January 14, 2008
Robinson to give prayer at preinaugural event
CONCORD, N.H.—The first openly gay Episcopal bishop will offer a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial at an inaugural event for President-elect Barack Obama. The selection of New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson for Sunday’s event follows weeks of criticism from gay-rights groups over Obama’s decision to have... Full Story / Comment
Editorial
This past Saturday saw the most recent of several area protests calling for marriage rights for the GLBT community. It is comforting that now, over two months after election day, activists are still energized enough that they were willing to brave snow and sub-freezing temperatures for the chance to once again stick up for their rights... Full Story / Comment
Today I attended President-elect Barack Obama’s highly anticipated speech in which he called for urgent action to reverse a collapsing economy. America becomes stronger when all people are allowed to participate on a level playing field. The incoming administration’s plan for this ailing economy appears to include initiatives that gain ground lost... Full Story / Comment
Freestyle
‘Liberty’ and the pursuit of happiness: an interview with Cathy Richardson
Followers of the Chicago music scene of the last several years will surely recognize the name of out singer/songwriter Cathy Richardson. She was a fixture on the circuit throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century. She went on to make a name for herself in the Chicago production of the stage musical “Love, Janis,” which led her to New York and other cities. Among... Full Story / Comment
Freeview: movie reviews, calendar and DVDiva
Bride Wars (20th Century Fox)—While having tea with their mothers at the Plaza Hotel in New York, young BFFs Emma and Liv see a wedding party make their entrance and get the fever for June weddings at the Plaza. Twenty years later, high-powered attorney Liv (Kate Hudson) and low-paid middle-school teacher Emma... Full Story / Comment
In recent years, the popularity of metal, in weights from heavy to hardcore and anything in between, has been on the increase. New albums by stalwarts AC/DC and Metallica and new kids on the block including Rise Against and Eagles of Death Metal offer proof in the pounding... Full Story / Comment
American Idol’s Taylor Hicks takes a break from playing the Teen Angel in “Grease” to perform an intimate set at 10 p.m. at Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 404-9494... More / Comment
Studio space: outfitting an artist’s nook
A general rule for home offices is that they should be free from distractions, free from elements that trigger daydreaming or window-gazing or mind-wandering. Not so the home studio, which should be stocked with all that stimulates the creative mind—from Silly Putty to a volume by William Shakespeare... Full Story / Comment
CFP reviews 'Macbeth', 'Miss Saigon' & 'Million Dollar Quartet'... Full Story / Comment
GM, Chrysler, credit unions expand loan programs
NEW YORK—Automakers General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, along with a group of credit unions, said Wednesday that they are expanding to all 50 states programs that offer low-cost loans and special pricing incentives to credit union members... Full Story / Comment
What is it about a chaise lounge that creates an air of decadence? Perhaps it’s the fact that those using one are nearly reclining. Or perhaps it is because the word is derived from French and anything French seems decadent. Originally called a chaise longue, which in French literally means long chair, the term now brings to mind scenes from movies, such... Full Story / Comment
January’s a great time to rethink your space
Our revels now are ended. It’s time to clean up.
Across America, we’re busy stowing Santas, putting away menorahs and dragging dried-out Christmas trees to the curb. In living rooms and dining rooms nationwide, tables and chairs are being nudged back into their normal, pre-holiday positions. But what if everything didn’t have to go back into its usual spot... Full Story / Comment
Opinion
Coming out is no longer enough
We used to think that coming out was enough. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” we said. Come out and live happy, full gay lives. Be a doctor who’s openly gay, a plumber who’s openly gay, a CEO, a celebrity, a secretary, a parent... Full Story / Comment
Barely two weeks before the November 4 election, the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family posted a long “Letter from a Christian 2012,” purporting to describe changes wrought by a President Obama, should he be elected—what a conservative Christian would call a... Full Story / Comment
News
AIDS Foundation of Chicago announced that its registration and scholarship pages for the 9th Annual Lobby Days are now open. During State Trek: Illinois HIV/AIDS Lobby Days 2009, advocates will discuss key issues with state legislators and try to garner support for legislation that benefits those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Lobby Days will take place March 3-4 at the state’s capitol in Springfield... Full Story / Comment
Activists brave winter to take on DOMA
Sub-freezing temperatures and near-blizzard conditions did not stop activists and community members from descending on downtown Chicago Saturday for the city’s first anti-Defense of Marriage Act rally of 2009. A small “feeder” rally in front of Global Hyatt corporate headquarters called attention once more to the significant donation made by California businessman Doug... Full Story / Comment
Anti-gay job discrimination charges rising
