Beaches, Bars, Socials, Events and More!
The Great Gay Play Contest in Chicago
Pride Films & Plays
is proud to announce the
Great Gay Play Contest
held in conjunction with Center on Halsted. This contest seeks new works dealing with GLBTQ history, characters or themes that are important to the community and relevant to the world.
“Few theaters that do GLBT work have staff to read the countless scripts that are submitted,” says PFP Executive Director David Zak. “We hope to provide those theaters and other producers across the globe with scripts that are fresh takes on the GLBT stories that need to be told and are ready for immediate production.”
Fifteen semifinalists will be selected by an international committee and Five finalists will then be selected and read by a final committee. A complete list of readers and judges is available at Pride Films and Plays .
The five finalists will be performed as staged readings in the first of what will be an annual Great Gay Theater Festival in the Hoover-Leppen Theater in the Center on Halsted. The final five finalists will also receive $400. Contest Rules and Applications may be found online .
This is an open contest for all persons 18 years or older as of the date of entry. International entries are encouraged. Contest fee for entries submitted between September 1 and September 30 is $30; contest fee for entries submitted between October 1 and October 31 is $45. Final deadline is October 31.
Dance For Life Chicago August 21
Six of Chicago’s most renowned and talented top dance companies will come together for one spectacular, celebratory evening of dance – on one stage! Currently celebrating its 19th year, Dance for Life is the largest performance-based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest and has raised nearly $4 million since 1992.
This highly anticipated event is held annually to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs and is hosted by Dean Richards, Entertainment Critic and Reporter for WGN-TV (CW), Chicago; National Cable Channel, WGN America and News Talk 720, WGN Radio.
Proceeds benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Brothers Health Collective, Chicago Child Care Society – Safe Life Program, Centro Romero – HIV/AIDS Outreach and Education Project, Tongabezi Trust School, Young Women’s Empowerment Project, and the Dance for Life Fund.
Participating companies include:
· Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre
· Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
· Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
· The Joffrey Ballet
· River North Chicago Dance Company
· Thodos Dance Chicago
This year, Dance for Life will host one world premiere performance by renowned choreographer Harrison McEldowney, who is best known for his theatrical work and his involvement in the closing ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010
5:00 p.m. Gala Reception – Millennium Park Rooftop Terrace (located above the Harris Theater), featuring a light buffet dinner and a complimentary ABSOULT martini bar.
7:30 p.m. Dance for Life performance – Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Tickets are $75 (performance only) or range from $150-$500 (includes admission to 5 p.m. gala reception and premiere seating at the performance.)
To purchase tickets, please call 312-922-5812 or visit DANCE FOR LIFE
Amanda Lepore Comes to Hydrate Saturday August 14th
Amanda Lepore
is an American model, nightlife hostess, fashion icon and performer. She is a transsexual icon who has received attention for entertainment skills. She has been the advertising face for Heatherette, M.A.C. (cosmetics), Mego Jeans, Swatch, CAMP Cosmetics and more. Fashion design company Heatherette has used Lepore’s image on much of their clothing and has chosen her several times to model their brand during Fashion Week.
Lepore comes to Chicago this weekend to promote her CD COTTON CANDY. Saturday, August 14th at HYDRATE .
The first time I met Amanda she asked me, “Would you like to see my mouse tattoo?” purred America’s number one transsexual and owner of a fully functional vagina, placing her hand on my knee. I look tentatively across her silicone-augmented body, but none can be seen.
“Oh my,” giggles the outrageous club diva in shock, fingers covering her mouth. “My pussy must have eaten it!”
Lepore, considered New Yorks ‘it’ girl, has been busy launching her career in pop music. With the help of super sexy Cazwell , they created fun pop dance tracks like “I know What Boys Like”, “My Hair Looks Fierce” and “Champagne.” Catch her this weekend at Hydrate!
