mACY GRAY SHOWS WINDY CITY ‘THE WAY’ THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S , LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Oct. 22, 2014 PAGE 20 vol 30, no. 4 TIMESwww.WindyCityMediaGroup.com YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE

DUSTIN LANCE BLACK AMONG SPEAKERS AT CHICAGO HOUSE EVENT page 6

Early voting has begun in . Consult our 2014 General Election charts starting on page 10 for endorsements and recommendations from a number of local and national organizations. Pictured is incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn (center) at the signing of the Illinois marriage-equality bill in 2013. His is just one of the crucial races up for the vote. Photo by Tim Carroll Photography. BOLD MCDONALD OF A CERTAIN PAGE everyone loves Graphic novelist Alison the 2015 mazda6 page 6 Bechdel talks with Windy pagE 30 City Times about her seminal comic Dykes to Watch Out For as well as her memoirs and her MacArthur “Genius” grant. Photo by Elena Seibert

Trans activist Cece McDonald spoke page 25 at the University of Chicago last week about her imprisonment for fighting back against her attackers. See page 6. Photo by Tracy Baim

johnny weir’s new movie pagE 24 2 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES

WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 3 this week in When A Great Deal Matters, Shop Rob Paddor’s... WINDY CITY TIMES NEWS ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Evanston Subaru in Skokie Bishops make about-face 4 Scottish Play Scott 17 Chicago House; Cece; Legacy 6 Macy Gray interview 20 Truly Exceptional TRUE LOVE LGBT job fair Oct. 22 7 David Bowie exhibit at the MCA 21 E ELECTIONS 2014: Simon talks 8 Johnny Weir’s new movie 24 Customer Service Electoral charts 10 Alison Bechdel 25 Guide to the Gays 13 Dish: Umami Burger, Acanto 28 Men’s group controversy 14 Billy Masters 29 PROUD SUPPORTER FOR Gay in the Life 15 Autos: 2015 Mazda6 30 Viewpoints: Monroe; letters 16 NEARLY 2 DECADES! OUTLINES Classifieds 26 Calendar 28 Images on cover (left, from top): Photo of Macy Gray by Guiliano Bekor; photo of Dustin Lance NEW SHIPMENTS...JUST ARRIVED Black by Hal Baim; image of 2015 Mazda6 courtesy of Gaywheels.com; photo of Johnny Weir from Epix •2015 OUTBACKS •2015 FORESTERS •2015 LEGACYS •2015 XV CROSSTREKS , Y, LESBIAN OF CHICAGO’S GA THE VOICE UNITY SINCE 1985 NS COMM BI AND TRA 2014 Oct. 22, no. 4 WINDY CITYvol 30, ACy M OWS GRAy SH y’ ‘THE WA indyCityMediaGroup.com TIMESwww.W page 20 ALL THE HARD-TO-FIND MODELS yOUR VOICE, yOUR CHOICE DOWNLOAD THIS!

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4 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES manner than George, Cupich was nevertheless the Bishops were unable to be moved away opposed to same-sex marriage when the mat- from doctrinal purity and into pastoral care for Bishops’ report omits ter was being decided in Washington state. In LGBT people, as suggested by Pope Francis, we an Oct. 15 letter to Windy City Times, Murray remain hopeful that as a working document, wrote, “Archbishop-elect Cupich’s anti-gay his- this report will be once more amended in our pro-LGBT language tory is there for all to see when it comes to favor at next year’s Synod,” she said. “We were By Matt Simonette dealing with same-sex marriage, LGBT adop- always aware this was the beginning of a dis- tion, employment rights and equal protection cussion, not the end. We will continue to pray U.S. LGBT Catholics, on Oct. 18, expressed dis- under the law.” for our brothers, the Bishops, to listen to our appointment in the decision by the Extraordi- In her statement, Rivera nevertheless shared prayers, and to discern deeply about the exclu- nary Synod of Bishops to eliminate language Pett’s optimism that the situation will improve sionary nature of this document based on the that was inclusive and supportive of LGBT for American Catholics. outdated idea that God spoke their final words Catholics from the conference’s final report. “While we are extremely disappointed that millennia ago.” “Once more, members of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church have erred on the side of hypocrisy and fear,” said Lisbeth Meléndez HRC releases health Point accepting Rivera, HRC Foundation’s director of Latino/a care equality index applications and Catholic initiatives, in a statement. “The The Foundation deeply entrenched anti-LGBT forces within the released its annual Healthcare Equality In- as of Nov. 1 Church prevailed, ignoring Pope Francis’ mes- dex (HEI), with some significant changes LGBTQ students seeking financial assis- sage of inclusion and respect, and fundamen- from last year. tance for their undergraduate or graduate tally rejecting the voices and lives of LGBT For example, the Health and Aging Program school education are encouraged to apply for Catholics.” team proactively researched hospitals that a Point Foundation Scholarship. Preliminary statements from the report, re- chose not to participate, numbering 640 fa- Point Foundation (Point)—the nation’s leased a week before, were enough to give cilities. largest scholarship-granting organization some hope that the Church was prepared to Another new feature of this year’s HEI is a for LGBTQ students of merit—currently pro- somewhat shift its thinking on the matter. It Google Maps lookup feature that allows peo- vides financial assistance and programmatic indicated that LGBT men and women had “gifts ple to search for HEI-rated facilities based support to 80 full-time students. Students and talents to offer the Christian community” on their location, making it even easier enrolling in undergraduate or graduate pro- and noted that gay unions had intrinsic value for people to find LGBT-inclusive care more grams for the 2015-16 academic year are eli- in that they reflect person engaged in acts of gible to apply for Point’s multiyear scholar- Chris Pett. Photo by Matt Simonette quickly and easily. “mutual aid to the point of sacrifice.” Hospitals were evaluated on the bases of ship. Rivera visited Chicago Oct. 14, leading local patient non-discrimination policies, visita- Applications are open online at www.point- LGBT Catholics in a vigil outside Holy Name Ca- to his longtime partner over social media. tion policies, employment non-discrimina- foundation.org/apply as of Nov. 1. thedral. She led similar visits in several cities On Oct. 19, Pett told Windy City Times that, tion policies and training in LGBT patient- over the course of the Synod’s meeting, and “I think there’s still a sense of optimism about centered care. told Windy City Times that the Chicago vigil the first session, reflected in the fact that Illinois was designated to have 16 lead- AFC ad urges was also intended both to wish Chicago Arch- those statements were released. There’s obvi- ers in health care equality. Chicago entries Mexican men bishop Francis George farewell and welcome ously going to be disappointment that there included Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical incoming Bishop Blase Cupich, who was named are still these strident voices in the hierarchy.” Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hos- to get tested by Pope Francis as George’s replacement in He noted however, that the Synod was a pital of Chicago, Howard Brown Health Cen- In advance of National Latino AIDS Aware- September. two-part process, and next year will bring an ter, Methodist Hospital of Chicago, North- ness Day (Oct. 15), the AIDS Foundation “We don’t usually see statements like that opportunity for church leaders to rectify the western Memorial Hospital, Rush University of Chicago (AFC) launched “Salud y Orgullo come out mid-Synod,” Rivera said. “It’s a wel- exclusion. Medical Center, University of Illinois Hospi- Mexicano,” a citywide project designed to come change in rhetoric. This is language that “You can’t take those words back,” Pett tal and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. encourage Mexican men to connect to HIV hasn’t been heard from them before. We hope added. “They showed that there are people “Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality testing and care services. it reflects an opening of hearts and minds to of the Synod who are open to thinking about change the lives of LGBT patients and their The project works to connect Mexican men understand that God is still speaking.” the Church broadly, and open to debate and [a families for the better each and every day,” to services at Erie Family Health Center, Chris Pett, spokesperson for Dignity/Chicago, wider] perspective.” said HRC President Chad Griffin in a state- 2750 W. North Ave., home of the Lending was at the Oct. 14 vigil, and said that he and He said that Cupich could very well be an ment. “LGBT people should be treated Hands for Life program that offers a range of his organization were “cautiously optimistic” “ace in the hole” for local Catholics. “There’s equally in all aspects of our lives, and HRC services from HIV testing and medical care about the release of the statements, and said going to be a lot of opportunities for concilia- celebrates Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical to emotional support. that Cupich had the opportunity to change the tion and welcoming affirmation, without judg- Center for their tireless work to create an in- In Chicago, the SOM project is getting the “tone and voice” of the archdiocese’s dialogues ment. He certainly has the confidence of the clusive and welcoming environment for all word out through 50 Spanish-language and on homosexuality. Pope. Remember that, in the end, the Pope has patients.” bilingual bus-shelter ads that put a twist on “It also gives [Cupich] the chance to address the final say on these matters.” The HEI 2014 evaluates a total of 1507 iconic imagery from the colorful cards used firings of individuals, notably Colin Collette,” Not all local Catholics and LGBT activists health care facilities nationwide. Visit in lotería, a bingo-style game Mexican fami- Pett added. Collette was worship director at have been so optimistic about Cupich, howev- http://www.hrc.org/hei. lies have played in their homes since the late Holy Family Catholic Church in Inverness, who er. Joe MurrayNISSANNISSAN of Rainbow Sash MovementMELROSEMELROSE has PARK PARK NOW1800s. IN STOCK was fired after he announced his engagement said that, although he might have a less gruff

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Transgender activist Cece McDonald garnered laughter, snaps and spontaneous applause at the University of Chicago’s Law School Audi- torium Oct. 15 while delivering the lecture “A Trans Revolution.” In the words of UChicago Ph.D. student Amanda Michelle Jones, who introduced Mc- Donald, she became a “global icon” of the LGBTQ community when she was arrested in following an altercation with white male harassers, resulting in the death of one of the men. Calling herself “a victim treated as an at- tacker,” McDonald spoke vividly about her time in prison, where she said she learned a great deal about the “prison industrial com- plex.” Before then, she said, “I never once thought that it wasn’t my fault.” Released from prison through a plea deal, after serv- ing nearly two years, she embarked on her mission to “inform and educate.” McDonald entreated her audience to be “selfless” and “risk-takers.” “How many of (From left) Laverne Cox, Chilli Pepper, Jason Collins and Dustin Lance Black were at the you have dealt with bigotry and stood up for Chicago House Speaker Series Luncheon. Photo by Hal Baim someone?” she asked. Dressed in sweatshirt Cece McDonald. Photo by Tracy Baim and jeans—an intentional choice, McDon- ald said—she criticized the crowd for being more concerned with expensive clothes and The crowd, which appeared to be mostly Chicago House event Lady Gaga tickets than connecting with a university students, did not seem to mind cause. “A lot of people here are pretenders,” McDonald’s questioning their credentials, she said, and asked rhetorically how many giving her a standing ovation. A short Q&A spotlights disparities people would connect with someone else to and impromptu photos with McDonald fol- fight for a cause after her speech ended. lowed the speech. The event was part of the By Matt Simonette month comes, and I can make my rent,” she McDonald also stressed the importance of UChicago initiative OUTober, and was spon- added. being honest with oneself about both one’s sored by multiple campus organizations, Actress Laverne Cox, NBA player Jason Col- She called on persons at all levels of the privilege and identity. including the law school and the offices of lins and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black were economic spectrum to consider the systems of “It took me a long time to come to my Multicultural Affairs and LGBTQ Student Life. among the advocates on hand Oct. 15 as Chi- oppression that can squelch the hopes and po- own truth,” she said. “This is how I get ven- See the online version of this article for cago House and Social Service Agency hosted tentials of most Americans. geance—I tell the truth.” more photos and videos from the speech. its sixth annual Speaker Series Luncheon on “The work of these systems is to make us feel , Race and Economic Disparity at the that we are not worthy,” said Cox. Chicago Hilton, 720 S. Michigan Ave. Black echoed Cox’s remarks by challenging Legacy Project officials and volunteers, local The discussion with Cox, Collins and Black the largely affluent audience to consider, “If activists and students from Lincoln Park High was moderated by Gautum Raghavan, a former you can afford a ticket to this event, you have School were on hand to pay tribute to the new LGBTQ advisor to President Obama and cur- it pretty good here.” inductees: Cole Porter, Sally Ride, “Babe” Did- rently vice-president of policy at the Gill Foun- He further spoke about a Southern states rikson Zaharias, Father Mychal Judge, David dation. speaking tour he’d been on the previous week, Kato, Audre Lorde and the . Among those officials in attendance were wherein he visited several states that have no Special guest for the event was WGN weath- U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, Cook County State’s At- equality organizations that fight on behalf of erman Tom Skilling, who spoke passionately torney Anita Alvarez, state Reps. Kelly Cassidy their LGBT citizenry. In those states, gay mar- about his reasons for sponsoring the plaque for and Greg Harris, and Illinois Dept. of Human riage was not a huge priority; rather, simple Sally Ride. Rights Commissioner Rocco Claps. safety was instead. Retired Judge Tom Chiola also addressed at- The discussion focused on the widening gaps “We’re starting to make sure we have these tendees, discussing his commitment to sup- in economic equality, especially among LGBTQ [resources] in place to protect them,” said porting the Legacy Project and its role of Americans. Chicago House CEO Rev. Stan Sloan Black. “Even if it’s reported, it’s not looked educating the next generation about LGBTQ said, “This is a conversation that is needed.” into. Ninety percent of folks on the coasts history. Sloan has long emphasized the role inequality know someone who’s LGBT. In the South, it’s More photos are online. has played in worsening the outcomes of nu- more like 50 percent. They don’t even know if merous socio-economic challenges facing the there are people [nearby] who are like them. YWCA to honor LGBT community. It’s like San Francisco was in the 1940s.” Cox opened by expressing her gratitude for Collins spoke of the importance of solidar- Mary Morten Oct. 22 her recent success following her starring role ity within the LGBT community, and noted his The Evanston/North Shore YWCA will honor on Orange is the New Black, but reminded the good fortune in receiving support from his Mary Morten, Gail Vierneisel and Kourtney audience that her experience is far from the teammates after publicly . He also Cockerell at this year’s YWomen Leadership norm for most transgender Americans. noted that he became part of a gay-friendly Awards dinner. “I feel so blessed to stand before you, a church community in . The event will take place Wed., Oct. 22, at proud Black transgender woman, living her “We need to support those organizations, the Hilton Orrington Hotel, 1710 Orrington dreams in America,” she said. “It’s so impor- and those people, that are bridge builders,” Ave., Evanston. tant to remember that, just because I was on said Collins. WGN’s Tom Skilling with the plaque he The YWomen Leadership Awards recognize, the cover of Time Magazine does not mean that All the participants called on audience mem- sponsored for astronaut Sally Ride. Photo by support and promote women’s leadership and transgender people have much to overcome.” bers to consider how they can be integral parts Tracy Baim the impact women have in the community. She further noted that many are living in a of taking down barriers between different parts The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education “state of emergency,” pointing out that they of the community. Legacy Project Center, who is partnering with the YWCA to had increased chances of experiencing violence “While philanthropy is important, we do have bring the exhibit RACE: Are We So Different? to or harassment, as well as abject poverty; many to work to dismantle these systems,” Cox said. concludes the area, is also being honored for its 30 years transgender persons subsist on incomes of less “… It’s important to acknowledge how these of work focusing on combating hate and fos- than $10,000 a year. things work.” dedication tering social awareness through its programs Cox said she was all too familiar with eco- Black added, “I’m telling you, Chicago. ... On Oct. 18, Legacy Project’s dedication cel- and student engagement. Morten is being hon- nomic uncertainty. Just a year before she be- You’ve got the power. You’ve got the voices. ebration concluded at Boystown bar Sidetrack. ored for her longstanding committment to the gan work on Orange is the New Black she was You’ve got the dream. Don’t let the dream of WGN-TV’s Sean Lewis hosted. women’s and lgbtq communities and coalition broke and working as a waitress, and just bare- Harvey Milk die here.” Community members gathered Oct. 11 for the building across gender, race and class. ly escaped getting evicted from her apartment. Videos and more photos are online at www. unveiling of seven new plaques along Halsted Contact Trimmy Stamell at 847-864-8445, “I feel blessed that when the first of the WindyCityMediaGroup.com. Street’s Legacy Walk. ext. 121. WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 7 to help with setting career goals and objec- tives. A Career Specialist is a career-focused OPALGA’s 25th- LGBTQ youth job fair counselor, who provides one-on-one guidance both before and after a participant gets a job. anniv. gala Oct. 25 Participants wishing to take part in the LG- OPALGA, the Oak Park Area Lesbian & BTQ job readiness workshop should call Chicago Gay Association, will hold its 25th-an- House Employment program at 773-248-5200, Oct. 22 at Center niversary gala Saturday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 ext. 109, and mention how they heard about p.m. at the 19th Century Club in Oak Park. the training. ployment and skill building websites. TransTech This year’s OPAL Awards go to Illinois CHICAGO—The Chicago LGBTQ Job Fair will state Rep. Greg Harris (13th District), Illi- Facilitators and apprentices will be available to TransTech Training be held Wed., Oct. 22, 2014, Noon to 4 p.m. nois state Sen. Don Harmen (39th District) answer questions and provide one-on-one help. TransTech Social Enterprises (TTSE), is a non- at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. The and the publisher and executive editor of profit organization that offers an apprentice- fee event includes job advice, break-out ses- Windy City Media Group, Tracy Baim, for Participant perks ship and training academy that teaches job sions detailing best interview and employee their efforts connected to marriage equal- Coffee and light snacks for participants will skills, as well as graphic design and web cod- practices as well as legal issues in the work- ity in Illinois. be on hand from Ann Sather and there will be ing. In the apprenticeship program, similar to a place, plus food and prizes. Proceeds from the OPAL Gala Benefit will a chance for them to win prizes courtesy of beauty school model, TransTech offers creative The latest studies show an alarmingly high go to the OPALGA Education Scholarship Windy City Times. technology services including but not limited unemployment and poverty rate in the LGBTQ Fund, The Lakeside Pride Marching Band to, web development and graphic design, that community. In order to address the issue and and The Historical Society of Oak Park and Chicago House Training are worked on by students and educators at af- as a follow-up to the Windy City Times LGBTQ River Forest. Visit www.opalga.org. Chicago House is offering a free LGBTQ job- fordable prices for consumers. All of the profits Homeless Youth Summit in May 2014, Windy readiness training. Topics discussed include City Times, Chicago House TransWorks, Trans- go back into the program. TransTech is a social self-awareness, self-esteem, communication, enterprise structure that is meant to maximize OPALGA Tech, Affinity and the Center on Halsted will be career planning, conflict resolution, anger hosting an LGBTQ Job Fair open to ages 18 and economic improvement and well-being within co-chairs management, self-care, goal setting, interview the LGBTQ community, rather than focusing at 2012 above. Jobs from internship and entry level to skills, resume and cover-letter writing. Other mid-career will be available for applications. on maximizing profits for external sharehold- gala. topics will include coming out or transitioning ers. If looking to engage with TransTech as Photo by Corporations signed up to date include Unit- and best practices. ed Airlines, Uber, Northern Trust, Whole Foods, an apprentice, supporter, or volunteer please Carrie Participants that take part in the job readi- contact [email protected] or at 773- Maxwell Lurie Children’s Hospital, Christy Webber Land- ness workshop are assigned a Career Specialist scapes, The Chopping Block, Pastoral Artisan 372-3363. and Roosevelt University, which will provide opportunities for further education. Ald. Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward added his support to the fair. “We know that obtaining gainful employment is the key to success,” Tunney said. “This fair is a great way to break down barriers that face LGBT job seekers both young and old. LGBT employees should be valued contributors to any workplace and eco- nomic opportunity should be a reality for all communities.” The fair will be preceded by free four-day in- tensive job readiness training sessions hosted by Chicago House. GARDEN OF EVE

Details The latest figures from the Williams Institute at UCLA state that lesbian, gay and bisexual adults experience an unemployment rate at 40% above the national average while trans- gender adults are twice as likely to be unem- ployed as a typical U.S. worker. The Work! Chicago job fair is open to all ex- perience levels in the LGBTQ community. Organizers are still seeking company par- ticipants who can email gretchen@windycity- times.com for an application or further details. Booths are just $75 for businesses and $50 for non-profits and the deadline has been extend- ed to Friday, Oct. 17.

