A Journey of Love

February 11th, 2012

By David Cohen

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry” is one of the most meaningful line ever said about love in any blockbuster movie. In the1970 film Love Story, Ali MacGraw made us wonder what it all means, but to Cheri Giacomi and her partner Alex Ivelic, it means twenty two years of affection, kindness, compassion and emotions they share with each other over the years.

Now in their late 40′s, their love is just as young as it was on the first day they met. Still passionate and in lust, the two don’t hide their desire for intimacy. You wonder what is the secret to their continuous love and affection?.

For Cheri the ability to laugh together with Alex every single day is a necessity which make their love young and strong.  To Alex the simple little things you do everyday with and for your partner, are just as important as laughter. “There’s not a week that goes by that we don’t give each other a card, or tell each other I love you, you’re the one for me. Valentine’s Day is just a reminder for everyone to enjoy the one you love, and to tell them how much you love them” but for Alex and Cheri, every single day is Valentine’s Day.

Twenty two years ago in a gay club at Melrose Park,  Alex at 104 pound wearing white cowboy booths, white jeans and a white shirt with an open back, noticed a beautiful girl dancing on the dance floor.  The long brown hair,  and the spandex cheri wore caught Alex attention and she was determined to get this beautiful girl to dance with her.  At twenty two Alex lured Cheri into the dancing floor and capture the young woman’s hart forever.

With the approval and legalization of Civil Union in Illinois, Alex and Cheri got married for the second time on June 17, 2011. Heading to Mexico for their honeymoon Alex and Cheri knew it was special. They went back to the Riviera Maya, where they tied the knot for the first time in 2009.  Although getting married in Mexico didn’t didn’t mean anything, it meant a lot to emotional Cheri who always believed in the institution of marriage regardless of your sexual orientation.

Alex the back bone of this relationship managed to surprise Cheri and give her the best gift she ever gotten–a marriage. With the help of Cherie’s mother, Alex was able to hide the wedding ring she bough for Cherie and plan a vacation to Mexico, where the couple were to be wed for the first time.

With Cheri’s mom approval and blessing, Alex made all the planning for this surprised celebration. Cherie did not have a clue until the moment Alex got on her knees and asked for her hand in marriage. At 2 o’clock in the morning in their room at the Riviera Maya, Alex finally proposed.  Astonished, surprised and chocked, Cherie couldn’t believe her own eyes. It took her about twenty seconds to realize what happened and say “I DO.” Touched by the idea of marriage to her best friend, lover and partner Cherie she couldn’t stop crying for days. She was crying out of happiness, she was crying out of love for the woman she always loved all these years while they both finally understood the meaning of “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Cheri Giacomi and her partner Alex Ivelic are the winners of the MarryMe PINK extravaganza, North Halsted Market Days in Chicago 2011.

photo: Alex on the left, and Cheri on the right

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Say It With Flowers, Say it with LOVE !

February 10th, 2012
by David Cohen

Valentine’s Day is all about showing love ones how much you care and love them. You can buy many gifts at any store, but nothing compare to presents you make with your own two hands. Valentine’s day is a gift delight, from cards, flowers, chocolate, perfumes and skin care products. Showing how much you love someone is important but finding out how to express your emotions is the best gift of all, so SAY IT WITH LOVE!

1.  Say it with Love or Flowers: AND it can be on your wall too! This bright and colorful Paint-by-Number wall mural is a great way to spark up a bedroom wall or any canvas. This big and bold design features a big pink heart, lots of colorful flowers and the word “LOVE” nestled amongst the flowers. This Paint-by-Number mural is easy enough even for the “artistically challenged”  anyone can do it! Simply TAPE, TRACE & PAINT and its done! Elephants on the Wall carries over 39 different themes and over 200 murals to choose from. Available at www.elephantsonthewall.com at $54.95

2.  Say it the French Way:   The French tea brand Le Palais des Thés introducing a limited edition of a sensual and spicy tea blends made with fruits, flowers, and spices just in time for Valentine’s Day. The “Thé des Amants pour Lui”  and “pour Elle“, is all-natural and comes in  many flavors such as apple, almond, cinnamon, vanilla and ginger. Priced at $22, the Thé des Amants gives you another way to celebrate and declare your passion romanticly. For more information visit www.palaisdesthes.com.

