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Chicago Chronicles Reporting

Center’s auction goes to the dogs

The Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, recently hosted a silent and live auction-events that had previously been part of its annual Human First Gala.  This year, according to Leslie DeMonte, director of special events and volunteer services, the decision was made to separate the two functions so that the gala could draw more focus to itself.

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Chicago Chronicles Queer Politics, Culture, and History Reporting

Task force strategizes about funding cuts

Illinois Governor  Rod Blagojevich recently cut spending at state agencies.  Among the hardest-hit was the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse [DASA], which lost 21 percent of its budget.

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Chicago Chronicles On Books and Publishing Reporting

Diverse books part of read-out

The American Library Association (ALA) marked its 27th Annual Banned Books Week.  Among the events was a read-out during which authors and Chicago Tribune columnists like Dawn Turner Trice read selections from their favorite banned or challenged books.

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Film, Art, Television, and Media Queer Politics, Culture, and History Race, Sex, Gender, and Sexuality Reporting

Lesbian fundraiser focuses on global crises

Climbing PoeTree, a two-member spoken word group, was in Chicago performing its latest piece, “Hurricane Season: The Hidden Messages in Water.” The first performance was at Columbia College, the second at the Center on Halsted (COH).

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Chicago Chronicles On Books and Publishing Reporting

Banned books to take center stage

Since 1982, the American Library Association (ALA) has been hosting a Banned Books Week during the last week of September.  The week begins with “Read Out!” featuring several authors and celebrities reading from their favorite banned books.

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Chicago Chronicles Queer Politics, Culture, and History Reporting

Hill means a Lott to Columbia’s Critical Encounters

TPAN (Test Positive Action Network) celebrates its 21st anniversary this year.  To mark the occasion, it will honor 21 organizations and individuals “who have made outstanding contributions to TPAN and to the HIV/AIDS community,” according to its press release about the event, called “Aware Affair: Superheroes.” Among those named “superheroes” is Columbia College Chicago, for its “leadership and dedication.”  Specifically, the institution is being recognized for its AIDS-focused theme during the initial year of the Critical Encounters learning initiative.

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Chicago Chronicles Queer Politics, Culture, and History Reporting

LGBTI Health Summit looks at Obama’s LGBT health record

The LGBTI Health Summit came in the thick of very intense national conversations around health care, especially at various Town Halls across the country.  Despite the national spotlight on an issue that clearly has the attention of more than the approximately 50 million uninsured, the gay community’s response to the health crisis has been relatively muted.

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Chicago Chronicles Queer Politics, Culture, and History Race, Sex, Gender, and Sexuality Reporting

Minority workshop focuses on LGBTQ families

LGBTQ families are frequently non-normative, and not just because they’re headed by queer people.  Queer families may consist of single women raising children with sperm donors who maintains links with their offspring.  Two men might raise children together even after breaking up.

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Chicago Chronicles Queer Politics, Culture, and History Race, Sex, Gender, and Sexuality Reporting

Sex workers hold local conference

Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP), a national group that works on the decriminalization of prostitution, held its third annual conference in Chicago.  Members attended panels on topics like sex trafficking and the issues facing transgender sex workers.

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Chicago Chronicles Prison industrial complex Queer Politics, Culture, and History Race, Sex, Gender, and Sexuality Reporting

March highlights Boystown tensions

The Coalition for Justice and Respect organized a “Unity March Against Racism and Harassment” in the Boystown area.  This was the latest such event in Chicago to address the tensions that have pitted youth of color against police officers, condo dwellers, and business owners.