THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Sept. 2, 2009 • vol 24 no 48 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com ‘Milk’ Men and the March on D.C. LGBT Ally Ted Kennedy page 4
Stroger Holds HIV Forum page 6
Sky’s Jia
Perkins page 22 Dustin Lance Black (left) and Cleve Jones have plenty in common, including deep connections with the movie Milk and involvement in the Oct. 11 March on Washington, D.C., for LGBT rights. Read an interview with Black on page 15; find out about Jones’ musings on his life on page 7 and see him at the Equality Illinois Pie Toss on page 16. Photo of Black by Richard Green; photo of Jones by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography. com)
OUR 1000TH ISSUE!!!
September 2, 2009 #1000
nightspotsn Dancing For pick it up Continentally Yours
Labor Day weekend means Mr. and Miss Continental. page 7 take it home inSIDE The many shades of Pet The pie hits the fan at the Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant. Equality IL Pie Toss. page 18 page 21 Our Lives
There was plenty of artistry present Aug. 29 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, as the annual Dance for Life benefit www.WindyCityQueercast.com took place. See plenty more photos on page 17 and online at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. Photo by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography. com) AUTOSINSURANCEDENTISTSHAIRSALONS FLOORINGINSURANCEBANKINGGETTRAVEL IT ALL LEGALSERVICESBOOKSTORESELECTRICIANS PHOTOGRAPHERSRESTAURANTSCONTRACTORSonline nnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfd 2 Sept. 2, 2009 K?<
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JbpËjA`X G\ib`ej ;XeZ`e^=fi N`e[p:`kpK`d\jXe[E`^_kjgfkj% n FliC`m\j The Honorable Jan Schakowsky and the Honorable Mike Quigley with co-chairs Todd Armbruster, Doug Ferguson, Scott Silverman
HAIRSALONS TRAVEL K_\eZc`ZbfeXepX[Xe[Y\kXb\e[`i\Zkcpkfk_\X[m\ik`j\iËjN\Yj`k\ INSURANCEDENTISTSBANKINGGET IT ALL and Josh Titus cordially invite you to attend AUTOS online FLOORINGINSURANCEBOOKSTORESELECTRICIANSCONTRACTORS LEGALSERVICES PHOTOGRAPHERSRESTAURANTS www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com
n in g h t s p o t s OUR 1000TH ISSUE!!! ONLINE INDEX
September 2, 2009 OUR #1000 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE 1000TH Yuri Pushkin writes about ISSUE! the state of gay rights in Russia, taking in the views of such activists as Continentally Yours Labor Day weekend means Mr. and Miss Continental. Nikolai Alexeyev (right). page 7 inSIDE The many shades of Pet The pie hits the fan at the Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant. Equality IL Pie Toss. page 18 page 21 Photo by Andrew Davis TPAN’s signature fall fundraising event featuring the talents of dance music singing artist Kristine W. Saturday, September 12 ACTIVIST THE BEACH IS BACK Ravenswood Event Center JIM PICKETT Autumn may be Kristine SHOW# 325 4011 N. Ravenswood Ave. W approaching but there’s Raffle ö VIP Reception: A Mix and Mingle Prizes still time to check with Kristine W. out the hot spots— ö Tableau of Fine Cuisine specifically, Palm Beach, ö Libations, Libations, Libations www.WindyCity ö Silent Auction Queercast.com Fla. ö Raffle Prizes Photo from Jacob Anderson-Minshall - Puerto Vallarta Villa and ORBITZ Airline Tickets - VIP Tickets to Chicago Takes Off - Tickets to Dance for Life Ravenswood Billboard FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS, LOG ON TO Factory WILDE THING WWW.TPAN.COM OR CALL (773) 989-9400, EXT. 233. Out State Senate TVN Media QueerTVNetwork.com candidate Jim Madigan Sponsors Sponsors CLASSIC (right) recently held PARTY RENTALS an LGBT reception EVENT SPECIALISTS • Chicagopride.com • Gay Chicago Magazine Check out our at Lakeview bar/ • GRAB Magazine video channel for restaurant Wilde. • Nightspots new videos weekly CNA Insurance • Columbia College Chicago • Print Services, Inc. • Walgreens • Windy City Times Photo courtesy of Lauren Peters www.QueerTV Network.com
AA_Ultra_WindyCityTimes.indd 1 8/20/09 11:47:04 AM 4 Sept. 2, 2009 champion and strongest voice for justice, fair- GLN activist Andy Thayer described the cancel- The passage ness, and compassion.” lation of the shows as a “really great victory.” “The loss to our community is immeasurable,” Noting the increasing consolidation of the of Ted Kennedy he said. “There was no greater hero for advo- music industry—Live Nation, a spin-off of Clear By Lisa Keen cates of LGBT equality than Senator Ted Ken- Channel Communications and one of the nation’s Keen News Service nedy.” largest promoters, is in the midst of establishing A number of gay leaders said it would be diffi- a record label, as well—Thayer said that getting The man whom many in the LGBT community cult to fill the void in leadership on LGBT-related Live Nation to cancel Banton’s shows was “like consider their greatest friend in the U.S. Senate issues that has been left by Kennedy’s loss. getting Microsoft to do the right thing.” has died. “We have our work cut out for us in terms Thayer credited the Los Angeles Gay and Les- Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who fought for of working with other [members of Congress], bian Center for its role in AEG Live’s decision to equal rights for gays on many fronts and was an nurturing relationships with other champions,” cancel Banton’s shows. early defender of people with HIV, died Tuesday said HRC’s Smith. Even as recently as the current He also noted the GLN was building on work night, Aug. 25. He had been suffering from brain fight to pass the Matthew Shepard hate-crimes started years ago by Outrage!, a British gay cancer. measure as part of the defense authorization rights group co-founded by activist Peter Tatch- “Our community has had no greater champion bill, said Smith, Kennedy’s efforts have been ell. Outrage!, among other organizations includ- in Congress,” said David Smith, who worked as critical. ing the Black Gay Men’s Advisory Group, founded the senator’s director of communications from “When it passes,” he said, “it will be because a joint project called Stop Murder Music, which late 2003 to early 2005. Sen. Edward Kennedy at the 2008 Democratic of Sen. Edward Kennedy that for the first time, targets homophobic music lyrics and has criti- Smith, vice-president for programs at the Hu- National Convention. DNCC/Jackson Solway sexual orientation and gender identity will be cized a number of reggae singers. man Rights Campaign, credited Kennedy with photo part of a U.S. Civil Rights Code.” The protests against homophobia in reggae ©2009 Keen News Service music also come on the heels of a proposed boy- taking on some of the community’s worst ad- advantage,” said Kennedy. “It is a cynical elec- cott of the entire country of Jamaica proposed versaries, including the late Sen. Jesse Helms, tion year gimmick, and it deserves to be rejected this spring by gay bloggers. In an April column during its toughest battles. by all who deplore the intolerance and incivility Live Nation, AEG for Windy City Times, activist Wayne Besen ex- “From early days of AIDS crisis, he was there that have come to dominate our national de- pressed his desire to turn Jamaica into a “pariah for us,” recalled Smith. “He was battling for us, bate.” cancel most state” due to its government’s persecution of taking on a then very powerful Jesse Helms, who As author of ENDA, he led the debate in 1996 Banton concerts homosexual activity (an offense punishable with wanted to see us in concentration camps. God when the Senate came within one vote of pass- by SAMUEL WORLEY jail time). only knows what would have happened if Sena- ing the bill. Besen wrote at the time, “Jamaica is on a tor Kennedy hadn’t been there.” “We know that discrimination against gay men After several LGBT-rights organizations ex- downward spiral and suffers from collective cul- Elizabeth Birch, who was HRC president during and lesbian women exists in this country today, pressed outrage, concert promoters Live Nation tural dementia on this issue. There is clearly a many of those battles, recalled a “very intense” number one,” said Kennedy. “Number two, we and AEG have canceled most of reggae dancehall pathological panic and homo-hysteria that has meeting with Kennedy and staff in which LGBT know that there are no laws to protect them. singer Buju Banton’s fall concerts. According to infected this nation at its core.” leaders “talked about the importance of having Number three, we know that the whole issue of these groups, the lyrics in some of his songs are The boycott was launched over the objections transgenders included” in the Employment Non- gay men and lesbian women is an immutable vehemently anti-gay—to the point where they of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals Discrimination Act (ENDA). condition. It is a condition of life. call for the killing of gay people. and Gays (J-FLAG), a group located in Kings- “He said, ‘We never intended to leave anyone “What we are trying to say is when Americans Live Nation announced late last week that it ton that participates in the Stop Murder Music behind and we won’t leave anyone behind,’” said want to work and can work and do a job, they would cancel four Banton shows. Hewas sched- movement. In a statement released in April, J- Birch. ought to be able to be judged on the job that uled to play at the Chicago House of Blues—a FLAG’s Jason MacFarlane wrote, “We believe that “The other hallmark of who he was,” said they are going to do and not on one of these venue owned by Live Nation—Thursday, Oct. 1. any overseas entity or organisation seeking to Birch, “was he supported gay marriage ahead of other factors. We can free ourselves from dis- An acclaimed musician in some circles, Banton agitate for change in a context with which it any of his peers—and, frankly, ahead of people crimination against those gay men and lesbian is mostly known among gay-rights groups for his has only passing familiarity should first do its a generation or two behind him in Congress. He women in the employment place.” song “Boom Bye Bye,” the lyrics for which are homework to ensure that it does not do harm was a man who, whenever he hit the limits of Chai Feldblum worked closely with Kennedy apparently a fantasy of murdering LGBT people. to its credibility and ultimately to the cause of something, he would just keep trying.” on ENDA; the Americans with Disabilities Act In 2006, Banton was acquitted on charges that the local community whose interest it seeks to Kennedy was one of only 14 senators who vot- (ADA), to prohibit discrimination against people he had participated in the assault of gay men in defend.” ed against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) with HIV; and the Ryan White CARE Act, which Jamaica. Besen responded that, although he had “re- in 1996. He did not argue for same-sex marriage, provides needed care to people with HIV. Live Nation’s decision