Free Series Celebrates Chicago GLBT Film

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 7, 2011 7:20PM

Cinema Q, a four-week series at the Chicago Cultural Center, highlights some outstanding movies made in Chicago which explore gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered themes. Kicking things off on March 16 is the essential documentary Quearborn & Perversion. In it, filmmaker Ron Pajak chronicles the GLBT history of Chicago, unearthing some priceless stories and surprising facts. Indeed, the documentary's title refers to the nickname given to the neighborhood of Dearborn and Division, where several clandestine gay bars once operated. (Isn't it a bit ironic that Chicago's former gay 'hood is now known as the Viagra Triangle?) Pajak will be present for a post-screening Q & A.

The other films in the series are Go Fish, the lesbian romance favorite, JoJo Baby, a very entertaining portrait of the Wicker Park doll artist (which will be paired with two music videos by The Joans), and the gay Shakespeare riff Were the World Mine. It's a great opportunity to catch some movies you might have missed at Reeling.

Cinema Q screens at the Claudia Cassidy Theater inside the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington.