourage others in the LGBT community and our allies to forgo HRC’s gala event this year, due to HRC’s... Full Story
Freestyle: arts, entertainment & lifestyle
When they knew: An interview with documentary filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey
Gay documentary duo Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey have long attached a gay sensibility to their considerable body of work. Films such as “Party Monster” (both the documentary and the dramatic feature), “101 Rent Boys” and “Hidden Fuhrer,” as well as “The Eyes of... Full Story
T-shirts as tools,words for the wise
Five days after the Democratic Party’s primary season came to an end I was casting about for a new slogan for self-expression. At the advice of my candidate-of-choice for 17 months, I was trying hard not to dwell on what might have been had she won. So, I came up with, “OK, I’ll vote for you. But don’t call me ‘sweetie.’” Wordy, but it fit me to a T, so to speak... Full Story
Wed. June 18: Ravinia Festival, 200-231 Ravinia Park Road in Highland Park, presents Robert Plant and Alison Krauss with Sharon Little. Call (847) 266-5100. More
Maintaining a sense of humor is crucial in these days of war and the Bushing of America. Being fierce is important, but so is being funny, something lesbian comedian Kate Clinton has a firm grasp on with her new CD “Climate Change” (Whyscrack). Recorded at the Birchmere outside of Washington, D.C., it is, as you might expect, popping with political humor. Clinton is wicked... Full Story
“The Happening” (20th Century Fox)—Perhaps “The Sixth Senseless” would have been a better name for the sixth film in M. Night Shyamalan’s series of modern thrillers. Not to be confused with the 1967 “hippie” comedy with the Diana Ross and the Supremes theme song, Shyamalan’s “The Happening” involves a mysterious event that begins in Central Park after 8:30 a.m., then proceeds to be repeated throughout Manhattan... Full Story
Just as diversity is one of the strengths of our community, so too is it a strength of our city. You’d be hard-pressed to find a city with such a diverse array of dining options. One of the agencies that most embodies this commitment to diversity is Common Threads, which provides after-school programming to children ages 8-12 who are on the free or assisted lunch program. Its mission is to “educate children... Full Story
Lenders stung by the housing bust are slashing prices dramatically to rid themselves of an unprecedented number of foreclosed properties, sparking bidding wars in some places that hearken back to the market’s go-go years and may signal the bottom is near. The trend is most dramatic in many parts of California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona... Full Story
