Melanie Chisholm became part of a cultural pop phenomenon as Sporty Spice in the Spice Girls before she carved out a career as a solo artist. Nine albums later, she headlines a 25-city North American Tour that bringing her Sweat to the Windy City this September.The record’s title track “Sweat” samples Diana Ross’ “Work That Body” and captures the spirit of this talented dancer.

Sabrina Haake On Trump’s social media posts, he keeps depicting himself in fantasy roles:  Superman, Jesus, the Pope, Sci-Fi leader of dystopian death machines and a larger than life military commander. His fantasies are sometimes “official,” communicated to the American public directly under White House insignia, and they frequently come in waves of multiple fantasies at one time.

On the afternoon of Sept. 12, hordes of giddy fairies gathered at Hydrate 3458 N. Halsted St., to participate in the Second Annual Tooth Fairy Sprint, which aimed to raise $10,000 for the Harrison Mackler Dental Center at Howard Brown Health. Participants either brought or were provided with wings and wands as part of the sprint, which went east from the corner of Halsted Street to DuSable Lake Shore Drive and back again, bewildering many passersby on their way to the Cubs game.

On Sept. 11, Batty Page and Rabbi Manny Schevitz welcomed a sold-out crowd to L'Shana Tada: A Queer Jewish New Year to mark the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. The cabaret- style variety show took place at Stars and Garters at 3914 N. Clark St., while making a point of mixing queerness with tradition without political debate or comment. The celebration included traditional songs and instruction provided by Schevitz for the audience to participate and sing along with, as well as a line-up of performers presenting decidedly giddy non-traditional entertainment.

The fiercely talented queer performer Carlos González has yet to visit the Windy City in person, but he is set to appear virtually for two Spanish-language projects at the second-longest-running LGBTQ+ film festival in the world. La Bola Negra kicks off opening night of the 44th edition of Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre on Sept.

After the “Press 3” option offering resources for LGBTQ+ youth was unceremoniously dropped from the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in July 2025, U.S. legislators did not take long to try reinstating the funding. Funding for the option was quickly added to a piece of existing legislation, $33.1 million dollars was appropriated to pay for it, and President Donald Trump even signed that legislation.

Warning: This column mentions details of killings. NATIONAL In Indiana, six candidates for Owen County township offices in the November election are coming out to voters, introducing themselves on two billboards, WISH noted. The promotion, paid for by the Stonewall Democrats of South Central Indiana, marks the first time the organization has endorsed any candidates in the rural, conservative county. The candidates include Jacob Balash, Clay Township board; Stephanie Barlow, Morgan Township board; Shea Finnegan, Franklin Township board; Collin Rotella, Morgan Township trustee; Phillip O’Neil, Washington Township trustee; and Ruth Jones, Washington Township board.

Flower power: Rosemont is inviting residents and visitors to explore the community in a whole new way this fall with the announcement of installation locations for “Rosemont in Bloom: Where Art Takes Root,” a new public art initiative celebrating the village’s 70th anniversary. Rosemont in Bloom's "Phyllis," by James Jankowiak. Photo credit Village of Rosemont There will be 20 eight-foot rose sculptures—each uniquely designed and painted by a local professional artist, school art program or nonprofit arts organization—installed throughout Rosemont.

Special to Windy City Times. Richard Knight, Jr. is narrative features co-programmer for the Reeling festival. The fall film awards season is upon us with some of the most eagerly awaited movies premiering at prestigious film festivals in the country before arriving in theaters. Since the early 2000s some of those have been LGBTQ themed films. Far From Heaven, …

For activist Lluvia Ramirez, helping out others has always been a constant. Her activism extends to various communities, many of which she belongs to. At the root of it all, her intersectional identity drives what she does. Ramirez is currently the senior program manager for public health at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation; president of FLUX Chicago, an AHF affinity group for transgender people; and capacity building assistance provider for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Brendan Fernandes (he/they) is one busy individual.  The third Veteran Art Triennial and Summit—titled Resisting the Long War: A Revolution of Values—runs Sept. 12, 2026 through different times next year, starting at the Elmhurst Art Museum before moving to other spaces such as the Hyde Park Art Museum, the Chicago Cultural Center and Walls Turned Sideways. (The summit will be Nov.

In journalism, we’re taught never to bury the lede. So here’s the lede: The LGBTQ+ community could be an important part of what happens in November’s midterm elections. We keep hearing predictions of a possible Democratic wave that could change control of Congress and, if that happens, place a congressional check on President Donald Trump. But anyone who has been around politics for more than five minutes knows the old saying: A week is a lifetime in politics.

