Monthly Archives: February 2010
Chicago Filmmaker Yony Leyser Premieres Burroughs Film at CIMM FEST March 4th!
WE ARE SO EXCITED!
We just got news today,
that YONY LEYSER’S
BURROUGHS FILM
WILL PREMIERE IN
CHICAGO THIS WEEK
at the CIMM FESTIVAL!
We were just talking at
CIMM Fest the other day!
And Yony’s much talked-about, highly-anticipated film about William S. Burroughs premiered at SLAMDANCE last month.
Thursday March 4th, see it in Chicago!
Opening Night at CIMM Fest!
7-9pm
Naked Lunch from Austria
(live band to weird experimental film)
9-11 William S. Burroughs:
A Man Within and Q&A
with Yony!
But wait – there’s more~!
11-11:30 Warhol superstar Penny Arcade
11:30 Thee Majesty!
Don’t miss this! Free beer with $20 admission – buy tickets in advance – this is sure to sell out!
Included with your ticket price is a one-year subscription to Time Out Chicago.
St. Paul Cultural Center 2215 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60647
FYI – PENNY ARCADE will also be making an appearance at QUIMBYS, on March 3rd.
Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North Ave., Chicago
The Best of Gay Chicago
Chicago Filmmaker Yony Leyser Premieres Burroughs Film at CIMM FEST March 4th!
WE ARE SO EXCITED!
We just got news today,
that YONY LEYSER’S
BURROUGHS FILM
WILL PREMIERE IN
CHICAGO THIS WEEK
at the CIMM FESTIVAL!
We were just talking at
CIMM Fest the other day!
And Yony’s much talked-about, highly-anticipated film about William S. Burroughs premiered at SLAMDANCE last month.
Thursday March 4th, see it in Chicago!
Opening Night at CIMM Fest!
7-9pm
Naked Lunch from Austria
(live band to weird experimental film)
9-11 William S. Burroughs:
A Man Within and Q&A
with Yony!
But wait – there’s more~!
11-11:30 Warhol superstar Penny Arcade
11:30 Thee Majesty!
Don’t miss this! Free beer with $20 admission – buy tickets in advance – this is sure to sell out!
Included with your ticket price is a one-year subscription to Time Out Chicago.
St. Paul Cultural Center 2215 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60647
FYI – PENNY ARCADE will also be making an appearance at QUIMBYS, on March 3rd.
Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North Ave., Chicago
The Best of Gay Chicago
Hollywood Gay Beach Chicago Gets Long Overdue Makeover – New Toilets, Showers and Concession
It’s been talked about for over 2 years now – now it’s a reality for 2010!
Hollywood / Osterman (gay) Beach in Chicago gets a long overdue makeover.
Late last summer, the Chicago Planning Commission approved plans for a new beach house and landscaping at Osterman Beach. The new facility will open by Memorial Day, and will include showers and changing areas for lifeguards.(?)
What does this mean? Who knows. Ground has been broken and we have placed a call to the Planning Commission and have not got an answer back yet.
We were told last year, the new building would include new toilets. A concession stand. And a lockerroom and showere area for the lifeguards.
Foster Beach and Montrose Beach got nice makeovers over the last couple years. It is unclear yet, how the Osterman project will compare. This image was online at PBC Chicago. They are calling it a comfort station. You will notice, there are no gays in the rendering!
In 2009, we saw A LOT more straight people and families coming to the “gay beach”. What else is new? The straights always come to where the gay are.
We also saw an increase of police activity last year. The Hollywood / Osterman beach sometimes enforces rules – and sometimes does not. It is unclear what the rules are exactly.
We have looked high and low, from Bryn Mawr to Hollywood, and we have seen no rules or restriction signs, of any kind. We had heard, there was NO SMOKING, NO PETS, and NO BOTTLES/GLASS/ALCOHOL, and that MOST TOYS are NOT ALLOWED on the beach itself. However, when I called the Alderman Mary Ann Smith’s office, even they were not totally sure about pets. Only no smoking and no glass bottles / alcohol. And the lifeguards will clearly tell you NO BALLS IN THE WATER!! They directed my questions to the Chicago Park Districts, and as of this publishing, no one has returned my calls yet.
