talking with bruce vilanch of WINDY CITY ‘scrooge THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, & marley’ BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Nov. 21, 2012 PAGE 26 vol 28, no. 7 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES Library head talks mission, journey

By ANDREW DAVIS

Brian Bannon is the newest commissioner of the Chicago Public Library—and, as WCT’s youth is expected for someone in that position, he is extremely qualified. His immediate series job before coming to Chicago was being chief information officer (CIO) for the San continues Francisco Public Library, and was previously chief of branches of the same system. He page 21 has also managed Seattle Public Library and even worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In a comprehensive interview, the openly gay commissioner (who started March 19) talked about everything from majoring in gay and lesbian studies in the ‘90s to the challenges he faces every day here in the Windy City. Windy City Times: Eight months on the job—so how has it been? Brian Bannon: It’s been great. It’s hasn’t just been eight months on the job—it’s been eight months in Chicago. It’s been a big learning experience, with an accelerated learning of the library and the city. It’s an incredibly welcoming city. It’s been fun and invigorating. Chicago Public Library enjoys a really stellar national reputation among urban librar- ies, so it was a huge honor to become the new commissioner. Chicagoans seem to really love their libraries. I don’t feel like I’m fully here yet; after the first year—the full cycle of seasons, including the budget and nature seasons—I’ll get a better grasp of things. We have an incredibly talented and lean team. WCT: What was your biggest concern moving from San Francisco to Chicago?

Turn to page 8 Brian Bannon heads the Chicago public library system. Photo courtesy of Ruth Lednicer latrobe Local lesbian couple leaving center on halsted wins wedding giveaway page 9 By Carrie Maxwell

Local lesbian couple Connie Pare and Jessica Shagena won this year’s elev- en eleven WEDDING Giveaway sponsored by Greatest Expectations Special Events and Weddings, Inc. The giveaway is in its third year, and Pare and Shagena are the first same-sex couple to win, although other same-sex couples have applied in the past. Greatest Expectations Special Events and Weddings, Inc. owner/ event director Heather Lynne Vickery said, “Connie and Jessica are amaz- ing, funny and dynamic women. They have a beautiful love story and a zest for life that just lights up a room. We couldn’t be more excited to work with them!” The couple tied the knot Nov. 11 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in front of about 75 people. Pare and Shagena’s guests, they explained, included close family and friends who have been an active part of their relationship. Originally from Michigan, both Pare and Shagena now call Chicago their home. Pare, who is 32, grew up with a younger brother in a small town in Michigan. She moved to Kalamazoo, Mich. for eight years prior to arriving in Chicago a little less than five years ago. Shagena, who is 26, grew up in Port Huron, Michigan as an only child and made the move to Chicago about MANIlA LUZON four years ago. TALKS ABOUT Both women plan on becoming teachers. Shagena is currently finishing LOSING SAHARA her teaching degree while Pare works at Capital Grille. Pare plans on going back to finish her degree when Shagena graduates. DAVENPORT pagE 18 Turn to page 10 Connie Pare and Jessica Shagena won a wedding giveaway. Photo from Amanda Hein 2 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES Andersonville Holiday Events

Late & Late-er Night Andersonville Friday, November 30, 6 – 10 pm & Friday, December 14, 6 – 10 pm Both nights, shops are open late with BIG discounts on great gifts and meals plus free refreshments, entertainment and pictures with Santa! Pick up a Late Night coupon at Andersonville businesses or online at andersonville.org.

Julmarknad “Holiday Market” December 1 & December 2 The annual Julmarknad holiday fair, featuring traditional Swedish entertainment, food, and crafts, at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., plus a host of holiday festivities throughout the neighborhood. Admission to the museum is $2.

St. Lucia Festival of Lights December 13, 4:45 pm @ Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark A candlelit, carol-filled procession down the sidewalks of Clark Street, followed by singing and treats at the Museum. Admission is $1 or a can of food to benefit Care For Real, Edgewater’s food pantry. Fantastic Holiday Contests Win fabulous prizes from your favorite Andersonville businesses! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for fun contests and great prizes featuring Andersonville businesses every weekday from Thanksgiving ‘til Christmas! /andersonville @avillechamber

Complete holiday listings at www.andersonville.org Sponsored by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. www.andersonville.org WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 3 this week in WINDY CITY TIMES NEWS ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Petraeus and LGBTs 4 Scottish Play Scott 13 Attorneys chair pro-gay committee 5 Pop Making Sense 17 Why marriage equality won 6 Franka Potente; Manila Luzon 18 Passages: Rodriguez; Starr event 7 Trans-centered films to watch 19 Talking with out library head 8 Books: Talking with Mark Zubro 20 LaTrobe leaving Center over event 9 SPECIAL on LGBT youth 21 Lesbian couple’s wedding win 10 Spread on Scrooge & Marley 26 Gay in the Life 11 Knight: Hitchcock, David Geffen 28 Lesbian becomes federal judge 11 Dish: Troy Mediterranean Grill 30 Views: Segal, Rudolph 12 Billy Masters 33 Photos on cover (left, from top): Photo of OUTLINES Bruce Vilanch by Hal Baim; photo of Chicago Real estate; classifieds 31 youth Priest by Erica Demarest; photo of Calendar Q 32 June LaTrobe by Mel Ferrand; photo of Manila Sports: Lesbian official 34 Luzon by David Laffe

’S GAY, LESBIAN, AGO 1985 ITY SINCE THE VOICE OFS CHIC COMMUN G BI AND TRAN talkin Nov. 21, 2012, no. 7 With vol 28 bruCe WINDY CITY Ch of vilan Ge ‘sCroo & Marley’ com

PAGE 26 TIMESWindyCityMediaGroup. www. library head talks s rary—and, a blic L ib diate Pu is imme DAVIS the Chicago d. H n NDREW ner of ly qualifie he Sa By A issio reme IO) for t c omm is ext officer (C tem. He on, he ion me sys ef informat the sa tes ian Bannon is the newest ing chi s of elinda Ga Br was be f branche & M mission, journeycted for someonehi incago that positi usly chief o or the Bill is expe to C revio ) ore coming and was p ch 19 job bef rary, and even worked f Mar Public Lib ublic Library who started he ancisco eattle P ssioner ( 90s to t Fr ed S commi in the ‘ so manag nly gay n studiesDOWNLOAD THIS! has al ope sbia iew, the e undation. e interv gay and l Fo rehensiv majoring in City. n? t’s a comp m e Windy has it bee job—i In verything fro re in th so how s on the about e day he ob— month elerated talked every s on the j n acc t’s youth s he faces been eight h a n and WC nge : Eight month hasn’t just perience, wit been fu challe Times at. It’s g ex t’s City een gre big learnin ing city. I series Windy n: It’s b s been a elcom no cago. It’ redibly w librar- tinues Brian Ban in Chi ’s an inc Con months e city. It ong urban m to 21 and th eputation am ns see PAGE been eight he library hicagoa g of t sioner. C r—the learnin eally stellar nationalcom mr is first yea ting. ys a r new ter the sp invigora ibrary enjo ome the ere yet; af a better gra Public L to bec ly h t Chicago honor el like I’m ful a huge don’t fe , so it was es. I and nature seasons—I’ll ge icago? ies ibrari the budget eam. co to Ch love their l luding d and lean t really sons, inc talente om San Francis cle of sea credibly moving fr full cy an in concern turn to page 8 Go to have st www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com s. We e of thing your bigg hat was WCT: W

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local lesbian couple be elev- to download complete issues of Windy City Times and Nightspots. r’s latro his yea nG Center WELL na won t ecial leavi winsRIE M Aweddingx giveawayca Shage ctations Sp sted By CAR st Expe l nnie Pare and Jessied by Greate on ha couple Co ponsor the first lesbian are PAGE 9 Local hagena plied in WEDDING Giveawayc. s Pare and S en eleven , In nd s have ap wner/ eddings hird year, a e-sex couple nc. o ents and W s t her sam ings, I az- Ev way is in it h ot and Wedd am ea in, althoug Events ssica are t The giv le to w e and Je zes oup ations Special nni story and a same-sex c Expect kery said, “Co iful love k with . Greatest beaut d to wor e past er Lynne Vic have a e excite th or Heath ey be mor nt direct uldn’t eve amic women.m Th. We co Museum nny and dyn a roo t Nature ing, fu ights up otebaer lained, Peggy N hey exp for life that just l at the ests, t their 11 gena’s gu e part of em!” the knot Nov. nd Sha n activ th le tied Pare a een a people. The coup out 75 ago their of ab nd friends who have b all Chic in front amily a now c own in close f Shagena t included Pare and other in a small rriving ship. , both nger br rior to a relation Michigan th a you years p in lly from up wi grew up Origina 32, grew , Mich. for eight, who is 26, bout ein ho is lamazoo hagena hicago a manda H e. Pare, w d to Ka go. S om A hom rs a the move to C y. Photo fr Michigan. She movele less than five yeahild and made nishing iveawa a litt only c ently fi dding g in Chicago gan as an curr oing a won a we Then click on any ad and be taken directly to the advertiser’s Web site! n g a Shagen t Huron, Michi ers. Shagena is plans o Jessic Por teach Grille. Pare are and ars ago. coming Capital ie P four ye an on be orks at s. Conn on women pl Pare w graduate a luZ Both gree while hagena 10 anil when S n to page M her teaching de r degree tur about nish he talks back to fi sahara losinG Port daven PAGE 18 online exclusives at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com IN FASHION Joanna Coles talks about mentoring on ‘Project Runway All Stars.’

Photo courtesy of Lifetime

Read a profile of lesbian artist Read Vern Hester’s BOOK IT Marketa Sivek, take on Bettye Read a review of the E.R. Beecher book, who escaped LaVette’s show Casco. Czechoslovakia in his latest Bent years ago. Nights column. Photo from Sivek Photo by Vern Hester eating out Find out the latest happenings I’LL DRINK TO THAT at area restaurants.

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT Read entertainment news about Anne Hathaway, Channing Tatum and Andy Cohen.

See photos from the Hearty Boys’ launch of their newest book, The New plus Old Bar, which is about vintage cocktails DAILY BREAKING NEWS and more. Photo by Andrew Davis

Show nightspots #495

nightspots #1081 • November 21, 2012 HAPPY RUBBER, BABY 2012 Mr. International Election 2012 Recap Rubber hit THANKSGIVING the Center on Halsted. page 12

Find Nightspots on www.WindyCityQueercast.com 4 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES ONLINE AT WINDYCITYMEDIAGROUP.COM Petraeus scandal NATIONAL NEWS conjures recent LGBT

—Trevor Project to legal skirmishes honor Katy Perry (left) adultery a wide berth.” By Lisa Keen One could almost hear U.S. Supreme Court —Prudential releases Keen News Service Justice Antonin Scalia calling out, “I told you LGBT financial survey

so.” Who could imagine the resignation of Gen. David In his scathing dissent against the Lawrence —Rutgers gets first Petraeus over a sexual relationship with a wom- decision, Scalia warned that “State laws against transgender course an other than his wife could have implications bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prosti- for same-sex marriage? tution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bes- Columbia Law School Professor Katherine Fran- tiality, and obscenity are likewise sustainable ke, writing in the school’s Gender & Sexuality only in light of Bowers’ validation of laws based be married and enjoy the benefits of marriage. Law Blog Nov. 10, saw right away the parallel on moral choices.” Bowers v. Hardwick was the Presumably, Scalia will re-read his Lawrence between Petraeus’ resignation and the experi- 1986 Supreme Court decision that upheld laws dissent snap that, “If moral disapprobation of ence of many gay and lesbian civil servants in against same-sex partners having sex. homosexual conduct is ‘no legitimate state in- the past. “Every single one of these laws is called into terest’ for purposes of proscribing that conduct “Gay men and lesbians were vulnerable to this question” by the majority ruling in Lawrence, … what justification could there possibly be for kind of take down from public service until re- said Scalia. denying the benefits of marriage to homosexual cently on the theory that illegal and shameful Famed Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe couples exercising ‘[t]he liberty protected by the behavior such as being gay or having an extra argued against sodomy laws in the Hardwick Constitution’?” Laws against same-sex marriage, marital affair could render you susceptible to case and wrote a pivotal brief in support of over- he said, with Justice Clarence Thomas signed on, blackmail, thus jeopardizing national security,” turning Lawrence. He agrees that “Most courts were sustainable “only in light of Bowers’ valida- wrote Franke. after Lawrence would, indeed, give adultery a tion of laws based on moral choices.” A week later, John Prados, a senior fellow at wide berth, but when it amounts to cheating “What a moment this is,” noted Katherine the National Security Archive, pointed it out on one’s spouse and endangering others, rather Franke in her comment regarding the Petraeus in a Washington Post piece. Until 1998, when than just violating an antiquated moral code, it affair, “that on the heels of having won enor- President Bill Clinton issued an executive order raises issues that Lawrence v. Texas didn’t ad- mous victories in electing openly gay candidates to stop the practice, he said, CIA intelligence dress or even contemplate, so I wouldn’t be too such as Tammy Baldwin and securing marriage officers “found to be gay” automatically “lost quick to assume that the law has evolved to the rights for same-sex couples in four more states, their clearances or even their jobs.” point where infidelity—especially by someone marriage remains an institution whose mores, “The ostensible concern about the Petraeus Gen. David Petraeus. against whom it might be used as a source of morals, and social standing can bring down affair was the potential for blackmail,” wrote blackmail—is no longer a source of constitu- someone as powerful as David Petraeus when he Prados. “Yet it is far-fetched today to think that tionally legitimate public concern.” violates them. It seems that we live in a time a foreign government would contrive an opera- New York Times and its sister paper the Boston “Certainly the far-fetched, but entirely pre- when it’s safer to be gay than to be an adul- tion to ensnare a CIA employee through an af- Globe ran a story about laws against adultery. dictable, argument that Lawrence put the coun- terer.” fair, a foreign-spy spouse or an allegation of ho- Times’ national legal affairs correspondent Ethan try on a slippery slope that might endanger le- ©2012 by Keen News Service. All rights re- mosexuality. Our enemies are unlikely to bother Bronner pointed out that, in Virginia, where Pe- gitimate interests unrelated to purely moralistic served. with such complicated schemes. Instead, they traeus lives, and in 22 other states, adultery is intrusion into the consensual choices of respon- buy information—the method that has remained “a criminal act.” Those states include New York, sible adults can draw no support from whatev- tried and true—or attempt to hack it from the Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Massachusetts er berth adultery might have gained from the data-rich computer networks that the govern- and Michigan, but not California, Ohio or Texas. Court’s Lawrence decision.” ment is spending billions to defend.” ‘World of Chocolate’ In most of the 23 states where adultery is LGBT law expert Nancy Polikoff at American It was a computer issue that fingered Pe- Nov. 29 at still a crime, it’s a misdemeanor, reported Bron- University’s Washington College of Law, pointed traeus. An investigation by the Federal Bureau ner. But in Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, to a paragraph in the majority decision of Law- Hilton Chicago of Investigation, aimed at determining whether Idaho and Oklahoma, it’s a felony. Moreover, it’s rence that made clear it was directed at “two The AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s 11th the CIA director’s computer security had been rarely enforced or punished. adults who, with full and mutual consent from annual World of Chocolate gala will take breached, uncovered emails indicating he was The discussions were reminiscent of talk about each other, engaged in sexual practices common place Thursday, Nov. 29, 6-9 p.m., at the having an extramarital affair. The FBI had also laws concerning same-sex sexual relations many to a homosexual lifestyle [emphasis added].” Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. found classified documents on the computer of years ago—half the states had laws against it But, added Polikoff, the decision “does protect The event, which commemorates World Petraeus’ mistress, Paula Broadwell. on the books, most were misdemeanors, but a private, adult, consensual sex … so it’s arguable AIDS Day, welcomed more than 1,500 Petraeus submitted his resignation to the few were felonies. They were rarely enforced or that adultery is protected.” guests last year. Guests will experience president Nov. 8. In a separate letter to his col- punished. A key difference, however, is that laws William Eskridge Jr., a professor at Yale Law confections from dozens of Chicago’s finest leagues, Petraeus cited “personal reasons,” but banning same-sex sexual relations (so-called School and author of Dishonorable Passions: chocolatiers, restaurants and caterers. At- was candid. sodomy laws) were frequently cited to prevent Sodomy Laws in America, 1861-2003, said he “After being married for over 37 years, I tendees will also enjoy a light buffet, spe- gays from various jobs, including the military. It doesn’t think state laws that criminalize adul- showed extremely poor judgment by engaging cialty cocktails, a raffle with lavish prizes may interest LGBT readers to know that Petrae- tery would be much weakened by Lawrence when in an extramarital affair,” said the letter. “Such and music. us, during the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” it comes to “state penalties that are designed to behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and Tickets start at $125 each; visit www. said he had no issues working with military col- protect the innocent spouse.” as the leader of an organization such as ours. AIDSChicago.org. leagues he knew to be gay. And Gary Buseck, legal director for Gay & This afternoon, the President graciously accept- As Bronner noted, “Most states have purged Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, said he doesn’t ed my resignation.” their codes of laws regulating cohabitation, ho- think Lawrence weakened laws against adultery LGBTQ health During a press conference Nov. 14, President mosexual sodomy and fornication—sex between much either. Obama said that he has seen “no evidence at conference Nov. 30 unmarried adults—especially after the 2003 Su- “Pre-Lawrence, the Massachusetts Supreme this point” indicating the Petraeus affair com- The 2012 LGBTQ Health & Wellness Con- preme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas….” Judicial Court upheld our state adultery law promised classified information or threatened ference will take place Friday, Nov. 30, 8:30 That decision, he noted, struck down laws against a constitutional challenge. I wouldn’t national security. An investigation is ongoing a.m.-1 p.m. at the Center on Halsted, 3656 prohibiting consensual sexual activity in private bet on Lawrence changing that result although and has cast suspicion of adultery on the current N. Halsted St. between unmarried adults. I am sure arguments could be made that it commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Gen. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Bechara “But the question of how that ruling affects should.” John Allen. It may imperil Allen’s appointment Choucair, commissioner of the Chicago adultery,” he wrote, “remains unanswered be- “Most courts,” said Buseck, “have read Law- to become NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander. Department of Public Health. There will cause others may be harmed by adultery—a rence really quite narrowly and disappointingly The high-profile scandalous nature of the news also be student presentations as well as a spouse and children.” even to questions where it seems wholly rele- surrounding two of the country’s best known networking breakfast and research interest One expert Bronner consulted, a law professor vant.” and most popular military figures has prompted groups. at the University of California-Berkeley, said she Interestingly, this glance at laws against adul- many essays and talk show discussions about The cost is $40 ($20 for students); regis- thinks “it is an open question whether adultery tery comes at a time Scalia and other Supreme adultery and its significance in national security ter at www.CenterOnHalsted.org. Call 773- continues to be as viable as criminal law even Court justices are discussing privately among matters and the military specifically, and in so- 472-6469, ext. 498, for more info. though it remains on the books” because “most themselves whether to take up one or more cases ciety generally. courts in light of Lawrence are going to give related to the legal right of same-sex couples to Less than a week after Petraeus resigned, the WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 5 where a lesbian couple could not adopt as a couple in Michigan so they established residency Attorneys chair national Richard in Chicago, adopted children, returned to Michi- Roane. gan. Then, after several years, their relationship Official ended. Because the couple legally were not seen committee focused headshot under Michigan law as co-parents the custody hearing became particularly complicated, and Michigan ended recognizing and giving what is on LGBT families called “full faith and credit” to the valid adop- tion in Illinois. It then issued orders concerning by Charlsie Dewey Michigan delegate to the national board of gov- custody. ernors. He has been a family law attorney for These are just a few examples of what Roane Although Maine, Maryland and Washington state 25 years and is the first openly gay partner at has seen during his 25-year family-law career. joining the growing list of states that allow Warner. He sees his work on the new committee He said that it has been very frustrating having same-sex marriage, there are still more than as his first foray into activism and is excited by equally treat gay couples the same way,” Roane to tell clients that they have little to no recourse 30 states that have constitutional amendments the prospect of the committee helping to make said. “We don’t have that patchwork of laws when their deceased partners’ families are trying banning marriage equality. Additionally, many an impact on the national level. that affect heterosexual couples across the to evict them from their home, or when their states do not allow same-sex couples to adopt The committee held its first meeting in Chi- country. They are all treated the same. spouses who are seeking divorces have been the children. cago earlier this month and began to outline its “For example, if you have a gay couple that breadwinners for the decades they were together And, because of the Defense of Marriage Act goals, which will be focused on advocacy and gets married in New York and they don’t end and are now trying to take all of the property (DOMA), states do not have to acknowledge a education. that relationship but they break up and then and accumulated assets. couple’s legal marriage or co-parenting status “We talked about how we can collaborate one of them remarries someone else and moves “If we have marriage equality, you are not that another state granted. within the organization, working with other to Michigan, is Michigan going to recognize the going to have kids that were adopted ending This inconsistent treatment from state to committees, and with outside organizations,” first marriage, no. What if, as result of that first up in two or three years of litigation with their state can sometimes result in devastating con- Roane said. marriage under New York law that person is en- parents, and that’s good for children not to be sequences. One group besides the LGBT commu- Internally, the committee expects it will work titled to certain beneficiary benefits or certain in litigation,” Roane said. “You are not going to nity that sees these consequences play out up with the AMICUS and legislative committees, inheritance benefits? have the guy who survived his partner’s death close every day are attorneys, particularly those while externally it has compiled a list of pos- “Let’s say that there was no new estate plan and then got kicked out of the house he’d been who specialize in family law. sible partners in the marriage equality fight, done. If one of the partners dies you could end in for 20 years.” That is one reason the governing board of including the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda up with a very complicated mess in probate Roane is optimistic that DOMA will be re- the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, Freedom to Marry, court where things are contentious, and things pealed. (AAML) voted last year to publicly support gay National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Na- are always contentious when people are fight- “It’s right to repeal a law at the federal level marriage. As a result, the 1,600-member orga- tional Center of Commissions on Uniform State ing over their money, and what is divorce and that purposely targets and discriminates against nization (with chapters in nearly every state) Laws. probate about? Money. Who gets what they had. a huge class of people including a huge amount recently formed a LGBT/alternative family com- Roane pointed out that the portability of mar- So you can end up with probate litigation in of children,” he said. “For people who think that mittee. It is charged with working with other riage license is a key issue for the committee. New York and in Michigan. You could have fam- this doesn’t affect families or you have a choice committees within the organization as well as He explained that when a couple gets mar- ily members from all over the place, a great big to decide who your spouse is going to be and if outside groups to create or improve laws that ried in a state that allows same-sex marriage, mess, because of the patchwork of laws that un- you want to choose a same-sex spouse live with address the issues facing alternative families. another state does not have to acknowledge the equally treat people throughout the country.” the consequences, what about the children that Out Michigan attorneys Richard Roane, a part- marriage. In fact, because so many states have Roane believed that the problems created by are in the mix. They don’t choose and these fam- ner with the law firm Warner Norcross and Judd, banned marriage equality in their constitutions, this patchwork of laws are just beginning and ilies do have children. There are many reasons and Connie Thacker, of Miller Johnson, have those marriages cannot be legally recognized. complications will only grow without federal to repeal DOMA and I am hopeful that Obama, been selected to co-chair the organization. “The problem that we have with the country marriage equality. being given a second chance, there is a lot that Roane also serves as the president of the right now is that we have a patchwork of dif- Roane said it does not end with marriage li- he can do and that he ought to do.” Michigan chapter of the AAML and serves as the ferent laws in different jurisdictions that don’t censes either, citing a Michigan custody case 6 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES ple individually and personally, and the more “We had better, smarter, and more focused willing they are to support our freedom and infrastructure and resources this year that had Marriage: Why LGBTs equality,” said Mixner. “And young people chal- the ability to close the deal,” said Wolfson. “We lenged their parents and said it’s not fair. This worked hard to lay the kind of groundwork that influx of straight energy into LGBT movement is is necessary for campaigns to win.” That includ- won all four states something we haven’t seen the likes of since the ed early money that enabled campaigns to make civil-rights movement of the ‘60s.” earlier media buys that were both cheaper and Another longtime activist, Lorri Jean, chief provided for a long, sustained interaction with By Lisa Keen executive officer of the Los Angeles Gay and voters. The money also totaled much more than Keen News Service Lesbian Center, said she would “definitely” give the National Organization for Marriage and mar- President Obama some credit. President Obama, riage equality opponents could muster. Brown Was the sweep of marriage equality in four state in May, arranged for a nationally televised inter- estimated his group spent $5.5 million; Wolfson ballot measures Nov. 6 the payoff for years of view specifically to express his personal evolu- estimated the four pro-marriage equality cam- grassroots work, talking to neighbors, and pre- tion to a place where he supports the right of paigns spent $32 million. The campaign against paring against scare tactics, or was it the luck same-sex couples to get married. California’s Proposition 8 raised $40 million, of having a weakened opponent on more liberal “He came out for freedom and, as he did, he noted Wolfson, but more than half of that mon- ground with a strengthened Democratic turnout? explained how he talked about it with own chil- ey came in the last few weeks of the campaign. There are as many answers to this question dren. It changed how African Americans voted in Having that funding in place early, said Wolf- as there are ways of asking it: Why, after eight some of these states.” son, “enabled us to command the narrative and years and 32 straight losses (save for a victory Unlike President Clinton, noted Jean, who “ac- constantly make the case with voters without in Arizona that was reversed two years later), knowledged us” but then “invited the passage” being diverted” to fundraising activities. It also did marriage-equality supporters this month win of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), “one of enabled the campaigns to put messages in place four of four battles at the ballot box? the single worst pieces of legislation ever en- to counter the scare tactics they knew would be In various mainstream media recaps, the re- acted,” President Obama has been “a proponent coming from the other side—such as Prop 8’s sponse is that the general population is grow- of full and complete equality for our people… message that allowing same-sex marriage would ing more accepting of same-sex marriage. A New and he got re-elected.” require public schools to teach young children York Times article read, “A rapid shift in public “I think that fact alone means that the right- that boys can marry boys. opinion is bolstering [the same-sex marriage wingers can no longer bank on being able to use In addition to television messages to counter equality] cause as more people grow used to the our lives, dignity, and rights as a wedge issue,” those tactics, said Wolfson, the four campaigns idea of same-sex marriage and become acquaint- she added. benefited from the “cumulative effect of persua- ed with openly gay people and couples.” Evan Wolfson, head of the national Freedom sion and conversations” with the public. The Minnesota Post gave credit to the fact to Marry organization, agreed that President “I’ve been saying this for years: There is no that 79 percent of young voters in Minnesota Obama’s remarks in support of same-sex mar- marriage without engagement,” said Wolfson. voted against the proposed ban of same-sex riage were critical. “It’s the number one most important factor—to marriage, a much higher percentage than voters “Freedom to Marry said at the beginning of the help people think things through and create the overall in the state (54 percent). It also noted year that paving the way for the president” to climate” to win. that any ballot that did not include a “Yes” or support marriage equality was “our top priority,” And part of that climate change has, he said, “No” vote on Amendment 1 counted as a “No” Evan Wolfson. Photo by David Shankbone along with having marriage equality become come over the course of time with the public vote. part of the Democratic Party platform. Both hap- being able to “see with their own eyes” same- Articles in the Kennebec Journal in Maine pened. sex couples getting married in six states and the credited a “progressive” electorate that cares The top priority for the last half of the year, District of Columbia, as well as in 14 countries. about fairness and pro-marriage equality sup- to NOM leader Brian Brown, were that the four he said, was “winning a ballot measure—and we “It refutes the scare tactics, it resolves the porters “who learned from their defeat” in a states were “very liberal” Democratic states, and succeeded in four of four.” discomfort in favor of fairness. Families are 2009 ballot fight “and made a concerted effort the other side had much more money. Wolfson, who has been working on the mar- helped and no one is hurt,” said Wolfson. “All to win votes outside the state’s progressive ur- All of these explanations have some verac- riage-equality issue since its first serious erup- that is up from zero a decade ago, and it has ban and suburban districts.” ity—some more than others. For instance, Pat- tion in Hawaii over an historic lawsuit there in allowed people to rise to a higher level of un- The Baltimore Sun said the victory to pass rick Egan, a public opinion specialist and pro- 1993, said the four “profound triumphs” this derstanding and support.” Question 6 in Maryland could be “traced in part” fessor at New York University, says there’s no year came down to infrastructure, conversations, ©2012 by Keen News Service. All rights re- to the involvement of the faith community, in doubt “we were fighting on very friendly terri- and time. served. particular to the fact that two African American tory this year in three states”—Maine, Mary- Southern Baptist ministers chose to “lend their land and Washington. And there’s no doubt that names, faces and reputations to a campaign on Democrats generally outperformed Republicans achieved the top rating of 100 percent, earn- an issue that remains highly controversial in in the state of Minnesota this year. (It certainly HRC releases first ing the distinction of “Best Places to Work their community.” contrasts with North Carolina, which approved religion-based for LGBT Equality.” In the first CEI, issued 11 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer said the pas- a marriage ban in May, and has typically been a inclusion index... years ago, only 13 businesses rated that high. sage of Referendum 74 to allow same-sex mar- Republican-leaning state.) Other findings include: But these explanations still represent only the The Human Rights Campaign has released riage in Washington State was “bolstered by —A record 74 major businesses and law surface of a very deep, multifaceted foundation its first index of inclusion within a faith- getting two-thirds of the vote in populous King firms publicly supported pro-equality legisla- to Nov. 6’s historic victories. based community with the Jewish Organiza- County.” tion at the state and federal levels; and Longtime gay Democratic activist David tion Equality Index (JOEI), according to a The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), —This year’s CEI marks the first time a ma- Mixner credits youth, too, but sees it as two- press release. which spearheaded the drives to defeat the jority of Fortune 500 companies have nondis- way street: more young LGBT people willing to Key findings of JOEI show how a broad three pro-marriage equality measures and to crimination policies that cover gender iden- come out to their friends and family plus an “in- range of Jewish organizations address LGBT pass the proposed ban in Minnesota offered a tity (from 50 percent to 57 percent), while flux of straight energy into the LGBT movement” diversity and inclusion in three categories litany of reasons for their unprecedented losses. 84 percent of overall CEI participants cover from a younger generation who has more knowl- of practice: organizational inclusion efforts, One NOM official, Thomas Peter told PBS News- gender identity. edge and less fear about sexual orientation dif- community/client engagement and workplace Hour that many opponents of same-sex marriage Illinois companies and firms that scored ferences. policies. Of the 204 Jewish nonprofit organi- had grown “complacent” from all their previous 100 percent include A.T. Kearney, Aon Corp., “By coming out, more people know LGBT peo- zations that participated, 50% received the victories. But their key explanations, according Baker & McKenzie LLP, BMO Bankcorp Inc., top score of “inclusion,” meaning they are Chapman and Cutler LLP, Exelon Corp., Hin- taking significant steps to welcome LGBT in- shaw & Culbertson LLP, Hyatt Hotels Corp., dividuals and families. Jenner & Block LLP and Katten Muchin Rosen- Chicago’s Dedicated and Among other significant findings are: man LLP. Comprehensive LGBT Program —98 percent of participating membership- The list continues with Kirkland & Ellis LLP, ALEO based organizations offer same-sex couples Kraft Foods Inc., Mayer Brown LLP, McDermott VAT CHICAGO LAKESHORE HOSPITAL Valeo at Chicago Lakeshore Hospital family memberships; provides comprehensive psychiatric Will & Emery LLP, MillerCoors LLC, Navigant —73 percent of responding organizations and addiction-related treatment for Consulting Inc., Northern Trust Corp., Orbitz have a written non-discrimination policy; and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Worldwide Inc., Schiff Hardin LLP, Sears Hold- and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. —66 percent of participating organizations ings Corp., Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Sidley Austin The program offers a safe, affirming actively reach out to the LGBT community to LLP, SNR Denton US LLP, Starcom MediaVest therapeutic environment for members attract members or clients. Group, United Airlines, Walgreen Co. and Win- of the LGBTQ community. The Valeo See www.hrc.org/joei for the entire report. staff is comprised of well-trained, ston & Strawn LLP. experienced gay and gay-sensitive “Corporate America continues to raise the behavioral health professionals from ...and its newest bar in workplace fairness,” said HRC Presi- a wide variety of disciplines. corporate index dent Chad Griffin. “LGBT-inclusive workplace The Human Rights Campaign has also re- policies are not only the right thing to do 4840 N. MARINE DRIVE leased its most recent Corporate Equality In- and good business practices, they are the new CHICAGO, IL 60640 dex (CEI), according to a press release. normal.” 1-800-888-0560 In the 2013 CEI, a record 252 businesses The full report is at www.hrc.org/cei. www.chicagolakeshorehospital.com WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 7