CHICAGO—The Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA)—the non-partisan political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Illinois—announced endorsements for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Candidates were selected based on their promotion of bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health care and their commitment to protecting the health and rights of all Illinoisans. The full list of endorsements, a voter guide and more information is available at 

Brendan Fernandes (he/they) is one busy individual. The Chicago-based contemporary artist—a Canadian with Kenyan and Indian roots who examines everything from migration to queer issues through interdisciplinary performance—will host Brendan Fernandes:Score for the Murphy Auditoriumat the Driehaus Museum on Sept. 16 (4-6 p.m.), Oct. 14 (5-7 p.m.) and Nov. 14 (3-5 p.m.); there will also be open rehearsals and other events (e.g., film screenings) around those dates.

Almost 12 years ago, nonbinary lesbian Chicago documentary filmmaker and photographer Katie Scheuber created Katie Makes Films video, a production company to showcasing their love of visual storytelling, while still working as a social worker. In 2022, Scheuber’s wife Noemi Heras encouraged them to do the video work full time. Last year Scheuber created Stay Tuned Productions and opened their studio space in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Set in the 1960s, the 1987 Dirty Dancing movie was a popular summer love story between a young girl, Frances “Baby” Houseman, and a dance instructor, Johnny Castle. The plot covered class division, reproductive rights and personal growth, among other topics.The soundtrack sold over 40 million copies worldwide and won Best Original Song at the 60th Academy Awards for “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life.”

The Midwest Pet & Handler Contest returned to Chicago the weekend of September 4-6, kicking off with a meet-and-greet at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark Street, where the two contestants, Pup Shimmer and Pup Defiant, were introduced and asked various questions about themselves, pet play and the community at large. MPAH Judges Panel 2026 Photo by Joe Stevens This year, the Chicago Rose, 6525 N.

Gloria Steinem is being remembered as a feminist leader and icon. But the Chicagoans who interacted with her said she never made the movement about her—it was about all of us. “She treated everyone like a peer,” said Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who met Steinem several times, starting when Cassidy worked for the National Organization for Women’s (NOW) Chicago chapter in the early 1990s.

Warning: This column mentions physical violence and sexual assault. NATIONAL In a historic development, Dr. Everett Blair Jr. won the special election to replace the late Rep. David Scott in Georgia's 13th congressional district following Scott's death in April, USA Today noted. Defeating Scott’s daughter, Blair, 34—the child of Jamaican immigrants—will be the third openly gay Black member of Congress (following New York’s Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones); he is also the first-ever Black and openly gay member elected from a Southern state.

Illinois joined 21 other states in challenging a federal rule restricting Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

On March 24, 2004, Kevin Clewer, 31, was found in his Northalsted apartment at 3444 N. Elaine Pl.. He was the victim of dozens of fatal stab wounds after a night out locally. His killer has still been at large—and Clewer’s murder has now been considered a cold case. Specifically, about that fateful night, what is known is that Clewer brought home a man, then in his early twenties, whom the police refer to as “Fernando.” Fernando allegedly attempted to rob Clewer while he slept.

CHICAGO (Sept. 3, 2026)— The Joffrey Ballet today announced that President and CEO Greg Cameron will depart in December 2027, concluding a 15-year tenure that transformed the organization’s financial and institutional strength and elevated its standing in Chicago and the international dance community. The transition follows a succession plan Cameron and the Joffrey Board of Directors developed three years ago. The Board has formed a search committee and is finalizing the selection of a national search firm.

Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC) kicks off its 43rd season with Rhythm & Blues, a cabaret celebrating one of America’s most influential musical genres. Performances will take place Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. From old-school favorites to more recent hits, Rhythm & Blues explores the music that has defined generations.

Julie Burton, President and CEO of the Women’s Media Center (WMC), released a statement on behalf of the Women’s Media Center mourning the passing of WMC Co-Founder Gloria Steinem  Julie Burton noted, “Gloria once wrote a letter to Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, author of the Roe v. Wade decision, thanking him for saving more women’s lives than anyone in U.S.

Nick Patricca When the Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won election as mayor of New York City, alarm klaxons went off across the internet and the mainstream press. Commentators declared it the end of the Democratic Party and the decline of America — a socialist takeover of the nation's largest city and cultural capital. The hysteria took me back sixty years, to when I announced I'd been accepted to study at the University of Chicago.