Break-out sessions The fair will also include break-out ses- sions open to all participants. At 1 p.m., Greg O’Neill, entrepreneur and co-owner of Pastoral, will host a session entitled “How to Get and Keep Your Job”. Panelists will include Angela Koon of the State’s Attorney’s Office, busi- ness owner Kinley Preston, recruitment and HR expert Julie West of The Harvest Consulting Join us for cocktails, cuisine, and a battle of the DJs. Group, Shawn Kotwa (general manager of LKH Featuring DJs All the Way Kay, Katie Kirby, and Gloria Alers. Management, which runs Lakeview’s Hydrate, Elixir, Replay, Halsteds as well as Manhole and Whiskey Trust), and Christy Webber, president Co-Chairs host committee Susana Darwin Duke Alden Maia Benson Veronica Hernandez Hison Mitchell Jose B. Rodriguez of Christy Webber Landscapes. and Amy Walsh and Brian Kerr Salvatore Bondi Magda Houlberg David Ernesto Munar and Jim Nowaczok At 2 p.m., Owen Daniel McCarter of the John McGowan Deborah Ashen Simon Chavez and Jenn Richards and Corey Flournoy Al Torrence, M.D. Transformative Justice Law Project will host a Bethany Minor and Cara Meiselman Paul Drugan Martha Kalantzis Matt Nielson and Donald McDevitt Mary Morten Austin Baidas Jon Erickson Kristin Keglovitz Baker and Jerel Keith Michelle Wetzel session which will inform participants of their Jackie Richter Paula Basta Rickey Freeman and Bridget Baker Linda and Richard Price and Colleen Sonnefeldt rights concerning legal and discrimination is- Denise Scarpelli and Terri Worman Anne Feder Kevin Lewis Debby Rijos Lara Ziemba Bernard Bartilad Jennifer Gavelek and Kepa Barcenas Kip Rodrigue sues while on the job. and Michael Herman Larry Giddings Charles Middleton From 1-4 p.m. in the Center on Halsted Cyber sponsors Center, staff members from TransTech Social Enterprises (TTSE) will be “Exploring Freelance Employment Options” The first portion of the Media Sponsors G A Z I N E M A TM workshop will be an open discussion regarding SM CHICAGO’S BIWEEKLY LGBT PUBLICATION “The Philosophy of Freelancing”: dispelling the Design Construction Concepts myths, covering the pros and cons, as well as the best practices for successful freelancers. This ad is proudly Sponsored by The second portion will be interactive with participants encouraged to use the computers to explore resources such as on-demand em- 8 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES ELECTIONS 2014 one, and our income tax rate is a significant question that will be dealt with this campaign. Sheila Simon Another issue related to money is our school faces stiff challenge funding formula. Sen. Andy Manar passed a bill ELECTIONS 2014 out of the senate that would significantly im- in comptroller race prove our funding formula. That would make by MATT SIMONETTE late , who was comptroller sure that state funding goes towards actual for a while. I got to talk to Dawn about this of- student need and reduce the system that we Lieutenant Gov. Sheila Simon says that, years fice before she died. She said her favorite part have right now, which says, depending on after his death, she continues to hear from about being comptroller was being the ‘state’s your zip code, you’re going to get either a re- constituents about her father, Sen. Paul Simon. best educator about the budget’ and I look for- ally great education or possibly a really poorly “As I go around the state, the thing I hear ward to that role. funded one. most frequently about Dad was, ‘I didn’t always Also, because the state is so far behind WCT: How would you characterize your agree with him, but I appreciated his honesty.’ in paying its bills, some people need to get support for the LGBT community? That’s an important message that I get all the “scooted up” in line. And right now when that SS: It’s something that goes back a long way. time: You’ve got to be honest and you’ve got is done, there are no visible standards from the As a lawyer in private practice, I represented a to be transparent. It makes a difference, and outside. … I think that an expedited payment large number of clients in the LGBT community, helps me do a better job if I have more infor- should be made infrequently, but when it is back in the days before we had amended the mation about me out front. made, it should be done according to standards Human Rights Act. I once met a young woman It’s a message she wants as a central part of that everyone can see. Otherwise, that fuels who came to me and said, “my landlord told her campaign to be Illinois state comptroller. distrust of government. me she found out I was gay and she wants me Simon, an attorney and professor who had WCT: How would you characterize the rela- out of there.” I still remember how horrible it long been active in local politics in her native tionship between you and Gov. Quinn? felt to tell her, that your landlord can do that. Carbondale, said that, while she’s been serving SS: It’s been a good relationship. Our staffs Thank goodness, the law has changed and as Lieutenant Governor, she has become acute- work well together. When we first started, we that can no longer go on. I represented chil- ly aware of the role money issues have played said, “Let’s plan to meet every week.” Within dren in the first second parent adoption case in in determining the effectiveness of the state the first several weeks that was lost, because Jackson County, which was really exciting. It’s government. Hence, she’s set her sights on the we’re always going in different directions. We something that makes sense to me and always comptroller’s office, which has been occupied stay in touch by phone for the most part and has, on a personal level. I’ve supported mar- riage equality back when everyone was talking by Republican . Sheila Simon. Photo from the campaign I’ve really been proud of the things he’s done, The election has been difficult for Simon, like signing the bill to end the death penalty. about civil unions. I performed a [same-sex] who has been consistently trailing Topinka in WCT: How would you say the lieuten- wedding for a friend just a few weeks ago … a couple who never really thought in their the polls. But Simon said she’s confident that were spending a lot of money and not getting ant governor role has prepared you for the lifetimes, that they would be in a wedding for she can run the Comptroller’s Office with more what a lot of other towns were getting, maybe comptroller’s role? themselves. So there are a lot of reasons to transparency and vision than Topinka has. Lib- that would have raised a red flag sooner. It’s SS: It’s been a great education in terms celebrate, and its really cool to be a part of it. ertarian candidate Julie Fox is also running for about being smarter and more aggressive with of understanding the state government as a But while our laws might be strong, that the office. the information. whole. The one part of my duties that comes doesn’t mean that behavior will follow. We’ve Windy City Times sat down with Simon re- WCT: Do you think the comptroller’s office from the constitution is to be ready to be gov- outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual cently to discuss the her plans for the office, already has these resources? Local govern- ernor. So that gives me the official right to be orientation, just like we’ve outlawed it, on the her work as lieutenant governor, and her rela- ments are very balkanized. Would this be nosy about everything in the state government basis of gender and race. But we know that tionship to the LGBT community. something your administration would be and I use that. It’s allowed me to see that so these continue so we have to be ready to en- Windy City Times: Your campaign says you able to implement quickly? many of the challenges that we have as a state force the laws, make sure people know about will be “the most aggressive fiscal watchdog SS: The report already comes in. It’s just a fall down to money issues, and that points the laws and promote not just a change in the Illinois has ever seen.” What does that re- matter of what you choose to do with it. The back to the comptrollers office. law but a change in the culture. ally mean for you? other part of it is making sure those reports WCT: What are the largest fiscal challenges Simon’s website is http://sheilasimon. Sheila Simon: The comptroller is the person actually do come in. Illinois has right now? org/. who pays all the bills for the state, so I think WCT: How would you help the state ad- SS: I think the pension question is number they have the best access to information about dress its sizeable backlog of unpaid bills? where the money is going, and can be much SS: One thing we need to do a better job of is more aggressive about making that informa- calling attention to the fact that we have this tion available to residents of Illinois and jour- Early voting info HRC releases backlog. There’s a little bit of dispute as to how Early voting for the Nov. 4 primary election nalists. The same thing with local government much we owe that is overdue, but, bottom line will be offered through Sunday, Nov. 2. scorecard of spending information—every local govern- is that it’s in the billions. That’s unacceptable. Voters registered in the City of Chicago ment turns in an annual financial report to the None of us would allow that to happen in our may use any early voting site in the city, 113th Congress comptroller’s office. We’ve got over 7,000 [lo- The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has re- family budget and the fact that we are impos- regardless of where the voters live. cal government units]. Right now the informa- leased its Congressional Scorecard measuring ing on not-for-profit agencies, small businesses Voters don’t need a reason or excuse to tion goes on [the comptroller’s] website—they support for LGBT equality in the 113th Con- and schools on a regular basis is unacceptable. use early voting; however, voters do need to put it up there and that’s where it ends. gress—and, according to the organization, So I think the comptroller has to be the voice present government-issued photo identifica- One of the things that can be done is poll- results show record gains in support for LGBT for why we need to get those bills paid on time. tion. ing local government information and estab- equality. WCT: What do you think has been lacking Ballots cast in early voting are final. After lishing benchmarks, such as spending per Members of Congress were scored based on in the comptroller’s office under Topinka’s casting ballots in early voting, voters may capita—what’s the spending range per capita their votes and co-sponsorships of pieces of stewardship? not return to amend, change or undo a bal- of a county, a city or a library district? Then legislation that are key indicators of support SS: I think, at many levels, the office has lot for any reason. It is a felony to vote more we can get information back to the residents for LGBT equality and, for the first time ever, done what the office has done before. What’s than once—or to attempt to vote more than of that area and to local government leaders. their public support of marriage equality. lacking is the vision to move forward. I think once—in the same election. … It’s also a way of putting a lid on corruption A record number of members earned a per- we need to use the resources of the office more All 51 locations will be open Monday as soon as possible. Think of Dixon, Illinois, fect 100-percent score in this Congress. Out aggressively to engage the residents of Illi- through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun- where the treasurer stole $53 million. If the lo- of 541 members of Congress (including del- nois more in the discussion about where we’re days 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Not all sites will be cal government leaders knew earlier that they spending the money. One of my heroes was the egates), 210 received a perfect rating, com- open Sundays.) To get a list of sites, visit pared to 139 in the previous Congress. http://www.chicagoelections.com/page. Democrats in both the House and Senate php?id=9. earned an average score of 96 percent. In contrast, House Republicans earned an aver- Ald. Latasha age of 10 percent while Senate Republicans averaged of 16 percent. Thomas not Regarding Illinois politicians, Democratic U.S. Sen. had a perfect score seeking re-election while his Republican counterpart, , Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th Ward) will not rated a 78. In the House, those who scored seek re-election next spring to the Chicago 100 included Democrats , Luis City Council seat after more than 14 years in Gutierrez, Mike Quigley, , that post, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. , and Cheri Thomas was first appointed to the seat Bustos. Those who scored a zero included representing Englewood and Auburn Gresh- Republicans , Rodney Davis, am by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2000, and , , Kinz- was re-elected four times. inger and Aaron Schock. She did not provide a reason for her deci- Those in between included Democrats sion, but told the Sun-Times in August that (89), Daniel Lipinski (38), Danny she was considering retiring from city coun- Davis (84), (92) and Bill Enyart cil. (84). See www.hrc.org/scorecard. WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 9

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A: 565 Lakeview Parkway Ste. 108, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 | 50 E Washington, Ste. 200 Chicago, IL W:dryateshairscience.com | P:312.261.0872 10 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES WCT HRC IVI PP CAI IL STATE RACES Election 2014 17th congressional district WCT = Candidates were asked about LGBT-specific issues, as well as (R) issues ranging from raising the minimum wage to the environmental (D) 100 Y topic of fracking. Us SENATE IVI = Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization WCT = Candidates were asked about LGBT-specific issues, as well as 18th congressional district PPAC = Personal PAC issues ranging from raising the minimum wage to the environmental Aaron Schock (R) 0 EQIL = Equality Illinois PAC topic of fracking. Darrel Miller (D) PP = Planned Parenthood HRC = Human Rights Campaign 113th Congress, ratings are a percent- CAI = Citizen Action/Illinois Policy Council age of total 100% based on HRC tracking of how candidates voted in WCT IVI PPAC EQIL PP CAI the 113th Congress COOK COUNTY RACES GOVERNOR/ PP = Planned Parenthood WCT = Candidates were asked about LGBT-specific issues, as well as LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CAI = Citizen Action/Illinois Policy Council issues ranging from raising the minimum wage to the environmental (R) topic of fracking. WCT HRC PP CAI Evelyn Sanguinetti (R) IVI = Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization Pat Quinn (D) Y Y Y Y Y SENATOR PPAC = Personal PAC Paul Vallas (D) Y James D. “Jim” Oberweis (R) PP = Planned Parenthood Chad Grimm (L) Richard J. Durbin (D) 26/27 100 Y Y CAI = Citizen Action/Illinois Policy Council Sharon Hansen (L) Alexander Cummings (L) WCT IVI PPAC PP CAI ATTORNEY GENERAL BOARD PRESIDENT Paul M. Schimpf (R) Toni Preckwinkle (D) Y Y Lisa Madigan (D) 23/23 Y Y Y US congress RACES Ben Koyl (L) 16/23 WCT = Candidates were asked about LGBT-specific issues, as well as ASSESSOR issues ranging from raising the minimum wage to the environmental Joseph Berrios (D) Y secretary of state topic of fracking. Michael Webster (R) COOK COUNTY clerk HRC = Human Rights Campaign 113th Congress, ratings are a percent- Jesse White (D) Y Y Y Y age of total 100% based on HRC tracking of how candidates voted in David D. Orr (D) 14/15 Y Y Christopher Michel (L) 0/23 the 113th Congress IVI = Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization SHERIFF comptroller PP = Planned Parenthood Thomas J. Dart (D) 15/15 Y Y Judy Baar Topinka (R) Y CAI = Citizen Action/Illinois Policy Council Sheila Simon (D) 22/23 Y Y TREASURER Julie Fox (L) 5/23 WCT HRC IVI PP CAI (D) Y 1st congressional district TREASURER Jimmy Lee Tillman (R) COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 1ST DIST. Tom Cross (R) 19/23 Y Y Y Bobby L. Rush (D) 100 Y Richard R. Boykin (D) Y Michael W. Frerichs (D) Y Y Y Y Matthew Skopek (L) 14/23 2nd congressional district COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 2nd DIST. Eric M. Wallace (R) Robert B. Steele (D) Y Robin Kelly (D) 89 Y Y COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 3rd DIST. 3rd congressional district Jerry “Iceman” Butler (D) Y Y STATE SENATE RACES Sharon M. Brannigan (R) IVI = Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization Daniel William Lipinski (D) 38 COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 4th DIST. PPAC = Personal PAC Stanley S. Moore (D) Y Y EQIL = Equality Illinois PAC 4th congressional district PP = Planned Parenthood Hector Concepcion (R) COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 5th DIST. IVI PPAC EQIL PP CAI Luis V. Gutierrez (D) 100 Y Deborah Sims (D) Y Y 3RD LEGISLATIVE district 5th congressional district COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 6th DIST. Mattie Hunter (D) Y Y Y Vince Kolber (R) Joan Patricia Murphy (D) Y Mike Quigley (D) 100 Y 6th LEGISLATIVE district Nancy Wade (G) 26/27 COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 7th DIST. Stephanie Linares (R) Jesus G. Garcia (D) Y John J. Cullerton (D) Y Y Y 6th congressional district Peter J. Roskam (R) 0 COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 8th DIST. 9th LEGISLATIVE district Michael Mason (D) 25/27 Luis Arroyo, Jr. (D) Y Daniel Biss (D) Y Y

7th congressional district COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 9th DIST. 12th LEGISLATIVE district Robert L. Bumpers (R) Frank L. McPartlin (D) Steven Landek (D) Danny K. Davis (D) 84 Y Y Y Peter N. Silvestri (R) Y Y 15th LEGISLATIVE district 8th congressional district COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 10th DIST. Napoleon Harris (D) Y Larry Kaifesh (R) Bridget Gainer (D) Y Tammy Duckworth (D) 100 Y 18th LEGISLATIVE district COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 11th DIST. Shaun Colin Murphy (R) 9th congressional district Carl Segvich (R) Bill Cunningham (D) Y Susanne Atanus (R) 8/27 John P. Daley (D) Y Y Janice D. Schakowsky (D) 27/27 100 Y Y 24th LEGISLATIVE district COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 12th DIST. Chris Nybo (R) 10th congressional district John Fritchey (D) Y Suzanne Glowiak (D) Y Y Y Robert Dold (R) Brad Schneider (D) 100 Y COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 13th DIST. 30th LEGISLATIVE district Larry Suffredin (D) Y Y Don Wilson (R) 11th congressional district Terry Link (D) Y Y Y Darlene Senger (R) COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 15th DIST. Bill Foster (D) 25/27 92 Y Timothy O. Schneider (R) 36th LEGISLATIVE district Michael A. Urban (D) Neil Anderson (R) 12th congressional district Mike Jacobs (D) Y Y (R) COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 16th DIST. William L. “Bill” Enyart (D) 84 Jeffrey R. Tobolski (D) Y Y 39th LEGISLATIVE district Paula Bradshaw (G) Don Harmon (D) Y Y Y Y COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD - 17th DIST. 13th congressional district Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman (R) 42nd LEGISLATIVE district Rodney Davis (R) 0 Jim Hickey (D) Linda Holmes (D) Y Y Ann E. Callis (D) Y Y COMMISSIONER, COOK CO. BOARD of review, 3rd 45th LEGISLATIVE district 14th congressional district Larry Rogers, Jr. (D) Y Y Tim Bivins (R) Randy M. Hultgren (R) 0 Dennis Anderson (D) Y Y METROPOLITAN water reclamation district 48th LEGISLATIVE district Cynthia M. Santos (D) Linda Little (R) 15th congressional district Frank Avila (D) Y Andy Manar (D) Y John M. Shimkus (R) 0 Timothy “Tim” Bradford (D) Y Y Eric Thorsland (D) 23/27 James “Jim” Parrilli (R) 57th LEGISLATIVE district (R) Katherine Ruocco (R) 16th congressional district R. Cary Capparelli (R) James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D) Y Y (R) 0 Karen Roothaan (G) Randall Wayne Olsen (D) 22/27 George Milkowski (G) Michael Smith (G) WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 11 ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RACES WCT IVI PPAC EQIL PP CAI WCT IVI PPAC EQIL PP CAI WCT = Candidates were asked about LGBT-specific issues, as well as 26th representative DISTRICT 59th representative DISTRICT issues ranging from raising the minimum wage to the environmental Jacob “Koby” Hakalir (R) Leslie Munger (R) topic of fracking. Christian L. Mitchell (D) 23/23 Y Y Y Carol Sente (D) Y Y IVI = Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization PPAC = Personal PAC 27th representative DISTRICT 60TH representative DISTRICT EQIL = Equality Illinois PAC Monique D. Davis (D) Y Y Rita Mayfield (D) Y PP = Planned Parenthood Keith Turner (I) CAI = Citizen Action/Illinois Policy Council 28th representative DISTRICT Robert “Bob” Rita (D) Y Y 61ST representative DISTRICT WCT IVI PPAC EQIL PP CAI Sheri Jesiel (R) 1st representative DISTRICT 29th representative DISTRICT Loren Karner (D) Y Y Daniel J. Burke (D) Y Y Y Thaddeus Jones (D) Y Y 62nd representative DISTRICT 2nd representative DISTRICT 30th representative DISTRICT Rod Drobinski (R) Edward J. Acevedo (D) Y Y William “Will” Davis (D) Y Y Y Sam Yingling (D) Y Y Y