SoFo T Dance for TPAN Sunday August 1
Sofo Proudly Presents
the 3rd Annual T Dance
benefiting Test Positive Aware Network
Sunday August 1st
5025 N. Clark (Across from T’s)
Featuring Chicago’s Hottest DJs
and hosted by Sofo Gay Idol Mark Ortega
Special Guests: Stage Door Johnnies – You’ve seen them at Chicago Takes Off, now see them really strut!
Ride for AIDS Chicago Reunion, 5-7 with a blessing from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Windy City Abbey
Don’t miss the fun – Just Dance!
3-11 PM $10 Cover 21+
Portion of proceeds benefit TPAN
Scooty and JoJo present Phenomenal Phantasmagoria
This new invention in entertainment from Scooty and JoJo, the Chicago-based creators of Carpenters Halloween and Diva Brunch offers adventurous audiences an experiential extravaganza where a Family of Freaks unite for an evening of magic and music, dancing and dreamscapes, comedy and curiosities.
See BigTop JoJo transform Chicago’s landmark nightclub Excalibur into a mystical midway bursting with audacious entertainments, mythical creatures, and thrilling acts of virtuosity!
Phenomenal Phantasmagoria premieres Friday, July 30, continues Fridays and Saturdays through August 28, 2010. Showtime 8pm. Excalibur, 632 N. Dearborn.
Each night, the Family of Freaks and other curiosities from the caravan will unite with a revolving roster of celebrity performers and specialty acts from the worlds of circus, burlesque, theatre, comedy, performance art, music, and the unexpected.
Scooty & JoJo offer fans $15 tickets!
Tickets are $20 to the Phenomenal Phantasmagoria at Excalibur but if you purchase your tickets early at Brown Paper Tickets and enter discount code mermaid all you fans of The Scooty & JoJo Show receive $5 off each ticket! Buy tickets online or call 800-838-3006.
Get a sneak peak on YouTube !
Best Gay Chicago
NOT The Best of Gay Chicago … DJ and Porn Star Arrested on Murder Charges
A club DJ who played gigs on North Halsted’s gay bar strip as recently as last fall was arrested last week in Tennessee for the brutal slaying of a tattoo shop owner in Florida in May.
Jason Andrews, 27, was known as DJ Veritas when he did gigs at Chicago clubs such as Circuit and Scarlet, where he was the regular Saturday night DJ for a while. He was also known as Addison when he starred in gay porn videos for Sean Cody.
Both he and girlfriend Amanda Logue, 28, are accused of brutally killing New Port Richey, Florida, tattoo shop owner Dennis “Scooter” Abrahamsen, 41, on May 15 after an all-night sex party at Abrahamsen’s home.
Police said the motive was robbery – the take by Andrews and Logue was about $6,000 in cash, a laptop, cameras and credit cards. The couple was caught after detectives obtained Twitters and text messages between the couple in which they talked about and plotted the crime. The girlfriend was in the house with Abrahamsen while Jason waited outside until all the guests left the party.
Andrews’ true background remains a mystery. At times, he’s told people he was from Kalamazoo, Mich. He’s often claimed to be an Iraq War veteran and told the Chattanooga Billiard Club owner that he was in the Marines for 10 years. In Chicago he told people he was from London and talked with a British accent. Club ads for his DJ gigs here billed him as a hot London DJ. People who worked with him briefly in Chattanooga, though, said he didn’t use a British accent there.
SCARY!
PAWS Chicago 8th Annual Beach Party A Huge Success
Despite the economy and the threats of stormy weather, last nights PAWS Chicago beach party was a smashing success! 500 humans and 200 animals raised $250,000! We ate, we drank, we danced and raised money for our furry friends in need.
PAWS Chicago is the midwests largest NO KILL shelter! 4,000 dedicated volunteers enable the organization to continue to save lives and expand services. Since PAWS Chicago’s founding in 1997, the number of homeless dogs and cats killed annually has dropped more than 50 percent. PAWS is working to build a No Kill Chicago—a city where pets are no longer destroyed just because they are homeless.
