Category Archives: News and Happenings
1VU Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 30th
1VU was founded on the belief that one person can make a difference, but by forming alliances we can share One View:
A United World.
“Our goals are simple: to reinvent what pride means to the LGBTQ community, take that new found strength, apply it to our causes, and with this knowledge and experience that we have gained, reach out to help other communities and causes.
We all benefit and achieve our goals sooner when we pull together as a family and work as one. Our passion is to inspire everyone to understand that it is not What we have or What we are, but Who we are and What we leave behind.”
STEVE CRAWFORD is one of the Founding members of 1VU. Being a Chicago native, he has always had strong sense of Pride for the city and it’s people. With Steve’s dedication and desire to help others and the environment, he is very excited to be a part of 1VU and it’s efforts.
Steve and his organization is featured in Time Out Chicago this week. He wants to create a monument (Radiance) in memory of LGBT Service Members, which will stand at Space Park, 815-817 W Roscoe st. The monument will cost about $100,000 and fundraising is underway now, and we’ll be covering some of the upcoming events here!
They will holding their 2nd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 30th, 2011 @ 2PM CST
at Space Park.
But check out the new Time Out Chicago for the full story and stop by thier site 1VU.
BestGayChicago.com
The Right Side of Forty…Increasing Happiness for Gay Men May 26th
With over two decades of clinical experience working with gay men, Bergeron provides insight into how being gay impacts comfort with aging. All ages of gay men welcome, and for gay men over forty – even decades over forty – this workshop is for you!
Right now is an unprecedented moment in our gay history. Today: we are the first large group of openly gay men to deal with the issues of getting older. How is that possible? The earlier generation, the Stonewall men: were decimated in numbers by AIDS in the 80’s and early 90’s.
“Think about how monumental that makes what we are going through now. I turn forty-nine this year and I cannot even imagine the added security and comfort I would possess with getting older if I saw packs of older gay men in their sixties, seventies and eighties. If they were still around, it does not guarantee I would be inspired by how they were aging. But because there would be so many examples of older gay men: it would assist my decisions building my own list of the do’s and the don’ts with getting older. I am painfully aware that I am forced to figure out my version of success and failure being older without this help.”
“The Right Side of Forty: The Complete Guide to Happiness for Gay Men at Midlife and Beyond is the first book on aging for the gay men of the twenty-first century that are struggling through this watershed moment. With its release in January, my book mobilizes us for taking on our next crucial assignment: helping each other’s aging. There’s a role for you to make a difference, my book is filled with thirteen chapters of options on how to get involved supporting other gay men while increasing your happiness about your own aging.”
This workshop is presented at Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted, Chicago
Thursday, May 26, 2011 – 7:00 PM – 8:30PM $5 suggested donation
Get a sneak peak online.
Registration required – call Zach Zimmerman, SAGE Special Projects Coordinator, at 773.472.6469 x 437
BestGayChicago.com
Wanda Sykes and Linda Eder Together in Chicago May 14th
has been called “one of the funniest stand up comics” by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America. Her smart-witted stand up has sent her career in many different areas.
Showcasing one of the greatest contemporary voices of our time, Linda Eder’s diverse repertoire spans Broadway, standards, pop, country and jazz. Most recently, Linda crowns her two-decade recording career on a new album, Now, which reunites Eder with Broadway and pop composer Frank Wildhorn. The new release marks the musical return of this legendary team after six years. Eder’s transcendent voice is the perfect complement to Wildhorn’s lush, imaginative music. Now introduces 12 dynamic tracks that elevate the spirit while capturing many moods.
See both ladies together,
one night only!
Saturday, May 14th
HUMAN FIRST 2011 GALA
at the Harris Theatre! Over 1200 tickets sold already!
GET TICKETS ONLINE
BestGayChicago.com
Chicago House Residents Say IT GET’S BETTER
Do you ever stop and count your blessings?
Take a moment and think about how lucky you are?