came amid nationwide spect” for the opinions of J-FLAG organizers, but rather against the attack on same-sex mar- Feldblum recalled that, during the work on protest by gay groups, including Chicago’s Gay he would continue pushing for a boycott. In an riage. ADA, he held a meeting at his house with sev- Liberation Network (GLN). Shortly after the an- open letter, GLN also came out against the boy- “We all know what is going on here,” said Ken- eral of the key people working on the legislation nouncement by Live Nation, concert promoter cott. nedy on the Senate floor during the DOMA de- and said he was “very focused on protection for AEG Live/Goldenvoice announced that it, too, Alex Blaze, the managing editor of the Bile- bate. “I regard this bill as a mean-spirited form people with HIV.” would cancel scheduled Banton shows. Accord- rico Project—an LGBT blog which covered the of Republican legislative gay-bashing, cynically “The bottom line,” said Feldblum, “was that ing to the Ticketmaster Web site, Banton remains disputed boycott of Jamaica—said that the calculated to try to inflame the public eight he was our ‘go-to person’ with anything to do scheduled to play in cities in the United States protests aimed at Live Nation are different than weeks before the Nov. 5 election.” with gay rights. He was that person both be- throughout the fall. As of press time, Ticketmas- what he characterized as a “trainwreck of a boy- “This bill is designed to divide Americans, to cause of who he was and the position he held.” ter had not taken down dates canceled by Live cott.” drive a wedge between one group of citizens Current HRC President Joe Solmonese released Nation and AEG. In an e-mail to Windy City Times, Blaze wrote and the rest of the country, solely for partisan a statement calling Kennedy the “greatest John Vlautin, Live Nation’s vice president for that protests aimed at a U.S. company—and a communications, declined to comment on the Jamaican singer performing in U.S. venues— reasons for the shows’ cancellation. are “far less problematic than other attempts On Aug. 23, GLN sent an open letter to Live to ‘save’ the LGBT people of Jamaica. It’s not SEPT. 12 & 13 Nation President Michael Rapino asking that he about acting in their place, instead it’s about 4BU/PPOt4VO cancel Banton’s shows. The letter read, in part, what rhetoric is [being] broadcast in their own “House of Blues/Live Nation would never book backyard.” Buju Banton or any performer who advocated However, Blaze wrote,” I wouldn’t be surprised killing African Americans or Jews, and rightfully if [the organizers’] actions are motivated by some at the NEW so. Why, then, is it okay for House of Blues to short-sighted, and, frankly, white American idea hire a musician who calls for murdering lesbians that LGBT people form a unified, global move- LAKE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS and gays? ment (which is of course led by white Americans (Peterson & Midlothian) “This is particularly an issue in [Banton’s] na- and no one else is allowed to even speak).” tive Jamaica where gays face a living hell due, in An e-mail to J-FLAG seeking comment went part, to performers like Buju Banton who stoke unreturned as Windy City Times went to press. the flames of an already dangerous situation by GRAYSLAKE, IL singing their murderous music.” Held during the massive
GRAYSLAKE Various activists, ANTIQUE MARKET including mem- t"%7&35*4*/(t0-%50:4t1&530-*/"t$0*/01t bers of Gay t$0.*$4t50#"$$*"/"t#055-&4t/&0/t4-054t Liberation t+6,	&4t'6/t#3&8&3*"/"t1*/#"--4t Network, protest t(6.#"--."$)*/&4t40%"t$06/53:4503& outside a Buju Banton .6$) .6$).03& concert outside INFORMATION: ZURKO PROMOTIONS the House of &%JWJTJPO4Ut4IBXBOP 8* Blues in 2006. XXX[VSLPQSPNPUJPOTDPN Sept. 2, 2009 5 doubted her gender. She is a woman, and I can the category of “XX.” He said that there are a What happens to Caster Semenya, of course, Caster Semenya: repeat that a million times.” number of conditions—many of which may fall, remains to be seen. Pending the actual results According to an article by Patricia Nell War- though not necessarily, under the umbrella cat- of the IAAF’s investigation, two things seem Controversy ren, an athletics observer and the author of the egory “intersex”—that, though naturally occur- at this point conclusive. First, Semenya will be novel The Front Runner, gender testing for com- ring, have not been integrated into any proce- subjected to not just a gynecological exam and a around gender petitive sports was first considered during the dure by which organizations like the IAAF could blood test but, in fact, to the effects of a whole analysis By SAMUEL WORLEY Cold War. Engaged in fierce competition with the treat its athletes humanely. slew of highly wrought anxieties about sex and USSR for Olympic medals, the United States cast Examples of such conditions include andro- gender. And second, it apparently takes, yes, at In order to determine whether the gold medal aspersions on the Communist country’s female gen insensitivity syndrome, which affects how least five “experts” to make a decision on behalf she earned is valid, the International Associa- athletes—insinuating that certain masculine- the body’s cells receive the testosterone that of somebody who has quite clearly already made tion of Athletics Federation (IAAF) is forcing appearing athletes were somehow male impos- the body produces, and congenital adrenal hy- it for herself. South African runner Caster Semenya, 18, to ters or females who had been “doped” with hor- perplasia, which affects how the adrenal glands undergo a series of “gender tests,” which will mones, unfairly competing in order to embarrass produce hormones. include, at minimum, opinions from a gyne- the U.S. and its athletes. Speculation especially Ultimately, said Osadjan, “Who knows wheth- NATIONAL cologist, a psychologist, an endocrinologist, an surrounded two sisters, Tamara and Irina Press, er this individual is intersex or fully female or internal medicine specialist and—according to who competed in a variety of events including whatever? We have to realize that there’s a spec- the New York Times—an “expert on gender.” shot-put, discus and track. trum of everything—why should this be any dif- ROUNDUP BY ANDREW DAVIS Questions were raised after Semenya complet- The Internation Olympic Committee (IOC) first ferent?” The highly invasive process of testing, ed an unusually strong finish in an 800-meter began testing for gender in 1966. It was initially he said, “really dehumanizes [Semenya] and her Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of former run at the track and field world championships a primitive affair, comprised of little more than accomplishments, because she’s a phenomenal vice-president Dick Cheney, has pledged $1,000 in Berlin in mid-August. The IAAF decided to a physical examination. In 1999, British Olym- athlete.” to an anti-gay political candidate, according launch an investigation at the behest of an pic pentathlete Mary Peters described the test He also pointed out that professional athlet- to RawStory.com. Rob Portman, a Republican anonymous entity—possibly another athlete as “the most crude and degrading experience I ics is a natural arena for people who might be Senate hopeful, voted to ban same-sex adop- or team—and although such investigations are have ever known… The doctors proceeded to considered by many to be abnormally strong, tions in 1999 when he was an Ohio congress- supposed to be themselves anonymous, the IAAF undertake an examination which, in modern abnormally tall, abnormally flexible, or simply man; in 2004, he voted “yes” to a constitutional confirmed the fact of the inquiry after being parlance, amounted to a grope.” abnormally talented in general—and that it amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage. Mary asked by members of the media. By 1968, scientists had abandoned the “grope” is only in the binary realm of gender that this Cheney, 40, has a 2-year-old son with partner Given the history of gender testing in sports, and were testing for chromosomes. In a proce- becomes an issue. “You have too much athletic Heather Poe. most results seem likely to be widely unsatisfy- dure which was less invasive—physically, at ability,” for instance, would be an absurd accu- AIDS activist, writer and filmmaker Robert ing—indeed, the minor media spectacle inspired least—swabs were taken from female athletes’ sation, Osadjan said. “Nobody says that to Lance Hilferty committed suicide July 24 at the age by the case of Caster Semenya is, at its heart, mouths and tested for two X chromosomes. Ac- Armstrong.” of 49, according to the New York Times. In the one of a basically unanswerable question: what, cording to Warren, if the result was anything Osadjan said that as long as sports officials late 1980s, while in the AIDS organization ACT finally, constitutes our understanding of the different, athletes were allowed to pretend they limit their conditions for biological sex to XX UP, Hilferty produced and directed a 24-minute concepts of “gender” and “sex?” had a sports injury—and sent home. and XY—in effect, considering naturally-oc- film, “Stop the Church,” documenting a demon- Experts commenting on the controversy have The fact, however, is that “XX” and “XY” simply curring variant conditions to be suspect and stration at a New York City cathedral by gay- and noted that biological sex is not easily reducible do not account for the biological possibilities of alien—problems will continue to result. abortion-rights advocates. He is survived by his to the appearance of one’s genitalia, nor strictly human life. Mark Osadjan, a physiologist who These problems will be both humiliating to companion of 16 years, Fabio Toblini. to biology on a chromosomal or hormonal level. teaches a class called “The Biology of Gender” athletes and, ultimately, embarrassing to orga- Read more national news online at www. If the IAAF’s standard was self-identification— for the University of Chicago, described biologi- nized sports. As recently as 1996, for instance, WindyCityMediaGroup, including: and, by all accounts, Semenya is female-iden- cal sex to Windy City Times as “an incredibly eight female athletes were ejected from the —the Democratic Congressman who is tified—the question would be moot. Instead murky thing.” Olympic games in Atlanta after testing revealed openly criticizing Obama; and the issue has no doubt caused considerable Osadjan said that there have been repeated them to have XY chromosomes. —the Florida deputy accused of sexually emotional stress for Semenya and her family; examples of female athletes being excluded from In the end, the IOC wavered: further tests con- assaulting eight men. her father, Jacob Semenya, told a South Afri- competition after being found to have some cluded the athletes to be physiologically female can newspaper, “I raised her and I have never chromosomal variation that places them outside though genetically male. They were reinstated. 