PAWS Chicago will find new homes for more than 4,000 homeless pets in 2010 through the state-of-the-art Adoption & Humane Center in Lincoln Park. The cageless Adoption Center provides homeless pets with the care and dignity they deserve while welcoming adopters, providing them with guidance in selecting their new pet and continued support for life.
It is such a great organization. And I met some of the newly adopted dogs last night. Dogs have SO MUCH LOVE TO GIVE! If you are considering a pet, check out PAWS. They have loving cats and dogs that need homes.
If you missed the Beach Party, upcoming events include ANGELS WITH TAILS happening this weekend. Angels with Tails is Chicagoland’s premiere adoption event that brings together local businesses, people, shelters and pets in an effort to find families for many homeless pets. Sunday, July 25th Noon to 4:00 p.m. in the West Loop Area (Madison St. between Peoria & Racine).
PAWS Run/Walk happens September 26th. And the FUR BALL in December is Chicago’s premier pet-friendly black tie gala will draw more than 750 guests at famous Drake Hotel, many escorted by their canine companions.
Chicago Red Dress Party Moved to 2011
The hottest event of the Fall season
is being delayed, just a bit!
The new date is
APRIL 16th, 2011
CHICAGO RED DRESS PARTY .
While it’s hard to trace the roots of a long standing tradition we’ll do our best to bring you the history of this grand standing event. In the early 1990’s two gentlemen were dating when they both contracted HIV/AIDS.
To show their love and dedication they vowed when one of them passed away the other would attend their funeral adorned in a red dress. From this promise the concept of the Red Dress Party began. Currently there are Red Dress Parties all over the United States from Seattle, Washington to Chicago, IL. Oh and yes… You must wear a red dress to attend!
Equality Project (EQPR) was founded in 2008. EQPR sets out to create innovative social interactions that focus on social consciousness and advocacy. Since the inception we have produced such events as StonewallForty, Equalityoga and Equalitybowl. EQPR is proud to have worked with many organizations and individuals including Lambda Legal, Equal Rights Washington, Gay City Health Project and State Senator Ed Murray. In 2009 Equality Project relocated to Chicago, Illinois.
More details later this year.
Best of Gay Chicago
Gay Countertenor David Daniels at Chicago’s Lyric Opera this Season
A countertenor
is a male alto who sings with a falsetto,
a technique that until the 20th century was synonymous with castration. Countertenors, despite having their manhood snipped away from them, were enormously popular and essential to Baroque opera, a style that enjoyed its heyday centuries ago. In the last 50 years, the Baroque canon has become popular once again, and David Daniels has been leading the demand for countertenors for the better part of the decade.
Audiences are taken aback the first time they hear Daniels sing. He told TIME OUT CHICAGO , “I’m a guy with facial hair and pretty stocky and then you [hear] this high voice coming out. The comment that I hear is that most people are shocked, also I hear that it seems incredibly natural to my body and to who I am for the sound to be coming out.”
David Daniels: Operatic Arias
Sento Amor; David Daniels;
David Daniels – Serenade
HELP Michael Snell Become The Gay Travel.com Guru
OK, so I have a BIG FAVOR to ask.
I have applied for a very cool job with GayTravel.com
Out of hundreds of applications, after the first cut last week, they have narrowed it down to 54 finalists. And I have made it to the top 54!
From here, on August 1st, they will pick their top 8 finalists to go to New York City for the final selection of the winner.
The winner gets a 6 month paid job with GayTavel.com and will fly all over the US helping them build their brand with Social Media and blogging and Networking!
So here is my favor. I am asking to PLEASE go to GayTravel.com and sign up for a free profile/account for yourself. It just takes a minute.
THE VOTING HAS JUST BEGUN! And runs for 2 weeks. Till July 30th.
Look for MICHAEL – Scoll down and vote 5 STARS~!
