February 26, 2009
Rick Karlin picks the best restaurants in town
Regular readers of my column may have noticed that this year’s Golden Spoon Awards are being announced a bit later in the year. That comes as a suggestion from my editor, who felt that the announcement of the Golden Spoon Awards deserved its own focus, as opposed to being announced with the Pressie Awards. More time in the spotlight? I’m not complaining.
I’ve also taken this opportunity to restructure the format of the award presentations. There’s more of a focus on neighborhood places, rather than lumping all... Full Story / Comment
Freestyle
‘Battler’ stations: an interview with out singer/songwriter Gregory Douglass
“Battler” (Emote) is out singer/songwriter Gregory Douglass’s seventh CD. The Vermont resident, who has made a name for himself through his well-received, independently released CDs and live performances (including numerous house concerts), takes listeners to some dark places on his latest disc... Full Story / Comment
CFP reviews 'Our Town', 'Stupid Kids' & 'The Robber Bridegroom'... Full Story / Comment
CFP's weekly live performance listing... Full Story / Comment
Although it wasn’t immediately apparent, hip-hop groundbreaker and music awards ceremony scene-maker Kanye West turns out to have a sensitive side. We learned that a few years back when his outspokenness on the subject of homophobia in the hip-hop community earned him newfound respect among GLBT folk... Full Story / Comment
The Chicago Cultural Center is presenting a much deserved 50-year retrospective exhibition of the paintings of Chicago artist William Conger--from 1958 to 2008... Full Story / Comment
Clocking in at three and one quarter hours, the 81st annual Oscars broadcast was time well spent, especially for GLBT viewers. Hot and handsome host Hugh Jackman was a Jackman of all trades, singing, dancing and making the most of what he was given to... Full Story / Comment
Many of the celebrities who walked the red carpet to the 81st Academy Awards on Sunday took a green drive to the show. Toyota teamed up with Econation green ground transportation to provide 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrids to transport the stars to the celebration... Full Story / Comment
Midlife crisis #251: Urine for a big surprise
I’ve just read that the Cow Protection Department of the Rashtriya Swayamsevek Sangh (SRS), India’s Hindu nationalist movement, are developing a new soft drink made from cow urine. It’s called “gau jal,” which is Sanskrit for “cow water.” Om Prakash, head of the department making the drink, insists that the new cola won’t... Full Story / Comment
PISCES: If you think that you’re surrounded by love and support, watch what happens when you tell others you want to do your own thing. They’re so content with this arrangement any mention of change is bound to freak them out... Full Story / Comment
This week in 1991: Direct from the Riviera in Las Vegas & Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, Stoney Jones, the only female Elvis impersonator in the country! She performs at Temptations 10235 Grand Ave., Franklin Park... Full Story / Comment
Marketplace
Auto show focuses on gas-saving green innovation
The overriding theme of the 2009 Chicago Auto Show was that the auto industry is quickly moving toward a more eco-friendly future. Nearly every automaker touted new production and concept vehicles that are fuel efficient (or fuel-less!) from electric compact cars to hybrid super-sized SUVs... Full Story / Comment
How did you spend Oscar Night 2009? Sitting on the sofa in front of your old TV—the one with such bad color reception you couldn’t be sure what color Angelina Jolie’s dress really was? Or worse, sitting with friends in a bar so loud you missed all the funny quips and acceptance speeches... Full Story / Comment
Breaking News
Mormon Temple plans anti-civil union push
By Amy Wooten
Staff writer
An Illinois Mormon Temple has been planning to bombard state legislators with phone calls today opposing openly gay State Rep. Greg Harris’ (D-Chicago) civil unions bill, which is up for a committee vote tomorrow morning.
Harris introduced the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, or HB2234, on Feb. 20. It has been assigned to a March 5 Youth and Family Committee hearing.
According to Boxturtlebulletin.com and other news sources, an email authorized by Bishop Chris Church of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple was sent to Illinois members via its private communications Web site. Several news sources retrieved a copy of the e-mail, which encourages members to call Illinois legislators, particularly those who sit on the Youth and Family Committee, in opposition of civil unions. Harris sits on the committee along with LaShawn Ford, Al Riley, William Burns, Michael McAuliffe, Mike Fortner and Dave Winter.
A copy of the email is at www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/03/03/9359 .
The Mormon Church was a driving force behind the passage of California’s Prop 8.
Harris introduced civil unions legislation in 2007. It passed a committee vote, but due to ex-governor Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment, died when the last legislative session ended.