6 Sept. 2, 2009 be,” stated another. the CORE Center’s concerns with the facility’s LOCAL NEWS After a representative apologized for Stroger’s staff and administrators so he could better un- tardiness and explained that the president would derstand how to proceed. Stroger holds be arriving shortly, State Rep. Constance How- In spite of this claim, however, not everyone ard, who had come in support of Stroger and the was satisfied with Stroger following the meet- meeting about GeoVax trial, was allowed to give a brief state- ing. ment before she left for another engagement. “Right after the meeting I received a commu- Howard, referring to the trial, stated that nication from someone identifying themselves HIV vaccine the community “had to do this” and that “we as being from Stroger’s campaign that stated by CHASSE REHWINKEL Stroger was not done with this issue,” Loveless must always believe we can find a cure [for HIV/ stated. “I’m not really sure what it is but there Ever since June, when the Ruth M. Rothstein AIDS].” is some issue, some fight behind this that we CORE Center rejected a proposed HIV vaccine Following Howard’s urge to get behind the are not aware of. And, unfortunately, it is the drug trial from coming to their facilities, ten- GeoVax proposal the room’s tensions finally community that is going to end up suffering.” sions between the Center and the Cook County boiled over, with multiple attendees jumping out Board President’s office have been building to- of their seats to question Howard’s statement. ward a boiling point. Marc Loveless, a coordinator for the Coalition Safety stressed According to Cook County Board President for Justice and Respect, rose from his seat and Todd Stroger, the CORE Center had not adequate- said “many organizations [combating HIV/AIDS] at forum Responding to the wave of recent attacks that ly tried to explain their reasons for rejecting the had yet to get state funding” and that he “didn’t have occurred on the North Side, specifically trial and that the Center had remained silent to appreciate being campaigned to.” Lincoln Park and Lakeview, Chicago Aldermen his office on the issue ever since their actions in Loveless was then asked to sit down. He re- Tom Tunney and Scott Waguespack held a per- June. plied by stating that he thought community sonal safety forum Aug. 25 at St. Luke’s Audito- “I am not a medical expert,” stated Stroger. Todd Stroger. Photo by Chris Geovanis members were allowed to ask questions. rium, 1500 W. Belmont. Attendees received tips “But when the Center makes a decision like this Before Loveless was able to receive an answer, Chicago Pastor Larry Trotter who held a protest on how to protect themselves. I expect them to come to me and explain why Stroger arrived, apologized for being late and of the CORE Center’s decision Aug. 16 that at- Among the tips they received were: this is wrong for them.” confirmed that the audience would be able to tracted many of his congregation to the issue. —Walk, ride, or jog with a partner. The trial in question was purposed by Atlanta- ask questions after he had voiced his own con- In order to clarify the subject and possibly —Avoid dark, isolated places—don’t walk or based drug company GeoVax. Their plan was to cerns. explain the importance of the purposed trial to park there. enlist volunteers from the Center to test the Stroger began by explaining he had come the people of Cook County, Stroger scheduled a —Be alert, look around. safety of their vaccine before going forward with simply to understand why the CORE Center had community meeting to be held at the Center on —Keep at least one hand free—don’t carry effectiveness tests. The test would have been rejected the purposed trial and that he did not Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, at 12 p.m. on August bulky purses or parcels. considered a “phase one trail,” which meant the appreciate the administrators’ inability to con- 25. —When alone, avoid wearing headphones or vaccine would be starting the beginning step of tact him and explain their points. The meeting would be open to anyone con- talking on your cell phone. a multi-staged process set forth by FDA guide- Almost immediately following Stroger’s state- cerned about the issue and would follow a ques- —Late at night, have someone meet you at lines. A process all vaccines must undergo before ment, he was met with a sea of raised hands of tion and answer format, where Stroger would ex- the bus or train station. Have the taxi driver they gain federal approval. concerned community members—many of them plain his concerns and then field questions from watch while you enter your home. Stroger had personally co-signed a letter of ac- patients of the CORE Center—who wished to the audience. —On public transportation, try to use the bus- knowledgement along with Cook County Health voice their opinions on the GeoVax proposal. What may have been intended as a meeting iest, best-lit stop possible, both to get on and and Hospital System’s CEO William Foley and the Most were worried that if patients went off to quell a rising level of tension regarding the off the bus or train. When waiting for a train, CORE Center’s President John Daley that detailed their medications—a stipulation of the trial— rejected trial turned into a pressure-cooker when stay close to other people in the most well-lit the formal receipt of GeoVax’s proposal and, by their conditions might permanently worsen. Stroger was delayed more than 45 minutes for area of the stations. When on the train or bus, his own admission, Stroger was perplexed by the Stroger assured these attendees that the the meeting. sit near the driver or operator. Center’s flat rejection of GeoVax’s plan. GeoVax trial would in no way be forced upon “It was inexcusable,” stated one attendee. “We —After dark, tell family and friends when to Several supporters for the GeoVax trial began anyone, and that if he heard a good reason were here on time, I can’t see why he wouldn’t expect you and how you will be traveling. to voice their opinions in August, including from an expert medical professional, he would reconsider his stance on the proposal. —When at a bar, never lose sight of your As it turned out, a group of doctors from the drink. CORE Center had come to the community meet- —Have your house and car keys out and ready ONE ing—and one of these doctors stood up to meet to use. the president’s request. —Follow your instincts—if you feel threat- The doctor explained that the vaccine was ened, go to the nearest open store or business. I WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD. designed to be therapeutic, and used only in Call 911 immediately. conjunction with other treatments. Because of this, and because the trial would be testing only Remember: the safety of the vaccine, the CORE Center made —There is safety in numbers. TWO the decision that the risk to its patients was not —Ignoring your instincts is not worth the outweighed by any possible reward, she said. risk. I NEED TO EARN A LIVING. The doctor also stated that, even though the —Don’t be afraid or too shy to ask someone to trial would be asking only for volunteers, the walk you to your car or home. CORE Center would worry that GeoVax’s pres- —Adopt a frame of mind that allows you to ence would create the idea that the facility recognize and avoid potential threats on the was not doing everything in its power to help street. Three patients—a point she wanted to make clear was completely inaccurate, unproductive and possi- Prime Timers of the top ten bly dangerous to the mission of the Center. Stroger then thanked the CORE doctors for award members fastest-growing professions their statements and said that it was that kind At its 32nd yearly dinner dance—held Aug. 29 of statement he wished CORE Center officials had at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted—the are in psychology. given him initially. Chicago Prime Timers (CPT) presented awards to The doctors then interrupted Stroger to ex- five of its members. plain that one month prior, Dr. Rothstein had Presented by Board President Wallie Hall, Greg It’s a simple equation that adds up to living the Master’s and doctoral degrees: met with Stroger’s communications director Neil received the annual Roy Mcllrath Award for life you want. You’ll enjoy a rewarding career that Clinical Psychology regarding the CORE Center’s reservations about his outstanding dedication to the club, concern allows you to earn a living and make a difference. Clinical Counseling the GeoVax trial. After Stroger’s communications for others, selflessness, friendliness and a sense According to projections by the U.S. Bureau of Forensic Psychology director confirmed the meeting did occur, the of humor. He was the 20th recipient of the honor Labor Statistics, the demand for psychologists Business Psychology and counselors will grow by 15 to 34% in the Latino Mental Health president stated that he had not talked to his that was initially awarded in 1990 following the next seven years. And as the nation’s leading …and more. director about this issue. untimely death of Mcllrath, an outstanding early graduate university of psychology, The Chicago The meeting concluded after nearly another mainstay on the board of directors. School will prepare you to make a powerful hour of statements from the community mostly Also receiving awards were Richard Campbell impact in this ever-expanding field. denouncing the proposal as “not right for this for outstanding service; Marvin Levin for distin- area.” guished service; Robert Iovino for hospitality; Visit thechicagoschool.edu to request information and read the inspiring stories Even after a GeoVax investor explained the fu- and Shelton Key the President’s Award. of people like you who are already changing the world. ture positive gain if the test were permitted, cit- CPT is a social club for mature gay and bisex- izens stated that, although they appreciated the ual men, and their admirers (age 21 and over), company’s work, Chicago’s HIV/AIDS community and is one of the oldest clubs of its kind in the was too vulnerable to risk such a test and that nation. GeoVax should conduct its research elsewhere. thechicagoschool.edu Stroger left the meeting stating that he was 312.329.6666 unhappy with how the issue had played out through the media but that he would discuss Sept. 2, 2009 7 active duty officer in the Boystown area. on for 10 years.” In the midst of the 1980s AIDS Resolution to “It’s simply disgusting,” shouted Ron Woods Cleve Jones in crisis, Jones co-founded the San Francisco AIDS during the subcommittee meeting’s proceedings. Project; later, he conceived the idea for the AIDS remove Fiorito’s “I own a little bit of property down the street Chicago to push Memorial Quilt. and I cannot stand for this type of injustice. I Although he talked about the evolution of