Market Days is just around the corner on August 13 and 14, and Equality Illinois (EQIL) needs your help!

EQIL is asking for volunteers to staff the gates during Market Days for just a few hours. By staffing the gates, EQIL will secure a large donation that will further its mission to secure, protect, and defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois. If they don't get enough volunteers, however, EQIL will not be able to staff the gates, and therefore will lose a large portion of this potential donation.

As a volunteer, you'll get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside that means you're doing your part to help out a good cause.  You'll also be fed and beveraged, and entered into a drawing to win various prizes, such as tickets to EQIL's February Gala, the Fall Women's Social, and the Fall Wine Tasting.

The available time slots for volunteering on both Saturday August 13 and Sunday August 14 are as follows:
10:00am-4:30pm
2:00-7:00pm
4:00-10:00pm
6:30-10:00pm

To volunteer and/or to find out more about this opportunity, please click here.

Posted by Travis Brandon

This month's window display at Batteries Not Included is titled "Born in the USA" and features Lady Gaga as the Statue of Liberty. The display was created by artist and window display designer Lee Kay Graphics, who you can follow on Twitter or on his YouTube channel.

Lady Gaga's macabre face in the display was modeled after her appearance in the "Born This Way" music video, complete with the bubble gum pop found at the very end. Lee Kay said he used still shots of Gaga from the music video to create her face in the display, with special thanks to Gaga's makeup artist Billy B for creating the makeup design in the first place. The display also shows Gaga holding a disco ball torch, a book titled "Let Freedom Bling," and a hypnotic rotating breast (you should check it out in person, or at least view the YouTube video).

According to Lee Kay, Gaga represents quintessential freedom, which in turn represents America. As a result, Gaga was the perfect choice to play the Statue of Liberty in Lee Kay's patriotic window display...and this being Boystown, of course, means that Gaga fits in for other reasons, such as being double super cool awesome!

Posted by Travis Brandon

Tonight, July 2, there will be a positive loitering event taking place in Boystown. According to the event's Facebook page, the purpose of this event is to educate those not familiar with the recent crime taking place in Boystown, as well as to open a dialogue with people "who are coming to the neighborhood and hanging out."

While there has been some controversy surrounding this event as targeting and intimidating poor youth of color, organizers claim that the purpose is to establish "a presence on the street for safety, to deter crime and the criminals that commit it." Indeed, there are indications that positive loitering can be an effective tool for deterring crime, and such events have been encouraged by police officials.

The meeting place for this event is in the 7-Eleven parking lot at the corner of Halsted & Roscoe, from 11:30 PM through 2:30 AM. The group will likely walk up and down the streets of Boystown, interacting with the people they meet along the way. The group will be joined by 23rd District Police Commander Kathleen Boehmer, and perhaps other on-duty officers. Organizers also say they will attempt to arrange for the off-duty cops hired by the Northalsted Business Alliance to patrol Boystown from 12-4AM, Thursday-Sunday, to also be present for a meet and greet.

Posted by Travis Brandon

Chicago Black Pride weekend is here! Chicago Black Pride is the annual LGBT celebration for people of color that embraces the many cultures, lifestyles, and points of view that resonate through the men and women of this wonderful community. Of course, people of all backgrounds and ethnicities are welcomed and encouraged to attend the numerous festivities held throughout the weekend!

Chicago Black Pride (CBP), now in its 12th year, takes place annually over the July 4th weekend and is attended by thousands of people from around the world. CBP is sponsored by the Chicago Windy City Black Pride Organization (CWCBP), whose mission is to promote unity, cultivate pride, and help improve the quality of life of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons of African descent.

There are dozens of events taking place throughout the holiday weekend: from Pride Comedy Night with Sommore at the Park West Theater, to the Urbano Official Black Pride Party taking place at the Metro, Black Pride Weekend has something for everyone. Perhaps the best-known event is the outdoor Park Festival held on Sunday, July 3 from 11am-7pm at Sherman Park, 55th & Racine, where nearly 5,000 people are expected to attend.

Happy Black Pride weekend!

Posted by Travis Brandon

Joe Kafka, co-owner of Kafka Wine in Boystown, passed away last weekend. Joe and his business partner Michael Scharber co-founded Kafka Wine back in 2003, and the store quickly turned into a neighborhood favorite. Although I didn't know Joe personally, he frequently helped me pick out wine in his shop, and he was always extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Joe will certainly be missed by friends, family, and the Boystown community.

Visitation is taking place on Wednesday, June 29 from 3-9 PM at Lakeview Funeral Home, and the funeral service is on Thursday, June 30 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the AIDS Research Foundation are appreciated.

Posted by Travis Brandon