and unconditional love he gave all made a Emanuel: Illinois difference in every life he touched. Nasario was the beloved life partner of Jerry Mash; dearest father of Julie, Stepha- should lead on nie and Natalie Mash; devoted son of the late Consuelo B. Campos; loving brother of Elena marriage equality (Charles) Crundwell, Alonzo (Julie) Campos, Juan Carlos (Georgine) Campos and Lorena by Kate Sosin Still the director’s position for that council re- (Jose Justino) Leano; cherished uncle of Dan- mains funded for another year at $86,796. A city iel and Renaldo Ortiz, Esiah, Eliahs, Adam, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sent a message to spokesperson told Windy City Times in October Christina, Alonzo Jr., Jessie, Daniel, Ryan and Illinois lawmakers last week: Illinois must lead that efforts are underway to hire for the position Anthony Campos and Jonathan and Justin the way for marriage equality. and that the council appointments would follow. Leano; fond nephew and cousin of many. Emanuel called on Illinoisans to make same- Also funded for next year is position of direc- Visitation was held Nov. 11 at Drake & Son sex marriage a reality Nov. 13 in a statement tor of LGBT health in the Chicago Department Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western Ave. The fu- issued by his office. of Public Health (CDPH), which has been vacant neral Mass was Nov. 12 at St. Paul’s Church on The statement notes the mayor’s past support since June 2010. Some had worried that the Of- the Lake, 7100 N. Ashland Ave. The interment of civil unions in Illinois as well as his support fice of LGBT Health would be dissolved, but in was private. for ending the military’s ban on openly gay ser- March, CDPH Commissioner Dr. Bechara Choucair Memorial contributions may be made to vice. announced new LGBT health initiatives for the the American Cancer Society, 225 N. Michi- “While we have come to a greater appreciation city. He also told service providers that the city gan Ave., #1210, Chicago, Ill., 60601. Share for the contributions of the GLBT community, was committed to hiring a new director. That a tribute at www.drakeandsonfuneralhome. gays and lesbians are still denied one essential position has been funded for 2013 at $59,796. com; call 773-561-6874 for information. freedom: the right to make a life-long commit- Finally, HIV/AIDS funding will not see sig- ment to the person they love,” Emanuel wrote. nificant reductions for the second year in a row. Steve Starr event The statement goes on to note the diversity of AIDS advocates applauded that fact as other Chicago and the history of Illinois as a leader on services and programs have been hard-hit in the Nasario B. Rodriguez. taking place Dec. 12 struggles for equality. struggling economy. An event that photographer Steve Starr was “Marriage is the next step in our nation’s Previous WCT coverage of the budget is at organizing to mark 45 years in the business march forward,” Emanuel wrote. “Illinois must www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/City- will now be a tribute to Starr, who recently lead the way.” budget-proposal-for-2013-spares-liaison-HIV- PASSAGES passed away. LGBT advocates are pushing for marriage funds/40093.html. On Wed., Dec. 12, “The Face of News”— equality both in the courts and in the legis- Nasario B. showcasing Starr’s photos of journalists, lature. Openly gay state Rep. Greg Harris has Judge from lesbian Rodriguez broadcasters, reporters, columnists and pub- expressed hope that a marriage equality could Nasario B. Rodriguez, RN, BSN, MS passed lishers—will take place at the Murphy Audi- be passed in the upcoming lame duck session. adoption controversy away Nov. 7. He was 52. torium, 50 E. Erie St., 6-9:30 p.m. Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties leaves post Nasario was a graduate of Lane Tech High Starr, a fixture on Chicago’s social scene union are also representing 25 couples suing for and a man who celebrated old Hollywood, BY KATE SOSIN School before earning his Bachelor of Science the right to marry in the state. in nursing and Master of Science in public passed away Nov. 12 after collapsing outside Major media outlets throughout the state have the Drake Hotel, according to the Chicago Circuit Court Judge Susan McDunn, whose han- service and health care administration at published Emanuel’s call for marriage equality. Sun-Times. dling of two lesbian adoption cases in the late DePaul University. He served his residency at Tickets start at $100 each for the event, ‘90s sparked public outcry, has resigned from Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago and people can also make donations; see her position, according to the Office of the Chief before continuing his career at St. Elizabeth City budget passes: http://stevestarr.eventbrite.com. Judge Hon. Timothy Evans. Hospital, where he served as director of nurs- LGBT positions and McDunn resigned Nov. 9 in a letter to Chief ing / critical care in the ICU oncology de- AIDS funding intact Justice of the Supreme Court Thomas Kilbride. partment, and was a member of the Quality BY KATE SOSIN McDunn’s resignation came after reports that Improvement Committee. He also worked at had she appeared in federal court claiming St. Joseph Hospital as a nurse manager in on- Chicago’s city council has passed the 2013 bud- that secret lawsuits had been filed in her name cology services. get, and the ordinance keeps LGBT positions and against powerful people in an attempt to de- Nasario was a speaker at a variety of semi- leaves HIV largely funding intact. stroy her. nars and was featured in a hospital publica- Next year’s budget includes a salary for both In response to a Chicago Sun-Times report tion for his outstanding service in patient the director of LGBT health position and the about McDunn’s court appearances, the chief care. He held certifications in ACLS and BLS city’s LGBT and gender issues liaison, two posi- judge’s office release a statement noting that and was a member of AACN, ONS and CCONS tions that LGBT advocates feared would be cut. McDunn had been suspended months prior. (Chicago). Some LGBTs protested the 2012 budget be- In 1998 and 1999 McDunn was accused of mis- He recently retired from nursing to pursue cause it consolidated the city’s eight identity- handling two lesbian adoption cases, delaying a his lifelong dream of becoming an author. Al- based advisory councils into three and dismissed ruling on one and seeking out the opinions of though he fought a good fight, his life was members of the all-volunteer council on LGBT the Family Research Council, an anti-gay organi- shortened by illness, leaving him unable to issues. Bill Greaves, longtime LGBT director/ li- zation, in the other. complete that goal. Nasario was a gift to a aison, was axed in that process. Bar associations recommended that she not be wonderful legacy of family and friends and A new council that combined the women’s retained in 2004, but voters allowed her to stay will be greatly missed. He will be remembered council with the LGBT council was created to that year and in 2010. for his sincerity, strength, enormous heart, take its place. But after more than a year, that kindness, laughter, love of literature and mu- council has not been appointed, leading some to sic and great achievements. His contributions speculate it would be cut for 2013.

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From the standpoint of the Internet, you can had a question about the culture and climate of BB: We’re still looking at that. Only about decide what you want to see. We don’t pass the organization. Then, there’s all the learning three years ago, e-readers became part of the judgement. It’s all really grounded on our ideas that has to take place. Part of it is just, “What’s mainstream. Mobile devices and smartphones of democracy. the unknown?” have only been around for about five years. And there are certain items you might want WCT: I want to talk about you going to Pa- We’re still trying to understand our role in the for the purpose of research. Something that may cific Lutheran University. You studied psy- mobile space. seem homophobic or racist to someone today chology as well as gay and lesbian studies— One of the big impacts that e-readers have in represents a point in time, and you may want and this was in the ‘90s. the short term is that people come in here ask- to reflect back as a historian. You never know BB: Yes, but let me go back to high school. I ing us how to use them. We have these programs what people’s motivations are, and our goal is to ended up going to Pacific Lutheran by accident. that teach people how to use them and down- connect people with those ideas without judge- I was actually an openly gay athlete in high load items onto them. Some libraries—not us, ment. school; I came out my junior year. just yet—have been experimenting with circu- WCT: What role do you think the library has WCT: Was this a particularly liberal high lating handheld mobile devices with pre-loaded regarding the LGBT community—as a reposi- school? contact on them. tory of history, etc.? BB: I grew up in a university town: Belling- WCT: What’s a typical day like for you? BB: We are a people’s library, so we’re here ham, Wash. It’s pretty progressive. BB: In terms of how I try to spend my time, to serve everyone. I like to see us as the equal So I wasn’t sure I was going to college, but there are different spheres that are important playing field for all. I don’t know that we want recruiters started to approach me my junior year. for me to occupy. One is in the management/ to play more or less a role for any community. Some of the local colleges started to aggres- organization sphere, so that involves working For example, “Facing History and Ourselves” is sively recruit me because I was a swimmer, and with the senior team as part of our weekly meet- an interesting exhibit that ties into The Book Pacific Lutheran provided the best scholarship. ings, one-on-one meetings. Another is connect- Thief—the “One Book, One Chicago” choice [for Pacific Lutheran was a pretty conservative ing to the community, patrons and staffers who this fall]. There are these important moments campus, and I was almost back in the closet. serve our patrons; that’s more of an experiential in the book about standing up and this exhibit However, there was an independent-studies pro- type of sphere. Another sphere is more politi- is about the same thing: When is it our time to gram. Early on, I decided that people who were cal—connecting with counterparts in other city stand up? The exhibit tells a lot of different sto- in the process of coming out would have a safe departments, working with the mayor and his ries—one’s about a gay kid who started an LGBT space so I worked with some professors to create office. group in his school and other kid who tells the a support group for gay and lesbian students. Brian Bannon. Photo from Ruth Lednicer WCT: Speaking of the mayor, where do story of school integration in the 1950s. It looks The group became really popular, [although] things stand regarding budget cuts? At one at the commonalities when people stood up for it was a confidential group. I then thought it point, hours were cut back and then some justice. would be interesting to study social justice were restored. I think that’s the role we ought to play in this through the window of gay and lesbian stud- brary degree, I stayed on. I moved from the U.S. BB: Prior to my arrival, the mayor wanted to conversation—how we connect people’s expe- ies. I asked a professor about a gay and lesbian library program to the Native American access make a big dent in the city’s deficit and had riences. Back to your question, I think [LGBT] studies program, and she [asked], “Why don’t program, where we worked in tribal libraries in to make some tough decisions about balanc- voices need to be present in these conversa- we create a full major?” Some professors and I setting up telecommunications infrastructure for ing the budget. The libraries experienced pretty tions. put together a proposal and took it to the head computers. So I moved from the Gates Founda- deep cuts that ultimately resulted in a reduc- WCT: What are three of your favorite books? of the university. We put in courses like human tion to the Seattle Public Library. tion of hours. The mayor, in the beginning of BB: I try not to play favorites but a book I sexuality and then added our own classes. WCT: Eventually, you became CIO in San 2012, worked with my predecessor to add some keep coming back to is Benjamin Franklin by For me, it was a great way to learn a piece of Francisco. resources back to the budget; we went back to Walter Isaacson, who also tells Steve Jobs’ sto- my own history; it was a wonderful experience. BB: Yes, but first I had been recruited to head six days a week (half a day on Mondays). When I ry beautifully; I didn’t realize the central role It was also an important time for the university the neighborhood libraries. At the time, they arrived, we did a pretty deep organization evalu- [Franklin] played in the concept of the library as because it created a visibility and it also created had just passed a $200-million bond program ation, and through some attrition, we were able we know it today. I also really enjoyed reading a natural conversation point that the university to rebuild all of San Francisco’s neighborhood li- to go back to full days on Mondays. The Book Thief. A book that had a big influence was ready for. At that time, I was the only open- braries. I was there during an incredible time of As we come into 2013, the mayor has an- over my life is Paul Monette’s Becoming a Man; ly gay student but by the time I graduated, there growth; during my five years there, we designed nounced his budget; we feel really good about I read all of his memoirs in college, and it was were 12; today, the university is considered one and opened 22 libraries. what’s in front of us. Two new libraries have important for me to read [Becoming a Man] at of the most [LGBT-]friendly. But I always maintained an interest in tech- been announced in the last four months—one that time. I was learning what it was like to be WCT: You eventually went to library school. nology. When the CIO [retired], I temporarily is in the Back of the Yards neighborhood and openly gay in a time of AIDS and HIV. What made you [go that route]? took over and ran [both] construction and IT. the other is in Chinatown. We’re maintaining our BB: An advisor met her partner when in library We were about to launch a big initiative in in- hours and adding some staff in key locations school, so she had this interest and aptitude vestment and IT, and I thought this would be that are going to be opening. around libraries—the history, intellectual free- an exciting opportunity, and I was asked to stay WCT: Hypothetical: If you had an unlimited Nov. 27 forum dom, issues of privacy. So it found its way into on. budget, what would you implement? focuses on my [studies]. I was struck by the seminal role li- WCT: It seemed that years ago, everyone BB: We’re in a process of taking a big step braries have played in social-justice movements went to libraries. It seems (after talking with back and looking at our mission. I think right anti-LGBTQ violence “Anti-LGBTQ Bias & Our Rights: Lo- in general, such as freedom of expression. friends) that not as many people go, in part now our focus should be on clarity of mission, cal & Federal Responses to Hate and We have these perceptions of what a librar- because of the Internet. Has the Internet and thinking about who we’re serving. Getting Discrimination”—a free community forum ian looks and acts like—they’re among the most been a double-edged sword for libraries? back to your question, we need to be really clear that the Center on Halsted and the City of progressive, forward-thinking agents around the BB: No, and I would disagree with you. A about who we serve and why we serve them. I Chicago Commission on Human Relations world. So I was interested in the roles libraries study has shown that the biggest growth area actually believe that there are areas where we are coordinating—will take place at the and librarians play, from a social-justice per- with library usage is with 19-to-26-year-olds. have big growth opportunities. The work we Center, 3656 N. Halsted St., on Tuesday, spective. People’s use of libraries ebbs and flows over have to do is more internally focused on the re- Nov. 27, 6-9 p.m. I was thinking of getting a stronger back- time. Chicago has seen a consistent uptick in sources that we do have, and maximizing those The event will feature representatives ground in research as a stepping point to being people walking through our doors as well as with to their best potential against our mission—but from such organizations as the Illinois De- an academic. Of course, I was also interested in circulation and people who use us for comput- ask me that question again in a year. [Laughs] ers. partment of Human Rights, Chicago Police the whole ecosystem of what libraries do. But We have a lot of initiatives in the pipeline that Department and the Chicago Lawyers’ Com- once I got to library school, I was specifically I think one thing people forget—for all the I’m excited about, but we’re not ready to share devices we have—is that just under half of Chi- mittee for Civil Rights, among others. taken by what public libraries do. publicly. For more information or to RSVP, email WCT: A bit later, you worked for the Gates cago don’t have the same access to technology WCT: Let’s talk censorship: Is there any type that most of us enjoy. The only point of access [email protected] or call 773- Foundation. of book you would not allow in the library— 472-6469, ext. 436. BB: Yes. While in library school, I had a bunch for some people is to look to libraries and other an anti-gay pamphlet, etc.? of different internships—academic environ- spaces that provide the devices. BB: No. Regarding the principles of intellec- ments, public-library reference desk. I also had Libraries have enjoyed a significant increase tual freedom and selection, the way that public i2i group meets an internship with a nonprofit called Technol- over the years, but the way people use librar- libraries have focused on looking to provide for ies has changed dramatically. The Internet has on Mondays ogy Resource Institute, which Bill and Melinda their constituents so they can choose the per- The LGBTQ organization Invisible to In- saved the modern library; demand for computers funded to bring connectivity to libraries across spectives that most align with their values. We vincible: Asian Pacific Islander Pride of Chi- here far exceeds supply. the U.S. That was one of the first programs to provide a neutral voice of all the voices that ex- cago (i2i) has formed an API coming-out One of the big increases in use that we see is become part of that foundation. ist in a community. group. online, so there are the digital downloads. We What was interesting was that the name As a selector, there’s a whole practice regard- The free group meets the first Monday of just reported that we experienced an 80-percent changed three different times; they finally set- ing selection. We can’t have every book so in each month 6-7:30 p.m. at Asian Human increase in our digital downloads, so people are tled on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. some way we have to (what some would call) Services, 4753 N. Broadway. Email Chica- But I have, like, four different mugs with names downloading materials from our website to their censor and select what we purchase. Our goals [email protected] for more info. of the organization. [Laughs] Once I got my li- mobile devices. We’ve seen many format chang- for selection, however, are to get the broad- es, from records to tapes to CDs to download- WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 9 IFI rallying against June LaTrobe Aurora transgender policy committee leaving Center over BY KATE SOSIN

