February 27, 2006
Florida police look for killers of 17-year-old transgender
Police in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said Feb. 25 that they still have few solid leads in their investigation of the slaying of a 17-year-old transgender youth... Full Story
Opinion
Civil unions are a failed experiment. I didn’t say that. Lynn Fontaine Newsome did. Newsome is president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and she was testifying in September about the effectiveness of the civil union law in New Jersey... Full Story
With luck you didn’t notice, but for most of the fall and into the winter I had a broken wrist and had to type my columns and art reviews with one hand. My right hand, as it happens, but no more convenient for all that. My right hand had no idea... Full Story
Nation Report
Connecticut state rep comes out of the closet
DANBURY, Conn.—Connecticut state Rep. Jason Bartlett publicly announced that he is gay last week. Bartlett, a Democrat who represents Bethel, Danbury and Redding, says he has been frank about his sexual orientation with relatives and now is the time to speak out... Full Story
Court says lesbian ex-officer can sue LAPD
LOS ANGELES—A lesbian police officer’s lawsuit alleging the Los Angeles Police Department fired her because she complained about mistreatment over her sexual orientation can go to trial, a judge ruled Feb. 20... Full Story
Anti-gay proposal dies in Tennessee Legislature
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—A proposal that would have banned teaching about homosexuality in public schools failed in a Tennessee House subcommittee mainly because state officials say it’s not necessary... Full Story
Gender identity bias measure headed for ballot
ROCKVILLE, Md.—Opponents of a new Montgomery County (Maryland) law protecting transgender people from discrimination have gathered 32,000 petition signatures, enough apparently to put the issue to voters... Full Story
Penalties added for people convicted on AIDS charges
PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota lawmakers decided Feb. 19 that people convicted of intentionally exposing their sex partners to the AIDS virus should have to register as sex offenders after release from prison... Full Story
Massachusetts must pay for HIV-related surgery
BOSTON—The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled Feb. 19 that state health officials erred when they denied a claim from a teenage girl who had HIV-related surgery, saying payment can’t be denied simply because she did not have permission from her insurer before the procedure... Full Story
Lesbian’s murder conviction stands in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky.—A Lexington woman convicted in a high-profile murder in 1986 did not receive perfect legal advice during her trial, but her attorney did not commit any grievous errors, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Feb. 21... Full Story
Bill to ban domestic partner registries stalls in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan.—Efforts to ban domestic partner registries by local governments, including one in Lawrence, ran into trouble Feb. 20 in the Kansas House when members sent it to committee rather than advancing it to an expected final vote... Full Story
Editorial
When is enough enough? In the past two weeks, we’ve seen two horrific slayings in this country. On Feb. 12, a 15-year-old gay youth, Lawrence King, was shot and killed in Oxnard, California, by a classmate. King... Full Story
Since its founding, one of our country’s most cherished ideals has been the separation of church and state. Thomas Jefferson, the author of our Declaration of Independence, wrote, “All men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain... Full Story
Home
When I first came to Chicago in 1984, I lived in a hotel suite for three months until I could find an apartment. As glamorous as that might sound, it wasn’t exactly like Eloise at the Plaza. For one thing, there was... Full Story
Art
American enigma: Edward Hopper at the Art Institute of Chicago
Arguably the most important American artist of the first half of the 20th century, Edward Hopper (1882-1966) has been claimed as a precursor of styles as varied as modern representationalism, abstraction, pop art and photo-realism... Full Story
Freetime
Midlife Crisis No. 200: don’t bahrain on my parade.