 

3. Say it with Elite Premier Crème Clinical Skin Therapy from Elite Therapeutics manages the feat with modern technology. Featuring Sea Whip Extract, derived from deep within the Caribbean Sea, it holds magical, yet real skin healing properties, while luxe African Mongongo Oil nourishes, renews and feeds the skin. Infused further with the scientifically proven mega-ingredients EUK-134, DMS and Beracare ARS, this all-powerful treatment will literally transform ravaged skin upon application. Elite Premier Crème is Paraben-free, Cruelty-free, Fragrance-free and 97.3% Natural Ingredients that are physician formulated.  Priced at $65 and available at www.elitetherapeutics.com.

4. Say it with Positively Pure Positively Radiant: The Sevani Rose Hyaluronic Age Defying Tonique will protect and balanced your skin. This refreshing 100% natural tonique will help you reduces redness, puffy eyes, and the appearance of broken blood vessels. It’s antibacterial content are helpful in the prevention of acne. This natural formula offers exceptional anti-aging benefits due to its ability to hold it’s weight in water and the ability of renewal cells. It has one of natures best anti-aginweapons and it attracts and binds moisture to the skin. It has vitamin C,  rich antioxidant, and the tonique is 100% free of synthetic ingredients and chemical preservatives. Priced at $39.00 at www.sevanibeauty.com/products/anti-aging-serums.

 

5. Say it with LIPS: The Sweetheart Lip Balm from Besame Cosmetics is the luminous lip moisturizing balm that provides an elegant and long lasting finish.   It is highly protective as it drenches the lips with exceptional comfort and hydration. The beneficial ingredients in this lip balm are known to be soothing, healing and antiseptic.  The lip balm comes in bold colors such as Sweet Rose, Cherry, Peach and Tangerine. Priced at $18 at www.besamecosmetics.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Say it with Skinnygirl Face and Body: Created by Bethenny Frankel the Skinnygirl Face and Body products are design to pamper yourself. As the creator says “my whole collection is simple, yet luxurious and will fit into your everyday skincare routine.”  The products are full of all-natural ingredients, and are effective and true to the Skinnygirl brand ideals of: affordable, honest and effective products. This complete line features five collections: Skinnygirl Face Solotions, Skinnygirl Body Solotions, Skinnygirl  Lip Care, Skinnygirl  Mommy and the Skinnygirl Gift sets. The Margarita or Sangria Bath Sets, or as they refer to them as the Skinnygirl Cocktails, are the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.   It is exclusively available at Wal-Mart and on www.walmart.com.

 

7. Say it with Licking: Urban Decay Sparkling Lickable Body Powder Like kryptonite to Superman, the Sparkling Lickable Body Powders render men powerless. Redesigned with your vanity in mind, the ne  petite boxes swank-up any countertop or boudoir. Take your ensemble and your evening from sexy to scintillating, as a mere dust of this decadent beauty treat will make you the main course. The new petite Sparkling Lickable Body Powders feature sleek, more sophisticated, tassel-topped boxes each with its own signature pattern – complete with a deluxe purple puff.  Radiate so much beauty that he’ll be able to taste it…

Flavors: Marshmallow – soft white pearl shimmer in a chic, purple foil, zebra print box .  Honey –golden pearl shimmer in a seductive, bronze foil, leopard print box. Price:  $20, available at Sephora, ULTA, select Macy’s, Sephora.com, Ulta.com, Macys.com, Beauty.com and UrbanDecay.com

 

 

8. Say it with Sugar: The sugar body scrub is an experience that should not be missed! Unlike a traditional exfoliating body scrub, the sugar soufflé scrub uses all-natural cane sugar to gently massage and exfoliate skin. Inspired by Valentine’s Day, LaLicious‘ new scent the Sugar Kiss, is a blend of citrus, rose and vanilla promising to be the best ever. Other scents include Brown Sugar & Vanilla, Coconut Cream, Lily Mango, Passionfruit Lime, Island Guava, Tahitian Flower, Peppermint and Coffee Bean. Once you try any of the scrub products  you’ll understand why Celebrities and fashion editors can’t get enough of it. it’s simple, there is  nothing like our sugar scrubs anywhere on this planet. Priced at $34, and available at www.lalicious.com.