So we will see what 2010 brings. I think with this new building, will come with new rules and regulations and/or more enforcement. In the past, lifeguards (and Police) would usually turn their head to smokers and drinkers. However in 2009, there were an increase in the number of tickets at the beach. – It will be nice to have new, clean toilets and a concession area!
Best of Gay Chicago
Hollywood Gay Beach Chicago Gets Long Overdue Makeover – New Toilets, Showers and Concession
It’s been talked about for over 2 years now – now it’s a reality for 2010!
Hollywood / Osterman (gay) Beach in Chicago gets a long overdue makeover.
Late last summer, the Chicago Planning Commission approved plans for a new beach house and landscaping at Osterman Beach. The new facility will open by Memorial Day, and will include showers and changing areas for lifeguards.(?)
What does this mean? Who knows. Ground has been broken and we have placed a call to the Planning Commission and have not got an answer back yet.
We were told last year, the new building would include new toilets. A concession stand. And a lockerroom and showere area for the lifeguards.
Foster Beach and Montrose Beach got nice makeovers over the last couple years. It is unclear yet, how the Osterman project will compare. This image was online at PBC Chicago. They are calling it a comfort station. You will notice, there are no gays in the rendering!
In 2009, we saw A LOT more straight people and families coming to the “gay beach”. What else is new? The straights always come to where the gay are.
We also saw an increase of police activity last year. The Hollywood / Osterman beach sometimes enforces rules – and sometimes does not. It is unclear what the rules are exactly.
We have looked high and low, from Bryn Mawr to Hollywood, and we have seen no rules or restriction signs, of any kind. We had heard, there was NO SMOKING, NO PETS, and NO BOTTLES/GLASS/ALCOHOL, and that MOST TOYS are NOT ALLOWED on the beach itself. However, when I called the Alderman Mary Ann Smith’s office, even they were not totally sure about pets. Only no smoking and no glass bottles / alcohol. And the lifeguards will clearly tell you NO BALLS IN THE WATER!! They directed my questions to the Chicago Park Districts, and as of this publishing, no one has returned my calls yet.
So we will see what 2010 brings. I think with this new building, will come with new rules and regulations and/or more enforcement. In the past, lifeguards (and Police) would usually turn their head to smokers and drinkers. However in 2009, there were an increase in the number of tickets at the beach. – It will be nice to have new, clean toilets and a concession area!
Best of Gay Chicago
Felony Hate Crime Charges in Chicago Anti-Gay Attack
Daniel Hauff, of Rogers Park, came to the youth’s aid, at which point Little allegedly began directing anti-gay slurs at Hauff and pushed him. Eder and McAndrew, who had been watching before, allegedly joined in the assault, calling Hauff a ‘stupid fa***t,’ and all three men began punching and bloodying Hauff’s face in front of train passengers, according to a release from Hauff’s attorney.”
Hauff said he escaped by wiping some of his blood on the attackers and telling them he was HIV-positive.
Yesterday, the misdemeanor batteries against the three men involved in the attack were dropped in court, but they got a bit of a surprise as they were leaving the courtroom…
“As the three men left the courtroom, they were immediately re-arrested and charged with felony hate crimes as a result of a review of the case by the State’s Attorney and the Chicago Police Department.”
Maybe there will be justice after all!
Best Gay Chicago
Chicago Takes Off – Male and Female Dancers for TPAN Charity
Chicago Takes Off is the annual burlesque revue-style show where talented male and female dancers donate their time and energy to strut their stuff in support of TPAN. Colorful and energetic choreographed performances and entertainment engage audiences in this sexy celebration of life.
Chicago Takes Off: TV Land Outside the Box will expose the finest assets of Chicago’s dance community. As the title signifies, this years theme,TV Land Outside the Box, will showcase burlesque, theatrical and variety acts using classic TV shows as inspiration.
The two shows, sponsored by TPAN, a charity, will be held on Saturday, March 6th at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Park West (322 W. Armitage).