Weeks after successfully rallying against HRC sponsorship new transgender protections in East Aurora School Dist. 131, the Illinois Family Insti- tute (IFI) is campaigning against efforts to BY KATE SOSIN our efforts on the federal, state and local levels. draft a new policy. From expanding benefits through our workplace Laurie Higgins, cultural analyst for IFI, After more than five years as Center on Halsted’s project to continuing to press for a fully inclu- decried the district’s consideration of a volunteer transgender liaison, June LaTrobe has sive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HRC trans policy after a special committee was announced her resignation, spurred by the Cen- works tirelessly for the entire LGBT community.” formed to review the protections. ter’s acceptance of a donation from the Human But LaTrobe said any changes at HRC have not “Common sense and decency are in short Rights Campaign (HRC) for a Transgender Day of hit home for local transgender people. supply in public schools, so almost imme- Remembrance (TDOR) event. “Locally, they have not been involved in any- diately after the policy was rescinded, the LaTrobe issued her resignation in the form of thing in terms of supporting the trans commu- school board formed an ad hoc committee a letter to Center staff Nov. 14., stating, “I can nity,” said LaTrobe. “It’s really a case of them to revisit the rescinded policy,” Higgins not be a part of putting money above principle.” trying to buy their way back into the commu- wrote. HRC is donating money for the “Night of Fallen nity’s good graces.” “Those who promote this type of poli- Stars,” a portion of the Center’s annual TDOR LaTrobe has been responsible for planning cy believe that the subjective feelings of event that features performances by Broadway much of the TDOR event in past years, inviting teens who wish they had been born the op- Youth Center (BYC) youth. The event was sched- community groups to table before the perfor- posite sex trump objective biological and uled for Nov. 18. mances and coordinating the evening’s tribute anatomical reality,” Higgins added later. HRC has historically provoked the ire of some to trans murder victims. BYC has also collabo- “They believe that what gender-confused transgender people, who feel that the organi- rated on the evening with the Center in years teens feel is their true sex is, indeed, their zation excludes transgender communities. In past. June LaTrobe. Photo by Mel Ferrand true sex.” 2007, the controversy came to a head when According to Brian Richardson, a spokesper- IFI, which the Southern Poverty Law HRC backed a version of the Employment Non- son for Center on Halsted, the Center is paying Center has branded an anti-gay hate Discrimination Act (ENDA) that did not include for the event, despite collaborations with BYC “It’s true,” said Richardson. “HRC has had group, opposed the first policy adopted by trans protections. Others have criticized the or- and other groups. He said the donation in ques- enormous challenges working with the trans the board. That policy would have mandat- ganization’s focus on winning marriage equality, tion amounts to $250. HRC is not appearing as a community over the past several years. That ed that transgender students be called by alleging that HRC neglected trans issues in the sponsor of the event, he said. Rather, the money said, we hope to work with their new leadership their preferred pronouns and have access process. was a contribution. on fighting for both the trans community and to gender-affirming restrooms. HRC has since changed its position on ENDA. “It’s a joint event between the Center and BYC the broader LGBTQ community.” IFI urged supports to contact the district In addition, some have seen the recent install- with participation from a number of other or- LaTrobe has volunteered at the Center for and denounce the first policy. A few days ment of Chad Griffin as the organization’s new ganizations,” he said. “This contribution helps nearly as long as it has been open on Halsted later, the board rescinded the protections, president as a new era for HRC. defray the operating costs of hosting an event Street. She has been responsible for much of the amid public outcry from LGBT advocates. Asked to comment on the controversy, an HRC like this.” organization’s transgender programs over the Since, the board has formed a committee spokesperson stated, “HRC is proud of our con- Richardson also acknowledged past controver- years. to consider new anti-bullying measures. tinuing work with the transgender community— sies with HRC but said the Center was hoping for Richardson said that the Center is sad to see a commitment that is woven throughout all of a fresh start. her go and wishes her luck.

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We Are A Dealer With An THE DESTINATION FOR YOUR PASSION! A+ RATING from the 320 W. Golf Road Better Business Bureau! Schaumburg TOLL FREE 877.253.9965 SALES HOURS: M-F 9AM-8PM, SAT. 9AM-5PM, Winner Of The 2010 Audi SERVICE HOURS: M-F 7AM-6PM, SAT. 8AM-4PM Magna Society Award! schaumburgaudi.com 10 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES benefits and resources often prevents senior type of legislation that mandates training, so citizens from accessing care, panelists said. Ad- we see more agencies coming in—not just the Diversity, inclusivity among ditionally, very few LGBT seniors are out to their ones that are ahead of the curve.” doctors, and many lack traditional caregivers These issues and more were highlighted at the topics at SAGE conference such as spouses or children. SAGENet 2012 conference, a three-day training For those who do have support, legal defini- and networking event for leaders in the LGBT By Erica Demarest tions of family prove problematic. and senior care communities. Topics included “We talk about the isolation of seniors, but federal policy, local policy, workforce develop- Services & Advocacy for GLTB Elders (SAGE) there are seniors who have partners,” Hunt said. ment and staff diversification. kicked off its annual SAGENet conference Nov. “Cultural competency, to me, is about welcom- “Change is slow,” said Beverly Kimmons, direc- 14 at the Center on Halsted with a panel discus- ing the whole family into what’s happening with tor of diversity initiatives at the Alzheimer’s As- sion on culturally competent senior care. a person—just as you would for the straight sociation, “and it often takes a catalyst within “Historically, the LGBT culture has been very population. That is often part of what keeps an organization. You need someone to be the youth-focused, and not always in a healthy people from going to seek the help they need.” rebel rouser that asks the question and keeps way,” said Kim Hunt, executive director of Af- Many SAGE affiliates offer cultural competency pushing.” finity, a South Side empowerment agency for training to hospitals, assisted living facilities Panelists included Michael Goldberg, ex- queer women of color. “Our seniors disappear, and social service agencies. The problem, Larson ecutive director at Heartland Housing; Dennis and many end up in mainstream programs. LGBT said, is that training sessions are currently only Beauchamp, clinical manager of community organizations really need to begin to work with available by request. counseling at CJE SeniorLife; and Grisel Rodri- this population.” “When you take a step back and look at who’s guez-Morales, clinical social worker at Rush Uni- Representatives from 23 SAGE affiliates across not calling [and asking for training]: Those or- versity Medical Center. 16 states were present at the Wednesday morn- ganizations are the ones that need it the most,” More photos from the event are online at ing meeting, which focused on the mounting Larson said. “I really would like to see some www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. health, housing and economic concerns faced by LGBT seniors and seniors of color. According to SAGE Executive Director Michael WEDDING from cover a wedding with all the trimmings,” said Pare. Adams, people of color are less likely to be in- “They really just care and want to give back. sured, and LGBT older adults often face stigma Although it was harder for Pare’s family to All of the sponsors love working together and in facilities that aren’t culturally competent. adjust to her coming out, she was 26 at the they told us that during one of our wedding The U.S. population is aging rapidly, he said. time, they are completely supportive of her planning meetings. Everyone we met during “We know that by 2030, there will be more relationship with Shagena as is Shagena’s this journey was so selfless and giving,” said than 80 million older people in this country— family. Shagena came out to very supportive Shagena. that’s twice the number of today,” Adams said. parents at that age of 16. Many companies supplied the brides with “Current estimates say they are at least 1.5 mil- The couple met in a Kalamazoo bar where everything necessary for their big day. The lion LGBT elders in this country, and that num- Pare worked. A friend of Shagena’s introduced Left Bank Jewelry and Shoes, Joy Millinery, ber is going to soon double.” them, however, neither woman was ready to Mignonette Bridal and Bella Bridesmaid sup- Panelists highlighted LGBT-friendly housing date other people. Shagena shared that they plied the bridal attire, shoes and jewelry for initiatives, as well as successful service and ad- hit it off right away and that Pare makes a the brides and bridesmaids. Beauty On Call vocacy programs. Affinity’s Kim Hunt at the SAGE meeting. mean cocktail. did the bridal hair and makeup. The bridal “There are approximately 40,000 LGBT older Photo by Erica Demarest Since Pare moved to Chicago first the begin- bouquets, bridesmaids bouquets, bouton- adults in the Chicagoland area, and we serve ning of their relationship was long-distance, nieres, corsages, ceremony flowers, reception 500 [here, at the Center on Halsted],” said Brita however, Pare said it made them appreciate flowers, cake flowers, and toss bouquets were Larson, senior services director. “The question member of the LGBT community? And what qual- each other more. “When Jessie moved here it supplied by Fleur, Inc. Black Tie Formalwear is: What type of services are the [other seniors] ity of life do they have?” was great and it hasn’t stopped being great,” outfitted the men in the bridal party with tux- receiving? Are they comfortable identifying as a Confusion about healthcare reform, medical said Pare of their relationship. edos and shoes. When Pare and Shagena got engaged last Amy Beck Cake Design provided the custom October, they didn’t think they would be able designed wedding cake while Pure Kitchens to have a wedding due to lack of funds. They Catering supplied the rest of the food and an originally planned to do something small but open bar of beer and wine. Custom wedding when Pare was reading The L Stop website she favors for all the quests came from Truffle came across the giveaway. Truffle and all the linens and napkins for the At first, Pare didn’t think anything of it reception came from Private Label Linens. but after she read about the giveaway they Chicago Lighting Design handled the lighting decided to enter. They answered some essay and draping at the museum. questions; then a small group of sponsors and Magnificent Milestones were responsible Greatest Expectations officials picked the 10 for the wedding invitations, RSVP postcards, semifinalists. After Pare and Shagena were ceremony programs and rehearsal dinner in- selected, they had to get the public to vote vitations. Rosemary Hall Calligraphy hand- for them. Since the voting took place during addressed the wedding invitations. A custom Shagena’s spring break she spent all of her written wedding ceremony was written by cel- time on the computer reaching out to people ebrant Anita Vaughn. to get support. The voting, Pare and Shagena All of the day’s events were captured by Po- shared, went up and down that entire week. etic Productions and Amanda Hein Photogra- When the voting ended they were chosen, phy. (Hein also took the engagement photos.) along with three other straight couples, as Shutterbooth was also on hand with a photo this year’s finalists. From there all of the give- booth where guests could take unlimited away sponsors had to vote by secret ballot for photo strips. They also had a custom guest this year’s winner. book using guests’ photo strips, and will be To announce the winner, Greatest Expec- giving out a CD with all the images to each tations held a live reveal party in May at guest. During the ceremony and cocktails a Nellcote with the four finalists, their fam- solo pianist performed and at the reception ily and friends. (Shagena’s mom attended.) a six-piece live band from the Becca Kaufman The company showed videos of each couple Orchestra played. The brides also received sharing their story; then last year’s winners 10-one-hour personal training sessions, a announced Pare and Shagena as this year’s one-hour bridal party boot camp and a one- winners. Shagena said she was shocked when hour nutrition consultation from Rappatone their names were called and both women said Boutique Training leading up to their wed- the support from the crowd was the best thing ding day. about winning. One of the other couples who Of their win and recent wedding Shagena competed against Pare and Shagena started a said, “Thanks to our Twitter followers who standing ovation when their names were an- voted for us. ... We wouldn’t want to live nounced. anywhere else but Chicago.” Pare said, “I am Greatest Expectations planned the wed- just grateful and thankful for this city and ding, coordinated with the sponsors and the community as a whole because the com- oversaw the rehearsal dinner, ceremony and munity is so supportive and amazing.“ reception. “In our meetings with everyone For more information on the giveaway, visit we found them to been wonderful, generous www.elevenelevenwedding.com/category/ people who do this contest to give back to eleven-eleven-wedding-giveaway/ and www. people who wouldn’t normally be able to plan greatestexpectations.com. WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 11 Vince Dinh continues to work in real estate, but his true passion is found at the new Savon Spa in Lakev- iew, which opened in July, boasting a primarily or- Thursday, Nov. 22 GAYin the ganic approach to products and treatments. “I just feel this is the right fit for me; I really love Happy Thanksgiving! interacting with customers,” Dinh said. We will be closed for LIFE the day, celebrating with Savon Spa offers a luxurious, purifying spa experi- Vince Dinh ence in an elegant setting reminiscent of old world family and friends. Text and photos by Ross Forman Paris, its website boasts. It offers manicures, pedi- cures, facials, massages and more. Plus, a limited supply of women’s hand-made jewelry is for sale, Tuesday, Nov. 27 along with home-made, organic soap. 5 p.m. Savon also has recently started offering colonics. Charlotte Pierce-Baker “The massages we offer are from massage thera- This Fragile Life: A Mother’s pists who are very talented; they really have healing Story of a Bipolar Son hands,” Dinh said. There are 13 who work at Savon, including eight massage therapists. Dinh has a license to do nails, but rarely does due to his time constraints running 5233 N. Clark the operation. (773) 769-9299 “Seeing customers satisfied with our service is won- derful, especially knowing that we really are helping them,” he said. Dinh has traveled worldwide, including Mexico, Age Spain and France—and has gotten massages in most 44 locations. He has worked in the real estate industry since 2005 and is now a broker for Solid Source Reality in Neighborhood Chicago, where his specialty is residential short sales. [email protected] Albany Park “My goal at Savon is to role it into a more holistic spa, to help customers work with their inner self,” womenandchildrenfirst.com Homeland Dinh said. Parking Available Vietnam, has lived in Chicago since The majority of Dinh’s customers are female, though he wants to expand further into the LGBT com- Wheelchair Accessible 1992 munity. “At Savon, it’s all about your health, well-being and beauty,” Dinh said. Relationship status Partnered with Ryan Belknap, for five years Job title Owner/president, Savon Spa (3635 N. Halsted St.) Hobbies Dressing in drag as Funky Little Asian Favorite Chicago gay bar Berlin Little-known fact Has a phoenix tattoo on his chest, which was completed in 2004 after about a year. It required “six sessions of pain,” he said, “but it’s worth it; I love it.”

‘Late Night’ shopping Nov. 30, Dec. 14 The 10th annual Late Night Andersonville will take place Friday, Nov. 30, 6-10 p.m. During that time, more than 40 Anderson- ville stores and restaurants will be open late and offering savings on meals and dis- tinctive holiday gifts. This event is great for shoppers of all ages and features free entertainment, great refreshments and a chance to get pictures taken with Santa (6-8 p.m. at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St.). The event will recur Friday, Dec. 14, at the same time. Call 773-728-2995 or visit www.andersonville.org for more info.

Left: Mary W. Rowland. Right: Rowland being sworn in as family attends. Photos by Hal Baim; see more photos at www.windycitymediagroup.com ACLU holding all-day event Lesbian sworn in as federal magistrate judge Dec. 1 in Chicago On Saturday, Dec. 1, the ACLU of Illinois Mary W. Rowland, an out lesbian attorney who has argued high-profile cases. Rowland’s firm had a hand in the winning case against the City of will host ACLU: ENGAGE, a gathering of civil-rights cases, was sworn in as a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern Chicago on behalf of African-American firefighter applicants who alleged hundreds of human-rights and civil-liber- District of Illinois Nov. 14. Judge James F. Holderman administered the discriminatory hiring practices as well as a case against a Sioux Falls, S.D., ties activists, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at Venue oath in a courtroom filled with her family, friends and supporters. practice of strip-searching all juvenile detainees. SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Ave. Rowland is one of few out LGBT people to be appointed to serve as a “I have been involved in what some would call controversial cases,” said The event will feature, among other peo- federal judge in the country. The ceremony was held in the James Benton Rowland. ple and things, the ACLU national legal di- Parsons Memorial Courtroom at the Dirksen Courthouse downtown. Rowland is included on the Illinois Super Lawyer list for 2012 and is a rector, Steve Shapiro; panels on a range of Rowland’s wife, Julie Justicz, and their children, Thomas and Lilly, stood member of the board of directors of the Federal Bar Association. She is also issues; and U.S. Congresswoman Jan Scha- by her when she took the oath. a member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago and has done kowsky and state legislators. The keynote Heather Sawyer, who earlier in the week was inducted into the Chicago volunteer work for Lambda Legal. speaker is Aasif Mandvi, the “senior Middle Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, spoke, as did Matthew Piers and John Mur- A native of Akron, Ohio, Rowland graduated from the University of Chi- East correspondent” from The Daily Show. phy. cago Law School, where she met her Justicz. The two were married in Cali- Tickets are $35-$100 each; see http:// Rowland, a partner at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd., served as fornia in 2008. a federal defender for a decade before taking on high-profile civil-rights engage.aclu-il.org. 12 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY VIEWPOINTS TIMES VOL. 28, No. 7, Nov. 21, 2012 legislation will make it to the floor and to a The combined forces of Windy City Times, Magic time in D.C. happens rarely. It comes founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, mark every four to eight years and only when there vote. He does not necessarily have to have his founded May 1987. is a true shift in the populace that one of the name on the legislation. The point is, he has segal political parties begins to look inward to try and the Republican votes and the authority to get it PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR find their deficiencies. That magic time usually through the House. And as magic season has it, Tracy Baim runs from the election to the end of the cur- he’s very much aware of not only the future of ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky rent congressional term, since the congressional Republicans in the House, but those around him MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis leadership can count on the majority of outgo- who want his job. That, my friends, spells oppor- BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine ing members for their votes in trade for future tunity. Choose your partner and dance. Anyone DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright assistance, and on current members looking for in for a foxtrot with Congressman Cantor? ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson LGBT Capitol SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS: Terri Klinsky, Amy plum positions in the new Congress. It’s time for our friends at GOProud and Log Matheny, Kirk Williamson, Chris Cheuvront miracle ENDA is the only major part of our priority list Cabin, and people like Ken Mehlman to prove PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT Cynthia Holmes that is not accomplished. It’s important, since themselves. They should either, on their own or NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 It’s magic time in Washington, D.C., and our most LGBT Americans are still not protected in with a coalition of organizations, focus like a SENIOR WRITERS Kate Sosin, Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, Marie J. Kuda, David Byrne, Tony Per- LGBT media, bloggers and, particularly, lobbyists employment. Military servicemembers are; if you laser beam on ENDA and Boehner. If you guys egrin, Lisa Keen, Yasmin Nair, Erica Demarest like the Human Rights Campaign are not feeling work for the U.S. government you are. To our don’t have the access, then it’s time for you to THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan that magic. Most are tripping over themselves lobbyists in D.C., isn’t it time to use our political stand your ground, as Latinos have with the CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight, Jr. to give what they believe should be the LGBT capital for the rest of the people? Dream Act. Ken, raising money for marriage BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair SPORTS WRITER Ross Forman priorities for the Obama administration’s second How to make it happen: It takes three steps. equality will not wash the blood off your hands, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS term. All their suggestions are worthy, but they First, ENDA must pass both the House and Sen- but standing in front of the Capitol at a news Mary Shen Barnidge, Steve Warren, Lawrence Fer- all miss the Washington magic. They’re looking ate, then be signed by the president, whose sup- conference fighting for nondiscrimination starts ber, Mel Ferrand, Jerry Nunn, Jonathan Abarbanel in the wrong place. port we already have. We know we also have the you on that path. COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Jorjet Harper, Meghan Streit, Charlsie Dewey, Carrie Let’s take a cue from the Latino community. support of Democratic leadership and the over- Here’s the rub: We have about four weeks left Maxwell, Billy Masters, Tyler Gillespie, Sarah Toce, It’s the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue we whelming majority of Democrats in the House of this Congress. Think that is not enough time? Dana Rudolph, Sally Parsons, Melissa Wasserman, should be focusing on—the U.S. Senate and and Senate. OK, here comes the problem, and a Remember the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?” Jamie Anne Royce, Matthew C. Clark, Joe Franco House of Representatives. The Latino community suggestion. That’s all it took, just two years ago. SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Mel Ferrand, Hal Baim, Steve Starr, Emmanuel Garcia, Tim Carroll, Ed gets the game: Their lobbyists have a focus and From that scenario, you should devise that Mark Segal is publisher of the Philadelphia Negron, Susan Mattes make it simple for legislators to understand. For the hold-up would be in the House of Repre- Gay News. He can be reached at mark@epgn. CIRCULATION them, it’s the Dream Act. For us, it should be the sentatives, whose speaker is Congressman John com. CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright Employment Nondiscrimination Act. Boehner. The speaker controls all. If he wishes, DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Renee, Sue and Victor WEB HOSTING: LoveYourWebsite.com (lead pro- grammer: Martie Marro) The poems speak from a variety of imagined ilies, friends, and communities. perspectives, including Matthew, his assailants, One major question she tries to answer is Copyright 2012 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media DANA Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back his parents, the mountain biker who first found whether the men reinforced or resisted the “het- issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). RUDOLPH him, the police officer who came next, the doc- eronormative” standard of two parents settling Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and tor who treated him, and the housekeeper at down with kids, often with the mother as a stay- no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. the hospital—but also the stars above, the deer at-home caregiver. Did they challenge the norm All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned found curled next to him, and the fence he was with new views of what makes a family, or with for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing tied to, as well as less specific mothers, fathers, new approaches to dividing family and employ- and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own MOMBIAN students, gay people, and others who heard of ment responsibilities? Did having non-biological and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City the killing. children or bumping into legal obstacles be- Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy Poetry and The lines are brief and haiku-like in their sim- cause of their sexual orientation force them to City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the plicity (a few are in actual haiku form), giving confront these norms, regardless? sexual orientation of such person or organization. While we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make academia reveal them a rawness and impact that might well be Goldberg found that variation among the this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept lost among more words. Newman’s slim volume men—and even within individuals—means we responsibility for advertising claims. LGBT lives reminds us why, even twelve years after Shepa- cannot simply split them into two groups. “Some (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 e-mail: [email protected] or rd’s death, his story still resonates. men conformed to heteronormativity in some Stories can be told in many ways. Two new [email protected] The second new book takes a very different aspects of their lives and resisted it in others,” works—one poetic, one academic—take strik- approach to LGBT lives. Gay Dads: Transitions she writes. At the same time, even if they didn’t www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com ingly different approaches to telling the stories to Adoptive Parenthood, by Dr. Abbie Gold- actively resist traditional ideas, “their very ex- radio: WindyCityQueercast.com of LGBT people and families. berg, associate professor of psychology at Clark istence [as gay adoptive parents] poses a chal- video: QueerTVNetwork.com The first is by Lesléa Newman, best known University in Massachusetts and senior research lenge to heteronormativity.” as the author of the groundbreaking children’s WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, fellow at the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Insti- Recognizing these men and their children as book Heather Has Two Mommies. Newman is also 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, Illinois 60640 tute, is an examination of gay couples before families and understanding how they navigate U.S.A an award-winning poet, however, and served as and just after they adopt children. While written these issues, she concludes, “can help to trans- (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) the poet laureate of her hometown of Northamp- in part for an academic audience, the book is form societal understandings of family, gender, ton, Mass., in 2008-2010. Her new work draws Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. nevertheless extremely accessible for lay read- sexuality, race, and love.” This new and ex- Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. on her poetic skill, and, with its much more ers. Gay dads (and prospective gay dads), as panded understanding can benefit both gay and OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE somber tone, is aimed at older audiences. www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com well as adoption providers, social workers, and straight couples alike, she asserts. October Mourning: Songs for Matthew www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com lawyers, among others, will find much of value The above two books may seem an unlikely Shepard is a cycle of 68 poems that serve as www.WindyCityQueercast.com in it. pair. One is emotional verse; the other dispas- www.QueerTVNetwork.com reflections on the death of Matthew Shepard, Goldberg’s previous book, Lesbian and Gay Par- sionate research. Each, however, has its place in the University of Wyoming student killed in a ents and Their Children, took a broader look at painting a fuller picture of LGBT people and our “Windy City Media Group generated brutal gay-bashing in October 1998. Newman LGBT families, and remains the best one-volume interactions with the world around us. enormous interest among their readers was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the overview of research on the topic. In Gay Dads, Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher in this year’s LGBT Consumer Index university’s Gay Awareness Week just a few days however, she looks more in depth at a smaller of Mombian (www.mombian.com), an award- Survey. Out of approximately 100 after the tragedy. print and online media partners who segment of our community. winning blog and resource directory for LGBT Despite being shaken by the event, Newman participated in the survey, Windy Goldberg conducted a study of 70 adoptive parents. gave her talk, she writes in the afterward to her City was the best performing regional gay dads (35 couples) from across the coun- book, recognizing the Wyoming community’s media in the U.S. Only survey partners try, interviewing them when they were seeking need not for her exact words, but for her pres- with a nationwide footprint were to adopt as well as several months after they ence as an out, proud lesbian to show them such Send letters and able to generate a greater number of had adopted. Over 80 percent were White and a life was possible. viewpoints responses.” ­­—David Marshall, Research well-educated (although over half had adopted Later, she reflected on the many people who Director, Community Marketing, Inc. transracially). This is just a slice of our full com- to Andrew@WindyCity had told her “I can’t imagine,” in response to munity—but Goldberg recognizes the need for the murder. Her poems, which she calls “a his- MediaGroup.com. further work on gay dads of color and working- torical novel in verse,” are her attempt to imag- class gay men. Items may be ine—not only because that is her job as a poet, She starts by looking at the decision-making she writes, but also because it is her job as a hu- edited for process that led the men to choose parenthood man. She explains, “Only if each of us imagines in general and adoption in particular. After that, length or clarity. that what happened to Matthew Shepard could she explores how adoptive parenthood—private, happen to any one of us will we be motivated to public, domestic, and international—affected do something. And something must be done.” the men’s relationships to each other, their fam- WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 13 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Photo by Tom Bludgen

BOLLY GEE WHIZ Circle Theatre is staging a Bollywood interpretation of Pippin. Read the review on page 14. DISH TV SPORTS Troy to the world. The ‘Horror’ of it all. Top ref. Page 30. Page 18. Page 34.