Have a moment of gratitude?
I think many of us, rush through day to day life and forget there are a lot of people out there worse off. Just this past weekend, hundreds of men and women came out for a festive gala brunch, thousands of dollars was raised, and we all get so caught up in the moment and the fun of it all, some of us, sometimes forget what it’s all about, if we don’t see it. We know it’s a good cause, but we sometimes may forget the face, the real people, attached.
At the annual Chicago House brunch this past week, I was personally humbled by Stan Sloan’s speech. And I felt compelled to share it with everyone, in case you missed the event…..
Hi, my name is Stan Sloan, and I’m in my 11th year as the CEO of Chicago House. And I just wanted to start out my talk today by saying, “It gets better.”
It gets better. Hopefully everyone in here is aware of the importance of that phrase from Dan Savage and from the Trevor Project that has done so much great work with for the subject of LGBT youth and LGBT suicide. But last Sunday, Easter Sunday, I promised myself that I was going to work on this talk for today. And without a clue of what I was going to say, I decided to go and spend the day with the residents of our Supportive Living Program.
As many of you know, our Supportive Living Program is one of our five residential facilities for people who have HIV and AIDS and that have no where else to go. The Supportive Living Facility is the first step for our housing. The 16 residents who live there have come to us directly from the streets, from the shelters, from prison or detox centers, or directly from experiences of having been kicked out of the homes of their parents, friends or lovers…most often as a result of revealing that they have HIV.
Spending Easter with the residents of the Supportive Living Program may sound depressing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. If Easter is about springtime and moving from death of winter into the life of summer, then there is no better place to spend Easter than with these 16 men and women who, for perhaps the first time since they were diagnosed with HIV, have hope for moving from the death of their past lives to the life of what’s possible. Hope for moving beyond the perception that their life with HIV meant that there was no new life to follow.
As many of you know, our Supportive Living Program is one of our five residential facilities for people who have HIV and AIDS and that have no where else to go. The Supportive Living Facility is the first step for our housing. The 16 residents who live there have come to us directly from the streets, from the shelters, from prison or detox centers, or directly from experiences of having been kicked out of the homes of their parents, friends or lovers…most often as a result of revealing that they have HIV. Spending Easter with the residents of the Supportive Living Program may sound depressing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. If Easter is about springtime and moving from death of winter into the life of summer, then there is no better place to spend Easter than with these 16 men and women who, for perhaps the first time since they were diagnosed with HIV, have hope for moving from the death of their past lives to the life of what’s possible. Hope for moving beyond the perception that their life with HIV meant that there was no new life to follow.
As many of you know, our Supportive Living Program is one of our five residential facilities for people who have HIV and AIDS and that have no where else to go. The Supportive Living Facility is the first step for our housing. The 16 residents who live there have come to us directly from the streets, from the shelters, from prison or detox centers, or directly from experiences of having been kicked out of the homes of their parents, friends or lovers…most often as a result of revealing that they have HIV. Spending Easter with the residents of the Supportive Living Program may sound depressing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. If Easter is about springtime and moving from death of winter into the life of summer, then there is no better place to spend Easter than with these 16 men and women who, for perhaps the first time since they were diagnosed with HIV, have hope for moving from the death of their past lives to the life of what’s possible. Hope for moving beyond the perception that their life with HIV meant that there was no new life to follow.
So I went to SLP to be with those 16 residents on Easter, only to find out that none of them were there. One of our donors, who shall remain anonymous, had beat me there that day, and had left our staff member with money to take them all out for Easter pizza at Leona’s just down the street on Augusta. So I got back in my car and went to Leona’s to find four tables pushed together with 17 of the most diverse people that you can imagine packed next to each other. The oldest was 72. The youngest was 20. They were black and white and brown. They were men and women. They were gay and straight and transgendered, they were drop outs from Jr. High School and downtown executives who had lost everything to crystal meth and HIV. And they were laughing and eating together like brothers and sisters.
