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  WINDY CITY TIMES

Marriage tops 2014 local news
Extended for the online edition of Windy City Times
by Matt Simonette
2014-12-31

This article shared 6454 times since Wed Dec 31, 2014
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Marriage still dominated the LGBT headlines in Illinois for much of 2014, as many state residents were able to marry ahead of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Equality Act taking effect, thanks to a lawsuit victory.

Many gay rights activists campaigned on behalf of Gov. Pat Quinn, maintaining that challenger Bruce Rauner would be detrimental to advances made by the state's LGBT residents. Rauner nevertheless won the general election in November.

Some community members turned their attention to LGBT homeless youth, who were the focus of an advocacy summit in May. Transgender persons were also the focus of much work, as their issues enjoyed slightly higher visibility in mainstream media. Much work remained to be done with their issues, however, as 2014 drew to a close.

Here are some local stories that made headlines this past year:

Schock value: Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock (R) closed down his Instagram account Jan. 4 after a number of Internet sources fueled speculation about his sexuality. Schock, the youngest member of Congress, has long denied rumors about being gay, and has been a vigorous opponent of LGBT rights.

Marijuana delay: Legislation allowing for the use of medical marijuana in Illinois took effect Jan. 1, but the state had yet to iron out many specific plans for the law's full implementation. Consequently, marijuana wouldn't be available for patient use for many months, state officials said. As of December, the state was still sorting through preparations for the program.

Name change guide: Equality Illinois released a guide Jan. 7 that helps transgender Illinoisans navigate name changes and gender marker revisions on state documents. The guide covers documentation change including Illinois driver's licenses, birth certificates, social security cards and passports.

BYC zoning controversy: Broadway Youth Center (BYC), on Jan. 17, made its case before the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals regarding a variance that would allow it to stay in its current location on Wellington Avenue. BYC supporters filled the gallery of the City Council chambers at 121 N. LaSalle St. Four days later, the board announced that BYC could stay put.

Asylum support: The Chicago LGBT Asylum Support Program (CLASP) was launched in January as a source of support and safety for LGBT people escaping a life of persecution in their home countries and arriving in the United States for a new life. Broadway United Methodist Church acted as a hub and fiscal agent through which people could make donations. "I think we understand the thru line of God's word is the word of love," said Rev. Lois McCullen Parr, pastor at the Broadway United Methodist Church and CLASP Co-Founder.

Mysterious allegations: State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, on January 31, called a press conference to say that a Chicago attorney told his lawyers and him that allegations being investigated in Rutherford's office would go away if they paid the originator of the complaints $300,000. But Rutherford, who was running for governor, would not divulge who had made the allegations, or what the allegations were. In February, Ed Michalowski, a former aide, filed a federal lawsuit accusing Rutherford of both sexual harassment and pressuring him to do campaign work on the Treasurer's Office time. The suit was dismissed in June. By that time, however, Rutherford had lost in the primary election to Bruce Rauner.

Munar takes over: Howard Brown Health Center in February announced that longtime AIDS and LGBT health advocate David Munar would take over as its new president and CEO starting April 1. The selection followed a long and sometimes stalled 18-month national search process. AFC Vice-President of Policy John Peller would eventually take over Munar's old post as AFC President and CEO.

Stoli's back: Stolichnaya Vodka returned to the shelves of Boystown nightspot Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., in February after having been banned there and other local bars since the previous summer. The owners said the decision to reverse the ban came about because of Stoli's donations to pro-LGBT causes.

Marriage comes early: Forty-six LGBT couples rushed to Cook County Clerk David Orr's office Feb. 21 to get the first marriage licenses after a federal judge ruled earlier that day that same-sex couples would not have to wait until June 1 to be married. Judge Sharon Coleman's ruling said the state's ban on gay marriages is unconstitutional, and that marriages for gay couples could begin immediately. Same-sex couples who had already been legally married in other states would have those marriages recognized immediately, the clerk's office said. The ruling only applied to Cook County.

