March 26, 2008
News
The union between the Democratic Party and gay activists—often a marriage of convenience rather than love—is showing strains, particularly in the Beltway, as a discrimination lawsuit brought against the Democratic National Committee by a fired gay staffer gets closer to trial... Full Story
City puts Halsted in spotlight
The City of Chicago’s “Great Chicago Places and Spaces” touring programs is offering a “Gay by Design” tour May 17-18 that looks at two buildings designed specifically for the GLBT community—the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, and Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted... Full Story
Maryland OKs rights for gay couples
ANNAPOLIS, Md.—With gay marriage a no-go this year, Maryland senators voted March 18 to allow unmarried couples more rights to make medical decisions for each other... Full Story
Chicago meth bust nets $3 million in drugs
Chicago police seized almost $3 million worth of crystal methamphetamine and cocaine at a home in the 2500 block of North Linder around 9:30 p.m. March 24... Full Story
Downstate GLBT newspaper ends 11-year run
Illinois’ Downstate GLBT community newspaper, Prairie Flame, has closed after more than 11 years of providing local GLBT news in its hometown, Springfield, and smaller towns from Carbondale to Rockford, Peoria and Champaign/Urbana... Full Story
Florida gay bar owner slain by ex, who then commits suicide
Police in West Palm Beach, Florida said they found the bodies of a popular gay bar owner and his ex-boyfriend March 22 in the bar owner’s apartment... Full Story
Lesbian priest challenges Dakota’s conservative bishop
GRAND FORKS, N.D.—A lesbian priest says she wants to start a dialogue with church leaders after the Episcopal bishop of North Dakota refused her request for a license to minister in the state... Full Story
Poland’s president steals gay couple’s video to make anti-gay point
WARSAW, Poland—When New York gay rights activist Brendan Fay married his boyfriend, he never imagined the Polish president would air his wedding video across the Catholic nation as a warning against gay marriage... Full Story
Nation Report
Florida lawmakers try to end state’s adoption ban
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Two Florida lawmakers are trying again this year to pass legislation that would open the door for gay people to adopt children in the Sunshine State... Full Story
Alabama man convicted in slaying of transgender
MOBILE, Ala.—A jury has convicted a man of murder in the death of a transgender man, although no motive was made clear. Samuel Lamar Moore, 23, was convicted in the October 2006 shooting death of Marco “Coco” Little, 31, in Little’s home. Circuit Judge Rick Stout ordered Moore held March 19 to await sentencing April 24, when he could face a maximum of life in prison... Full Story
Minnesota students hold forum on GLBT student group
MAPLE GROVE, Minn.—The students who sued the Osseo (Minnesota) school district over its treatment of their GLBT group spoke at a March 19 forum attended by more than 50 students and community members... Full Story
Marriage/unions ban advances in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa.—A proposal to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to ban gay marriages and civil unions received approval from a Pennsylvania Senate committee March 18 as supporters seek to revive an effort that stalled in 2006... Full Story
Bill to bar partners benefits dies in Arizona Senate
PHOENIX—A bill aimed at blocking a move to allow unmarried domestic partners to get coverage as dependents under state employee and retiree benefits is dead in the water at the Arizona Legislature... Full Story
Matos McGreevey loses one ruling but case drags on
ELIZABETH, N.J.—Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey didn’t plan to torment his wife while they were married, a judge in their divorce case ruled March 20, while allowing her to continue with a claim of marriage fraud... Full Story
Jacques’ judicial nomination stalled over new questions
BOSTON—An expected vote on the nomination of an openly lesbian former Massachusetts state senator to be a judge at the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents was delayed March 19 after one member of the Governor’s Council accused her of lacking the necessary credentials and... Full Story
Freetime
I’m a big fan of the homosexual soap opera “The McGreeveys,” starring ex-New Jersey Gov. “I am a Gay American” Jim McGreevey and his understandably bitter, jilted ex-wife Dina Matos. If you haven’t been following the soap here’s a rundown of the plot so far: Ex-New Jersey Gov. “I am A Gay American” Jim McGreevey is forced out of the closet after being caught with his bra strap unhooked while he’s bent over the dishwasher... Full Story
VIRGO: You have good reason to be suspicious. Malicious types are everywhere. Replacing paranoia with reasonable doubt will make it possible for you to deal with this double-edged sword. Give everyone just enough rope to hang them selves. More
Back in the day: Moments in Chicago's GLBT history
1996: The founding meeting of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce takes place at Ann Sather’s, 929 W. Belmont. More