Chicago Takes Off Table Captain Kickoff Party on Sunday, January 17 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Scarlet Bar
(3320 N. Halsted) with a special preview performance.
Only tables will be sold on Sunday. Individual tickets can be purchased beginning Monday, January 18.
Purchase tickets to the 7:30 PM show
Purchase tickets to the 10:00 PM show
Chicago Takes Off Video Clip
The Best of Gay Chicago
Chicago T2 – TEAM TO END AIDS
FEEL GREAT and
GET LUCKY
when you participate in the
AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s
new endurance training program:
TEAM TO END AIDS (T2)!
T2 is our new and exciting program to train YOU to complete a marathon, half marathon or triathlon and raise money to help us triumph over AIDS. We offer comprehensive training programs for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the Chicago Half Marathon. And, we are thrilled to add to the line-up this year a training program for the Chicago Triathlon through TriMonster and Fitness Formula Clubs.
Here’s where you get lucky!
As an incentive to find out more AND register with us, we have two “GET LUCKY” raffles you will be included in:
We will draw 20 names from everyone registered for T2 by Noon this Tuesday, 2/23, to win one of 20
T2 slots in the sold-out Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle,
the world’s largest 8K race of over 36,000 runners; and
We will draw one name from the first 250 registered T2 participants to win two $500
tickets to AFC’s 25th Anniversary Gala on May 1st and featuring The Bangles (a $1,000 value).
So, the time to register is NOW!
Visit the T2 website, get more information, and REGISTER for the challenge of your choice.
P.S. We also invite you to become a fan of T2 on our Facebook page.
And, coming soon: an exclusive T2 Facebook Application for registered participants only!
The Best of Gay Chicago
SISSYBOY Comes to CIMM Fest 2010
The Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, CIMM FEST, celebrated its inaugural year with huge press coverage, special guests from all over the globe, an opening night party that included Lech Kowalski’s world premiere event Camera War, photographer Richard Bellia’s first show in the US and much much more. If there were any reservations the staff had leading up to the opening weekend last year, 15,000 attendees ended that pretty quickly. Chicago wanted this thing from the start with the Department of Cultural affairs as presenting sponsor and many other fantastic sponsors like Earhole Studios, Reckless Records, and Starbucks helping the first year to be much more than could have ever been expected.
As a film festival created by filmmakers and musicians, CIMMfest showcases visionaries and innovative works that unify us in ways that only movies and music can. Cimm Fest 2010 takes place March 4 – 7th.
“Provocative, political, and often in poor taste, Portland’s unclassifiable Sissyboy drag troupe raised eyebrows and hackles for three years before disbanding, its members scattering across the country. No topic, from abortion to Matthew Shepard, was off-limits, and first-time filmmaker Katie Turinski followed them through their last year together, documenting the troupe’s tour of the West Coast. This is not your father’s drag show.”
SISSYBOY has been around since July of 2004. SISSYBOY is a punk rock, back-hand slap in the face, explosive reaction to the ever prevalent need to bend gender roles until they break. Taking the torch from our sisters before us, SISSYBOY has transcended traditional drag by welcoming all gender queer and radical thinkers into a world where anything and everything goes. No longer hiding their complex sexual identities behind the make-up; SISSYBOYs radiate their energy as vulnerable men, fierce women and sadistic shamans, working out our demons on stage.
Theatrically, SISSYBOY is a monthly drag experience of hairspray, duct tape, eyelash adhesive, and stage vomit–all safety-pinned into an unforgetably glamorous show. Tied together by common threads, SISSYBOYs are a progressive drag ensemble, who are at the forefront of the current cultural revolution–entertaining and enlightening their audience while bridging the gap between conventional and unconventional gender roles. They are basically gay white trash who don’t fit into the “normal” gay stereotypes!
Watch the SISSYBOY movie trailer.
