Monthly Archives: September 2015
Caitlyn Jenner in Chicago Nov. 12th
Caitlyn Jenner, Olympian and recent winner of the 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 7th annual Chicago House Speaker Series luncheon, being held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue, Thursday, November 12th, from 11:30 am – 2 pm.
Now in its 30th year, Chicago House is the Midwest’s oldest provider of housing for those impacted by HIV/AIDS and/or LGBTQ marginalization, and is now home to the nation’s most comprehensive social service and support programs for transgender individuals, the TransLife Center.
The Chicago House Speaker Series luncheon brings awareness to the agency’s founding mission, domestic and global HIV and AIDS activism, as well as its new strategic focus, combating LGBTQ poverty and marginalization, while celebrating the accomplishments Chicago House has achieved locally and raising funds to support the more than 1,800 men, women and children they serve.
This year’s Speaker Series will be especially effective at highlighting the marginalization and suffering disproportionately experienced by transgender individuals. Offending the values of fairness and equity, transgender men and women face enormous intertwining barriers to stability due to discrimination, societal and family rejection, and pervasive hostility. More than a quarter of transgender persons reports having lost a job due to their gender identity and more than half reports having difficulty finding a job because of their identity.
THIS WILL SELL OUT! GET TICKETS!
Cooking @ Chicago Botanic Garden Sept 27
Fresh Menu Ideas with a
Latin Flare at
Chicago Botanic Garden Sponsored
By Food Network Magazine
Foodies and their friends will be flocking to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden for this day of great tastes and gorgeous presentations.
Chef Christopher Tong of My Private Chef, one of Chicagoland’s most versatile Chefs, will share one of his favorite recipes at Chicago Botanic Garden’s popular annual Garden Chef Series sponsored by Food Network Magazine.
He will make a delicious Chimichurri Shrimp and create a savoury lime basil sangria to compliment the dish.
Chef Tong will appear on Sunday, September 27 at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois.
Chef Tong will give tips on ingredients, and serving. And, everyone gets to have a taste! Seating is limited and on a first-come, first served basis.
Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden and Garden Chef Series is FREE. For more information about this Garden Chef Series event and parking fees, call 847.835.5440 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.
My Private Chef is enjoying popularity as one of Chicago’s favorite private gourmet dining services. Trained in European-style fine cuisine, Chef Tong established his reputation at fine restaurants and hotels in Florida, California, and Chicago. Now he has adapted his impressive skills to the world of private entertaining. My Private Chef offers enticing cuisine for a wide range of events, from intimate dinners to weddings to corporate parties.
For more information about My Private Chef, contact Event Services at 773.370.8131 or visit our web site: www.myprivatechef.net
AIDS Walk Chicago 2015 Sept. 26th
Runners, walkers will put their feet down at AIDS Run & Walk Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 26
Thousands expected to gather at annual day of remembrance, fundraising and awareness
WHAT: Chicago-area residents will gather to change the HIV epidemic at the 14th annual AIDS Run & Walk Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 26. The event will start and finish at Soldier Field in Chicago, and courses for the 5k walk and the 5k/10k runs will stretch along Lake Michigan.
WGN-TV’s Dean Richards will be the master of ceremonies for the morning’s festivities, which will include brief speeches by AFC President/CEO John Peller and two longtime HIV advocates, Evany Turk and Patricia Johnson.
The opening ceremony will also include a performance from the Broadway musical RENT by Artists Giving Back, which is producing a production of “RENT” to benefit AFC on Dec. 1. Afterward, participants will warm up before their run or walk with Fitness Formula Club trainer Joy Miles.
Panels from the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt will also be on display, and free HIV testing will be available on site.
Funds raised through AIDS Run & Walk Chicago will benefit programs and services for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and 35 other metropolitan organizations that provide life-saving services to people living with HIV and AIDS. Since it was established in 2001, AIDS Run & Walk Chicago has netted nearly $5 million to battle the epidemic.
For more information, visit aidsrunwalk.org or call 312-334-0946.
