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Sharon Bottoms Mattes, known for '90s child-custody case, dies at 48
Sharon Bottoms Mattes—a central figure in a closely watched 1990s LGBT-related child-custody case—has died at 48, according to The Washington Post. Mattes ended up losing custody of her son to her mother, Kay Bottoms, after the ...
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THE AMAZON TRAIL How to celebrate Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is one of those do-it-yourself celebrations. There are no parades or feasts or family gatherings. When I was single, I could always count on a card from my mother and, needless to say, would ...
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ELECTIONS 2019, 33RD WARD. Lesbian alderperson Deb Mell talks feats, LGBT issues
Deb Mell has been the 33rd Ward alderman since 2013 and previously served in the Illinois General Assembly as a representative for the 40th District. Prior to being an elected official, Mell worked for Christy Webber ...
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ELECTION 2019, 47th WARD. Angie Maloney on hopes for aldermanic post
Educator Angie Maloney, who is one of several openly LGBT candidates running in the Feb. 26 citywide elections, hopes to win the 47th Ward city council post that's currently held by Ameya Pawar, who has mounted ...
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Patricia Nell Warren, author of first gay novel on NYT Best Seller List, dies
LOS ANGELES - Patricia Nell Warren, age 82, died on Saturday February 9th at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California after a long battle with cancer. Warren is best known for her groundbreaking novel ...
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PASSAGES Writer Patricia Nell Warren dies at 82
Best-selling novelist Patricia Nell Warren has died at 82, several outlets reported. Warren's 1974 novel, The Front Runner, told the story of an affair between a closeted coach and his out star athlete. LGBTQ running groups ...
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Black Lesbian Archives Chicago Tour 2019 at Gerber/Hart Feb. 23
Maekdo Productions Black Lesbian Archives Chicago Tour 2019 opening event will take place Feb. 23, 2019 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, 6500 N. Clark St. The event is sponsored by Gerber/Hart. ...
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SHOWBIZ 'The L Word,' 'The Babadook,' Ben Platt, Ellen Page
Fifteen years after it first aired, Showtime plans to revive the lesbian drama The L Word, LGBTQ Nation noted. Original cast members Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig, and Leisha Hailey will be returning as their iconic characters ...
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Pat McCombs talks Executive Sweet, activism, other feats
For more than four decades, life-long Chicagoan Pat McCombs has been a mover and shaker in the city's LGBTQ community as a social-justice activist. McCombs is the oldest of seven kids and was raised on Chicago's ...
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Catrina Howard talks veteran life, founding female veteran housing project
U.S. Navy veteran Catrina Howard's journey in the military and into veteran activism began after she graduated from Roosevelt High School in Chicago's Albany Park. "I was not sure if I wanted to attend college, so ...
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Women & Children First to host Chloe Benjamin, Anne Elizabeth Moore
Women & Children First is feeling the love this February at Women & Children First with two Valentine's Day event and a With Love from Andersonville supporting Chicago Books to Women in Prison. Feb. 14 through ...
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Ricketts backs Mendoza for mayor
Prominent Democrat and Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts endorsed Susana Mendoza for mayor. Mendoza's campaign also announced that Ricketts will serve as co-chair of the campaign. "Laura shares my passion for Chicago, and she knows that ...
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ELECTIONS 2019, 49TH WARD Lesbian candidate Maria Hadden on police, LGBT issues
When Maria Hadden moved to Chicago from Ohio she quickly got involved in political activism, registering voters for the 2004 election. From 2007-2010, Hadden and fellow condo building neighbors organized to stay in their homes after ...
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Artemis Singers March 3 Sheroes concert to celebrate women heroes
CHICAGO—Artemis Singers, Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus, will present "Sheroes," a concert of songs and stories of strong women at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 3, at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, in ...
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NUNN ON ONE Kristina Valada-Viars: Out actress discusses lengthy career
Out actress Kristina Valada-Viars continues to expand her life in theater. A big part of this is thanks to the Steppenwolf and the Princess Grace Foundation. The foundation was started 36 years ago by Prince Rainier ...
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THE AMAZON TRAIL A poem and a plant
The day was typical for the Pacific Northwest. The brightening sky had stopped sputtering its fine dewdrops for the moment, the wind had blown itself out, and the development where I live came to life. People ...
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PASSAGES Annie O'Dowd
Ann "Annie" O'Dowd, of The Villages, Florida, passed away Dec. 26, 2018. Annie was born on April 26, 1929 in Chicago. She was 89 when she died. Her mother, Agnes, her father, Henry, and five siblings ...
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LPAC endorses Lori Lightfoot for Mayor
Washington, DC ( January 15, 2019 ) — LPAC, the only organization devoted to building the political power of LGBTQ women, announced the first two endorsements for the 2019 cycle: Jolie Justus for Mayor of Kansas ...
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Times Square site of WorldPride Closing Ceremony, Melissa Etheridge to perform
NEW YORK, NY, JANUARY 15, 2019 — NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride 2019 and Stonewall 50, is thrilled to announce further details about NYC Pride's WorldPride Closing Ceremony. All are welcome to this final ...
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Affinity's Burning Bowl honors former leader Kim Hunt
About a hundred people gathered for Affinity Community Services' annual kick-off event, Burning Bowl, Jan. 12 at Morgan Park United Methodist Church ( UMC ). This year's theme was Ever Ours: Resisting with Purpose to Thrive ...
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Novelist's fascination with history comes alive on stage
Novelist Emma Donoghue has had a long and rewarding relationship with Regency historical figure Anne Lister. Lister created a series of coded diaries that documented her love affairs with women while operating as part of the ...
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Annual Burning Bowl Jan. 12 at Morgan Park
Affinity Community Services is hosting its annual kick-off event, Burning Bowl, on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, 1-4 p.m., at Morgan Park UMC at 11030 S. Longwood Dr. The theme this year will be "Ever Ours: Resisting ...
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'San Antonio Four' have records cleared
Four Texas women who were imprisoned almost 15 years after being wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls have finally had their criminal records expunged, by state District Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl, NBC News reported. Elizabeth ...
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Women & Children First bookstore events include Shout Your Abortion
Women & Children First Loves Chicago Books to Women in Prison Donation Drive January 2 through February 14 We're kicking off the new year by partnering with one of our favorite non-profits, Chicago Books to Women ...
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Chicago Sky players wed
Chicago Sky teammates Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley got married in Seattle Dec. 27, according to the women's basketball website SwishAppeal.com. Seattle is just north of Vandersloot's hometown of Kent, Washington. This past season, the WNBA's ...
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NATIONAL Homeless man shot, women's college, Rachel Maddow
A Southern California security guard welcomed in the new year behind bars after being charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a gay Black homeless man he suspected of shoplifting at a Walgreens in Hollywood, ...
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Historian Batza talks gay clinics' origins at book launch
On Jan. 4, Women & Children First welcomed a standing-room-only crowd for the launch of Before AIDS, historian Katie Batza's book about gay health clinics in the early 1970s. Singles, couples and even children hung on ...
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PASSAGES Lesbian suburban businesswoman Marge Bellisario dies
Margaret "Marge" Bellisario died Jan. 3 of complications from ovarian cancer. She was 50. At the time of her death, Bellisario lived in Forest View, Illinois. She became the sole owner of Forest View Lounge Bar ...
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No Women's March in Chicago in 2019
Women's March Chicago organizers have decided not to host a march in January—an event that has attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters to Grant Park in concert with similar marches across the globe, The Chicago Tribune ...
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Local passages in 2018
—Chicago lesbian pioneer and civil-rights activist Jackie Anderson died after a short illness on Jan. 7. —Chicagoan Therese Curran passed away Jan. 8 unexpectedly from a tragic fall. —Phlebotomist and amateur photographer Adrien Iris Pakovsky passed ...