At least until I walked up. Nothing can ruin a party quite like the CEO walking in unannounced. “Listen,” I said as they pulled up a chair for me, “next Sunday I am giving a talk to 400 donors of Chicago House. What do you think I should tell them?” Most of them shrugged their shoulders until one of the women spoke up. “Tell them,” she said, “tell them that it gets better.”
At least until I walked up. Nothing can ruin a party quite like the CEO walking in unannounced. “Listen,” I said as they pulled up a chair for me, “next Sunday I am giving a talk to 400 donors of Chicago House. What do you think I should tell them?” Most of them shrugged their shoulders until one of the women spoke up. “Tell them,” she said, “tell them that it gets better.”
What gets better?
“Living with HIV…” she said. “Tell them that at Chicago House, living with HIV gets better.” “Is that what I should tell them,” I asked the rest of the group, and different people spoke up. A young intern from Sweet Miss Giving’s bakery who is only 21 and who was born with HIV from a crack addicted mother said how she had stopped taking her medication because she thought it was hopeless before arriving at our door. In her short time with us she has gone from a viral load of over 2,000 to being undetectable.
A man spoke up about the death of his partner and of the depression and drug abuse that left him homeless that followed. One of the older men spoke about how he had lived at Chicago House ten years ago and left because he didn’t want to follow the rules. “It took me 10 years,” he said, “but I finally realized that the rules weren’t near as bad as the rest of my life, so I came back and…” “It gets better” the original woman chimed in, and the whole table went up for laughs.
Today Chicago House provides housing and support services to over 1,100 people a year. Over the last 11 years we have worked hard to change the dynamic of that housing and services from a system that helps people get on benefits and supports that will let them live the rest of their lives with HIV in comfort to one that helps them move from those benefits and supports to lives that are fully engaged in the world and independent.
Over 500 people city-wide have been through our Employment Program which is the only program specifically targeting those with HIV and AIDS who are unstably housed in the nation. Our placement rate for the employment program is over 60% even in this economy. Sweet Miss Giving’s Bakery, Unquestionably Kind, Unreasonably Good! has a 100% placement rate for those trained in baking, packaging, customer service, and delivery through its internship.
Our prevention and medication adherence programs are stopping the spread of HIV in the LGBT and other at-risk communities, and they are helping those who are already impacted live long healthy lives. And, of course, our housing programs which serve over 200 adults and 50 kids annually are helping people develop the skills they need to gain stability and eventually independence, so that they can move on to open a space for someone newly infected and in need of hope.
It gets better. For Dan Savage and the Trever project the simple message of “it gets better” only makes sense in the context of encouragement and support. A struggling LGBT kid may not be able to imagine a better life on his or her own, but now he or she doesn’t have to. Now they can simply go to Youtube and find people…from Lady Gaga and Ellen to President Obama…imagining it for the. The clients of Chicago House most often come to us…black and white, men and women, homeless and white collar executives, gay, straight and transgendered…but with one thing in common…they have lost their ability to imagine a hopeful life with HIV, but At Chicago House it gets better. It gets better because Chicago House believe in them, and that is possible because you are here and believe in us.
It gets better. With your help and support it gets better.
Chicago House. We were there at the beginning.
We will be here till the cure.
Chicago House can always use volunteers.
Maybe this is your year to lend a hand?
CHECK OUT ALL OF THE GREAT EVENT PHOTOS AND
FASHION MODELS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE and LIKE US!
BestGayChicago.com
Equality Illinois Wine Tasting Benefit May 11th
$20
75 WINES!
Join EQIL and Sidetrack for Spring Wine Tasting on May 11 from 6:00 to 9:00pm!
Tickets are now available. For just $20 you have access to over 75 wines from around the world and hors d’oeuvres provided by J&L Catering!
This super-popular event caters to all palates and budgets. Plus, those who preregister will be entered into our 3 DRAWINGS FOR 4 BOTTLES OF WINE EACH!
