January 9, 2008
Opinion
Mike Huckabee is scary. I mean George W. Bush scary—in fact, that is how many of his supporters think of him: as a “better” George W. As a George W. who will actually make “compassionate conservatism” a reality... Full Story
There seem to be a number of fears—maybe it would be better to call them concerns—out there at the margins of the gay community over research on the origin(s) of homosexuality and the possibility of changing people’s sexual orientation. The concern is... Full Story
Nation Report
D.C.’s needle exchange program to fight AIDS
WASHINGTON—The city government of Washington, D.C., plans to spend $650,000 to fund needle exchange programs to reduce soaring rates of HIV and AIDS infections in the U.S. capital, city officials announced last week. A nearly... Full Story
New Jersey moves to toughen bullying law
TRENTON, N.J.—Legislation to toughen the New Jersey’s hate crime and bullying laws advanced Jan. 3. It would amend an existing bias intimidation... Full Story
Arizona DP benefits spark extensive public response
PHOENIX—Arizona state officials have received a flood of public comments on a proposal by Gov. Janet Napolitano’s administration to provide domestic partner... Full Story
Presbyterian church feud leads to property dispute
CANONSBURG, Pa.—Washington Presbytery officials went to court last week to contest a claim to church property by a western Pennsylvania congregation that voted to leave the national church... Full Story
Connecticut Episcopal church abandons national fellowship
WATERTOWN, Conn.—The entire congregation of Christ Church in Watertown has abandoned the church, founded in 1764, and is severing ties with the national Episcopal Church... Full Story
Second man pleads guilty to slaying gay Indiana man
CROTHERSVILLE, Ind.—A second man pleaded guilty last week to killing a 32-year-old gay man in a brutal beating last April in the southern Indiana town of Crothersville... Full Story
California Supreme Court upholds tax rule for gay couples
SAN FRANCISCO—In a major victory for same-sex couples Jan. 3, the California Supreme Court denied a petition by county assessors seeking review of a California Court of Appeal decision... Full Story
Governor who signed first gay rights law dies
MADISON, Wisc.—Former Wisconsin Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus, who signed the first statewide gay rights law in the U.S. in 1982, has died. He was 81... Full Story
Freestyle: arts, entertainment & lifestyle
January 11 marks the beginning of Chicago’s winter art season, when more than 60 galleries hold opening receptions for their first 2008 exhibitions. Most will then offer new exhibitions every month or so. Highlights include... Full Story
Stephin Merritt is not one to sit still for long. Between the release of his new Magnetic Fields disc, the fittingly titled “Distortion” (Nonesuch) and the previous one (“i”), he put out both his “Showtunes” disc and one by another of his numerous... Full Story
Olivia sits pretty. Olivia, the home theater recliner from Salamander Designs, is a stylish debutant making her debut at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. She’s ergonomically... Full Story
Friday, Jan. 11: The Bird And The Bee, featuring Inara George, performs at 10 p.m. at Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport. Call (773) 525-2508. More
Good & True: an interview with playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
“Good Boys and True,” the new play by gay playwright (and Marvel Comics writer) Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, is currently on the main stage at the legendary Steppenwolf Theater... Full Story
“Kurt Cobain: About A Son”—AJ Schnack’s non-traditional documentary about non-traditional rock star Kurt Cobain is informative and effective. Based on interviews that music journalist Michael Azerrad conducted with Cobain while researching his book... Full Story
Home
Millions of fans can’t get enough of Abram
BOSTON—Norm Abram may be television’s most unlikely star. Instead of Hollywood leading-man looks, the host and master carpenter of “This Old House” and the PBS series “The New Yankee Workshop” has a flannel shirt... Full Story
Dining
I don’t know about you, but I am glad to see 2007 go, if only for the fact that it means this is the final year of the Bush dictatorship, um, I mean presidency. It just felt like we were living in a master-slave relationship, and not in a good way. But... Full Story
More News
Ever waited way too long at Sidetrack for your gay friend from Naperville and his straight girlfriend? Ever get frustrated for the umpteenth time when they call you—an hour late—and say, “OK, we’re right by this place... Full Story