 

9.  Say it with Cards:  Erin Condren’s custom paper chic products are beautiful and unique. For Valentine’s Day she offers greatinclude photo cards, address labels, gift labels, custom business cards, and even a personalized growth chart. Erin will add wrapping paper, canvas enlargements with personalized borders, and soon they will be offering custom wallpaper and more! Available at www.erincondren.com. About $30 for a set of 12.

 

10. Say it with Music: Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that Emerald City Theatre’s 2010 hit PINKALICIOUS: THE MUSICAL continues to stay pretty in pink and celebrates that “Pink Is Love” for exclusive performances on Valentine’s Day Weekend on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 and Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, playing at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place ( 175 E. Chestnut St ). Individual tickets are on sale now. Patrons can walk the “pink carpet” on Valentine’s Day Weekend at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and enjoy chocolate Valentine treats prior to the performances.

 

 

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101 Desserts to Eat Before You Die(t)

February 10th, 2012

 

by Author Anneka Manning • Thunder Bay Press

Say it with Chocolate

If you dream of decadent desserts, this book will feed your weaknesses. From custards to brulees, after reading this book you will want all meals to START with desserts. And what would Valentines Day be with chocolate? Luckily, this book has options for all the chocoholics out there.Featured proudly on the cover of 101 Desserts to Eat Before You Die(t) is the chocolate brownie raspberry ice cream sandwich – a perfect Valentine’s Day treat!

Chocolate Brownie Raspberry Ice Cream Sandwich

Ingredients (Makes 12)
8 cups fresh or thawed frozen raspberries
1 1/2 cups superfine sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
6 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

chocolate brownies
2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
12/3 cups superfine sugar
2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
12/3 cups finely chopped dark chocolate
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
4 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions:
Line a large square cake pan with baking paper, leaving a generous overhang on two opposite sides. Put raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a blender and blend to a pure?e. Reserve 1/2 cup of the puree and fold the remainder through the ice cream. Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Freeze for 2 hours, or until firm.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8 x 12-inch cake pan and line with baking paper, leaving the paper hanging over the two long sides. To make the brownies, sift the flour and cocoa into a bowl. Add the sugar, nuts, and chocolate. Mix together and make a well in the center. Pour the butter into the well, add the vanilla extract and eggs, and mix well. Pour into the pan, smooth the surface, and bake for 45 minutes (the mixture will still be a bit soft in the middle).

Allow the brownies to cool, then chill for at least 2 hours. Lift out, using the paper as handles. Trim and cut into twelve 2 x 3 1/2 inch rectangles. Then, using a serrated knife, cut through the center of each brownie to form two thinner brownie slices.

Remove the ice cream from the freezer. To remove it from the pan, use the overhanging paper. Cut the ice cream into 12 rectangles, the same size as the brownies. To assemble, put 12 brownie slices on a tray, top with a rectangle of ice cream, and then another brownie slice. Smooth the sides of the ice cream to neaten, if necessary. Freeze for 10 minutes until firm. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve with the reserved raspberry sauce.

Source: Thunder Bay Press

 

 

 

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The Perfect “Red” with Your Valentine

February 9th, 2012

 

Photos and recipes courtesy of Campo Viejo.

 

 

The Perfect Wine for the Winter Cold Months.

The only reason to praise winter is for the comfort found in moments we stayed at our home and share a meal we cooked for our loved one and our friends. There is nothing better than opening a bottle of wine with loved ones and sharing a homemade meal that highlights the flavors that are so indicative of winter.  What with left with are great memories of laughter with irreplaceable company and unforgettable flavors from the meal we had during these wonderful cold nights.

As a result of a survey conducted by Campo Viejo, Rioja’s largest wine producers, the wine makers were inspired the by the results and produce a three-course tasting menu, designed to be enjoyed with the Campo Viejo 2010 Tempranillo. Cheeses, meats and pies, were the most popular winter food  that kept many food and wine lovers in their kitchen during the cold months of December through March. and they paired beautifully with the deep cherry hues and intense red fruit notes of the Tempranillo. At $9.99 this young wine is a winner, and it is incredibly approachable, yet complexed with nice hints of vanilla, cocoa and spice. The Campo Viejo 2010 Tempranillo is the perfect choice for any day of the year and not only for the cold winter months.

 

First Course: Truffle Mac and Cheese

The truffles reflect the earthy undertones in the Tempranillo, and the richness of the cheese is balanced by the wine’s modest acidity.