Although homosexuality is illegal in Bahrain—punishable by up to 10 years in prison or deportation—members of Parliament from the extreme Islamic Al Menbar party are recommending an even tougher crackdown on what they perceive to be a sudden... Full Story
PISCES: FEBRUARY 21-MARCH 20: Try to remember that every new relationship is an experiment. Every experiment teaches us more about love. This affair could last. If it doesn’t, at least love won’t be such a mystery the next time you decide to get involved... Full Story
“Kurt Cobain: About A Son”—AJ Schnack’s non-traditional doc 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 “Come As You Are: The Story of... Full Story
Back in the day: Moments in Chicago' GLBT history
2002: The University of Chicago Queer & Associates group presents lesbian stand-up comedienne Kate Clinton at Mandel Hall, Reynolds Club, 5706 S. University Ave. Tickets cost $10. More
CFP reviews "The Best of Dean Monroe" & "10:30pm Monday". Full Story
News
More than 100 ministers from the Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal and Uniting (Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational) churches are marching in Australia’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade... Full Story
It may be a cliché, but “it plays in Peoria” took on new meaning this month in the Illinois Senate when Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria/Pekin) signed on as the chief Senate sponsor of legislation to allow civil unions for gay and lesbian couples in the Land of Lincoln... Full Story
LCCP launches new curriculum for health professionals
The Lesbian Community Care Project last week launched its free online curriculum, “Going Beyond Nice,” a cultural competency course that educates healthcare providers on lesbian, bisexual and transgender health concerns... Full Story
Federal program assesses HIV risk factors for young gays
Public officials and community activists gathered Feb. 19 at Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted, to hear an update on a community initiative assessing risks facing young men who have sex with men and designating prevention strategies that address them... Full Story
Feigenholtz bill to protect students’ HIV confidentiality passes key vote
The Illinois House Human Services Committee last week approved legislation that would repeal a law requiring health departments to notify school principals if a student tests positive for HIV... Full Story
ACLU tells court student has free speech right to wear anti-gay shirt
The American Civil Liberties Union last week filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of a Naperville high school student who wore a T-shirt opposing homosexuality to school... Full Story
Prosecutors urge court to uphold Craig’s guilty plea
MINNEAPOLIS—Prosecutors argued Feb. 22 that Sen. Larry Craig’s appeal misinterprets the disorderly conduct law and his guilty plea in a bathroom sex sting should stand... Full Story
Stonewall Dems leader says group’s influence is growing
In Chicago Feb. 18-19 to meet with the local chapter of Stonewall Democrats, Jon Hoadley, the group’s national executive director, expressed the same excitement about the upcoming November election that many Democrats are feeling... Full Story
Weiland leaves $65 million for GLBT rights groups and AIDS causes
SEATTLE—The estate of Ric Weiland, a high school classmate of Microsoft Corp. founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen and one of the first five people to work at the software giant, has left $65 million to gay rights and HIV/AIDS organizations... Full Story
Obit
Activist Gina Ross is to be remembered at a memorial gathering March 1 at the Mercury Café, 1505 W. Chicago Ave. Ross passed away at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago Dec. 8 at the age of 33 due to complications from leukemia... Full Story
Freestyle: arts, entertainment & lifestyle
The one and only Sia plays Park West, 322 W. Armitage, at 7:30 p.m. Call (773) 929-5959. More
Gritty in "Pink": An interview with Scott Free
Over the course of his first three albums, queer musician Scott Free demonstrated his musical versatility, setting our heads spinning with forays into punk, modern rock and hip-hop. But, it’s safe to say that nothing could have prepared us for his masterwork... Full Story
Two of the most significant albums of the 20th century are celebrating the 20th anniversaries of their original releases. In their own ways, “The Joshua Tree” (Island/UMe), by U2, and “Straight Outta Compton” (Priority/EMI), by NWA, paved the way... Full Story
SAGRES, Portugal—The wind picked up after we left the last trees behind and the narrow road stretched out over the misty, scrub-covered plateau toward the end of Europe... Full Story
Tick Tock: Timing is everything
For travelers with plans to jet to one coast or another—or beyond—timing can be everything. And while mobile phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets might track the hours, the wristwatch remains one of the most reliable ways to keep the time. Full Story
Freeview: 80th Oscars 'Rather Subdued'
When it comes to doing a post-mortem of the 80th annual Academy Awards, a point system is in order. If you made it to the end of the show (which miraculously came in under three hours), then give yourself a gentle pat on the back... Full Story
Theater
Shakespeare’s unstoppable domestic tragedy, “Othello,” is a nasty bit of business: Iago’s jealousy over Othello perfectly equips him to trigger Othello’s jealousy over Cassio. The result: a murder by proxy where Iago kills Othello’s... Full Story
Lifeline Theatre’s “Talking It Over” is a solidly produced evening of theater with nice direction and fine performances. The main characters in this adaptation of Julian Barnes’ novel are its primary undoing, however. They are so... Full Story
Fresh from the success of its 2007 musical triumph “The Adding Machine” (which premieres this month at Broadway’s Minetta Theatre), Next Theatre hits another homer with “The American Dream Songbook,” an ambitious music-theater offering that probes the... Full Story
Dining
Brasserie Jo: a bit pricey but very good
Here’s a quick French lesson for you. What’s the difference between a bistro and a brasserie? A bistro is a small, informal restaurant serving wine. A brasserie is a restaurant serving... Full Story