Photo of baklava at Troy Mediterranean Photo of Franka Potente from F/X Photo of Julie Colwell Grill by Andrew Davis from Colwell

SCOTTISH PLAY SCOTT “They kept telling me, ‘You should have your own show!’” Ford said. Although Ford found film work in Hairspray and on tour as an early backup dancer for Lady Worth a look Gaga, he thought it would be a great idea to write and perform his own material. BY SCOTT C. MORGAN world, but because they’re the only two people The resulting show eventually became The Tra- they can possibly have contact with, they have maine Experience: An Urban Dramedy, in which Sometimes new works that have LGBT charac- to come to terms with their differences.” the openly gay Ford plays six characters (includ- ters or potential fan bases can escape my no- Within the first 10 minutes of the one-act ing some in drag) based upon a variety of outra- tice—especially if the LGBT angle isn’t explicitly play, it’s revealed that the unseen soldier is gay, geous people he met while growing up in Cabri- spelled out in advance. But two productions that even though he doesn’t specifically use that ni Green. These include “Jarvis” (the drunk), are currently or have previously played in Chi- word. “Pookie” (the gangbanger) and “LaQuanda” (the cago are definitely deserving of a second look. “I don’t think we need to be coy about it any- ghetto-girl hairdresser). more,” Brown said. “The other (soldier) has no When asked if he was worried about perpetu- Wasteland at TimeLine Theatre experience with it, and I mean it is 1971.” ating stereotypes or potentially exploiting his Out director William Brown was amazed at the Brown warns that there are streams of “fag” former Cabrini-Green neighbors, Ford said, “the speed that it took Susan Felder’s world premiere jokes in Wasteland, but he points out the voices whole concept is actually playing on the stereo- play, Wasteland, to go from being a staged read- in society to oppose such language and treat- types.” ing this past January to receiving a full profes- ment at that time would only have just started “My characters purposefully start off the show sional staging starting in October at TimeLine galvanizing together in the wake of the 1969 being very comically shallow as you would see in Theatre. Stonewall Riots. But in the course of the play, the media,” Ford said. “But as the show goes on, “A lot of logistical hurdles were jumped,” the two soldiers come to see how they need each I strip down those stereotypes so you see what Brown said, adding that at the time of Waste- other’s support to get through the horrific situa- these human beings are like and where they’re land’s play reading TimeLine Theatre has almost tion they’re in. coming from and what their real motivations and completed its 2012-13 season planning. “Susan “It’s a powerful stand of the play which is dreams and aspirations are. At the end of the and TimeLine wanted me to direct it, so it was a about our desperate need for each other as hu- show, I really hope that people see at the end happy occurrence for me.” man beings,” Brown said, adding that the play’s of the day that these characters are just like you Set during the Vietnam War, Wasteland fo- message is vital in light of the very polarized Tramaine Montell Ford as one of his many and me.” cuses on a captured American soldier played by political situation in this country. “We have to characters inspired by his time growing up in Ford said The Tramaine Experience has built Nate Burger who is literally imprisoned in a hole find common ground.” Cabrini-Green in The Tramaine Experience: An a big LGBT following in New York, and that the in the ground. In an adjoining cell is another Although Brown directing career is largely fo- Urban Dramedy. Photo courtesy of Ford show was sold out during its previous three- American prisoner, who is never seen by the au- cused on classical plays, he relished the chance performance Chicago run at the Gorilla Tango dience and entirely exists throughout the play as to get his hands on a work by a living play- Theatre. So he hopes his upcoming late-night a voice (performed by Steve Haggard). wright. “It’s so important to be a part of the pro- Solo Jams performance for MPAACT will be just Inspiration from Cabrini-Green “Susan’s motivations for writing this play came cess of creating dramatic literature and bringing as popular—particularly if many of his previous Actor/dancer/playwright Tramaine Montell at a desperate point in her life when she felt re- it to life.” Cabrini-Green neighbors come out to see the Ford was always cutting up his friends with moved from people and she said she felt like she Wasteland continues through Sunday, Dec. show. laughter whenever he would do imitations of was buried in the dirt,” Brown said, adding that 30, at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave. The Tramaine Experience: An Urban Dramedy people he encountered while growing up in the it became the physical and structural starting in- Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and appears at 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, as part of former Cabrini Green Housing projects. It was spiration for Wasteland. Though the two soldiers Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays (also 4 p.m. on Nov. MPAACT’s Solo Jams series at the Greenhouse something Ford started doing while attending in the play are on the same side, Felder wanted 23), 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sun- Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are classes with Chicago’s Free Street Theater and to “separate them as far as possible in terms of days (no show Nov. 22). Tickets are $32- $42. $12; call 773-404-7336 or visit www.greenhous- continued while attending Syracuse University world views—so you have two people who prob- For more information, call 773-281-8463 or visit etheater.org for more information. ably wouldn’t speak to each other in the regular www.timelinetheatre.com. in New York. 14 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES THEATER REVIEW literature, their immersive proximity to nature sparks introspective insights leading them to The Burnt confront memories of the past and hopes for the future, before a crisis puts both their bodies and Part Boys soul-searching in danger whose resolution re- Playwright: book by Mariana Elder, quires intervention by the still-vigilant ghostly music by Chris Miller, lyrics by Nathan Tysen sires who inhabit the subterranean depths. At: Griffin Theatre Company at There’s enough material in this Frodo Baggins- Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. meets-Tom Sawyer premise for a dozen thematic Tickets: 773-975-8150; explorations—among them, American panthe- www.griffintheatre.com; $25-$36 ism, following your bliss, honoring the dead, a Runs through: Dec. 22 hymn to laborers, thrilling boys’ adventures— but what integrates the fluctuating tonal am- BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE bivalence in Mariana Elder’s text is Chris Miller

and Nathan Tysen’s score of Appalachian string- Listen closely during the first few minutes of band ditties, replete with extended high-notes spoken dialogue, because the exposition comes invoking transcendent pastoral elation. The ac- fast: Ten years earlier, in 1952, the South Moun- tors in this Griffin Theatre production may be tain Mine collapsed, burying the miners trapped limited in their experience with this folk-genre, therein. The owners torched the remains of the but Nicholas Davio’s music direction capably site, subsequently dubbed “the burnt part” by suggests its more esoteric flourishes—yodeling, the grief-devastated local citizenry. With the say, or a solo played on a carpenter’s saw. It also news that the shaft is to be reopened, however, solves the acoustical problems long associated young Pete Twitchell—fueled by fantasies of with wide/shallow auditoriums by projecting the John Wayne in The Alamo—vows to dynamite, vocals side-to-side more often than full-forward, and thus forever seal, the entrance to what he offering the sound a greater spread over the regards as a shrine marking his lost father’s room. grave. Ultimately, the infectious exuberance of the This sets up the play’s main action, as the defi- Pippin. Photo by Tom Bludgen fresh young talent smiling and singing their ant Pete and his meek sidekick navigate forests, hearts out in the intimate quarters of Theater ford streams and acquire themselves a guide—a Wit’s southwest studio overwhelms the fuzzy runaway tomboy of likewise romantic proclivi- narrative arc to win our unconditional emotional THEATER REVIEW These issues aside, Pippin has a problem virtu- ties—on their trek through the rocky West Vir- support. When have Griffin audiences ever ob- ally no high concept can overcome: It’s a cynical ginia hills, pursued by Pete’s elder brother Jake, jected to a healthy dose of sentimentality? Pippin show with a coolly hip but uncaring vibe. The and his best buddy. As often occurs in American Playwright: Stephen Schwartz central figure, Pippin, oldest son of King Char- (music and lyrics), lemagne, hardly is heroic. Only his social status Roger O. Hirson (book) elevates his picaresque journey of self-discov- At: Circle Theatre, ery, an otherwise-commonplace journey which THEATER REVIEW 1010 W. Madison St., Oak Park never truly ends. The show winds up arbitrarily Tickets: www.circle-theatre.org; breaks & bikes and inconclusively without providing the audi- Playwright: Mallery Avidon 708-660-9540; $27.90-$29.97 ence, or Pippen himself, with emotional closure. At: Pavement Group at Collaboraction Runs through: Dec. 23 As usual, Circle Theatre has assembled a tal- Studio 300 at Flat Iron Arts Building, ented cast with boyish Neil Stratman (Pippen) 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL and viperish Christopher Logan (Lead Player) Tickets: www.pavementgroup.org; $25

headlining the troupe. In support, Jennifer Runs through: Dec. 9 I picture the original director and choreographer Bludgen (Fastrada) and Patti Roeder (Berthe) of Pippin, the great Bob Fosse, imposing his provide big voices and sure comic chops, while BY SCOTT C. MORGAN ideas upon his collaborators and saying repeat- Khaki Pixley offers a sympathetic Catherine. It’s edly, “Don’t worry, I can make it work.” Every- not a South Asian cast, which may not be PC, Just days before Pavement Group officially thing gave way to Fosse’s dazzling vision: a co- but is indicative that Bollywood style now is in- opened Mallery Avidon’s world-premiere herent book, a strong score, even the emotional ternational. drama, breaks & bikes, the company shared arc. His dance-centered show did work, assisted exciting news about its artistic associate by a brilliant cast, but it was something others playwright. Another one of Avidon’s works, O could not replicate. Pippin never has worked as CRITICS’ PICKS Guru Guru Guru, or why I don’t want to go well in its 40-year post-Broadway life, which un- to yoga class with you, was selected for the doubtedly was the attracting challenge for Kevin 2013 Humana Festival of New American Plays Bellie, a director and choreographer long under- The Magic Parlour, The House Theatre of at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. valued within Chicago’s theater firmament, now Chicago at Palmer House Hilton, open run. And if there is any justice, Avidon’s breaks stepping down as Circle Theatre artistic director breaks & bikes. Photo courtesy of Pave- Youthful master magician Dennis Watkins & bikes will be picked up by other companies after years of leadership. ment Group offers an intimate hour of jaw-dropping across the country following director Kathryn Bellie knew Pippin demands high concept and sleight-of-hand magic and mind-reading in Walsh’s masterfully realized staging at Col- strong style. His solution is Pippin in the style an oak-paneled room. His clever repartee laboraction’s Studio 300 at Chicago’s Flat Iron of a Bollywood musical extravaganza. Why not? adds to the fun. The cost is $75 with drinks; Arts Building. together Drew’s romantic life and failed aspi- So much of Pippin is a celebration of things sen- Fri.-Sat. only, 10:30 p.m. JA A definite improvement over her interest- rations to become a rock star, and how he has sory and sensual that swirling incense, brilliant- The Odd Couple, Northlight Theatre, ing but flawed 2009 play, fracture/mechan- been vital to those people now uncomfort- ly colored fabrics and Kama Sutra choreography through Dec. 9. Cheers star George Wendt ics, Avidon’s breaks and bikes largely looks ably waiting in the hospital. must have seemed an inspired marriage, but it’s had to drop out due to medical reasons, but in at the dimming hopes of a group of young Avidon’s up-to-date dialogue is by turns more like a shotgun wedding. his understudy, Marc Grapey, and co-star Seattle adults who are pulled into the fading both realistic and poetical, and she finds First, you should know that the show looks Tim Kazurinsky lead a top-notch cast who orbit of their influential friend (and some- comforting humor amid the unhappy situ- gorgeous on Bob Knuth’s mogul-influenced all show why this classic Neil Simon comedy times lover), Drew (Joe Wiens), a 31-year-old ation (much is made about the characters’ set, with the sinewy cast wearing Jesus Perez’s has endured through the decades. SCM law student and former rock musician who has various cellular phones and the sometimes splashy Hindu-psychedelic costumes. Bellie’s The Opponent, A Red Orchid Theatre, fallen into a coma following a cycling acci- reluctant transitions from partying young choreography, too, is suggestive of both Indian through Dec. 2. You can smell the sweat dent. adults pushed to grow up and make mature Bollywood pop dance and Fosse hip-swiveling. and testosterone in the gym where a boxer On the scene immediately is Drew’s finan- responsible choices). The entire talented cast At times it’s just plain suggestive as in the Act I with nothing but his future and a trainer cially troubled mom, Deb (Morgan McCabe) builds upon Avidon’s fine textual framework pansexual orgy number. with nothing but his past go head-to-head, and a former girlfriend, Cass (Sasha Gioppo), with emotionally raw and richly revealing per- However, the music suffers in the effort to toe-to-toe and glove-to-glove over broken who is now in medical school. Appearing formances. force some Schwartz tunes into tabla-beat dreams. MSB soon thereafter are two other on-and-off Although Shaun Fenfro’s basic set design rhythms, and the show only had three or four Superior Donuts, Mary-Arrchie Theatre girlfriends, artist Devin (Cyd Blakewell) and consists of a few chairs and a collage of over- strong numbers in the first place. Songs such as Company at Royal George Theatre, through hairdresser Ali (Laura Lapidus), and Drew’s size torn photos, it serves as an appropriate “Corner of the Sky,” “Time to Start Living” and Nov. 25. Tracy Letts’ most optimistic play former bandmate Jason (Keith Neagle), who backdrop for the performers to standout amid “A Love Song” survive reasonably intact while has finally found the perfect location for now works as a bike courier. the precision focus of lighting designer Janna others—among them the crucial opening num- its celebration of the America Dream as As these friends and relations uneasily iden- Webber. ber—do not. symbolized by a humble doughnut in an tify and question each other’s ties to Drew, Inevitably, breaks & bikes will prod the au- The shotgun marriage also sets up distinct economically-changing Uptown. the patient himself offers unheard comments dience to reflect on their own life’s compro- culture clashes as the characters talk about the and requests before ultimately getting up to mises, and of the arbitrariness of accidents to spread of Christianity and killing non-Christian —By Abarbanel, Barnidge sing and play electric guitar to comment on strike one’s friends and loved ones. Although infidels, all within a setting that suggests a Hin- and Morgan the situation. It’s an involving device on Avi- clearly aimed at a thirtysomething audience, du culture. One scenic device even features the don’s part to pull the audience in to puzzle breaks & bikes should speak to anyone. Hindu god Ganesha. WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 15

BET PRESENTS JACKIE TAYLOR’S

THE HOLIDAY CLASSIC RETURNS—NOW IN ITS 36TH YEAR! NOVEMBER 23 - JANUARY 13 Everyone is welcome in the Kingdom of Other so order your tickets Today! Reserve tickets by phone at 773.769.4451, through Ticketmaster, or online at blackensemble.org BET YOU IN? 16 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

SPOTLIGHT

Annie may be back on Broadway at the moment, but you can avoid the airfare to New York to see the show by catching the beloved 1977 musical at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. Just how the Paramount Theatre was able to contractually swing staging Annie at the same time as the Broadway revival is a mystery. But this Tony Award-winning musical based on Harold Gray’s Depres- sion-era comic strip is definitely an ideal show to see Sister Act. Photo by Joan Marcus during the holiday season. Annie is now in previews through Friday, Nov. 23, with an official opening at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Paramount Theatre, 23 THEATER REVIEW show tunes with sufficient wit. Not every num- E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets are $34.90-$46.90; for ber is a hit, but you can’t ask for a more reliable tickets, call 630-896-6666 or visit www.paramountau- Sister Act soundtrack for a musical, not to mention one rora.com. Photo of Caroline Heffernan with Mikey the Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Glenn that also keeps with the light, irreverent tone of dog by Tom King Slater, Book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner the entire production. with additional material The touring cast features some knockout voic- by Douglas Carter Beane es, starting with Ta’Rea Campbell in the Gold- At: Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt berg role of aspiring diva Deloris Van Cartier. University, 50 E. Congress Pkwy. Campbell, who somewhat ironically appeared in Tickets: 800-775-2000; the original cast of The Book of Mormon, can www.BroadwayinChicago.com; $28-$103 really belt it, even if her lower register gets a Runs through: Dec. 2 little lost, and she packs the appropriate cha- risma and attitude to rally the nuns. BY STEVEN CHAITMAN Chicago actress Hollis Resnik gets an encore in the curtain call for her performance as Mother Sometimes, when it comes to new musicals, all Superior. The 10-time Jeff Award winner doesn’t you want to do is have some nun. get any of the glitzy numbers, but she gives one Sister Act, a musical adaptation of the 1992 of the few performances—if not the only one— Whoopi Goldberg film, opened on Broadway containing any conviction. a year ago last April, and despite earning ac- Lael Van Keuren, who plays timid nun-in- claim as a real crowd-pleaser, it got completely training Sister Mary Robert, rather appropriately dwarfed by The Book of Mormon. Smart then, blows the roof off the stage with a powerhouse that its North American tour hits the Auditorium voice that probably belongs somewhere perform- Theatre and hightails it out of town right before ing Wicked instead of something as easy-breezy “Mormon” begins its anticipated Chicago run in as Sister Act, but it’s voices like hers that re- December. ally bring some added authenticity to audiences Hellcab. Photo by Michael Brosilow Although not likely half as smart as “Mormon,” looking to get the most for their dollar from an Sister Act undoubtedly deserves a chance to be official touring production. In 2012, you won’t hear chuckles in recog- viewed from out under its shadow. Delightfully Sister Act is one of those shows that will likely THEATER REVIEW nition of long-gone neighborhood landmarks tongue-in-cheek, Sister Act shrewdly entertains get some good play when it becomes available to like Uptown’s Wooden Nickel lounge or Lakev- in spite of the insipid and amateur story line it high schools in desperate need of a production Hellcab Playwright: Will Kern iew’s Pillar of Fire Evangelical church. Passen- inherits from the original film. that calls for more girls than boys, but that’s not At: Profiles Theatre Main Stage gers now include a disabled social worker, a The secret? Singing nuns. The film’s charm to belittle the quality of the show by any means. (fka the Old Speakeasy), cross-dressing chippie (played sensitively by came from its collective of quirky sisters and Rather, it’s one of those musicals that follows a 4139 N. Broadway Aaron Holland) and a caroling accordionist. it’s that same comedic conceit that the musical classic template for crowd-pleasing success; a Tickets: 773-549-1815; The Old Speakeasy theater’s stage makes for plays up so well. The show fills any lack of hilar- reliable, functional and joyful production with www.profilestheatre.org; $35-$49 longer entrances and exits. Oh, yes, and in- ity with the sheer silliness of its “nunnery.” music you can groove to and an attitude that Runs through: Dec. 23 stead of a seven-member ensemble invoking In terms of music, it’s not hard to picture the suggests it knows that it’s exactly that kind of a great Alan Menken literally composing the songs various personalities in quick-change succes- show. BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE of Sister Act in his sleep. He and current lyrical sion, director Darrell W. Cox has decreed that partner Glenn Slater must have had an abun- every character be played by a different actor, When asked to name an unsurpassably per- dance of fun riffing on disco as well as ‘70s gos- bringing the personnel count to a staggering fect show, the answer is most likely one seen pel and soul music to craft catchy, toe-tapping 34 troupers, no more than four of whom are decades earlier. It’s only human to recall ever onstage at the same time. ephemeral events in exaggerated terms of Kern’s instruction to pace the action at individual response. That said, theatergoers “breakneck” speed, coupled by the adrenal who have the legendary Famous Door produc- contact-high endemic to crowded green- tion of Hellcab etched permanently into their rooms, inevitably engenders rehearsals more memories (like me) are advised to beware of focused on traffic control than character nostalgia-fueled distortions when viewing it analysis. By opening night, some players 20 years later. had grasped the core of their persona, while The resiliency of Will Kern’s internationally others need a few more days to explore the produced urban odyssey lies in its recognition backstories of their snapshot portrayals, and of the humble taxicab driver as more than Konstantin Khrustov’s driver still has yet to simply a hired chauffeur. The intimacy engen- find expressive resources beyond his boyish dered within the confines of his automobile grin and tremulous voice. Future playgoers domain (in this case, a former Flash sedan, to may also expect increasingly nuanced perfor- judge by its exterior) may require him, at var- mances all around, as well as greater atten- ious times, to act as surrogate priest, para- tion to thematic progression. medic, psychologist, paramour, mechanic, The premiere production of Hellcab had 10 midwife, guard, guide and all-purpose hand- years—from 1992 to 2002—to become the holder. On this Christmas Eve, our immigrant history-making experience we remember so cabbie (only four months on the job) will find reverently. This Profiles Theatre 20th-anni- himself thrust into all these services, whether versary revival is well on its way to matching he’s prepared to assume them or not. its record. See for yourself how it grows. WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 17 theme about rebirth, the triumphant return to Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark Xtina personality resur- St., Friday, Dec. 7, with another Christmas with faces on the feisty, sexy the Joans. The queer-centric showcase offers a stomper “Your Body.” Two fantastic alternative to the usual music blaring of her counterparts from out of gay bars. The Joans, Chicago’s beloved The Voice guest on Lotus. Joan Crawford-inspired band, will be headlin- Cee-Lo Green is on the ing and premiering the hilarious holiday cut “A funky, upbeat radio-ready Very Crawford Christmas” from the film Scrooge “Make the World Move” & Marley. DJ Moose will be spinning while the and Blake Shelton brings bands Pieptone! and Bric-a-Brac as well as the POP his country undertones go-go dancing troupe The Revelettes will be on MAKING to “Just a Fool.” “Army of the bill. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Me” and “Red Hot Kinda www.fleshhungrydog.com. SENSE Love” overshadow filler like by David Byrne “Let There Be Love” and with Tony Peregrin “Around the World.” Streisand While Lily Allen is out on maternity leave and as we tribute out wait for new material from Shout! Factory has released A MusiCares Jessie J., Cher Lloyd fills Tribute to Barbra Streisand on DVD and Blu-ray, celebrating Streisand’s MusiCares® Many have saluted the late Nina Simone by the void of spunky, Brit- Person of the Year award at a 2011 gala covering her signature songs; examples include ish pop star with her debut, Sticks & Stones. event in Los Angeles. George Michael, Sophie B. Hawkins, Jennifer Her gold single “Want U Back” is comparable to “MusiCares” features Streisand and an Hudson, Michael Buble and her own daughter, the overlooked 2009 cut “New in Town” by Little all-star cast of guests including Tony Ben- who uses the moniker Simone. On her latest, Boots. The highlight of Lloyd’s debut is when Christina Aguilera. Photo by Enrique nett, Faith Hill, Diana Krall, Barry Manilow, Pour une Ame Souveraine (For a Sovereign Soul), she kicks it old-school on “Playa Boi,” with Badulescu Seal, Stevie Wonder and more perform- Meshell Ndegeocello reinterprets the iconic si- its sample lifted from Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo ing many of the songs she made famous ren’s works. Stance.” “With Ur Love” was a hit overseas and draws inspiration from the Reagan era on Bright throughout her career. The multi-instrumentalist does not attempt to boasts a big, tasty chorus. Just skip the dreadful “Swagger Jagger,” which topped the charts in Black Heaven, which debuted on top of Bill- recreate the legend’s deep, powerful voice, nor board’s Electronic Albums charts. The duo gives does she try to tackle the big-band sound on her native U.K. Amid all of this electro-pop, I Pnau reinvents had to do a double-check upon hearing an actu- a nod to OMD on the upbeat “Faith Healer,” then certain titles like “Feeling Good.” Instead, the has a potential hit in store with “Fade to White.” Grammy nominee brings her own arrangements al guitar on “Beautiful People,” a collaboration Elton John’s hits with Carolina Liar. Lloyd has come forward as a The deliciously dark “Deconstructing Gods” ref- Elton John signed the pair Pnau after with her smooth vocals intact. Being renowned erences “Love Comes Quickly” by Pet Shop Boys victim of cyberbullying and placed fourth on the listening to their record. Now, with his as a bassist, it is no wonder her reworking of in the verses. “Ill-Lit Ships” is an electronic emo British version of X-Factor. blessing, a selection of John’s old masters the groove-heavy “See Line Woman” is magical. ballad worthy of British counterparts Hurts. The Every now and there is a song that just sinks have been reimagined into an album, Good The set boasts numerable remarkable cameos, pair shows that the works from Soft Cell and The into my head, whereby resistance is pointless. Morning to the Night, featuring their re- including lesbian folk musician Toshi Reagon Cure were closely studied on “Bon Voyeurs.” creations of some of his songs between Want more Blaqk Audio? Check out the band’s 1970 and 1976. killer cover of Love & Rocket’s “No New Tale to The tracks include the title song, “Sad,” Tell” from 2009’s tribute compilation New Tales “Black Icy Stare,” “Foreign Fields,” “Tele- to Tell. graph to the Afterlife,” “Phoenix,” “Karma- After a hiatus, The Flesh Hungry Dog Show tron” and “Sixty.” delivers the ultimate yuletide treat by making a

Tuesday, December 4, 7:30 Wednesday, December 5, 7:30

TICKETS FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH START AT 126 EAST CHESTNUT STREET $39! Don’t miss this Grammy® Award-winning a cappella ensemble perform traditional carols, revered sacred works and delightful holiday favorites.