3rd representative DISTRICT 32nd representative DISTRICT 63rd representative DISTRICT Luis Arroyo (D) Y Y André Thapedi (D) Steven Reick (R) Jack D. Franks (D) Y 4th representative DISTRICT 33rd representative DISTRICT Cynthia Soto (D) Y Y Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D) Y Y 64th representative DISTRICT Barbara Wheeler (R) 5th representative DISTRICT 34th representative DISTRICT Joel Mains (D) 21/23 Collin Johnson (R) Mark Ekhoff (R) Kenneth “Ken” Dunkin (D) Y Y Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D) Y Y 67th representative DISTRICT Litesa E. Wallace (D) Y 6th representative DISTRICT 35th representative DISTRICT Esther Golar (D) Y Victor C. Horne (R) 71st representative DISTRICT Frances Ann Hurley (D) Y Y Jim Wozniak (R) 7th representative DISTRICT Mike Smiddy (D) Y Y Y Y Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D) Y Y 36th representative DISTRICT Kelly M. Burke (D) 72nd representative DISTRICT 8th representative DISTRICT Patrick Verschoore (D) Y La Shawn K. Ford (D) 37th representative DISTRICT Margo McDermed (R) 75th representative DISTRICT 9th representative DISTRICT Nichole Serbin (D) Y Y Y John D. Anthony (R) Arthur Turner (D) Y Y Martha J. Shugart (D) Y 38th representative DISTRICT 10th representative DISTRICT Anthony Granata (R) 77th representative DISTRICT Mark Calonder (R) Al Riley (D) Y Y Y Y Kathleen Willis (D) Y Y Pamela Reaves-Harris (D) 22/23 Y Y 39th representative DISTRICT 78th representative DISTRICT 11th representative DISTRICT Will Guzzardi (D) 22/23 Y Y Y Camille Lilly (D) Y Y Ann M. Williams (D) Y Y Y 40th representative DISTRICT 79th representative DISTRICT 12th representative DISTRICT Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. (D) Y Y Glenn Nixon (R) 19/23 Sara Feigenholtz (D) Y Y Katherine “Kate” Cloonen (D) 41ST representative DISTRICT 13th representative DISTRICT Grant Wehrli (R) 80th representative DISTRICT Gregory Harris (D) 23/23 Y Y Y Ed Agustin (D) Y Anthony DeLuca (D) Y Y Y

14th representative DISTRICT 43rd representative DISTRICT 81st representative DISTRICT Denis Detzel (R) Jeffrey A. Meyer (R) Ron Sandack (R) Kelly M. Cassidy (D) 23/23 Y Y Y Y Anna Moeller (D) Y Y Y Elizabeth “Liz” Chaplin (D) Y

15th representative DISTRICT 44th representative DISTRICT 83RD representative DISTRICT Gregory A. Bedell (R) Ramiro Juarez (R) Linda Chapa LaVia (D) John C. D’Amico (D) Y Fred Crespo (D) Y Y 84th representative DISTRICT 16th representative DISTRICT 45th representative DISTRICT Krishna Bansal (R) Lou Lang (D) Y Y Christine Jennifer Winger (R) Stephanie A. Kifowit (D) Y Y Jenny M. Burke (D) Y Y 17th representative DISTRICT 85th representative DISTRICT Kathleen Myalls (R) 46th representative DISTRICT Emily McAsey (D) Y Y Laura Fine (D) Y Y Y Heidi Holan (R) Deb Conroy (D) Y Y Y 86th representative DISTRICT 18th representative DISTRICT Diane Harris (R) Robyn Gabel (D) Y Y 50th representative DISTRICT Lawrence “Larry” Walsh, Jr. (D) Y Keith R. Wheeler (R) 19th representative DISTRICT Valerie L. Burd (D) Y Y 92nd representative DISTRICT Robert Martwick (D) Y Y Jehan Gordon-Booth (D) Y Y 51st representative DISTRICT 20th representative DISTRICT Ed Sullivan, Jr. (R) 97th representative DISTRICT Michael P. McAuliffe (R) Mark Batinick (R) Mo Khan (D) 22/23 Y Y Y Y 52nd representative DISTRICT Moira K. Dunn (D) Y Y David McSweeney (R) 21st representative DISTRICT Bill Downs (D) Y 98th representative DISTRICT Silvana Tabares (D) Y Y Yvonne Bolton (R) 55th representative DISTRICT Natalie A. Manley (D) Y Y 22nd representative DISTRICT Mel Thillens (R) Michael J. Madigan (D) Martin J. Moylan (D) Y Y 103rd representative DISTRICT Kristin Williamson (R) 23rd representative DISTRICT 56th representative DISTRICT Carol Ammons (D) Y Y Y Y Michael J. Zalewski (D) Y Y Jim Moynihan (R) Michelle Mussman (D) Y Y 113th representative DISTRICT 24th representative DISTRICT Melinda Hult (R) Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez (D) Y Y 57th representative DISTRICT Jay Hoffman (D) Y Bill Grossi (R) 25th representative DISTRICT Elaine Nekritz (D) Y Y Y 114th representative DISTRICT Barbara Flynn Currie (D) Y Y Eddie Lee Jackson (D) Y Y 58th representative DISTRICT Mark Neerhof (R) Scott Drury (D) Y Y 12 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES

WCT PPAC IVI cAI cBA ccl ccBA DSL ISBA LAGBAC wBAI Cook Circuit Court JUDICIAL EVALUATIONS (Neville vacancy) William B. Raines (D) 9/9 Y Q Q R R Q R R Windy City Times does not endorse candidates. WBAI – Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Cook Circuit Court Rather, we list their answers to our questionnaire (Reyes vacancy) as well as the ratings of legal organizations so that Diana Rosario (D) Y Y Q NQ NR NQ R readers can make informed choices when they vote. Key to Ratings: Cook Circuit Court Q – Qualified (Hill Veal vacancy) Key to Organizations: NQ – Not Qualified Andrea Michelle Buford (D) 8/9 Y Y Q Q HR HR Q R R WCT – Windy City Times questions, number listed is WQ – Well Qualified Cook Circuit Court-2nd Sub of the total questions correct for that race HQ - Highly Qualified (O’Neal vacancy) PPAC – Personal PAC HR - Highly Recommended Steven G. Watkins (D) Q Q R R Q NE NR Cook Circuit Court-3rd Sub IVI - Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent R - Recommended (Donnelly vacancy) Precinct Organization NR - Not Recommended Terrence J. McGuire (D) Q NQ R R Q R CAI – Citizen Action/Illinois Policy Council NE - Not Evaluated Cook Circuit Court-4th Sub CBA – Chicago Bar Association (D) = Democrat (Billik vacancy) CCL – Chicago Council of Lawyers (R) = Republican Ian Brenson (R) Q CCBA – Cook County Bar Association John J. Mahoney (D) Y HQ WQ HR HQ R R DSL – Decalogue Society of Lawyers Cook Circuit Court-4th Sub ISBA – Illinois State Bar Association (Mulhern vacancy) LAGBAC – Lesbian and Association of Chicago John Michael Allegretti (D) Q Q R R Q R R Cook Circuit Court-7th Sub (Hardy-Campbell vacancy) WCT PPAC IVI cAI cBA ccl ccBA DSL ISBA LAGBAC WBAI Robert D. Kuzas (D) Q Q R R Q HR Cook Circuit Court-7th Sub App. Ct-1st Dist. (Taylor vacancy) (Gordon vacancy) Judy Rice (D) 8/9 Y Y NR Q R R Q R R Shelly A. Harris (D) 8/9 Q Q R R Q R R Cook Circuit Court-9th Sub App. Ct-1st Dist. (Goldberg vacancy) (Murphy vacancy) Megan Elizabeth Goldish (D) 9/9 HQ Q R R Q HR R David Ellis (D) Q Q R R Q R R Cook Circuit Court-9th Sub App. Ct-1st Dist. (Meyer vacancy) (Steele vacancy) Anjana Hansen (D) 7/9 Y Q Q R R Q R R John B. Simon (D) 7/9 Y Y Y HQ WQ R HR HQ HR Cook Circuit Court-9th Sub Cook Circuit Court (Preston vacancy) (Arnold vacancy) Abbey Fishman Romanek (D) 8/9 Y Q Q R R Q R R Bridget Anne Mitchell (D) 8/9 Y Y Q Q R R Q R R Cook Circuit Court-10th Sub Cook Circuit Court (‘A’ vacancy) (Burke vacancy) Anthony C. “Tony” Kyriakopoulos (D) HQ Q R R Q R R Maritza Martinez (D) NR Q R R Q R R Cook Circuit Court-11th Sub Cook Circuit Court (‘A’ vacancy) (Connors vacancy) Pamela McLean Meyerson (D) 7/9 Q Q R HR Q HR R Kristal Rivers (D) Y Y Y Q NQ R NR Q R R Cook Circuit Court-12th Sub Cook Circuit Court (Jordan vacancy) (Egan vacancy) James Paul Pieczonka (R) NR NQ NR NR NQ NR NR Daniel J. Kubasiak (D) Q Q R HR HQ R James L. Kaplan (D) Y Q Q R R Q R R Cook Circuit Court Cook Circuit Court-13th Sub (Felton vacancy) (Iosco vacancy) Patricia O’Brien Sheahan (D) Q Q R R NQ R R John Curry (R) Q Q HR Q R R Cook Circuit Court Cook Circuit Court-15th Sub (Howse vacancy) (Doody vacancy) Caroline Kate Moreland (D) Q Q R HR Q R R Patrick Kevin Coughlin (D) 8/9 Y HQ Q R R Q R R Cook Circuit Court Cook Circuit Court-15th Sub (Lowrance vacancy) (Sterba vacancy) Thomas J. Carroll (D) Q Q R R Q R R Chris Lawler (D) Q Q R HR Q R R Cook Circuit Court Wabash Co.-2nd Judicial Court (McDonald vacancy) (Sawyer vacancy) Cynthia Y. Cobbs (D) Y Y Q Q HR R Q R R William C. Hudson (R) Cassandra A. Goldman (D) Y WINDY CITY 2014 general TIMES election Voting charts guide Endorsements and ratings to help you make the best decisions at the polls Oct. 22 & 29 Candidate interviews We speak directly with candidates about issues important to you Our special “Guide To the Gays” A special focus on all of the out candidates across all primary races See more online at www.WindyCityTimes.com WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 13 ELECTIONS 2014 The skinny: Rice is senior vice president and —Bill Downs Jr. head of community affairs & economic devel- Race: Illinois state Representative (52nd opment for Harris Bank. After receiving her law District) degree in 1988, Rice began her legal career as Website: BillDownsJr.com Guide to the gays an assistant Cook County state’s attorney. She The skinny: Downs, 46, has resided in Cary, then began her 17-year-long career with the Illinois, for more than two decades. He works in City of Chicago, initially as assistant corpora- the IT (information technology) division for a The next primary elections, to be held Nov. 4, tion counsel. manufacturing company and is running against 2014, feature a number of openly gay and les- Republican incumbent David McSweeney. bian candidates. The following individuals have publically stated that they were a member of the LGBT community and were on the ballot as ing to promote STI testing to YWC and YTWC of Oct. 20. LOCAL NEWS ages 12-24 who are highly vulnerable to STI transmission. —Kelly Cassidy AFC announces Contact Edward Wagner at 312-334-0922 Race: Illinois state Representative (14th Dis- new community or [email protected]. trict) Website: CitizensForKellyCassidy.com partnership The skinny: Cassidy, who defeated another The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has Illinois fiscal-crisis lesbian candidate, Paula Basta, in March 2014, announced a new community partnership is this time running unopposed in the Demo- funded as a part of the United States Centers panel Oct. 23 at cratic primary. Republican candidate Denis Det- for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) zel, a consultant, is her district. Before taking community program Community Approaches Loyola “It’s Your Money: Illinois Election 2014 office, Cassidy was an activist and a staffer for to Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Fiscal Crisis in Illinois” is the focus of a state Sen. John Cullerton. (CARS). This partnership is with the Chicago De- panel discussion Thursday, Oct. 23, 4-6 p.m. at Loyola University’s Lake Shore Campus. —Sam Yingling partment of Public Health (CDPH), Chicago The Gannon Center for Women and Leader- Race: Illinois state Representative (62nd Public Schools (CPS), Ann & Robert H. Lurie ship and The Chicago Network will host the District) Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Planned program. Website: SamYingling.com Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL). The conversation will be moderated by The skinny: Yingling, running unopposed in Together, these partners will launch “Proj- Tracy Baim, publisher of Windy City Times. the primary for his second term, is a native of ect Elevate,” an innovative sexually trans- The panelists are G. Dennis Conroy of Met- central Lake County and lives in Round Lake mitted infections (STI) prevention and treat- ropolitan Family Services, Katie Drews of Beach. He is the first openly gay House mem- Illinois state Rep. Sam Yingling. Photo ment campaign created by and for young the Better Government Association, Greg ber from outside metropolitan Chicago. The courtesy of Yingling women of color (YWC) and young transgen- der women of color (YTWC) in Chicago that Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business and Twyla night after SB10 passed, Yingling proposed to marriage equality in Illinois beginning in June, encourages young women to take control of Blackmond Larnell from the political science his longtime partner, Lowell Jaffe, at a party in 2014, has a district that includes Uptown, Ra- their health. department of Loyola University Chicago. the executive mansion. Republican Rod Drobin- venswood, Lincoln Square, North Center and The three-year CARS project will support Longtime Chicago gay playwright and ac- ski of Wauconda is Yingling’s opponent. Bowmanville. He was first elected in 2006 and the planning, implementation and evalua- tivist Nick Patricca is one of the organizers is currently running unopposed, ensuring his of the event. —Greg Harris tion of innovative, interdisciplinary inter- re-election. See LUC.edu/gannon. The panel is in Mc- Race: Illinois state Representative (13th Dis- ventions to reduce STD disparities, decrease barriers and stigma, promote sexual health Cormick Lounge, on Loyola’s Lake Shore trict) —Judy Rice and advance community wellness. campus at 1000 W. Sheridan Rd. See http:// Website: GregHarris.org Race: Cook County Circuit Court Judge (7th “Project Elevate” is a community mobiliza- www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/webteam/pdfs/ The skinny: Harris, who was chief co-sponsor Subcircuit, W. Taylor vacancy) tion initiative that will utilize social market- lsc.pdf. of SB10, the legislation that will bring about Website: www.judyriceforjudge.com