his powers passed will not stand for it.” D.C. march political views—in the 1960s, he said, “we were by CHASSE REHWINKEL There is a precedent for the private citizen’s by SAMUEL WORLEY about smashing the patriarchy and ending war claims to have Fiorito removed from active duty forever”—he affirmed his commitment to equal- The LGBT subcommittee of the Chicago Police as he awaits a decision on his cases. Gay-rights activist Cleve Jones spoke to a packed ity and said that now is a fortuitous time for Department’s 23rd Precinct voted during its Veteran Chicago officer Joe Parker, who has auditorium at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, political change. He said that he was inspired monthly meeting Aug. 26 to remove the powers also been investigated for allegedly making false 2433 N. Lincoln, on Aug. 29, reflecting on a to recruit people for the National Equality March of embattled cop Richard Fiorito, who allegedly DUI arrests, was placed on desk duty while his lifetime of work on behalf of LGBT people and after seeing the seemingly spontaneous out- has been involved in anti-gay actions. investigation went forward last year. proposing strategies for moving that work for- pouring of public activism following the passage Officer Jose Rios, the police’s LGBT liaison, Rios, however, explained that the 23rd Pre- ward. Jones urged audience members to attend of the anti-same-sex-marriage initiative Propo- started the meeting with a brief rundown of old cinct, which patrols the Boystown area, was un- the National Equality March scheduled for Oct. sition 8. news. able to comment on the situation, and added 11 in Washington, D.C. Jones noted that the movement which has Rios praised the LGBT community for their that taking Fiorito off of active duty was “not The event, called “An Evening with Cleve grown out of that response—including Join the summer events, stating that considering the size up to them.” Jones: the Struggle for LGBT Rights,” was co- Impact—has been dubbed “Stonewall 2.0.” of the community he was excited to report that Rios did state that if a decision was made sponsored by Join the Impact, WBEZ and Young He said that most gay-rights organizations are there were nearly no issues during the summer’s by the private citizens of the subcommittee he Chicago Authors. It was emceed by local orga- pursuing regional agendas—state by state, city pride parade and LGBT summer festival. would take that information to his commander nizer Keeanga Taylor, who said that the event by city—that “I believe to be a failed strategy.” “It was very easy work,” said Rios of the sum- the following day. was “one of poetry and politics, but it is also a The most important rights that LGBT people can mer’s gay events. “It looks good for the com- Whether a resolution stating the community’s call to action.” Along with remarks by Taylor, the obtain, Jones said, are federal. munity.” concern over Fiorito’s still being on active duty evening began with readings from local young “This isn’t my opinion,” he said. “It’s a fact. However, most of the private citizens who could be passed by the subcommittee was then poets Lamar Jordan, Tim Henderson and Ashley The time has come now to state clearly what the came to the subcommittee meeting showed up debated between the police and the private citi- Hart. dream is.” Jones said “the dream” can be encap- to express their concern about the Boystown zens. Eventually it was decided that the private Jones, who said that he was surprised by the sulated in a single important addition: the 14th area, and not to toast its successes. citizens could pass a resolution expressing their sudden spotlight cast on him by last year’s mov- Amendment, which guarantees equal protection Instead, the largest attendance ever for a concern. ie Milk, began by recounting his personal history under the law. LGBT subcommittee meeting was prompted by Rios stated he would pass along any resolution within the movement—which began when he Jones, and many in the crowd, expressed dis- the actions of veteran beat officer Richard Fiori- that was voted upon to his commander. hitchhiked to San Francisco after high school. appointment with Democratic political leaders: to and the Chicago Police Department’s decision One attendee quickly drafted a resolution, (Referencing his character in Milk, played by “The Democrats have been betraying us for years to keep him on active duty in Boystown. which was then was read aloud and voted Emile Hirsch, Jones joked that the audience to and years and years.” He singled out President Fiorito created something of a good reputa- upon. take away from the movie one thing: “I was that Barack Obama, who has not fulfilled campaign tion for himself over his long career by having The resolution read, “The GLBT Subcommittee hot.”) promises regarding the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell one of the highest arrest records for DUIs in Il- of the 23rd District calls upon command-level In San Francisco, Jones went to work for Har- policy and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA); linois. Fiorito’s DUI arrest statistics even gar- Chicago Police staff to remove Officer Richard vey Milk’s successful campaign to be elected to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who Jones said re- nered some attention from the respected advo- Fiorito’s police powers pending resolution of the the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. “Harvey cently described repealing DOMA as “not a pri- cacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who serious internal and federal civil rights charges was the most empathetic person I’ve ever met,” ority”; and Rep. Barney Frank, who refused to last year gave Fiorito an award for his achieve- pending against him. Furthermore, given the said Jones. “At that time, I needed a dad, and include housing protections in the Employment ments. evidence of apparent criminal behavior, we be- Harvey was the most appropriate gay father fig- Non-Discrimination Act. This reputation, however, may prove to be less lieve there is probable cause for the Cook County ure for me.” Democratic leaders, he said, recognize that heroic than his arrest record suggests, for more States Attorney’s Office to file criminal charges He remembered the response to Milk’s assassi- the chances of actualizing such a legislative than 20 lawsuits have been filed against Fiorito against Fiorito for Perjury, False Arrest and False nation as “just the beginning” of the gay-rights agenda as slim—they recognize that they don’t claiming that many of his DUI arrests had been Imprisonment. We call upon them to file such movement: Tens of thousands of people flood- have the votes. Jones said that this is why gay- false or performed incorrectly. charges immediately.” ed with streets of San Francisco with candles rights activists need not look to political leaders Claims have also been made that Fiorito pur- The resolution was passed unanimously the night Milk and San Francisco Mayor George for power, but to take it themselves, taking their posely arrested gay motorists and used anti-gay amongst the private citizens, with the Chicago Moscone were killed. When their assassin was cues from the civil-rights movement. “Look back slurs while processing them. police officers in attendance abstaining. found “not guilty,” Jones said, the angry crowd to 1963 and 1964,” he said. “It’s like being mugged for $2,000,” stated “I think we kind of got the royal run-around did not carry candles. “We were carrying torches More information about the National Equality one meeting attendee, who was also a victim of today,” stated one attendee immediately follow- and clubs,” he said. March can be found at Equalityacrossamerica. one of Fiorito’s questionable DUI arrests. “I am ing the meeting. “But we did pass a resolution Years later, in his capacity as consultant to org. 33 years old and have been living in this city my that I hope will be given to people high enough the California state legislature, where he worked See photos of Cleve Jones at the Aug. 29 entire life and that was the first time I ever felt on the ladder to get things done. I encourage for the health committee, Jones remembered the Equality Illinois pie toss on page 16 and on- really discriminated against for my sexuality.” people to come to more district and police meet- moment in 1981 that he read the first reports of line at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. Of particular interest to the private citizens ings to voice their frustrations. We need to show gay men dying of a strange new disease: “I knew who attended the subcommittee meeting was to the police force that this is unacceptable and immediately that this was bad.” the fact that while awaiting a ruling on the mul- will not be tolerated.” “By 1985, everybody I knew was dead or dy- tiple lawsuits that he is facing, Fiorito is still an ing,” he said. “It was a nightmare, and it went
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Campaign �inanced with aid from the European Union 8 Sept. 2, 2009 of the policies we fight for would be moot under Prevention (CDC) called Act Against AIDS. “The LGBTQs take Renaissance 2010 because charter schools and CDC contacted me to see if I could help stem contract schools don’t have the same process- Chuck the rising ride of HIV infections,” he said. After education to es of accountability; they don’t have to follow Renslow. the CDC contacted Renslow, he said, he consid- district-wide guidelines and there would be no ered using his position as a prominent member the streets centralized enforcement of anti-discrimination of the leather community to advocate for safer by Yasmin Nair and other policies.” sex practices. Protestors were also pointing to what they Act Against AIDS, which was launched by the Several families of Chicago Public School (CPS) saw as the politics of gentrification affecting Obama administration in April, is a five-year, students, teachers and education activists turned the displaced students. As their signs and chants affect pornography vendors who sell materials $45 million campaign designed to combat HIV out Aug. 26 for a protest at CPS headquarters at indicated, teachers, students and families were depicting condomless sex. infection, various components of which are spe- 125 S. Clark, where the Chicago Board of Educa- especially troubled by the fact that their school Citing the LGBT community’s ongoing struggle cifically tailored to reach populations at high tion was due for a budget meeting. Their focus was shut down even after the Illinois State with high rates of HIV infection—particularly risk of infection. was a notification that the UNO Charter Network Board of Education designated it a “spotlight among young men who have sex with men— Although he discussed it with the IML execu- had sought Chicago Board of Education’s Presi- school.” One woman’s sign was addressed to Renslow wrote