August 22, 2007
Malaysian gay minister takes faith back to his country
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysia’s first openly gay Christian pastor, who has worked at a New York church, conducted a controversial worship service Aug. 12, calling on mainstream churches not to discriminate against gays. Full Story
Editorial
Words can be pretty easy to throw around—too easy sometimes—and politicians are often masters at tarring their opponents by tossing a negative label at them and seeing if it will stick. Full Story
I was in attendance at the GLBT forum in L.A. on which you reported in the Aug. 15 issue of CFP. I believe there is one significant error in that article relating to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. According to your article, Gov. Richardson expressed his opposition to the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Full Story
Nation Report
Elders rips nation’s sex ed efforts
LITTLE ROCK—Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, fired in 1994 after suggesting that masturbation be taught to school-age children, said Aug. 15 the nation suffers from a “deafening” lack of sex education that lets sex offenders prey on children. Full Story
New Jerseyans support equal marriage rights
TRENTON, N.J.—Twice as many New Jerseyans “would be fine” with allowing gay couples to marry as would be upset if lawmakers enacted a marriage equality law, according to a new poll. Full Story
Oregon anti-gay efforts losing steam
PORTLAND, Ore.—A bid to overturn two Oregon gay-rights laws appears to be flagging, its backers say. Full Story
Church sues New Jersey over bias investigation
TRENTON, N.J.—A church group sued New Jersey Aug. 13 over the state’s investigation of a complaint that the group refused to allow a lesbian couple to hold a civil union ceremony at a beachfront pavilion it owns. Full Story
Marriot seeks to diversify its contractors
BETHESDA, Md.—Marriott International, Inc. announced plans last week to increase spending among diverse suppliers to 15 percent by 2009. Additionally, the program will expand to include a new category for GLBT suppliers and international markets, Brazil and the United Kingdom. Full Story
Oklahoma won’t appeal decision on anti-gay law
OKLAHOMA CITY—The state of Oklahoma plans no further appeals of a court decision that struck down a 2004 law aimed at same-sex adoptive parents. Full Story
Episcopal diocese sues to keep church property
BRISTOL, Conn.—The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut is suing in an attempt to regain possession of a local church that broke ranks with the diocese over the appointment of an openly gay bishop. Full Story
HRC and ex-soldiers criticize Giuliani, Romney
CONCORD, N.H.—The nation’s largest gay rights organization took aim at two presidential hopefuls campaigning in New Hampshire Aug. 16. Full Story
Opinion
A year ago, my six-month relationship with a vibrantly gentle woman was coming to an end. We ended it officially because I was moving back to New York; she was happy in Chicago. Full Story
Gays are winning, at least in the economic marketplace. After leaving a gay bar late one night I walked about a block to the nearest bus stop to wait for a bus. After a few minutes I heard a loud voice yell, “Hey.” I ignored it. Then I heard the voice more insistently yell, “Hey!”... Full Story
Freetime
Midlife Crisis No. 176: Meet the candidates
I have to admit that I’m feeling a little bit left out as every gay writer in the country has written their “Impressions of the LOGO/HRC Gay Presidential Forum” except me. Full Story
DVDiva: from the festival circuit
“Small Town Gay Bar” (Genius Entertainment)—An award-winning documentary that was shown at numerous gay and lesbian film festivals, “Small Town Gay Bar” doesn’t... Full Story
1975: Around 400 friends of Renslow Associates “roamed the palatial halls, drank and danced, dined from a lavish buffet in the garden tent and otherwise amused themselves” at the second annual August White Party held at the Dewes Mansion, 503 W. Wrightwood. Full Story
Every week the NASA International Space Station shoots a movie into space in a last-ditch attempt at making contact with alien life forms on other planets—they think if aliens see “Big Momma’s House 2” they might assume that planet Earth has intelligent life on it... Full Story
Vibes: the Chicago that House bulit
