THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 July 16, 2008 • vol 23 no 44 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com The naked truth Tim BY LIZ GRANGER Tim Miller is a writer, teacher and performance artist based in Venice Beach, Calif. He deals with Miller queer identity and memory, producing work that resonates with humor and progressive politics. Mamma, To get a sense of Miller’s stage energy, imag- Mia! ine drinking six espresso shots at Disney World page 15 … and then running into Dubya in mouse ears. in YouTube him: He’s charged. Miller was one of the NEA 4 (a group of per- formance artists who successfully sued the Na- tional Endowment for the Arts [NEA] after their grants were revoked on accusations of indecency Chicago in the ‘90s), and one of the first members of the HIV/AIDS activist group ACT-UP. He founded two influential performance art spaces: PS122 in New York City, and Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica. He is currently performing his show, US, from his new book, 1001 Beds, which won the 2007 Best Book in Drama-Theater from AIDS Run the Lambda Literary Foundation. In US, he dis- cusses his relationship with Alistair McCartney, & Walk’s his Australian-British partner of 14 years who may soon be in danger of deportation. Big Change page 6 Windy City Times: You wrote in Oklahomo! that maybe if you’d never seen Gypsy, you wouldn’t have become a performance artist and, in your own way, a stripper. I was won- dering why you used this word and how you consider yourself a stripper. Tim Miller: I have to admit, I am actually na- ked right now. I suddenly realized that as you asked. … My partner Alistair and I were at the beach, and we just got back. I hosed myself off in the backyard. [Miller laughs.] T-M-I… WCT: No, I love it! TM: When I started working on the piece I’m performing at Links Hall, I was imagining that Rue Turn to page 14 McClanahan page 16 July 16, 2008 Alcohol: Use or abuse? #953 by AMY WOOTEN What’s the problem? Findings from a 2000 National Alcohol Survey Several small studies over the years indicate of all 50 states suggest that alcohol dependence For a community that tends to drink and drug at that LGBT people have higher rates of alcohol differs by sexual orientation, especially among nightspots higher rates, what exactly is the LGBT commu- dependence than their straight counterparts. women. n nity’s relationship to alcohol, and is it a healthy A 2001 Urban Men’s Health Study, which sur- The Chicago Health and Life Experiences of one? veyed MSM (men who have sex with men) from Women Study, also known as CHLEW, is an ongo- So Debonair pick it up Have a taste of Wicker Park’s Debonair Social Club. inSIDE page 21 The connection between alcohol and the LGBT four cities, including Chicago, found a preva- ing study of lesbian health. Although the study It’s beginning to look Doin’ it doggy-style with a lot like Christmas in Groomer Has It’s Jonathan July with Pubert. David. take it home page 20-21 page 12 community will be the subject of discussion at lence of heavy and problematic alcohol and drug is not completed, preliminary findings show an upcoming podcast forum, “Let’s Take a Glass use. A majority of men—85 percent—reported higher rates of drinking among lesbian and other Together,” organized by LifeLube, Project CRYSP, recreational drinking. Roughly 12 percent re- sexual minority women than the national aver- the Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use ported three or more alcohol-related problems age. Popular settings for heavy drinking include and Abuse, Sidetrack and Feast of Fools. Fea- and 8 percent reported alcohol abuse, which lesbian and gay bars and LGBT events. Lesbians tured speakers include local bartenders, UIC pro- is slightly higher than the national average for Turn to page 7 fessor and researcher David McKirnan and How- men, according to 2001-2002 National Institute www.WindyCityQueercast.com ard Brown Health Center’s Lisa Rivitz. on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism data. Download full issues of Windy City Times and Nightspots each week at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Sal-E and JoJo Baby are theGiving sub Good Face inSIDE jects of Bernard Colbert’s photo s No prouder Marys than how “Getting Into Face” those at Bobby Love’s page 14 page 20 Durrrrty Pictures at Martini Ranch’s Polaroid Mondays page 8 2 July 16, 2008 July 16, 2008 3 index News Report: Repeal DADT 4 McCain and LGBT adoption 4 Naiad pioneers in Chicago 4 Disabled lesbian slams cops 5 AIDS Run & Walk’s new ad 6 TPAN, ALMA, teachers 6 LGBTs and alcohol 7 Nat’l, world roundups 8 Racial report 9 Led by Equality Minister Bibiano Aido, Quotelines 9 hundreds of thousands of GLBT people Views: Monroe, Lynch 10 marched in Madrid’s pride parade May 7. Read more on page 8. eNTeRTAINMeNT Stage Door Jonny 11 Wockner News photo by Yves Bohic Theater 12 Tim Miller interview 14 Knight at the Movies 15 Rue McClanahan talks 16 Music: Kirsten Price 17 In concert: George Michael 17 Book review: End of the World 18 Local items 20 OUTLINeS Real estate 18 Classifieds 19 WCT reviews Lesbians Who Kill (above), Calendar; Q&B 21 currently running at the Bailiwick Arts Sports: World Outgames 2009 23 Center. See page 12. 