in a letter to vendors, “Too many tive committee, Renslow said, the choice to ban dent Michael Scott’s permission to open a school Michael Scott: “You closed our award-winning in our community believe HIV/AIDS is curable or barebacking porn was ultimately his. “I made the on the site of Juana Ines De la Cruz Middle. The middle school because “It wasn’t viable” or manageable. Too few understand that HIV/AIDS final decision,” he said. “Me, using my stance, to latter has been shut down for a year, citing a “worth fixing” but now you’re going to let an infections dominate life. We believe that it is prevent barebacking.” lack of funds for capital improvement. UNO Charter in? Exactly who is worthy in your our duty to inform and educate. “Greed and avarice must not supercede the The CPS system has been the focus of atten- eyes?” Finkelstein said that “the larger process “Not having experienced the deaths—the health of our community,” said Renslow. Though tion of the city’s educators, parents and stu- of gentrification affects LGBTQ people. We are loss of loved ones—which preceded [HIV/AIDS] he anticipates a loss of revenue, he said that he dents for many years. Continual debates about present within the communities on whom it has medications,” Renslow wrote, “we have an entire won’t know how much money IML stands to lose the state of the system have raised various and an impact.” generation who may not fully appreciate or com- until next year’s convention. often conflicting ideas about whether change is Erica Meiners, an out lesbian and associate prehend the severity of the situation.” “I don’t care what two consenting adults, who needed and, if so, how to bring it about. The professor of education and women’s studies at In an interview, Renslow told Windy City Times are informed, want to do,” said Renslow. But, he Renaissance 2010 program has been among the Northeastern Illinois University, was also there that his decision to ban barebacking found its said, “the younger generation has not suffered most controversial among the proposed changes to support the protestors. She said, “I’m here inspiration in a project of President Barack the loss of AIDS.” His decision, he said, is for to CPS, especially because it has resulted in a to demonstrate my commitment for equitable Obama and the Centers of Disease Control and that generation. number of school closings. While some attest public education for all, and for a transparent process.” She said that the situation of De la that closings are the only way to revamp what PASSAGES they consider a broken system, others insist that Cruz and Whittier were examples of the “lack of school closings are only another way to privatize democratic decision-making based on the facts. George S. Martinez We know that when democratic processes are not CPS and that functioning schools are being shut George S. Martinez—a Chicagoan who was a followed, our most vulnerable communities who down to make way for charter schools. beloved community activist and patient advo- don’t have powerful communities advocating for Several signs had messages like, “No neigh- cate—passed away June 14 at Northwestern them are the ones to suffer, and these include borhood schools left behind.” Alejandra Ibanez, Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his loving queer students, students with disabilities, and executive director of Pilsen Alliance, one of the family and friends. He was 56. the poor.” main organizers of the protest, said to Windy Martinez was a member of the Church of Inside, the board meeting was packed to ca- City Times that the closing of De la Cruz “re- Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, where pacity with students, families and educators vealed a double standard.” According to her, he held the position of Melchizedek priest- who were there to ask questions. WCT spoke with schools like Whittier (a magnet school that is hood. He went on missions and was devoted Malon Edwards, CPS spokesman, who would only currently facing deteriorating conditions, and to his beliefs. He was a kind gentleman who say that the matter of De la Cruz was not going whose parents and students were also present) was open-minded about life, people and cul- to be discussed at the day’s meeting. The budget were still waiting to be declared Americans with tures. He was a patient and loving man who was passed unanimously by the board. Disablities Act-compliant but a UNO [University was perpetually optimistic and was admired, of New Orleans] Charter school got its notice of respected and loved by all who knew him; he compliance in approximately three weeks.” will be deeply missed. He maintained his keen The protest featured significant LGBTQ pres- Renslow talks interest in his family and friends even in the George Martinez. Photo courtesy of Richard ence, as members of the group Gender JUST (GJ) last days before his death, deprecating his own Elia joined in with signs like, “Queer youth say no to barebacking routine as humdrum and not worth discussing, Mexico and many major cities in the U.S. Ren. 10” as they marched and chanted outside by SAMUEL WORLEY but curious to know what everyone else was up Martinez graduated from Purdue University the building [Full disclosure: This reporter is a to. with the degrees of the Degree of Bachelor of member]. Sam Finkelstein of GJ said that the International Mr. Leather (IML) President Chuck As a child, Martinez had polio and was in an Arts 1976 and the Degree of Bachelor of Sci- group was there to “raise the voices of queer Renslow announced recently that vendors par- iron lung for a while. He courageously faced ence 1982. youth in the larger debate around privatization ticipating in the leather market—one of the this serious illness and a number of serious He won several awards, including the Kraft and militarization.” GJ has recently been in talks annual IML convention’s most popular attrac- health problems throughout his lifetime and General Foods: Technology Center, Special Ac- with CPS CEO Ron Huberman about implement- tions—would no longer be permitted to sell triumphed over them. He had been living with complishment Award (1994); American Liver ing policies that would positively affect LGBTQ or distribute materials which “promote or ad- hepatitis B for many years; then he was a liver Foundation, Illinois Chapter, Patient Honoree youth. In that context, Finkelstein said, “A lot vocate” barebacking. The decision will mainly recipient in May 2004, after which he devoted at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (2005); the much of his time helping others. He was instru- Chicago Area HIV/AIDS Caucus Long-Term Sur- mental in helping in the landmark legislation vivor Award, EASE (2005); the Westside HIV/ to expand organ transplant options for people AIDS Regional Planning Council’s Bennet Wil- with HIV/AIDS: by his working with then-State liams Award (2005); and the Chicago Depart- Friday, Sept. 11 Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, on passage of ment of Public Health’s Award of Appreciation, 7:30 p.m. the Illinois HIV Organ Donation Law (2004) The HIV Prevention Planning Group (2007). Maryann Lesert and the Hepatitis Education/Awareness and Martinez was preceded in death by his par- Base Ten Screening Law (2005). ents, Estanislado Martinez and Camila (Garza) Martinez was an advocate in taking the Il- Martinez, his son Richard Geoffrey Martinez linois HIV Organ Donation law to the federal (Deceased at age 20) and his two brothers: Sunday, September 13 level by going to Washington, D.C. While Richard and Manuel; and two sisters: Irma 12 p.m. there Martinez talked to then-U.S. Sen. Barack and Cynthia Martinez. He is survived by one J. Courtney Sullivan Obama, D-Ill., and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, daughter Erin (Martinez) Holman, grandfather Commencement D-Ill., about AIDS care. of Anabel, Richard, and Emberlii; two sisters, He was very active on the National Institutes Rachael and Lydia; a brother, Carlos; sisters– Select Italy Travel of Health, Steering Committee and Communi- in-law Delia and Carolyn; many aunts, uncles, ty Advisory board for the “Multisite Study on cousins, nephews, nieces and godchildren; Transplantation with HIV,” and was part of the caregivers Michael Wall and Steve Stoddard; Italy. HIV Prevention and Planning Group (HPPG), Richard J. Elia, a loving companion (of 18 CDPH Hepatitis C Task Force, EASE Caucus, 5233 N. Clark years); and many friends. Need we say more? Northside HIV/AIDS Health Coalition, AIDS Burial services were held privately with fam- (773) 769-9299 Foundation Advocacy/Policy Committee, TPAN, ily at Ridgelawn Cemetery, 4401 West Ridge, TORCH, Vital Bridges (working with activist Gary, Ind., 46408. Lori Cannon) and other community groups. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Your Italian travel experts since 1997 Through his work with Kraft General Foods, Vital Bridges, North Side Grocery Center, 5543 Martinez was able to travel throughout the N. Broadway, Chicago, Ill., 60640. [email protected] 303 W. Erie Suite 410 world. He visited such countries in South A remembrance meeting will be held Satur- www.womenandchildrenfirst.com Chicago, IL 60654 America as Brazil, Argentina and Chile; in Eu- day, Nov. 14, 12-2 p.m., at Center on Halsted, Parking Available www.selectitaly.com/wct rope, he visited France, Italy, England, Greece 3656 N. Halsted (www.CenterOnHalsted.org). Wheelchair Accessible 800-877-1755 and Germany. He also traveled to Australia, Sept. 2, 2009 9 this fall with numerous events, including Mas- Bill Clinton at sage Therapy Bar Day Sunday, Sept. 20; the AIDS Chicago House event Run & Walk Team BEHIV event Saturday, Sept. Chicago House & Social Service Agency, the 26; the AIDS Run & Walk on Saturday, Oct. 3; first organization in the Midwest to provide and an art therapy exhibition and reception QUOTELINES housing and support for people living with HIV Wed., Nov. 4. See www.behiv.org. BY REX WOCKNER and AIDS, will host its first-ever Speaker Series Luncheon Wed., Nov. 11, at the Palmer House Insurance dept.: Hilton, 17 E. Monroe, welcoming President Bill Q “I think that (the campaign against) spoke—and ran and led—his voice stirred the Clinton as the keynote speaker. Explore partner Prop 8 ignored the basics. They did not let aspirations of millions of people. He would be- The luncheon will feature a speech from Clin- options the voters know who would be hurt by passage come, after several attempts, one of the first ton followed by a Q&A session inclusive of ques- The Illinois Department of Insurance has is- of the bill and how they would be hurt. The openly gay Americans elected to public office. tions pre-submitted by members of the public, sued a press release urging consumers to explore campaign against Prop 8 talked about human And his message of hope—hope unashamed, Chicago House supporters and event attendees. health-insurance options for