January 2, 2007
There were relatively few large-scale victories for our community this year. Just one state got civil unions, for example, and none gave its GLBT citizens a permanent right to marry.
But the good news of 2007 reflects a steady and strong march towards equality. More and more people in the military realize the ineffectiveness of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In many areas, stubborn politicians remain as the only barrier between GLBTs and full equality. Full Story
Like any community, the GLBT community faced its share of difficulties, challenges and struggles in 2007. Some were resolved, while others continue to lack resolution. Here are some of those stories. Full Story
Every year brings new challenges for any community.
Those challenges bring with them opportunities for heroes to stand up and lead, and 2007 produced its share of challenges, opportunities and heroes for our community.
As we begin the new year, here’s a look back at some of our heroes. Full Story
Some were responsible for public policy that infringes on our rights. Others were looking to stir up community hatred and resentment against us. Many were simply venal and ignorant politicians who should know better.
Here’s a list of folks we hope will actually get a clue about our community in 2008.Full Story
Opinion
Every year, with determination, I do not make resolutions. I don’t believe in them, I say airily. Why make a promise when I won’t keep it? After all, I don’t really know of anyone who does... Full Story
I just finished reading an engrossing book titled “The Age of the Bachelor” by Howard Chudacoff. It details the development of a specifically bachelor-oriented culture in major U. S. cities between... Full Story
Nation Report
Lieberman, Smith introduce DP benefits bill in Congress
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives’ Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman, Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and 19 other co-sponsors introduced legislation recently... Full Story
School apologizes for censoring lesbian-themed T-shirt
RICHMOND, Va.—A high school official made a mistake by telling a student to cover up a lesbian-themed T-shirt or face suspension, the school’s principal said Dec. 21, a day after the ACLU demanded the school... Full Story
Los Angeles detention center is closed indefinitely
LOS ANGELES—Officials don’t know when they will reopen a troubled immigrant detention center that was closed for preventive maintenance and forced the transfer of hundreds of detainees to other facilities... Full Story
Utah university wants trans student to prove gender
CEDAR CITY, Utah—Southern Utah University says a transgendered student must prove his gender in order to live in an all-male dormitory... Full Story
North Idaho city approves DP benefits for city employees
MOSCOW, Idaho—The Moscow City Council has approved a resolution that provides insurance benefits to domestic partners of city employees. The council approved the resolution 4-2 at its final meeting of 2007... Full Story
Gay man sues Santa Fe schools for discrimination
SANTA FE—A former Santa Fe High School counselor says in a civil complaint filed against the school district that he was fired because he is a white, gay male who complained about being discriminated... Full Story
Kansas AIDS vaccine researcher dies unexpectedly
KANSAS CITY, Kan.—A prominent University of Kansas AIDS researcher who was developing a vaccine aimed at helping poor people around the world fight the virus has died of a heart attack... Full Story
Freestyle: arts, entertainment & lifestyle
“Comin’ at Ya!” is a book with a gimmick. This collection of previously unpublished color photographs of naked men presents many of the images in three dimensions... Full Story
Freeview: movie reviews and calendar
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (DreamWorks/Warner Brothers)—Actor Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton reunite for the long-awaited film version... Full Story
Let’s be honest—there was more dreck shown on movie screens in 2007 than quality. Do you really need to be reminded about “Norbit” (if it didn’t cost Eddie Murphy the Oscar, then what did?) or the poisonous “I Now... Full Story
Sat., Jan. 5: The Dresden Dolls, Two Ton Boa and Meow Meow perform at 7 p.m. at The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield. Call (773) 472-0449. More
Oprah better watch her back. A new daytime talk show with a national reach has arrived in Chicago and has the potential to give the queen a run for her crown. “In The Loop with iVillage” relocated to Chicago... Full Story
In her early years, before Patricia Barber was a full-time Blue Note Records artist, the jazz goddess released some well-respected albums on the independent Premonition Records label. These albums... Full Story