Any help you can give me, would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
Michael Snell
America’s Next Top GAY TRAVEL GURU!
Alfresco BYOB Rooftop Dining in the Heart of Gay Chicago
THE CENTER ON HALSTED ROOFTOP
is the place to dine alfresco this month!
Enjoy a unique, intimate dining experience created for you by 15 talented youth enrolled in our After School Matters What’s Cookin’ Culinary Arts Program. Led by Chef Abraham Conlon, these burgeoning chefs will present Dining on the Rooftop: two weeks of fantastic three-course al fresco dining every Wednesday and Thursday night from July 21-22 through July 28-29!
Every week will focus on a different cuisine, each featuring an appetizer, main course, and dessert. A non-alcoholic beverage will also be provided. Every menu is vegetarian friendly. Please be sure to note all food allergies and dietary restrictions on the online registration form as to ensure a positive dining experience.
The Dining on the Rooftop series is BYOB.
The rooftop will be opened for seating at 5: 45, and dinner will begin promptly at 6pm. Tickets are $25. RESERVE ONLINE.
Gay Boystown Neighborhood Walking Tours
WANT THE 411 on BOYSTOWN?
Whether you live here and think you know it all or maybe newly relocated and want to learn more, or just visiting – This 90-minute walking tour highlights the Boystown gayborhood, presented by improviser Margaret Hicks of Chicago Elevated, and lends a deeper, historical perspective to the area known for its overwhelming gayness and well-endowed rainbow pylons.
DID YOU KNOW?
-that when the rainbow rocket-shaped pylons were installed in 1998, Boystown became the first officially recognized gay neighborhood in the country?
-that Little Jims was the first gay bar in Boystown?
-that Roscoes was the first bar to open their windows to the public?
“Come join me in a trip through one of Chicago’s most distinctive neighborhoods. Boystown was the first officially recognized gay village in the country and believe me, it has a lot to show for it. We’ll start at one of Boystown’s oldest bars – Roscoe’s.
We’ll taste some wine at Kafka and learn about “queer space.” We’ll talk about the pansy craze of the 1920’s and end at a bar that survived one of it’s own Chicago Fires, Scarlet. The price for the tour includes a wine-tasting and other gifts, drinks at bars will not be included in the price!”
Margaret loves Chicago and its many unique neighborhoods, and if you’ve ever been fortunate enough to take one of her walking tours, you no doubt agree.
Hicks’s excitement for and understanding of Boystown, gay rights, and Chicago history creates a contagious enthusiasm as you travel through the neighborhood. Yet, it’s not just a history excursion, but an interactive, sometimes hilarious, evening of engagement with local businesses and entrepreneurs.
Boystown Tour runs until October 31st!
Reservations are required and the tour is cash only.
Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 5:00PM – 6:30PM – $20.00
Call 773.593.4873 or email margaret @ chicagoelevated.com for reservations.
Gay NYC Rapper CAZWELL at Berlin June 15th
Few new artists
embody the spirit of downtown
NYC more completely than Cazwell.
Sexy Gay New York City Rapper Cazwell is a leading figure in the renaissance of New York City nightlife that has taken place over the last five years.
Cazwell’s music—a ridiculously fun mix of electrified dance music and old school hip hop—is the perfect example of the new spirit of pop music. Says Caz, “When people ask me how to describe my style sometimes I say ‘Just imagine if Biggie Smalls ate Donna Summer for breakfast.’”
Having collaborated over the years with a who’s who of downtown New York and abroad— including Amanda Lepore, Larry Tee, Boy George, David Lachapelle, The Ones, Chris Joss, Peppermint, GoodandEvil, Karl Giant and Lost Daze—his ”Watch My Mouth ” CD is the natural next step for a performer schooled in clubland, pulling together some of Cazwell’s most effortlessly catchy singles and pushing things forward with new tracks perfectly-suited to bring the party.