Complaints to the Illinois Department of Human Rights alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation are on the rise. It’s been three years since law expanding the Illinois Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity was enacted, and according to IDPH director Rocco Claps, sexual orientation discrimination charges... Full Story / Comment
Court sides with Episcopals over property
SAN FRANCISCO—California’s high court ruled last week that three parishes that left the U.S. Episcopal Church over its ordination of gay ministers cannot retain ownership of their church buildings and property. In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court ruled Dec. 5 that the Southern California... Full Story / Comment
Gay-friendly Green enters Fifth District race
Alan Augustson might have only nabbed a small percentage of the votes in his race against former U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) in November, but that isn’t stopping him from giving his fight for the seat, now up for grabs, another go... Full Story / Comment
Dems line up to fill Emanuel’s shoes
The race for Rahm Emanuel’s open Congressional seat representing Illinois’ 5th District is well under way. Nearly a dozen individuals have filed with the Federal Election Commission as of press time, including several GLBT allies and progressives from the heavily Democratic district. Several... Full Story / Comment
Obama names openly gay man to head Export-Import Bank
President-elect Barack Obama has appointed an openly gay man to his economic team. Fred P. Hochberg, currently a Board Commissioner for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and until recently Dean of the Robert J. Milano School of Management... Full Story / Comment
Windy City Sweets: Longtime fixture on a changing street
For more than a quarter century, Windy City Sweets has been a fixture on the changing Broadway business corridor. The store was founded by two gay men, Jerry Sherwood and his life-partner at the time, Mike Liska. Taking over a space formerly occupied by a shoe repair shop, they opened for business... Full Story / Comment
California gay marriage foes want donors anonymou
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Opponents of gay marriage in California have filed a lawsuit seeking to block their campaign finance records from public view, saying some people who donated to the campaign have faced harassment. “No one should have to worry about getting a death threat because of the way he or she votes,” said... Full Story / Comment
Suspects charged in gang rape of California lesbian
en and a teen were charged in the alleged gang rape of a San Francisco Bay area lesbian, an incident that has sparked protests and an outpouring of support for the 28-year-old woman. Prosecutors on Tuesday charged 31-year-old Humberto Hernandez Salvador of Richmond and 21-year-old Josue... Full Story / Comment
Prop. 8 backers blast Calif. Attorney General
SAN FRANCISCO—Sponsors of California’s voter-approved gay marriage ban accused Attorney General Jerry Brown last week of advancing a far-fetched legal theory to justify overturning it. In papers submitted to the state Supreme Court, lawyers for the Protect... Full Story / Comment
Oregon church to stop signing marriage licenses
ASHLAND, Ore.—The clergy at one Ashland church are refusing to sign marriage licenses until same-sex couples can legally tie the knot. The Rev. Pam Shepherd and three retired clergy members who attend the Congregational United Church of Christ will still perform weddings. For the license, however... Full Story / Comment
Mesa councilman wants domestic-partner registry
PHOENIX—Mesa may become the third city in the state to offer hospital-visitation rights to unmarried gay or straight couples who live together. Mesa Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh has asked the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would allow domestic partners to register... Full Story / Comment
Larry Craig dropping further appeals
MINNEAPOLIS—Former Idaho Sen. Larry Craig has reached the end of the road in his effort to reverse his conviction in an airport bathroom sex sting, one of his lawyers said Thursday... Full Story / Comment
Pastor in gay scandal: I’m back from ‘wilderness’
Speaking out two years after being embroiled in a gay sex scandal, former evangelical pastor Ted Haggard said Friday his sexual identity is complex and can’t be put into “stereotypical boxes,” but that his relationship with his wife is stronger than ever... Full Story / Comment
Ex-eBay CEO largely unknown amid Calif. election bid
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Former eBay executive Meg Whitman brings intrigue and a big bank account to California’s beleaguered Republican Party. And her likely entry into the 2010 governor’s race gives the party a candidate with a corporate... Full Story / Comment
PITTSBURGH—A private Pittsburgh club billed as a health club where an Ohio man was found dead had faced a city-ordered shut down because of a complaint about sexual activity. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Club Pittsburgh continued to operate after its politically connected owners talked with city officials... Full Story / Comment
2 charged in Seattle with gay immigration fraud
SEATTLE—A federal grand jury has charged two people in an alleged immigration fraud conspiracy, saying they advised straight immigrants to claim homosexuality—and potential persecution in their home countries—when they applied for political asylum... Full Story / Comment
9 men jailed in Senegal for homosexual acts
DAKAR, Senegal—Nine men, including a prominent activist, have been convicted of homosexual acts and sentenced to eight years in prison, their lawyer and a gay rights group said Thursday. Diadji Diouf, who heads an organization that provides HIV prevention services to gay men in Senegal, and the others were... Full Story / Comment