Ingredients

1 16-ounce box elbow macaroni  • ½ teaspoon salt • Olive oil

1 quart whole milk • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon rosemary, finely chopped • 2 tablespoons white truffle oil, divided

12 ounces Comté cheese, grated • 8 ounces white cheddar cheese, grated

¾ cup panko bread crumbs • Salt and pepper • Shaved truffles for garnish, optional

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400° F. Grease a 10×13 baking pan.

• Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add salt and a drizzle of olive oil to boiling water. Add pasta and cook al dente (slightly underdone is better than overdone). Drain, rinse briefly under cold water and set aside.

• While the pasta is cooking, heat the milk over low heat until hot, but not boiling.

• Meanwhile, heat 4 tablespoons butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until melted. Reduce heat and add the flour, whisking constantly to form a smooth paste, about 2 minutes. Add in rosemary, continuing to mix.

• Gradually whisk in the hot milk and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and add 1 tablespoon of the truffle oil, then mix the Comté and cheddar until melted. Season with salt and pepper (to taste).

• Add the pasta to the sauce, stirring to coat, and pour into baking pan.

• Top with the panko bread crumbs and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the crumbs are golden brown.

• Before serving, drizzle with remaining truffle oil and shaved truffles (if desired). Serve hot.

 

Second Course: Moroccan Lamb Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Tempranillo and lamb are a classic pairing, and the spices found here share the spotlight with those of the Tempranillo.

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds ground lamb • 1 egg, lightly beaten • small onion, diced • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup raisins, soaked in hot water and drained (optional) • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika, divided • Salt • Olive oil • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes • 2 garlic cloves, minced • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

• Preheat oven to 200° F.

• Sauté onion in a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet until soft. Set aside.

• In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground lamb, egg, onion, raisins (if using), cumin, cinnamon, ½ teaspoon paprika and ½ teaspoon salt. Form mixture into one ounce balls, about the size of ping pong balls.

• Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs (in several batches if necessary) and sauté for about 8 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in oven to keep warm.

• In the meantime, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, cayenne and remaining paprika and sauté for about a minute until fragrant, making sure not to burn. Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5-7

minutes, until slightly thickened. Season with salt to taste.

• Remove meatballs from oven and add to sauce. Cook for another five minutes until meatballs are cooked through. Serve with couscous or rice.

 

Third Course: Apple Turnovers with Maple-Mascarpone Glaze

Maple and cinnamon inspire homeward bound thinking, while the apple embraces the Tempranillo’s fruit-forward notes.

Ingredients  for Pastry and filling:

4 cups Granny Smith apples (about 4 medium apples), peeled, cored and chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice • ½ cup sugar • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 17.3-ounce package frozen puff pastry sheets – thawed • 1-2 egg whites, lightly beaten

Glaze:

1/2 cup mascarpone, at room temperature  •  2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400° F.

• Place apples in a bowl and drizzle lemon juice over them, tossing gently to coat.

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add apples to skillet and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add sugar and cinnamon and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes.

• Mix together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in a bowl. Pour into the skillet and mix well. Cook for another minute or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat to cool.

• Unfold puff pastry sheets and trim each sheet into a square. Cut each one into 4 smaller squares. Spread apples onto the middle of each square, then fold each square in half to form a triangle. Press ends together to seal. Place the triangles 1-2 inches apart, on

a slightly greased baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Lightly brush the top of each turnover with beaten egg whites.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until turnovers are puffed and lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely.

• To make the glaze, mix together the mascarpone and maple syrup in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze over the cooled turnovers and sprinkle with cinnamon to taste.

 

 

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Give Your Valentine Champagne, Chocolate, Hors d’Oeuvres & Love Letters

February 8th, 2012
Picture
AR Gurney’s “Love Letters” at the Steel Beam Theatre

Give your valentine a romantic evening to cherish at the Steel Beam Theatre’s special staging of the bittersweet and endearing “Love Letters“, with my dear friend Jay Cook who is gay, as the very proper Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and SBT Founder Donna Steele as the rebellious free spumy friend Melissa Gardner. They met on Valentine’s Day in 2nd grade, and the spark between them began. Separated by the capricious hand of fate, but continued their relationship through written correspondence, they realizing way too late that they were soul mates.

Tickets include champagne, Fine Chocolates and Hors’ d’Oeuvres. Tickets are at $35. Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 11 at 5 p.m.+8 p.m. For tickets call 630.587.8521 or visit www.SteelBeamTheatre.com.