Club bangers like “All Over Your Face” (which first tore up the Top 40 dance charts in ‘06) and the recent viral video sensation “I Seen Beyonce At Burger King” sit nicely next to new party jams like “Give Me Tonight” (featuring the classic Shannon chorus hook) and “Get Into It,” a funky fashion-hop duet starring Amanda Lepore. “All I wanna do is party and have a good time! I think everyone can relate nto that right about now,” explains Cazwell.
Watch his awesome GIVE ME TONIGHT remix.
CAZWELL will perform in Chicago this Thursday, JUNE 15th at Berlin . 954 W. Belmont.
Gay Chicago Performance Artist Zander Mander 30th Anniversary Party and Tour
July 2010
marks the 30th anniversary of Chicago’s iconic club kid Zander Mander. Dubbed the iconic club kid due to his longevity of being a part of the Chicago and national nightlife scene in one “form” or another for 30 years.
As a performer and host, he has entertained thousands over the years at clubs. Some clubs are now gone, but he is still here today at clubs that are thriving along with him. He has recently returned to the stages in preperation for his upcoming anniversary tour “GUITARS, GLAMOUR & GLITTER”. A tour that will take him across the country celebrating his tenure as a nightlife personality.
As an activist, Zander Mander has contributed most of his time supporting the Anti-Violence projects in hopes of unity between all.
Zander Mander will be appearing all over Chicago and surrounding cities during the month of July for different shows and parties. However the main event is being hosted by SPIN Nightclub (800 W. Belmont-Chicago)on July 16th. SPIN will be throwing the official 30th anniversary celebration.
Join in and celebrate one of Chicago’s true originals and make sure to bring your cameras!
ZANDER MANDER 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION MAIN EVENT
Friday July 16, 2010 SPIN NIGHTCLUB
Doors open: 9:30pm / Hosted bar: 10:00pm – 11:00pm / Rock Show: 11:30pm
The rock show will feature excerpts from the upcoming GUITARS, GLAMOUR & GLITTER tour.
Gay Chicago Casting Call for Dr. Laura Berman’s New Harpo TV Show
Are you struggling with your sex life or relationship?
Dr. Laura Berman , a world-renowned Sex & Relationship Expert,
has a brand new show on OWN…and she’s here to help you!
Have you lost the spark in your relationship?
Is intimacy – or lack thereof –
a source of conflict between you and your partner?
Are you desperate to reconnect but don’t know where to turn, or don’t have the resources to get the information you need?
Chicago’s Dr. Laura Berman can help!!!
You’ve seen her segments on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Dr. Oz Show” and heard her great advice on “Oprah Radio” but now Dr. Berman has a brand new TV show, In The Bedroom With Dr. Laura Berman, fully dedicated to helping couples achieve greater intimacy and connection, not to mention better sex!
Dr. Berman understands the juggling act you go through every day and the significance of keeping your sex life a top priority. If you’re struggling with your intimacy, want a better relationship and long for a more fulfilling sex life, Dr. Berman is here to shed some light. Let Dr. Berman show you how to get exactly what you want and need in the bedroom and beyond!
If you live in the Chicago area and you want Dr. Berman’s advice, contact us today ! Please be sure to include a description of your family and the issues you’re dealing with, along with a recent photo. Couples need not be married but must be committed to making a change and be willing to appear and discuss their private lives on Television, if selected.
GAY COUPLES ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!
Animal Rescue Benefit This Saturday at Wild Pug
Come join American Animal Rescue Society for Dog Days Afternoon at Wild Pug
Saturday, July 10 3-6 pm
Bring your dog, bring your friends, have a great
time! We will also have a raffle with great prizes.
Pre-sale can be purchased on the Amer. Animal Rescue website .
$25 wristbands, all you can drink
mixed well cocktails, domestic draft, with proceeds donated to AARS.