domestic partners. rights (but didn’t) put a face on the campaign. hope unafraid—could not ever be silenced. It The Annual Speaker Series Luncheon is a new “Health insurance is one of the most impor- ... Harvey (Milk) understood that you had to was Harvey who said it best: ‘You gotta give endeavor for Chicago House and originated from tant financial safety nets anyone can purchase, show who exactly would be hurt if Proposition ‘em hope.’” — President Barack Obama award- a desire to raise awareness and education around and no family should be without,” said Michael 6 (or in this case Prop 8) passed. Everybody ing the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the the key issues of HIV/AIDS and homelessness, McRaith, director of the department. “With many knows somebody who is gay. It might be your late gay activist Harvey Milk, Aug. 12. according to The Rev. Stan Sloan, Chicago House employers and insurers already offering domes- neighbor, someone you work with, a relative CEO. tic partner benefits, consumers should check to or even a friend of a friend. These relation- “After purchasing an $8 racket with Further information on the Chicago House make sure they are taking full advantage of the ships make the difference. The voters can un- money earned from chores, 11-year-old Speaker Series Luncheon featuring President Bill benefits to which they are entitled.” derstand if you are talking about taking rights Billie Jean declared a goal to be the No. 1 ten- Clinton can be found at www.chicagohouse.org. Consumers are asked to learn about everything away from someone they personally know but nis player in the world. Yet, what we honor are Online ticketing starts Thursday, Sept. 10; for from tax implications to healthcare power of at- if they can’t see the impact, if it is too ab- not simply her 12 [sic] Grand Slam titles, 101 tickets, call Rachell Gautz at 773-248-5200, ext. torney. Visit the Illinois Department of Insur- stract, then it is easy to vote for or against a doubles titles and 67 singles titles—pretty 303. ance Web site at insurance.illinois.gov or call measure. Ultimately, I think this is why Prop good, Billie Jean—we honor what she calls toll-free at 877-527-9431. 8 passed. ... The campaign was not made per- ‘all the off-the-court stuff’—what she did to BEHIV raises $20K sonal and didn’t put a face on the men and broaden the reach of the game, to change how Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) announced YPS gets new office women whose rights were revoked. A lot of women athletes and women everywhere view Aug. 31 that its 60-Day Drive fundraising proj- Youth Pride Services has moved into its brand- money was raised, lots of money was spent themselves, and to give everyone—regardless ect raised over $20,000 to bridge the gap in de- new office, located at 1525 E. 55th, Suite 312. and we lost Prop 8. I think creased and delayed funding. The main office number is 773-382-0511 to re- we were missing a focus. BEHIV’s drive was organized by the organiza- ceive info about Youth Pride Center (YPC), YPC ... Personally, I believe if tion’s staff, board of directors and volunteers. Entertainment, YPC University, Frankie the Mag- Harvey had been alive we The drive began in early June and ran into early azine and the Frankie Foundation. could have won.” — Anne It was Harvey August. Multiple fundraising events and projects Youth should call the YPC hotline at Kronenberg, who was Har- who said it were held, including a kick-off event at Salu- 773-664-6276. vey Milk’s campaign man- best: “You té Wine Bar; major donor requests; bingo at Note: Be sure to read the world roundup on- ager, in an interview with Hamburger Mary’s; house parties; BEHIV’s an- line this week at www.WindyCityMediaGroup. GayRussia.ru, Aug. 13. gotta give nual Garden Party; and a staff/board drag show com. Among the items are Uruguay approving ‘em hope.” grand-finale event. same-sex adoption and Vancouver holding a “I see a road map —President Barack Obama BEHIV will continue its fundraising activities (with Obama) of six- gay-pride parade. about Harvey Milk month windows: the hate crimes bill, then the Employment Non-Discrim- ination Act, then Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. And of gender or sexual orientation—including my Showing the love the administration is building a case in the two daughters—a chance to compete both on military leadership and Congress and the rank- the court and in life. As Billie Jean once said, and-file members of the military. ... I don’t see we should ‘never, ever underestimate the hu- them dragging their feet. But where the LGBT man spirit.’ Nor should we underestimate Billie community is feeling frustration is that the Jean King’s spirit.” — President Barack Obama road map and timetable have not been made awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to as clear to them.” — Human Rights Campaign Billie Jean King, Aug. 12. President Joe Solmonese to U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 7. “They (the White House) didn’t get any of my facts right. Did you see all the—how “His name was Harvey Milk and he was many titles I won? I was cracking up. Not even here to recruit us—all of us—to join a in the ballpark. I thought it was adorable. ... movement and change a nation. For much of The Grand Slam’s at 39 not at 12.” — Billie his early life, he had silenced himself. In the Jean King to Politico.com, Aug. 13. prime of his life, he was silenced by the act of another. But in the brief time in which he —Assistance: Bill Kelley
Chairman Julian Bond, testifying about family QUOTE ON reunification and immigration reform before the COMPILED by andrew davis U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee June 3.
“I’m not his biological father, even “The administration has had its hands though our ears do look alike.” — Carson Kress- full with the financial crisis, health ley on the July 16 episode of The Wendy Williams care, Guantánamo Bay and other pressing mat- Show about his horse, which he sometimes refers ters. In times like these, issues like repealing to as his son. the marriage act can seem like a distraction—or a political liability. But busy calendars and po- “I would think about it. I know every- litical expediency are no excuse for making one one is talking about gay marriage; I am worried group of Americans wait any longer for equal about gay divorce—I want to make sure I get all rights.” — From a June 15 editorial in the New my stuff back if it doesn’t work out.” — Carson York Times. Kressley on the July 16 episode of The Wendy Wil- liams Show, reflecting on same-sex marriage. “I don’t think it’s an automatic, but there’s a sexual component in almost all mar- “This important legislation will en- keting in the entertainment world. For me, I’ve sure that gay and lesbian couples and The Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus (CBGMC)—a coalition of concerned individuals dedi- always been provocative by nature, so I enjoy families are treated just like other families who cated to improving the health of African-American gay and bisexual men—held its fifth being sexy like that. It’s not a result of my porn are bi-national. The inclusion of the Uniting annual Lovefest Aug. 30 in Jackson Park, 63rd and Cornell. Among the sights were Chicago experience—it’s just something that moves me.” American Families Act in comprehensive immi- Public Heath Department Director of Administration and CBGMC member Lora Branch spin- — Openly gay singer Colton Ford, in response to gration reform would ensure the continuation ning the wax as a DJ; and entertainer Ms. Ruff n’ Stuff. For more information about CBGMC, the question “Do you think that gay male singers of an expansion of civil rights to people who visit www.lovethybrotha.com or call Darius Mayfield, CBGMC’s administrator, at 312-566- have to show off their bodies to get attention have historically been left out and mistreated by 0285, ext. 12. Photos by Hana Anderson for their music?” while promoting his newest CD, American immigration policies.” — NAACP Board Under the Covers, which came out Aug. 4. 10 Sept. 2, 2009
VIEWPOINT VOL. 24, No. 48, Sept. 2, 2009 The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, The president, in an almost heated exchange, a pen on Inauguration Day like President Carter founded May 1987. proclaimed loudly it was the LGBT community’s did with amnesty for draft evaders who went to DAVID fault that we got DADT because we didn’t get Canada. PUBLISHER & Executive EDITOR enough letters to Congress. In a mind-boggling Despite his weakness and equivocation during Tracy Baim MIXNER “you guys” defense, he continued to refuse to the entire sad and tragic six months, what he Assistant Publisher Terri Klinsky accept responsibility for his lack of strength, really didn’t get is that freedom is not gained MANAGING Editor Andrew Davis courage and leadership back in 1993 that led by those who can get the most postcards and Business manager Cynthia Holmes to the passage of DADT. Instead, he allowed letters to Congress. It is not “American Idol” Director of New Media Jean Albright Sen. Sam Nunn to lead him around by the nose where everyone calls in and votes yes or no for ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson account managerS: Amy Matheny, Kirk President Bill including into the private quarters of the USS equality. The President’s job was to protect an Williamson, Cynthia Holmes, Carlos Paret Roosevelt to show how endangered straights unpopular minority from the tyranny of a major- Promotions director Cynthia Holmes Clinton: What was would be by gays in such close quarters. The ity mob and he failed to do it. He gave in to the NIGHTSPOTS MANAGING Editor Kirk Williamson resulting photo of that sorry excursion made the mob and then blamed us. His failure to grasp National Sales Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 he thinking? SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, Marie front page of every newspaper in the country. that this is a civil-rights movement and not a J. Kuda, David Byrne, Tony Peregrin, Lisa Keen, If he had met from day one with General Co- lobby in Washington is indicative of his lack of President Bill Clinton still doesn’t get “it.” He Yasmin Nair, Emmanuel Garcia lin Powell and the Joint Chiefs and said “I am understanding of this struggle. TheatER Editor Scott C. Morgan never has gotten “it.” Commander-In-Chief and this is the policy and if President Clinton blaming us for “Don’t Ask, Cinema WRITER Richard Knight, Jr. The “it” in question is the struggle for LGBT BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair you can’t enforce it, give me your resignations,” Don’t Tell” is simply wrong, insensitive and out- civil rights and full equality. He has always ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS we wouldn’t be where we are today. Powell, who rageous. He should step up to the plate, accept missed the