A little help from our friends:/ Officials of Equality Illinois PAC, as well as many of its supporters, gathered at Hubbard Inn on Feb. 27 to raise financial support for eight legislators who voted "yes" on SB10 in 2013. Among those in attendance were state Rep. Sam Yingling, Ald. Deb Mell, Cook County Clerk David Orr and ESPN.com contributor Christina Kahrl. "All of the candidates are looking good in the primary, but we have to leave no stone unturned," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. "We have to stand by our friends."

Watchdog: Truth Wins Out (TWO) founder Wayne Besen held his organization's first Chicago meeting March 6 to introduce community members to his organization's mission of debunking the myths and lies spread by anti-gay organizations. Besen moved TWO to Chicago from Vermont the previous November.

Campaign withdrawal: Out lesbian candidate for state representative Mel Ferrand, who was removed from the ballot after a filing error, said March 9 that she was officially suspending her campaign. Ferrand was one of several candidates running to unseat incumbent Jaime Andrade Jr. as representative to the 40th district. Several days later, she filed suit against her lawyers for incorrectly preparing the filing.

Out of context: Windy City Times newspaper demanded that groups mailing bigoted, anti-gay attack fliers against state Rep. Ron Sandack immediately stop using its copyrighted photos. Literature sent by the Illinois Family Action and the Liberty Principles PACs both used the same image of Sandack at a marriage equality rally in 2013, taken by Windy City Times staff photographer Kate Sosin.

Not a joking matter: A purportedly satiric article threatening to out five city council members unless they respond to the demands of Chicago taxi drivers sparked objections from gay-rights advocates and community members. The article, which the taxi-related trade publication The Chicago Dispatcher published March 6, said, "… We did not want it to come to this but our city government has been allowing unfair competition in violation of the law."

Remembering Vernita: Hundreds of friends, family and acquaintances of activist Vernita Gray gathered at the Goodman Theatre March 31 to remember her legacy and pay tribute to her. The gathering was officiated by Paul Fairchild and Mary Morten, who said that Gray was "a person who led a life of activism, a life of joy and a life of unparalleled gratitude."

Place to hang your hat: Project Fierce Chicago began a month-long, online fundraising drive to raise $25,000 for a transitional home for LGBT youth on the South or West Sides. The organization aimed to have the home purchased by September of 2014, and have it ready for its residents by January 2015.

Fisher retires: About 175 friends, family and colleagues gathered at the law offices of Winston & Strawn to help AIDS Legal Council of Chicago (ALCC) Executive Director Ann Hilton Fisher celebrate her retirement April 3. In her remarks, Fisher praised and thanked all the legal professionals who worked with ALCC as well as the individuals she called the "infrastructure" of ALCC: the support staff, development team, donors and board members who kept the various cogs of the organization going.

Prom's a drag: Jacob Szymanski, an openly gay student at Carl Sandburg High School, announced that he'd be attending his prom as his alter ego Harlet Wench. "I'm going to my senior prom in drag because I hope to help other kids in the future," he said. " … If I were to go as a boy, nobody would care, but if I put on the wig, the heels, the makeup, and the dress, suddenly people are interested."

Indiana lawsuit: A federal judge in Evansville, Indiana, on April 10, ordered that the state of Indiana must recognize the marriage of a lesbian couple as one of the partners fought stage four cancer. The couple, Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney of Munster, had a civil union in Illinois and were married in Massachusetts. They were plaintiffs in the lawsuit along with their two children, ages 1 and 3.

Youth summit: A weekend-long summit held at multiple Chicago locations in May illuminated the challenges facing homeless LGBT youth. Advocates and community members met with youths to better understand their most pertinent issues. A detailed report was later released.

LaBarbera detained: Peter LaBarbera, founder of the Naperville-based anti-LGBT group Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), was detained April 10 when trying to enter Canada for a speaking engagement, but was ultimately allowed to enter the country. His detention followed complaints, and an online petition, from Intolerance Free Weyburn, a newly-formed Weyburn, Saskatchewan, rights group that objected to LaBarbera's appearance at a pro-life convention there.

More prom news: On May 16, CPS held "Nocturnal Wonderland," its third annual LGBT prom at Edwin G. Foreman High School, 3235 N. Leclaire Ave. About 250 students were expected to attend. Officials said that there was virtually no opposition to the event.