Wild Pug 4810 N. Broadway St
Animal Rescue Benefit This Saturday at Wild Pug
Come join American Animal Rescue Society for Dog Days Afternoon at Wild Pug
Saturday, July 10 3-6 pm
Bring your dog, bring your friends, have a great
time! We will also have a raffle with great prizes.
Pre-sale can be purchased on the Amer. Animal Rescue website .
$25 wristbands, all you can drink
mixed well cocktails, domestic draft, with proceeds donated to AARS.
Wild Pug 4810 N. Broadway St
Richard Cordova and Richards Riders Break Fund Raising Records for the Chicago Ride For AIDS
Ride for AIDS Chicago is a two-day, 190-mile, bicycling event created by volunteers and designed to raise needed monies for TPAN and Community Partners.
This year the event is happening July 10-11.
Each rider is asked to raise a minimum of $1,000 and crew $500 in pledges to participate.
Unlike other rides of this kind, Ride for AIDS Chicago is committed to returning 100% of your pledges to the beneficiaries.
One determined crew leader happens to be a dear friend of ours, Richard Cordova . Earlier this year, Richard set quite an ambitious goal for the 2010 Ride For AIDS. He really hoped and wanted his 21-person team to raise $30,000 for the event’s sponsor/promoter—Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) —which would set the record for most money ever raised by a team.
As of last week, THEY DID IT!
“I knew that $30,000 was a lofty goal, but with so many people on the team I was really hoping we could rally enough support for such a great cause and make our goal,” said Cordova, 32, a gay Lakeview resident who will be participating in his third ride. He has also run five marathons ( 26.2 miles each ) and three half-marathons ( 13.1 miles ) .
Cordova, who has a boyfriend, is a health educator at the Center on Halsted; he also is a spinning instructor at the Lakeview Athletic Club.
Cordova’s team, appropriately dubbed Richard’s Riders, has members in their 20s, 30s and 40s. There are grad students, flight attendants and business owners. There also are professionals in education management, finance, advertising, insurance, non-profits and more.
Richard’s Riders is one of the bigger teams ever in the history of the ride and each member has their own reason for participating in the grueling gig, Cordova said.
With the race just 9 days away, Richard is still knocking on doors!
JUST IN THE LAST WEEK, 4 MORE RIDERS HAVE JOINED RICHARD’S
TEAM AND THEIR NEW GOAL IS $40,000, WITH THE CLOCK TICKING!
Cordova says, “My team would love it if the kind and benevolent LGBTQ community could find it in their hearts and their wallets by helping us support Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) through a donation. No matter how big or small; every bit counts. Whether it be information dissemination, outreach, testing and prevention, and positive living support groups and more, TPAN is on the front lines every day helping those, myself included, who are living their best life possible with HIV/AIDS. We ride to do our part and when you make a decision to support our ride you are doing yours. Thank You!”
Help Richard reach a new goal and shatter all records!
DONATE NOW!
Just add a couple bucks to the pile and make this
2010 THE BEST RIDE EVER for Richard and TPAN!
We applaud you and your team, Richard!
Richard Cordova and Richards Riders Break Fund Raising Records for the Chicago Ride For AIDS
Ride for AIDS Chicago is a two-day, 190-mile, bicycling event created by volunteers and designed to raise needed monies for TPAN and Community Partners.
This year the event is happening July 10-11.
Each rider is asked to raise a minimum of $1,000 and crew $500 in pledges to participate.
Unlike other rides of this kind, Ride for AIDS Chicago is committed to returning 100% of your pledges to the beneficiaries.
One determined crew leader happens to be a dear friend of ours, Richard Cordova . Earlier this year, Richard set quite an ambitious goal for the 2010 Ride For AIDS. He really hoped and wanted his 21-person team to raise $30,000 for the event’s sponsor/promoter—Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) —which would set the record for most money ever raised by a team.
As of last week, THEY DID IT!
“I knew that $30,000 was a lofty goal, but with so many people on the team I was really hoping we could rally enough support for such a great cause and make our goal,” said Cordova, 32, a gay Lakeview resident who will be participating in his third ride. He has also run five marathons ( 26.2 miles each ) and three half-marathons ( 13.1 miles ) .
