Category Archives: News and Happenings

  News and Happenings, Theater in Chicago

Cirque du Soleil OVO in Chicago June 2011!


Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to announce it will
be returning to Chicago to present its latest
touring show, OVO, peforming at the…


          United Center
          Under the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top)
          Opens June 30, 2011


CIRQUE CLUB EXCLUSIVE
For a limited time, Cirque Club members can
enjoy up to $10 off¹ advance tickets! Special
group rates (20 and up) are also available.


         BUY PRE-SALE TICKETS



OVO is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.


When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.


It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.


OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.




What the media say about the show…


“spellbinding…acrobatic fantasy”     and    “seductive and symphonic” !!


WATCH A SNEAK PEAK ONLINE !

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  Boystown, Center on Halsted, News and Happenings, Theater in Chicago

Great Gay Screenplay Contest This Weekend November 20-21

This is it!

The Finale Weekend of the Great Gay Screenplay Contest is here, and we hope you will be a part of it!

Please join us at the Hoover Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted on November 20 and 21 as we present what our judges from across the country think are five of the freshest GBLT works submitted to us this year, in staged readings with a great cast directed by Artistic Associate John Nasca.

You can meet the writers, and vote for our “Audience Favorite” award.  The winner of the contest will be announced after Sundays performance.

Showtimes are 5 pm Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday. You don’t want to miss it!

Tickets are $10 for each program, or $15 for the whole weekend. Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets , or in person at the Center on Halsted  one hour before each show time.

Thanks for supporting these new writers and their exciting new works!

David Zak
Executive Director
Pride Films and Plays

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings

Chicago Taxi Cabs May Get More Expensive

ONLY TOURISTS TAKE
TAXI CABS IN CHICAGO,
RIGHT? 

Um,  WRONG!

According to Alderman Ed Burke, he thinks only tourists use cabs and  he is asking for a new increase of $1 to be added on to the already high $2.75 for a single passenger, to just step into a cab.

What’s a buck?! “It’s not a big amount.” he says, as he cashes is $3000+  weekly check.

If only tourists take cabs – than pass the buck to THEM.
Allow  RESIDENTS with an ID, to  waive the $1 surcharge!

“it seems to me to be a painless, easy way to generate about $70 million that we sorely need,” Burke said. “A $1 surcharge isn’t going to hurt anybody in my opinion, and it doesn’t impact Chicago citizens.”

Gilbert Uranta, 50, who has been driving a cab in Chicago for 15 years, threw his hands up in exasperation when he heard about the plan. In Chicago, cabbies pay a $78 per month ground transportation tax and a gasoline tax.

Uranta said that ultimately the added $1 will mean fewer tips for the drivers.

“They are trying to use us to collect their money,” Uranta said. “The driver always loses.”

Read the full article at the Daily Tribune .

CALL AND COMPLAIN  TODAY!
Call the Committee of Finance at 312-744-3380
Send the Committee of Finance an e-mail!

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  Art, FREE, News and Happenings, Retail and Services, Youth

School of the Art Institute of Chicago Holiday Art Sale

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Campus Life and Student Association proudly hosts the annual Holiday Art Sale on Friday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the MacLean Center Ballroom (112 S. Michigan Avenue).

The immense talent and creativity of more than 120 SAIC students is on display at this unique sale, which offers exquisite one-of-a-kind gifts such as photographs, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints and drawings, jewelry, fashion accessories and handmade paper designs.

Prices of works for sale range from $1 to $1,000+. Participating students receive 85% of their total sales; the remaining 15% goes to the SAIC Student Association to support the Art Sale and to fund future projects and educational programs.

SAIC Holiday Art Sale admission is FREE and open to the public. For more information, please call (312) 629-6880 or visit SAIC . SAIC’s New Artist Society also hosts a special Holiday Art Sale Preview Party Thursday, Nov. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $35/person or $60/couple.

For more information about the New Artist Society Preview Party or to purchase tickets, call (312) 899-5158.

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  Alternative, Dance, News and Happenings

TIESTO Comes to Chicago for the Biggest Dance Event Concert in the Midwest

The world’s most
popular DJ
is back and bigger
than ever!
 
This is going to be the largest Tiesto concert event that Chicago has yet seen! In fact, this could be largest Tiesto concert the Midwest has ever seen!


Come party with almost 10,000 fellow Tiesto fans and be witness to what can simply be described as a massive party under one unified vibe!


Saturday, November 20th, 2010      TIESTO  w/ Special Guest: ADRIAN LUX


@   UIC Pavilion     1150 W Harrison St | Chicago
6 HOURS OF MUSCI!    6pm – 12am  ,  17 + to enter | 21 + to drink


21 + Afterparty at Vision  ‘til 5am
Voted #1 Mega Club in the US by URB Magazine, and top 100 clubs in the world by DJ Mag, Vision opens its doors to over 2000 club-goers each week and provides an array of music choices and party environments. Simply put – Vision is currently Chicago’s Crown Jewel of nightclubs; and its only world-class mega club. Blending the elemental forces of fire and water with visual eye candy over a one-of-a-kind 3 room nine-level design, VISION is one of Chicago’s most unique spaces.


 


If it’s Wednesday it must be Latvia. Tonight Tiësto plays to 15,000 dance enthusiasts and music fans in the Baltic State. Already this week the legendary Dutch DJ has wowed the Balearic masses at his summer-long Monday residency at Privilege. Tomorrow he’s off to Italy. The day after, Greece.

 


This is very much business as usual for Tiësto, the ultra-busy DJ who turned the playing of trance music into an artform and whose achievements are unsurpassed.


Inspired by the likes of U2, he invested heavily in the live aspect of his sets, employing his own sound, light and visual crews, creating arena-friendly dance music spectaculars . His concerts are a visual feast for the eyes!

 

He has been nominated for a Grammy, had worldwide hit singles (his remix of Delerium’s Silence featuring Sarah McLachlan ; Dance4Life featuring Faithless’s Maxi Jazz ), performed at the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics with music he composed especially for the occasion, wowed the rock festival crowds at Coachella .

‘Because people care,’ is Tiësto’s response when asked to account for his huge success, ‘and they see that I care. I’m very honest in what I do. It’s not an act or a gimmick. It’s pure, it’s emotion.’


When you see me DJ you know I feel it and I love what I do. The real thing. When you see me play you know you are seeing someone who plays not because he has to but because he loves it. For this champion of the people, it’s not just about his undeniable ability to create a party in any venue, large or small, in any place in the world, but also about how the music moves people. Makes them feel something. People write letters saying, ‘I was going through a bad period but your music and your show made me feel good.’


Nelly Furtado and Tiësto started off as mutual admirers, but after making her way to Tiësto’s performance at the 2008 Miami Winter Music Conference (she’d come along with her producer Timbaland) Furtado instantly agreed to be involved, and a few weeks later she gave Tiësto an idea for a song that would become, ‘Who Wants To Be Alone’.

Say hello to a new Tiësto. Yes, he’s the world’s most popular DJ. But the ceaseless desire to innovate that has pushed Tiësto to the top of his game, propelled him to seek out some of the best musicians around, wherever in the world they – or he – happened to be. ‘I’ve worked with these handpicked artists because they´re people I admire hugely, and because they make my music better. It’s more fulfilling for me to work like this, but a lot harder and more challenging.’


 



 


TIESTO  

GET TICKETS for this Amazing Tiesto Chicago Appearance!

Ticketmaster Online   

 or at   UIC Box Office | 525 S. Racine | Thur & Fri 9pm – 4am

or order by phone   1-800-745-3000


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  Hotels, News and Happenings, Recommended

Best Downtown City Views at Boutique Hotel 71

HOLIDAYS IN CHICAGO!
Such a magical time!

Parades, festivals, lights, shoppers and holiday festivities! Whether you’re a tourist coming to town – or if you live here and family that needs a place to stay, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND  Hotel 71, in the heart of downtown. Located at 71 East Wacker, Hotel 71 has amazing views of the city!

Hotel 71  is a modern urban boutique hotel experience, perfectly located on the Chicago River at Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue – the famous “Magnificent Mile”. The hotel’s fresh style, large rooms  and suites , beautifully appointed meeting spaces, friendly service and an unrivalled location at the epicenter of downtown Chicago, make it the best luxury hotel for both business and leisure travelers. My family recently stayed here and the view they had was stunning!

The breathtaking view of Chicago from Hotel 71’s 40-story tower overlooking the Chicago River is magnificent. Whether traveling for business or pleasure – this is the perfect location while visiting the central city. Hotel 71 offers  spacious suites, complimentary high speed internet access, deluxe terry and 300 count linens.

The hotel is currently undergoing a $15 MILLION renovation which is to be completed ny March 2011. Their new restaurant HOYT’S will be unveiled in the Spring showcasing a locally inspired menu.

Hotel 71 offers Chicago’s most spacious guest rooms and suites. There are 454 guest rooms and suites, many with spectacular views of the Chicago River.

Hotel 71 features a restaurant, bar, room service, valet parking,  24-hour business center, 10,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces, 2 dedicated executive boardrooms, and  24-hour fitness room.

(State Street Holiday artwork by Joey Kikke ) 

Their 3 room Premiere Suites can range from $325-$500  and they also offer wonderful Deluxe Junior Suites that  can range from $150-$250.