Cher Lloyd. PR photo

on “Real Real” and “House of the Rising Sun,” Icona Pop offers such a guilty pleasure with Sinead O’Connor on “Don’t Take All Night” and the fun, explosive “I Love It.” Here, the Swed- Lizz Wright on the moving grassroots gospel ish pair sings, “I threw your shit into a bag / number “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.” Ndegeocello and pushed it down the stairs … I don’t care, I returns to The Old Town School of Folk Music, love it” over a grinding dance beat. Side effects 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., for two shows Friday, Nov. from hearing the chorus might be jumping up 23. and down, which can lead to awkward moments After the commercial flop Bionic,Christina in the office or supermarket. Aguilera canceled a tour with Leona Lewis, In case you weren’t completely sick of all starred in the forgettable Burlesque and joined things Jersey Shore, this jam apparently was the judge’s panel on The Voice. Now a single used on the spin-off J-Wow and Snooki. “I Love mom and still in possession of one of the stron- It” opens the six-track EP Iconic, which also has gest set of pipes in the pop market, Aguilera the marvelous, moody electronic piece “Sun Goes rebounds with Lotus. Down” and electro-pop goodies like “Ready for The platinum blonde belts it out on the inspira- the Weekend” and “Top Rated.” This EP should tional “Sing for Me,” which follows the blueprint ward off a blistering winter. Icona Pop plans to to her anthem “Beautiful.” Singer-songwriter Sia release its full length debut in the United States lent her talents to Bionic’s strongest moments in early 2013. and to David Guetta’s smash “Titanium”; she The influence from the ’80s keeps popping SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS and Aguilera reunite on the piano-based ballad up on albums this year by the likes of Diamond 312-294-3000 • CSO.ORG Artists, prices and programs subject to change. “Blank Page.” Even though there is a prevalent Rings, Neon Trees and Dragonette. Blaqk Audio 18 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES NUNN ON ONE: TV WCT: What are your future projects? finishing, hopefully soon, my first novel. So, it’s FP: Well, I’m a series regular on a BBC America a very different world. So, that’s what I’m doing show called Copper that just finished its first whenever I don’t shoot a movie or a TV show. Franka Potente season, and we just got picked up for season Watch every Wednesday to see what hap- two, so that will be six months of my year next pens on American Horror Story: Asylum. Visit year. So, I’ll be going back to Canada shoot- www.fxnetworks.com/ahs for details and list- runs from ‘Lola’ on to ing that and, besides that, I’m a writer. I’m a ings. ‘American Horror Story’ published writer. I’m working currently on my Manila Luzon: Triumphing over tragedy

by David-Elijah Nahmod

On Oct. 1, Manila Luzon faced one of the greatest shocks of her life. On that day, boyfriend Sa- hara Davenport (nee Antoine Ashley) died of heart failure at age 27. Both had been contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Luzon having been featured on the reality series’ third season. Six weeks later, a cheerful sounding Luzon spoke with Windy City Times. She’s picking up the pieces and continuing with her life. “I’m doing OK,” she said. “I’m getting great support from my family and I have great friends. I have my drag sisters. I’m living to get what I want out of life. I’m living each day as though it’s my last.” Born Karl Westerberg in Minnesota in 1984, Luzon took her drag name from the Philippines, the country of her mother’s birth. Manila is the country’s capital, while Luzon is it’s largest island. By Jerry Nunn While she didn’t take home the grand prize on “Drag Race,” Luzon received praise for her work on the competition. She is now pur- Created for the FX Channel, American Horror Sto- suing a career in music, and do- ry (by Brad Falchuk and openly gay Ryan Mur- ing personal appearances at phy) is already in a second successful season. many LGBT events. She’s This time the story is set in an asylum, where also involved in AIDS it’s hard to tell who to believe. activism, deter- German actress Franka Potente plays the char- mined to re- acter Anne Frank, who may have possibly sur- mind young vived her book’s fate and wound up trapped in LGBT peo- the asylum. Potente is known for the movies Run ple that Lola Run and Blow, as well as being in the Jason t h e Bourne films. virus Windy City Times talked with her as her story is still arc was just wrapping up on “Horror.” around.

She recently Windy City Times: Hi, Franka. How did you appeared with several first get involved with this role? Franka Potente. Photo courtesy of F/X other “Drag Race” alumni in Franka Potente: I got asked to take a general Red Ribbon Runway, an AIDS-testing meeting with Ryan Murphy. So, I went to the PSA that airs on Logo. Paramount lot and met him in his very nice of- “It was a huge pleasure to do that fice, and I didn’t really expect anything until he work was only scenes with Jessica, and I think I PSA,” Luzon stated. “I was happy they went right ahead and was talking about a really had about 20 pages of lines. So, I was very, very asked me. People think that AIDS is awesome, cool part that he had for me. nervous. I didn’t want to mess up. over. It’s not. I don’t have much He writes for several series, and he didn’t tell She was very sweet and kind and very focused, money to donate, but I can use me too much. There was really no script at the and really embraced working with me and was my celebrity to raise awareness. time, but I was a fan of the first season of Amer- so great in the scene that it felt really good. We still don’t have a cure, or a ican Horror Story and, of course, I said I would I really felt like we worked together. We made vaccine. Because of RuPaul, be part of anything that he was envisioning for it happen and really brought something to the I have a voice, and people me. table. will listen to it.” WCT: When did you did you find out you James is just awesome. He is a very curious The iconic RuPaul is, would play Anne Frank? man, a very knowledgeable man. He loves to talk in fact, one of Luzon’s FP: That was something that he kind of ex- with you and talk about all these things, so I primary role models. “Ru- plained to me without going into detail. Honest- had an awesome time with the two of them. Paul is an ideal in the gay ly, I think I got the script maybe a week before, WCT: What is the set like on American Hor- community,” Luzon said. and that’s when I really found out how it would ror Story: Asylum? “My family and I once come about and what was going on with her and FP: The set is pretty eerie, which is great for ate at the Fashion Cafe all these things, but yes, very secretive and it an actor because we basically we need to step in New York, where I saw makes sense. I totally appreciated that because on and the mood is already created. We say our one of RuPaul’s dresses if you watch a show like this, you know all these lines and that’s that. That’s definitely half the on display. It was the scripts you don’t want to know. With the Inter- magic. coolest thing to be sit- net and everything, stuff gets out so easily that WCT: Did you do research on asylums and ting under it, being in they kind of have to do that. the people there? all of RuPaul’s blonde WCT: Did you have a special connection with FP: I actually—many years ago, for a German haired glory. She’s this part being German? film that I did with Tom Tykwer, The Princess fabulous. She works FP: Well, I think [The Diary of a Young Girl, and the Warrior—worked at an insane asylum for really hard and about Frank’s writings] is known worldwide. It’s two weeks. I have very vivid memories of that makes me want to probably one of the most famous books ever, awkward time. On the other hand, this is set in work harder.” and like every other high school student, I read the ‘60s, so I think it’s very, very different. They Although she it in school. I visited the Anne Frank house in averaged a lot of experiments that the contact didn’t win, Luzon Amsterdam. I knew things, but I kind of looked with patients was very new at the time and stuff returned for Ru- at the diary again and I refreshed my memory a was very different. Paul’s Drag Race little bit. It’s one of her landmarks of historic WCT: How involved is Ryan Murphy with All Stars, a follow- people, heroes, the heroic character I think that “Horror Story?” up series in which when you’re a child almost. FP: He just started this new show, The New former contes- WCT: It looked like an emotional part for Normal, so you can imagine—this man has three tants got another you. I was touched. huge shows, Glee also running on a Paramount FP: Yes, totally, in many ways other than ex- lot. So, I ran into him once when I was on my Turn to page 31 pected. way to lunch and that was like the only time I WCT: What was it like working with Jessica really saw him while I was shooting this. So, you Lange and James Cromwell? feel their presence more in the creation than FP: I think in the beginning, it was a little bit them constantly being there. intimidating. I remember my very first day of Manila Luzon. PR photo WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 19 DVD ROUNDUP Transgender movies everyone should see by David-Elijah Nahmod barely in their twenties, unknowingly but liter- ally sacrificed their lives so that hate-crimes Since 1998, Nov. 20 has been set aside as the legislation could be passed. Amazingly, it wasn’t Transgender Day of Remembrance. It’s primary until President Barack Obama signed on the dot- purpose is to remember and honor the many ted line Oct. 28, 2009, that this happened. transgender people who died as a result of anti- Swank offers a jaw-dropping performance. trans violence. Although Nov. 20 is the official As Teena, she doesn’t look female, yet viewers date, transgender people and their allies have remain acutely aware throughout the film that events scheduled throughout the month. they’re watching a woman play a man. A scene For decades, trans people largely invisible in in which Brandon and Lana make out—complete popular culture. As with gay men before them, with what can politely be referred to as “tongue on the rare occasions when they were seen, it action,” startled many. Both women, Swank and was usually in a negative light. Though trans- Sevigny, were unafraid to dive wholeheartedly gender characters are slowly moving into the into these controversial roles. Reportedly the light, it’s still an uphill battle. real life Tisdale sued the film’s producers, tak- This column will examine three examples of ing issue with the portrayal of herself as “white trans people on the big screen. All three films trash.” are available on DVD. Boys Don’t Cry is a dark, intense and relentless grim film. It’s a sad look back upon the wasted Transamerica (2005) life of a young man who’s only right choice was When Dolly Parton received an Oscar nomina- to embrace his male identity. Were it not for the tion for writing Travellin’ Thru, Transamerica’s hate of others, he might be with us still. theme song, she appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live. It was revealed during the interview that Myra Breckenridge (1970) she lent her name to the low budget, indepen- Based on openly gay author Gore Vidal’s best- dent film in order to help get it made and re- selling gender-bending novel from 1968, Myra leased. Breckenridge is one of Hollywood’s most no- “You seem to have an affinity with the gay torious bombs. Vidal reportedly wept when he community,” observed King. saw the finished film, which was filled with a Replied Parton, “Why Larry, I don’t have an raunchy salaciousness that his satirical novel re- affinity for anyone in particular. I just believe portedly never intended to be part of the story. in the Lord and love everyone. And I particularly Many viewers were confounded by the clips from love people with the courage to be who they re- 1930s Hollywood films that were randomly in- ally are.” serted into various scenes of Myra Breckenridge, Parton’s off-the-cuff reply is the overly- often seemingly for no reason. ing theme of Tucker’s film. About to have her Turn to page 31 gender-reassignment surgery, Bree (Desperate Housewives’ Felicity Huffman) finds out that she has a son, the product of a long forgotten brief fling. Young Toby (Kevin Zegers) is a hus- tler with dreams of becoming a gay porn star. A ‘Cabaret’ out on survivor of childhood sexual abuse, he’s in des- perate need of guidance. Bree’s therapist (Eliza- Blu-ray Feb. 5 Cabaret—Bob Fosse’s Oscar-winning mu- beth Pena) tells Bree that her surgery will be ap- proved after she meets and deals with her son. sical drama starring Liza Minnelli (Arthur, It’s important, Bree is told, that she finalize her The Sterile Cuckoo), Michael York (the transition with all loose ends from her previous Shot on a shoestring, Transamerica is an un- star Chloe Sevigny was nominated in the sup- Austin Powers films) and Joel Grey (TV’s life tied up. likely love story between a woman who finds her porting character for her equally frank portrayal Oz)—celebrates its 40th anniversary with Bree travels to New York City to bail Toby out true self and a lonely, unhappy young man who of Teena’s girlfriend, Lana Tisdale. Released a Blu-ray debut on Feb. 5, 2013. of jail. The two then embark on a road trip back finds the parental love he yearns for. Through shortly after the murder of Matthew Shepard, Winner of eight Academy Awards, the to Los Angeles. At first Toby has no idea who Bree’s dialogue, viewers hear the simple mes- the film helped fuel the discussion regarding the film will be offered in a premium Blu-ray Bree is—she pretends to be a missionary from sage of the Transgender movement: that transi- need for hate crime legislation in the USA. Book format ($27.98 SRP) that contains 40 a church. The film follows their journey as they tioning isn’t a choice. Teena was no saint. The product of a broken, pages of photos and text. Special features bond, and as Toby gradually discovers Bree’s true “I miss my son,” says Mom. lower-middle-class home in Lincoln, Neb., Teena include items such as “Cabaret: A Legend identity. In the film’s most moving segment, “You never had a son,” replies Bree. Renae Brandon (his birth name) was molested in the Meaning” as well as Grey and Min- they stop over in Phoenix and spend the night It’s an unforgettable journey that will do by his uncle. As a teen he began to identify nelli recalling aspects of filming. in Bree’s childhood home. doubt open the eyes and hearts of many. as male, which was not accepted by his mom. Cabaret was adapted from the Tony- Bree’s parents are transphobic, yet they still Brandon fell in with a rough crowd, and got winning stage production, and that was, in love her dearly. Bree and Toby are robbed on the Boys Don’t Cry (1999) into trouble often. When his friends found out turn, inspired by Christopher Isherwood’s road. Bree needs to get back to Los Angeles in For her bold, brave performance as real life that he was biologically female, they killed him. Berlin Stories and the play and movie I Am time for her surgery. Her parents buy her a plane female-to-male individual Brandon Teena, Hilary Teena’s violent end, so close to Shepard’s death, a Camera. ticket. Swank won the coveted Best Actress Oscar. Co- shook many people. These two youngsters, both

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CHRP-WC4CHRP-WC4 Don Lee by Photo Great Opera, More Affordable! 312-334-7777 • HarrisTheaterChicago.org Manila Luzon. PR photo 20 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES BOOKS information-type stuff. I’m in a reading group with several mystery writers. One of them, Hugh BOOK REVIEW Holton … he was wonderful. He was a com- Zubro on his latest, mander in the Chicago Police Department and Little Victories had lots of good information and he was able by Timothy David Rey to get me into ride-alongs with regular Chicago $12; NewTown ‘Another Dead Republican’ police officers for one evening, and then with a Writers Press; 78 pages tactical team another evening, and also with a by Sally Parsons By Sally Parsons pair of detectives for a third evening. WCT: What first interested you in the mys- This slim volume is an introduction to The 13th in a series of mysteries featuring the tery genre? the talents of a Chicago-based writer/ capable sleuth Tom and his hubby, Scott, Anoth- MZ: It was Freddy the Pig and Sherlock Holmes. performer. There are 11 poems and four er Dead Republican ($16.98; MLR Press) comes Freddy the Pig is a character in books by Walter performance pieces. The poems range from with a warning. As readers of Mark Zubro’s books R. Brooks. Freddy went into a detective agency the personal to commentary on the human know, he loves to poke fun at Republicans—and with Mrs. Wiggins the cow. Freddy had all the condition. The performance pieces, ac- his newest book is no exception. Set in fictional ideas and Mrs. Wiggins had all the common cording to Rey, provided the opportunity Harrison County, Wis., this mystery plays off an sense. It was a perfect combination. And in that to express themes and observations “… in anti-union governor (the fictional counterpart book Freddy was also reading Sherlock Holmes, a way that I felt my poetry never could.” to Scott Walker) and a rigged recall election. which prepared him to be a detective. This was As amusing as these pieces are, they were Tom is called upon by his sister, Veronica, to about third or fourth grade. And so I thought if meant, of course (just as are the poems) to assist in finding the murderer of her husband, Freddy could read Sherlock Holmes, I could read be experienced orally. So one is tempted to Edgar Grum, who was knocked off at campaign Sherlock Holmes. read this volume as a form of resume of the headquarters on election night. WCT: Scott is a pro baseball player. Are you artist’s body of work. And, in a way, that For those who have never read a Tom and a baseball fan yourself? is what it is. Scott mystery, Tom is a high school teacher and MZ: I certainly grew up as a baseball fan. Now- The poetry section kicks off by urging Scott a pro baseball player. They are likeable, adays, if I were to turn on a World Series, but I Rey’s fellow artists to sing out, as Langs- well-grounded and loving. In this book, written might actually be reading a book or something, ton Hughes used to do: “C‘mon somebody, in a straightforward and uncomplicated style, and there was like, if Justin Verlander was pitch- c’mon.” Tinkling with musical references, we have the most fun watching the antics of ing for Detroit, I would pay attention because this one has a bitter undertone. “And they the various members of the Grum family—rich, Verlander, I find to be a very, very attractive still say by the way that dark skin is a vulgar, obese and totally in control of politics in Mark Zubro. Photo courtesy of Zubro man. curse….” Harrison County. People have asked me why is it I made Scott Rey moves on in other poems to muse Zubro, who lives in Mokena, taught eighth- a baseball player. Basically, [it’s] because I’ve over religion, fame and other topics. Then, grade English until his retirement in 2006. In Mark Zubro: The Tom and Scott series is writ- always wanted to date a baseball player. As a there’s Laramie—a touching remembrance addition to the Tom and Scott mystery series, he ten in first person, the Paul Turner series in third fantasy, it certainly works. of Matthew Shepherd: “If your heart must also pens the Paul Turner mysteries, which are person. The cast of characters never mixes and be tugged let it snag on a fence in Lara- about a gay Chicago police detective. Zubro was that helps to keep distinct. With Tom and Scott, mie.” This poem, and Flagstaff, were the awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay with their relationship, and Paul and his rela- ones that stayed with me. In Flagstaff, Men’s Mystery for A Simple Suburban Murder, the tionship with his husband and his son, it keeps Rey conveys the essence of the northern first in the Tom and Scott series. He has since it all very different. Arizona countryside and native American been nominated for six additional Lambda Liter- WCT: Have you had contact with police de- history as well as the taste of mango salsa ary Awards in the same category. tectives to sort of get the inside view of how and cumin. It is a heady mixture. Windy City Times: Two series—Paul Turner that works? and the Tom and Scott series. How do you MZ: I do a lot of research reading police keep them distinct?

RIVERFRONT THEATER PRESENTS GENTLEMAN’S RULE From the creator of Straight No Chaser and the producer of Under the Streetlamp

WCT: What political leanings did your par- ents have? MZ: They were good Democrats. WCT: Regarding your very fervent views and I confess here that I am clumsy and un- stances on politics, what’s the source of all schooled in poetry. So I had to work some that? at catching what Rey was after in many of MZ: Dad and mom read the newspaper every his poems. This is not necessarily a bad day. I read the whole newspaper. Both mom and thing. A poet who makes you think as your dad [were] voraciously interested in what was eye dances over his lines is to be respect- going on in the world. ed. WCT: What made you first decide to incor- In the performances section, Rey remi- porate your political slant into your writing? nisces on life as a starving artist, sharing MZ: In 1987, having a gay character in a book an apartment with an Irish immigrant on was political in itself—and, unfortunately, it Chicago’s Near North Side; a night in a D.C. still kinda is. … Someone [asked] me ages ago, gay strip club; a summer with Adam; and “Should we [gay mystery writers] try to hide/ an infatuation with a fashion model. NOW - NOV 25 ONLY disguise our politics or sexual orientation? And Little Victories is an introduction to a I said no. And somebody said to me, be exactly promising young writer who has already what you are. Don’t hide it. I agree with that. gained accolades such as winning Project ROYAL GEORGE THEATER When my first book came out, everybody said Exploration, a writing competition from I should use a pseudonym. I said, I’m going to The Poetry Center of Chicago. In 2002, Rey 1641 N. HALSTED use my name. Partly, it made me angry. … I used co-founded the annual queer performance all three names [Mark Richard Zubro] because I showcase Solo Homo. Call 312-988-9000 or visit RiverfrontTheater.com was angry at the time. I’m going to have to hide something I’m so proud of? I’m using all three RiverfrontTheater.com | Ticketmaster.com names so there can be no doubt it’s me. For Group Discounts Call Group Theater Tix - 312-423-6612 WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 21

LGBTQ Youth Series from

The Priest of Boystown Photos by Bill Healy.