On the right track: Fun Time Express, a Chicago-based, gay-owned business—appeared on the nationally broadcast TV show Shark Tank on April 11, seeking a $125,000 investment in exchange for 20-percent equity in its trackless-train business. Sharks Kevin O'Leary and Lori Greiner joined forces and struck the deal with life and business partners Kevin Ullery and Stan Krozel.

Walesa objections: Faculty and students of Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), on April 10, spoke out in favor of a proposal, which had already been rejected by the school's president, to rename a building named after former Polish President Lech Walesa. The objections came over a year after Walesa made negative remarks about gays in the Polish media.

Anti-conversion bill fails: Only 44 Illinois House members voted for HB5569 April 10, a bill that would ban anti-gay conversion therapy for minors in the state. Fifty-one voted no, leaving 22 absent for the vote. The bill's chief sponsor, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, said that she had made an error in letting the bill come up for a vote late in the afternoon, after many legislators had left.

York statue stolen: A statue commemorating the late Mary York, the lesbian attorney and community activist who died of cancer in 2008, has been stolen from the Howard Brown Health Center Peace Garden. The statue had been stolen previously in 2009.

Brown Elephant moves: On April 9, the Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) announced that its flagship Brown Elephant resale shop would be moving to a new location at 3020 N. Lincoln Ave. the following July.

Uline split: A Portland, Ore.,-based comics publisher announced April 8 that it would sever its relationship with Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.-based Uline Corp. because of the office supply company's CEO's political ties. In a letter posted online, officials from Oni Press said they quickly decided to no longer purchase supplies from Uline when they heard about CEO Richard Uihlein's contributions to Family-PAC, which actively campaigned against marriage equality in Illinois.

Transgender suit: Lambda Legal, on April 15, filed a lawsuit on behalf a Mattoon, Ill., transgender woman who says she was denied medical care after she requested hormone replacement therapy from her physician. Naya Taylor said that when she requested Dr. Aja Lystila, her primary-care physician, start her on hormone-replacement therapy in order to help treat her gender dysphoria, Lystila refused.

Eyechaner honored: Longtime businessman, activist and philanthropist Fred Eychaner received a standing ovation from the hundreds of people attending the Lambda Legal Bon Foster benefit April 23 at the Art Institute of Chicago. Eychaner was given the Lambda Legal National Liberty Award, the first time the honor has been presented outside of New York or Los Angeles.

Criminal transmission: Officials from local AIDS organizations spoke against an announcement April 24 that a Chicago man was being charged with criminal transmission of HIV. The man had told his girlfriend that his late wife had died from ovarian cancer, but the wife's family later said that she had died from AIDS complications. The girlfriend late tested positive for HIV. Another man was arrested for criminal HIV transmission in October.

Pauel becomes judge: Attorney Linda Pauel, a lesbian who last year withdrew her bid to be elected judge of the circuit court of Cook County, 10th subcircuit, was elected to be an associate judge. She was one of 13 individuals who were elected in an internal election administered by the circuit court of Cook County.

Gaymart closes: After 21 years in Lakeview, owner Shelly Rosenbaum made the decision to close Gaymart. "For the last four or five years, business has not been good at all," he told Windy City Times. "I've loved it, but Gay Mart has had its time." Rosenbaum said that enthusiasm that for his unique items has declined, at least in terms of people walking through his door.

AFC celebrates: About 325 supporters of AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) gathered May 16 at Ignite Studios for the organization's "Ignite" party, intended to launch the yearlong celebration of the organization's 30th anniversary.

What would Bruce do?: Representatives from Equality Illinois, The Civil Rights Agenda and Illinois Unites for Marriage held a press conference June 2 to raise questions on Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner's stance on same-sex marriage— or lack thereof. The issue was raised numerous times throughout Pride month, and activists erected a large banner on Halsted Street decrying Rauner.

Bullying bill: HB 5707, a bill aimed at curbing school bullying in the state, passed the Senate May 29 with 37 votes in favor after being amended, and proceeded to pass the house with 75 votes in favor of concurrence before being sent to Gov. Quinn, who signed it in June. The bill laid out a clear bullying policy for schools as well as responsive measures and directed schools to compile and report data on bullying incidents.