This hotel consistently gets raves reviews from tourists who come to Chicago from around the world.

“An excellent hotel in the centre of all the amenities that Chicago has on offer. Our first impression when we checked into our splendid hotel room on the 36th floor was “Heaven”. We were in awe with the view of the Chicago River outside that snakes it’s way passed Hotel 71.” – Ireland

“I couldn’t recommend this hotel more highly. Walking distance to lots of great shops and attractions. Beautiful and clean, and the staff could not have been more helpful. The bed was wonderful!  The hotel also offers free internet in its business center, which impresses me. Room had a spectacular view and I can’t wait to come back!” – Australia

Choose from a  selection of affordable deals and  offers, as well as unique packages .  Experience an unforgettable getaway at a great rate.-  In the heart of Chicago! 
HOTEL 71
71 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601      Tel: 1.312.346.7100

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings

Gay Chicago Police – HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED!

The City of Chicago
is currently accepting applications
 for entry level Police Officer positions.
 
Applications are only available online and will be accepted through Friday, November 26, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. CST. 
 
Some of the basic requirements for entry level Chicago police officer positions include:

Age – At least 21 years of age at time of application and 25 years of age at time of hire for non-military personnel. 

At least 21 years of age for military personnel with appropriate service. 

 Must be less than 40 years old at the time of hire.

Education/Military Experience:

60 semester (90 quarter) hours of college credit, or
3 years (36 months) of continuous active duty in the U.S. Military, or
30 semester (45 quarter) hours of college credit and one year of continuous military service.

Valid driver’s license.

Payment of registration fee of $30.00. 
A fee waiver is available for qualifying individuals.
 
This position requires applicants to complete the application process, to submit all required documents, and to complete a written exam. 

The written exam will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2010.
 
Individuals interested in applying should go to City of Chicago Police Officer .
 
Applicants should call the DHR hotline/customer service at 312-744-4976 if they have ANY questions before they push the “submit” button on application. Customer service representatives are available Monday-Saturday from 8:30-4:30. 

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  News and Happenings, Political

Civil Unions in Illinois…Will Quinn Deliver Before Christmas?

PROMISES, PROMISES.
 
Is that all we get from politicians? 

We’ll see. 

As the campaign season drew to a close for Governor Pat Quinn, he publicly vowed to fight for civil unions –whether he was elected or not.


Now, Quinn is in for a full term, and some predict a vote to recognize civil unions among same-sex couples will happen soon.


“I think we’re awfully darned close,” Rep. Greg Harris told the Chicago Sun-Times . Every year, the openly gay Harris sponsors two bills in the House– one legalizing civil unions, and the other for gay marriage.


In an October interview with the Daily Herald, Quinn agreed.


“The votes are there, I believe.” Quinn told the paper. “In the Senate for sure, and definitely I think we can do it in the House.”


But the Sun-Times reported Wednesday that support among Illinois legislators could be wavering following last Tuesday’s retention vote in Iowa. Iowans voted not to retain three judges due to their ruling in Varnum v. Brien, the case that legalized same-sex marriage in the state.


“Civil unions, for all intents and purposes, are practically the same as same-sex marriage,” Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, told the Sun-Times. “I don’t perceive there is a mandate in Illinois on civil unions or same-sex marriage.”


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  Boystown, Dance, FREE, Gay Bars, Music, News and Happenings

Fusion Radio Anniversary Party at Roscoes

An  event
not to be missed!

Celebrating 
FUSION RADIO’s
 amazing 7 year’s
with a star studded
LIVE SHOW!  
  
     
Where is it at?
The event will be held at Roscoe’s Tavern located at 3356 N Halsted Street in Chicago, IL.

TONIGHT!   Friday, November 12, 2010.  Doors open at 9pm.

Totally free.  That’s right, it’s our birthday and were giving you the gift. 
There is no cover charge for this event, courtesy of Roscoe’s.

The artists are Erika Jayne (Pretty Mess), Kaci Battaglia (Crazy Possessive), Wynter Gordon (Dirty Talk), Vassy (History) and Sylvia Tosun (Underlying Feeling & Above All). Performances start at 9:30pm.

The event is open to any guests 21 and older.  Valid ID is required at the door. 

FUSION RADIO CHICAGO  continues to grow capturing the eye of the dance music industry.  With nearly 1.9 million tune-ins, FUSION ranks the 3rd largest commercial internet dance station and runs a leading dance music website.

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  Benefits, HIV, News and Happenings, Political

Madeleine Albright Speaks at Chicago House Luncheon December 9th

Madeleine Korbel Albright

is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99-0. She was sworn in on January 23, 1997.  

