February 19, 2009
Weighing in on the issue of lesbians and obesity
According to national health organizations, obesity is one of the nation’s top health concerns, impacting nearly a third of U.S. adults, and research indicates lesbians are not immune.
Several studies suggest that lesbians have a higher BMI (or Body Mass Index, a height-to-weight ratio) than their heterosexual counterparts. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and other health groups list obesity as a major health concern for lesbians, right alongside other issues like high rates of smoking and drinking. Full Story / Comment
Freestyle
Classical sass: an interview with singer/songwriter Susan Werner
Out singer/songwriter Susan Werner is on a roll. Her last couple of studio albums, “I Can’t Be New” and “The Gospel Truth,” have found her in a “theme” mood. On each disc, she put her own personal and original spin on standards (“…New”) and religion (“…Truth”), respectively. The themes continue on Werner’s latest disc, “Classics” (susanwerner.com), which finds her taking a non-traditional approach to a set of contemporary cover tunes. Backed by a chamber quartet, Werner elevates songs by Paul Simon, Marvin Gaye, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder... Full Story / Comment
If there was any city in the United States that could give Detroit a run for the money when it comes to musical output, it would have to be Philadelphia. None of the Chicago labels (including Curtom, Vee-Jay and Mercury) nor Memphis’ Stax Records could quite match the momentum and variety of Philadelphia International Records. Those cities were also hard-pressed to equal the level of talent produced by the City of Brotherly Love... Full Story / Comment
CFP reviews 'True West’ and ‘topdog/underdog','Art' & 'Modigliani'... Full Story / Comment
In theaters: “Confessions of a Shopaholic” (Touchstone)—An insulting and dreadful amalgam of “Sex and The City,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Bride Wars,” “Confessions of a Shopahaolic” isn’t fit to shine Carrie Bradshaw’s Manolos. Fiscally irresponsible journalist Rebecca (Isla Fisher, a second tier Aussie Amy Adams) is deep in debt and thinks a job at fashion... Full Story / Comment
CFP's weekly live performance listing... Full Story / Comment
Actor Mickey Rourke’s recent behavior after leaving Paris Hilton’s birthday bash has left many baffled. TMZ.com caught Rourke smooching a male fan on the face and attempting to crack gay jokes. Rourke, after kissing the fan, said, “I’m gonna kiss you all night long.” Rouke then asked if the two “look good together” and said, “I should have been in that gay movie...I should have been in Milk... Full Story / Comment
Turning up the heat: Nacional 27’s hot Latin American Cuisine
When is an upscale Latin American restaurant not a restaurant? When it converts to an upscale Latin nightclub after 10 p.m. Nacional 27 is easily the hottest, trendiest spot in town to salsa the night away. So, it’s even more amazing that it serves some of the best Latin American cuisine in town. That’s not to say the cocktails aren’t pretty phenomenal... Full Story / Comment
Midlife crisis #250: Nobody Loves You When You're Old and Gay
A friend of mine recently sent me a close-up picture of a camel’s vagina and next to it a picture of me, and a note saying “You Never See Them in the Same Room Together.” I have to admit there was a striking resemblance. Since gravity crept up behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and then punched me in the face, I’ve taken on the appearance of a Sharpei dog—my face has more creases than a squeezed... Full Story / Comment
PISCES (FEBRUARY 21 - MARCH 20): Being in the right place at the right time is the key to everything right now. Nothing happens when we sit home with the clicker. Miracles await those of you who decide to get out there and mingle... Full Story / Comment
1989: Gray Pride present “Maturing in the Gay/Lesbian Community” on the 2nd floor of the Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St... Full Story / Comment
Marketplace
New Orleans in your home: Holding a Mardi Gras party
NEW YORK—There may not be parades with colorful floats and crazed women who do just about anything for beads, but you can still be part of the Mardi Gras fun though you’re miles away from Bourbon Street... Full Story / Comment
News
he upcoming 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit, which will be held in Chicago Aug. 14-18, recently launched its Web site. Visit 2009lbgtihealth.org to learn more about this year’s summit, which will focus on “Health Through the Life Course.” Summit organizers are also calling for workshop proposals. Proposals that address wellness issues of... Full Story / Comment