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Some sessions lasted as long as three to requests for comment on the situation. hours, but Evans said the meetings never inter- But Newbury wrote to Center on Halsted CEO fered with the center’s other planned uses for Modesto “Tico” Valle about the matter. Valle re- Center on Halsted their meeting space. sponded to Newbury’s inquiry with a letter that Finally, Center on Halsted officials mentioned outlined changes the center was implementing. By Matt Simonette concerns about “liability,” Evans said, but “Over the summer the Behavioral Health De- never addressed what those specific concerns partment at the center has refined the SOGI A men’s discussion group that had long met at were. He speculated they were related to the ( and Gender Institute) Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., says it center’s intake process. training program,” Valle wrote. “This program was unfairly evicted from the community cen- “After the center would publish information is designed to give new professionals hands- ter because of what the center called “align- informing the public the 10-week group was on training to become LGBTQ competent cli- ment issues” with the facility’s other mental- open to new referrals, individuals interested in nicians. We have changed our practice for health programming. joining would usually go through the center’s hosting non-staff run clinical groups. We now The group, known as “Middle Men,” was intake process before attending a group meet- provide opportunities for interns to be part of geared at gay men who are middle-aged or old- ing,” he noted. “However, from time to time facilitating groups.” er, and had been meeting at the center since walk-in referrals would join and I didn’t make Valle continued by outlining three key chang- January 2012, according to its facilitator, Mar- an issue of it, especially after making my own es: groups would be offered in cycles, with a vin Evans, LCPC, who volunteered his services. assessment of a potential member’s appropri- beginning, middle and end; sessions would last Middle Men was a support group addressing ateness for the group. I knew this to be an 90 minutes or less; and groups would be led by “existential issues” facing gay males. issue for the center; I did mention it to the co-facilitators. But Evans was informed by the center offi- group but did not push members to be sub- According to Valle, “These adjustments al- cials in August that the group would have to be jected to an intake process that was after the low for a standardized training experience for out of the facility by the end of September. He fact, for all intent and purposes. all trainees. Additionally, a clear and consis- was befuddled by the decision, as Middle Men “There is an element of legitimacy to their tent model helps when communicating our was well-attended, with each member paying concern. As a professional, I recognize this. standards and practices to clients and funding about about $15 a session. Evans also said that However, it is not enough, in my opinion, to sources.” he was recognized as the center’s “Volunteer of warrant terminating the group,” Evans added. Valle invited Newbury and other members the Year” in 2013. Once the discord between Evans and the to “join a new group that will be offered in “I was given total autonomy,” Evans said. center began, he said officials demonstrated the very near future.” He further stressed that “My only thing was, I had to keep open enroll- Center on Halsted CEO Modesto “Tico” Valle. “passive-aggressive behavior” towards the the center contractual and volunteer therapists ment every 10 weeks.” Photo by Kate Sosin group. For example, an unknown woman at one would take part in trainings and discussions He initially approached Claudia Mosier, the point entered the room during a session and that “provide support to clinicians and ensure center’s former director of mental health and Evans and other group members also object- began looking around, without acknowledging Behavioral Health programming is delivered in youth services, about his idea for the group. At ed when the center wanted an intern to be able their presence. “There was clearly something a consistent manner that supports the LGBTQ the time, Evans added, “There was no specific to sit in on sessions. Members felt that would wrong,” he said. community.” therapy milieu for men in our age cohort.” be an invasion of privacy. Member Rick Newbury said that the ongo- The Middle Men are for now meeting in a lo- Mosier was an enthusiastic proponent of the One such member, Ed (who did not want his ing problems with the center contributed to a cal church while they look for a permanent lo- idea. “I thought it was an excellent idea for last name used), said, “By that time, we had sense of unease amongst members. cation, a solution that has made some of them a group,” she said. “It was a safe space for been functioning so well. This group was vital “The men in our group are from the Gen X unhappy. discussion, and Marvin’s clinical insights were to me. The hours, my investment of time and and [baby] boomer age groups,” he said. “Many Newbury said, “For some of our men, a church excellent.” cash—this was my time. I did not want it in- of us spent years in the closet. I know there is not the most comfortable space.” Evans said that the group ran smoothly until terfered with.” are ethical standards, but the cardinal rule of Ed called the situation “tragic,” adding, “I Mosier left the center. “Under her administra- “They were changing the operational model,” counseling is ‘do no harm,’ and we felt bullied.” don’t know what my future relationship with tion the group was congratulated and com- said Evans. “They were becoming invested in Evans had a “heated and contentious” meet- the Center is going to be.” mended. That all changed once this adminis- training interns, and it wasn’t appropriate for a tration came on board.” group with an established history.” The group’s problem began when Director of He nevertheless polled the group on the mat- Man’s Country to Intimate partner Community Behavioral Services William Far- ter, saying, “I questioned the necessity and in- rand and Director of Behavioral Health Training trusiveness, but we decided that we would be add leather violence report out Crystal Kannankeril took over, he noted. “[The open to a male intern in our age cohort.” Evans The National Coalition of Anti-Violence center] became a lot more involved in the run- took that suggested compromise to the center emporium Programs (NCAVP) has released the report ning and the maintenance of the group. Bill officials, but nothing more was ever said about By Matt Simonette “Intimate Partner Violence in Lesbian, Gay, wanted to sit in and observe the running of the the matter. Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ), and group. I was not open to anyone coming in to Another problem the center expressed con- Man’s Country, 5017 N. Clark St., has begun HIV-Affected Communities in the United observe and supervise. It was not conducive to cern over was the running time of the Middle construction on a leather emporium, accord- States in 2013.” maintaining the cohesion of the group.” Men sessions, which were scheduled to be 90 ing to its owner. NCAVP’s 2013 report documents 21 homi- Online reports Oct. 14 suggested that the cides—the highest number of LGBTQ inti- establishment, the longest-standing bath- mate partner violence (IPV) homicides re- house and sex club in Chicago, might have corded and on par with the 21 homicides in closed, after passersby spotted the win- 2012. dows boarded and construction materials in Among some of the other findings: place. But Ron Ehemann, attorney to Chuck —In 2013, NCAVP programs received 2,697 Renslow, Man’s Country’s owner, says it is reports of intimate partner violence, an in- still open. crease of 0.67 percent from 2012. “We’re open for business as usual,” said —The majority of homicide victims were Ehemann. “Any of our members can come gay men (76.19 percent), while cisgender in and get any of the services that they are lesbian women accounted for 19.05 percent used to getting.” of victims. One of the victims was a Black The club had not been expecting to an- transgender woman. nounce the emporium just yet, but Renslow —People of color made up the majority of changed his mind once word had gotten out total survivors (50.2 percent), which repre- the Man’s Country may have closed, accord- sents a decrease from 2012, when people ing to Ehemann, who added that no opening of color accounted for 62.1 percent of sur- date for the retail space had been set. vivors. White survivors accounted for 49.0 Uptown Update initially reported Oct. 14 percent of survivors, a large increase from that the space might be closed and noted 35.5 percent in 2012. that the Man’s Country website was down. —Transgender survivors were more likely The post was finally removed. to face physical violence and discrimination Opened in 1973 and laid out over three due to IPV, and more likely to experience IPV floors, Man’s Country features a video room, in public spaces. showroom and private rooms for members. Illinois members of the NCAVP include Chi- Visitors pay a $10 lifetime membership, then cago’s Center on Halsted Anti-Violence Proj- individual entrance fees for each visit. ect and the Illinois Accountability Initiative. The full report is at www.ncavp.org. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 15 Justin Romme has been living a wild roller-coaster ride over the past few years, professionally speaking. He helped managing partner David Sikora open ProgressBar in the Chicago, and while still in the construction phase, they were GAY already in negotiations with the then-owners of Hunter’s Nightclub in Elk Grove Village to purchase that property. LIFE A few months after Progress opened in Chicago, they closed on Justin Romme the property in Elk Grove Village. After a quick flip, it opened as Phoenix Bar & Nightclub in October 2013. TEXT BY ROSS FORMAN This past March, the owner of all three locations, Robert PHOTOS FROM ROMME Brumbaugh, tapped Romme to open the location in Wilton Manors, Florida. ProgressBar South Florida is opening this summer. “With each new location comes a new learning experience and an Age amazing journey,” said Romme, who previously worked for Hilton 34 Hotels. Neighborhood His career highlight, he said, “is what I’m doing right now.” Uptown Plus, he can drink for free, he said with a smile. “I love the social interaction with new and interesting people Hobbies everyday,” Romme said. “I love building things with my hands, mainly woodworking. I The worst part of his job is recently built myself an upholstered simple: having to fire someone. headboard; it’s fancy.” And you can bet there have Relationship status been plenty of fun times, many “It’s complicated.” that can’t—or shouldn’t—be Job title printed in a family publication. Director of operations for ProgressBar Romme said he has (ProgressBar South Florida, limited free time, but isn’t ProgressBar Chicago, and Phoenix complaining. “I love what I Bar & Nightclub in Elk Grove Village) do, so, it doesn’t feel much like work to me,” he said. “If Favorite TV show I can slip away, I like a nice Boardwalk Empire or House of Cards dinner out, a quiet night on Favorite movie the couch, anywhere warm “I’ve seen Shawshank Redemption with a beach.” more times than I’d like to admit.” Long-term goal “I’d like to settle down with someone someday and retire early.” Little-known fact “I have a twin brother named Marty; he’s straight.”

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group of its viewership bruised. Nashville, Tennessee, “intended” to make jokes TIMES REV. But the second episode, titled “The Talk,” about LGBTQ people that were instead insult- VOL. 30, No. 4, Oct. 22, 2014 was not only a disappointing discussion be- ing jabs: The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, IRENE tween father and son about sexual desire and “Gays need to quit being pussies and not be founded May 1987. MONROE reproduction, but also about manhood. “Just whining about something as insignificant as a comfortable man with no shirt on talking to bullying. PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR his son about nasty stuff!,” Dre told his son, “Gay is something that kids learn from the Tracy Baim beginning a silly ritual of taking off their shirts media and programming. ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky before talking about sex. “I don’t “f*cking care if I piss off some gays, MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis Is being ‘Black-ish’ While uptightness and awkwardness are stan- because if they can take a f*cking dick up their BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine dard shtick when it comes to sex talk, implicit ass ... they can take a f*cking joke.” DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright also being and explicit homophobia is not. In Dre’s insis- Morgan publicly expressed his mea culpas to ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson SENIOR REPORTER Matt Simonette tence that he and his son do “manly” things the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Senior Account Executives Terri Klinsky, ‘homophobic-ish?’ like lifting weights and shooting hoops, Pop’s (GLAAD) as part and parcel of his forgiveness Kirk Williamson, Amy Matheny, Chris Cheuvront, statement as Dre’s stretches—“it looks a little tour. Gretchen Blickensderfer The second episode of ABC’s promising new gay”—is a reprimand to his son. Pop is stating But Morgan—like many of us who have grown PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT Scott Duff comedy Black-ish left its LGBTQ viewership NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 that not only is the act unmanly, but it also up in communities of African descent, here and “black and blue.” SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, David Byrne, Tony suggests a physical weakness or lameness in abroad—cannot escape the cultural, personal, Peregrin, Lisa Keen, Yasmin Nair “It looks a little gay,” Pop (the grandfather having to do so. interpersonal and institutional indoctrinations THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan played by Laurence Fishburne) casually told “I had thought, stupidly, television was done in which homophobia is constructed in our very CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight Jr. his son Dre—short for Andre—while he was BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair with this lazy, insulting phrase—of something makeup of being defined as Black. stretching to prepare for his talk with his son SPORTS WRITER Ross Forman being ‘gay,’ of an action being seen as ‘gay,’ of And the community’s expression of its intol- ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS about the “birds and the bees.” people being told not to be so ‘gay.’ I remem- erance of LGBTQ people is easily seen along Mary Shen Barnidge, Steve Warren, Lawrence “It looks a little gay. The act of stretching. ber its defenders claiming it didn’t mean ‘gay’ gender lines. For example, sisters mouth off Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Jerry Nunn, Jonathan Really? I guess a man doing yoga would be the Abarbanel when they said it, just, y’know, ‘lame,’” Teeman about us while brothers get both—verbally and sign he’d become the long-lost cousin of Lib- COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Jorjet wrote. physically—violent with us. Harper, Meghan Streit, Charlsie Dewey, Carrie erace,” Tim Teeman of wrote in But Teeman’s outcry isn’t ginning up a public My son “better talk to me like a man and not Maxwell, Billy Masters, Sarah Toce, Dana Rudolph, “Why ‘Black-ish’ Has a Gay Problem.” outrage usually seen for homophobic remarks in a gay voice or I’ll pull out a knife and stab Sally Parsons, Melissa Wasserman, Joe Franco, Nick Black-ish is a sitcom about an African-Amer- Patricca, Liz Baudler, Rex Wockner, Marie J. Kuda, by well-known actors, but rather we’re seeing that little [n-word] to death,” Morgan told his ican upper-class Los Angeles family that orbits Kate Sosin, Angelique Smith an overwhelming quiet acceptance and ratio- audience at the Ryman Auditorium. SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Mel Ferrand, Hal Baim, in a predominately white milieu. The patriarch nalization for Pop’s homophobic on-liner. Morgan’s homophobic rant about LGBTQ peo- Emmanuel Garcia, Tim Carroll, Ed Negron, Susan (played by actor and comedian Anthony Ander- “The truth of the matter is that the dialogue ple is about the tightly constructed hypermas- Mattes son) worries that his brood is losing sight of its is honest. Especially so in African-American culinity of Black manhood, that Dre is strug- CIRCULATION rich Black cultural heritage. CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright homes, there is an outdated sense of manhood, gling with in a white environment and so, too, In the first episode, we saw the warring ten- DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Renee, “ Danyale Robert wrote on The Daily Beast is Pop. sion between individuality and cultural iden- Sue and Victor blog. Some critics have suggested calling Fish- WEB HOSTING: LoveYourWebsite.com (lead tity when Dre’s eldest son Andre Jr. (played by And Robert’s right. burne out for the homophobic one-liner in the programmer: Martie Marro) Marcus Scribner) insists on going by “Andy” at I will continue to argue that the African- show. Others in defense of Fishburne make the school in an effort to fit in with his peers. He American community doesn’t have patent on distinction between Fishburne the man and Copyright 2014 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media also announces to the family that for his up- homophobia. It does, however, have a problem Fishburne as Pop. Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back coming thirteenth birthday he wants to con- issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). with how male sexual orientation and gender As ABC correctly brings more diversity to its Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, vert to Judaism—in order to have a bar mitz- expression relates to the defining of Black mas- viewership, it must not do so at the expense of and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and vah like his friends. no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. culinity. others. The race card should not trump LGBTQ While the first episode gently poked fun at All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy In 2011 our beloved Tracy Morgan, comedian tolerance. City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned implicit acts of racism and unconscious acts of for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing and actor on NBC’s “30 Rock,” during a stand- assimilation it didn’t leave any demographic and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, up performance at the Ryman Auditorium in cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization. While LETTERS we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept responsibility for advertising claims. Quinn is in enough. I believe that many LGBTQ persons are in classroom spending that will help residents (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 beyond the marriage and anti-bully legislative educate their children. And the doubling of e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] As an openly gay African-American Illinoisan victories, and are deeply concerned about their amounts given to low-income Illinoisans mon- gubernatorial candidate’s public policy posi- etary assistance program (MAP) grants helps who continues to actively participates in pub- www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com lic-policy advocacy, I was encouraged to read tions on health care, jobs, pension reform, af- Illinoisans. In addition, the increased Medic- podcast: WindyCityQueercast.com the recent article entitled “Equality Illinois PAC fordable housing, education, attempted LGBTQ aid proposal will help Illinoisans. What they all endorses Quinn.” I’d like to congratulate Equal- conversation therapy and criminal-justice is- have in common is that they help LGBT indi- WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, Illinois 60640 ity Illinois PAC on its organizational endorse- sues and many more public policies that affect viduals as well. their daily lives. Finally, I believe it’s important to be mind- U.S.A ment of the re-election efforts of the guberna- (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) torial incumbent, Pat Quinn. I believe that LGBTQ Illinoisans need and ful of the broader diversity of definitions that By the way, because Equality Illinois was should expect any organization that purport exist concerning “issues important to LGBT Il- Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. founded in 1991 as the Illinois Federation for to secure, protect and defend the basic civil linoisans and their families,” especially when rights of LGBT Illinoisans’ “issues” to pub- a pro-LGBTQ organization purports to secure, OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE Human Rights, it believes in “issues important www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com to LGBT Illinoisans and their families,” as cur- licly acknowledge the diversity of progressive protect and defend the basic civil rights of www.WindyCityQueercast.com rent CEO Bernard Cherkasov stated. I believe public-policy positions taken by the incumbent those individuals. it’s important to remind some and educate oth- governor—especially since the organization “Windy City Media Group generated ers about the broader diversity of definitions publicly endorses the incumbent! Michael O’Connor enormous interest among their readers that exist within the LGBTQ communities con- That especially applies to those policies Chicago in this year’s LGBT Consumer Index cerning those issues. concerning health care, jobs, pension reform, Survey. Out of approximately 100 Now, I am writing this letter because, af- affordable housing, education and criminal- print and online media partners who ter reviewing the article, I was left with the justice issues. I believe that LGBTQ Illinoisans participated in the survey, Windy impression that “marriage equality” was the are very interested and want and need to know Send letters to City was the best performing regional major reason Quinn received Equality Illinois the public-policy positions of anyone their be- media in the U.S. Only survey partners PAC’s support. According to the Windy City ing asked to support! Andrew@ with a nationwide footprint were able to generate a greater number of Times article, the organization stated, “Gov- With that being said, I support Quinn not responses.” ­­—David Marshall, Research ernor Quinn’s leading role in achieving first only because he signed the marriage-equality WindyCity Director, Community Marketing, Inc. civil unions and then marriages for same-sex legislation into law, but because he strength- MediaGroup.com. couples, his open and inclusive administration, ened and also signed into law the Equal Pay Act and his strong support for policies that protect in 2013. That law, helps thousands of women, Letters may be LGBT students from bullying and LGBT work- including lesbians, who are most likely not ers from discrimination make Gov. Quinn the to be paid an equal wage on their jobs even edited for choice of Equality Illinois PAC … [which is] though they’re doing the same work. Addition- backing up the endorsement with an aggres- ally, Quinn supports immigration rights that brevity or sive get-out-the vote effort.” helps undocumented Illinoisans, also helping Although I agree with the endorsement, undocumented LGBTQ individuals. clarity. I believe its political reasoning didn’t go far Equally important is the $6-billion increase WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 17 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Photo by Danny Nicholas

YOU ETTA BELIEVE IT The five Etta James surround Rueben D. Echoles, who plays Ms. Real, in the production At Last. See page 19. THEATER DISH MOVIES Days of ‘Rhine’ and roses. Umami issues. ‘Style’-conscious. Page 18 Page 26 Page 22 Photo from Watch on the Rhine Photo of Umami Burger’s onion rings Photo from Advanced Style by Tim Knight by Andrew Davis

SCOTTISH PLAY SCOTT Theatrical puzzle pieces

By SCOTT C. MORGAN equivalent of an Altman-style tracking shot. “Being who I am, I wanted to work all of Many composers and playwrights would be that in my play, so that was how the idea was aghast to see their songs or scripts rearranged generated and by trying to figure out how to willy-nilly by an artsy director who feels that do that, I said that I would like to try to write he or she knows better than the show’s original a play that has no assigned dialogue,” Stein- authors. hagen said. Lyricist Amanda Green experienced this exact The result was the drama Devil’s Day Off, situation earlier this year when she attended which is set in a major city suffering from a re- the Texas premiere of her 2013 Broadway musi- cord-breaking heatwave just as the power goes cal adaptation of the film documentary Hands out for 12 hours. Although Steinhagen wasn’t on a Hardbody at TUTS Underground in Hous- named as the ultimate winner of the competi- ton. When interviewed by playbill.com, Green tion, Devil’s Day Off was named as one of three said that director Bruce Lumpkin “basically finalists with a $1,000 prize. The play is now used the show as puzzle pieces to rearrange” making its world premiere at Chicago’s Signal without any permission from her or her musi- Ensemble Theatre where Steinhagen has been cal collaborators of playwright Doug Wright or an ensemble member since 2009. composer Trey Anastasio of Phish fame. “It’s written out like a script, but there are Understandably, the licensing company for no character names. I also wanted to leave out Devil’s Day Off. Photo by Johnny Knight the musical, Samuel French, shut down the stage action, description, setting, so really production. But about shows written so direc- when you look at the script you are getting tors can tinker and rearrange things to their scenes that have a title,” said Steinhagen, giv- could also be performed by two men or a man A sad loss heart’s content? ing a director and his or her production team and a woman—who knows?” Out actor and director Matthew Gunnels, 40, That became part of a challenge put to com- free reign to re-order scenes and cast the en- Steinhagen said that director Marra tried to passed away on Friday, Oct. 17. poser and playwright Jon Steinhagen when semble with as many or as few actors as they follow the original order of scenes in his script, Gunnels frequently directed productions he entered the 2013 Clubbed Thumb Biennial wish. but that he ended up shuffling things about in for Porchlight Music Theatre and Emerald City Commission. The inspiration for the playwriting At Signal, director Ronan Marra opted to put order to make things flow better for this par- Theatre Company, but LGBTQ audience might competition was the multi-character structure together a diverse cast of 13 for Devil’s Day ticular Signal production. And that’s just the best remember his work on campy pop cultural of Robert Altman’s epic 1975 film Nashville, Off, who then had to help decide where scenes way it should be with Devil’s Day Off. spoof shows for Hell in a Handbag Productions, and Clubbed Thumb suggested a set of play- were taking place and to develop the charac- “Depending upon how many people you like Pussy on the House (a gender-bending writing parameters as jumping off points. ters’ backgrounds and motivations. Since the have, your design, all this kind of stuff, you take off of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin “They explained that they weren’t looking for play is so open to interpretation, that allowed could have it running two places in the same Roof) which was produced in 2011—the same a cast of thousands or a two-and-a-half-hour LGBTQ characters to be included in the mix. night and not see the same show twice,” Stein- year that he was diagnosed with stage IV colon opus or dissection of country music, but they “There are universal fears and worries, which hagen said. cancer. were looking at the way that Altman’s movies are not so much about a particular sexual orien- Devil’s Day Off continues its world premiere “You meet a lot of different kinds of people move from the ridiculous to the heartbreak- tation or identity,” Steinhagen said. “We have run through Nov. 22 at Signal Ensemble The- in theater,” said friend and past collaborator ing,” Steinhagen said, adding that some of the all sorts of relationships. We have platonic, we atre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave. Performances are Steve Hickson via a posting. “Among parameters suggested having no one dominant have homosexuals, some are siblings—we have at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays with 3 the rarest type is someone talented, hard- racial or cultural group and that all the charac- all sorts, but that’s what I wanted to do with p.m. matinees on Sundays. Tickets are $23 and working, reliable AND a pleasure to work with. ters be affected by such things as temperature, the initial script which was to say that there is $15 for students and seniors. Call 773-698- Matthew Gunnels was one of those people.” ill-equipped light sources or the theatrical universality here. A scene between two women 7389 or visit signalensemble.com. 18 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES

THEATER REVIEW forced to break the law in order to thwart Teck’s self-serving scheme? Most important, Watch on the Rhine will his wife’s relatives help or hinder him in Playwright: Lillian Hellman his mission? At: The Artistic Home, 1376 W. Grand Ave. One can argue this premise’s analogies to Tickets: 866-811-4111; those of our involvement in foreign wars to- www.theartistichome.org; $28-$32 day—clearly-defined ideologies are easier to Runs through: Nov. 16 comprehend than blood feuds rooted in cen- turies-old tribal conflicts. Hellman’s scenario BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE does not lend itself to tidy debate, however. In defending the righteousness of his per- It’s easy for us Americans, safely barricaded sonal sacrifice in support of his beliefs, Kurt on two sides by the earth’s biggest oceans, to draws a careful distinction between the en- ignore the border disputes of countries shar- emy leaders and opportunists like Teck, who ing more closely-forged histories and real exploit social unrest for their own profit. estate. Ah, but what if those disturbances Sara, too, makes an eloquent case for global invaded our homes—indeed, our very fami- intervention—if for no reason other than to lies? Would you render their agents your as- alleviate the distress of children grown too- sistance? How much? And for how long? early accustomed to fear and flight. Gradu- Lillian Hellman’s 1941 play proposes a blue- ally, her kin vow to aid them, dif- blooded Virginia clan confronted by that ficulties it may bring. very question: Mrs. Fanny Farrally’s house Plays of this period rely more on dialogue guests are former-neighbor Marthe and Teck, than on visual imagery for their narratives, her titled Rumanian husband—the latter but the actors of the Artistic Home never now living in exile and low on finances. Then stumble during the lengthy speeches—fre- daughter Sara Mueller, née Farrally, returns quently didactic, but always articulate—that home with her German spouse, and it soon Hellman demands of them. Under Cody Estle’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Photo by Brandon Dahlquist becomes apparent that theirs is not a casual direction, a heavy-lifting acting ensemble visit. Kurt, you see, is wanted by the Nazis (featuring in the roles of the Mueller young- THEATER REVIEW such a vocally assured ensemble from main for his covert activities on behalf of citizens sters, a trio of pre-adolescent troupers with characters like Brian Acker as the dashing and waging a private war against Hitler’s oppres- resumés as impressive as those of the adults) Sweeney Todd: upstanding sailor Anthony and Edward J. Ma- sive policies—information Teck swiftly turns navigate their text with never a misstep, cLennan as the extremely tall and menacing to his own advantage, threatening to inform while the seasoned technical team deftly The Demon Barber Judge Turpin, right down to each hard-working his poker buddies in the German embassy transforms their West Town storefront into a chorus member. of the fugitive’s presence in their city. Will mid-Atlantic mansion teeming with museum- of Fleet Street Kurt succumb to blackmail, surrendering the Book: Hugh Wheeler; If there are complaints to be had, it’s notice- accurate ambience. money earmarked for his allies? Will he be Score: Stephen Sondheim able that some ensemble members’ first-night At: Porchlight Music Theatre at nerves had them miss some obvious vocal en- Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. trances and flub some lyrics. Also, Sondheim Tickets: 773-327-5252 or purists might bemoan Weber’s decision not to www.porchlightmusictheatre.org; $39-$45 include the optional cuts like the Judge’s flag- Runs through Nov. 9 ellation song and Pirelli’s tooth-pulling compe- tition. The Submission. BY SCOTT C. MORGAN But when it comes to providing genuine Photo by Rayme musical chills, Porchlight’s revival of Sweeney Silverberg Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s 1979 Todd certainly delivers a powerful wallop in a musical thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Bar- gloriously intimate production. It’s a must for ber of Fleet Street has proven itself to be a both newcomers to Sweeney Todd and those masterpiece that can hold any size stage. When fanatics (like myself) who know every lyric cast and designed well, Sweeney Todd can backward and forward. command both the grandest of opera houses and the tiniest of storefront theaters. Porchlight Music Theatre’s current revival of Sweeney Todd certainly makes the strongest of cases for intimate productions—especially CRITICS’ PICKS THEATER REVIEW actress of appropriate gender and ethnicity to since it is so impeccably cast and designed. pose as its author. And if you happened to catch Porchlight’s pre- All My Sons, Raven Theatre, through The Submission This premise could provide the foundation for vious Jeff Award-winning production in the Nov. 15. All-out war is good for the war- Playwright: Jeff Talbott a mistaken-identity farce—did I mention Dan- same Stage 773 space a decade ago, rest as- ring country’s economy, but Arthur Miller’s At: Pride Films and Plays at the ny’s boyfriend (who despairs of understanding sured that director Michael Weber and music tragedy warns against fortunes founded Apollo Studio, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. the artistic temperament) or his het school director Doug Peck have thoroughly reimagined on misguided priorities, and Chuck Spen- Tickets: 773-935-6100; chum (who quickly falls for co-conspirator the piece with plenty of new surprises this time cer’s portrayal of the hero undone by his www.pridefilmsandplays.com; $25 Emilie)? It could also fuel a pointed satire on around. own greed ensures that we heed it. MSB Runs through: Nov. 25 fashions in “diversity” prevalent among pro- Take, for instance, the casting holdover of Jane Eyre, Lifeline Theatre, extended ducing committees. Instead, Talbott explores Rebecca Finnegan as the pie shop owner through Nov. 16. One of the most famous BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE the naivete that renders our wigger wordsmith Mrs. Lovett. Finnegan has certainly rethought orphans in western literature overcomes more comfortable with romanticized oppressed and grown into the role of the comic relief an abusive childhood to grow into an in- Writing under pseudonyms is hardly an un- minorities than with face-to-face interra- accomplice to the murderous title barber, trepid, independent heroine who rescues known practice—consider the literary career cial dynamics. As Emilie enjoys the accolades performed with such forceful and vocally as- her loved ones from their oppression— of Jane Martin, the detective stories of Ed rightfully belonging to the play’s actual sire, sured brooding by the hulking David Girolmo. and Lifeline has given us four extra weeks McBain, or Google a 1969 novel by Penelope Danny begins to show his color (to invoke a Finnegan’s prepared interjections during the to watch her do it. MSB Ashe called Naked Came the Stranger. Reputa- now-socially incorrect expression), his sense of competition with rival barber Pirelli (a flashy Season on the Line, The House Theatre ble artists may adopt noms de plumes for rea- entitlement growing increasingly arrogant for Kevin Webb) are a comic hoot, as are her many of Chicago, through Oct. 26. Captain Ahab sons involving contractual conflicts or simple being denied him. When Emilie calls him out off-center approaches to the well-known dia- is a meglomaniac theater director and mischief, but whatever the motive, sooner or on his egotism, the conflict escalates into an logue. Moby Dick is a white-suited critic in Shaun later, the perpetrators are found out, and after all-out shouting match riddled with every type Weber also defies expectations with his new Pfautsch’s highly creative transposition owning up to their deception, everyone shares of phobic accusations. approach to the mechanical barber chair, with from Melville novel to showbiz valentine. in the joke. Pride Films and Plays director Jude Hansen victims being treated more like slabs of meat It’s great fun, yet remarkably faithful in Unfortunately, the young scribbler in Jeff Tal- and his cast never allow Talbott’s salty dia- than in other productions. He also structures structure to the great U.S. original. JA bott’s comedy doesn’t know this. All he knows logue to obscure the fundamental blameless- the piece via thrilling flashback that includes a The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago, is that he’s composed what he is convinced is ness of individuals as shocked as we are at trip to the morgue. through Nov. 1. Director Brenda Didier a brilliant play titled Call A Spade, and recount- discovering flaws in their smug self-images. There is also an all-enveloping environmental delivers a pulsating and picture-perfect ing the struggle of an African-American family Nicholas Bailey and Ginneh Thomas are careful flavor in Jeffrey D. Kmiec’s Victorian set de- production of Michael John LaChuisa and seeking to escape poverty and prejudice. Oh, to keep Danny (even at his most petulant) and sign, which has audiences entering into the George C. Wolfe’s 2000 Broadway musical but Danny Larson is white, gay and Ivy League- Emilie (even at her most strident) from taking creepy theater space via Mrs. Lovett’s massive all about debauched 1920s performers fac- educated, his inspiration borne of a momentary on any irredeemably ugly traits—though our meat pie oven. Sound designer Jenna Moran ing up to some devestatingly unflattering epiphany on the subway. Fearing that these sympathies are more likely to rest with side- also deserves plenty of kudos for providing the truths about themselves. SCM factors will hinder his chances for success, kicks Peter and Trevor, played with welcome right sound balance to hear all of Sondheim’s he identifies the script’s creator as “Shaleeha patience and tolerance by Edward Fraim and tricky lyrics within this theater space that —By Abarbanel, Barnidge G’ntamobi” before offering it for production. Adam Pasen. Sometimes, we all have to, well, hasn’t been the friendliest to musical theater. and Morgan His deception is harmless enough—until the walk in somebody else’s shoes to feel the pinch Of course, it also helps that Weber has cast prestigious Humana Theater Festival accepts in our own. the play. Rather than come clean, he hires an WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 19 pense reconciliatory homilies like a therapy- Melanie McCullough’s sweaty “Just a Little Bit” group leader before revealing the secret of her to Candace C. Edwards’ gentle “Sunday Kind of identity and attire. Love” and Yahdina U-Deen’s assertive “Trust It’s not much of a plot, but a tribute, as the Yourself.” Anchoring the swift stylistic shifts five Ettas remind us, is not the same thing as are Arzula Maxine Gardner’s deep-contralto ren- a biography. The goal of this expanded version ditions of anthems like “Blues Is My Business.” of the original 2005 production is to present a There are also dueling-diva medleys—further portrait of the multifaceted talent whose place boosting the title count—along with counter- in the pantheon of American music is undisput- point-harmony chorales and full-cast dance ed. Since 26 songs are needed to even make a numbers. Adrian Byrd, Daniel Phillips and Mark. start on accomplishing this task, we need some J.P. Hood make brief appearances as assorted sort of structure to avoid the trap that so often men figuring in our heroine’s destiny, and even reduces revues to merely a string of vocals with Robert Reddrick’s band gets into the act before no context to lend them meaning. we’re done. All said, though, the night belongs There’s no danger of visual fatigue with a to the unflappable Ms. Real, who gets the best line-up as physically, sartorially and aurally lines and the most elegant wardrobe. diverse as the one assembled by Jackie Taylor for this revival, however, ranging from Alanna Taylor’s flirtatious “Dance With Me, Henry” and SPOTLIGHT

At Last: A Tribute to Etta James. Photo by Danny Nicholas

THEATER REVIEW ing three questions: 1) What are songs written Animal Farm, George Orwell’s famous al- by Bob Dylan, Glen Frey and Sammy Fain doing legorical novella that darkly explores an At Last: in the score of a show billed as a tribute to “ideal” society via barnyard animals, comes A Tribute to Etta James? 2) Why does the playbill list five to life again on stage in a world premiere singers (excluding understudies) in the title adaptation by Althos Low for Steppenwolf Etta James role? 3) Who’s that sassy chick with the flut- for Young Adults. Performances during the Playwright: Jackie Taylor tery hands and chirpy voice mincing around in week are for visiting schools, but perfor- At: Black Ensemble Theatre, mint-green chiffon and gold pumps? mances for the general public are available 4450 N. Clark St. The answers: 1) James sang many different on weekends. Animal Farm continues for Tickets: 773-769-4451; kinds of music over her 54-year career, 2) she general audiences through Nov. 9 at Step- www.blackensemble.org; $55-$65 reinvented herself so many times that after she penwolf Theatre’s Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Runs through: Dec. 28 died, more than one ghost claims to represent Halsted St. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. her as she appeared in life and 3) she’s long- Fridays, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE time BET choreographer Rueben D. Echoles, p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20; call 312-335- playing a character dubbed “Ms. Real” (as in 1650 or visit www.steppenwolf.org. Fifteen minutes into Black Ensemble’s revue, “keeping it”) who first comes off as a nanny audience members might find themselves ask- to the squabbling divas, then proceeds to dis-