Albright endorsed and supported Hillary Clinton in her 2008 campaign for U.S. President. Albright has been a close friend of Clinton and serves as her top informal advisor on foreign policy matters. She is currently[clarification needed] serving as a top advisor for U.S. President Barack Obama in a working group on national security. On December 1, 2008, then-President-elect Obama nominated then-Senator Clinton for Albright’s former post of Secretary of State.

CHICAGO HOUSE  PRESENTS
The 2nd Annual Speaker Series Luncheon
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Addressing HIV and Homelessness

 
Featuring Keynote Speaker, Madeleine K. Albright

 

When: Thursday, December 9, 2010

Where: Palmer House Hilton, 17 East Monroe St., Chicago, IL

Time: 11:30AM-2:00PM

Please call (773) 248-5200 x304 to inquire about corporate tables and sponsorship opportunities.

Ticket Levels :  Premium: $150   Preferred: $300    VIP: $750

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  Celebrity, News and Happenings, Special Events

John Waters Puts the X Back in Christmas December 14th at the Harris Theatre

You wouldn’t expect the legendary creator of such subversive films as “Pink Flamingos” and “Female Trouble” to be a fan of Christmas!

Halloween, yes!
Christmas? Really?!

But of course, John Waters defies expectations.

“I really do love Christmas, without irony,” the 63-year-old filmmaker  says, “But I understand that a lot of people hate it, so I’m trying to give advice to every single person as to how to survive Christmas.”

Legendary cult filmmaker, author, actor and originator of the Hairspray dynasty John Waters brings his critically-acclaimed one-man show A John Waters Christmas to the Harris Theater for its Chicago premiere on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 7:30 pm.

The “Pope of Trash” will put the “X” back in X’mas with a rapid-fire monologue that explores, explodes and exploits traditional holiday customs, with Waters sharing his compulsions, desires and stories, including his urge to give and receive inappropriate gifts, a religious fanaticism for Santa Claus, and an unhealthy love of true crime holiday horror stories. The performance says Waters, “will hopefully make you feel better when the Christmas season is making you mental.”

Tickets for A John Waters Christmas, which range from $35 – $65, are available at the Harris Theater box or by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting  HarrisTheaterChicago  .

BONUS – Alan Cumming is coming to Chicago next May! 
Buy  Waters & Cummings tickets now and SAVE!

 Best Gay Chicago  

 

 

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  Film, News and Happenings

HOT MOVIE pics from the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, REELING

BESIDES  AMPHETAMINE ,
 which we are sponsoring  
Saturday  night, 
there are a few more films that I
think are  MUST-SEE’s
 this season at REELING !

IS IT JUST ME?  
Sunday Nov 7th at  5:15

One of the funniest and sweetest gay romantic comedies in years, Is It Just Me? delivers a refreshingly witty take on one gay boy’s search for Mr. Right. Cute, but unaware of his adorableness, newspaper columnist Blaine can’t seem to meet guys, let alone form a relationship.

His beefy go-go boy roommate Cameron—who has no shortage of willing partners—can’t understand why he doesn’t pounce and enjoy some one-nighters. Instead, Blaine hides in his room and searches Internet chat rooms for a kindred spirit. He may have found one in the form of Xander, a shy, recently relocated Texan. But when the time comes to exchange photos, Blaine accidentally sends an image of his hunky roommate, and things go from romantically promising to uproariously confusing. This case of mistaken identity escalates when Blaine begs his roommate to go out with the charming, sandy-haired Xander. When it seems they hit it off, our lonely hero feels love has passed him by again…or has it? Think Cyrano de Bergerac by way of Eating Out: writer/director JC Calciano’s first feature film is a hilarious, captivating winner. And the hot guys aren’t bad either!

 

VIOLET TENDENCIES
Sunday Nov. 7th at  9:15

 

She’s Manhattan’s most fabulous fruit fly! At nearly 40, Violet (Mindy Cohn from The Facts of Life) is the racy, fun-loving belle of the gay ball. She spends her nights as royalty, but when the party ends she always heads home alone. Says Mindy, “I was a fag-hag from a very young age!”

While Riley, her co-worker, struggles with his baby-crazy boyfriend Markus (Casper Andreas), Violet’s romantic life is nonexistent. How can she keep hoping to find a straight man in a gay bar? Realizing she’s at a certain age and still single, Violet is at a crossroads.

In the fast-paced world of high fashion PR, Riley tells her she needs only to seek out a straight male version of herself—the mythical ‘Fag Stag.’ But the glamorous guru Salome gives her conflicting advice: to nab a man, she insists, Violet must abandon her gay boys once and for all.

When Violet arrives home from yet another disastrous date to find that a gay sex party has been organized in her bedroom, she decides Salome may be right. In order to get a prized man of her own, Violet strikes out on a hilarious quest to change the woman she is. Chasing love at all costs, she may find it in the most unlikely of places.