Spin me right-round: Spin Nightclub, 800 W. Belmont Ave., closed its doors over Memorial Day weekend then re-opened under new ownership over the summer as Whiskey Trust and Chloe's. But ownership shifted in late 2014, and both establishments were temporarily closed by the end of the year.

Marriage laws kick in: Jim Darby and Patrick Bova, two longtime gay activists who were part of the legal and political fight for marriage equality in Illinois, were wed as part of a series of weddings held June 2 at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Gov. Pat Quinn, who signed the marriage equality bill into law, was at the ceremony, which was officiated by Jim Bennett, Midwest Director of Lambda Legal. MCA and Equality Illinois hosted 15 couples, opening MCA's galleries and sculpture garden for complimentary ceremonies and post-ceremony festivities.

Sun-Times column: The Chicago Sun-Times, on June 3, removed a column that suggested that actor Laverne Cox, "is not a woman." The essay, published May 30 in the Sun-Times, was written by Kevin D. Williamson and originally appeared in the conservative publication National Review. The piece also posited that transgender persons are living in denial of the "reality" of the gender they were assigned at birth.

Job switch: Longtime activist Rick Garcia became community outreach coordinator for Cook County Jail. "I've known Sheriff Dart since he was a state rep," Garcia said. "He worked with us on all the important issues, including with marriage. I had told him that I was looking to make a change, and then later he asked if I would come work for him. So there I am now, firmly ensconced at the jail."

Police size: The Chicago Police Department (CPD) said at the 19th District CAPS meeting June 4 that area residents could expect high visibility from CPD over the coming summer, but those in attendance still questioned why the district is still losing a large percentage of its officers overall. Throughout the year, many Lakeview residents maintained that crime in the neighborhood remained a grave problem while police and city officials said the situation was improving.

Little Jim's changes hands: Little Jim's, 3501 N. Halsted St., the oldest remaining bar on the Halsted Street strip, held its 39th—and final—anniversary celebration June 14 as it prepared to change ownership July 1. The bar was bought by the building owner, who is proprietor of neighboring businesses The Ram, Cupid's and Leather Sport.

New manager: Brad Balof was introduced as Sidetrack's new general manager at the bar's annual anniversary party June 19.

Street renamed: Community members and politicians were among those who gathered June 19 at the corner of Broadway and Aldine Avenue as the street was dedicated to the memory of merchant and activist Dewey Herrington, also known as the "Mayor of Broadway." Herrington and his partner, Walter Kogelis, were some of the first merchants to open on the street just as Lakeview was becoming a largely gay neighborhood.

Pride parade: According to police officials, more than a million people attended and marched in the Pride Parade June 29. Openly gay athlete and music artist Will Sheridan served as Grand Marshal. Parade organizer Richard Pfeiffer said that the event transpired with few hitches, adding, "We didn't see anything major. It was a celebratory day, seeing so many couples together in the parade, holding hands." At the July 19th District CAPS meeting, police officials said that there were about 45 arrests made in the area between 5 a.m. June 29 and 5 a.m. June 30.

Montrose Rocks: Montrose Beach was closed in the early evening June 29 after two women were shot nearby. The area had been for many years the location of the Montrose Rocks post-parade celebration, which had—officially, at least—been cancelled this year. Nevertheless, thousands of people gathered there anyway once the parade began to wind down.

Dyke March: More than 1,000 people (according to organizers), representing each of the multifaceted elements of the LGBTQ community and its allies, walked at the 2014 Dyke March and Latina/o Pride Picnic at Humboldt Park on June 28. Led by a division of Dykes on Bikes, they walked hand in hand along a one-mile route from Roberto Clemente High School down Division street toward the Humboldt Park boathouse.

Dueling petitions: Shortly after the Pride Parade, duel petitions were launched online, one asking that the parade be moved downtown, where local resources would presumably not be overwhelmed, the other asking that it stay in place. Ald. Tom Tunney's office later released a survey about the matter, and said respondents remained in favor of leaving the parade in place.