Due to the nature of PAC fundraising, each attendee must register and pay individually. A phone number is required to complete your online registration, but will ONLY be used as an identifier at the door at Sidetrack.
GET A TICKET NOW!
The Mission of Equality Illinois is to secure, protect and defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois. Come show your support!
Crew’s 7th annual Kentucky Derby Party – Saturday May 7th
WHAT A BIG HAT YOU HAVE!
When it comes to horse racing’s premier event, THE KENTUCKY DERBY, the competition isn’t limited to the track itself.
The Kentucky Derby and its sister event, the Kentucky Oaks, are the only sporting events that are also fashion events.
Derby attendees spend as much time and money on their race-day apparel as they do at the betting window — maybe more! And Derby fashionistas are in a race to see who can be declared best dressed.
JOIN CREW!
Crew’s 7th annual
Kentucky Derby Party
Saturday May 7th
Hosted by Sofia Saffire
$4.00 Mint Juleps and
$12.50 Mimosa pitchers
(Photo Nick Adams from Guys and Dolls and Priscilla)
You pick the winning horse and we’ll buy you a drink!
Horse selection begins at 4:00 pm.
Best Hat Contest
1st place $75, 2nd place $50, 3rd place $25 Crew gift card!
See you at the races!
CREW BAR + GRILL 4804 N. Broadway Chicago, IL Phone: 773 784 CREW (2739)
BestGayChicago.com
Dining Out For Life Returns April 28th
join us to celebrate food, friends and a great cause at our 18th annual Dining Out For Life.
Last year, Chicago raised over $100,000 to continue its mission of providing housing with life services to women, children and men living with HIV/AIDS.
This year we hope to raise $250,000. You can help make a difference by joining us along with 58 other cities throughout North America and Nigeria and dine out on April 28th.
Celebrating 18 years! Dine Out. Fight AIDS. EDGE ALLIANCE
Dining Out For Life Chicago
Complete List of Restaurants
Find them on Facebook
Best of the Best Restaurants and Dining in Chicago
Moraine Valley Academic Theater presents ‘Sexual Perversity in Chicago’
The Obie award-winning
“Sexual Perversity in Chicago”
is the next production for Moraine Valley Community College’s Academic Theater Department.
Performances will be
April 28 to 30 and
May 6 to 7 at 7:30 p.m.,
and May 1 at 3 p.m.
The play will be in the Dorothy Menker Theater, in the Fine and Performing Arts Center, on campus, 9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills. Tickets are just $12 for the general public and $10 for seniors and students.
Please note: This play includes adult language and sexual content and is not appropriate for minors.
The four characters in “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” are a representation of 20-somethings co-habiting and mating in urban America in 2011. This tragic satire is the story of one couple who meets, begins a relationship and moves in together. The show starts out comically, ends seriously and is a look at how people influence their friends.
The play was written by David Mamet in the 1970s and is set in Chicago. While some of the references have been updated to reflect current day, many of them have been retained because they are still relevant. The play was revived in London about five years ago.
“Despite the graphic language and sexual content, this is a beloved Chicago play that still is respected in the theater,” said Dr. Craig Rosen, the director of the show and an associate professor of Theater at the college. “It focuses on the age group students at Moraine Valley are or are on the verge of being.”
Tickets for “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” and other upcoming performances can be purchased at morainevalley.edu/fpac, by calling (708) 974-5500, or at the Box Office located on the south end of the Fine and Performing Arts Center.
DOT429 LGBT Gay Networking Event in Chicago April 29th
Often referred to as an LGBT LinkedIn, dot429 is a multi-platform network connecting LGBT professionals and allies online and in person.
Founded by 500 of the most successful and influential LGBT entrepreneurs, business people, designers, and entertainers, dot429 serves as a go-to destination for the LGBT professional set. dot429 provides an opportunity for this community to connect and expand their business networks, further their careers, stay current on the latest happenings in the LGBT professional community, and more.