essence of our fight for freedom. Mary Shen Barnidge, Jim Edminster, Steve Warren, now advocates a full rethinking of DADT, admits responsibility for this huge mistake and then he Lawrence Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Catey Sullivan, Otherwise he never, ever would have said what not one of them would have resigned and given can lead with dignity the battle to repeal it. Zachary Whittenburg, Jonathan Abarbanel he said to Lane Hudson in Pittsburgh last week. Columnists/Writers: Yvonne Zipter, Susie up their careers over this issue. The entire de- David Mixner—a civil-rights activist, writer As I watched his defense of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Day, Jorjet Harper, Lee Lynch, Steve Starr, Joe bate could have been diminished if President and political strategist—blogs at www. (DADT) at the public forum, I almost had to ask Rice, Dan Woog, Marie-Jo Proulx, Lisa Keen, Chris Clinton had just done what many of us asked davidmixner.com. Crain, Charlsie Dewey, Michael Knipp, Mark Corece, the nurse for more blood-pressure medicine I and signed an executive order with a stroke of Sabine Neidhardt, Sam Worley, Billy Masters, John was so shocked at his response. Fenoglio PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Mel Ferrand, Steve Becker, Steve Starr, Emmanuel Garcia ARTISTS/CARTOONISTS Alison Bechdel, Mikeoart LETTERS CIRCULATION Circulation director Jean Albright Distribution: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Renee, Say it ain’t so, Joe who deny that troubles on Halsted St. and in Marching on Sue and Victor East Lakeview are not induced by Center on Dear Editor: Halsted youth clients is either blind or in total On Oct. 11, LGBT people will march on Wash- denial. Ask any Lakeview resident for his or her ington, D.C. The march was called for by Cleve Hi. I’d like to respond to what Joe Solmonese opinion. Jones, a gay activist and founder of the NAMES said about me [in the Windy City Times piece “A For years I’ve lived directly behind where the Project. We believe this march to be about jus- talk with HRC’s Joe Solmonese,” which ran in the Center now stands, and honestly can say that tice and fairness for gay family values. This is these problems never existed to this extent Aug. 26 issue]. why the Rainbow Sash Movement is endorsing before the Center’s youth program opened. Al- Copyright 2009 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media I find it disgusting and desperate that Joe this march. most daily we deal with these youth physically Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Solmonese would attack my reputation as a Our endorsement of the march is not based on Back issues available for $3 per issue (postage included). fighting with each other directly in front of the Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, journalist, and use the word “lies” to describe who has not or hasn’t given a stamp of approv- Center in the afternoons. On any given night— and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and my reporting on the actions of his organization. al. Our support is based on the biblical call for no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. mostly Thursday through Sunday—the same All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy Everything that I reported is 100 percent true, justice for all humankind. The detractors of the youth that attend programs at the Center are City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned and backed up by Senate sources with direct march have every right to voice their opposing for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing knowledge on this matter. Since my report came also prostituting, dealing drugs and just being and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, opinion; however, what they do not have a right cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own out, others have come forward with corroborat- a general loud annoyance in the early morning to do is engage in name-calling and innuendo. and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City ing details. I’ve never had an axe to grind with hours. I watch this first-hand and because I also Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of We believe our movement is larger than the Joe or the HRC (Human Rights Campaign), and get services at the Center and see that these are a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy petty clash of egos that is taking place around City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the I would never risk my reputation as a journalist indeed many of the same clients. I’ve overheard sexual orientation of such person or organization. While the march. We call on all to listen to their better to “make a name for myself” on a single story, them talking about the previous night’s “adven- we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make angels, and temper the mean-spirited attacks. this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept as Solmonese suggested in your article. What tures” while sitting in the facility’s lobby. Night Cleve Jones, like the rest of humanity, is far from responsibility for advertising claims. would be my motivation to make up “lies”? The after night, Lakeview residents call the police (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 people who know my work know just how care- to stop the noise beneath their windows. Every perfect—and, like the rest of us, is entitled to e-mail: [email protected] ful, and devoted to accuracy I am. weekend night the streets are full of transsexual his good name. Whether we have enough time www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com We should expect more from our leaders than prostitutes on the corners. I’ve watched the kids to organize for this march or not is no longer an sell drugs right on Halsted. I watch them doing issue, the march is going to take place. radio: WindyCityQueercast.com ad hominem attacks. I’m sorry if HRC’s fundrais- video: QueerTVNetwork.com ing is suffering as a result of the reporting by drugs in the alley behind my apartment. They’re Not unlike the original March on Washington myself and others. One of the jobs of the media also verbally abusive, and have damaged prop- in 1979, the air is alive with drama. But success WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, is to let people know how their donations are erty by standing on businesses’ flower planters or non-success of this march will depend more 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640 USA being spent, and one of those ways, earlier this in order to knock them over and even urinat- on our ability to find common ground, and listen (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) ing on storefronts. More than a few times, my year, was in lobbying to discourage members of and respect each other even in our differences. Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. Congress from pursuing DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t neighbors have been verbally threatened while This will define the success of this march. We are Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. Tell). dog-walking. a community of wonder and, at the same time, Identity (BLACKlines and En La Vida): Now Any questions about the quality of my sources Mr. McManus, a volunteer for the Center, was all too frail and human. Our divisions can make online only quoted as saying “there is a misunderstanding Deadline The 10th of month prior. should have been cleared up by the news I’ve our family stronger, or they can tear us apart. OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE broken exclusively in The Daily Beast since that within the community.” Believe me, there is no Which will it be? www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com HRC report. I was the first to break the news misunderstanding! He also states that these kids This march is not so much about numbers as it that Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand was pushing, are getting a bad rap when they’re “simply seek- is about courage: the courage to stand up and ing safety and acceptance.” www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com behind the scenes, an amendment to suspend be counted. For the March detractors if you can- www.WindyCityQueercast.com DADT for 18 months, and then that the chairman The police don’t seem to be very present dur- not march with us for whatever reason at least www.QueerTVNetwork.com of the Senate Armed Services Committee agreed ing the hours that these occurrences happen. remember us in your prayers. We may disagree to hold hearings on DADT in the fall. These youth, with this behavior, are not wel- on the march but I think you would agree that I never intended for this to be about me, but I come in Lakeview. the Liberation Movement sparked by Stonewall won’t let words like those used by Joe Solomo- is alive and well not only in our hearts, but in A concerned Lakeview resident nese (with whom I had a friendly relationship the hearts of those whose shoulders we stand “Windy City Media Group generated with before all this) go unanswered. Joe, please on. enormous interest among their readers Center on Halsted Executive Director Modesto knock off this hateful nonsense. Finally, we are calling for support for this in this year’s LGBT Consumer Index “Tico” Valle responds: Center on Halsted has march and all its many organizers across the na- Survey. Out of approximately 100 been and will remain invested in the safety of Sincerely, tion. We ask that if you cannot march with us, print and online media partners who this community. Our mission of providing servic- participated in the survey, Windy Jason Bellini you pray for a safe march. es that respect and affirm our patrons requires City was the best performing regional that we commit totally to the security of our media in the U.S. Only survey partners Center of controversy? Board of Directors neighborhood. The accusation that the Center with a nationwide footprint were is somehow responsible for violence in Lakeview Rainbow Sash Movement able to generate a greater number of I’m writing in response to the Aug. 19 article re- WWW.RainbowSashMovement.Com garding Lakeview crime issues (“Lakeview crime is unfair and certainly untrue. If this letter’s au- responses.” —David Marshall, Research and meeting: A closer look”). Anyone, includ- thor doubts our commitment to neighborhood Director, Community Marketing, Inc. ing volunteers/staff from the Center on Halsted, security, I will gladly meet with her/him person- ally to review our security policies. Sept. 2, 2009 11 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION
VANILLA ‘EXTRACT’? Dustin Milligan (above) co-stars in the movie Extract—but is it bland or something special? See page 14. MUSIC THEATER SPORTS Leave it to diva. ‘Zorro’ effect. Shootin’ for Page 17. Page 12. the Sky. Page 22.