When reached for comment by CFP, officials of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple insisted that the email did not originate from them.
"We have gotten calls generated by the appeal made by the Mormon Church," Harris said. "But by and large they haven't been from constituents."
Harris pointed out that the memo was "full of errors" about the civil union legislation. "I am absolutely disgusted by the fact they won't tell the truth and that they are using exaggeration, distortion and lies," he said.
Updated Wednesday, 5:03pm.
News
On March 6, an opening reception for artist Bret Grafton’s photographic collection of GLBT athletes will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St... Full Story / Comment
Fifth District race enters final stretch
Just steps from the Center on Halsted, 20 individuals vying to fill the vacated 5th U.S. District Congressional seat tried to distinguish themselves from one another at a Sunday forum as election day nears... Full Story / Comment
Wisconsin governor proposes same-sex partnerships
MADISON, Wis.—Same-sex couples could form domestic partnerships and receive dozens of the same legal benefits as married people under a proposal by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle... Full Story / Comment
Evangelical megachurch pastor quits because of ‘sexual impurity’
Willow Creek Community Church’s Chicago pastor recently quit, citing “sexual impurity,” according to a statement released by church officials Feb. 17. Church officials would not extrapolate on their definition of "sexual impurity"... Full Story / Comment
Hawaii is latest civil unions battleground
HONOLULU—Hawaii has now become the latest battleground in the fight for same-sex civil unions. It would become the fifth state to legalize the alternative to gay marriage if the Democratic-dominated Legislature... Full Story / Comment
Mich. court recognizes Il. adoption by lesbian couple
LANSING, Mich.—Michigan courts can oversee a custody dispute between lesbian parents who adopted in Illinois even though Michigan doesn’t formally recognize gay relationships, the state Court of Appeals said Friday... Full Story / Comment
Calif. lawmakers back Prop. 8 challenge
SACRAMENTO—A legislative committee last Tuesday endorsed legal efforts to overturn California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, as gay rights activists worked the halls of the Capitol to try to get the full Legislature on record as opposing Proposition 8... Full Story / Comment
Growing HIV rates among gay, bisexual men in Asia
HONG KONG—The AIDS virus is spreading rapidly among gay and bisexual men in Asia as younger people shun condoms and authorities fail to increase awareness of the disease, health officials said Friday... Full Story / Comment
PORTLAND, Ore.—A gay magazine says the young man at the center of a sex scandal that nearly derailed Portland Mayor Sam Adams has agreed to appear nude for the publication... Full Story / Comment
“Milk” screenwriter accepts award with equality plea
Sean Penn of course wasn’t the only Oscar winner for “Milk” Sunday night. Dustin Lance Black, the 34-year-old screenwriter who penned the script for Gus Van Sant’s film, accepted his Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Sunday night with an impassioned plea for GLBT equality... Full Story / Comment
Candidate Profiles
O’Connor: I’ve been involved in a way that helps
Of the sea of candidates running for Rahm Emanuel’s open U.S. House of Representatives seat, Alderman Patrick O’Connor has the longest political record. But O’Connor says it’s not how long he’s served as a lawmaker that necessarily matters... Full Story / Comment
Fritchey: “I’m running on what I’ve done.”
State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) is among 20-plus people aching to represent Illinois 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, but he’s taking all the clamor and clawing to the March 3 special election in stride. “You’d think there was an election or something coming up,” Fritchey joked... Full Story / Comment
Opinion
For five months, I’m moving back to Chicago. Which has a nice symmetry about it. I first moved to Chicago in 1994, the year I graduated from college. I had been seeing Kristina for two years, and after our domestic partnership ceremony on the shores of our college lake, we packed up a Ryder truck and drove across... Full Story / Comment
Gay students in public schools
Both the Chicago Tribune and The New York Times published articles about gay issues in public (government) schools last Friday (Feb. 20). If that isn’t a sign from the empyrean that I should write about that, I don’t know what one would look like... Full Story / Comment
Editorial
The 5th District Race: An embarrassment of riches
This Tuesday, voters head back to the voting booths, their first step towards selecting a replacement for former U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel. With some 23 candidates vying in next week’s primary, this has been a top-heavy contest that’s been accompanied by a great deal of backroom acrimony. Union... Full Story / Comment
I want to express a contrasting take on Marc Loveless’ letter in the Jan. 21 edition concerning the marriage issue, especially as it pertains to the African-American, queer, lesbian, gay, bi-, transgender population. First of all, as a group we don’t all share the same view on the institution, nor the importance, nor how it is defined as a priority... Full Story / Comment