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Joffrey Dancers: Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan gutierrez i photography by: cheryl Mann 50 east congress parkway, chicago 20 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES NUNN ON ONE: TELEVISION WCT: I think it’s the disco and glitter. MG: Exactly—and the voice! WCT: “Hands” is the new single. Who is that about? Macy Gray MG: It was about someone I was really miss- ing at the time. The producer was in the studio and he kept playing the track to it. At first I shows us ‘The Way’ didn’t like it but, for some reason, at four in the morning he’s playing it and it hit me. The by Jerry Nunn Day, Spider-Man, Idlewild and For Colored Girls. words just came out like boom! We wrote the Her eighth album, The Way, just dropped, fol- song in three hours. The raspy-voiced pop singer Macy Gray contin- lowing her Covered album and Stevie Wonder WCT: How do you pick your cover songs? ues to dance to the beat of her own drum while tribute Talking Book. Gray’s new video for the Tonight you did “Brand New Key” and “Do making music. She’s shown a unique perspec- single “Bang Bang” features America’s Next Top Ya Think I’m Sexy.” Do you change them up? tive while nodding to classic singers like Billie Model cycle 19 Kiara Belen and lesbian swim MG: Oh, you mean different nights? We do a Holiday for years. champion Diana Nyad. few different covers. They are mostly songs like In 1999 her multi-platinum debut, On How Windy City went backstage after a recent City anybody else just songs I think I sound good Life Is, spawned a Grammy-winning song, “I Winery concert to hear more on the new music on. [Laughs] They are my favorite songs. The Try,” that played everywhere. She has since from the lady herself. roller-skate song is my song. I love that song. landed acting roles in movies such as Training Windy City Times: Hey, Macy. Last time we I could listen to that all day. The real one, the Melanie one. WCT: Do you roller-skate? MG: I do! I grew up in Ohio. You have to CULTURE CLUB know how to roller-skate and play cards be- cause there is nothing else to do there—oh, THE MIDWEST PREMIERE OF “[Playwright Lucas] Hnath and play checkers. is quickly emerging as WCT: One of my favorite songs by you is ISAAC’S one of the brightest “Strange Behavior.” Where did it come from? new voices of his generation.” MG: That was from watching too much TV. – It is about fantasizing about killing your hus- EYE band and running away with lots of money, like BY LUCAS HNATH those movies! DIRECTED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR WCT: “Relating To a Psychopath” was great MICHAEL HALBERSTAM Macy Gray. Photo by Guiliano Bekor out there, too. MG: Thank you. I like that song. talked was at the Macy’s Glamorama event. WCT: Where did it come out of? NOW PLAYING Macy Gray: Oh, yeah. MG: It was when I first got popular and you Performed at 664 Vernon Ave, Glencoe PICTURED: JÜRGEN HOOPER AND MARC GRAPEY. PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA. WCT: I have to ask how many boas you have to keep yourself private, you don’t want Minutes from Chicago on the Edens or Metra own. everyone to know everything. It is ironic. When MG: I have lots but they wear out, so I get you are cheering on somebody but you don’t FOR TICKETS: WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG | 847-242-6000 lots of new ones. really know them. They could be crazy or killing somebody or [cutting] off their balls or some- 2014/15 SEASON SPONSOR MAJOR CORPORATE SPONSOR CORPORATE SPONSOR BOOKSTORE SERIES SUPPORT WCT: Do fans give them to you now? MG: Not really; they are actually expensive. thing. You go, “Yeah!” You know what I mean? This is real ostrich, see? You don’t even know who you are rooting for WCT: Nice. Congrats on two sold-out shows half the time—that’s all. in Chicago. Why is your new album called WCT: That was the longest drum solo out The Way? there that I have ever heard. MG: It is about figuring your way through MG: That is because I have to get dressed. My life. Everybody has these very big dreams and drummer hates it, too. He’s like, “Can’t you put on the way to them all these things happen. on something quicker?” There is always a way to get what you want. WCT: Do you like touring and being on the Nan Giordano Artistic Director Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t so road? that is what is interesting about it. The Way is MG: I do. I love being on the road. Mostly I about the journey of where you are ultimately love being onstage. I love everything about it, featuring a trying to get to. being around my band, and the fact that we WORLD PREMIERE WCT: The title song sounded personal. get to do music every single night. If you are ray MG: All of my songs are written from the an actor then you make a movie you don’t see LEEPER heart. I don’t make it very personal to start off the results of it until six months later or the iconic choreographer from but when I went into the studio that just came reaction until you read the papers. With music TV/Film/Stage out of me one day. you know right away. WCT: You have British swimmer Diana WCT: You have instant feedback and reac- TICKETS START AT $15 Nyad in your “Bang Bang” video. How did tion. that come about? MG: Yeah, it comes back to you right there. OCTOBER 24 & 25 7:30PM MG: It was so crazy. Two weeks before I was WCT: What new music are you listening to Harris Theater for Music & Dance harristheaterchicago.org watching her documentary on HBO. Did you see right now? 205 East Randolph Drive 312.334.7777 it? MG: I like that new girl Mapei and who I re- WCT: No. ally like is Beirut. He has an opera voice. MG: You gotta see it. She is the only woman WCT: I’ve been reading your Twitter ac- that swam the English Channel. I think she count. Do you like being on there? tried maybe 20 times. She almost died a few MG: Not really. It is this necessary thing my times. There were sharks and she got frostbit- label makes me do since I am not really a social ten. At age 63 she finally made it. media person. I hate most people. I’m kidding! The director is a good friend of hers but, it [Laughs] turns out, she is the godmother of one of my WCT: Are you acting more in the future? daughter’s best friends. I had actually met her MG: Yeah, I did a couple of movies this year. years ago but I didn’t know who she was. Lee Daniels has a new television show on Fox WCT: You kiss a girl in the video. and we are shooting that. That comes out in MG: Yeah—that is my buddy Kiara Belen. January. WCT: Who came up with the treatment? WCT: Are you doing anything fun while in MG: The director did it. The kiss was a sur- Chicago? prise because they didn’t want me to worry MG: I have a few really good friends here. We about it. She just walked up and kissed me. are going out dancing tonight and tomorrow WCT: Seemed natural to me. I’m doing some shopping, just regular Chicago MG: It was very weird! stuff. I like to go out to eat here. Where should WCT: Then you just drive off into the sun- I go? set together... WCT: My friends just went to Sunda to- MG: With lots of money—that’s the most im- night. portant thing. MG: I love that place. Billy Dec is my friend. WCT: You have tons of gay fans. It was nice I’m going to The Underground later tonight. you did something for your lesbian fans. Gray launched The Way this month, pro- MG: Yeah. People always ask me why that is, moting it with the tour. Follow her on Twit- and I have no idea. ter @MacyGraysLife. WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 21 EXHIBITS ‘The Laramie Project’ at NU ‘David Bowie Is’ Oct. 24-Nov. 2 The Laramie Project, a chronicle of the life wows patrons at the MCA of a Wyoming town following the 1998 kid- By Gretchen Rachel Blickensderfer napping and murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard, will be staged at North- Having opened at the Museum of Contemporary western University Oct. 24-Nov. 2. Art (MCA) Sept. 23, “David Bowie Is” offers The production, which Moises Kaufman and audiences an intimate and immersive journey the members of the Tectonic Theater Project into the multifaceted personas and creations wrote, will launch the Virginia Wadsworth of an artist widely considered to be one of the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts’ 34th most significant of his time and genre. mainstage season on the University’s Evan- At a preview on Sept. 19, MCA chief cura- ston campus. tor Michael Darling was joined by Geoffrey The Laramie Project production perfor- Marsh—one of the original co-curators of the mances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thurs- exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum day, Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. at the Boy George. Photo by Indira Cesarine (V&A) in . “David Bowie Is” broke at- Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Dr., on tendance records during its run there in 2013 the University’s Evanston campus. before setting out on a world tour with stops in Tickets for the Wirtz Center’s “The Laramie set featuring iconic musician Boy George. Canada, Germany, France, Brazil, Australia and Project” are $25 for general public; $22 for Proceeds from “Volume 1: STARDUST” sup- the Netherlands. seniors over 62 and Northwestern faculty and port MCA exhibitions, performances, and “The MCA is thrilled to be the only United staff and educators; and $10 for full-time education programming. States venue,” said the organization’s Pritzker students with valid IDs (at the door) or $5 Tickets are $100 each at this 21-and-over director, Madeline Grynsztejn. “So we join cit- tickets exclusively for full-time Northwestern event; see www.mcachicago.org or call 312- ies such as London, Berlin and Paris as contem- students on advance purchase. Phone 847- 397-4010. porary art capitals.” 491-7282, visit www.wirtz.northwestern.edu Although Darling and his team managed to secure the exhibit by virtue of being the early or email [email protected]. Library exhibit bird in-calls to Marsh’s office, Grynsztein said she believes that “David Bowie Is” is a natural Boy George at explores marriage fit for the MCA since the museum was founded As recognition of same-sex marriage grows, and built in 1967 “on a multidisciplinary un- MCA’s ‘Stardust’ the Chicago Public Library presents “Love Me derstanding of creativity.” Forever! Oh! Oh! Oh!,” by cartoonist Jeremy “The combination of exhibitions, perfor- Nov. 7 Sorese. mance, live-arts and programs that we present The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) In this illustrated exhibit, Sorese, a gay An outfit at the “David Bowie Is” exhibit. Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., will hold “Vol- man explores the idea of getting married. Se- reflects the wide-angled view of contemporary Photo by Gretchen Rachel Blickensderfer art and culture and most importantly of the ume 1: STARDUST” on Friday, Nov. 7, at 9 lected from The Best American Comics 2013, artists it is our responsibility to follow and re- p.m. “Love Me Forever! Oh! Oh! Oh!” is on display flect,” Grynsztein adde. taking Major Tom from orbit to an all-time This event offers a private viewing of the through March 8, 2015 in the Congress Cor- In order to follow and reflect upon Bowie, low in “Ashes to Ashes” clearly went through a exhibition “David Bowie Is*” as well as light ridor, ground level, at the Harold Washington the MCA had to dedicate the entire fourth floor number of revisions. snacks and drinks, followed by a special DJ Library Center, 400 S. State St. of its building. Yet Marsh said this represents Portraits of Bowie are scattered throughout, only a tiny portion of the number of items he whether via video or captured on camera such first discovered in Bowies archives housed in as his appearance in the loincloth he wore for New York. “It’s a few hundred objects from a the character of John Merrick in the Bernard collection of seventy [or] eighty thousand Pomerance play The Elephant Man that opened items,” he said. at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago in 1980. Two brothers. One woman. Passions run high. Marsh carefully selected pieces that would On the other hand, more conservative visitors give audiences the ability to take an unimagi- will doubtless enjoy his “unflappable gaze” in nable tour through Bowie’s mind. a mug shot taken of Bowie during an arrest for To that end, patrons are each given a set marijuana possession four years earlier. Verdi of state-of-the-art headphones provided by But the stars of the exhibit are the many cos- the German audio technology firm Sennheiser. tumes Bowie wore—each reflecting his mes- They are designed to automatically respond to sage to the world to just “be yourself.” each area of the exhibit where a visitor may There are the Kansai Yamamoto designs for IL TROVATORE walk. Via interviews and commentary recorded the Ziggy Stardust tour and the bodysuit that throughout his career, it is almost as if Bowie sent the BBC into apoplexy and opened a world Oct 27 - Nov 29 is standing beside them casually explaining of possibility for closeted British kids during what it is they are seeing at least in the con- Bowie’s 1972 performance of “Starman” on Top text of how he views the world and his art. of the Pops. Visually, Bowie is everywhere and in every- A man-dress he wore during his first visit to thing such as the writings and diary entries he the United States one year earlier or the skirt scratched out on paper that looks like it was set and poodle he donned for an appearance been torn from the same notebooks he used as on Saturday Night Live perfectly characterize a schoolboy named David Robert Jones. “Tak- Bowie’s sexual fluidity, while his attention to ing the present philosophical line, we don’t ex- detail is engraved in his desire to be the “most pect our audience to necessarily seek an expla- beautiful clown in the circus” in the video of nation from ourselves,” one of them reads. “We Ashes to Ashes. assign that role to the listener and to culture.” Marsh pointed out that Bowie’s waist is so There are the books that influenced Bowie small that, when model Kate Moss donned one during his teenage years such as the 1959 Co- of his costumes for a Vogue magazine photo lin MacInnes novel “Absolute Beginners” (Bow- shoot, she had to have it let out. ie would eventually write the title song for the The journey ends in a massive room covered 1986 film adaptation). on all three sides by projections of Bowie’s live One of very musicians who could actually concerts and a sound that puts visitors right on perform well on camera, fans of Bowie’s movies stage with him. can marvel at the wand he used as the char- “It’s a really good show,” Marsh told Windy KUSEL ROBERT PHOTO: acter of Jareth in the 1986 Jim Henson film City Times when asked about his opinion of the Chicago presentation. “It’s so different from Labyrinth. Beside it is a handwritten note from 2014/15 LYRIC SEASON Henson. “The present shape of the script is still the space at the V&A, but it fits really well Don Giovanni | Capriccio | Il Trovatore | Porgy and Bess | Anna Bolena | Tosca | Tannhäuser rough and needs quite a bit of polishing,” it here. It’s such an extraordinary story, that it’s The Passenger | Carousel | The Magic Victrola | El Pasado Nunca Se Termina | Lang Lang Recital reads. “But you can see where we’re going. You always going to look good.” would be wonderful in the film.” Read more about that story at http:// BUY 4 OPERAS AND SAVE UP TO 40% Entire rooms and displays are dedicated to www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/FALL- SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE the creative process of Bowie’s music—which SPECIAL-ART-David-Bowie-Is-opening-in- LYRICOPERA.ORG | 312.827.5600 he traditionally managed in every detail. The Chicago/49016.html. chord sheets to “Space Oddity” sit beside clip- Buy tickets to David Bowie Is at http:// Lyric Opera Production. Generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor, Julie and Roger Baskes, the Howard Family Foundation, and the Mazza Foundation. pings from London Times reports of the Apollo www2.mcachicago.org/exhibition/david- missions. The lyrics Bowie handwrote when bowie-is/. 22 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES Film notes: —Keepsake, a new iPhone app that allows users to upload and share content to a private Cloud, is sponsoring The Keepsake Film Festi- KNIGHT val, which will showcase the short films of Colum- AT bia College filmmaking students and match them up experienced filmmakers with the students. En- THE trants in the fest will vie for a $500 prize and the MOVIES chance to direct the next Keepsake commercial. The screening event, which is free, will take place at Columbia College (Stage Two, 618 S. Michigan Ave.) on Wed., Oct. 29, beginning at 7 p.m. To submit and/or RSVP for the event, email Keep- sake rep Hadley Hendon at hadley@getkeepsake. By com. Richard —The 9th annual Chicago Festival of Israeli Knight Jr. Cinema is taking place Oct. 29-Nov. 9. The fest will screen 18 features (both narratives and docu- mentaries), with three LGBT-themed films as part Nightbreed; of the line-up. French actress Fanny Ardent stars in The Se- crets, a lesbian-themed coming-of-age drama Advanced Style; from director Avi Nesher (who will appear at the screening -Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Music Box, film notes 3733 N. Southport Ave., at 9:30 p.m.). Israel’s most prominent queer filmmaker, Eytan Fox (re- Like many other writers, horror (and gay) lit- nowned for Yossi & Jagger, Walk on Water, etc.), erary icon has seen one of his directs the delightful comedy Cupcakes, in which books drastically altered when it reached the a group of amateur singers find themselves vy- silver screen. Barker himself wrote the script ing for the top prize in a Eurovision type song adaptation for his novella Cabal (which Mor- contest. The movie screens at the Music Box on gan Creek, the studio that financed the movie, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. Finally, Operation renamed with the more commercially friendly Nightbreed poster. Sunflower, a historical drama based in fact from title Nightbreed). director Avraham Kushnir, will screen on Sunday, However, Barker’s vision—he also directed psychologist and the police want to do, and N. State St., beginning Friday, Oct. 24. The Sis- Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 3, at 8:30 the movie—was misunderstood by Morgan they follow Boone’s girlfriend, Lori (the plucky kel is offering patrons 65 years and older $7 p.m. at the AMC Northbrook Court, 1521 Lake Creek, which insisted on reshoots, a shorter Anne Bobby), to Midian. The misunderstood discount tickets throughout the run (available Cook Rd., Northbrook. Complete line-up, ad- running time and, most importantly, a much creatures—several of them who clearly read as at the box office only). http://www.siskelfilm- vanced tickets at http://israelifilmchi.org/ different thematic emphasis. (The cuts and the gay—invoke sympathy from Lori and her few center.org/advance_style Check out my archived reviews at http:// changes disheartened many involved in the human and inhuman allies all for naught. A www.windycitymediagroup.com or http:// creative aspects and were enough for editor huge battle ensues after the police force the www.knightatthemovies.com. Readers can Richard Marden to quit in protest.) monsters out of hiding and their fate is up to leave feedback at the latter website. It was all to no avail. When Nightbreed was Boone as their new leader—who exhorts them released early in 1990, it had been altered to fight back against the pathologically violent to resemble a typical slasher picture, and the humans. Guests will have the opportunity to share a movie flopped both critically and commercial- As for the queer subtext, that is clearer with CIFF announces table with a featured writer or artist who has ly—not a big surprise to anyone who saw it. the monsters-as-the-good-guys theme (aka, contributed to enriching the Chicago com- The film veered wildly in tone and seemed dis- awards the ethnic and cultural minorities) more pro- Chicago International Film Festival found- munity, including Sara Paretsky, Scott Turow, jointed but it also retained elements of its in- nounced. One of the most prominent of the Julia Sweeney and others. triguing premise, eye-popping (though rather er/artistic director Michael Kutza was among Nightbreed is Ohnaka (Simon Bamford), a those announcing the winners of the festival Reservations are strictly limited. For infor- gory) special effects, a tremendous early Danny seemingly sweet shirtless, tattooed man with mation or to purchase tickets, tables or spon- Elfman score, and enough gay subtext for three competitions. a nipple ring who clutches a tiny English bull- Hosted by Chicago Sun-Times columnist sorships, visit cplfoundation.org, or contact movies. However, filmmaker Alejandro Jodor- dog. Cornered at one point by the brutish po- Louis Schermerhorn at 312-201-9830, ext. owsky adored the movie, dubbing it “the first and Chicago entertainment report- lice, he is subjected to what can easily be seen er and film critic Bill Zwecker, the ceremony 25, or email [email protected]. truly gay horror fantasy epic.” as a gay-bashing. There are other characters of Over the years, Nightbreed gained a cult fol- was held Oct. 17 at The Sofitel Chicago Water both who also easily read as queer, and Tower. lowing and fans dreamed of seeing the excised then there’s also Boone, whose muscular body Chicago Zine Fest’s footage from Barker’s original cut. Now, nearly Among the winners were The President, is objectified by the camera throughout the which took the Gold Hugo for Best Film, 25 years later, after a grassroots campaign, film. (He is introduced wearing tighty-whities Hallowzine Oct. 23 and Anton Yelchin (Star Trek), who took the Chicago Zine Fest (CZF) holds its third an- Barker is in the enviable position of seeing his and is often seen shirtless.) The inclusion of Silver Hugo for Best Actor for the film Rud- nual Hallowzine fundraiser Thursday, Oct. intentions restored with Nightbreed: The Di- Kenneth Nelson in a small role, who starred in derless. 23, at 7 p.m. at Chicago Publishers Resource rector’s Cut, which Shout! Factory will release The Boys in the Band and who died a few years LGBT films also made an impact. Geraldine Center (CHIPRC), 858 N. Ashland Ave. in deluxe editions packed with special features later of AIDS, also resonates. Chaplin took the Silver Hugo for Best Actress As CZF raises funds for its upcoming 2015 on Blu-ray and DVD on Oct. 28. Although this Ironically, both the studio’s imposed ending for the lesbian-themed Sand Dollars, while festival, Hallowzine celebrates the season version—which contains 40 minutes of new and Barker’s—reinstated in this ultimate edi- the Danish film Speed Walking won the Gold with themed readings and performances by and altered footage—is still far from perfect, tion—tantalizingly suggest a sequel (Barker Plaque for Best Costume Design. Chicago self-publishers. it’s a much more cohesive, deeper, and cer- originally envisioned a trilogy), and perhaps The line-up includes zinesters Vicky Lim, tainly more thought-provoking movie. Barker’s this renewed interest will lead in that direc- (Abstract Door zine), Eric Bartholomew intriguing theme—in which the disenfran- tion. It’s not much of a reach to suggest that Mavis Staples to (Junk Drawer zine) and Nicki Yowell (director chised monsters are the oppressed and their fans of the currently red-hot American Horror of the Self Publishers of Chicago), plus com- barbaric human cousins the oppressors—is Story: Freak Show, which also reeks of queer receive Sandburg ics artists Grant Reynolds and Jen Rickert. front and center, and clearly has resonance for subtext, will find much to love in the equally Award Oct. 22 There will be a $5 suggested donation. Our People. theatrical Nightbreed—which is finally getting The story follows the plight of Aaron Boone Grammy Award-winning singer and civil- Visit ChicagoZineFest.org. its due. https://shoutfactory.com/film/fan- rights activist Mavis Staples will receive the (played by the hunky Craig Sheffer), a loner tasy/nightbreed-the-director-s-cut plagued by nightmares of hideous monsters. inaugural Carl Sandburg Award in the Arts from the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Bennett, Gaga Seeking treatment, Boone is instead convinced Briefly noted: Advanced Style is Lina Pilop- by his psychotherapist (director David Cronen- Public Library Foundation at the upcoming lyte’s documentary version of the popular blog 14th annual Carl Sandburg Literary Awards special Oct. 24 berg, who is blandly creepy) that he has con- Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek by Ari Seth Cohen, fashionista and transplant- Dinner on Wed., Oct. 22, at The Forum, 725 fessed to a number of brutal slayings while LIVE!—an evening of classic jazz standards ed New Yorker. W. Roosevelt Rd. under hypnosis. Working with the police, and in both vocal duets and solo performances— Upon arriving in Manhattan, Cohen began Two Carl Sandburg Literary Awards for dosed by the doctor with LSD that he has mis- will air on THIRTEEN’s Great Performances, photographing elderly women he encountered career achievement in literature will be represented as lithium, Boone finds his way to Friday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. CT on PBS. on the street with, well, advanced style. Co- presented to Doris Kearns Goodwin (author Midian, a deserted cemetery where the mon- Taped at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick hen’s blog blew up and many of the sensation- of best-selling biographies of Abraham Lin- sters reside in an underground lair. P. Rose Hall on July 28, the concert features ally glad women he discovered with his roving coln, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson Boone is killed by the police; however, be- classic selections from the Great American camera have become mini-celebrities them- and the Kennedy family) and Larry McMur- cause of a bite from one of the monsters, he Songbook, each handpicked by the artists, selves, as noteworthy for their glamorous looks try (Terms of Endearment, Lonesome Dove, is reborn as Nightbreed—part of the society of including “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t as for their life affirming philosophies. Brokeback Mountain screenplay). The 21st undead monsters and freaks who are outcasts Got That Swing),” “Sophisticated Lady,” The seven women profiled in Piloplyte’s de- Century Award, encouraging new talent, will from society. Each of the Nightbreed has spe- “Lush Life,” “Anything Goes” and the title lightful film, aged 60 to 90, offer proof that be given to Chicago author Veronica Roth cial powers but they have chosen to hide them- track from their chart-topping album Cheek creativity and style have no age. The film plays (Divergent series). selves away from humans, realizing they would exclusively at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 to Cheek. be killed if discovered. That’s just what the WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 23