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A Monumental Day in California: Proposition 8 is Unconstitutional !

February 7th, 2012

by David Cohen – Publisher
Today is a special day for the LGBT community in the USA. In a monumental decision today, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in California ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. I would like to share with you the readers,  few of the emails I received  today from some of the leaders in our community.

From: Bernard Cherkasov, Chief Executive Officer of Equality Illinois
The inexorable march to full marriage equality achieved a significant milestone with the historic ruling that Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. The court’s gratifying decision makes a clear statement that marriage equality is a fundamental freedom. This victory, if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, will restore full marriage equality in California, the nation’s largest state, and add to the pressure in Illinois and elsewhere in the country to end marriage discrimination. In addition to the dignity and respect marriage equality grants loving and committed couples, it ensures security and critical safety net protections for all married couples and their families.

While we support the implementation of civil unions in Illinois in 2011, it still falls short of achieving full marriage equality on the state level and does little to guarantee the federal rights and privileges that marriage provides opposite-sex couples. With this ruling, political leaders who support full equality will have important arguments to share with state legislators who will inevitably be asked to vote on full marriage rights in the future.

Lawmakers need not wait for the ultimate disposition of the California case and other legal rulings to do the right thing in Springfield and Washington, D.C. to end marriage discrimination. We will continue to fight for equality on every level and could not do it without YOU. Thank you!

From: NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq.
Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the August 2010 decision of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco striking down Proposition 8, the 2008 measure that stripped same-sex couples of the right to marry in California. The Court affirmed the ruling of former Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker that Prop 8 discriminates against same-sex couples in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The court also rejected Prop 8 supporters’ offensive argument that Judge Walker should have refused to preside over the case because he is gay and in a relationship with a man.

The court ruled that Proposition 8 violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution because it “serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”

The supporters of Prop 8 have 15 days to ask the Ninth Circuit panel to reconsider its decision or to ask for reconsideration by a larger panel of judges on that court. Alternatively, they have 90 days to request that the Supreme Court of the United States review the case. NCLR, Lambda Legal, ACLU of Northern California, and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders filed an amicus brief urging the court to affirm Judge Walker’s decision

From: Interfaith Alliance President Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy.
Today’s decision by the 9th Circuit declaring that California’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution is good for marriage, it is good for religion and it is good for the people of California.  How the government defines marriage must be rooted in the Constitution – as is this decision.  Doing so in no way inhibits the right of a church or other house of worship to base its definition on religious doctrine.

To the religious institutions that would attempt to redefine the inherent concept of religious freedom by arguing that today’s ruling somehow diminishes religious freedom, Interfaith Alliance holds that in fact, the ruling makes very clear that legalizing same sex marriage has no impact whatsoever on religious freedom.  A church that opposes same sex marriage is under no more legal pressure to perform such unions now than it was before the ruling.  In fact, no religion would ever be required to condone same-gender marriage, and no member of the clergy would ever be required to perform a wedding ceremony not in accordance with his or her religious beliefs.  While I hope that those who oppose same sex marriage will eventually change their position, they are under no legal requirement to do so, but neither should they stand in the way of those of us who embrace marriage equality.

While we are sure that supporters of Proposition 8 will appeal the ruling, we hope today’s decision will be upheld, enshrining marriage equality for same-sex couples in the State of California – and paving the way for the rest of the country to follow its lead.

From: Joe Solmonese, President Human Rights Campaign.
This monumental decision affirms what we all know to be true – our Constitution exists to protect the basic civil rights of all Americans – gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

Prop. 8 does nothing to strengthen or protect any marriage. Instead, it singles out thousands of loving California families for different treatment, simply because they are gay and lesbian couples. The Ninth Circuit ruled on the right side of history by recognizing that our Constitution cannot tolerate such egregious discrimination.
Their move upholds a lower court’s decision that anti-gay bigotry was behind Prop. 8, the hateful law that denied gay and lesbian Californians the freedom to marry.

Here’s what the Court said in its decision: Prop. 8 “served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationship and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”

The path ahead may still be long, but this case has helped propel the fight for marriage equality forward. And as the struggle continues in courtrooms and statehouses, we’ll all know the power behind it is driven by devoted supporters like you. The fight goes on, and I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this extraordinary movement.