WHO: Media are invited to attend the event and speak with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s President/CEO, John Peller, as well as additional AIDS Foundation of Chicago representatives, event volunteers and race participants.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 26*
7:15 Registration and packet pickup open
8:00 Opening Ceremony begins
8:25 Warm-up stretch led by Joy Miles of Fitness Formula Clubs
8:45 10k run start
8:50 5k run start
9:05 Walk start
9:30 The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt display opens
10:00 Closing Ceremony begins
*Times are subject to change. Check aidsrunwalk.org for more details.
WHERE: Soldier Field (1410 Museum Campus Dr., Chicago, IL 60605)
*Media may park at Waldron Garage (600 E Waldron Dr., Chicago). Parking fees apply.
RENT to Benefit AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Local startup nonprofit Artists Giving Back announced today that tickets for its World AIDS Day production of the musical RENT are officially on sale.
World AIDS Day RENT is the inaugural production for Artists Giving Back, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Chicago performers and professionals who have a passion for the arts and for giving back to the community. This one-night engagement production will take place on Worlds AIDS Day – December 1, 2015 – and all net proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Artists Giving Back’s philanthropic partner in and beneficiary of the production.
Additionally, Artists Giving Back is thrilled to announce that LGBT singer/songwriter superstar and Chicagoland native, Steve Grand, will be joining the cast as a special featured guest artist. Mr. Grand, singer of the viral sensation “All-American Boy,” released his independent debut album, also titled “All-American Boy,” in March of 2015, which landed the #3 spot on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. Mr. Grand will perform “Seasons of Love” during the production, and will attend the RENT cast-and-audience after party, which will be hosted by Progress Bar (3359 N. Halsted, Chicago).
When addressing the choice of RENT for Artists Giving Back’s inaugural production, Artistic Director Peter Ruger had this to say: “Rent is a show that has inspired me for years. The passion of the music and the story, and the connection I felt to the wonderful characters brought me not only to the fight against AIDS, but also helped guide me to my life as a singer. I’m so excited that we at Artists Giving Back are getting to share this amazing show with Chicago to celebrate World AIDS Day 2015. I hope it touches our audience as much as it’s touched me over the years.”
Artists Giving Back’s World AIDS Day RENT will take place at the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can buy them from the Athenaeum Theatre’s website, www.athenaeumtheatre.org, under “buy tickets.”
Performance Details:
World AIDS Day RENT
7:30pm, December 1, 2015
Athenaeum Theatre 2936 N. Southport Avenue Chicago, IL
About Artists Giving Back:
Artists Giving Back is a Chicago-based startup nonprofit founded by local performers and professionals who feel that the arts are a perfect vehicle for advancing philanthropic and charitable endeavors. Artists Giving Back’s mission statement proclaims:
We believe in philanthropy through self-expression and creativity. Through the production of art in all its forms—music, dance, drama, visual—we aim to support artists and our community. Artists Giving Back is an opportunity to interact with our community through the healing power of art.
Artists Giving Back aims to enrich the community in two primary ways: first, by providing quality artistic experiences to the public, and second, by donating all proceeds raised from its productions and artistic endeavors to local charities. While a new organization – Artists Giving Back was incorporated as a nonprofit in February 2015 – Artists Giving Back is proud to say that it is already full steam ahead on its inaugural production of RENT. More information about Artists Giving Back can be found on its website, www.artistsgivingback.org.
The production of Artists Giving Back World AIDS Day RENT is entirely funded by tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Anyone interested in donating to Artists Giving Back can do so through the Artists Giving Back website.
College Football player from Barrington Comes OUT
One of college football’s oldest programs has its first openly gay player.
Princeton offensive lineman Mason Darrow told Outsports.com in a story posted on Tuesday that he is gay. Darrow, of Lake Barrington said everything has gone well at home and school since he came out to his teammates and coaches.
“People will surprise you,” he said. “I was definitely concerned that people, teammates, would react poorly. I think in this day and age people really just don’t care about it. It’s really not a big deal anymore.”
Darrow is believed to be the only openly gay player in major college football right now. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound junior is expected to play in the Tigers’ opener Saturday at Lafayette.