Mell divorces: Ald. Deb Mell announced via Twitter and Facebook that her marriage to Christin Mell was ending. The couple had been married in Iowa in 2011, followed by a ceremony on Chicago's North Side.

Transgender signs: Chicago groups took the lead in highlighting the profiling and misconception of transgender communities nationwide through a first-of-its-kind advertising campaign unveiled July 2 in West Garfield Park. Ten such billboards were erected around the South and West sides of the city.

United Black Pride: After an internal conflict split the Chicago Black Pride Committee into two factions, the groups reformed to create United Black Pride at the tail end of 2013. The celebration headlined by the traditional festival held at Rainbow Beach on the South Side July 6.

Women & Children First sale: Women & Children First Bookstore, based on Clark Street in Andersonville, was sold by longtime owners/founders Linda Bubon and Ann Christophersen to two of their employees, Lynn Mooney and Sarah Hollenbeck. The new owners were selected from eight formal offers. The street outside the store was renamed for it in the fall.

3160 closes: The business known as 3160 Piano Bar & Cabaret, 3160 N. Clark St., closed in July. "It was time," said now-previous owner Jim Flint, who also owns the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark St. "I'm getting older and just did not have as much time to run it anymore."

D'Emilio retires: Historian-activist John D'Emilio retired from a 15-year position as a professor of history and women's and gender studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "My feelings right now are complex," he said. "I've often thought of being an academic as my day job. …I need to get back to a combination of intellectual work with activism, advocacy and community organizing because that's where I came from."

Beach party: The 400-plus trans* people and their allies, friends, spouses, partners and children gathered July 27 at Ardmore Hollywood Beach in Edgewater for the first Chicago TransPride beach party.

Mayoral candidate: Dennis Sneyers, who has worked in the financial-services industry for several years and is openly gay, announced his intentions to run for mayor in August. Alas, he did not get his name on the ballot for the primaries.

Engagement controversy: Colin Collette was fired from his position at Holy Family Catholic Church after he and his partner, William Nifong, announced their engagement over social media. Collette tried to return to the position, and had support from many Holy Family community members. He also met with Cardinal Francis George about the matter, but to little avail. In early December, he filed a discrimination complaint against church officials, asking to have his job back.

State takes step to end trans insurance bias: Several Illinois-based advocacy groups jointly praised the Illinois Department of Insurance July 29 for taking a first step in addressing discrimination against transgender Illinoisans in insurance coverage.

An Illinois Department of Public Health bulletin issued to private insurers noted that many insurance plans sold in Illinois may not discriminate against transgender people and must provide them coverage for the same medical treatment available for non-transgender policy holders.

On Wisconsin (and Indiana): Marriage-equality supporters from Indiana and Wisconsin gathered at Federal Plaza Aug. 25 for a late-afternoon rally in anticipation of a major hearing on marriage equality before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals the following day. The court hearing addressed marriage bans in both states since Indiana and Wisconsin both fall under the 7th Circuit Court's purview. The ruling, issued soon after, declared that the state's marriage bans were unconstitutional, opening the door to marriage equality in those states.

Slutwalk clash: What began as a peaceful but impassioned rally at the Daley Center Aug. 23 became a heated confrontation on North Michigan Avenue between officers of the Chicago Police Department and almost 1,000 participants in the 4th annual SlutWalk. As this year's participants took their message from the Daley Center, down Monroe Street and onto Michigan Avenue, members of the CPD demanded that they move off the street and onto the sidewalk. The protestors responded with cries of "These are our streets. we will not be moved!"

Discrimination allegations: James Beck —a 44-year-old resident of Edgewater—alleged that he was fired from a Mariano's Fresh Market for being gay in filings with both the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations and the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

Money disappears: A number of HIV/AIDS agencies, all serving persons of color, prepared to lobby the Illinois state government to release funds that had been awarded to them for fiscal year (FY) 2015, but were never allocated. In July, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) informed 20 service providers that money awarded to those agencies for FY 2015 through the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Act would not be allocated to them.

New candidate: Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who would be the city's first openly gay Latino candidate to run for alderman, announced that he'll be running against incumbent Rey Colon.