Nine-year-olds seem to know how to beat the winter blues in Chicago. The cold comes on, the wind gets brutal, the snow piles high and kids see time for play, not hibernation... Full Story
More News
It appears that a dream is coming true for some members of our community: A British newspaper, the Daily Mail, reported last week that Cher and her lesbian daughter Chastity are planning to star in a new TV talk show called... Full Story
South Side slayings stir fears in gay community
Activists in the black GLBT community last week voiced concern about two recent slayings of African American gay men... Full Story
Cicero man charged with hate crime in rape case
A Cicero man has been charged with a hate crime and sexual assault after allegedly raping a man Dec. 21... Full Story
UIC to close dental clinic that serves people with AIDS
Officials from the University of Illinois at Chicago say a dental clinic that serves patients with HIV and AIDS will close this year... Full Story
New Hampshire couples learn ups and downs of civil unions
CONCORD, N.H.—New Hampshire’s new civil unions law, though well-intentioned, makes a promise to gay couples it can’t keep: that all the rights, obligations and responsibilities of marriage will be theirs... Full Story
Some legal rights, protections and pitfalls facing gay couples under New Hampshire’s civil union law... Full Story
Oregon domestic partners law put on hold by federal judge
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal judge on Dec. 28 placed on hold an Oregon state domestic partnership law that was set to take effect Jan. 1, pending a February hearing... Full Story
Uruguay enacts civil unions law
Uruguay became the first country in Latin America to legalize civil unions nationwide for gay and lesbian couples Dec. 27 when President Tabare Vazquez signed a law passed by the country’s Congress in December... Full Story
Editorial
The recent news that the University of Illinois-Chicago is closing its Special Patient Care Clinic, which provides dental services to people living with HIV/AIDS, is just one more example of how dysfunctional and disconnected... Full Story
The holidays can be an especially trying time for our men and women in uniform, and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” makes this time of year even more difficult for our LGBT service... Full Story
Freetime
As icicles dangle from our nostrils and winter sets itself upon us, we wrap ourselves in a warm blanket of dreams and imagine dancing along a deserted sun-drenched beach, the sand scrunching between our toes... Full Story
It’s 2008 and as I look back on 2007 I ask myself: “Have I pissed off enough people this year? Because if I haven’t then I haven’t done my job right.” Here are just a handful of horrible things I’ve said about people in the last... Full Story
Back in the day: Moments in Chicago's GLBT history
1976 Chicago Gay Forum, a weekly radio program, is aired over WHPK 88.3 FM for the first time. The show is produced by members of the University of Chicago Gay Liberation Front with... Full Story
The U.S. edition of “P.D.A” (Tomlab) by Hey Willpower rearranges the sequence of the tracks from the original 2006 disc, four of which appeared on the duo’s self-titled 2005 debut EP. Confused... Full Story
“Cruising” (Warner Home Video)—New York in 1980 was a different place than it is in 2008. And gay life in 1980, specifically, pre-AIDS gay life in the leather underground, was also considerably different... Full Story
John Christakos reviews "Gigolo" and "The Idol"... Full Story
Theater
“Can a sin be right?” That’s the musical question posed by the Chicago premiere of this Off Broadway coming-out/staying-in saga. Set to seemingly interchangeable songs by composer/bookwriter Damon Intrabartolo... Full Story
Gay playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa may have stumbled with his over-the-top dark comedy “Say You Love Satan” (recently produced by About Face Theatre). But this Steppenwolf Theatre world premiere proves he can create... Full Story
Chicago composer/playwright Gregg Opelka clearly believes in the power of New Year’s Eve to create true love by sorting out the false kind. This unashamedly romantic comedy works... Full Story
Home
Foreigners like U.S. real estate market
NEW YORK—Panden Rota, a Nepalese producer of fine rugs, is about to become a Manhattanite, the owner of a sumptuous apartment in the... Full Story
Dining
Best dishes: Rick’s look back at 2007’s great dishes for every budget
One of the perks of this job is being able to eat in places that I normally couldn’t afford and visiting spots that I might not have tried on my own. It’s not all rewards—a few times I have to at least taste some... Full Story