BY Kate Sosin Chicago’s official gay neighborhood, Boystown. might just be having a good dream. Chicago captured his heart when he visited last Priest spends a lot of time being bored, he Priest greets everyone he passes on Halsted. spring. In July, he returned to Lakeview to stay. said. Despite the neighborhood’s excitement, He nods and gives a gruff “hello.” Some look “I love the big city,” he said. “I love the there are times when there is just nothing to do. surprised or excited to be acknowledged. Others crowd, and there’s always something to do.” He regularly applies for jobs using a resume he keep walking. He chose Lakeview because he liked the neigh- built at the Broadway Youth Center, but so far Priest, 20, has been on and off the streets borhood’s gay culture, atmosphere and social that hasn’t worked out. He is honest about the since he was 15. These days, it’s the streets of services. fact that he’s homeless, and it usually counts as Lakeview, and he’s bracing for his first Chicago “I would describe this neighborhood as a a strike against him. winter. place where you can be yourself, don’t have to “It gets very frustrating… you get interviews As autumn creeps into the neighborhood, he worry about anybody bothering you about who but then all of the sudden they come back starts to shiver. He pulls his arms deeper into you are or what you’re into,” he said. around and say, ‘We have somebody else that is the sleeves of his sweater. He needs some warm- Lakeview’s street youth know Priest well, so more experienced than you,’” he said. “Or they er clothes, he says. well that some still forget and call him by his just blatantly say, ‘We don’t want you.’ So it gets Priest was emancipated from his family in St. birth name, which he no longer uses. your hopes up a bit, but then it gets crashing Augustine, Florida five years ago. He struck off But despite having a large community in the back down.” on his own because his mother was struggling to neighborhood, he prefers to keep to himself. It’s Priest changes his look regularly. One day, support him and his siblings, and he wanted to easier to evade trouble that way, he says. When he and friend got a hold of army fatigues, and ease the financial burden (his father died when you let people in, you never know what can hap- they walked around the neighborhood confusing he was 12). pen, especially on the street. If you’re on your passersby. When asked, Priest told them he was “I sat there and talked to my mom for a really own, it’s easier to trust the company you keep. part of the anarchy militia. Another time, he got long time about it, and she finally agreed to it,” On warm days, Priest might go out toward novelty contact lenses that made it look like he he said. the lake to sleep, or he might go to one of his had lizard eyes. He recalls the places he hitchhiked and train- “spots” to sleep and stash clothes. He usually But despite the playful atmosphere of the hopped through since he left. has three spots around the neighborhood, secret world he sometimes inhabits, being homeless is “Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro- nooks where he can store clothing and doze dur- difficult he says. lina, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Chicago, ing the day. “For someone who is rich and has never been Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa…” In August, one was tucked into the architec- homeless, they wouldn’t really comprehend what Texas and Arkansas also make the list, which ture of the Inter-American school on Addison. we go through on a daily basis,” he said. “You totals 19 states. A few paces past the school’s jungle gym, up can’t sit down wherever you want. You can’t On a return visit home when he was 18, Priest a couple stairs, over a storage shed and onto rest wherever you want. You can only do things pulled his mother away from making dinner and the roof, and Priest had his own space below an at certain times. You can only sleep at certain sat her down. overhanging tree. But he must move quickly, so times.” “Mom, I like men and women,” he remembers as not draw attention from the police station on The first time he became homeless, he said, it telling her. “She basically told me, ‘It’s okay son, the other side of the playground. was hard to handle. He couldn’t sleep because I already knew.’ I was like, ‘How the hell did you That spot was compromised months ago, how- he was used to having a bed. Now, after sleeping know?’ She said, ‘What kid wears six inch stilet- ever, when someone saw him and called police. on cardboard and concrete, he isn’t sure how he tos when he’s three?’” That day, Priest woke up to a female officer would deal with having a bed. Two years later, Priest has made his home in standing above him. He joked to her that he Want more Priest? Look for WindyCityTimes on Next week’s issue will feature a Priest photo essay, plus an exclusive video tour of Boystown. www.youtube.com/windycitytimes www.vimeo.com/windycitytimes

Rain or shine, the Night Ministry offers condoms, food and entertainment to street-based youth. Its outreach van parks at the intersection of Halsted and Belmont two nights a week. Photos by Bill Healy. 22 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

LGBTQ Youth Series from

Colby Mowery runs the weekly Safe Haven dinner where he passes out clothing. Many Chicagoland Community Church members view homosexuality as a sin, but here, Mowery gives a feminine trans youth a dress and high heels. Photos by Bill Healy.

and other toiletries. Showers are available at the Crib, the Night Ministry’s LGBT-friendly shelter, ‘Beauty isn’t everything, but it which houses 20 youth per night (a daily lottery determines who will receive a bed for the eve- ning). And when the Crib was closed this past does take you a hell of a ways’ summer, the Youth Lounge offered Sunday show- ers to fill the service gap. BY Erica Demarest struggled. I’ve been through a lot in my life. But still pretty expensive. And the stuff they have on Still, many young people rely on public rest- I want to look like I belong on the street with sale doesn’t really fit—either it’s a couple sizes rooms to change clothes and wash up. “She took me to the side, and said, girl, you you.” too small or it’s been altered.” “I learned how to [get ready] quick,” Diamond need to wash up,” Shena, 20, said with a laugh, Maintaining a positive perception can help Drakéra said she’d like to maintain a more cu- said. “If you take too long, you could have peo- as she recalled one of the first times she met her youth avoid harassment or stigmatization, Dib- rated style, but for now, is grateful for the dona- ple watching you when you go in the bathroom best friend Diamond. bles explained. tions. and timing you, and then you can get banned…. Shena was about 15 or 16 years old. She had “In the beginning, I was talked about,” he When it comes to beauty, many young people I try to be courteous… You’ve got to know your just relocated to Chicago from Kentucky “to get said. “I smelled bad. I had on dirty clothes… I rely on one another. The Youth Lounge at Broad- pace. If it’ll normally take you about 30 minutes away from my family,” and hadn’t yet learned slept in parks… No one would hire me.” way United Methodist has begun offering mani- to get ready, make it 15. If it’s 15, cut that in the ins-and-outs of maintaining her appearance Today, Dibbles volunteers with several LGBT cures and pedicures; the BYC regularly makes half.” on the streets. and homeless organizations and is taking steps sheers and scissors available for haircuts. And When Windy City Times asked Diamond how “Just because you’re going through a strug- to continue his education. He said a positive at- it is not uncommon to see youth styling one people would treat her if she didn’t maintain her gle doesn’t mean you have to look like it,” titude and image were partly responsible for his another’s hair or offering beauty advice. hygiene and appearance, she said: “I don’t want deadpanned Diamond, 29, a lifelong Lakeview success. “Beauty isn’t everything, but it does take you to find out. They already treat me bad enough resident whose current housing situation is un- “If I’m off and I don’t look cute, then my day a hell of a ways,” said Destiny, 19, a trans wom- for not having a job.” stable. “The thing is—You don’t want to look is not cute,” Dibbles said. “It’s hard to get my an who lives on the South Side but frequents Diamond continued: “They say cleanliness is homeless. You don’t want to smell.” mind right.” Lakeview for its inclusivity. She credits the next to godliness, but for me, cleanliness is next For many of the street-based youth in Chi- Building that image is often tricky, however, neighborhood’s trans women for teaching her to sanity. If you feel clean, if you look good, cago’s Lakeview neighborhood, clothing and hy- as many youth rely on local shelters, social ser- how to dress for her body type. And like Shena you feel like, okay, I can conquer what I need giene rank highly as survival tools. vice agencies and churches for clothing and toi- before her, Destiny is appreciative of her peers’ to conquer. I can make it through another day… Windy City Times found that a significant letries. honesty. But if you’re out here stanking, and people don’t portion of youth interviewed have internalized The Chicagoland Community Church, Lakeview Many youth view it as their responsibility to want to be around you, that will put you into a stigmas and stereotypes about homelessness. As Pantry and StandUp for Kids—among others— look out for new arrivals, Dibbles said. And tak- shell, where you just say, I really do want to kill a result, many of these young people work espe- offer free clothing, which is typically used and ing care of one’s chosen family extends to mat- myself.” cially hard to blend in. donated by community members. And the Broad- ters of appearance. Strangers take cues from each other’s appear- “It is very important that we camouflage into way Youth Center (BYC) gives young people a “[If someone looks bad], I’m not going to tell ance, Shena said. “You’ve got to point people in our community,” said Robert Dibbles, 25, who $25 Brown Elephant voucher once a month. her: Girl, you look ravishing; the boys are go- the right direction.” has been homeless or precariously housed since “I wear whatever fits me and is practical,” said ing to be all over you,” Dibbles said. “No. They he came out of the closet as a teen. “I don’t Drakéra, 20, a trans woman who lacks stable won’t. Because they weren’t all over me.” want to look like a stereotype bum. I’m not. I housing. “At the Brown Elephant, the stuff is Several programs offer shampoo, deodorant

Shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste are among the items available at Many youth have expressed interest in creative careers, such as the twice-monthly Youth Lounge at Broadway United Methodist Church. performing or hairdressing. Here, a young man shows off the hair- Volunteers donate toiletries and clothing. Photo by Kate Sosin. style his friend has created for him. Photo by Erica Demarest. WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 23

LGBTQ Youth Series from Friends like brothers: Brian and Eric BY Kate Sosin “She started letting her boyfriends abuse me,” Brian recalls. “They started beating on me Brian and Eric are brothers, not by blood, but by and my brother and sister. Eventually I told on choice and circumstance. them.” They’re like Carter and Lee from the 1998 film Brian reported two of the men to the police, “Rush Hour,” Eric says. Best friends. and authorities placed him in the care of rela- “We’ve been through a lot,” says Eric. tives. When he was 16, he found his way to “We just talk to each other,” Brian adds. Lawrence Hall Youth Services and moved into its Brian and Eric have much common. They’re housing program. both 18. They attended the same high school. Eric, for his part, grew up on Chicago’s South They’ve bounced between the same housing Side. For a time, he lived with his parents and agencies the past two years. Both survived abuse three younger brothers at 87th and Lowe. as kids. And both like hanging out in Lakeview, “Basically, we lived in an abandoned house,” Brian (left) and Eric. Photos by Kate Sosin. where they have found a large peer community. Eric says.”We didn’t have food or nothing, no Everybody knows them here, says Brian. clothes…My parents basically was on drugs and want him to leave. But Eric told her to focus on he went and talked to Brian. If one ran out of They’re sitting in a room at the Broadway stuff. My dad, every time he got drunk…he used his younger brothers. money, the other helped out. United Methodist Church, where youth advo- to beat on my momma.” “I was crying,” he says. “It’s hard to see your “Everybody was picking on me, and he’s the cates host a bi-weekly program for young people Eric says that when he was eight, his bio- mom or someone you love cry.” only one that stands up for me,” Brian says. called Youth Lounge. The four-hour program is a logical parents abused him. One day, he and Shortly after he left the house, Eric met Brian at “Still do,” Eric adds. space where youth can get hot meals, play video his brothers found themselves locked into the a North Side Kmart. Two years later, both have moved into housing games, participate in planned activities and abandoned house. His father had bolted shut the Eric had just escaped a fight with another through Teen Living Programs. Brian graduated hang out without being told by police to keep gates over the doors. The building was on fire, group of kids, and he was still upset when he ran high school, and Eric is in his senior year. walking. It’s also a space that seeks to affirm and the four had no way of getting out. into Brian. Brian assured Eric he wasn’t looking Together, they discovered Lakeview, and they LGBTQ youth. A woman saw Eric trying to escape and called to fight, and he calmed Eric down. have been coming ever since. It is a place where Eric and Brian come here to see friends. Both 911. The two started talking, and Brian told Eric they see new things all the time, says Brian. identify as straight, but their peer group in All four brothers survived the fire, and were about Lawrence Hall. Eric moved into Lawrence But it’s also hard. Because many of the young Lakeview is made up of people of many orienta- placed into the hands of a foster mom who even- Hall shortly after, and the two quickly formed a people are street-based, they tend to come and tions and identities. tually adopted them. close bond. go. Friends find housing and stop coming, or “We just made friends over here, and they just But by the time Eric was 16, however, the cost “We never really got to know each other that they move on to other places. keep asking us to come back and stuff,” says of the kids had proven too steep for her to sus- well when we first met at Kmart,” says Brian. “It But for each other, the two have remained Brian matter-of-factly. tain. Eric offered to go out on his own to ease was a good relationship, but it got even better constant. Brian grew up in Iowa and lived with his mom her financial strain. when we went to Lawrence Hall.” “We’ve been through a lot,” Eric says. “We’re until he was 11 or 12. When he was 10, things “It was kinda hard for her,” Eric says. The fos- At Lawrence Hall, the two looked out for each basically brothers.” with his mother took a turn for the worse. ter mother told Eric she loved him and didn’t other. When Eric was upset about something,

Koala. Photos by Bill Healy. Koala 18 years old Indentifies as bisexual

Drakéra, 20, adds ranch dress- On being young ing (her favorite) to dinner at “I’m just enjoying my youth. the Crib, the Night Ministry’s A lot of people think that LGBT-friendly shelter. Photo by ‘cause I’m 18, that I won’t be Bill Healy. able to hold a conversation, or that I must not be on their level. Is it really all about be- ing on somebody’s level? I’d rather get to know them than be on their level.”

On coming out “I came out. People found it shocking. Most of them didn’t believe me. Some of them did. Some of them rejected me. Some of them accepted me. I just roll with it.”

On the youth of Boystown “Everybody out here, they smoke, drink, have sex, some- times debate about religion.” 24 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

LGBTQ Youth Series from

Javontae, 20, watches television at a gas station on the corner of Addison and Halsted. Photos by Bill Healy.

Stormy Monroe 22 years old Identifies as transgender

BY Kate Sosin

Stormy Monroe sums up life without housing in two words: horrible and terrible. But she has a method for getting through each day. “With every brush of my hair, with every sway of my hips, that’s how I do it,” she said. Monroe grew up on Chicago’s West Side, and she came to Lakeview to be with friends. She has yet to find steady housing. For now, she is stay- ing at The Crib, The Night’s Ministry’s LGBTQ- next week in affirming shelter. Though she’s out to her family, things haven’t been easy. “My parents found out along down the line,” she said. “They weren’t too happy about it. They’re still not too happy about it. But hey, it’s my life.” An in-depth look at the Broadway In Lakeview, Monroe was drawn into street United Methodist Church’s life quickly, she said. In some cases it has got- innovative Youth Lounge. Photo ten her into trouble. She spent four-and-a-half months behind bars after she and some friends essay: Overnight in Boystown. were caught staying in an apartment that wasn’t Watch what really happens. theirs and taking things from the house, she said (Monroe added that she believed the apart- ment belonged to another youth). for more But trouble also seeks her out, she said. Po- lice often assume that because she is trans, she Generation Youth is doing sex work, a narrative common among many trans women. look for Monroe spends a lot of time at the library WindyCityTimes on reading. According to Monroe, she is banned from both Center on Halsted and Broadway Youth Center, so her resources in the neighbor- hood are currently limited. “Being a trans woman, there’s a certain type www.youtube.com/windycitytimes of maintenance you have to keep to yourself,” www.vimeo.com/windycitytimes she said. “It’s very hard to keep that mainte- nance when you’re being told when to go, when Will listens to headphones as he finishes ice cream at or click the to stay.” Chicagoland Community Church’s Safe Haven dinner. His Monroe sometimes walks through the neigh- wife Diamond, 29, folds new pants from the church’s “YOUTH” tab at borhood and eyes the fancy condos. clothing closet. Photos by Bill Healy. www. “Sometimes, I’m looking at it, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I wish,’” she said. But she keeps her eyes on WindyCityMediaGroup goals more immediately obtainable. She just en- .com rolled in classes at Harold Washington College. She wants people to know that LGBTQ street- based youth are open to support from others. “I just want them to know that we all aren’t StandUp for Kids serves food to youth all bad,” she said. “A lot of us come from shaken in the summertime. Jolani finishes homes and broken love.” his dinner on a park bench near the lakefront. Photo by Bill Healy.

Photos by Kate Sosin. WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 25 2012 year-end Closeout deals

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Bruce Vilanch plays Fezziwig in Scrooge & Marley. Scrooge & Marley Photo by Hal Baim opens in Chicago

Chicago Indie Film Scrooge & Marley, a modern- day variation on Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story A Christmas Carol, will have its Chicago Red Carpet Premiere and one-week run at Chica- go’s historic Music Box Theatre (3733 N. South- port Ave.) Nov. 29 thru Dec. 6. Recounted from a gay sensibility, the film will also screen in at least a dozen cities nationwide this holiday season, with a DVD and soundtrack slated for December release. Filmed in Chicago last May, Scrooge & Marley stars acclaimed ac- tor David Pevsner, former Saturday Night Live star Tim Kazurinsky, Rusty Schwimmer, Bruce Vilanch, Megan Cavanagh, Ronnie Kroell, David Moretti, Richard Ganoung, and JoJo Baby. It is narrated by Tony award-winning actress Judith Light. The Chicago Premiere run will kick off with a gala opening night celebration featuring most of the stars. A pre-VIP event will be held at Frida’s Restaurant at 5 pm, Red Carpet at the Music Box at 6:30 p.m. and the film screening at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A with cast and crew. The VIP after-party will be held at D’Agostino’s on Addi- son. Philanthropist Michael Leppen is underwrit- ing the opening night events. Tickets are now on sale for all events and screenings at: http:// www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/scroogeand- marley . MOVIES Acclaimed out actor David Pevsner portrays Ben Scrooge while former Saturday Night Live Wigging out with Bruce Vilanch star Tim Kazurinsky appears as the Ghost of By Jorjet Harper ployees like family, cares about their welfare, ment going and all that, and that came crashing and throws lively holiday parties for all. Sadly, down when people began dying. And ironically David Pevsner The world contains quite a few people who seem he is forced to sell his business to avaricious enough, that movement, because of the epidem- stars as Scrooge. to always be playing to an invisible camera. But corporate interests who care nothing about ic, became a real genuine political movement, Photo by Hal Bruce Vilanch is one of those truly rare people worker morale. Scrooge and Marley, grown more which is as forceful today as it can be.” Baim who is always cracking jokes off the top of his callous over time, side with the heartless new Vilanch was living in Chicago in 1970, work- head that are actually funny. owners. ing at the Chicago Tribune, when he met Bette Vilanch is known for his work both behind and “I play Fezziwig, who you’ll remember from Midler. Midler hired him to write jokes for her, in front of the camera. The two-time Emmy win- Dickens,” Vilanch said. “But this is a different marking the start of a successful collaboration ner has written material for many of America’s kind of Fezziwig. He’s a guy who owns a disco in that has lasted through the years. After moving top comedians, but is probably best known to the Seventies and he’s Auntie Mame—Rosalind to L.A., Vilanch began writing material for other the public for his time as a regular on Hollywood Russell and Auntie Mame.” Vilanch threw back famous comics as well, including Joan Rivers, Squares. Vilanch has been head writer for the his head, causing his wig to flounce. “He’s all, Richard Pryor, and Lily Tomlin, and for television Jacob Marley. Rounding out the cast is a host Academy Awards since 2000. In 1999, he was ‘Oh how droll, how vivid!’ He’s a pretty fabulous shows like ABC’s original Donny and Marie Show of other recognized theatrical actors: Drew An- the subject of a feature-length documentary, character, and he brings young Scrooge and Mar- and The Brady Bunch. Vilanch heard about the derson, Christopher Allen, Nicholas Bailey, Al- Get Bruce!, about his life as Hollywood’s most ley in [to his business] and of course they do Scrooge & Marley project from his friend, the lison Torem, Fawzia Mirza, Peter Mohawk, Becca sought-after humor writer. him dirt—you know the story. And then we see film’s co-director and co-writer, Richard Knight. Kaufman, Scott Duff, PJ Powers, Amy Matheny It’s easy to see why Vilanch is such a valu- his downfall. But then there’s a resurrection. It’s “I had done his radio show when I was in Chi- and many more. able commodity in Hollywood. In person, he‘s very biblical.“ cago doing Hairspray, and we’ve been friendly Featuring a wide range of music from award- endearingly clever in a down-to-earth way, loves Though Scrooge & Marley is a modern, gay- ever since. And he talked about making this winning singers and bands, Jason Gould per- playfully entertaining everyone around him, and themed retelling of A Christmas Carol, Vilanch’s strange gay take on A Christmas Carol. When forms a special end credit song, written for the seems unable to stop saying things that are character follows the traditional Dickensian arc. you consider Christmas Carol’s been done every film by Marsha Malamet, Liz Vidal and Stephan genuinely hilarious. “He’s a jolly old soul who gets caught up in his other way—I mean, I’m waiting for the al-Qaeda Oberhoff. Other performers in the film and Vilanch was in Chicago for the shooting of vices and gets caught up in their chicanery. And version, that’s all that has been missed—so I soundtrack include Matt Alber, BETTY, Linda the new film Scrooge & Marley, a contemporary eventually he’s something they [the spirits] thought, how could I not be a part of it? It’s so Good, Amber deLaurentis, Becca Kaufman, Jean- retelling of the classic Dicken’s tale, A Christ- show Scrooge, to show what a bad guy Scrooge original, so unusual.” nie Tanner and more. mas Carol, “with a gay twist,” that will premiere has been through the years. So Fezziwig’s kind Vilanch also considered a gay version of A during this year’s holiday season. In a casting of a poster child for excess. But at the same Christmas Carol in it’s wider cultural context. Music Box Theatre schedule in Chicago: stroke of genius, Vilanch plays the comic/tragic time, he’s brought down by the hand of some- “I think that the reason to do a gay version of Thursday, Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m. – red carpet, 7 character Fezziwig in the film. body who is genuinely sinister. And he’s not. anything is to show that we’re all basically the p.m. screening followed by Q&A. Though he already had on his Fezziwig wig And I like him.” same under the skin. That the humanity is the Friday, Nov, 30, 2:30 p.m., followed by a meet- for our interview, the makeup department had Dickens’ Fezziwig symbolized the end of an era same. We just have wildly different cultural per- and-greet with actors at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Hal- not yet glued on his Fezzi-beard. He stroked the he knew well, the Industrial Revolution. Dickens’ spectives and ways of expressing ourselves. But sted, 5-7 p.m. (Pevsner, Vilanch, Schwimmer, strawberry blonde locks of his wig lovingly, and saw it as a time when small businessmen and lo- it’s the humanity of it all that’s important,” he Kroell, Moretti, Cavanagh and more.) told me, “My old hair—it’s come back to visit. cal industries like Fezziwig’s were disappearing, observed. Sat., Dec. 1, Noon: Benefit for Chicago Gay It’s been living in a condo in Boca Raton, and swept away by more ruthlessly profiteering busi- “And gay community, and gay culture, for want Men’s Chorus, followed by talk-back with actors. now it’s decided to come out of retirement.” ness practices and cutthroat corporations. The of a better word, is just so much fun. It’s so Sun., Dec. 2, Noon (ASL interpreted), benefit In fact, his real hair today, with its strawberry Fezziwig in Scrooge & Marley also symbolizes festive and everything-is-in-quotes and over- for Lakeside Pride. blonde color and shoulder-length Prince Valiant the end of an era: the pre-AIDS gay culture. the-top exaggerated, because it’s a culture that Mon., Dec. 3 - Tue., Dec. 4, 2:30 p.m. styling, looked rather similar to his Fezzi-wig— “Fezziwig is the end of that party that was had to live under the thumb of a straight cul- Wed., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., benefit for Lambda just a bit less bushy. going on in the gay community in the Seven- ture for years, so its take on things comes from Legal. Not done hamming it up, Vilanch began to ties, that was ended by the AIDS epidemic,” said being oppressed. And that’s always funny,” said Thu., Dec. 6, 2:30 p.m. croon to his wig: “‘Hello my old friend ... ’ I feel Vilanch. “Suddenly everything got very serious Vilanch. “I mean, I’m Jewish, too, and we have The film will also screen over Christmas at the like Sweeney Todd,” he quipped. “‘This is my bur- and everything that we were told would happen that in common: we were oppressed for five Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N., State Street, den ... .’ Soon there will be a beard to complete because of what we were doing suddenly hap- thousand years and that’s why so many funny Chicago: Friday, Dec. 21, 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, the picture. I will look like a nightmare version pened—and not because of what we were do- people are Jews. When you’re at the bottom, you Dec. 22 at 7:45 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 27, 7:45 of myself from the Seventies. I can’t wait!” ing. It was totally coincidental. It was the end kind of have to look up and laugh, because you p.m. In Dickens’ original Christmas Carol, Fezziwig of some kind of a party that had been going don’t see the sun a lot.” Vilanch paused, then See www.scroogeandmarleymovie.com or is young Scrooge and Marley’s boss. He’s a gen- on since I think Stonewall. There was a great added warmly, “And eventually, you do.” www.facebook.com/ScroogeAndMarley. erous, ethical businessman who treats his em- deal of joy about liberation and getting a move- WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 27 Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame inducts 12 Twelve individuals and three organizations were inducted into the Chicago Gay and Les- bian Hall of Fame Nov. 12. Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped hand out the awards, which were presented at the Chicago History Museum. Emanuel also called for full marriage rights in Illinois. Commission on Hu- man Relations Commissioner Mona Noriega and state Rep. Deb Mell also helped recognize honorees. Those honored in 2012 are: Minister Lois L. Bates (post- humous), St. Sukie de la Croix, Sanford E. Gaylord, William W. Greaves, Keith R. Green, Mark Ishaug, Bill Pry, Chuck Rodock- er, Heather C. Sawyer and Hon- ey West. Lois Bates’ mother De- lores Bates accepted on behalf of her daughter. Organizations included Chi- cago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, Chi-Town Squares and Proud to Run, Chicago. Cook County Clerk David Orr and columnist Laura S. Wash- ington were inducted as friends of the community. Greg Cameron, Suzanne Kraus and Gary Chichester also helped induct the class of 2012. See more details on honorees at http://www.windycitymedi- agroup.com/lgbt/Chicago-Gay- and-Lesbian-Hall-of-Fame-to- induct-twelve/40224.html. Photos by Hal Baim. See more at www.windycitymediagroup.com. 28 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES narrates his own rags-to-riches story on cam- era—is as firmly in control of the film as he has been famously from the outset of his fascinat- KNIGHT ing career. Starting in the mail room of the Wil- liam Morris Agency barely out of his teens in the AT mid-’60s, Geffen quickly developed his knack for THE spotting talent, developing it and making lots and lots of money in the process. MOVIES Geffen began by wooing singer-songwriter Laura Nyro. Nyro, perhaps contemporary music’s most striking talent, was also a bohemian spirit par deluxe. But Geffen’s passion for her abilities convinced her to place her burgeoning career in his hands. As her agent and manager, he quickly By Richard got her signed to Columbia Records and from Knight, Jr. there moved on to greater and great heights— with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Joni Mitchell; Jackson Browne; the Eagles; and many others benefitting from Geffen’s chutzpah and fear- Hitchcock; lessness. Here was the shark that ate the other sharks in the tank—without looking back. Inventing David The climb eventually included forays into Broadway and movies, as a force in the political Geffen; film note arena as a power broker and in the gay com- munity as one of its most prominent philanthro- Two master manipulators—the legendary direc- pists. Everything Geffen touched seemed to turn tor of suspense Alfred Hitchcock and David Gef- to gold, but left little time for a personal life. fen, the media mogul with the Midas touch—are After a famously odd relationship with Cher fal- front and center at the movies this week. The tered, Geffen came to terms with his gay sexual- first (in theaters) is director Sacha Gervasi’s ity in private, eventually coming out in public as feature, Hitchcock, and the second is director the scourge of AIDS took scores of his friends. Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock. Photo by Suzanne Tenner Susan Lacy’s documentary Inventing David Gef- Geffen’s illustrious story is commented on by fen (on PBS all month as part of its “American many of those he made famous and rich—former Masters” series). enemies and friends alike (often one and the was looking to prove that he could hold his own TV show, goes smoothly enough at first but Both portray men with enormous creative same)—illustrated by a vault full of fascinating with the new crop dogging his heels. He instinc- there’s trouble brewing at home: Alma, restless power at their disposal with the ability to archival footage. tively felt that a lurid novel based on the true and love-starved, is working on a new script make—and break careers—and the conviction Many of the seamier aspects of Geffen’s deal- life story of mass murderer Ed Gein was the tick- with an old collaborator (played with oily fi- to turn their creative inspirations into realities ings—detailed in Tom King’s riveting biography et. Yet Hitch’s determination to make the film nesse by Danny Huston), driving Hitchcock’s that continue to influence the cultural land- The Operator—are omitted, glossed over or re- was greeted with derision and, perhaps most jealousy into overdrive. Daily on the set, as he scape. Not surprisingly, the darker aspects of the layed strictly from his viewpoint. (The famous importantly, with cool skepticism from Alma. directs Psycho’s famous set pieces—Marion driv- personalities of these two extraordinarily driven rift with Nyro that happened in 1971 is the Anthony Hopkins, as Sir Alfred (who settles ing in the rainstorm, Norman carrying “mother” and complicated men are explored. documentary’s most egregious example of this.) on an approximation of Hitchcock’s well-known down the stairs and, most vividly, Marion’s fate- Hitchcock is based on gay author Stephen Even though Lacy clearly didn’t have a free voice and mannerisms as he did for Richard ful shower—he is distracted and egged on by Rebello’s 1990 bestseller Alfred Hitchcock and hand in exchange for access to her no-doubt Nixon, with varying success depending on the his imaginary “friend” Ed Gein (Michael Wincott) the Making of Psycho. After Black Swan scribe intimidating subject, Inventing David Geffen is scene), throws caution to the wind. He mort- to do something about his suspicions (a device John J. McLaughlin took a stab at the screen- nevertheless an intriguing look at a man who, gages the house to get the financing and pro- that is really off-putting). Hitch’s escalating play, Rebello returned for subsequent drafts. The in his climb to the top of Mt. Billionaire ($5.5 ceeds, with the cautious support of Alma, who paranoia morphs into panic until the ever-loyal, creation of Hitchcock’s legendary film—the first and counting), has managed to exorcise most of suggests Janet Leigh for the part of the luckless no-nonsense Alma takes charge. Here, the warm real slasher picture—is the framing device for a his demons. And an epilogue is very telling: As Marion Crane who’s stabbed in the shower at the glow of an old-fashioned love story takes over— love story (between Hitch and his spouse and we glimpse the marbled interiors and perfectly 30-minute mark and Anthony Perkins to play the which is distinctly at odds with the creepy se- closest collaborator, Alma Reville); part psy- landscaped grounds of Geffen’s stunning renova- cross-dressing, mother-fixated Norman Bates. quences that have preceded it. All these dispa- chological study of the portly and emotionally tion of the Jack Warner vast estate he is there by Scarlett Johansson is the chipper Leigh, who rate parts of Hitchcock don’t really mesh and the stilted director as he enters the winter of his himself, posed in the impossibly lavish place— ignores muted warnings about Hitch’s strange tone of the picture is often off-kilter through- career; and part overview of Hollywood in transi- alone. fixation on his blonde leading ladies by actress out, but the subject matter and the performance tion, moving from old to new. Of related interest: Director Billy Wilder’s Vera Miles (played by Jessica Biel), while James of Helen Mirren as Alma go a long way toward For movie buffs, the dramatic backstory of 1950 filmSunset Boulevard—a bitter, acrid D’Arcy plays the twitchy Perkins, who was clos- forgiving the movie’s strange anomalies. filming Psycho is potentially juicy stuff. In and deeply cynical look at the price of big-time eted and worried that “playing Norman might 1959, Hitchcock had just had a massive hit with success in Hollywood—arrives on Blu-ray in a cut too close to home.” Much better, tonally, is Susan Lacy’s Inventing the elegant spy thriller North By Northwest and stunning new transfer, complete with tons of The filming, done with the crew from Hitch’s David Geffen. From the get-go, Geffen—who bonus features. Gloria Swanson stars as one- time silent star Norma Desmond, who’s planning her “return” behind the walls of her own decay- ing, Jack Warner-sized estate when hunky young Joe Gillis (William Holden) inadvertently crashes into her life and becomes her kept boy toy. Eric von Stroheim is equally effective as Max, Des- mond’s butler and former husband.