Clark's refusal: A transgender woman posted a video to Facebook over Labor Day weekend, saying that she and her friends were unfairly denied entrance to Clarke's Diner, 930 W. Belmont Ave., because they were trans and gay. Other individuals responded to the posting, saying that they too had not been let in to the late-night diner for any legitimate reason. A manager at Clarke's said he was told that the woman and her friends were not let in because they were being "rowdy" on the street, which she denied .

Awareness for Eisha: Channyn Lynne Parker, a community advocate who has visited transgender detainees at the Cook County Jail, began raising awareness of the plight of Eisha Love, a transgender woman of color who has been been accused of murder and faces 10 years in prison. Love said that she acted in self-defense in the incident in question. Parker posted her thoughts on her Facebook page, ultimately leading to a Change.org petition, "#FreeEisha," that told Love's story.

New archbishop: Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington, was announced as the successor to Cardinal Francis George in leading the Archdiocese of Chicago on Sept. 20. This was Pope Francis' first major appointment. While some gay Catholics cheered the selection, others were more skeptical. Cupich purportedly shares the pope's stated commitment to fighting poverty and economic injustice, but nevertheless took stands, albeit measured ones, against the referendum that ultimately led to gay marriage in Washington state.

Men's group evicted: A men's discussion group that had long met at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., said it was unfairly evicted from the community center because of what the center called "alignment issues" with the facility's other mental-health programming. The group, known as "Middle Men," was geared at gay men who are middle-aged or older.

ExxonMobil hearing: A national LGBT organization that last year filed a complaint against oil and gas giant ExxonMobil, alleging hiring bias, had a hearing on the matter with the Illinois Department of Human Rights in October. The case was initially dismissed in January of this year, but Freedom to Work appealed that decision and won a new hearing.

New TPAN leader: After a national search, the HIV/AIDS support services agency Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) has named Patti Capouch as its first woman chief executive officer.

Senior housing: Center on Halsted and Heartland Alliance introduced its new LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing development to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 10 at Town Hall Apartments, 3600 N. Halsted St. Lakeview residents and elected officials gathered outside the old 23rd District Town Hall police station, which has been repurposed for the senior center portion of the senior residences in a new adjacent building.

Guilty plea: A Chicago man pled guilty Oct. 21 for his part in a July 2013 attack on two lesbians in the Austin neighborhood. Terry Glover was sentenced by Judge Mary Margaret Brosnahan to three years in prison, with credit for the 471 days he has already spent in jail since his arrest last year. He was one of several assailants who took part in the attack, but is to date the only one who has been apprehended.

Senior housing, More rooms at HBHC: Howard Brown Health Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 22 to celebrate the completion of its exam room expansion. The Sheridan location added four new rooms, increasing from nine to 13. Officials estimated the expansion should allow for 8,000 additional patient visits a year.

Rauner elected: A majority of Illinois voters Nov. 4 said they want Republican Bruce Rauner as their next governor. Rauner's victory came after a long and expensive battle against incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn.

College Controversy: Cuts to the number of sections offered for a popular LGBT-related course at Columbia College, which school officials attributed to declining enrollment numbers, helped ignite a controversy that left some faculty and students questioning the college's commitment to diversity.

Veterans to be honored: A monument honoring LGBT veterans from Illinois was approved by Department of Veterans Affairs Acting Undersecretary of Memorial Affairs Robert E. Walters. The endeavor was spearheaded by Stan Jenczyk, chairperson of the monument committee and junior board member of the Chicago Chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER).

Storage space: A coalition of foundations and advocates came together to address the issue of storage of personal belongings for youth experiencing homelessness in the Chicago area. Lara Brooks, a longtime advocate for youth, was hired as a consultant to investigate ways to provide storage at existing facilities, as well as to explore options for increasing overall storage capacity in the region.

Accident settlement: The surviving partner of a prominent community activist was among those included in a settlement after a 2011 Indiana stage collapse. Lawyers representing victims of the accident and their families announced Dec. 19 that they had reached a settlement totaling nearly $50 million. Among those included was Alisha Marie Brennon, whose domestic partner, Christina Santiago, was killed in the incident.


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Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.