Online members communicate through profile pages, updates, messages and online introductions. 429Magazine provides exclusive articles written by industry insiders, politicians, and key LGBTA leaders, covering everything from finance and business to leisure and entertainment. dot429 provides members with a fresh take on current issues: the queer professional perspective.
Adding to the success of the online network, dot429 hosts sophisticated monthly social events across the country for members to connect in person.
They will be hosting their next Chicago Event – April 29th at the James Hotel! Check it out on Facebook!
Over 100 people have already RSVP’d!
The Scoop –
JBar in The James Hotel
610 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611 ( 6:00PM – 8:00PM)
BestGayChicago.com
Annual Spring Brunch for Chicago House HALF SOLD OUT ALREADY
Spring Brunch and Fashion Show.
Enjoy a delicious Sunday Brunch while getting a view into the new spring fashions, featuring the Mark Shale spring line atop the Harold Washington.
Do not miss out on this annual SOLD OUT event!
Tickets are half sold out already!
In addition RSVP Vacations returns as the EXCLUSIVE LIVE AUCTION SPONSOR with a fantastic new cruise to the best of the Mediterranean! Visit Barcelona, Tunisia, Sicily, Florence, and Marseille on an 8 night RSVP cruise!
Sunday, May 1, 2011 11:30 am – 3:00 pm
Harold Washington Library, Winter Garden Ballroom 400 South State Street
GET TICKETS ONLINE!
Please call (773) 248-5200 x303 for more information.
BestGayChicago.com
SISTER SPIT Next Generation CHICAGO April 18
RADAR Productions, a San Francisco-based queer literary arts non-profit organization, presents the Sister Spit Next Generation’s 5th annual North American Tour. Featuring literary luminary Michelle Tea, (Best Music Writing 2010, Chelsea Whistle, Valencia, Rent Girl), writer and provocative performance artist Kirk Read (How I Learned To Snap), graphic novelist and visual artist MariNaomi (Kiss & Tell), award-winning poet laureate of the obsessed and tormented Ali Liebegott (The IHOP Papers, The Beautifully Worthless), novelist and film fodder Blake Nelson (Girl, Paranoid Park, Recovery Road), photographer and Original Plumbing transmale quarterly publisher Amos Mac, and award-winning transmitter-writer of brilliantly terrifying fairy tales Myriam Gurba (Dahlia Season).
This vanload of magnificent underground feminist-centric, queer-influenced brilliance blazes across the land and into your town. The latest in the tradition of rowdy, raucous literary adventures stretching all the way back to 1997 featuring your new favorite performers!
The Chicago show features special guest poet Lenelle Moïse!
Sister Spit- Next Generation CHICAGO
A multimedia literary explosion of zinesters, fashion plates, novelists, performance artists, poets and fancy scribblers. Special guest poet Lenelle Moïse!
WHEN: Monday, April 18, 2011 Doors 7/ Show 8
WHERE: Subterranean 2011 W. North Ave.
TICKETS: $10 at the door SISTER SPIT online
Johnny Weir April 30th Discount Tickets for BestGayChicago.com Readers
ICE DREAMS TOUR
with Johnny Weir
comes back to Chicago April 30th!
Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville
735 East Jefferson
Bensenville, IL 60106
an exclusive offer for Best Gay Chicago readers, if you type in promo code “johnnyweir” you can receive half off the ticket price!
There is also VIP seating available which will provide on-ice seating and access to Johnny’s intimate after party where they can meet him!
ICE DREAMS TOUR
$1 from every ticket sale goes to American Red Cross: Japanese Disaster Relief fund.
Johnny has even created a special t-shirt to help raise needed monies for Japan.
BestGayChicago.com
Cocktail Bar Chicago Celebrates 15 years! And Patio Opening
The temps are on the rise and
patios across the city are opening!