Dance for Life Breaks Records
A record-breaking number of more than 2,200 guests arrived at the Dance for Life benefit performance at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on Aug. 15.
The awe-inspiring performance, featuring seven of Chicago’s top dance companies, grossed more than $335,000 to support the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Dancer’s Fund.
“Dance for Life remains the only annual opportunity for the incredibly talented, world-renowned professional dancers of Chicago to unite artistically to help those in their own community and the greater Chicago area affected by HIV/AIDS and other critical health issues,” said Anthony Guerrero, Dance for Life’s director.
This year’s performance was preceded by a gala reception in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Chicago, where guests enjoyed a variety of savory and sweet appetizers and refreshing cocktails. Guests also tried their luck in the annual raffles to win one of three different travel and dance packages. Prizes included round-trip Southwest plane tickets, dance classes, tickets to the Sesame Street Studio Tour, and much more.
After the reception, shuttle buses were provided for the dance enthusiasts to the Auditorium Theatre for the unique performance, featuring the hilarious and talented Joey Bland and Tim Mason of The Second City as emcees. In between the dances, the actors entertained the audience with jokes and showed video footage of them attempting to learn how to dance.
The show opened with the graceful Joffrey Ballet, who performed an excerpt from “Viva Vivaldi”. The dancers displayed crisp and clean choreography while the joyful music from the classic composer filled the auditorium.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago had the house in awe with its two contrasting numbers. The first was “Second to Last”, which showcased elegant dancers gliding across the floor. The second number, “Wicked Heart” was from its collaboration with The Second City’s “The Art of Falling”, which featured a comical duet between a man and his blow-up doll.
Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s toe-tapping number “In the Beginning” was unique because the dancers had no soundtrack to go with their performance – the only thing the audience could hear was the blend of different rhythms from their tap shoes.
Act I closed with Giordano Dance Chicago’s jazzy arrangement of “Feelin’ Good Sweet”, which featured sultry, Fosse-style dance moves to an original arrangement of “Get Happy” and incidental music.
C5 opened Act II with “Garland Suite”, featuring the nostalgic music of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. Dancers performed on five large swings wearing gowns and tuxedos to keep the performance lighthearted while channeling Garland’s spirit.
After C5 left the stage, the emcees drew the raffle tickets while the artists of LEVELdance danced to various uplifting tunes that matched the “lucky” theme.
Same Planet Different World was next with “To Have and To Hold,” a jaw-dropping, mesmerizing spectacle of tumbling and rolling on and off rows of long wooden benches.
River North Dance Chicago impressed the audience with its strong yet vulnerable choreography in excerpts from “In the End”. The dancers were only wearing briefs, so every single movement stood out.
To close the show, renowned choreographer Randy Duncan brought down the house with the passionate finale “Stand By Me,” dedicated in memory of choreographer Paul Christiano, who passed away this year. This was the first time Duncan held open auditions for the finale, so there were many enthusiastic and fresh new faces onstage.
Legal Council for Health Justice
Acclaimed Chicago-area HIV Legal Services Nonprofit Expands Mission, Changes Name to “Legal Council for Health Justice”
One of the region’s most respected nonprofit organizations, AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, is changing its name to Legal Council for Health Justice. The new name reflects an agency expansion from single-disease services and advocacy on behalf of individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS to more broadly use the power of the law to build better lives across the lifespan of vulnerable people and communities challenged by chronic, disabling, and stigmatized health conditions.
The change is the result of an 18-month transformation which merged three established nonprofit programs — AIDS Legal Council, Homeless Outreach Project, and Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children – under one roof. In doing so, the agency has created one of the largest independent organizations in the country built entirely around delivery of legal services through models of care known as medical-legal partnerships (“MLPs”), forming a Midwestern hub of MLP program and policy development.
The medical-legal partnership approach aims to improve the well-being of people and communities by leading health, public health, and legal sectors in an integrated, “upstream” approach to combatting health-harming social conditions. The three programs will keep their names and continue to each grow high-quality education, client service, and policy work – just under the ‘umbrella’ of the new agency name. Current health and human service partners include Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, Fantus Clinic, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Comer Children’s Hospital, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Howard Brown Health Center, TPAN, Austin Health Center, Friend Family Health Center, and Breakthrough Urban Ministries.
In the past fiscal year, agency programs have trained more than 1000 clinicians and clients, provided direct legal representation to almost 1500 adults, children, and their families, and made significant contributions to improving access and engagement in community well-being and economic security. Notably, AIDS Legal Council partnered with AIDS Foundation of Chicago with pro bono assistance from law firm Jenner & Block to make Illinois the first state in the nation to explicitly prohibit discrimination against persons with HIV in insurance plans. Since then, insurers across the nation have voluntarily followed suit. Similarly, Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children was instrumental in protecting eligibility for Early Intervention, an early childhood program that helps close the gaps for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, from being cut in half. This program was also the force behind a key report in 2015 that triggered successful legislation (Public Act 099-0325) ensuring that students in charter schools have the same health and safety protections as students in district-run public schools statewide.
Most recently, the agency has been in the news for its leadership in two class action lawsuits to spur the State of Illinois to release payments for Medicaid-funded health services to medical providers statewide (Memisovski v. Maram and Beeks v. Bradley) despite a state budget impasse which began on July 1, 2015. This effort is the result of a decades-long collaboration between the Legal Council for Health Justice and the Shriver Center with pro bono assistance from law firm Goldberg Kohn. The litigation is presently pending.
Pandora Boxx at Center on Halsted
TKO – September 6th, 2015 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Center on Halsted brings you the hottest Labor Day bash!
TKO: greatest t-dance ever.
battle for your pleasure and a Technical Knock Out
jump in! groove to the killer sound of our dueling djs.
Billy Brown vs. Gina Kozar……mc Pandora Boxx officiates
sept. 6 2015 T-time: 3 – 6 pm……..coh rooftop & indoors
$20 entry/one drink, cash bar feat. our one-two rum punch
community.centeronhalsted.org/TKO
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Pride Films & Plays: LezPlay Weekend – September 11th – 13th, 2015
LezPlay Weekend features five outstanding new works* – the finalists of this year’s Pride Films and Plays’ LezPlay contest!
LezPlay enhances the visibility and advances the viability of women who write plays, screenplays, and teleplays. The program not only advocates for more dyke drama; it honors excellence in scripts written by women in which lesbian characters and themes – past, present, and future – play a pivotal role.
The finalists’ scripts showcase Sapphic-centric narratives with a positive outlook. These are stories that elevate and celebrate us, refine and redefine us. Regardless of how you identify (or ident-defy) and even if your identity is not queer-cut, you’ll have a gay old time at LezPlay Weekend, where we’ll introduce you to women whose writing reflects, resonates with, and is relevant to your lives.
*The scripts will be presented as enhanced staged readings.
The performance schedule is as follows:
Friday, Sept 11, 7:00 pm
Black-Hearted Bitch, a teleplay by Lynn Kear
Saturday, Sept 12, 2:00 pm
The Patron Saint of Dead Dogs, a stage play by Katie Grotzinger
Saturday, Sept 12, 7:00 pm
Resolution, a play by Nancy Nyman & Heather McNama
Saturday, Sept 12, 2:00 pm
Missed Connections, a play by Hallie Palladino
Sunday, Sept 13, 5:00 pm
The Terror Fantastic, a play by Nicole Jost
For play synopses, visit the Pride Films and Plays website.
Queer Clothing Swap – September 13th, 2015 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Please join Center on Halsted and GenderQueer Chicago at the 3rd Annual Queer Clothing Swap! Trade in your skirts for a pair of slacks or your loafers for a pair of heels or maybe you’re just looking to update your wardrobe!
This event is free, but we ask that each participant bring at least 3 items of gently worn clothing (or shoes and accessories) to be donated to the swap. In exchange, you’ll have the chance to take home the new items you find! BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag). Please refrain from donating stained clothing, t-shirts and undergarments. While the swap is particularly intended for Trans* and gender-variant folks to have a safe and fun space to exchange clothes, the event is open to all queer-affirming allies!
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