Chicago dining, nightlife, events and photos for the gay and lesbian community http://www.chicagopride.com en-US http://www.chicagopride.com/graphics/cplogo-sm2.gif http://www.chicagopride.com The Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues will induct 13 individuals and one organization into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, the only known government-sponsored hall of fame that honors members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, in a ceremony next week. The chosen nominees will be inducted at the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame's 1... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8733600 2009-11-05 Ted Arthur Haggard, the former pastor who ran afoul of his Denver congregation after admitting to a three-year pay-for-sex affair with male prostitute Mike Jones, will begin leading a prayer meeting in his Colorado Springs home, The Colorado Springs Gazette reported. Haggard told the paper it would be correct to call it a church. Haggard's comeback began in January with an image makeover that included an HBO documentary titled The Trials of Ted ... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8727721 2009-11-05 The Wisconsin Supreme Court has rejected a legal challenge to the state's gay partner law, the AP reported. Opponents of the law argue that Governor Jim Doyle's gay-inclusive domestic partnership is unconstitutional because it violates the state's constitutional amendment banning marriage and civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Doyle, a Democrat, lobbied for the legislation that extends a limited number of protections for gay couples when... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8721844 2009-11-05 U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk asked a national Republican power broker to secure an endorsement by conservative former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin when she hits town later this month to appear on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," according to a memo obtained by the Tribune today. The request came a day after Kirk, who has long billed himself as a moderate, dodged questions from reporters about whether he would want Palin, the controversial 2008 ... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8715969 2009-11-04 Former Miss California Carrie Prejean has reportedly walked away from her million dollar lawsuit against Miss California USA Pageant officials after an XXX home video of the beauty queen surfaced. The video is said to be extremely graphic and has never been released publicly. Those who have viewed the pornographic home video say it makes Prejean's topless photos look tame. Editors for the TMZ.com say they've had a copy of the video for months bu... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8710096 2009-11-04 Legalized same-sex marriage in Maine appears to have been rejected by a small, but solid margin, according to the latest report from Bangor Daily News. In May, the Maine legislature voted to approve same-sex marriages and Governor John Baldacci signed the measure into law. But the law was not implemented after opponents gathered enough signatures to put it on the ballot. The National Organization for Marriage and the Catholic Archdiocese were... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8704225 2009-11-04 Openly gay former news anchor Charles Pugh will lead Detroit City Council, the Detroit Free Press reported. Pugh was the top vote-getter in Tuesday's city council election and as such will be council president. "This is unbelievable," Pugh told the paper. "It means Detroit has really wanted change for a very long time." The thirty-seven-year-old, self-proclaimed "Detroitaholic" traded in an anchor post at Fox 2, ... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8698356 2009-11-04 Voters in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday decided to keep a controversial gay protections law approved by city leaders in June, ABC affiliate WZZM reported. With 89% of precincts reporting at 10PM, the effort to repeal the law trailed 61% to 38%. City leaders approved the measure that makes it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity (transgender protections) in the areas of employment, housing and public accommoda... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8692489 2009-11-04 Sprint has rolled out its blazing WiMAX broadband service in Chicago offering 4G mobile broadband throughout the area. The fourth-generation, or 4G, exceeds 3G connections with download speeds that are 10 times faster resulting in faster file downloads and uploads, speedy web browsing, streaming video and more. The Sprint WiMAX service is essentially a hotspot designed to reach across Chicago so customers can take advantage of their wireless m... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8680761 2009-11-03 Gay media leader The Advocate will be trimmed down from a standalone magazine to an insert, insiders report. The Advocate quickly evolved from a newsletter titled The Los Angeles Advocate in 1967 to the nation's only publication dedicated to gay news and politics by the mid-70s. It remains the only gay glossy available on newsstands nationwide. Its former owner, PlanetOut, shored up the magazine with related businesses, including industry-leadi... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8686624 2009-11-03 Consumer Reports Health has some good news you can take right to the bedroom. That is, once you make a stop at the pharmacy. In its latest tests of 20 latex condoms, Consumer Reports Health found that all of the condoms, with one exception, are a fine choice. Consumer Reports Health tested the condoms for strength, reliability, leakage, and package integrity. The December report appears in Consumer Reports' annual "Electronics Issue.&quo... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8674900 2009-11-03 Police are searching for a man in his late teens who Sunday night brandished a handgun and robbed a CTA commuter of his iPhone. The incident happened about 10:50 p.m. at the Wilson Red Line station, said Chicago Police Officer Michael Fitzpatrick. Just after a southbound train pulled into the stop and the doors opened, the robber went into a car. "He points the gun at the victim and says, 'Give me the iPhone or I'll shoot you,' " Fitz... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8669041 2009-11-02 Focus on the Family founder James Dobson will end his radio career at the end of February, the group announced Friday. Last February, Dobson stepped down as chairman of the anti-gay group he founded in 1977 but remained the group's primary radio voice. Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, called Dobson's rein at the Colorado-based group "remarkable." "The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season and Dr. Dobs... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8663184 2009-11-02 Dubbed the "Mad Hatter's Ball", thousands lined Halsted Street Saturday evening to view children, pets, costumes and Master of Ceremonies Miss Foozie as the Queen of Hearts in the 13th annual Halloween Parade sponsored by the Triangle Neighbors Association and the Northalsted Business Alliance. Scores of entrants competed for prizes, with State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-13th) among the judges for categories that included Drag... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8657329 2009-10-31 The Ricketts family made its first public appearance Friday since assuming control of the Cubs earlier this week. The news conference was moved from the Cubs dugout to the Captain Morgan Club because of the rain. As the event started, Tom Ricketts stood while his three siblings, Pete, Laura and Todd, sat in chairs on stage. "We're here for the long term and we're here to win," Tom Ricketts said into the microphone. The four are th... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8651476 2009-10-30 It's been a red-letter week in the LGBT and HIV/AIDS worlds thanks to the Federal Government. President Obama today signed into law the extension of the Ryan White program which provides essential funding for States to provide services and care for those with HIV/AIDS. Shortly before signing the Ryan White extension, the President announced that, effective early 2010, the Government will finally overturn the U.S. ban on foreign travelers with HI... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8645625 2009-10-30 Argentine lawmakers are considering a gay marriage bill, the AP reported. If approved, Argentina would become the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage and only the second country in the Americas, after Canada. The country's Chamber of Deputies is debating two bills submitted by deputies Silvia Augsburger, of the Socialist Party, and Vilma Ibarra, of the Popular and Social Encounter Party. A similar measure introduced in 2007 f... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8639776 2009-10-30 Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson says he will appeal a suspension over gay slurs, the AP reported. The Chiefs announced Wednesday night that Johnson would be suspended until Wednesday, November 9, leaving Johnson out of play from a single November 8 game against Jacksonville. Johnson allegedly used gay slurs twice during a 24-hour period and belittled coach Todd Haley. In a Sunday Twitter post, Johnson said his father "played ... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8633929 2009-10-30 November marks Transgender Awareness Month. Since its inception, Center on Halsted has celebrated, supported and continues to welcome members of our Transgender community. This November the Center is participating in Transgender Awareness Month offering both special events and recurring programs created by and for the transgender community and welcoming to all members of the LGBT and ally community. The Center also values diversity with three s... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8628084 2009-10-30 BOB MOULD and RICHARD MOREL's BLOWOFF is a musical smackdown of a party that has become a destination event for a wide cross-section of appreciative fans. Or as Mould succinctly puts it, "A music-centric gay dance party, drawing mainly, but not exclusively, men in their 30s and 40s." Originating in Washington, DC, BLOWOFF is an established event in New York, San Francisco, Provincetown, and Brooklyn.  The guys launche... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8622241 2009-10-28 In a White House signing ceremony on Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed landmark civil rights legislation into law. Known as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the new law adds federal hate crimes protection for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. "After more than a decade of opposition and delay we passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8616400 2009-10-28 A week before senators voted in favor of expanding hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity, Christian-based Focus on the Family devoted its entire broadcast to gay issues, including the current controversy surrounding Kevin Jennings. The group's founder, James Dobson, was joined by Tom Minnery, the group's vice president of government and public policy, Carrie Gordon Earll, senior director of issue analysis for ... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8610561 2009-10-27 Gay Men's Health Forum Takes Pleasure Back Organizers today announced that the gay men's health forum "We're Taking Pleasure Back and we want you to help us!" will take place Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the Center on Halsted. Sponsored by Project CRYSP, LifeLube.org Hosted by Fausto Fernos and Marc Felion of the popular podcast FeastofFun.com, this forum will dare to take "risk and disease" off the table and engage parti... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8598889 2009-10-27 Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has issued an apology after reportedly using a number of gay slurs since the team's loss on Sunday to the San Diego Chargers. Johnson made demeaning comments about Chiefs coach Todd Haley on his Twitter account and then used a gay slur responding to comments made my one of his followers on the social network site. Yesterday he again used a gay slur when telling reporters he wasn't going to speak.... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8604724 2009-10-27 Secretary of the Army John McHugh said Sunday that lifting the military's ban on open gay service would not seriously disrupt the armed services. McHugh told the Army Times: "Anytime you have a broad-based policy change, there are challenges to that. The Army has a big history of taking on similar issues, [with] predictions of doom and gloom that did not play out." President Obama recently renewed his pledge to repeal the military ban... http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8593056 2009-10-27