JESSE ARCHER wrote the screenplay and co-stars in the film. He says, “As a child star of the 80’s, I saw the bubbly Mindy, which made me think she would be one of those girls sticking up for me for being bullied at school. I modeled Violet after her.”

Sidenote –  this is one of those movies that is getting great reviews, but has not gotten a distributorship yet. So it could be a couple years before it comes to NETFLIX. See it now, while you can!

 

Sure to sell out early!

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS!
Wednesday, Nov 10th 9pm.

This movie has been in legal limbo for a year! The highly anticipated film finally hit’s theatres and is also available right now on DVD. Movie – I Love You Phillip Morris

Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) has a quiet life—he’s a Texan police officer, active member of his church, and attentive husband. Ugh, how dreadfully boring!

Thank goodness Steven finds himself in an atrocious car accident that not only rips his life wide open, but propels him out of the closet and into the gay Mecca of the south: Miami. As he revels in the golden luxuries and bronzed male bodies of his new life, the cost of maintaining it soon catches up with him. To support the lifestyle to which he’s so quickly become accustomed, charming Steven turns to cons and lands himself in jail.

Luckily, adorable Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) is his cellmate and the two fall in love. Like, immediately. But when Steven has to remain locked in the pen after Phillip is paroled, he breaks free again and again to find his way to the man he loves… using every method imaginable. Theirs is the kind of love that can’t be contained by cinderblocks and metal bars! From directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Bad Santa), I Love You Phillip Morris is a hysterical comedy, grounded in an emotionally honest (and true!) love story.

Check out Reeling  for more movies and more details!

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  Community, FREE, News and Happenings

Celebrating Its 20th Year, Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, November 10th

The Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues has released the names of 11 individuals and four organizations to be inducted in November 2010 into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame , the only known government-sponsored hall of fame that honors members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, announced Chairman and Commissioner Dana V. Starks.
 
The chosen nominees will be inducted at the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame’s 20th annual ceremony, which will take place from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, in Sidney R. Yates Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., and the program is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
The event is free and open to the public.

“Chicago is a city of many faces, and the LGBT community is an important part of that diversity. The community is thriving and moving forward, helping to build a strong social and economic foundation for Chicago,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley.
 
“The rich contributions made to Chicago by its various communities are important to Chicago’s quality of life,” said Commissioner Starks. “It is for that reason that we are pleased to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and their allies with these Hall of Fame awards each year.”
 
Those honored in 2010 are:
 
Individuals: Claudia Allen, 55, perhaps the most prolific contemporary writer of lesbian-themed plays; 11 of her 24 produced plays have lesbian themes or a major character who is lesbian or bisexual, including “Hannah Free,” which premiered at Chicago’s Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in 1992 and became an award-winning feature film in 2009.
 
Dan Di Leo (1938-1989), a U.S. Army veteran and co-founder of Gay Chicago Magazine; his experience and knowledge as a journalist and businessman were largely responsible for the early growth of the magazine, which is a cornerstone of Chicago’s LGBT community; he died of complications from AIDS.
 
Scott Free, 50, activist, musician, and founder of both Homolatte, the longest running queer performance series in the nation, and ALT Q, another of the nation’s longest running festivals for LGBTQ performers.
 
Bob Gammie, 84, an active organizer and fundraiser since 1949, for his many years of community service, including being one of the first organizers of gay activities in non-bar settings, in particular the volleyball games in Lincoln Park that grew into the Lincoln Park Lagooners, which continues to flourish.
 
E. Patrick Johnson, 43, scholar, artist, and performer; for his leadership in the African-American LGBT community, including publishing two books that focus on black LGBT life:  Black Queer Studies and Sweet Tea:  Black Gay Men of the South, an oral history of black gay men.
 
David Ernesto Munar, 40, for his leadership and advocacy on both local and national LGBTQ and Latino issues and, as a person living with HIV, for his work to shape local, state, and federal policy on HIV/AIDS.
 
Achy Obejas, 54, activist and writer; appointed by former Mayor Harold Washington to the city’s first Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues and by former Mayor Eugene Sawyer to his Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues, she worked to secure passage of the Chicago Human Rights ordinance; as a journalist she shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2001, and she has published fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
 
Paul G. Oostenbrug, 60, runner and community volunteer, for his long and dedicated service to Team Chicago, which takes LGBT Chicagoans to the Gay Games, and for his involvement on the boards of the Federation of Gay Games and Chicago House, a local AIDS service agency.
 
Jose R. Rios, 42, police officer, for his nine years of service as the Chicago Police Department’s liaison to the LGBT communities of Chicago, including his extensive outreach to the deaf community, youth, other government offices, community organizations, and police departments across the nation.
 
