An about-to-be-released book shines a light on 50 pioneering artists from around the world who made indelible contributions to culture.  (WTTW News)

From “Swan Lake” to “Frankenstein” movies to the pop charts, the arts have always been deeply influenced by artists from the LGBTQ community. An about-to-be-released book shines a light on 50 pioneering artists from around the world who made indelible contributions to culture. 

 The Belmont Rocks were a limestone stretch of the lakefront where Chicago’s LGBTQ community started gathering in the 1960s. (Courtesy Owen Keehnen)

The AIDS Garden Chicago, a project many years in the making, is now open to the public. Located just south of Belmont Harbor, the garden’s location has a meaningful place in the history of the city’s queer community.