'The New Black' at Facets thru Feb. 27
The documentary The New Black will run at Facets Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., through Feb. 27.
The New Black digs deeply into the role of African-Americans in the wake of a successful Proposition 8 in California, which opposed marriage equality, leading many to brand African-Americans as hostile or indifferent to gay rights. Focusing on the 2012 legal battle in Maryland (a state in which blacks make up nearly one-third of the electorate), filmmaker Yoruba Richen examines the ways in which race has been used as a wedge issue by tracking activists, families and clergy on both sides of the campaign.
Supporting organizations include Affinity Community Services, E3Radio, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Pillar of Love Fellowship Church, POWWOW, Inc. and Chicago Psychologists for Social Responsibility/Racial Justice Student Group.
See www.facets.org/cinematheque.
'It Gets Better' with Tamale at Guild Complex
Chicago: Guild Literary Complex ( the Guild ) continues its mission of bringing diverse voices to the fore in its upcoming event, "Applied Words: It Gets Better."
Taking place on Tuesday, March 11, It Gets Better is the first of four comedy-based Applied Words series, and will take place at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., at 7:30 p.m.
Addressing themes of history, mythology, gender and high school, It Gets Better is a collaboration with Applied Face Theatre and is being presented in connection to its spring production of Silk Road Rising's Brahman/i: A One-Hijra Stand-Up Comedy Show, by Aditi Brennan Kapil. Comedienne Tamale will host and curate the event, which features four prominent Chicago Live-Lit readers: Lily Be, Jill Howe, Greg Ledger and Precious.
The event is free, and open to the public ages 21 and up.
'Hannah Free' screening March 21
The Rainbow Alliance of the Unitarian Church of Evanston ( UCE ), 1330 Ridge Ave., will present Hannah Free on Friday, March 21, at 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a dessert and coffee salon. Following the film will be a panel discussion. Admission is a $10 donation.
Members of the panel are editor/producer Sharon Zurek, actors Taylor Miller and Maureen Gallagher, and producer Tracy Baim.
UCE is a "welcoming congregation" within the Unitarian Universalist Association. As a welcoming congregation, UCE pledges to address the needs of LGBT people at every level of congregational life, and celebrate the lives and loves of all people in the spirit of the first principle of Unitarian Universalism. The Rainbow Alliance carries out the goals of UCE's welcoming congregation.
Tickets go on sale Feb. 25; visit ucevanston.org or call 847-864-1330.
Colombian gay soldier tells story in new book
Steel and Velvet is the true story of a gay man in the Colombian army. The author, Juan Cordoba ( a pseudonym ), has been granted U.S. asylum and is now living in Chicago. The book, subtitled A Soldier's Story, has been released in English.
Stationed on the border of Egypt and Israel, part of an international peace-keeping mission, Cordoba describes the challenges of being true to himself and coming to terms with his own sexuality—within the confines of an all-male military environment.
The hatred and persecution that followed the publication of this book, when first published in Spanish, led the author to flee his country and seek political asylum in the United States.
See www.amazon.com/Steel-Velvet-Soldiers-Juan-Cordoba dp/1494264811.