There is nothing like sitting outside dining
and sipping cocktails in Chicago summer!
Cocktail introduced us to The Gardens at the end of last season, and even though we could dine in all winter, it is with great anticipation they bring back their beautiful outdoor space, in just a couple weeks!
The gardens are lined with lush green box hedges, furnished by Chicago’s own Orange Skin you will find our Jasper Morrison Furniture as comfortable as Air! Plenty of golden shaded seating under the posh cover of our distinctive Veuve Clicquot umbrellas.
Join your host geNo & the Cocktail Family as they celebrate 15 years!
The Return of the gardens! Outside Dinning.
DJ’s Freddie Bain, Uncle Milty, Sadie Woods, Psycho Bitch & Carla Starla
Plus Sexy Go Go Boys Dancing up a Storm.
Cocktail Bar and the gardens Cocktail on Facebook
bestgaychicago.com
FREE TICKETS Dov Davidoff In Chicago with Bryan Callen April 14th
Dov Davidoff grew up in a junkyard,
lost his virginity at the age of twelve
with a prostitute in Mexico,
outed his gay cousin over a turkey leg
and he is incredibly funny (all true).
Combining hyper A.D.D. with an amusingly and acute take on things, Davidoff puts on one of the most high intensity shows in standup making him an audience favorite. It’s Davidoff’s impeccable ability to find common ground with EVERYONE that makes him a truly great comedian. He dissects the irony and problems of the world in a way that makes funny what otherwise isn’t. Dov’s material makes people think and look at themselves, but laugh hysterically while doing so.
Growing up splitting time between a hippie mom’s world travel and his dad’s New Jersey junkyard inspired comedy … and confusion. “I always felt outside the box as a person,” says Dov. “My mother was wrapped up with this commune/cult. I was in India as a kid. You’re around these people with these ethereal ideas … then I’d go back to the junkyard. It was a strange dichotomy. It left me with the desire to figure stuff out.”
He jokes about the largeness of Magnum condoms and how he sort of outed his gay cousin over a game of Pictionary and a Turkey leg!
“We hang out, we’re very close, me and Billy, everyone loves him. But every year my aunt ask’s the same the question…have you met any nice girls? Are you dating?? HE’S WEAR CAPRI PANTS! HE’S GAY! He’s not a little gay! He’s GAY GAY! I love the gay men! I never understood people who don’t like gay people.”
In addition to performing regularly in clubs and colleges throughout the country, Davidoff was recently named as one of VARIETY’S top 10 TO WATCH. Dov has most notably starred opposite Mark Wahlberg in the film “Invincible,” is seen on any number of TV shows, and co-starred with Jeff Goldblum in the NBC drama “Raines.” He is a regular fixture on COMEDY CENTRAL, and a frequent round table co-host on Chelsea Lately.
His hour comedy special aired on COMEDY CENTRAL to great reviews. “Filthy Operation” is coming out soon to DVD. There’s no doubt that Davidoff has established himself as one of the “MUST-SEE” acts on the scene today.
BEST GAY CHICAGO HAS FREE TICKETS!
CALL US at 773-878-5323 – if you want to go!
Catch him in Chicago, at the Congress Theater, April 14th.
Bryan Callen & Dov Davidoff HOLLYWOOD TAKEOVER
2135 North Milwaukee Chicago IL Dov Live
LGBT Archery in Chicago April 16th FREE Event
The Chicago Archery Center is having a free Rainbow Family Fun Shoot on April 16th from 1-3 PM. It’s the new game in town! Come and see how much fun archery can be for the entire family. All equipment is provided. The address is 1529 W. Armitage (just east of Ashland/Elston), Chicago, IL 60642. There is plenty of free street parking. Chicago Archerycom
Crew Bar + Grill Hosts Proud to run Race benefit April 10th
Chicago’s award winning gay sports bar, will host a benefit for the 30th Annual Proud to Run Race on Sunday, April 10th, from 1pm to 4pm.