A few years ago the legendary Chicago-based Trax Records label released a series of compilations acknowledging and celebrating its house music legacy. Full Story
More News
Ol’ Blowhard Bill O’Reilly was at it again last week, playing fast and loose with a new poll on Americans’ attitudes toward gays. Full Story
YPC founder defends group’s record
Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus held its semi-annual full-body conference Aug. 9 in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Public Health. Full Story
Rogers Park attack looked at as possible hate crime
An attack on a man in Rogers Park is being investigated as a possible hate crime, according to Chicago police. Full Story
Center on Halsted and the Gay Lesbian Artists Network, Chicago (GLANCe), celebrate Chicago Artists Month with an exhibit entitled “Creative Convergence: When GLBT Artists Come Together” opening October 26. Full Story
The 11th annual Windy City Rodeo takes place Aug. 25-26 at the Six Guns Ranch and Arena in south suburban Crete, with associated events starting the night of Aug. 23. Full Story
Ruppert lawyers attack City’s stance
Attorneys for a gay man who alleges Chicago police beat him in Uptown in March 2006 said Aug. 17 they plan to contest the City of Chicago’s motion that the man’s lawsuit be dismissed because gays aren’t entitled to equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
Officials warn of ‘meth cure’ ads
Chicago Crystal Meth Task Force officials and local mental health experts last week warned that ads appearing in some gay publications and offering a pharmaceutical treatment for meth addiction might be promising more than they can deliver. Full Story
Cornbleet suspect held in St. Martin
Chicago police announced at a news conference Aug. 14 that the man who they believe killed loop dermatologist Dr. David Cornbleet in October is being detained by French authorities. Full Story
Atlanta church celebrates keeping its gay pastor
ATLANTA—With hugs and cheers Aug. 12, members of Atlanta’s oldest Lutheran church celebrated the pastor at the center of a battle over the treatment of gay clergy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Full Story
Brazil to start paying for gender reassignment
RIO DE JANEIRO-Brazil's public health system will be providing free sex change operations in compliance with a court order... Full Story
Ugandan gays appeal for justice, human rights
KAMPALA, Uganda—Ugandan gay rights advocates appealed for acceptance Aug. 17, saying they face regular abuse by police in a country where being gay is punishable by life in prison. Full Story
Freestyle
Lawrence Bommer reviews "Bitter Sweet," "Envoy" and "Pratfall of Civilization." Full Story
Art
John-Michael Korpal’s multimedia moods
Most artists specialize in just one or two media—painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, constructions, calligraphy. Chicago gay artist John-Michael Korpal essays virtually all of them... Full Story
Music
After releasing her exceptional solo debut album in 1970, Diana Ross stumbled some. She excelled at recording terrific singles, including “Remember Me” and “Touch Me in the Morning,” but none of the albums from which the hits were drawn matched the strength of the first LP Ross released under her own name. Full Story
The time of her life: an interview with Jennifer Warnes
Because she’s been singing on television, on record and on movie soundtracks for some 40 years, you probably have no trouble recognizing the voice of Jennifer Warnes. Full Story
Cinema
“Waitress,” the last film by the late actress/director Adrienne Shelly, is being shown on Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th. Call (773) 445-3838. Full Story
Dining
Carnivale ranks as one of Chicago’s best
Jerry Kleiner, co-owner and designer of Carnivale, is a restaurateur who does things in a big way. Kleiner and his partners are credited with pioneering Chicago’s West Randolph Street restaurant district with long-time hotspots Vivo, Marche and Red Light. Full Story
Shopping
In the lineup... For the fall sports season
Fall puts Midwest sports fans on the road, not just bound for downtown to Soldier Field or near north to Evanston, but downstate to Champagne/Urbana and out of state to Iowa City, South Bend, Green Bay and Lansing. Full Story
Home
Combine authentic luxury with Old World inspiration
(ARA)—Many homeowners want all the modern conveniences of a brand new home, but they don’t want it to look new. Full Story