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Chicago Filmmakers, Dyke Delicious Series continue with 2019 screenings
Since 1973, Chicago Filmmakers, a not-for-profit media arts organization, has fostered the creation, appreciation, and understanding of film and video as media for artistic and personal expression, as well as media of important social and community ...
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Jody Michael talks Crain's honor, StartOut, future plans
When Jody Michael started her business, Jody Michael Associates, 22 years ago she was one of the first executive and career coaches in the United States. Prior to that, Michael spent 15 years at the Chicago ...
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PASSAGES Kathleen Ada Shaw (Cathy Shaw, Coach Shaw)
Kathleen Ada Shaw died Dec. 20 of endometrial cancer. She was 62. She was the daughter of Ada Pye Shaw and Eddie T. Shaw. She was born and lived most of her life in the Chicago ...
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Chicago candidates get Victory Fund backing
A few candidates running for various offices in Chicago are among receiving the first round of endorsements from LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office. Among the general ...
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Tanner releases new holiday song
Local singer Jeannie Tanner, with the Jeannie Tanner Quartet, has released the new holiday song " Santa's in the Chimney ( I Think He Might Be Stuck )." Tanner sings and plays trumpet on this original ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Rent,' Ariana Grande, Lena Waithe, Elton John
Fox has announced the full cast for the upcoming live musical event Rent, which will air Sunday, Jan. 27, a press release noted. Actress Kiersey Clemons, Emmy nominee and Tony winner Brandon Victor Dixon, singer/songwriter Jordan ...
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Gaylon Alcaraz on new job, activism and campaign lessons
Longtime activist and marathon runner Gaylon Alcaraz has been speaking out on LGBTQ equality, anti-violence initiatives, housing rights, gender equality, health prevention and reproductive rights for nearly 25 years. Alcaraz began this journey by writing letters ...
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Affinity Community Services plans Burning Bowl 2018, will honor Kim Hunt
Chicago, Illinois- December 3, 2018—Affinity Community Services, is hosting their annual kick-off event, Burning Bowl 2019. The theme this year is: Ever ours: Resisting with Purpose to Thrive in the New Year. As always, the event ...
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Women & Children First Books plans holiday season events
The holidays have arrived at Chicago's Only Feminist Bookstore. Care for Real Toy Drive Nov. 30 to Dec. 14 Come support Care for Real, a wonderful local organization making a difference for families in our community. ...
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Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery make the yuletide swing
Actresses Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery are teaming up this holiday season and hitting the road. The album—A Swingin' Little Christmas! Jane Lynch—features Lynch, Flannery and singer Tim Davis. It was recorded in 2016 and has ...
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Kahlo works at Glen Ellyn campus in 2020
College of DuPage, in partnership with the McAninch Arts Center and Cleve Carney Art Gallery, expanded upon the plans to host the largest private collection of works by Frida Kahlo at the Cleve Carney Art Gallery ...
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Nia & Ness use dance, poetry to tell story, analyze identity
Brooklyn-based dancer-poet duo Nia & Ness will bring their unique storytelling experience, run., to Chicago in four shows during the first week of December. The intersections of identity play a key element in run., as Nia ...
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Alyson Stoner, actress/singer/dancer talks Ms. Jackson, acting, coming out
Being in the glare of the spotlight—especially for those who have been in the public eye since childhood—can be harsh. However, Alyson Stoner, 25—who many may remember as the dancing girl in Missy Elliott's videos such ...
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Forum focuses on LGBT seniors' housing and legal rights
The renewed attacks on the LGBT community by right-wing elements in recent years, just as many LGBT persons who are aging will rely ever more on robust and equitable public-accommodations policy, was the subject of discussion ...
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Amy Ray, opener rock Old Town School
Indigo Girl Amy Ray made at stop in Chicago on her tour for her new album, Holler, at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Nov. 15. The sold-out show was opened with an acoustic ...
