December 17, 2008
Gay anti-violence group: 2008 attacks might be up
NEW YORK—A rash of attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the country—including the severe beating of a New York man whose attackers believed he was gay—suggests the number of reported assaults could rise in 2008, an advocacy group said1... Full Story / Comment
Editorial
National politics/Local problems
The nation’s increasingly intense financial crisis was made even graver last week by the failure of Congress to approve a bailout for Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers. Many congressmen cited the United Auto Workers as the source of their hesitance. The UAW had already made a number of concessions... Full Story / Comment
All of us at Roscoe’s would like to say thanks to the many friends, neighbors, businesses and members of the community who have reached out to us in response to our recent fire. The kindness and support shown by all is sincerely heartwarming. Especially appreciated are the thoughtful offers and gestures of assistance to help our staff... Full Story / Comment
Opinion
Tis the season of giving, and oh boy, do I have things I want to give. Not just to my friends and family—my Christmas shopping has been happily done for weeks... Full Story / Comment
A recent article in The New York Times (Dec. 10, 2008) emphasized the relative youth or newness-to-activism of many of the planners and participants in the demonstrations for same-sex marriage that have occurred since the passage of Proposition 8 in California... Full Story / Comment
Freestyle
‘Diary’ diva: an interview with writer Lily Koppel
With the first day of winter approaching and frigid winter temperatures plummeting outside, wouldn’t it be nice to curl up with a book to warm your heart (and potentially other regions)... Full Story / Comment
Cartier-Bresson and the ‘Photographer’s Notebook’
Photography has long aspired to the status of, if not exactly art, at least a similar ability to represent certain scenes as significant, possess an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of elements and lighting that accentuates the most important facets... Full Story / Comment
Freeview: movie reviews and calendar
”The Day The Earth Stood Still” (20th Century Fox)—Isn’t the point of remaking a movie to make a better one? Someone must have forgotten to tell director Scott Derrickson and screenwriter David Scarpa. Astrobiologist/widow/single... Full Story / Comment
“Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild” (TLA Releasing)—Like its raunchy predecessor, poof flick spoof “Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild,” goes where few dare to tread (without some sort of protection and antibiotics). Pulsating with pop culture references and... Full Story / Comment
Marc Courtney Johnson, with The Dan Cray Trio, plays a CD release show at 8 p.m. at The Morse Theater, 1328 W. Morse. Visit themorse.com... Full Story / Comment
When all is said and done, 2008 probably won’t go down in history as an especially wonderful year for movies. Sure, “The Dark Knight” made the summer a memorable one, but its competition was sorely lacking. With the holiday movie... Full Story / Comment
CFP reviews 'ARFTCo’s Almost-Has-A-Witty-Title (We Really Mean it This Time) Chicago Christmas Spectacular', 'Silent Night of the Lambs', 'Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol', 'Revolt of the Elves: Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas Concert'... Full Story / Comment
Blue is in fashion some years. Sometimes silver. Sometimes gold. But always red and green fits the Christmas season. One of the oldest—and most documented—explanations of the red and green color scheme is that in the 14th century, Adam and Eve Day was celebrated on Dec. 24 and because... Full Story / Comment
There’s never been more reason to celebrate the New Year by ringing out the old and ringing in the new. The country will no longer be Bush-whacked, it’s on the way Barack (sorry for the bad pun—I’ll make my resolution to refrain from those). If you’ve resolved to watch your finances better in 2008, use New Year’s Eve and Day as your last binge. If that still... Full Story / Comment
Holiday Closeouts: Some of the Best Buys of the Season Are in Real Estate
Even in the best of times, the period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is notoriously slow. Real estate agents know that if a property doesn’t sell by Thanksgiving, the chances of selling it before the New Year are slim. They... Full Story / Comment
News
Howard Brown Health Center announced that well-known activist Amber Hollibaugh recently joined its staff. Hollibaugh will spearhead the organization’s Elder Services Community Initiative and LBTI Women’s Services programs... Full Story / Comment
‘Bigots, go home’: GLBTs crash Phelps’ protest
The GLBT community spoke loud and clear on Saturday that hate is not welcome in Chicago, counter-protesting anti-gay bigots who gathered outside of the Center on Halsted and forcing them to quickly give up and leave... Full Story / Comment
Gay leaders, pols discuss Obama policies
Those concerned about the future of GLBT rights gathered at the Center on Halsted on Saturday to discuss the change needed during the Obama Administration to help the community move forward... Full Story / Comment
Activists demand marriage licenses
During “Day Without a Gay” on Dec. 10, about 100 protesters flooded City Hall, demanding same-sex couples be issued marriage licenses. The morning began with a picket line outside... Full Story / Comment
Many ‘call in gay,’ many go to work
SAN FRANCISCO—A daylong work stoppage during which employees were encouraged to “call in gay” to express support for same-sex marriage drew spotty participation nationwide Wednesday, with some gay rights activists praising the concept but questioning its effect... Full Story / Comment
Local gay Catholics protest Vatican
On Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, members of gay Catholic organization Dignity/Chicago and Catholic reform group Call to Action protested outside the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago... Full Story / Comment
MBC board votes to sell building
The Museum of Broadcast Communications Friday announced that its board of directors voted Dec. 10 to sell the museum’s uncompleted building at the corner of State and Kinzie... Full Story / Comment
Equality Illinois names interim E.D.
Equality Illinois announced Monday the addition of attorney Jim Madigan to its team. Madigan, staff attorney at Lambda Legal’s Midwest Regional Office, will serve as the organization’s interim executive director starting Dec. 20... Full Story / Comment
Gay activists anticipate more Hyatt meetings
A few Chicago GLBT community leaders attended a meeting at Hyatt’s global headquarters regarding concern over the large, early donation one of its hotel owners made in support of Proposition 8... Full Story / Comment
AFC starts to put together 2009 agenda
Officials from AIDS Foundation of Chicago met with community members, activists and representatives from other organizations Nov. 11 to begin putting together its legislative agenda for the upcoming year... Full Story / Comment
City settles in police beating case
Before the first witness was even called to the stand, the City of Chicago settled a gay, HIV-positive man’s lawsuit that claimed two police officers beat him and called him anti-gay slurs back in 2006... Full Story / Comment
Gay anti-violence group: 2008 attacks might be up
NEW YORK—A rash of attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the country—including the severe beating of a New York man whose attackers believed he was gay—suggests the number of reported assaults could rise in 2008, an advocacy group said... Full Story / Comment
NYC immigrant beaten in possible hate attack dies
NEW YORK—An Ecuadorean immigrant viciously beaten by men who yelled anti-Hispanic and anti-gay slurs at him and his brother has died, nearly a week after the attack, a family spokesman said Saturday... Full Story / Comment
Birth certificates to reflect NY gay-marriage move
NEW YORK—New York state officials will now let married same-sex couples list both their names on their children’s birth certificates... Full Story / Comment
PORTLAND, Maine—Maine religious leaders and activists are mobilizing for a legislative battle over the politically charged issue of gay marriage. Equality Maine says it has collected more than 33,000 signatures to be sent to lawmakers as a show of support for same-sex marriage... Full Story / Comment
How can lesbians get the health care they need?
It’s no secret that even today, lesbians still aren’t receiving the health care they need. Lesbians face significant barriers to good health care. In Chicago, there are several local... Full Story / Comment
NJ commission: state should allow gay marriage
CAMDEN, New Jersey—A commission has concluded that New Jersey legislators should allow gay couples to marry, setting up what could be a spirited debate over whether the state should be the first to allow gay marriage by passing a law, rather than by court mandate... Full Story / Comment