Sissyboy will be at BERLIN March 5th, 954 W. Belmont
Movie Showing: Sat. March 6th, 4:30pm, St Paul’s Cultural Center
2215 W. North Ave., Chicago BUY TICKETS ONLINE
Thee Majesty featuring Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (formerly of Throbbing Gristle) is another of gay interest. “Thee Majesty began in 1998 as a spoken word project, originally founded by Genesis Breyer P-Orridge of Psychic TV and Bryin Dall of 4th Sign of the Apocalypse, A Murder of Angels and Dream Into Dust. Featuring P-Orridge, Thee Majesty is made up of a revolving group of members including Morrison Edley of PTV3 and The Toilet Boys. Thee Majesty’s music is a mix of spoken word performance art against Dall’s free-flowing guitar rhythms.
LIVE PERFORMANCES by Thee Majesty are uncommon, but CIMMfest will be host to a special OPENING NIGHT presentation, following the Chicago premiere of as yet to be disclosed documentary, featuring Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, who also appears in conjunction with Marie Losier’s screening of Papal Broken-Dance.”
Thursday March 4, 7:00pm
St Paul’s Cultural Center BUY TICKETS ONLINE
THE BEST OF GAY CHICAGO
Hope Takes Action – HIV Vaccine Trial in Chicago!
Every 10 minutes, someone in the United States is infected with HIV. A preventive vaccine against HIV offers the best long-term hope to end this worldwide epidemic. Finding a safe and effective HIV vaccine that will protect people is a huge task. We cannot do it without your help.
- We are currently seeking 1350 men who have sex with men to participate in a vaccine trial. You cannot become infected with HIV from the vaccines.
- The study will take place in several cities in the United States.
Participants must be:
- Men who have sex with men
- 18-45 years old
- HIV-negative
- Circumcised
Safety is a primary goal of the vaccine trial. This is a Phase II study, designed to yield limited information on the effectiveness of the vaccine. The research vaccines have been found to be safe in animals and hundreds of humans in previous trials. One of the vaccines is made from an inactivated cold virus known as an adenovirus. The vaccines do NOT contain the HIV virus, and CANNOT cause HIV infection. Since these vaccines are still being researched, we urge all of our participants to practice safe sex.
The HIV vaccine trial is a collaboration between the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the Division of AIDS, NIAID and the Vaccine Research Center, NIAID.
For Chicago – contact Project WISH / University of Illinois at Chicago
840 S. Wood St, Room B39 Chicago, IL 60612 312 413-5897
The Best of Gay Chicago
Whitney Cummings OUTS a Tv Anchor on WGN? WTF?
If you watch E!s “Chelsea Lately”
you may have seen Whitney Cummings
on the show before.
She was in town recently at Zanies and made at stop at WGN. Some, found her hilarious on the Morning News show, as she pulled Paul Konrad out of his weather closet!
Is GAY that funny?
Apparently.
Brian Drabik of Chicago sent WGN the following letter –
To the Editor:
This morning I turned on WGN Morning News and Whitney Cummings was on.
While on air, she was sitting at Paul Konrad’s spot at the desk and she updated his Facebook status because he had left his computer logged on. She updated it to say “Paul Konrad is gay.”
People in the studio laughed and Robin remarked, while laughing, “I think he’s posted that before.”
This wasn’t enough. You then later re-aired this clip, with the newscasters laughing and then having Paul remark about how many Facebook comments he recieved in response to the status update.
Is it funny to be gay? Am I missing some comedic gem here? I’m shocked that this was allowed and encouraged. Do you know what it’s like to grow up being gay and teased and humiliated for being different than everyone else?
I don’t understand why it’s okay to use a sexual orientation as a joke, on a news broadcast nonetheless. If the “comedian” said “Paul Konrad is black” or “Paul Konrad is a woman,” Asian or Latino, would that be as funny?
And while I know you aren’t responsible for the comments of your guests, I would expect you to have your newscasters keep their bigoted jokes to themselves. Most of all, I am really upset that it was re-aired, put the video online and you Tweeted about it! So clearly no one there understood that this was just out and out wrong.
I never write letters like this complaining, but I had to today, I am personally offended and truly saddened. I can’t watch your show anymore. I certainly don’t want to watch a station that thinks my sexual orientation is laughable.