Film note: —Get out your nun habits and Nazi uniforms: The annual Thanksgiving screenings of Sing-A- Long Sound of Music return to the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., for multiple showings Nov. 23-25. Once again, audience par- ticipation is strongly encouraged at this annual showing of the beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein musical classic, the 1965 Best Picture Oscar winner that stars Julie Andrews as the klutzy nun-turned-stepmother/vocal coach of the end- less Von Trapp brood and stern-but-kindly father Christopher Plummer (last year’s Oscar winner for Beginners), as they are forced to flee the Nazi regime. The fun starts with an audience vocal warm-up, pre-show costume parade and goodie bags. www.musicboxtheatre.com Check out my archived reviews at www. windycitymediagroup.com or www.knightat- themovies.com. Readers can leave feedback From left: David Geffen; Joni Mitchell and Geffen, with Mama Cass Elliott in the background. Left photo by Rahoul Ghose; right photo by Henry Diltz at the latter website. WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 29

“This Christmas Carol will gayly ring in “This touching and clever Carol is sure to be the Holidays and so it should!” a queer Christmas classic!” Janet Davies, ABC-7 News Mike Wood, Instinct magazine “A sweet and distinctive spin on a holiday standard.” Alonso Duralde, author, “Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas”

A HOLIDAY MOVIE FOR ALL OF US

the Music Box Theatre http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/scroogeandmarley Thursday, Nov. 29 | 6:30pm – red carpet, 7 p.m. screening followed by Q&A Friday, Nov, 30 | 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 | Noon Scrooge & Marley is a modern day variation on Charles Sunday, Dec. 2 | Noon (ASL interpreted) Monday, Dec. 3 | 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 | 2:30 p.m. Dickens’ classic story of the holidays, “A Christmas Carol.” Wed., Dec. 5 | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 | 2:30 p.m. On Christmas Eve, Ben Scrooge, the man who hates the holidays, is given the chance to begin again when he is visited by three spirits. Recounted from a gay sensibility with heart, comedy and music, the magic of Dickens’ timeless tale comes alive from a fresh Gene Siskel Theatre perspective that will appeal to audiences of all persuasions. Friday, Dec, 21 | 8:15 p.m. Directed by Richard Knight Jr. and Peter Neville. Starring David Saturday, Dec. 22 | 7:45 p.m. Pevsner, Tim Kazurinsky, Bruce Vilanch, Rusty Schwimmer, Thursday, Dec. 27 | 7:45 p.m. Megan Cavanagh, Ronnie Kroell, David Moretti and narrated by Judith Light.

ScroogeandMarleyMovie.com 30 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES theDISH WEEKLY DINING GUIDE IN The following night, switching locales and cui- for something I’d never tried before: poutine. Troy Mediterranean sines, another friend and I stopped by Burger However, now I know why Canadians love this Grill; Burger Joint Joint Chicago (675 N. Franklin St; http:// dish—it’s French fries topped with brown gravy By ANDREW DAVIS burgerjointchicago.com), a basement-level eat- and cheese (although other places have varia- ery in the River North area. tions), and it’s just as sinful as it sounds. I recently had dinner at the most charming The first thing one notices is the decor, with However, Burger Joint (which also apparent- place. plenty of exposed brick. There’s also a subway ly has a very hunky cook I missed on my visit It’s almost easy to overlook Troy Mediterra- motif (quite possibly because of the Brown Line there) has other attractive-sounding items, in- nean Grill (2908 N. Broadway; www.troygrill. trains that constantly rumble overhead) and cluding spicy feta fries, blue cheese fries, the com), as it’s situated in a stretch of Lincoln large-screen TVs tuned into ESPN—which suits crazy Greek burger, chili dogs, desserts (double Park/Lakeview that has some construction (in- me just fine, but may not work for some readers. chocolate fudge cookie—gluten-free) and milk- cluding that overhaul at the Clark/Broadway/ As for the food, well, it’s more than satisfying, shakes. Another great feature is the prices, of Diversey intersection) and more high-profile overall. My friend got a gyro burger that he said course; various meals cost $5.99-$9.99. was great. He also opted for the Merkt’s cheddar One of the staffers told us that she’s not even eateries such as Frog N Snail. However, it’d be a The soslu patlican (above) and lamb kebab mistake to look past this restaurant. fries—and, thankfully, the cheese was on the allowed to work late on Friday and Saturday (below) at Troy Mediterranean Grill. Photos side in a cup. He loved the fries (which come in nights (the place stays open to whenever on Owner John Ozcan (a former hairstylist) told by Andrew Davis Savor that the hallmark of Troy, which has been a huge bag), but the cheddar—which is notori- those nights—usually 4 or 5 a.m.) because of open since May, is healthy food. He added, “Ev- ously sharp—was a tad too much for him. the revelers who stop by from the nearby clubs. erything is fresh; everything on the menu is I went with a standard cheeseburger that Of course, I’ll have to see what that scene is made here—baklava, bread, whatever’s on the turned out to be especially tasty (which my like. menu.” trainer is going to love reading). I also went This certainly made me feel better has my din- ing companion and I chowed down on various items in this relatively small, but lovely, dining The gyro burger establishment. (above) and Ozcan brought out several cold appetizers to poutine (below) try with the tasty bread. Among them were hay- at Burger Joint dari (thickened yogurt with crushed garlic, dill Chicago. Photos and walnuts), soslu patlican (fried eggplant in by Andrew Davis fresh tomato and garlic sauce), baba gannouj and hummus. We favored the haydari the most and my friend (who’s not the biggest eggplant fan) even liked the soslu patlican. Something that’s not to be missed is the Troy pizza (also known as lahmacun), a thin-crust order to get the most out of the pizza. The com- pizza topped with ground lamb. Ozcan suggest- bination of tastes worked on both of us like a ed that we top the dish with the accompanying charm. vegetables and juice from the lemon wedges in Then—as if we weren’t full enough—my friend and I tried a couple items from the grill: lamb sis and Troy filet mignon sis kebabs. The meat was absolutely amazing, I have to say. These Mediterranean Grill dishes alone are enough to warrant a return. For Our menu is: dessert, we tried the baklava, which was also • 100% homemade • fresh • healthy outstanding; it was light, warm and very tasty. • Veggie dishes are available Like most Mediterranean eateries, Troy has • All food is made fresh at the time you order it We also cater private events for you, including: plenty of vegetarian options, such as sebvzeli • Engagement parties, birthday parties pide, a Turkish pie stuffed with mixed vegeta- • Office parties, Christmas parties • Any occasion bles, and vegetarian saute. Bring in this ad for10% OFF your meal Also, as my friend pointed out, lighting can 2908 N. Broadway St. (773) 770-3866 make quite a difference. As the staff turned TroyMediterraneanGrill down the main lights and lit candles, the place definitely took on a more intimate feel. So Troy is highly recommended. You get at- tentive service and really good food (at a great price). By the way, Troy is BYOB.

theDISH DINING LISTINGS American Hamburger Mary’s Bakery Club Lucky german The Counter 5400 N. Clark St., Chi- Swedish Bakery 1824 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago Brauhaus 666 W. Diversey Pkwy. cago 5348 N. Clark St., Chi- Bucktown 4732 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago 773-784-6969 cago 773-227-2300 Chicago 773-935-1995 hamburgermarys.com/ 773-561-8919 clubluckychicago.com 773-784-4444 Custom built burgers with chicago swedishbakery.com 1940s style, Italian supper chicagobrauhaus.com hormone-and-antibiotic-free Burgers, salads and sass European-style cookies, club and cocktail lounge. Serving up traditional Award-winning, must-see 100% Angus beef. Facebook: served up in a kitschy pastries, breads, and tortes. German specialties, beer, The Counter Lincoln Park. atmosphere with an on-site holiday decorations and We’ll create a cake for any wine, music and dancing 6 brew pub. celebration. private party room. Accepting days a week. Jane’s Restaurant online reservations. 1653-55 W. Cortland Ave. ASIAN ITALIAN Ceres’ Table MEDITERRANEAN 773-862-5263 Thirteen Tapas The Perfect Setting for your Taverna 750 4882 N. Clark St., Troy Mediterranean 4202 W. Irving Park Rd., janesrestaurant.com 750 W. Cornelia Ave., Chicago Grill Commitment Ceremony An everyday, upscale eatery 773-283-6626 Chicago 773-878-4882 2908 N. Broadway located in neighborhoody www.13pins.webs.com 773-348-5172 cerestable.com 773-770-3866 Bucktown. Stunning Special Serving unique Asian tapas- Bright and fresh Italian Sustainable, locally sourced Facebook: Events Room. Brunch, Lunch style cuisine, inspired by small plates with an exciting contemporary Italian food, & Dinner. dishes of the Philippines. Half cocktail menu. Surprisingly TroyMediterraneanGrill off tapas Tue. -Thu. from 3-6. great cocktails, and fabulous 100% homemade, fresh menu affordable. wine and beer lists. includes veggie dishes. All food is prepared fresh as the janesrestaurant.com time of ordering. 1653-55 W. 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It has, in fact, developed quite a cult MASSAGE [email protected] (11/28/12-8) following. Stunning beauty Raquel Welch, then FIRST-CLASS ASIAN MALE MASSEUR. London-trained and qualified. Over 25 years of worldwide experience TWO BEDROOMS FOR RENT 28, was desperate to break out of her bikini clad and 100% attuned to your needs. Satisfaction assured. ANDERSONVILLE GREYSTONE-2 BEDROOM W/DEN sex symbol persona and be taken seriously as Please call Dennis at 773-248-9407 (11/14/12–26) 1312 Winona. 2 Bedrooms plus Den, 1 Bath, 1st floor an actress. She saw the “transsexual” (the word LOVE FROM THE CENTER apartment in a Gay owned 2 flat. All newly remodeled used at that time) Myra as her ticket to critical OF WHO YOU ARE PIANO & VOICE LESSONS with granite/stainless kitchen, subway tile bath, for- acclaim. This was a very courageous thing to do PIANO & VOICE LESSONS – in my studio or your home mal dining room, parquet floors.Free laundry. Fenced in 1970, and Welch attacks the role with gusto. Life Coaching • Ceremonies offered by young, gay, professional with Master’s in yard/ pets welcome. $1450 + Util. Call or text John She’s hilariously spot-on as Myra, the recently Office & Phone Appointments music. Andersonville, Boystown and Near Northside. at: 773-494-5294 or email [email protected]. transitioned bombshell who comes to Hollywood Take lessons with a neighborhood teacher. All ages (11/14/12-4) Rev. Jacki Belile, CEC in order to seek “revenge” on the male species. welcome. Jonathan at 646-418-4043. (11/14/12–9) RENOVATED 2.5 BDRM - 3 BATH EDGEWATER BEACH Nurturing Pride & Faith for 20 Years The then-X-rated film (it’s since been reclas- Beautiful 2 bdrm + den, 3 bath, NEW kitchen, Wood 773.655.4357 sified with an R) no doubt shocked many. Myra SPIRITUALITY / EVENT floors, TONS of amenities pool, workout, restaurant, VA- www.livingwellministries.net sets her sights on a young couple she meets at LET pkg HEAT incl $2200 mth Alice 773-293-3000 (12/5/12-4) the Hollywood acting academy where she teach- COUNSELING AND CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY: Providing NEW 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT 2 Bed,1 Bath, Old Irving es “elocution,” and seduces them both. In the Reviving help to individuals and couples in our community since Park. Private Roof Top Deck, Deluxe Kitchen with Cherry one scene that remains shocking today, Myra 1987. I specialize in relationship issues, spiritual The Spirit... Wood Cabinets,Granite Countertops, New Stove, Fridge, straps on a dildo and rapes the young man, who issues, childhood trauma, and recurrent patterns Microwave. Hardwood and Marble floors. 6 Large Rooms, thanks him. that inhibit potential. Starla R. Sholl, LCSW, PC, Renewing Ceiling fans. Deluxe Bathroom, In unit laundry. Heat is Iconic sex symbol West, then 77, came out of 773.878.5809, www.starlasholl.com (2/20/13-26) Included. No Dogs, Cats, or Pets. $1,800.00 per month retirement to play Hollywood superagent Leticia SOLUTION FOCUSED COUNSELING Solution focused The Life... Richard 773-230-4024 (11/28/12-2) Van Allen. But West isn’t playing Van Allen; she’s counseling in warm & affirming environment by licensed playing, well, Mae West! psychotherapist. Wounded self-esteem, body image Atonement Episcopal Church “How tall are you?” she asks a young acting issues, career counseling and relationship challenges. hopeful. BCBS PPO & Aetna. Sliding Scale. Lakeview, close to CTA 5749 N. Kenmore “Why, ma’am, I’m six foot, seven inches,” re- & Parking. Dr. John Moore. (773) 704-5300. www. www.ChurchOfTheAtonement.Org plies a very young Tom Selleck. johndmoore.net (11/14/12-8) Sundays at 11 A.M. “Never mind the six feet. Let’s talk about the FIREWOOD seven inches.” You have to hand it to a 77-year- WISCONSIN’S FINEST: Seasoned dry oak, fruitwood, old who’s unafraid to flaunt her sexuality. white birch, etc. Guaranteed to burn. Fast delivery or ANGELS AMONG US WITH SOPHY BURNHAM, Friday Four decades after the film nearly sent 20th pick-up. 1/4, 1/2 or full facecord. 2175 S. Canalport. Nov. 30, 6-8pm. $10 admission benefits Greater Chicago Century Fox spiraling into bankruptcy, Myra www.GoodwoodFirewood.com; 773-975-0251 Food Depository; event hosted by Swedenborg Library. Breckenridge can be looked back upon as an (1/30/13-13) Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St. (at ahead of it’s time film that dared to question— Clark), Chicago. Author Sophy Burnham’s 1990 “A Book and poke fun of—society’s rigid rules for gen- der roles. Alas, Welch didn’t get the acclaim she yearned for and deserved for playing a charac- ter that every other name actress in Hollywood feared. But Welch had her happy ending in the 1980s, when she finally won a grudging respect from critics for roles she played on television. 32 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