Couple creates video plea for equality to local lawmakers
Local same-sex marriage advocates and longtime couple Robert Castillo and John Pennycuff decided that for this year’s Freedom to Marry week, they’d try a slightly different approach when contacting their representatives... Full Story / Comment
Clinton speaks at controversial Calif. hotel
SAN DIEGO—about 200 protesters reportedly showed up Sunday as former President Bill Clinton crossed a picket line to make a speech at the embattled Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel. The hotel came under fire after its owner, Douglas Manchester, donated $125,000 to support Proposition 8... Full Story / Comment
Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., unveiled a new space just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend. The space, located on the South side of the building, adjacent to the Glass Bar, an all-wood, intimate room... Full Story / Comment
Inclusive sex ed program launches
Soon, three local GLBT organizations will proudly kick off the launch of a new, groundbreaking multi-disciplinary sex education program geared toward youth. Partners Howard Brown Health Center, About Face Theatre and Beyondmedia Education will... Full Story / Comment
To kick off National Condom Week and spark a discussion about HIV/STD prevention and safe sex practices, Howard Brown Health Center adorned the pylons on Halsted in the Lakeview neighborhood with over-sized condoms last Friday... Full Story / Comment
On Saturday, while many couples celebrated Valentine’s Day, an estimated 300 activists rallied outside of Chicago City Hall to call for full marriage equality. Meanwhile, across the street at the Daley Center, a handful of activists conducted a sit-in after being refused marriage licenses... Full Story / Comment
NYC Protesters: Police target gays as prostitutes
NEW YORK—Gay New Yorkers staged a protest near Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s home Saturday, asking him to stop police from what they say are arrests on false prostitution charges... Full Story / Comment
Suit filed over SoCal classroom murder
VENTURA, Calif. —The family of a gay teenager who was shot to death in class filed a wrongful-death lawsuit that accuses the school district, a shelter and a homosexual rights organization of failing to protect him... Full Story / Comment
SALT LAKE CITY—The head of a gay rights group says he plans to file a second campaign finance complaint about the Mormon church’s activities in the fall ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California. Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, says The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deliberately covered up its financial... Full Story / Comment
Man sues US college over anti-gay marriage speech
LOS ANGELES—A college student has filed a lawsuit saying a public speaking professor berated him in class for making a speech opposing same-sex marriage. In the federal court suit filed last week, student Jonathan Lopez said that midway through his speech, when he quoted a dictionary definition of... Full Story / Comment
Harris endorses O’Connor for 5th District race
Openly gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) last week endorsed Ald. Patrick O’Connor in his bid to fill Rahm Emanuel’s seat in the 5th Congressional District. Harris often worked closely with and voted alongside Reps. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and John Fritchey (D-Chicago) in the House, and acknowledged that the current election was offering... Full Story / Comment
Opinion
Stopping the Right’s misinformation
Last week, a Grand Rapids, Mich., television station decided to pull an hour-long infomercial called “Speechless: Silencing the Christians.” Whether this was a good decision for gay and lesbian civil rights or a bad one depends on what happens next... Full Story / Comment
I am something of a fan of gay-owned businesses. I myself don’t have much of the entrepreneurial spirit, but I admire it in others and am delighted when they make a success of it... Full Story / Comment
Editorial
Who was responsible for Lawrence King?
In California this past week, the family of 15-year-old Lawrence King, who was shot to death last year by Brandon McInerney, his classmate at E.O. Green Jr. High in Oxnard, Calif., filed suit against his school district, a shelter and a gay rights organization, saying that they failed to protect him... Full Story / Comment
It was one of those newspaper headlines you read and say to yourself, “Who are they kidding?” I’m referring to the recent International Herald Tribune article titled, “Gay-marriage opponents want to be anonymous.” The article discusses how the Mormons, Knights of Columbus and other... Full Story / Comment