I know you sit on the float at the Gay Pride Parade every year to show your support, but now I’ll just wonder if you’re there just to laugh at us.
I would appreciate an apology.
– BRIAN DRABIK, CHICAGO
To which WGN responded –
Dear Brian:
Thank you for writing to the WGN Morning News. We always appreciate getting feedback from our viewers.
Our anchors did laugh at the comedian for posting a false message about Paul live on Facebook.
Paul got caught leaving his Facebook page open, and the comedian was able to hijack it for all to see.
It’s unfortunate that what started as an attempt at a joke, ended up as offensive to our viewers.
I agree that as the morning progressed, the “joke” took on a life of its own with little regard for the feelings of our audience.
That was wrong and I sincerely apologize for it.
Your e-mail is an important reminder to us that we need to be vigilant against allowing or encouraging feeble attempts at “humor” that display a lack of respect for others.
I’m also sorry that, as a viewer, we let you down.
It is our goal every morning to provide our viewers with the best news, weather, traffic and entertainment in the morning.
I hope one day you will choose to watch us again, so that we may regain your trust.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
– GREG CAPUTO, NEWS DIRECTOR, WGN-TV
Where do we draw the line? What if it had been a Jew Joke? Paul Konrad is married. Why didn’t Whitney say “Paul’s out banging his mistress this morning!” – instead of PAUL IS GAY?
Watch the video clip on Chicago Now.
Roscoe’s Invite You to an ABSOLUT Berri Acai Party!
Roscoe’s
is proud to host the
GLBT Industry Launch Party
for Absolut’s newest flavor,
Absolut Berri Acai!
*Açaí grows on palm trees in South America, blueberries are mainly native to North America and Europe, and pomegranate is a delicacy from south-west Asia.
The variant is the 12th flavour
extension in the Absolut portfolio.
Please join us on
Monday, February 15th @ 9pm
for a night to remember…
Absolut Berri Acai hosted bar from 9-Midnight
Tribal Beats & Dancers
from Circuit Mom Productions
And Much, Much More…
Please RSVP to
events@roscoes.com
ROSCOES 3356 N. Halsted Chicago
Freedom To Marry – Reception February 18th!
LAMBDA LEGAL
and its partner and sponsor organizations
cordially invite you
to a FREE event:
The 9th Annual
Freedom to Marry Reception
Educate. Advocate. Celebrate.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago
(Three blocks from the 18th Street stop on the Pink Line.)
Music by DJ Harry T, Cake-Cutting, Hors d’Oeuvres, Open Bar & much, much more!
Also, a special performance of “Let Them Eat Cake,” created by Holly Hughes and Megan Carney with Maureen Angelos and an ensemble of Chicago’s finest artists & activists. ASL interpretation provided.
BE PART OF A MOVEMENT!
Join us as we honor the commitment of local same-sex couples and continue the fight for marriage equality.
RSVP preferred: Lambda Legal Events
Lauren Hernandez or Simon Aronoff @ lhernandez@lambdalegal.org
(312) 663-4413 x327
Lesbian Comic Vickie Shaw in Chicago for Laugh Out Loud Fridays at Circuit Nightclub
V I C K I E
Lesbian comic VICKIE SHAW
will be doing a show this Friday, February 12th
at Circuit Nighclub. 3641 North Halsted Street.
The evening is part of the Circuit Girl / Laugh Out Loud Fridays.
Seating begins @ 8pm. Show at 9pm.
$10 admission ($5 for members) and hosted by TAMALE!
She looks like the woman next door … All-American with blond hair, lipstick and polished nails. Once she opens her mouth, you’ll know she was born and raised in Texas and you’ll never stop laughing.
Vickie has performed in almost every state in the US over the last five years and has headlined in various venues including: Michigan Womyn’s Festival, National Women’s Music Festival, Monterrey Beach Women’s Festival; and the Dinah & Lina Shore Golf Tournament in Palm Springs.
She can also be seen in The Outlaugh Festival on Wisecrack, The Complete Series
and in her DVD Vickie Shaw: You Can Take The Girl Out of Texas .
The Best of Gay Chicago