The Rev. Stan Sloan, 47, Episcopal priest and CEO of Chicago House, for his dedicated and innovative leadership in the homeless and AIDS service communities, including opening Sweet Miss Giving’s Bakery, which serves as both a jobs program and a source of income for Chicago House.
 
Mark E. Wojcik, 48, legal scholar, John Marshall Law School professor, and founder of the Chicago Bar Association’s Committee on Legal Rights of Lesbian and Gay Men, for leadership and mentorship in the legal profession and for promoting legislative change at the state and federal levels.
 
Organizations
 
Asians & Friends – Chicago, for 26 years of providing a social network for gay men of Asian descent and building a bridge between them and the larger LGBT community, culturally, socially, and philanthropically; as one of the first organizations of its kind, it inspired other similar groups to form elsewhere.
 
International Mr. Leather, for 31 years of drawing worldwide attention and attendance to Chicago by way of its annual weekend of events for the international leather community, significantly contributing to Chicago’s tourism revenue; it has also been a pioneer in support of LGBT rights and health issues.
 
Friends of the Community
 
American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, for decades of support for the civil liberties of the LGBT community and persons living with HIV as well as for advocacy of nondiscrimination laws covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status.
 
Chicago History Museum., for decades of acquiring and preserving LGBT historical documents and artifacts and for its groundbreaking “Out at CHM” lecture series, which presents LGBT history in the context of Chicago history.

The chosen nominees will be inducted at the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame’s 20th annual ceremony, which will take place from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, in Sidney R. Yates Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., and the program is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.


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  Film, News and Happenings

Best Gay Chicago.com is Sponsoring AMPHETAMINE Saturday Nov. 6th at Landmark Cinema

Visually stunning and emotionally potent,
Amphetamine is an electric rush
of beautiful men, bad boys and bright lights.

Kinetic and vivid, this film tells the story of Kafka, a smooth-bodied swim instructor struggling to stay ahead in Hong Kong. His mother’s health is failing, his father is nowhere to be found, his relationship with his girlfriend is tumultuous, and the only thing he shares with his brother is a powerful affinity for amphetamines.

Ricocheting through the neon metropolis on his brilliant yellow motorcycle, Kafka repeatedly encounters Daniel, a rich, successful, and gorgeous businessman who vigorously pursues him. Attracted to the danger and power they see in each other, Kafka and Daniel form a wild friendship. Their urban adventures draw them closer to one another, and their relationship begins to form a tentative, yet super-charged, romance.

As with drugs, Kafka becomes addicted to Daniel’s love, which hurtles him into a spiral of sexual confliction and fury. This sensual, adrenaline-filled drama goes beyond the traditional definitions of love and sexuality, and explores what happens when the desires of your heart don’t match those of your body.

Amphetamine  (watch the movie trailer !)

Scud (Hong Kong, 2010, 97 min.)         In Cantonese, with English subtitles
Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (Theater 7)    2828 N Clark St

  Saturday, November 6, 2010       9:15 PM 

ADVANCE TICKETS are available now  – 
If available, tickets can be purchased at the door. But this is expected to SELL  OUT!

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings, Political

DuPage College Has Anti-Gay and Hate Groups on Campus

You think we live in a tolerant city in the Midwest…not so. Don’t be fooled.
Many think Gays and Lesbians DO NOT deserve rights.

The College of Dupage, based in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, (but with a large campus here in Chicago)  is one of the larger community colleges in the nation with 31,000 students. A few days ago,  this hideous opinion piece published in the October 29 edition of its student newspaper, The Courier. He compares homosexuality to INCEST and PEDAPHILIA!

The piece was authored by  WAYNE  LELA, and by the extremist group  HOME , Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment.
Lela, in addition to staging anti-gay protests at college campuses, and once running for U.S. president, has the backing of NARTH, the wildy discredited group whose “research” is often cited by anti-gay groups. Lela has been active in the anti-gay movement for some time.

The paper’s editor can be reached at editor@cod.edu. 

TOWLEROAD  actually first broke the story. And he contacted the editor.
TODAY, TOWLEROAD  reports, “I received an email from the paper’s editor, Vikaas Shanker, today, which I’ll share:”

“The Courier will print an editorial in this Friday’s issue (Nov. 5) which will address the decision to print Mr. Lela’s letter in the Oct. 29 issue. Due to space issues, we will not be able to print all letters to the editor, but we will print the petition sent to us and some letters from the college community. Most other letters will go on the web in a viewable PDF format. All letters are subject to editing for grammar, style, language, length and libel as stated in our Courier policy.”

Wait and see I guess.  I contacted to editor also –  and he has not responded. I am sure his in box is FULL!

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  Benefits, Boystown, News and Happenings

Bar-Lesque Website Goes Live Today! Kick-off Party November 5th at SPIN

The Bar-lesque Web site  comes to life  TODAY!