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LOGO DESIGN BY NATHAN STONER PHOTO BY COLIN-DAVIES 24 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES tention paid as possible to it in public, because WCT: Would you love to see sexuality it’s a very painful and difficult time for me. eventually be a non-issue in sports? Even Johnny Weir: Aside from one conversation I had [on Access in the past couple of years, the number of Hollywood] because I felt I needed to speak out professional athletes has grown expo- my truth at the beginning of all this, I haven’t nentially. Bringing the ‘Love’ spoken publicly about it. It was a hard time JW: I hope that day will come. But it’s sports. for me in Sochi. I was doing great in front of I was always under the impression my sexual- the world, and so honored and proud of that, ity didn’t really mean that much to my sport. in new documentary but the rest of my life was in shambles and it What meant the most was whether I fell down was hard not to make that a part of my daily or not. I’m not saying anyone should be in the life. But if you can’t compartmentalize, you’ll By Lawrence Ferber closet, but in sports people need to perform crumble. well. The audience has to understand these are During the lead up to the Sochi Winter Olym- WCT: We lost Joan Rivers this year, who young people doing what they love to do, and pics in 2014, figure-skating champion Johnny had some zingers for you on Fashion Police. work hard for every day. They’re not promot- Weir came under fire for opposing a boycott Did you appreciate her snark? ing something they were born with. It would JW: So much. Joan was always the loveliest of Russia despite Putin’s virulent anti-gay laws be the same as me going out on the ice and person to me. While she did make fun of me, and an increasingly dangerous, violent envi- promoting the fact I was born white. That’s not and had a good time doing it, I so appreciated ronment for . what sports are about. Sports are about win- it because she’s a legendary comedian. So witty Activists were stunned and appalled: In an ning. and funny. She worked so hard, and I hope to OUT Magazine opinion piece, a disgusted Mi- To Russia with Love premieres on EPIX have that work ethic through my career. I so chael Lucas wrote, “[Weir] only cares, as usual, Wednesday, Oct.29, at 7 p.m. CT. respect and miss her. I’ll always be a fan. about himself. He is a huge celebrity in Russia. He wants to stay loved there, and he is happy to shill for them abroad to maintain his cachet Matt’s loving parents, in comparison to there.” Greg’s deceased mother and cold father. However, while making the EPIX documen- Later, Greg is featured in a YouTube video in tary, To Russia With Love, Weir experienced an which he heroically defends himself against epiphany or two, as will viewers. The Sundance homphobes. Matt was next to him and did Productions-produced documentary, which Weir the same, but the footage only captures executive-produced and appears in, examines Greg. Instantly, Greg is bathed in glory and the struggles and triumphs of LGBT athletes fame, and he does not tell anyone that Matt and Olympians taking part in Sochi, as well as was an essential part of the situation as well local Russian activists. Vlad, a gay Sochi teen- until much later. ager who personally endured harrowing tor- Nevertheless, Matt continues to allow Greg tures and repression, becomes a central figure, into his life, continuing to prefer victimiza- while athletes including Greg Louganis, Billie tion and often masturbating while thinking Jean King, Jason Collins, Blake Skjellerup and about Greg in various locker-room scenarios. Anastasia Bucsis appear. Next, Matt is attacked in an ally by two men Via telephone, Weir, just appointed NBC’s pri- Johnny Weir in To Russia with Love. Image on his way home from a celebratory party mary figure-skating announcer, discussed mak- courtesy of Epix at Sidetrack for Greg’s bravery, and in an ef- ing the documentary and, yes, touched on his fort to defend himself and be more like Greg, Gay Games but held in Moscow a few days after high-profile divorce from Victor Voronov. Matt puts one of the men in a coma. The oth- the Sochi [games] ended. It got a little hairy Windy City Times: So how did you come to BOOK REVIEW er man escapes and Matt is in the hospital be involved with this project? there when events were “canceled” at the last for more than a week with trauma injuries. Johnny Weir: Last summer—when all the minute. Gaybash After a visit from Matt’s overbearing par- anti-gay laws and propaganda started in Rus- WCT: Vlad, a gay teen living in Sochi, be- by David Jay Collins ents to nurse him back to health and Greg sia—I got thrown into it. I fit all the bills of comes a major part of the documentary, and $3.99 (e-book); 243 pages being humiliated by a radio station for his in- someone who would possibly have a comment Billie Jean King in particular attempts to by JOE FRANCO flated ego after the YouTube video surfaced, on all this: I’m gay, I love Russia, I’m an Olym- help him escape the world of repression and Matt leaves the hospital, feeling happy to be pian. For those reasons I got thrown into the violence he’s stuck in. How did meeting him David Jay Collins weaves a suspensful—yet alive. His life is starting to look up—even middle. And I couldn’t just make one statement and his story affect you? foreseeable—tale embodying all the clas- though Greg is still being a jerk—until the and move away from it. JW: Well, a character flaw in myself that I re- sic components of a Chicago gay romance: worst happens. The man who escaped and When the documentary idea came to fruition ally saw through filming this was that as long unrequited lust, reliable female sidekicks, an accomplice stake out Matt’s condo—and, through Sundance and EPIX, everyone has been as my life is cool, I don’t really look to dirty it drinks at almost every bar in Boystown, ram- eventually, tragedy follows. supportive of me and things I believe in, and by opening my mind to what goes on in other pant gossip, exceedingly dramatic exchanges Often, the dialogue is quite confusing to I’m so excited to get so many perspectives of realms. I’m not the most “save another per- about acceptance of oneself, veiny biceps follow, and the theatrical scenes don’t seem this story. I was super pro-athlete and maybe son.” So meeting Vlad really opened my eyes, and the shattered pieces of a broken heart. to match real emotions. Overall, however, it not pro-activism enough through the whole because I got to actually look him in the face Gaybash is Collins’ first attempt at penning a was interesting to delve into Collins’ brain. Sochi debate. I wish the issue were still as and ask questions. novel, and although the story lacks freshness There is a unique passion for storytelling and diversity in dialogue, there is potential heated, because what I predicted has come I was the only Russian speaker on our crew hidden between the lines of Gaybash and I for a future winner by the newbie author. true: Many people, now that the Olympics in in Sochi and after all my NBC obligations were hope he continues to hone his craft. The protagonist, Matt Tompkins, is a Russia is over, have forgotten about the Rus- over I was able to have a sit down conversation grantwriter for a non-profit in the Loop. He sian LGBT community and what we can do to about what his life was like. Being beaten, get- recently moved into a new condo near Ad- Eileen Myles help them. ting raped, having urine thrown on him. While dison and Halsted streets, although none of WCT: Was it easy to get fellow athletes to it didn’t make me an activist, it made me real- his boxes are unpacked due to laziness. Matt at Poetry appear in this documentary? ize these things happen and they happen to real people. lacks self-confidence and pities himself— Foundation Nov. 2 JW: There were several people I approached truly a lost gay in the vast, mean world. The on a personal level who said “no” to taking WCT: How do you feel about Russia now? The Poetry Foundation and the Chicago most interesting fact about him is that his Humanities Festival will feature a talk by part. But everyone in the film wanted to be. JW: [Homophobia] isn’t just in Russia—it’s best friend is Greg Walters. Greg is known lesbian New York poet Eileen Myles at the To live under the scrutiny of being judged and all over the world. Something I’ve believed throughout Boystown as a demigod, and foundation, 61 W. Superior St., on Sunday, being placed on teams, it was very brave and from the beginning of all this, is I’m still not no one understands why Matt and Greg are Nov. 2, at 2 p.m. daring of them to be part. Anything we need- regarded [in the United States] as an equal friends. In this talk (“Poetry off the Shelf: Eileen ed, any questions we had, they were open. The citizen. Just a few weeks ago a gay couple was Unsurprisingly, Matt is in love with Greg, Myles”), she discusses Afterglow, her new hope is people remember what happened and bashed in Philly, and that’s 30 minutes up the and Greg claims he has no idea throughout fantasy and dog memoir about her longtime the community we left behind in Russia, and road to me. So I’m not going to point a finger at another country when my own country is in the story. The tale of how their friendship companion, Rosie. people like myself leave the film with an open commenced is quite brutal. Four years prior, shambles as far as gay rights. We make small The cost is $5-$12; call 312-494-9509 or mind. Greg convinced Matt to go home with him steps all the time but everybody should just be visit chicagohumanities.org. WCT: While in Sochi and Russia, did the as a prank, snapping a picture of Matt at his equal. I took offense to many Americans point- film crew have to be sneaky about what [it own front door to prove it. Then, Greg sent ing a finger at Russia because the games were was] actually shooting? the picture to friends who uploaded the hu- going to be there, when we don’t have a good JW: The Olympics is its own little world. miliating photo to Facebook. This subplot is Eileen situation here. I still love Russia and the cul- This was my third time being on site. Walking confusing and Collins only touches briefly on Myles. ture, but I don’t have to like the government around the park and venues, all you have to it; all I know is I could never be best friends PR photo do is show a press badge and say you’re mak- or laws. with someone who is capable of such a vi- ing a documentary about the Olympics. I was WCT: At one point in the documentary, you cious act of cyberbullying. there for NBC [to serve as commentator]. So mention your divorce from Victor. How much The plot mainly focuses on Matt being I don’t think we had an issue. The only thing thought or discussion was had [regarding] jealous of Greg, and Greg telling Matt he we ran into was when the cameras went to the whether you would acknowledge it or not? possesses everything Greg actually wants; Russian Open Games, which was basically the JW: Well, my divorce doesn’t define me as a however, the only example highlighted is person or public figure. I wanted as little at- WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 25 of age at a really particular juncture in our eco- nomic history. When I graduated from college Alison Bechdel: in 1981, I didn’t really know that there was a recession going on. I had been raised in this period of affluence. My family wasn’t wealthy, Artist, genius and but my dad had a job and we had health insur- ance. And we just thought things were going to get better. We had no idea things were going to get worse, so it was OK to just think about instigator of change being a slacker, about being an artist. I never thought about my future. It was really OK for by Jonathan Jones really have a great handle on what’s happening me to work a crappy day job and do my art on in the culture because I was really surprised the side. In September, Alison Bechdel became the sec- when this guy, this straight Hollywood guy, WCT: Given the current economic situa- ond cartoonist to receive a MacArthur “Genius said he could see it as an animated comic strip. tion, what’s your advice for young artists or Grant” Fellowship. Her cult comic strip Dykes I thought, ‘Are you crazy?’ But maybe he knows anyone trying to go against the grain today to Watch Out For ran for 25 years, from 1983 better than I do. to create change? to 2008, and received acclaim for its witty WCT: You’ve now written two graphic mem- AB: I was going to say get a day job. No, depiction of lesbian life and the challenges oirs. Like cartooning, memoir is sometimes Alison Bechdel. Photo by Elena Seibert that’s very cynical! But I don’t know. The trick confronted by the LGBTQ community for ac- regarded as a lesser art form compared to, is really to keep yourself from getting too much ceptance. let’s say, traditional journalism or fiction. of a stake in the system. Bechdel’s graphic memoirs, Fun Home: A Why are memoirs so important to you? is becoming something different than it used WCT: What’s the driving force behind what Family Tragicomic and Are You My Mother?, tell AB: I love pursuing art forms that other peo- to be. It’s not just a story about someone’s life. you do? the story of her father’s suspected suicide, her ple have looked down on. Cartooning used to It’s becoming more literary. It can still tell the AB: My driving force is to just get outside relationship with her caring yet distant mother, be considered a lesser art form. Now, it’s get- truth and have the quality that good fiction of myself. I am someone who has kind of felt and her own coming out process. These mem- ting a little morale boost. Memoir is often seen has. trapped inside my own mind. And writing about oirs’ beautiful depictions of the trials and love as not quite real writing because it’s personal. WCT: When you were young, what kept you my experience is a way of reaching out of that that bind families catapulted Bechdel to new It’s a domain of art that has traditionally been going as an artist even though it didn’t al- abyss and trying to make a bridge to the out- heights, with Fun Home slated to be performed seen as feminine or for women or as something ways pay the bills? side world and to other people. That’s what as a musical on Broadway. Windy City Times smaller or more domestic. But I think memoir AB: You know, I feel like I was lucky to come continues to drive me. caught up with Bechdel to talk about her suc- cess. Windy City Times: How will the MacArthur affect your life? Alison Bechdel: Well, I guess that remains to be seen! I hope that it allows me to continue growing and taking risks in my work. I can see that it might have the opposite effect. I could see how it would make someone more self- conscious, more eager to please or live up to ! this crazy reputation. It’s such a generous gift to give someone this financial stability, and I hope that I can really make the best use of it ! as possible. WCT: What does the acclaim your work has received mean to you, particularly given ! that the LGBTQ community has gained more acceptance? AB: My head is still spinning about the prog- ! ress this community has made in the span of my lifetime. I never imagined that we would be able to get married. It’s something that never even entered into my consciousness. So, that’s ! been very mind-blowing. It’s so hard to imag- ine now what it was like when I started Dykes to Watch Out For. It’s like I was a pornographer. ! It was that far outside the acceptable realm, ! so I was really determined to show queer life as something acceptable and recognizable. And one of the things my comic strip was about is Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014 the tradeoff that happens as queer culture be- comes assimilated into the larger culture—the Noon-4 p.m. things that are lost and the things that are gained. I had characters who were very much Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago outsiders. They didn’t want to be part of the system. They didn’t want to get married. They ! really embraced their “outsiderness.” This free job fair is a followup event to the ! But I also had characters who were devoted Windy City Times LGBTQ Homeless Youth Summit held in May 2014. ! to working inside the system to try to change ! things. It was about the friction between these All members of the community can attend, with a special focus on two camps. When you ask me what’s going on in LGBTQ culture today, I feel like I don’t really LGBTQ youth. Entry-level to advanced positions available.! know anymore. I feel like there isn’t an LGBTQ ! culture in the way there once was or if there is, Snacks and beverages provided to attendees, ! it’s dispersed into the larger culture. plus lots of fun give-away prizes and gift cards.! WCT: Will Dykes to Watch Out For come ! back? Booths just $75 for businesses, $50 for non-profits and schools.! AB: I don’t know. I wouldn’t bring it back as a comic strip. That just isn’t going to work or For details on exhibiting, contact: [email protected]! be sustainable. But I have had some interest in Both Chicago House TransWorks and TransTech! are providing advance trainings. ! it as an animated television show. This is just Chicago House: 773-248-5200 ext. 109! at the earliest preliminary stages. I haven’t had TransTech: [email protected] or at 773-372-3363! time to really pursue it. And even if I did, the ! chances that something would come of it are ! minute or microscopic. But the fact that any- Sponsored by: ! one is even interested in it is an indication of how much the culture has changed. ! I have had interest a couple of different times ! in animating the comic strip over the years, ! but there’s never any funding for it. There’s just no way to raise money for lesbian cartoons. But maybe now that’s different. You know, I don’t 26 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISE HERE House of Brides is a smoke-free company. Smokers LEGAL SERVICES WEDDING SERVICES ADVERTISE HERE: Want to advertise your product, need not apply. All qualified applicants are wel- service, etc. to thousands of readers? Place an come. Apply in person with a recent photograph The Law Office of The Oscar Swan ad in the Windy City Times! We offer affordable and resume. House of Brides Couture 730 North rates, convenient service, and as a bonus, your Franklin Street, Suite 300. (10/22/14-2) Alexander Weaver Country Inn ad runs in our online section for free. 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Start your Halloween at Symphony Center!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 8:00 THE CABINET Dr Caligariof WITH AT THE ORGAN Cameron Carpenter

SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS

Robert Wiene’s silent thriller The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a dark and exciting masterpiece credited with the first instance of a “twist ending” in film. Prepare for a Halloween night of unforgettable music, murder and mayhem when extraordinary organist Cameron Carpenter performs his original macabre score to the horror film on the thundering organ at SymphonyCenter. Costumes welcome! Tickets start at $35! Artists, prices and programs subject to change. 312-294-3000 cso.org 28 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES WEEKLY DINING GUIDE IN role regarding how busy the place was on a the recent Friday afternoon—even for a late lunch. However, another reason for the activity at DISH Acanto could very well be the food. Among the offerings are cheeses that no other local Parmesan frico, shitake mushroom, onion, to- restaurant offers, including Capriago, Bo Peep, Umami Burger; mato and ketchup) and the Cali (butter lettuce, Cowabunga and Boho Belle. My dining com- tomato, onions, house spread and house Amer- panion and I tried the intriguingly named Bo- Acanto ican cheese). There’s a reason this chain is Dacious with bread and slices of pear—which expanding—and these sandwiches are it. They worked very well. BY ANDREW DAVIS were amazing, with a hint of sweetness thanks I then tried the duck egg spaghetti, made to the Portuguese bread (made with milk and with creamy pork sugo, caramelized pearl on- Umami Burger Wicker Park (1480 N. Milwau- honey). ion and rapini. The dish provided a couple Above: The Calabrese at Umami Burger. kee Ave.; www.facebook.com/UmamiWickerPark Now, here’s the catch: A burger, fries and surprises for my admittedly sensitive palate (a Below: Duck egg spaghetti at Acanto. or www.umamiburger.com) is one of the latest drink go for $18.50 (while a meal with a beer peppery kick and even a hint of sweetness), franchises of a chain established in , is $21.50). Is a burger here worth $12 bucks? but I’d definitely return for that item. My friend New York and Nevada. I’d say “no” even though, like I stated, the also enjoyed her selection: an eggplant parmi- A recent visit left a friend and me with a sandwich is incredible. giano sandwich with caponata, sweet basil and positive experience, overall, although there are Also, the decor seems unfinished. There were ricotta salata. some aspects that indicate it’s still a work in huge stickers on the wall, but there were large Speaking of ricotta, it figured prominently in progress. bare stretches. I don’t know if that’s what a dessert we shared: crostata al forno—an in- The truffled beet salad (with truffled ricotta, they’re going for, but it seemed weird to both toxicating concoction consisting of housemade smoked almonds, wild baby arugula and truffle of us. ricotta, orange marmalade and whipped cream. dressing) was great—and made me feel better Overall, I’d recommend this place. However, It’s filling, extremely tasty and not too sweet, about eating a dish that was somewhat health- be prepared to spend a bit more than you’d thankfully. ful. expect for a burger and fries. The house cocktails looked inviting (al- Starters include fries—which you can though I settled for a lemonade); even the “umamify” through truffling, smothering (short Acanto (18 S. Michigan Ave.; www.acantochi- sodas have an edge, with selections such as rib and house gravy), making them “manly” cago.com) had plenty going for it before the housemade wood-grilled orange and strawberry (with beer-cheddar, bacon, onion strings and first patron sampled the fare there. balsamic sodas as well as Baladin ginger (from mustard spread) and making them “sloppy.” The Italian restaurant (replacing the more Lazio, Italy). The sweet-potato fries hit the spot but we upscale French spot Henri) occupies an area Acanto: Come for the view, stay for the de- absolutely loved the sizeable and thick malt- that is certainly tourist/workplace-friendly, lightful fare. battered onion rings. with wide-open views of Grant Park. As for the burgers, we tried the original (with That fortunate location no doubt played a