The Proud to Run Race celebrates gay and lesbian pride and is held on the same weekend in June as the Chicago Gay Pride Parade. This year’s race will be Saturday, June 25th.
For a $20 donation, attendees to the benefit at Crew will take part in an all you can drink beer bust and raffle for various prizes, including a Blu-Ray DVD player and two pairs of tickets to an upcoming Chicago Cubs game.
“One of the things that attracted us to the Proud to Run event is that it’s not just a race. It’s also a fundraiser to benefit a couple of charities in the Chicago Area,” said Crew co-owner Steve Milford. This year Proud to run will benefit Pride Youth Services, a North Shore Health Service program for LGBT youth, and the Gerber/Hart Library, a non-profit library focused on Chicago LGBT history and archival materials. “We love doing these kinds of charitable events that benefit the community, and this particular event is also a sporting event, which is right up our alley,” added Mr. Milford.
Last year, the race had over 1,100 participants, and organizers hope to boost attendance by almost 20% to 1,300. Holding events and benefits, like the April 10th beer bust at Crew is one way the organizers hope to reach out to more people in the community. “I’ve run the Proud to Run race every year since I moved to Chicago almost a decade ago. It’s a great way to kick off Pride weekend with friends,” said Dave Davila, a manager at Crew Bar + Grill. “I hope this year to get some more of my co-workers running with me.”
Crew Bar + Grill, located at the intersection of Broadway and Lawrence, is Chicago’s premiere gay sports bar. In 2010, Mike Sullivan and Mark Robertson joined the business as co-owners alongside Steve Milford and Brian Wells. Now well into its sixth year, Crew has become a fixture of the Uptown entertainment district with a mix of big games on over 20 HD, flat screen televisions and great food and drinks.
Crew Bar + Grill 4804 N Broadway Chicago, IL 60640
PROUD TO RUN race
BestGayChicago.com
Mass Civil Union Ceremony and Reception June 3rd in Chicago
an Illinois statewide LGBTQ
advocacy and political organization,
will be hosting a mass civil union
ceremony to celebrate the enactment
of civil unions in Illinois and the
beginning of Pride Month in Chicago.
Unite with Pride:
A Community Celebration
June 3rd at 5:00pm at
The Chicago History Museum.
Unite with Pride will provide couples an opportunity to be civilly united in an historic outdoor community civil ceremony on the picturesque “Uihlein Plaza” just days after the civil union law takes effect. The festivities will continue as couples, family, friends, and the community attend a black-tie optional cocktail reception with entertainment, hors d’oeuvres and desserts provided by various vendors from the event planning industry.
In addition to the ceremony and reception, guests will be granted access to the newly opened Chicago History Museum exhibit “Out in Chicago”. The “Out in Chicago” exhibit will explore how the evolution of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community mirrors broader changes throughout the city over the past 150 years.
(Top photo – Life.com)
“Recognizing the historic significance of civil unions beginning in Illinois, we thought it most fitting to have Unite With Pride at the Chicago History Museum, which also happens to be one of the most beautiful venues in the City for couples who wish to celebrate their union,” said Derrick Taylor, Event Director for Unite With Pride and President of Taylor & Co. “The couples who are participating have so many different reasons for taking part. Some couples don’t have the funds to do their own event so they are participating in this and inviting their friends and family. Other couples have already solemnized their relationship in Iowa or elsewhere so this is a great way for them to take part in recognizing their Civil Union here in Illinois. Others still just want to assist an organization that helped pass the law and is fighting for LGBTQ families across Illinois.”
Jayson Bernard and Roberto Rosario are one of the couples that are taking part in the ceremony. “Roberto and I met eight years ago and it was love at first sight,” stated Jayson.”It’s nice to know we can finally show the world that our love deserves to be recognized by laws and society.” “This is a huge step for our community and we are honored to be a part of this event and help TCRA,” said Roberto.
