Weekly news from the GLBT world http://www.windycitytimes.com/windycitytimes.html 2008-05-09T18:55:07-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://www.windycitytimes.com/images/publications/wct/2008-05-07/current.jpg text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Andrew Davis http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18258 Martha Hernandez, M.D., is a psychiatrist in a unique position. She is one of the few such physicians on staff at a local HIV/AIDS agencyin this case, Better Existence with HIV ; BEHIV ; . Hernandez recently talked with Windy City Times about her professional background and the services she provides. ; Hernandez photo by Frank Failing of Male Image Photography ; text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Amy Wooten http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18266 A sculpture of historic gay icon Harvey Milk will be unveiled at the San Francisco City Hall on May 22. Milk was a politician and gay rights activist who was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone in 1978. The bronze sculpture of the self-described Mayor of Castor Street was created by the Daub, Firmin and Hendrickson Sculpture Group. The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee is still seeking funding for this historic occasion. See www.milkmemorial.org. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Amy Wooten http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18244 Same-sex marriage opponents failed to collect enough signatures to place an advisory referendum on the November ballot. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com JIM EDMINSTER http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18245 From the Haven';t-Those-Critters-Got-Enough-Problems? file, The Chicago Tribune ; Apr. 30 ; reports that cute little Knut, the orphan polar bear raised by human keepers in Germany, is a lonely adolescent who now cries out for company . He';s too big ; at 350 lbs. ; to play with his former parents, visitors don';t come to see him andgasp!the whole experience may have turned him gay. And he won';t be old enough to visit a bear bar for at least 15 more years. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Amy Wooten http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18246 In order to further boost LGBT inclusion, the leaders of nearly a dozen North Side United Church of Christ ; UCC ; churches are putting their heads together. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18247 Latvian officials want to fence in Pride text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Amy Wooten http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18248 During the week of the large immigration march downtown, members of the community gathered at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, to discuss the many ways LGBT and immigration issues intersect. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Lisa Keen, Keen News Service http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18249 The woman who started a ball rolling toward knocking down laws banning interracial marriage and who, late in life, also spoke out against bans on gay marriage has died. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Mary Shen Barnidge http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18250 When an audience bursts into spontaneous applause during the course of a play';s action, it';s an indication that the excitement has reached a level where it must be expressed. This most often happens in musicals, song and dance being the most emotional of the arts, but what set playgoers to witnessing at the opening performance of Around The World In Eighty Days was a thrilling and intricate spectacle involving a Julie Taymor-style elephant, a patrician damsel delivered from a death sentence, and a single unarmed bantamweight combatant evading two scimitar-wielding villains before swinging aboard on a rope to complete the rescuers'; escapeall executed at an exhilarating pace transforming a roomful of jaded theater patrons into children at an old-fashioned Saturday matinee. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Catey Sullivan http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18251 It';s not all talk in the unfortunately titled Speech and Debate. The razor-sharp, smart-ass and radically realistic drama about a high school debate team shows playwright Stephen Karam to have an ear for teenspeak and empathy for the uber-drama that is high school. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Charlsie Dewey http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18252 Jackie Warner';s hit Bravo reality show, Work Out, is back for a third seasonwith all the tension and drama audiences have come to love, though Warner says her relationship this season is relatively drama-free. She';s also got several new ventures in the works, including an in-home workout DVD, Workout: One-on-One Training with Jackie. What is in store for fans? Windy City Times spoke with Warner to find out. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Richard Knight, Jr. http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18253 Filmmaker Darryl Roberts takes his time when making a movie. Over the last 20 years, there have been just three: The Perfect Model, his debut feature in 1988, which was followed by a drama called How U Like Me Now in 1993 and, now, America the Beautiful, his first documentary. Roberts, a native Chicagoan and African American who performed with Second City, created the film over a five-year period. It';s a film that tackles the obsession with beauty that seems to have reached epidemic proportions in this country and speaks to audiences of all ethnic and cultural persuasions. Though the movie is hard-hitting as it delves into everything from plastic surgery to the toxic chemicals in cosmetics, it';s also enormously entertaining and Roberts'; style is gentle and winning. America the Beautiful has run in dozens of film festivals and has won tremendous critical and audience support. It plays an exclusive engagement in Chicago at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema beginning Fri., May 9. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Richard Knight, Jr. http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18254 The poster for Darryl Roberts'; ; pictured ; documentary America the Beautiful asks the question Is America obsessed with beauty?, and when one considers our plastic-surgery, youth-oriented, trashy-reality-show-mad culture, the answer isn';t just a resounding, ironic yes, it';s a Susan-Powter-Stop-the-Insanity YES! Stop the insanity, indeed. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Owen Keehnen http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18255 MOTHER';S DAY SPECIAL: text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18256 Cool clothes, hot models and tasty food were all in abundance at the 2008 Chicago House Spring Brunch & Fashion Show: Candyland Couture at the Winter Garden of Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State, on May 4. Among those in attendance was former Project Runway contestant Steven Rosengard ; right photo ; . In addition to models and entertainment by dance troupes such as the Hip-Hop Connexion Dance Crew, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity received an award from Chicago House. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald; see more on page 7, at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com/photos/CHCGOHSEbrunch050408 and at www.MysticImagesPhotography.com text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Yasmin Nair http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18257 Rainbow flags dotted the landscape of this year';s May Day rally, as an amorphous LGBTQ contingent marched along with groups demanding the legalization of the undocumented; worker';s rights; and an end to raids and deportations. While official tallies put the numbers at about 15,000, Jorge Mujica of the March 10 Movement ; a key organizing group ; put the number closer to 50,000 in a post-march interview. Marchers felt that while the numbers were fewer than last year';s, the issues were still as tangible for queers and immigrants._______________________ text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Bob Roehr http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18259 Frustration, hope and a dedication to change through the coming election were common threads marking AIDSWatch 2008 at a rally at the foot of the Capitol April 29. The theme was AIDS at Home. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18260 Sarah Hoaglanda founder of the Institute of Lesbian Studies and a professor of philosophy, women';s studies and Latino/a-American studies at Northeastern Illinois University ; NEIU ; was honored May 3 at the school';s commencement convocation with the Bernard J. Brommel Distinguished Research Professor Award, given annually to the faculty member who best demonstrates excellence in research and scholarship. Brommel, a longtime supporter of the LGBT community, is professor emeritus of communication, media and theater at NEIU. Photo of Hoagland and Brommel by Anne Leighton text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18261 Openly gay television and movie actor Wilson Cruzwhose oeuvre includes TV';s My So-Called Life and Noah';s Arc as well as films such as Coffee Datediscussed his career and life at a forum entitled My So-Called Life: Coming Out, Family Life and Homelessness at Roosevelt University May 1. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald; see more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com and www.MysticImagesPhotography.com text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18262 text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18263 New 23rd District Police Commander Kathleen Boehmer ; above, left ; conducted a meet-and-greet with local business owners at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, on April 30. Photo by Kirk Williamson text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18265 The five-diamond-rated Avenues restaurant at The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior, welcomed Curtis Duffy as its new chef de cuisine, and marked his arrival April 28 with an exclusive dinner prepared by Duffy for Center on Halsted. Photos of ; left ; Mike Demetria, Sarah Schmidt and Robert Kohl; and ; right ; Patrick Sheahan, Peninsula General Manager Maria Zec and the Center';s executive director, Tico Valle, by Mel Ferrand text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Rev. Irene Monroe http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18267 Religion plays too important of a role in today';s theater of American politics. Given the collapsing of church and state since Bush came into office how and where and why a presidential candidate worships or not, unfortunately, speaks to his or her electabilitywhich brings us back again to Obama and his pastor. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Rex Wockner http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18268 I think it [ same-sex marriage ] should be legalized. Singer Janet Jackson text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18269 In an interview with the LGBT newspaper Dallas Voice, singer Michelle Shockedwho had a huge lesbian following in the late ‘80s and early ‘90ssaid that she has become an evangelical gospel singer. But more interesting ; or surprising ; , she also labelled same-sex love immoral. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Andrew Davis http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18270 For years, Robert Gant entertained audiences on the Showtime series Queer as Folk as kind-hearted professor Ben. Now, he has moved on to other projectsnotably, the here!TV movie Kiss Me Deadly: A Jacob Keane Assignment, where he plays the title character ; a spy who happens to be gay ; opposite Shannen Doherty. Gant discussed various aspects of the movie with Windy City Timesand also talked a little bit about coming out and politics. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Jonathan Abarbanel, Theater Editor http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18271 The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs has announced 283 recipients of $1 million ; total ; in annual CityArts ; sic ; grants. As always, a number of LGBT-identified or LGBT-influenced artists and organizations are on the receiving end of grants ranging from $1,100 to $8,000 ; depending on the side of the organization ; . A partial list of grantees includes: Cerqua Rivera Art Experience, Chicago Cabaret Professionals, Chicago Women';s Caucus for Art, Chicspeare Production Company, Gerber Hart Library, HealthWorks ; sic ; Theatre, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, Shattered Globe Theatre, Tellin Tales Theatre, Babes With Blades, TUTA, About Face, Bailiwick, Joel Hall Dance Center, Chicago Historical Society ; Chicago History Museum ; , Chicago Gay Men';s Chorus, Deeply Rooted Productions and Porchlight Music Theatre. Notably absent this year, although a recipient in past years, is Windy City Performing Arts. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18272 Dead Man';s Cell Phone, Steppenwolf, through July 27. A man dies in public and a young woman answers his cell phone setting off events that could inspire a sitcom. Sarah Ruhl';s play isn';t deep but it';s funny, stylish and brilliantly performed. JA text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Mary Shen Barnidge http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18273 The 1941 musical play titled Lady In The Dark featured a novelty number in which an effete photographer expressed his affinity for Russian composers by proceeding to name 49 of them. Since the actor playing the role was a young vaudevillian named Danny Kaye, the tongue-twisting roster was performed in a mind-boggling 38 seconds, and the rest is history. This lyric by Ira Gershwin, set to a melody by Kurt Weill, is at the foundation of Mark Nadler';s one-man comedy-in-music adventure, stopping off in Chicago at the Royal George on its way to Broadway. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Jonathan Abarbanel, Theater Editor http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18274 On Wednesday I had a discussion about geriatric audiences at Chicago';s well-established theater companies. On Thursday I went to the Neo-Futurarium, where I was the only person over 40 and the only person with gray hair ; well, salt-and-pepper ; . Two things were apparent: ; 1 ; I was a duck out of water, receiving suspicious What';s he doing here? looks, and ; 2 ; I was the only discerning member of the audience. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18275 Is it possible? Can it be 11 years since Whitney Houston';s behavioral issues were making news? Sketch comedy troupe GayCo set up shop at the same time, mentored by The Second City. Since then, GayCo has made history as the first fully-nude queer drag genderfuck sketch troupe to open for Joan Rivers in Las Vegas. However, GayCo never rests on its laurelsnot when it can resurrect them instead. And so GayCo has revived its very first hit, Whitney Houston, We Have A Problem. The 60-minute show ; leaving time to dine, drink and dance afterwards ; runs through May 25 at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre, Center on Halsted; 1-800-838-3006; $20. Extra shows have been added May 22 and 25 for IML. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Scott C. Morgan http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18276 If Chicago Opera Theater';s ; COT';s ; new production of Don Giovanni was a movie, it would be slapped with an R rating for sexuality and violence. Thank heaven for that. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Scott C. Morgan http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18277 Old Town is Strawdog Theatre';s new musical that explores the leadership dynasties and the sometimes shady political doings in Chicago, that town famously known as The City that Works. So it';s a disappointment that playwright/lyricist Brett Neveu and composer Mikhail Fiksel';s writing for Old Town doesn';t live up to that Windy City motto. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18278 text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18279 text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18280 text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18281 Test Positive Aware Network ; TPAN ; held its Chicago Takes Off cast party April 29 at Mary';s Attic, 5400 N. Clark, to thank individuals for helping the organization raise $120,000 through its annual event, which took place Feb. 9 at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Attendees got a chance to relive the torrid show, courtesy of a DVD of the event. Photos by Kirk Williamson text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18282 Better Existence with HIV ; BEHIV ; welcomed over 300 guests to the Woman';s Club of Evanston, 1702 Chicago, on April 26 for its fifth annual Club BEHIV & Cabaret gala, which featured an April in Paris theme. All monies raised benefit BEHIV';s programs for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. NBC-5 Chicago';s LeeAnn Trotter emceed a program where Michael McNamara and Kevin Putz were honored with the Director';s Award for their many years of support of BEHIV and Chicago area AIDS service organizations. Also, Rae Lewis-Thornton received the President';s Award for her 20-plus years of activism educating youth about the dangers of HIV. For more information on BEHIV, visit www.behiv.org or call Eric Nelson at 847-475-2115, ext. 104. Photos courtesy of Eric Nelson text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18283 Smash & Tickle ‘08, the second annual 2nd City badminton tournament, will take place Sat., June 7, at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18284 In South Africa, the case of five men accused of raping and murdering former national women';s soccer team player Eudy Simelane has been postponed for further investigation until May 13, the Independent Online reported. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18285 The District of Columbia Aquatics Club ; DCAC ; and the Washington Wetskins Water Polo Team are hosting the upcoming 2008 International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships ; IGLA ; . text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18290 The Michigan Supreme Court ruled by a 5-2 decision May 7 that a state ban against same-sex marriage stops governments and universities from offering health benefits to partners of gay workers, according to The Advocate. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Yasmin Nair http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18286 Written by Elizabeth Gregory text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18287 Sun., May 11: Dick O';Day will trade Xanadu for Mommie Dearest when he presents the latter film at The Music Box, 3733 N. Southport. Photo by Rick Aguilar text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Yasmin Nair http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18288 Since its opening in 2007, the Center on Halsted has been a destination for queer youth, many of whom have been coming from the South and West sides to use its resources. Over the years, there has been rising friction between the youth, who are mostly of color, and area residents and businesses in a largely white neighborhood. Issues include the shortage of services for queer youth and reports alleging their noise and disruptive behavior. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Lisa Keen, Keen News Service http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18289 New differences on LGBT issues emerged between the two Democratic nominees during their primary-state battles in Indiana and North Carolina. And given that the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination has not yet produced a nominee, those differences could become the focus for LGBT voters who appear to be increasingly split between the two pro-gay candidates. text/html 2008-05-07T05:00:00-06:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18291 Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and his wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, have settled custody issues regarding their 6-year-old daughter, according to The Associated Press.