What is Bar-lesque?
We canvassed the city far and wide to find charity-minded businesses to send over their sexiest guy or girl to take it all off in an online strip-a-thon to benefit the work of TPAN.  Thirteen of Chicago’s sexiest from Angelina Ristorante, Atmosphere, CellBlock, The Call, Cocktail, Hydrate, Jackhammer, Minibar, Roscoe’s, Sidetrack, Spin, Touche and Velvet Rope are taking it off for charity…online!   You participate by donating for your favorite contestant at bar-lesque.org .

Please join us on Friday, November 5 to mix and mingle with the contestants over a few cocktails.
 

TPAN is hosting their  first ever Bar-lesque Kick-Off Party.
SPIN, November 5th, 9-Midnight –  with Hosted Bar, 9pm-10:30!

For the whole month of November, your favorite bar staff are taking it off for charity!

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  Film, News and Happenings

REELING Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Chicago November 4-13th

REELING 
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
kicks off this week on November 4th running thru the 13th. It is is the second oldest film festival of its kind in the US, and prides itself on showcasing the best LGBT films and videos each and every year.

From award-winning international feature films to social documentaries to experimental shorts, Reeling has always presented a range of genres that demonstrate the rich diversity of work being produced. Not only has Reeling become one of the most important cultural events for Chicagoans, it also attracts LGBT people from throughout the Midwest who consider the festival to be the highlight of their cinematic year.
Reeling 2010 is presenting 54 programs over 10 days.

Film Schedule

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Opening Night! Children of God
Location: ShowPlace ICON
Time: 7:00 PM

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Stranger In Us
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:00 PM

The Men in the Mirror
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:15 PM

Elena Undone
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:30 PM

Glitter & Guts
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:45 PM

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Gen Silent
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 12:00 PM

Grown Up Movie Star
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 12:15 PM

Lost in the Crowd
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 1:45 PM

Role/Play
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 2:30 PM

Over the Moon, Also Showing “Hens and Chicks”
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 3:30 PM

JoJo Baby
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 5:00 PM

Kill the Habit
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 5:15 PM

I Killed My Mother (J’ai Tué Ma Mere)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:15 PM

The Four-Faced Liar
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:30 PM

Amphetamine
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:15 PM

Eloïse’s Lover
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:30 PM

Sunday, November 7, 2010

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 1:00 PM

Love is a Battlefield
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 1:15 PM

The String (Le Fil)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 3:00 PM

Mother Earth (Tierra Madre), Also Showing “NU2”
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 3:15 PM

Is It Just Me?
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 5:15 PM

Young & Sapphic
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 5:30 PM

Strapped
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:15 PM

Fighting for “I Do”
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:30 PM

Violet Tendencies
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:15 PM

Bloomington
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:30 PM

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Adults in the Room
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:00 PM

Her Beautiful Disaster
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:15 PM

From Beginning to End (Do Começo ao Fim)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:00 PM

Goodbye My Lover
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:15 PM

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

A Marine Story
Centerpiece Film!
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:00 PM

Rock Hudson: Dark and Handsome Stranger
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:15 PM

Fantasy Man
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:15 PM

Handsome Harry
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:30 PM

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Going South (Plein Sud)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:00 PM

The Fish Child (El Niño Pez)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:15 PM

I Love You Phillip Morris
Centerpiece Film!
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:00 PM

Eyes Wide Open (Einayim Petukhoth)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:15 PM

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Flight of the Cardinal
Centerpiece Film!
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:00 PM

You Will Be Mine (Je Te Mangerais)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 7:15 PM

Dearest Mother (Madre Amadísima)
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:15 PM

Leading Ladies
Location: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Time: 9:30 PM

Friday, November 12, 2010

The Last Summer of La Boyita (El Último Verano de la Boyita)
Location: Instituto Cervantes
Time: 6:00 PM

Other Nature (Tritiya Prakriti), Also Showing “Nobody Passes Perfectly”
Location: Chicago Filmmakers
Time: 7:00 PM

Plan B
Location: Instituto Cervantes
Time: 9:00 PM

Fit
Location: Chicago Filmmakers
Time: 9:15 PM

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Our Gender Identities
Location: Film Row Cinema – Columbia College Chicago
Time: 12:00 PM

Destination: Unknown
Location: Film Row Cinema – Columbia College Chicago
Time: 1:45 PM

The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
Location: Film Row Cinema – Columbia College Chicago
Time: 3:30 PM

Holding Hands
Location: Chicago Filmmakers
Time: 3:30 PM

The Game of Juan’s Life (Ang Laro Ng Buhay Ni Juan)
Location: Film Row Cinema – Columbia College Chicago
Time: 5:15 PM