Famed Les Ballets Trocadero performance to benefit AFC
One word sets Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo apart from most other ballet troupes: Testosterone. The all-male company, often referred to as “The Trocks,” makes its first Chicago appearance... Full Story
Howard Brown’s stop smoking programs attract interest
As of last week, Illinois smokers who want to light up in public have to take it outside. The state ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, among other public... Full Story
Obama rides big wave of Iowa votes
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama seized the lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination Jan. 3 in the Iowa caucuses, while Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, who’s sought to capitalize on anti-gay sentiment, faltered in his bid for the Republican nomination... Full Story
Kucinich faces opponents in reelection campaign
CLEVELAND—Democratic candidate for president Dennis Kucinich—a favorite of gay and lesbian voters because of his longtime support for same-sex marriage—faces new opposition for his congressional seat... Full Story
Protesters greet Bush in stop at Lakeview school
Community activist Andrew Deppe and Bob Schwartz, of the Gay Liberation Network, (above) were among a few dozen anti-war protesters outside Horace Greeley Elementary School in Lakeview Jan. 7 as President... Full Story
Church leader says Robinson isn’t the only gay bishop
LONDON—U.S. Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori says her church has been unfairly singled out for criticism because it is honest about consecrating gay bishops... Full Story
New Hampshire couples celebrate civil unions
CONCORD, New Hampshire—Dozens of gay and lesbian couples entered into civil unions in New Hampshire in the early moments of New Year’s Day as a new state law legalized such arrangements after midnight... Full Story
Obit
Longtime lesbian community activist Lisa Tonna passed away Jan. 8 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, succumbing after an 11-month battle with cancer... Full Story
Editorial
Last weekend, just two nights after the Iowa caucuses, most of the presidential candidates took part in a set of remarkable debates broadcast on ABC. The debates, one for the Republican candidates and one for the top four... Full Story
And they’re off. With Iowa victories under their belts, political sensations Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee have the winds at their backs as they campaign on messages of change and conciliation. But... Full Story
Freetime
Zuh sviss guard vith zuh big knockwurst
While most devout Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ in a dignified and respectful fashion, the aging Pope Wendy XVI (Born Joseph “Wendy” Ratzinger in 1526) decided to visit Spain and give a venomous hate speech condemning the left-wing liberal government... Full Story
“Blue moon, you saw me standin’ alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own. Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for, you heard me sayin’ a prayer for, someone I really could care for... Full Story
You can hear the influence of both boy-band culture and the shallow talent pool of “American Idol” in out, Israeli-born, faux-soul crooner Guy B. As creative and artistic influences go, neither ranks high on the longevity scale, nor do they give listeners... Full Story
DVDiva: The Simpsons Ultimatum
“The Simpsons Movie” (20th Century Fox)—Gratuitous gay kissing cops aside, “The Simpsons Movie” packs in more laughs per minute than non-kissing faux-gay firemen “…Chuck and Larry” could ever hope for, and makes the transition from small to large screen with ease... Full Story
1977: The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Metropolitan Chicago meets at Chuck Renslow’s Dewes Mansion to elect its new executive committee, welcome... Full Story
John Christakos reviews "The Erotic Films Of Peter DeRome" and "Oliver Twink"...Full Story
Theater
Elvis has certainly left the building, but thankfully Eva Peron has not! In fact, rock and roll theorists and conspiracy lovers will find much to enjoy in Trap Door Theatre’s production of Argentinean playwright Copi’s new wave “Eva Peron.” This glorious... Full Story
“Those people who say safe sex isn’t fun? They never met me!” Those words are among the many fine laugh lines in “Sunday on the Rocks,” a worthwhile new production at the Bailiwick Arts Center... Full Story
It is a dubious prospect to mount a production of a musical that survived its original Broadway run on the strength of its lead actors (Bernadette Peters and Martin Short) alone. It is truly disappointing, though, that the distinguished talent behind Drury Lane Oakbrook’s... Full Story