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Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Esposito and more at storytelling event
A diverse line-up of women-identified speakers took to the stage at the Hello Sunshine X Together Live storytelling tour Nov. 12 at the Auditorium Theater. This is Together Live's third year on tour and the first ...
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Christmas Bingo, It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night
Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night returns to the Royal George Theatre for 2018 for the holiday season. Did Santa babysit the baby Jesus? Why were the Three Wise Men so lost? Do you know what ...
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Tom Volf talks Maria by Callas
Maria by Callas filmmaker Tom Volf recently chatted with the Windy City Times ahead of the film's Chicago release. Featuring footage from the Chicago Lyric Opera, the documentary focuses on legendary opera singer Maria Callas. Sony ...
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THE AMAZON TRAIL Going to the doctor
"Visiting the doctor doesn't have to be all gloom and doom," said my sweetheart. "We can make it fun." Remember the all-powerful, usually white male doctors of childhood? From the waiting room you could hear kids ...
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Author Miriam Frank headlines CTU LGBTQIA+ event
Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America author and Pride at Work founding member Miriam Frank was the featured speaker at a Chicago Teachers Union ( CTU ) LGBTQIA+ event, co-hosted alongside Pride ...
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Competition aims to bring starter homes to working-class families
As gentrification seeps into various Chicago communities, affordable housing sits on the opposite side of the table, especially in the design and architectural communities. The American Institute of Architects' ( AIA ) Chicago chapter is launching ...
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Tig Notaro adopts a new role in 'Instant Family'
Out comic, actress and writer Tig Notaro has a new movie this November called Instant Family. The film also stars Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne and Octavia Spencer, telling the story—based on director Sean Anders' real-life experiences—of ...
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Amy Ray on new album, acceptance and rock 'n' roll
Indigo Girl Amy Ray's September release, Holler, is a rich mixture of folk, Southern rock, mountain music, bluegrass and gospel, with her characteristic thoughtful and layered lyricism. Windy City Times talked with Amy about the album, ...
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Frida Kahlo works at Glen Ellyn campus in summer 2020
Glen Ellyn, Ill. — College of DuPage ( COD ), in partnership with the McAninch Arts Center ( MAC ) and Cleve Carney Art Gallery, today expanded upon the plans to host the largest private collection ...
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Affinity event good as 'Gold'
Affinity Community Services held its second annual "Black Gold: A Casino Night" at The Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center on Nov. 3. The event featured an open bar, a DJ and dance floor, a raffle, ...
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First LGBTQ U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Defeats Anti-LGBTQ Opponent
Wisconsin voters also reelect U.S. Representative Mark Pocan
Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, the first openly LGBTQ person ever elected to the U.S. Senate, was tonight reelected by Wisconsin voters in a race closely watched by both political parties and the LGBTQ ...
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Sharice Davids Becomes First LGBTQ Member of Congress from Kansas
Washington, DC — Openly LGBTQ Congressional candidate Sharice Davids defeated U.S. Representative David Yoder tonight, a four-term incumbent and ally of Donald Trump in a seat considered critical to Democratic efforts to take back the U.S. ...
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Jenna Laurenzo talks 'Lez Bomb'
Lez Bomb writer-director-actress Jenna Laurenzo recently spoke with the Windy City Times ahead of the release of her new film. If you're looking for a dysfunctional family comedy set during Thanksgiving with an LGBTQ twist, Lez ...
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Marge Summit honored with award named for Jon-Henri Damski
Videos below
Longtime LGBT activist and lesbian businesswoman Marge Summit received the Jon-Henri Damski award Nov. 4 at The Call, in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. LGBT-rights advocate Lori Cannon established the award in 1998 to honor Damski because of ...
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ELECTIONS 2018 Guide to the LGBTs
This year's primary elections featured a record number of openly LGBT candidates thorughout Illinois. From those races, several of those individuals are vying for various political offices in November: Kelly Cassidy Race: Illinois state representative ( ...