7_16_DONNA:05_28_08 7/8/08 11:06 AM Page 1 This week’s online-only www. features include: GALA Windy —Media Watch —Photos from June’s KIRI TE KANAWA City Sappho’s Salon at JULY 19 PAVILION $100/75 LAWN $10 Media Women & Children First —Business profile: THE GREAT SOPRANO’S CHICAGO FAREWELL Group MyPartner.com AMES ONLON CONDUCTS THE .com Extended features: J C —More world news CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA —Sen. John McCain and LGBT adoption Photo by Mel Ferrand VIDEO SCREENS! DOUBLE DIVAS www.WindyCityQueercast.com SO DeBONAIR ALL THE HITS! Have a taste of Wicker Park’s Debonair Social Club. Photo by Kirk Williamson DONNA SUMMER nightspotsn AUGUST 30 PAVILION $50 LAWN $20 WWW.RAVINIA.ORG • 847-266-5100 4 July 16, 2008 context was a discussion of what kind of con- “Obviously, it’s very complicated,” said Mc- Report urges servative McCain sees himself as. The Times said Cain, “because if this is an organization that McCain had worried Republican conservatives in says we want people in our organization that are recent weeks with remarks suggesting a willing- Baptists or vegetarians or whatever it is, they repeal of ness to address global warming and citizenship should not be required to hire someone that for illegal immigrants. they don’t want to hire in my view. Listen, this DADT But when asked about gay couples adopting is the kind of the issue that goes on with the by BOB ROEHR children, McCain showed know moderation, not Boy Scouts, it goes on with a number of other even if it means leaving children in orphanag- issues. I think the president’s faith-based orga- A study by four senior retired officers, each es. nization has been successful and I support what with more than 30 years of service from all four “I encourage adoption and I encourage the he has done.” branches of the military, is urging repeal of the opportunities for people to adopt children. I en- A position paper on gay rights from the Obama antigay military policy known as “Don’t Ask, courage the process being less complicated so campaign indicates the Democratic nominee- Don’t Tell” (DADT). The Report of the General/ Ret. Vice Adm. Jack Shanahan. Photo courtesy they can adopt as quickly as possible,” said Mc- apparent, Barack Obama, “believes that homo- Flag Officers’ Study Group was commissioned by of L. Indra Lusero Cain. The candidate and his wife Cindy adopted sexuals should have the same adoption rights as the Palm Center research institute at the Univer- children. heterosexuals.” The report noted that when DADT was adopted sity of California, Santa Barbara, and released “But your concern would be that the couple The Human Rights Campaign, the largest na- in 1993, only 40 percent of the American public July 7. should be a traditional couple,” suggested one tional gay political group in the United States, supported allowing gays and lesbians to serve “The law locks the military’s position into sta- of the two Times reporters. asked presidential candidates on a questionnaire openly in the military. Depending on how the sis and does not accord trust to the Pentagon “Yes,” said McCain. last year whether they would support giving ap- question is asked, recent polls show that sup- to adapt policy to changing circumstances… A Human Rights Campaign report on McCain’s propriate judicial authorities the full authority port has risen to between 58 percent and 79 [it] is not working; rather, it is the flexibility of positions indicates that McCain stated his op- to make decisions on adoption based on the percent.The military reflects the general society military leaders, often ignoring or violating the position to gays adopting children as early as best interest of the child, without bans based and attitudes have changed there as well. policy, who are making the system work,” were 2000. solely on sexual orientation. The Study Group made four recommendations. among the ten findings in the report. The Times reporters did not press McCain to McCain did not return a questionnaire.