Across Lesbian Borders
Location: Chicago Filmmakers
Time: 5:15 PM

The Owls, Also Showing “Chained!”
Location: Film Row Cinema – Columbia College Chicago
Time: 6:45 PM

Closing Night! Undertow (Contracorriente)
Location: Instituto Cervantes
Time: 7:00 PM

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  News and Happenings, Theater in Chicago

Execution of Justice THIS WEEKEND at Roosevelt University’s O’Malley Theatre

The 1978 murders
of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone
 and Supervisor Harvey Milk,
the first openly gay elected official in America, shocked the nation—and the subsequent trial of the accused killer, fellow Supervisor Dan White, exposed a community in the throes of divisive conflict. In Execution of Justice, playwright Emily Mann reinvestigates the trial and its explosive outcome, bringing to dramatic life the questions of class, morality, and social acceptance which lay at the heart of one of the century’s most notorious crimes.

In the play the trial itself is on trial in the court of theater and is found guilty of a miscarriage of justice parallelling the actual case which resulted in White being convicted of a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, rather than two counts of first-degree murder, and sentenced to less than eight years. The play references the urban legend  that White’s defense strategy was primarily the so-called “Twinkie defense” — painting his junk food consumption as a significant or even in some versions the sole cause of his actions.

The highly emotional play combines live stage action, videos, taped voices and music including a video camera on stage projecting its image onto large screens throughout the performance which uses the drag nun Sister Boom Boom, an AIDS activist,  as a voice of consciousness representing human rights for all marginalized groups, not just gays.

Directed by Goodman Theatre Associate Producer Steve Scott, Execution of Justice will play at Roosevelt University’s O’Malley Theatre (430 S. Michigan Avenue)  on Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, October 31 at 2:00 PM.

For tickets, call the Roosevelt Theatre box office at (312) 341-3831.

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  Boystown, Celebrity, Gay Bars, News and Happenings

Gay Pimp Jonny McGovern Appears At Roscoes With Julie Goldman

You  know him from SOCCER PRACTICE ! 

You know him from Gay Pimpin  Podcast !

You know him from the Logo and Rosie O’Donnell show
Big Gay Sketch Comedy Show !

Writer/Performer Jonny McGovern is probably best known as a cast member on “The Big Gay Sketch Show” produced by Rosie O’Donnell and for his hilarious music videos including “Soccer Practice” and “Somethin’ for the Fellas (That like the Fellas)” which have played on MTV, VH-1 and LOGO. He was also the host of iTunes’ #1 LGBT podcast “Gay Pimpin’ with Jonny McGovern” which reached 15,000 listeners weekly. –  and you can listen to it.

If David Beckham and Rip Torn had a love child, his name would be Jonny McGovern. Also known as the Gay Pimp  , this in-your-face comedian is quickly taking the world by storm. From comedy and music to television and night life, there seems to be no realm McGovern hasn’t conquered.

Gay pop superstar, TV personality, and nightlife legend, “Gay Pimp” Jonny McGovern blazed onto the New York scene in 2000 with his satirical mix of his character comedy and dirty gay hits  and his fire continues to burn bright. 

These days he is more known for his comedy.  Jonny will be in Chicago October 28th at Roscoes!  Along with one of his partners in crime, Julie Goldman !  Julie is a comedian, actress, and musician.  She is ethnically Jewish, and an open lesbian.
 
Jonny recently moved to Los Angeles, with Julie, and is re-launching the very popular podcast he was doing!

You don’t want to miss this rare Chicago appearance by these 2 talented peeps!

See you at Roscoes
3356 N. Halsted
Thursday Oct. 28th   @    9pm.
Tickets  ONLY $5  in advance – $10 at the door.

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  Gay Bars, News and Happenings, Special Events

Best Gay Bar Outside of Boystown and Best Mens Underwear in Chicago host Project Runway Finale

 CREW Bar
in Uptown (4804 N. Broadway) 
will host a PROJECT RUNWAY
 Grand Finale party and
underwear fashion show!
Thursday Oct. 28th

Do you think you know who will win Project Runway this year? You pick the winner and CREW will buy you a drink! 

The show starts at 8pm –  I would get there a little early, if I was you.  $3  pints  all night 

PLUS, following the finale,  EGOIST UNDERWEAR  will put on a fashion show. EGOIST is new to Chicago and provides Mens premium underwear & clothes. Andrew Christian, Cocksox, Baskit, Gigo, XTG, N2N, Pistol Pete, Joe Snyder, Obviously, Ajaxx63, Ginch Gonch, Gia, Good Devil, Frank Dandy, Man Zone, Pipe, Intymen and MORE.

CREW BAR   4804 N. Broadway
EGOIST    3706 N. Halsted

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