 

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Gay Candidate Brad Trowbridge for Cook County Judge!

February 4th, 2012

by David Cohen

As a gay man I believe that we should support our own especially in the courtroom. Gay candidate Brad Trowbridge a democrat, is running for a judge in Cook county in the 8th judicial sub-circuit and he needs your vote and support. The real reason you should help and vote for Brad is because of who he is as a person, and for what he stands for, his qualifications and experience.

Having two jobs one as a social worker, and the second as an attorney Brad is used to working hard. For many years Brad worked with disadvantaged people from all walks of life: minority teen mothers, people with HIV/AIDS, and seniors living in poverty, he made many visits to places like Cabrini-Green and the Lathrop Homes.  ”I believe my experience makes me uniquely qualified to sit on the bench.  My life and professional experiences are far broader than just within the legal system.”

A an attorney, in the last 11 years Brad focused on helping victims of domestic violence. He also help their children to escape abusive situations.  He spent thousands of hours at the courtroom and gained experience as he represented over 500 victims of domestic violence in obtaining orders of protection, dissolutions of marriage, child support and custody of their children.

“I am running for judge because I believe we need more judges who understand the complexities of life and human relationships,” said Brad in a recent interview with PINK. He wants to help people because “people are not treated fairly or with respect in the judicial system,” and that’s why we should vote for Brad who wants to change the bad experiences many people have at the courthouse.

 

And now to the gay questions:

PINK: Where were you born and when did you come out?

Brad: I was born in central Illinois…Jacksonville, IL….a town of 19,000, and I’m the only child. I came out to my first friend when I was 22. I didn’t come out to my family until much later. I was scared to death. I thought my friends and family would disown me. It was the mid-80s, a very different time for gay people. We were also dealing with the AIDS epidemic and the homophobia that was connected to that.

Why did you choose to go to law school?

Brad: I worked for Horizons Community Services (now Center on Halsted) as an AIDS/HIV counselor from 1988-91. I counseled gay men who had just tested positive. It was a very demanding job because back then there was limited treatment available and many of my clients died within a few months of finding their test results or diagnosis. I was offered a job at Northwestern University’s Counseling and Psychological Services office as a counselor for all undergraduate students, but particularly LGBT students. There had been two student suicides on campus, one by a known gay student and one suspected gay student. The school administration felt they needed an ”out” gay counselor to send the message to the student population that they viewed gays in a positive manner and that LGBT students had a resource available to them.  Many of my clients were either abused as children or were “coming out” and dealing with the a lot of self-loathing and hostility from their families, churches, and society in general. After almost 5 years, I decided I wanted to be more of an advocate. I wanted to fight for things like equal rights for LGBT people and holding bullies and abusers accountable. That’s not the role of a counselor. So I went to law school at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. It was a great law school but not very progressive at the time regarding LGBT issues. I became the president of the gay law student group because no one else would do it. I was in my mid-thirties at that point. I didn’t really want to be the “student” president of anything. But I did it because I knew if I didn’t, we were going to be even more isolated as a community. I made sure we brought in speakers about same-sex marriage and a representative from a transgender advocacy group speak to the whole law school. We were attacked by a conservative school newspaper for doing it but it educated a lot of future lawyers.

PINK: Is being gay makes it more difficult for you to win this election as a judge?

Brad: No. The 8th subcircuit encompasses Andersonville, Boystown, Lakeview and Lincoln Park. Gay candidates tend to do better in this subcircuit than in county-wide races.

PINK: Would it make a difference if a gay person sitting on the bench and how?
Brad: Under the law, no. The law is sexual-orientation neutral for the most part. But I have seen and heard homophobic judges. Most of the time a judge’s opinion about gays is often irrelevant, homophobia in family law cases can be devastating.   A few years ago, in a well-publicized case, a Cook County judge denied a lesbian couple the right to adopt and appointed an anti-gay group to represent the minor child. That judge is still on the bench.
PINK: What are you going to do for the gay voters?
Brad: As a judicial candidate I can’t state how I would rule on a case or issue. I can tell you that I have been a gay rights advocate for many years and wrote a book chapter on civil unions and legal issues facing same-sex couples. That should give gay voters some idea about my issues I am personally passionate about.
PINK: Can you change anything to benefit the gay community and how?
Brad: As a judge, I can do several things to help the gay community. First, if elected I would be only the fifth openly gay male judge out of 420 in Cook County. We need more visibility and representation. And judges talk to each other. Gay judges can educate their colleagues on issues informally. With my professional and life experience I think I would be a good resource for other judges about sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Second, the bulk of my experience is in family law. With the passage of the Civil Unions Act, there are going to be many same-sex couples coming to court to dissolve those relationships at some point (ie, get divorced) and litigate custody of their children. There currently are no openly gay male judges who hear those cases. We have to have judges who will do what is fair and in the best interest of children and not be guided by homophobia or their notions of gender stereotypes in deciding cases. I think having more gay judges in those courtrooms will be very important to our community.

I hope you will support Brad and vote for him on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. To learn more about Brad visit his website www.bradforjudge.com.

 

 

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PRIDE Films & Plays Presents: Man Boobs

February 4th, 2012

Chicago, IL -  Rick Heintz and Michael Hampton have been cast as Marty and Spence in the Chicago premiere of J. Julian Christopher’s insightful new work Man Boobs, a dark comedy about love, body image, and acceptance.

Michael Hampton (Marty) was last seen as Santa Claus in Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer, and in staged readings of Pig and The Ritz for Pride Films and Plays. He is an ensemble member of Hell In a Handbag Productions and he just won the Chicago Broadway World award for Best Actor in a Musical (non-equity) for his portrayal of Santa Claus last year.

Rick Heintz (Spence) has been “bearing it all” for the last year over a four-state area in a show he created called “FurrLesque.” Having taken off more than 8 years from his on-stage antics, Rick has been very active in the LGBT community fighting for equality and riding his bicycle to end HIV/AIDS. While hiding from the spotlight, he wrote/co-produced “The Family Business” for the 48-Hour Film Project Los Angeles (Audience Favorite Award) and worked for TV Guide Network in Hollywood producing such shows as “Fashion Wrap with Joan and Melissa Rivers,” “Idol Tonight,” “Reality Chat,” and Red Carpet coverage from everything from the Academy Awards to the Country Music Awards.

David Zak directs Man Boobs, PFP’s second staged production, as part of PFP’s exploration of “what’s new and what’s next” in LGBT theater and film.  Zak, PFP’s Executive Director, predicts, “As we celebrate and nurture new voices in American theater, Mr. Christopher’s fresh and provocative work will be resonating for many years to come.”

Developed at New York’s Public Theater and at workshops at East L.A , Man Boobs ran in New York City at The Fresh Fruit Festival in 2010.  It premiered in Montréal at The Rialto Theatre in 2011 and currently part of Australia’s Midsumma Festival.

Every Saturday from February 18 – March 10 + Thursday, March 8th. Shows start at 7:30 pm at Mary’s Attic, 5446 N. Clark, Chicago.

Previews, Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 1.800.838.3006 or online www.BrownPapertickets.com.

Source: Press Release


 

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Join Or Chadash Gala on February 25th

February 4th, 2012

Join Congregation Or Chadash for the Annual 2012 Gala at the Embassy Suites on February 25, 2012, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 511 N. Columbus Drive in Chicago. Tickets are at $150 and a silent auction is part of the celebration.

This year Or Chadash is honoring  their past president Mr. Robin Sampliner, a long-time member Robin Sampliner and John McGowan a LGBT national practice leader of Northern Trust’s and non-traditional family practice.

For more information call 773-271-2148. To purchase your ticket go to www.OrChadash.org.
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Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2012

February 3rd, 2012

by David Cohen

Join the leading International Fashion and Luxury companies in NYC for the spectacular Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2012. This extraordinary event promising to bring together the best and most recognized companies in the world’s fashion industry and some of New York City‘s charitable organizations for an dazzling evening of cocktails, silent auction and haute couture.

This event to benefit four of the most worthy non-profit organizations that improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQ youth community.

Past years’ auctions have included luxurious cadeaux by Prada, Gucci, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Etro and more. Your generous ticket purchase and enviable auction buys benefit the important work of Lambda Legal, The Hetrick Martin Institute, The AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) and The Point Foundation. To purchase tickets click here.

Monday, march 26,2012, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:.oo p.m., VIP-reception begins at 6:30 pm. At the Intrepid at Pier 86: 12th Ave. at W. 46th St., NYC

Photos courtesy of Jeffery Fashion Cares

 

 

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