Cordova, who has a boyfriend, is a health educator at the Center on Halsted; he also is a spinning instructor at the Lakeview Athletic Club.
Cordova’s team, appropriately dubbed Richard’s Riders, has members in their 20s, 30s and 40s. There are grad students, flight attendants and business owners. There also are professionals in education management, finance, advertising, insurance, non-profits and more.
Richard’s Riders is one of the bigger teams ever in the history of the ride and each member has their own reason for participating in the grueling gig, Cordova said.
With the race just 9 days away, Richard is still knocking on doors!
JUST IN THE LAST WEEK, 4 MORE RIDERS HAVE JOINED RICHARD’S
TEAM AND THEIR NEW GOAL IS $40,000, WITH THE CLOCK TICKING!
Cordova says, “My team would love it if the kind and benevolent LGBTQ community could find it in their hearts and their wallets by helping us support Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) through a donation. No matter how big or small; every bit counts. Whether it be information dissemination, outreach, testing and prevention, and positive living support groups and more, TPAN is on the front lines every day helping those, myself included, who are living their best life possible with HIV/AIDS. We ride to do our part and when you make a decision to support our ride you are doing yours. Thank You!”
Help Richard reach a new goal and shatter all records!
DONATE NOW!
Just add a couple bucks to the pile and make this
2010 THE BEST RIDE EVER for Richard and TPAN!
We applaud you and your team, Richard!
Gay Chicago Couple Heads to Toronto This Weekend to Get Married on a Float at Toronto Gay Pride!
Fireworks will be in the air
this July 4th weekend,
as over 1.3 million supporters gather to celebrate five years
of legalized same-sex marriages at the Toronto Gay Pride Festival.
To commemorate this milestone, six couples — including three from states in the U.S. where same-sex marriage is illegal — are being flown to Toronto to exchange their vows on a moving float as it makes its way through the Pride Parade – a first in Pride history.
Kevin Tindell & William Hall were selected from Chicago!
William tells their romantic story, “14 years and 4 months ago, I, Bill, decided to be happy being single and enjoy my life. I would concentrate on expanding my horizons and really take pleasure in what I already had. However, I promised myself that if I ever did see the man of my dreams, I would be proactive, brave and ask him out.
So, I really had a lot of fun, trying new things. For two months. Then, one night, I was in a Chicago bar, and saw Kevin. For a split second I tried to ignore him, because I knew he was it—he was the one. But I was having so much fun! I decided that I had to keep my promise and I went over and talked to him. He was a funny, handsome, caring 6’1” lug of a man with a huge heart. I couldn’t believe it. The love of my life was right in front of me.
I asked him out and we went on a date. Kevin says we were dating exclusively as of then. I like to think that I didn’t decide to date him exclusively for awhile, but that’s a lie. I haven’t dated anyone else since I met him. Two years later we moved in together and had a commitment ceremony. I was so happy that day that I don’t remember a lot of it. People come up to me to this day and talk about being at the ceremony and I don’t remember them.
Now, we have 3 sons, Carter, Christian and Camran, 4 dogs, Czar, Sarabi, Moses and Kimba, and a turtle, Sam. I love him as much as I ever did, if not more. My heart still beats faster whenever I see him. We are living out a life that I fantasized about when I was young, but never thought I could have because I was gay. Getting legally married would be another dream that I never thought I would be able to realize. We travel regularly (though not as much as we did pre-children) and would love to be married and recommit our vows in the fabulous city of Toronto during pride. Our story is simple but one deep with faith and family pride.”
Each couple was selected by the event sponsor, online relationship service ManCrunch.com , based on their story as to why they wanted to celebrate their love in front of the millions of supporters.
Congratulations guys! and best wishes for many more years of happiness! Have fun in Toronto this weekend!