“The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom & Ringo” (Shout Factory)—The night after musician John Lennon was murdered, gunned down outside of his home in New York City in December of 1980, the legendary late-night talk show host Tom Snyder re-aired what he described as one of the most requested interviews he ever... Full Story
CFP reviews "Therapy" & "Ivy League". Full Story
Editorial
Four years ago, on March 24, 2004, the body of 31-year-old Kevin Clewer was found in his Elaine Street apartment. He had been repeatedly stabbed—more than 40 times—with no signs of forced entry and nothing of value taken from the apartment... Full Story
Over recent weeks members of our church and others have been subjected to the relentless airing of two or three brief video clips of sermons by the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., pastor of Trinity United Church... Full Story
Opinion
I’ve lived in New York for 18 months now, in a Dominican neighborhood in Harlem Heights—so far uptown that locals sometimes call it “Upstate Manhattan... Full Story
It seems as if a lot of the gay community attention and energy that would normally go to advancing gay equality is being siphoned off by the presidential race, primarily by the contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination... Full Story
Freestyle: arts, entertainment & lifestyle
Cinema: Unstopable: an interview with filmmaker Kimberly Peirce
There are a few reasons why “Stop Loss” is one of the most eagerly anticipated movies in the spring 2008 line-up. First, it’s the second feature length film from acclaimed filmmaker Kimberly Peirce, the out director behind the acclaimed and award-winning “Boys Don’t... Full Story
Live Performance: Gayer & Gayer: A spring preview of LGBT & LGBT-geared shows
According to the calendar, spring has arrived. And with the change in seasons comes a splendid array of live performance events, many of which feature LGBT performers and LGBT-friendly acts... Full Story
Art: Women’s studies: Lesbian photographers at the Center on Halsted
s part of its celebration of Women’s History Month, the Center on Halsted is presenting “Cycles: A Generational Snapshot from Four Chicago Lesbians,” an exhibition of photographs by lesbians whose ages span four decades. The participants include Kat Fitzgerald, Corri Christensen, Chelcie Porter and Betty Lark Ross... Full Story
Dan McCauley, the owner/operator of Taste of Heaven, has been a familiar face in Andersonville for a number of years. He originally opened his bakery on Foster just west of Ashland, long before that area became hip. A few years ago, he... Full Story
Theater: A Man of No Importance
Alfie Byrne is a sweet survivor in Bailiwick Repertory’s captivating spring musical. This closeted Dublin bus conductor desperately believes in “losing yourself in another person” and “becoming somebody new.” If he can’t do it through love (it is 1964, after all), art will do... Full Story
First– and last-produced more than 70 years ago by an amateur St. Louis company called The Mummers, Tennessee Williams’ first full-length play is a revelation and a prophecy. With none of the intimacy or concentration of “Glass Menagerie” or “Streetcar,” it’s episodic and unfocused, uncharacteristic in its social activism and proletarian sympathy. (Clearly the young... Full Story
Theater: I Am Who I Am: The Story of Teddy Pendergrass
To experience a show at Black Ensemble Theater is also to experience its audience. The attendees are boisterous, care little for the technicalities of the fourth wall and they, eventually, produce an overwhelmingly communal evening. Never is this more apparent than with... Full Story
Travel: gay past and present beckons in Vienna
For many, Vienna conjures up thoughts of coffeehouses, stately palaces and regal waltzes. The city’s history includes contributions by many who have helped shaped the aesthetic sensibilities of Western culture, from Ludwig van Beethoven to Gustav Klimt... Full Story
Lifestyle: Meet the producers: you, you and you
The new wave of cinema is at hand—actually in the hand, with palm-sized video recorders providing anyone of about any age with the opportunity to produce, direct and star in a film. CFP tested a variety of cameras recently and came away with two clear favorites—one video recorder and the other a camera with video capabilities... Full Story
Auto: Made in Chicago: Mercury sable offers a lot for the money
Shoppers can get a lot of car for the money with the 2008 Mercury Sable. It’s a large, nearly 17-foot long, smooth-riding sedan with generous interior space, a huge trunk, commendable V-6 power and top safety ratings. In fact, the Sable, which was resurrected in the 2008 model year after a hiatus from the market, is a recommended... Full Story
Auto: News from the New York Auto Show
NEW YORK—Subaru of America Inc. showed off the automaker’s R1e electric car March 20, saying it’s fun to drive while also being easy to charge and emissions free... Full Story
Home: Urban Gardening 101 How to spring into gardening this year
With spring just around the corner, it’s time for a little renewal. If cleaning the house or taking up Pilates doesn’t grab you, how about a little gardening instead... Full Story