Unite with Pride: A Community Celebration is a fundraiser for The Civil Rights Agenda which continues the fight to establish equality for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Families United Project. The Families United Project is an exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer families in Illinois through the use of social media, political advocacy and by building community.
“The goal of the Families United Project is to gain equality for every family in Illinois. We hope to build a community of families that are made up of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people,” said Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of The Civil Rights Agenda. “We will help to empower this community to seek justice and equality for their families.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased at Joint CRA. Tickets for community guests are $50 and couples are asked to make a suggested donation of $75, but no couple will be turned away from participating due to financial capability.
*NOTE- Couples can apply for their actual Union license on June 1st or 2nd with Cook County – you will want to get your application in BEFORE 5pm on the 2nd, so that you can technically participate in the mass ceremony and have everything be legal.
more info email info (at) jointcra.com
BestGayChicago.com
Chicago Red Dress Party Tickets Discount
On-line ticket sales close April 12th at 5pm for the upcoming CHICAGO RED DRESS PARTY benefit.
General Admission: $80.00 ($130.00 at the door)
- Open Bar Featured Drinks
- Light Food Stations
- Featured Dessert by Specialty’s Bakery
VIP: $150.00 ($200.00 at the door)
- Premium Open Bar
- VIP lounge
- Early Admission
- Premium Hors D’oeuvres
- Passed Champagne Toast w/ Dessert pairing
- Goodie Bags by Kenneth Cole
GO ONLINE NOW
Chicago RED DRESS PARTY ! April 16th, 2011 525 W Monroe
BestGayChicago.com
Rosie O’Donnell Returns to Daytime Talk At Harpo Studios in Chicago
“I’m delighted to welcome Rosie to the studio I’ve called home for so many years,” Winfrey said in a statement.
The network announced last summer that O’Donnell would return to television with a one-hour talk show to air on OWN. Originally they had said at the time that the show would be based in New York. But O’Donnell was convinced to move to Chicago for taping.
“I can’t wait to do my show from Chicago,” O’Donnell said in a statement. “It’s a dream come true … beyond the beyond.”
The final original episode of Winfrey’s show, which has been on the air for 25 years, is scheduled to air May 25.
Chicago Area Lesbian Student Wins Right to Wear Tux to Prom
Proviso East High School student , Belinda Sanchez hopes to one day become a civil rights attorney. On Thursday, the 18-year-old got her first taste of victory, winning the right to wear a tuxedo to her upcoming senior prom.
Sanchez was initially told by the Maywood school’s principal, Milton Patch, that she could not wear a tuxedo to her prom and needed to wear a dress.
“I was just shocked,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez, a lesbian, said has been open about her sexuality since freshman year. She said the school has an active gay-straight alliance and it is very supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
She wound up contacting the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois over the prom situation. On Wednesday, the group sent a letter to the school district backing her position.
“This sends a negative message to other students that they can’t express who they are,” said John Knight, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Project at the ACLU. “It’s a First Amendment right, a free speech right, and that includes her right to send a message through wearing male clothing that she doesn’t think women should be restricted to traditional female clothing.”
In a quick 24 hour response – the Proviso Township school district sent a response to Knight saying that Sanchez will be allowed to wear a tuxedo to the prom, on April 22.
High school lesbians wearing tuxes in school has foolishly been an issue all over the country. You would think this would be an a non-issue. Come on, a Chicago suburb pulling this? A reminder conservatives are everywhere.
A school district spokeswoman wrote an email to the Tribune about how the incident involving Sanchez has been a learning experience for the school: “(Sanchez has opened) up a new, very interesting and healthy dialogue in terms of our prom review procedures. We support our students in all of their differences and we encourage them to express themselves in various ways as long as it is not disruptive to the school environment. The principal gave his initial determination based on his interpretation of the policy, and the student asked that it be reconsidered. After looking into the policy — it was.”