of an openly gay college student. Talkback Faces Broadway United Methodist Church follows with the cast and Tracy Baim, and Project YEPP will be partnering to editor-in-chief of The Windy City Times. present a portion of the show in order $5 to $25. 7:30pm Northwestern Uni- to strengthen community bonds between CALENDAR versity Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts parishioners, neighbors, and the youth Circle Drive, Evanston http://wirtz.north- community. 11:00am Broadway United western.edu. Methodist Church, 3338 N Broadway, Brought to you by the Witches Among Us New American Folk http://www.broadwaychurchchicago.com/ combined efforts of Theatre presents the new musical by Support Kelly Cassidy and see Avenue Q Rick Karlin & Scott Free. Friday nights Sponsor, $250 ea. Reception and 1 show at 7:30pm through Nov. 7 7:30pm The ticket, $100 ea. Reception only $50 ea. 1 Wed., Oct. 22 Fox and Tequila Mockingbird. Directed by Call (Chicago) 1547 W Bryn Mawr Chica- Show ticket $50 ea. 3:00pm The Mercu- American Women Rebuilding France Jeff Lynch. See ad in Nightspots or Side- go http://www.newamericanfolktheatre. ry Theater Chicago 3745 N Southport Ave 1917-1924 Documents the work of track website for full list of performers. org/#!season-of-the-witch/c4uz Chicago Tickets: https://secure.actblue. hundreds of American women who left 7:00pm - 11:00pm Sidetrack 3349 N Or Chadash Shabbat Service with the Chi- com/contribute/page/avenue comfortable lives in the US to volunteer Halsted St Chicago http://www.sidetrack- cagoland synagogue serving LGBT Jews, a riva runs chicago.com humanitarian service in France during and their families, friends and loved ones. through it Monday, Oct. 27 after the WWII. Through Saturday, Jan. 3, Membership is open to everyone. 8:00pm The Black Excellence Awards Interdisci- Thursday, Oct. 23 2015 12:00pm Newberry Library 60 W Congregation Or Chadash at Emanuel Con- Saturday, Oct. 25 plinary arts award honors and celebrates Walton St Chicago http://www.newberry. Find Your Center Tour Learn more about gregation 5959 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago African American Artists in the fields of org/09172014-american-women-rebuild- the impact of the programs and services http://OrChadash.org Artist Riva Lehrer will theater, music, dance, film and visual arts. ing-france-1917-1924 Center on Halsted provides. Free. RSVP at Love’s In Need of Love Concert Fund- perform as part of the 6:30pm http://www.africanamericanart- link. Questions to ewilkerson@centeron- Work! Chicago, an LGBTQ youth job fair raiser Featuring: Jesse Dean Stanford, Chicago Humanities sallianceofchicago.com All members of the community can attend, halsted.org 8:00am - 9:00am Center on Rachael Weasley, Leslie Michele. MC’s: Festival. Shoop Comedy LGBTQ and female-friendly with a special focus on LGBTQ youth and Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago Tickets: Pastor J. Talma, “Mama T” Williams. Ben- stand-up comedy and drag showcase for the transgender community.Sponsored by https://community.centeronhalsted.org/ efits The Lighthouse’s work with home- Photo by Hal Baim girls, gurls, and grrrls (boys also wel- Windy City Times, Chicago House Tran- FindYourCenterTour less youth. Doors 8pm. 8:30pm Gless- come). Every 4th Monday 8:00pm - sWorks, TransTech and the Center on Hal- World of Worship Church Interest Meet- ner House Museum 1800 S. Prairie Ave. 10:00pm Double Door’s Door No. 3 1551 sted. 12:00pm - 4:00pm Center on Hal- ing Eat, mingle and learn more about Chicago https://www.facebook.com/ N Damen Ave. Chicago, IL 60622 http:// sted 3656 N Halsted St., chicagosummit. The WOW Church, an urban and radically events/357681077720665/ Affinity Community Services, featuring hamburgermarys.com/chicago/ lgbthomelessness.com/ inclusive ministry that welcoming all re- custom designs by LGBTQ artists Sam Kirk YWomen Leadership Awards honors Mary gardless of race, age, sexual orientation Saturday, Oct. 25 and Andy Bellomo. $70 before Oct. 1, $90 Tuesday, Oct. 28 F. Morten, Gail Vierneisel and Kourtney and physical or mental ability. 6:30pm VOICES Panel Discussion For survivors of after. $105 Concierge admission includes Affinity Board Meeting Board Meetings are Cockerell Morten is to be honored for her - 7:30pm Comfort Inn Chicago 601 W domestic violence, those that work with parking at Joffrey Tower 6:30pm Tick- on the fourth Tuesday of the month and, longstanding committment to women’s Diversey Parkway Chicago 872-588-5969 victims, or anyone whose life has been ets: https://community.centeronhalsted. except for the executive session, are open and LGBTI communities and coalition http://www.wowchicago.org/#!get-in- touched by domestic violence. This panel org/ByWomenForWomen to the public. For questions, contact Kim building across gender, race and class. volved/c1ni Tickets: http://www.wowchi- will discuss how art can be a therapeu- Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus Lipstick & Lyr- Hunt at [email protected]. 6pm cocktail reception, 7:30 pm l din- cago.org/#!interest-meeting-sign-up/cstq tic outlet in response to trauma. 2:00pm ics, “Into the Hood: A Mary-Tale” Live- 6:30pm - 8:30pm Affinity Community ner, 8:15 pm film and awards Presentation Michael Schmelling: Your Blues exhibi- Woman Made Gallery 685 N. Milwau- singing drag performance, with increased Services 1424 E. 53rd St. Suite 306 Chi- 6:00pm Hilton Orrington Hotel in Evan- tion Exploring the musical landscape kee Ave. https://www.facebook.com/ production values, presented by Michael cago http://www.affinity95.org ston 847-864-8445, ext. 121. http:// of the Chicago region, focusing on the events/719549864759959/ Leppen under the direction of Tony Lewis, tinyurl.com/nl4tta6 overlooked and off-the-beaten-path, fre- Riva Lehrer at Chicago Humanities Festi- of Mid Tangent Productions (Snow White Wed., Oct. 29 Bullied: Youth, Gender, and Homophobia quenting house party shows and search- val Performing “JARRED: Self-Portrait in and The Seven Drag Queens), and musical Lost Voices: A Ferguson Story documen- Sociologist C.J. Pascoe on her studies on ing out niche and local acts not widely Formaldehyde.” 4:30pm - 5:30pm Block direction of Patrick Sinozich. $35 to $100 tary screening Free. Collective of Chicago how teenage boys represent themselves as known. Through Dece. 21, 2014 11:00pm Museum 40 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston, IL for VIP. 8 p.m., Park West Chicago 322 artists and activist partner with a protest masculine by hurling gay slurs. 4:00pm Museum of Contemporary Photography 60208 http://chicagohumanities.org/ W Armitage Ave., 773-296-0541 Tickets: group from Ferguson on The Lost Voices Frick Center Founders Lounge, 190 Pros- Columbia College 600 S Michigan Avenue events/2014/journeys/riva-lehrer-a-self- http://www.cgmc.org Tour, a series of documentary screenings, pect Ave., Elmhurst http://www.elm- Chicago http://www.colum.edu portrait-in-formaldehyde Sappho’s Salon Sheila Donohue, perfor- community discussions, performances, hurst.edu/tix OPALGA Gala and 25th Anniversary The mance poet, and Crooked Mouth, singers and workshops centered around the unrest LGBTQ Latin@ Platica Join United Latino Friday, Oct. 24 Oak Park Area Leadership Award will rec- and songwriters. $7-$10 sliding scale in Ferguson since the shooting death of Pride to talk about LGBTQ Latinidad, cel- Connecting the T to LGBT Trans 101 train- ognize Rep. Greg Harris, state Sen. Don suggested donation. Light refreshments unarmed Black teen Mike Brown by Fergu- ebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and LG- ing/seminar by Nikk Selik and Man Cave! Harmon, and publisher and executive edi- 7:00pm Women & Children First Book- son police officer Darren Wilson. 6:00pm BTQ History Month and join a discussion All ages. Identifying as LGB does not auto- tor of Windy City Media Group, Tracy Baim, store 5233 N Clark St Chicago http:// Young Chicago Authors, 1180 N Milwaukee and open forum. 6:30pm Cultura, 1900 matically make someone a T ally. The gab for their efforts in making marriage equal- www.womenandchildrenfirst.com Ave. S Carpenter St, https://www.facebook. in understanding impacts the community ity a reality in Illinois. Proceeds benefit as a whole. 7:00pm - 9:00pm Center on com/events/1552596538305502/?ref=6& OPALGA Education Scholarship Fund, The Sunday, Oct. 26 ref_notif_type=plan_user_invited Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago http:// Lakeside Pride Marching Band, and The Chicago Humanities Festival Journeys, the Night of 100 Drag Queens 2014: Animal www.centeronhalsted.org/newevents-de- Historical Society of Oak Park and River 25th Anniversary Chicago Humanities Fes- Queendom Annual two-night benefit tails.cfm?ID=9071 Forest. [email protected] 6:30pm Nine- tival, 100+ events across Chicago. Runs extravaganza for Equality Illinois. 7 pm The Laramie Project Documentary-style teenth Century Club 178 Forest Ave Oak through Nov. 19 11:00am - 8:30am Vari- VIP reception, gen. adm. at 8pm. Tick- drama by Moises Kaufman and the mem- Park, IL 60301 http://www.opalga.org ous locations http://chicagohumanities. ets available in advance from Sidetrack bers of the Tectonic Theater Project, set By Women For Women: Art - Performance org/ bartenders and online. Hosted by Debbie in Wyoming, recounts the brutal murder - Engagement Silent auction to benefit WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 29 Our “Ask Billy” question comes from Jasper in Kansas City: “I’m pissed at the changes on Be- Cher may low Deck, specifically getting rid of David [who be in legal got engaged on the show to porn superstar, BILLY MASTERS trouble, Trevor Knight]. But Logan and Kelley are pretty Billy says. hot. What can you tell me about them? Gay or “You might get AIDS in Kenya. The people him right now on BillyMasters.com. Photo by straight? You must have some shirtless pics.” have AIDS. You got to be careful. I mean, the Last week, Clay Aiken returned to New York Jerry Nunn Logan is the new guy who some people towels can have AIDS.”—Pat Robertson gives City—not to perform, but to attend a fun- thought was gay, but he’s apparently straight. advice to a woman going to Kenya to do mis- draiser for his campaign to become the next Far more interesting is Kelley Johnson, another sionary work who was concerned about Ebola. Congressman from North Carolina. The soirée, deck hand who is hotter than hot. Imagine Thank God she asked Robertson, who is clearly which took place at a private home on the Up- my surprise when I received a lead on some an authority on infectious diseases. Who knew per East Side, included performances by Betty rather revealing photos of Kelley. And imagine you could get AIDS from a towel? Buckley, Christine Ebersole and Beth Leavel. At my delight when I saw these photos were not Big Mama Masters was recently talking to the event, Clay said, “I think a lot of people Kevin to hire a Caucasian, blonde girl. Wilson only revealing, they were full-frontal and ex- me about her favorite TV shows: “You know, have been surprised with the success we’ve further states that Cher instructed him “not to plicit. And imagine the joy you’ll have when Ellen’s wife is on Scandal.” It took me a mo- had. But I haven’t been as surprised. I don’t cast anymore dark-skinned Black dancers on you check out the close to double-digit inches ment to realize she was talking about Portia get into something that I don’t think I have the tour.” Wilson did as he was told. at BillyMasters.com. de Rossi. Obviously, I know Portia is mar- an ability to be successful at.” This is from the So why was he fired? He claims that a male When we’re giving new meaning to the ried to Ellen DeGeneres, but I must confess guy who took second place on “American Idol” dancer invited a female fan to his hotel room phrase “all hands on deck,” it’s definitely time I don’t immediately think of her as a “wife” and Celebrity Apprentice. in St. Louis on June 3. The woman claims that to end yet another column. And you’ll need ... which I admit is a failing on my part. A Three dancers who were dismissed from the dancer tried to pressure her into having both hands when you check Kelley out on www. similar thing happened a month ago, when I Cher’s “Dressed to Kill” tour have filed a law- sex, and she enlisted the aid of a female danc- BillyMasters.com, the site that always delivers. reported about taking the ALS suit against the superstar for wrongful termi- er, who told another female dancer and Kevin If you have a question you’d like me to tackle, Ice Bucket Challenge. I said that the ice was nation, and have specifically accused her of about the incident. When the three complained send it along to [email protected] and I hoisted above him by someone I referred to as racial discrimination. It started during casting to Cher and the management about the alleged promise to get back to you before Ellen opens a his hot jockstrap-clad boyfriend. A reader took when choreographer and dancer Kevin Wilson assault, they were “instructed not to tell any- male strip club! So, until next time, remember, issue with this: “Wow, how did [Barrowman’s] suggested that they hire someone described as one what had transpired.” A month later, all one man’s filth is another man’s bible. husband feel about that?” My response was a “a minority female dancer.” Cher allegedly said three were fired, purportedly because of “bud- terse, “boyfriend/husband, potato/potahto.” “we have too much color onstage” and directed get cuts.” Although I personally don’t put much weight on labels, I can see where my attitude is bit too blasé. Some people worked awfully hard for the right to certain labels. What’s the difference in a few words? Ask the Vatican. Last week, the Eleventh General Assembly of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family issued a report on the official Vatican website. The unofficial translation contained the following: “Homosexuals have gifts ands qualities to offer to the Christian community. Are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a Church that offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of providing that, ac- cepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?” This translation has since changed. Specifi- cally, the part about “welcoming these people” has been excised. Two explanations have been offered. First, the report was a “working docu- ment” and not an official statement. The sec- ond is that the unofficial translation was in- accurate. As someone whose Italian is above average, I decided to look at the original. The phrase in question is, “Siamo in grado di ac- cogliere queste persone.” The verb accogliere literally means to accommodate, greet, or re- ceive in one’s house. So while “welcome” is perhaps a loose translation, it is nonetheless accurate. And it does seem to echo Pope Fran- cis’ response last year when asked his thoughts on the topic of homosexuality: “Who am I to judge?” A German performance artist has announced a new project that is raising quite a few eye- brows—to say the least. Mischa Badasyan’s project is entitled “Save the Date.” His artistic plan is to have anonymous sex with a different man in a semi-public place every day for a year. Why? Oh, it’s really confusing—something about how public, sterile places make people feel more isolated. Therefore, by having sex with different people every day, his body will become a virtual place—like a bank ... that ac- cepts numerous deposits and withdrawals. He also says his project will promote safe sex and the use of condoms. So he’ll be more like an ATM machine. A couple of weeks ago, a reader asked me about Ellen’s “gardener” Nick, who she was try- ing to get cast in Magic Mike XXL. I told you that his name was Bill Reilich, told you where he came from and even posted quite a few nude photos of him. Last week, Ellen had Nick/Bill on the show to do some shirtless apple-picking. Just then, a phone call came in from Channing Tatum saying he was cast in the flick. Although you’ll get to see him on the big screen eventu- ally, you’ll surely not see as much as you can of 30 Oct. 22, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES

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VEHICLE REVIEW get creamed by a piece so stiff that it really can cause internal Attorneys At Law bleeding. Bravo to Mazda for this one! Everyone loves the Other than stiffness, the only other complaint about the ‘6’ is the optional touchscreen control center. Coming in at 5.8 inches 4001 N. Wolcott 2015 Mazda6 (others give you at least eight inches), this almost-six-incher BY SAM GOMEZ, GAYWHEELS.COM comes with something called a Commander Switch, but I can’t Chicago, IL 60613 say it made navigating this system any easier. It was confusing, “Soul Red and Black Leather.” (773) 248-8887 seemed slow to respond and cumbersome, though I admit I still That’s what it said on the Monroney sticker for the 2015 Mazda haven’t been able to program my Bluetooth without assistance. Mazda6 that I test drove this summer when the National Foot- The navigation system is powered by TomTom; take from that what ball League was still considered respectable. The red/black combo you will. describes the exterior and interior color scheme, but what really There are lotsa options available: Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane describes the Mazda6 is a word like stylish. And a word like sporty. Departure Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alerts, Radar(based) Cruise And a word like—wow! Control, Bluetooth (should be standard). New this year is an ex- People who have driven the 2015 Mazda6 can’t stop gushing terior color called Deep Crystal Blue. Soul Red or Deep Blue, the PARKVIEW PET about it. Mazda did everything right (almost) with the 2015 ‘6’, colors just keep getting gayer—just like society. which is four-or-less up from the Mazda ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘5’. Though the MSRP starts at $21,190, but for anything decent, plan on $25- names aren’t creative, this new year’s baby is, and I loved driving SUPPLIES $30K. But, wow, the 2015 Mazda6 is a car that is tough to beat, it. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who did not like even though U.S. News ranked it 11 of 21. If I could afford one, I EST. 1921 driving this stylish, sporty ‘wow’ baby. would seriously consider this car. Edmunds.com says it’s a “fine choice for a midsize sedan, espe- And if I could buy this car, hopefully they will give me the keys cially if you want one with some personality.” Where do I start? before they discovered they accidentally approved me based on my 5358 N. Broadway The suspension and drive are superb. It handles beautifully, father’s credit score and not mine. whether on Aretha Frankin’s Freeway of Love or in city conges- Chicago, IL 60640 tion. The interior is very stylish, which is a real change from most midsize cars where the interior is mostly proletariat. And there is Chicago Auto Show plenty of leg and head room inside, meaning that both the far and 773-561-0001 the wide and the high and mighty can ride comfortably in your car, specifics are out rendering all their other whines meaningless. U.S News and World The public portion of 2015 Chicago Auto Show will run Satur- Report says the 2015 ‘6’ is “more athletic than most of its rivals.” day, Feb. 14, through Sunday, Feb. 22. Show hours are slightly Sensible Food Bump, set, spike, que no? adjusted. For 2015, the Chicago Auto Show hours will be 9 a.m. to Sensible Prices You will get a combined city/hwy fuel mpg of 29 to 32, depend- 10 p.m. each day except for the last day, when the show opens at ing on which trim level you purchase. Yes, there are cars that get 9 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. much better mileage, but for the midsize sedan class (dare we say Ticket prices remain unchanged: $12 for adults and $6 for se- Luxury Class?), the Mazda6 really does impress at the pump. And niors and children age 7-12. Children age 6 and under are admit- on the road. ted free. Special days include Family Day on Feb. 14, Women’s Day On the downside, some drivers found the Mazda6 “too stiff” on Feb. 15 and Hispanic Day on Feb. 17. (chortle). Sport, Touring and Grand Touring—all three available The show’s black-tie benevolent event, First Look for Charity, trims can all be a little stiff when you drive them. (I concur—it will be Feb. 13, 7-11 p.m. Visit ChicagoAutoShow.com. was stiff.) But is that really such a bad thing? Stiff is how many men prefer their highballs and how it hangs when out in public. Apparently, the ride gets stiffer when you use 19 inches of girth Auto news —Getting political: Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blu- in the wheels, as it is with the higher end ‘6’ trims—which makes menthal (D-Conn.) told regulators that the regional vehicle recall sense. The thicker it is, the harder it is and, well, sometimes when system is flawed and putting drivers at risk, according to . you hit a bump, that stiffness will make you say “ouch” in your Markey and Blumenthal wrote a letter to the National Highway arse—as you hit a soft spot—in your journey, or the road. So Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and said exploding airbags take note” the ‘6’ is stiff but others are softer. For comparison, made by Takata was a prime example of how the “patchwork” recall check out a detailed review of the 2015 Subaru Legacy by fellow system is failing. Gaywheeler Casey Williams. —Big Gay tour: -based Big Gay Ice Cream is tak- One safety feature that I love is a “crushable” brake pedal as- ing its ice-cream truck for a tour through the South to mark its sembly. When I worked in the hospital, we often had car crash fifth anniversary, WRAL.com reported. Big Gay Ice Cream offers fun victims come in with serious damage to their legs and lower bod- takes on traditional flavors. Popular flavors include the Bea Arthur ies because the brake, general one big stiff piece of metal, would (vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche and crushed vanilla wafers) and literally crush the driver and, in many cases, cause very serious the Salty Pimp (vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche, sea salt and injuries. With a brake pedal that is indeed crushable, it basically chocolate chips). collapses so that, should you be in a front-end crash, you won’t WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 22, 2014 31 CONNEXIONS MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS The Law Offices of Brian rotskoff, M.D. Roger V. 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