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Marge Summit to receive Jon-Henri Damski Award Nov. 4
Businesswoman Marge Summit will receive the 22nd Annual Jon-Henri Damski Award Sunday, Nov. 4, 2-4 p.m., at The Call, 1547 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. There will be videos, guest speakers and former honorees at this free ...
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ELECTIONS 2018
LGBT candidate Maggie Trevor takes on conservative incumbent
Having received endorsements from the LGBTQ Victory Fund and the Equality Illinois PAC, Maggie Trevor is an out lesbian running as a Democratic candidate for the 54th District of the Illinois House of Representatives. The district ...
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pronoun talks about name, breakups
Out singer Alyse Vellturo ( aka pronoun ) is attempting to outdo her counterparts—and going by the name pronoun is just the start. The songwriter grew up in Boston and graduated from the Berklee School of ...
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CELEBRATIONS Wanda B, Stephanie Green renew vows after 25 years
On Oct. 12, Wanda B—found of the social club Stud ( "Solidarity, Trustworthiness, Understanding and Dependability" ) 4 Life—and wife/First Lady Stephanie Green renewed their vows after being together for 25 years. The event took place ...
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The Dinah accepting artist applications
The Dinah—advertised as "the largest queer girl party music festival in the world"—will take place April 3-7, 2019, in Palm Springs, California. What is new is that event organizers are offering a chance for an unsigned ...
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Queer singer Mary Lambert on her poetry collection
Mary Lambert first experienced what she calls "radical vulnerability" at age seven, when she started a group therapy session at a friend's sleepover. "I've been in therapy since I was 5," said the queer performer and ...
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Jill Soloway reads from 'She Wants It' at local appearance
With a line of people wrapped around the block in increasingly chilly weather, it was easy to catch snippets of why fans were there to see the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning creator of Transparent, Jill ...
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ELECTIONS 2018 Debra Shore talks water, climate issues
Debra Shore is running for a third six-year term on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District ( MWRD ) board. She was the first out LGBT candidate to win this office when she joined the board in ...
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Illinois scholar receives MacArthur Fellowship
A prominent Illinois sociologist and legal scholar has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation for her work researching issues around accessibility of legal resources. Rebecca Sandefur, who is a lesbian, was one ...
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Treasurer's office
observes LGBT
History Month
Illinois state Treasurer Mike Frerichs and his office paid tribute to LGBT History Month on Oct. 18 by honoring a number of longtime community activists. In a ceremony held in the main concourse of the James ...
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Joan Jones on creating LGBTQ workers center, other endeavors
Labor and social-justice movement advocacy has been Joan Jones' focus throughout her entire adult life; it's the lens through which she started the National LGBTQ Workers Center this past spring. The National LGBTQ Workers Center is, ...
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'LGBTQ Movement, Then and Now' Oct. 18
Out@COMCAST and Out@NBCUNIVERSAL, in conjunction with Out & Equal Chicagoland, will present "The LGBTQ Movement: Then and Now" Thursday, Oct. 18, at NBC Studios, 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr. NBC5's Chris Hush will moderate the panel, ...
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ELECTIONS 2018 Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot unveils LGBTQ policy framework
On Oct. 11, which was National Coming Out Day, Chicago mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot unveiled her LGBTQ policy framework at a roundtable discussion at Center on Halsted ( the Center ). Lightfoot, who identifies as a ...
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Tamale Sepp starts a new chapter
Internationally renowned comedian and interdisciplinary performer Tamale Sepp has relocated to the East Coast after serving up 16 years of comedy, performance art, burlesque and much more in Chicago. For more than a decade and a ...
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Lesbian Erasure, Defining Lesbianism Part One
[Author's note: for the purposes of space, except for brief references, this article focuses on lesbian couplings in the U.S.] Lesbians exist. Lesbians, like gay men, have always existed. If there is a singular lesson to ...
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