Company presents a work by George Ber- nard Shaw; 7:30pm-10pm, 773.404.7336, Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. Lin- coln Ave., www.remybumppo.org Saturday, Nov. 24 Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance Brought to you by the combined efforts of (GLBT) A weekly peer support group for members of the LGBTQ community with WINDY CITY depression, bipolar disorder, or other DRAG DOLL psychiatric illnesses. Free of charge. Com- TIMES munity Room. 11am-12:30pm, 872-216- 3272, Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 Wed., Nov. 21 N. Sheridan Rd., www.dbsa-glbt-chicago. Wed., Nov. 21 com Tajma Hall hosts Hydrag URBANO at METRO Thanksgiving Party HIV Support Groups Living with HIV? Join THE FAIN EVENT Features DJ Maestro(ATL) Spinning Hip Revue at Hydrate, 3458 one of our 10-week groups to share expe- Hop, Hits & R&B Till 5am. If the Music N. Halsted St. riences, learn from one another and find Nov. 23-Dec. 30 doesn’t Get You Up, the Sexy URBANO support in a safe, confidential setting. Mitchell Fain (right) will star Dancers will. FREE Flavaworks XXX DVDs. Photo by Alex Lubischer Wednesdays and Thursdays; noon, Satur- in Theater Wit’s Santaland Advance Tix available online. 11:45am, days. Free; 6pm, Center on Halsted, 3656 773-957-4021, Metro Chicago, 3730 N N Halsted St., www.CenterOnHalsted.org Diaries at 1229 W. Belmont Clark St., www.urbanochicago.com; Tick- GenderQueer Chicago GenderQueer Chicago Ave. ets: www.metrochicago.com is a grassroots, peer-led group that works HOMO RIOT #losangelesqueer Provocative, Monday, Nov. 26 to create safe spaces for all of us to talk Photo from Theater Wit Los Angeles-based street artist on a mis- RuPaul’s All-Star Drag Race Join Ashley about, think about, explore, and express sion to bring a queer cultural sensibility Morgan and watch RuPaul’s All Star Drag gender. Meetings are intended to be a to the world usually on the street with Race. Stick around and watch ‘Untucked,’ safe, encouraging and supportive environ- paint, stickers, and paste up art this time the behind-the-scenes look of each week- ment. They are open to those who wish to with a a limited edition silk screen and ly episode. Surprises, cheap drinks and fun talk and think about gender. 6:30am, Cen- a series of mixed media works on wood ALL NIGHT! After RuPaul it’s All Request ter on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, Chicago, hosted by Tajma Hall with performances night party! 8pm, 773.871.6227, minibar, which are named after various locales in Night at The Call!! 8pm-10pm, 773-334- http://www.centeronhalsted.org by RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4 star DiDa 3341 N Halsted St., www.minibarchicago. Los Angeles wher; 12pm-5pm, 312-434- 2525, The Call (Chicago), 1547 W Bryn Thanksgiving Eve Wednesday Join your Ritz, Sorraya Dash, Naysha Lopez and Au- com 7544, Bert Green Fine Art, 8 S Michigan Mawr Ave., www.cattlecallchicago.com/ friends at Sidetrack for one of the big- rora Sexton; 10pm, Hydrate, 3458 N. Hal- Ave #1220, http://bgfa.us Or Chadash Assembling dinners for the gest nights of the year. Open at 3pm sted St., www.hydratechicago.com Friday, Nov. 23 Youth Speak OUT! Saturdays. Open Mike for Night Ministry, which serves individuals in Adrenaline UP at 8 with a custom blend of Sing-a-Long Sound of Music Music Box young people to express themselves and circumstances of poverty. Volunteers wel- Sidetrack favorites. 3pm, Sidetrack, 3349 Thursday, Nov. 22 Theatre is alive with a new Thanksgiving to hear from legendary artists in the mak- come to make sandwiches, assemble toi- N.Halsted St., www.sidetrackchicago.com Thanksgiving Dinner Center patrons from weekend tradition. Spirited audience-par- ing. Free. 4pm, Center on Halsted, 3656 N letry bags. RSVP and location information JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound After- the Senior and Youth programs gather to- ticipation event through Nov. 25. Ticketh- Halsted St., www.centeronhalsted.org from [email protected] or by phone. party The pre-cursor to Turkey Day. DJ gether in gratitude and friendship. Free. olders receive a free goody bag with props TransCinema The screening of a trans re- 7pm-9pm, 733-271-2148, email for loca- sets by JC Brooks, Kid Color, Michael Se- RSVP Required: cbilbrey@centeronhal- for the “magic moments.”; 4pm, Music Box lated film, followed by a discussion of the tion, www.orchadash.org rafini, and Garrett Shrigley. 10pm, Berlin sted.org; 12pm, Center on Halsted, 3656 Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave., www.mu- film. Free; 6pm, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Open Gym Volleyball Mondays and Thurs- Nightclub, 954 W Belmont Ave., www.ber- N Halsted St., www.centeronhalsted.org sicboxtheatre.com Halsted, www.centeronhalsted.org days. Co-ed, open court volleyball for linchicago.com T and GQ OUT Mic Night An open mic, for The Living Circle An interfaith GLBT spiri- Santaland Diairies Less than merry mis- players of all levels. $7/night; $30/ 2nd Annual Turkey Testicle Festival fea- both musical and spoken word perfor- tuality group that meets weekly for dis- adventures as a Christmas elf gone bad, month; 6pm, Center on Halsted, 3656 N turing the Bud Boyz Come and have a mances, it is intended to be a safe and cussion, meditation, prayer. 7pm-8:30pm, a celebration of the desperation of un- Halsted St., www.centeronhalsted.org ball with Jason and David from the Bud encouraging environment for members of 847-581-9136, 825 W. Wellington Ave. employment, the insanity of Christmas Boyz, for the 2nd Annual Turkey Testicle the broad trans community, along with The Odd Couple Marc Grapey and Tim Ka- shopping and the ineffable “cheer” of the Tuesday, Nov. 27 Festival! This fundraising event for the their Significant Others, family members, zurinsky star as mismatched roommates holiday spirit. David Sedaris’ anti-holiday Here’s to Your Health: Mind, Body, Spirit “Movember” charity, is not to be missed. friends and allies. Occurs the third Thurs- Oscar and Felix, in this adaptation of the show through Dec. 30. Thursdays through Resource Fair Comprehensive health fair 10pm, DS Tequila Company, 3352 N. Hal- day of each month. 7pm, Center on Hal- Neil Simon play. $25-$72. 8pm-10pm, Sundays plus two Wednesday performanc- with free HIV testing and accompanying sted St., www.budboyz.com sted, 3656 N Halsted St., www.centeron- 847-673-6300, Northlight Theater, 9501 es. Tickets $18 to $35 online or by phone. workshops. 11am-4pm, Northeastern Il- HyDrag Revue with Tajma Hall Join Hy- halsted.org Skokie Blvd., Skokie, www.northlight.org 9:30pm, 773-975-8150, Theater Wit, 1229 linois University Student Union, Alumni drate for the world famous HYDRAG REVUE The White Party DJ Avi Sic spins top 40 and Elaine Dame sings Ellington and Stray- club hits at minibar’s popular Thursday horn Something to Live For: The Strayhorn W. Belmont Ave, www.theaterwit.org Hall – 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. & Ellington Collaboration, jazz vocalist ButterBall featuring DJ Joe Gauthreaux Anti-LGBTQ Bias & Our Rights Community Elaine Dame in concert, featuring vir- SKIN Productions presents ButterBall, fea- Forum Local and federal responses to hate tuosic guitarist Andy Brown. 8pm Eastern turing DJ Joe Gauthreaux. 10pm, Hydrate, and discrimination. Free community forum Time. $20. 8pm, The Acorn Theater, 107 3458 N. Halsted St., www.hydratechicago. coordinated the the City of Chicago Com- Generations Dr. Three Oaks, Mich., www. com/home/ mission of Human Relations providing op- elainedame.com Global Rhythms 8 Through Nov. 25. Chicago tions and resources for hate violence and Santa’s Dead! & Dirty Carol’s Christmas Human Rhythm Project presents the Chi- discrimination. RSVP legal@centeronhal- The company that brought you Snow cago premiere of Vancouver’s ScrapArts- sted.org; 6pm-9pm, 773-472-6469, Center White and the Seven Drag Queens, Twinkie Music; 8pm-9:30pm, 312.542.2477, Harris on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted St., www.cen- and the Beast, and Alex in Wonderland Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E Ran- teronhalsted.org are premiering something new this holi- dolph St., http://harristheaterchicago. day season! Giving homage to classic noir org/events/2012-2013-season/chrp; Tick- Wed., Nov. 28 films and Christmas television specials, ets: http://www.harristheaterchicago.org Madea’s Big Scholarly Roundtable: Per- MidTangent Productions presents a daz- ., spectives on Media of Tyler Perry Free zling and daring musical double feature Sunday, Nov. 25 panel discussion hosted and co-sponsored like no other! 9pm-11pm, Hydrate, 3458 Urban Village: Wicker Park Service LGBT- by Northwestern University’s Block Cin- N. Halsted St., www.hydratechicago.com/ welcoming worship services at Urban Vil- ema, will examine the world of African- home; Tickets: http://www.brownpaper- lage Church are eclectic and experiential, American media mogul Tyler Perry. 5pm, tickets.com/event/295446 practical and intelligent, relevant and, Block Museum, Northwestern Univ., Evan- Shut Up and Dance: Circus Asylum A Crazy hopefully, inspiring. 10:30am-11:45am, ston Circus theme edition of Shut Up and Dance Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., with solid music by resident S.U.A.D. art- www.urbanvillagechurch.org/wicker-park/ Thursday, Nov. 29 ists and a special carnival circus perfor- Women’s Health Harvest Howard Brown 11th Annual World of Chocolate Chocolate mance by The Dead Man’s Carnival Circus Health Center and the LCCP Advisory lovers are invited to satisfy their sweet Sideshow at 11 pm. Team Bayside High, Board, in the spirit of the annual fund- tooth and commemorate the upcoming Porn and Chicken, Zebo, Vourteque. Drink raising event for women’s health services, December 1st, World AIDS Day at World of specials on PBR Tallboys and Jameson. the Garden of Eve, this event offer an oppor- Chocolate, AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s MID, 306 N. Halsted St. 10pm, the MID, tunity to mix and mingle with LCCP staff, 11th annual winter soiree. 6pm-9pm, Chi- 306 N. Halsted St., www.themidchicago. Advisory Board members, and community cago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan com members. $20 at door will include refresh- Ave., http://afc.aidschicago.org/netcom- The Tramaine Experience: An Urban Dram- ments and chance to win 2 Garden of Eve munity/page.aspx?pid=1645; Tickets: edy About growing up openly gay in tickets. 6pm-8pm, 773-771-0175, Morse http://afc.aidschicago.org/netcommu- Cabrini Green, laugh out loud fun with L, 1406 Morse Ave., www.howardbrown. nity/page.aspx?pid=1658g a great message. One time only. $12 org JUST DESSERTS get tickets online. 10:30pm, Greenhouse Retox Sundays Minibar Ultra Lounge and Theatre 2257 N Lincoln Ave., www.thet- Café presents DJ Tony Tone every Sunday Thursday, Nov. 29 ramaineexperience.com; Tickets: www. beginning at 4pm. 4pm, Minibar, 3341 N tramaine.net Halsted St., www.minibarchicago.com You Never Can Tell Remy Bumppo Theatre AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s annual World of Chocolate will take place at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. Get WindyCityMediaGroup.com Photo by Ross Forman : online ChicagoPride.com WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 33 BILLY MASTERS

“On a slow night, if few people are there, you dropped. I believe Judge Judy would say, “He’s can masturbate in the theater. Or better yet, have a winner!” He also did some modeling under sex with a fellow ticket-buyer on a really good the name Sheldon Xzavier—a name that falls Holiday night.”—John Waters shares some heartfelt rea- trippingly off the tongue. Moments after I re- sons why we should save San Francisco’s Roxie searched this story, Stephens recanted his ac- Weekends Theatre, the oldest continuously running cinema cusation through his lawyers: “He wants it to in America. You can contribute via Kickstarter. be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. are Sidetrack Most people are rarely thankful in the mo- Clash was an adult, consensual relationship.” Weekends ment. Thanks usually occur in retrospect. But That’s it? So anticlimactic. However, it’s rumored Weekends I must say I’m a very thankful person ... and that Clash and Stephens’ lawyers were seen dis- Join your friends at Sidetrack that’s mostly due to you. It’s true that had I cussing a financial settlement of the six-figure for one of the biggest nights of the year... THANKSGIVING EVE WEDNESDAY Open at 3pm been told in 1995 how long I’d be writing a persuasion just before this statement was made. Adrenaline UP from 8pm with a weekly column, I’d have probably tied a noose We may feel dirty doing it, but you can check custom video blend of Sidetrack favorites. around my neck. You realize that’s about 10,000 columns, more or less. (I’m a writer, not a math- ematician.) But what keeps it challenging and gobblle,, gobblle,, chucklle,, chucklle fun is you—the people I write for, who ask the THANKSGIVING THURSDAY, NOV. 22 Open at 8pm COMEDY VIDEO NIGHT ’til 2am questions, who tell me when they like or hate something. It’s quite possible that ours may be FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 • Open at 3pm the most successful relationship in my life. Keep SHOW TUNES 5 ’til 9pm then the Best Of SIDETRACK ’til 2am that in mind when shopping for my Christmas gift. There are some people who are less thankful— for example, the cast members of certain shows Join us at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted SidetrackChicago.com that got cancelled. The first two casualties were © Tuesday, Nov. 27 8pm Last Resort (which I abandoned after the sec- P h

o as RIVA hosts Sidetrack ond episode), and 666 Park Avenue (which I t

o Plus, TPAN will be in g

should have abandoned the same week). What r the house collecting a

p Pajama Party donations Sunday, is it about 10 p.m. on Sunday night? First Pan h y in Main Bar with a movie on the 11/25 as we all go Am, then GCB, and now 666 Park Avenue. I don’t b y

big screen!. She’s representing crazy for RIVA and ... think ABC needs a new show—it needs an exor- K J cism! H Sidetrack in TPAN’s Barlesque 5 e a

I was one of the few people who enjoyed t h Whitney last season. But since Whitney Cum- $10 at the door mings is also the creator of Two Broke Girls, her includes one drink ticket low-rated, self-titled sitcom was renewed. It was rushed back on the air after NBC cancelled the unwatchable Animal Practice. Alas, Whitney seems to be headed downhill. But it’s better than Partners, which CBS thankfully put out of its misery. I take no joy in that announcement. Billy says that Jack Mackenroth (above) is Well, OK, maybe a little—but that’s only be- branching out in a unique way. Photo from cause the show was abysmal. On the other hand, Mackenroth the cast (particularly Michael Urie), should be commended for making a silk purse out of ... well, you know. Ironically enough, Urie was out some revealing shots of Stephens on our just named to the “Out 100”—that annual list website. of noteworthy gay people ... a list I’ve never Andy Cohen recently found himself in a bit of appeared on. And yet, after 17 years I haven’t hot water. He appeared on the Today show a few been cancelled. So I’m thankful to still be em- hours after One Direction, and talked about in- ployed. advertently walking in on the band: “I barged Jack Mackenroth isn’t a porn star, but try tell- right into a room of twinks: One Direction! Se- ing that to the former Project Runway competi- curity was not exactly too tight, with all due tor. Since his sewing days, he’s been an activist, respect.” He also tweeted, “No joke just walked participated in the Gay Games and done some right into One Direction greenroom. The blond modeling. His latest “shoot” (such as it is) dude was shirtless. #HolyTwink” Apparently found him shaved within an inch of his life and fans of the band took exception to the word in such diverse positions as bareback on a zebra “twinks” and Cohen felt compelled to issue an and on all fours with ankle restraints. Photogra- apology: “Misused word earlier—I just meant pher Justin Monroe took the sexy snaps, which they’re cute.” Given that definitely, he certainly show Mackenroth’s bountiful assets from every did misuse the word ... at least when it comes possible angle ... including if he were getting a everyone in the band! colonoscopy! That said, he really does look in- In other twink news, Hostess has gone bank- credible. Since he so obviously wants our atten- rupt. No more Ho-Ho’s, Devil Dogs and Twinkies!! tion, we’re happy to present every inch of him Stock up now!!! on BillyMasters.com. When the only Twinkies I care about are from You probably heard all about the accusations Hostess, it’s definitely time to end yet another against puppeteer Kevin Clash, who has voiced column. Before I end, I must congratulate Elton Elmo since 1984. It all started when Kevin was John and David Furnish, who are said to be ex- accused of sexually abusing an underage male, pecting their second child. While they haven’t who made the claims through a lawyer who rep- confirmed this story, Miss Elton certainly ap- resented one of Jerry Sandusky’s victims (so you pears to be carrying twins. What lovely news. kinda know where things are going). Clash ad- Elton and David are having their second child. mitted that he had a relationship with the now- Elmo’s keeper had at least one. Et moi? I just 23-year-old man seven years ago—when the ac- watch from afar and silently report on it all cuser was 16 and Clash was 45. (I’m not gonna at www.BillyMasters.com, like a gay Madame say it.) Defarge. If you’d like me to knit you a little Then we discovered that accuser Sheldon Ste- something, drop a note to Billy@BillyMasters. phens had previously been arrested for check com and I promise to get back to you before fraud and reckless driving. He was also appre- someone buys me a Tickle Me Elmo. (It’s been hended by police after his “employer” reported my experience that most people giggle when that he stole more than $250K worth of jew- they have a hand up their ass!) So, until next elry at knifepoint! Sheldon claimed the jewelry time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s was a “gift” and, mysteriously, all charges were bible. 34 Nov. 21, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES Lesbian excels as sports official

By Ross Forman Diego in August for the women’s Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) annual World The tattoo on her right ankle—a zebra with a Series. whistle around its neck—is a fitting tribute to She has been a softball umpire for 12 years— how Julie Colwell has meshed her passion into and an officiating teacher for nine years, liter- her profession. ally. Julie Colwell, 52, an open lesbian who lives Colwell teaches a sports officiating class at in north suburban Lincolnwood and has been Evanston, which has received extensive local a teacher at Evanston Township High School mainstream media coverage over the years. (ETHS) for 30 years, also is a high-ranking, top- “I feel strong that female athletes need to see tiered (certified) amateur sports official in the female officials,” said Colwell, who is a mentor Illinois. to several younger, up-and-coming officials. Colwell officiates multiple sports, including Often, she brings tales from her officiating ca- volleyball (boys and girls), basketball (girls) and reer into the classroom. softball (fast- and slow-pitch). She is one of the “As I tell the kids [in class,] sports officiat- few females who has officiated key high school ing is a great way to make some money and state tournament games in volleyball (boys and give back to sports,” she said. “I’ve had many girls) and basketball (girls). highlights from the sports officiating class. One Sports officiating at high-level high school was a student who went on to the University of games/matches is male-dominated, but that Arizona. He wrote me [from college] to say that hasn’t slowed Colwell’s drive and determination he was hired to officiate [the school’s] intramu- to excel on the fields of play. ral sports. He was the only freshman hired; the “Officiating is all about customer service, so- others were juniors and seniors. Another time, a University of Michigan student told me that cial relationships,” said Colwell, who was born in Julie Colwell. Photo by Ross Forman Fargo, N.D., and was a two-sport athlete (field he was [assigned] to umpire high school fresh- hockey and softball) at Western Illinois Univer- men baseball games—I could see the pride in sity. She still plays softball and golfs, and re- his face as he was telling me.” room and has never hidden her sexual orienta- the hallway and in the classroom. cently picked up running. Colwell previously has Colwell also teaches health-wellness educa- tion. Being out has never been an issue, she “Thankfully, our culture at Evanston Township played organized basketball and volleyball. tion at Evanston, which includes discussions on said. is very inclusive. Her officiating career also has also led Col- sex education, nutrition, drug use, stress man- Colwell, in fact, started Evanston’s gay- “I think every school has some issues [on the well to the court for women’s college basketball agement and more. About 20 fellow ETHS teach- straight alliance about 15 years ago. LGBT front;] that’s probably how it always will games. Plus, Colwell has umpired both the pre- ers are her former students. One of her former “If kids come up and ask questions, they get be. Explaining same-sex relationships to some— dominantly male Gay Softball World Series and students is going to be a grandmother. me; I have my heart on my sleeve, so they get an students and faculty—can and probably always the Women’s Softball World Series. So, does it feel like 30 years? open and honest answer,” she said. will be a challenge.” “Being able to umpire my peers at the highest No, she said. “I don’t feel like I’m 52,” Colwell Her health education class includes discus- Colwell, who enjoys traveling and attending level is great, and I really cherish those weeks,” said. sions on bullying. concerts in her limited free time, is now a Board of the World Series, she said. Colwell was in San Colwell wears a No H8 bracelet in the class- “I firmly believe in equality across the board,” member for the Chicago Metropolitan Sports As- Colwell said. “Part of our teacher training the sociation (CMSA). ADVERTISEMENT first two days [of classes] included talking about “Make your bucket list, and do your bucket LGBT issues, and how do you deal with that in list,” she said of advice she offers all. When experience counts... In service to the community for over 30 years. Force tryouts Dec. 1 sance Park (1130 Midway Plaisance N.), Mt. The Law Offices of Tryouts for the Chicago Force women’s foot- Greenwood Park (3721 W. 111th St.), Riis Roger V. McCaffrey-Boss & Associates ball team will take place Saturday, Dec. 1, at Park (6100 W. Fullerton Ave.), Rowan Park the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC’s) (11546 S. Ave. L), Warren Park (6601 N. West- physical education building, 901 W. Roosevelt ern Ave.) and The Rink at Wrigley (Addison Rd. and Clark streets). CIVIL UNIONS – SOME LEGAL FIRST STEPS The event is 2-4 p.m. Participants must ar- Admission at most rinks is free, with a $6 rive by 1:45 p.m. to register. skate rental. (There is an admission fee at The Q. My partner and I just made the leap. We are now civil union partners. What do we do now? Tryouts will consist of various sprints, agil- Rink at Wrigley and at McFetridge Sports Cen- ity and strength assessments and football ter.) For more info, call 312-742-PLAY (7529) A. With the passage of the Civil Union law LGBT couples who enter into a civil union will have the right to basics; there is also a Q&A session. Women or visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com. hold title to real estate as tenants by the entirety. Tenancy by the entirety combines the survivorship attributes of joint tenancy with the bonus of limited protection against creditors. That is, a judgment creditor of just one must be at least 17 years old. Participants of the homeowners cannot enforce its lien against the residence of the homeowners owned as tenants by the should bring workout clothes, shoes, water Sports shorts entirety. and a towel. In Georgia, former women’s pro-basketball There is a one-time $20 fee for new players. star Chamique Holdsclaw turned herself in This means that if you enter into a civil union and sign and record a new deed conveying the title of your Call 312-405-4130 for more information. to authorities after an arrest warrant had house—which has to be your residence—to yourselves, as tenants by the entirety, the creditors of one of you been issued because of an alleged violent dis- cannot take away the house. This is asset protection in its greatest form. You should consult with your own pute she had with ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lacy, attorney to see if this right for you. Bull-riding at AJC.com noted. Holdsclaw allegedly smashed Also, having a civil union does not remove the need to have current powers of attorney. Effective July 1, Allstate in Jan. the windows of Lacy’s Range Rover with a 2011, the Illinois Power of Attorney Act went into effect. The new law makes wholesale changes with new The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) an- baseball bat and fired a handgun inside the forms and new legal obligations. nounced that the 2013 PBR Built Ford Tough SUV. (Lacy was not injured.) Holdsclaw played The new law says your old forms are valid, but sometimes banks, etc., refuse to accept them on their Series will be at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. face if they are too old. An “old” power of attorney is more difficult to deal with than a fresh one because a 12 seasons in the WNBA; before that, she led Mannheim Rd., Rosemont, on Jan. 12-13. question arises as to whether it is still good or whether it has been replaced. When a power of attorney may be the University of Tennessee to three straight considered “stale” is a policy decision by third parties that differs widely. It is not unusual to hear statements Competition begins at 8 p.m. on Jan. 12 national championships. that a power of attorney is considered stale if it is older than 6 or 12 months. Consult with your attorney. and at 2 p.m. on Jan. 13. Major League Soccer suspended Seattle Before entering into a civil union, it is important for low-income individuals to consider the impact their Tickets are $15-$125; visit the Allstate Sounders player Marc Burch for three games civil union may have on their public benefits. Because the Civil Union Act is a state law, the changes will be Arena box office or www.Ticketmaster.com, or after he used a homophobic slur against an- primarily in state programs. But since it’s not always clear which programs are state and which are federal, call 800-745-3000. other player during a playoff match against review first the main public benefits programs, especially those accessed by people with HIV to determine Real Salt Lake, LGBTQ Nation noted. Burch what effect, if any, the new law will have. Rinks open Nov. 23 was also fined an undisclosed amount, and Chicago Park District’s outdoor ice skat- he has to take diversity and sensitivity train- ing rinks open for the season Friday, Nov. ing. Burch apologized, stating, “I apologize • Bankruptcy • Wills, Trusts & Probate 23, weather permitting. Skating season runs for my horrific choice of words ... during our through Sunday, Feb. 24, at most outdoor match. This is something that is inconsistent • Real Estate Closings • Civil Unions rinks, again weather permitting. with my family values and because of that I 19 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60603 There are eight rinks, at McFetridge Sports am both disappointed and embarrassed by my Center (3843 N. California Ave.), McKinley level of poor judgment.” 312-263-8800 [email protected] Park (2210 W. Pershing Rd.), Midway Plai- We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code. WINDY CITY TIMES Nov. 21, 2012 35 CONNEXIONS MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS AGELESS REALTOR Discounts as hungers for work big as a house. Or condo. - References on request Or apartment. - Seasoned experience Linda Kuczka, Agent See just how big your savings could be. - Buyers 954 W Webster Your savings could add up to hundreds Chicago, IL 60614 of dollars when you put all your policies - Sellers Bus: 773-975-9111 together under our State Farm® roof. www.lindakuczka.com GET TO A BETTER STATE.™ CALL AN AGENT OR VISIT US Roland Kline - Broker ONLINE TODAY. 773-501-4278 Since 1978, work is good Estate Realty, Inc. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 1103155 11/11 State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL

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