Photo courtesy of Bill Sherbondy
From slam poet to playwright Scottish Slam poet and actress Kristiana Colón didn’t really celebrate much on her 21st birthday. News Play Scott of the 2007 school shootings at Virginia Tech BY SCOTT C. MORGAN that very same day put a damper on her plans. Yet that horrific event, in which 32 people The nominees for the 2008-09 Equity Joseph were killed on a college campus, stuck in Colon’s Jefferson Awards have been announced. mind. And when another shooting occurred at With 179 nominations in 35 categories, the “Jeff Northern Illinois University the following year, Awards” aim to honor the best of professional Colón was driven to write a drama based on a Chicago-area theater. But, inevitably, some peo- college shooting spree. ple will grumble about the omissions. It became The Darkest Pit, which was her mas- This year, the Goodman Theatre leads the pack ter’s thesis project for her writing degree at the with 17 nominations spread among eight pro- School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Stefan ductions. Six nominations are for Lynn Nottage’s Brün of Prop Thtr was on one of Colón’s critique Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Ruined, which panels. He liked the play so much that he rushed transferred to New York in a co-production with it onto Prop Theater’s current season. the Manhattan Theatre Club. (Its off-Broadway The Darkest Pit concerns a teacher and stu- run concludes on Sept. 6.) dents trapped in a classroom during a school Not far behind is Drury Lane Oakbrook, with shooting. But Colón says The Darkest Pit is far 16 nominations for five musicals. Its acclaimed from an anti-gun screed. production of Miss Saigon has six nominations, “It’s more about violence against women and while its revamped The Boys from Syracuse has whose responsibility it is when acts of violence four nominations. (David H. Bell is up for three occur,” Colón said. “Once the shooter comes into of those: New Work or Adaptation of a Musical, the room we discover there is a reason why the Direction of a Musical and Choreography.) shooter is doing it—it’s not a psychotic spree.” Bell’s nomination for The Bowery Boys also Colón didn’t want to divulge too much about represents one of the 15 nominations for the The Darkest Pit. Photo by Johnny Knight the script, since it’s full of surprises. When asked Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire. Its most-nomi- if there were any LGTBQ connections, she did against herself with nominations for The Light Award nominations). nated production is Joseph and the Amazing point out that the college class depicted is a in the Piazza and Apple Tree Theatre’s Wings. Some might accuse the Jeff Committee of be- Technicolor Dreamcoat with five nods, while the humanities class dealing with power and gender Another Apple Tree nominee is McKinley Carter ing too conservative or careful with its choices. still-running The Light in the Piazza has four issues (which all sounds very women’s studies to in John and Jen. But, ultimately, it will probably If you saw the show Storefront Theater Musical nominations (but, strangely, was omitted for me). be a race to the finish between E. Faye Butler in at the Cornservatory, the Jeff Committee (not overall musical production). Court Theatre’s Caroline, or Change, and Hollis so subtly called the George Committee) was Like The Light in the Piazza, you can also still Graceland moves Resnik in Northlight Theatre’s Grey Gardens. ruthlessly spoofed as a group of dried-out skel- see the currently running five-time nominated Profiles Theatre’s hit production of Ellen Fair- Speaking of Grey Gardens, that wonderful etons. TimeLine Theatre production of The History Boys ey’s Graceland will be sticking around Chicago Northlight staging is one of this year’s glar- But it truly is an impossible task to properly and The Second City’s two revues Studs Terkel’s a little longer. Fairey’s drama set in Chicago’s ing Jeff omissions for Musical Production. The honor everyone who deserves accolades in such Not Working (four nominations) and America: All famed Lakeview cemetery plays at Profiles The- same could be said for Tina Landau’s inspired a large theater community and in such a sub- Better! (two nominations). atre through Sunday, Sept. 13. But then Profiles direction for Steppenwolf Theatre’s first Shake- jective art form. So cross your fingers for your Alas, many shows have long since closed, so moves the production down the street to the Na- spearean outing with The Tempest. And though favorites when the winners are announced Oct. you have to rely on memories to compare and tional Pastime Theater for another extended run it went to Broadway, Robert Falls’ bold rethink- 19 at the North Shore Center for the Performing contrast who should win. I’m sure one hotly Sept. 17-Nov. 15. ing of Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms at Arts in Skokie. contested category is going to be Actress in Please send any theater news and other tid- the Goodman Theatre was completely shut out For a complete list of Jeff nominees, visit a Principal Role—Musical. Mary Ernster is up bits to [email protected]. from the Jeff nominations (as it was for the Tony www.jeffawards.org. 12 Sept. 2, 2009 THEATER REVIEW Cabaret CRITICS’ PICS Playwright: Joe Masteroff; Cabaret, Drury Lane Oak Brook, through Composer: John Kander; Lyricist: Fred Ebb Cabaret. Oct. 11. Without explicitly mentioning it, At: Drury Lane Oakbrook, the Holocaust looms around the dark edges Photos by 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace of Jim Corti’s masterful take on Kander and Johnny Phone: 630-530-8300; $29-$38 Ebb’s brilliant musical. Moreover, the cast Knight Runs through Oct. 11 absolutely gets the horror just under the debauchery of Weimar Era Germany. CS BY SCOTT C. MORGAN The History Boys, TimeLine Theatre, through Sept. 27. Two teachers fight for Drury Lane Oakbrook’s Cabaret is both a chilling the hearts and minds of eight bright Brit- nightmare and a beautiful dream come true. The ish boys bound for Oxford or Cambridge in subject matter is nightmarish (the rise of the a dazzling examination of education, with a Nazis amid the decadence of Weimar Republic gay subplot. Now extended, maybe you can Germany), but Drury Lane’s realization of Caba- The one iffy cast member (at least on open- score, which features “Hotel Cucaracha” sung to score tickets. DO try! JA ret is a gloriously theatrical dream that dramati- ing night) was Zarah Mahler as the alternately the tune of “Hotel California.” Poseidon: An Upside Down Musical, Hell cally sucker-punches you in the gut. brittle and fragile heroine Sally Bowles. Mahler’s But the artistry all comes with Quest’s hilarious in a Handbag Productions at Chopin The- Instead of imitating the iconoclastic (and British accent wandered now and then from both execution and over-animated performances. Here atre, extended through Sept. 27. This camp explicit) 1998 Broadway revival co-directed by coasts of the Atlantic, while her performance of Nick Rupard’s scenery of scroll-drops and cactus comedy may capsize when shifting from Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall, director Jim Corti the title song didn’t dazzle as much as expected cutouts is picture perfect, while the comic tim- movie spoof to the film’s obsessive fans. Yet (a one-time understudy to award-winning Caba- (though if Sally had to sleep her way into all ing of the cast (in heavily exaggerated make-up) those moments are rare in this silly musical ret star Joel Grey) opts to work more with Joe her jobs, she logically shouldn’t be that super- is a constant delight. that both edifies and eviscerates the classic Masteroff’s script from Cabaret’s 1987 Broadway talented). Pavi Proczko is not only the hapless “Old New 1972 disaster flick The Poseidon Adventure. revival. But cumulatively, Drury Lane’s Cabaret is an Mexico” resident Don Alfredo, but he makes for SCM That means the songs from the eight-time impressive winner. Corti’s hard-working and sexy a dashing emcee who commandingly explains all The Ruby Sunrise, Gift Theatre, through Academy Award-winning 1972 Bob Fosse film ensemble choreographically conjures up the ar- of the show’s ground rules. Sept. 27. Rinne Groff’s speculative fantasy are not grafted onto John Kander and Fred Ebb’s tistic energy and desperation of Weimar Germany As usual, it’s the villains who have the most on the hidden story behind the invention classic Broadway score. And instead of mono- with plenty of panache and menace. delicious roles (and chances to overact). of television has extended, giving us an- chromatic threadbare lingerie, costume designer So don’t oversleep for your chance to get tick- Jason Bowen’s Buck Badum (the corrupt mas- other chance to recall the promise and hope Tatjana Radisic has reupholstered the show’s ets for Drury Lane’s Cabaret. Otherwise, you’ll termind who owns the town) revels in talking that accompanied the birth of that much- seediness with glamorous and showy costumes. rue the fact that you missed this darkly dreamy trash back to the audience, while Stephen Lydic maligned medium. MSB Corti also shakes things up by logically fram- production. does his best Yosemite Sam impression as the ing the show as a flashback nightmare starting crooked Sheriff Toady. —By Abarbanel, Barnidge in a train compartment. Instead of opening the THEATER REVIEW Kieran Welsh-Phillips’ villainess Conchita could Morgan and Sullivan show with the iconic number “Wilkommen,” we be a bit nastier to Maria Randazzo’s heroine, get a dialogue scene between the initially help- Alas! Alack! Anita Sweepup, but she ultimately gets the job automatically search for a deeper, more political ful German Ernst Ludwig (a very Aryan-looking done. agenda in this material. Brandon Dahlquist) and our bisexual American Zorro’s Back! On the hero side, Stephen Craig Barker is nicely Playwright: Tim Kelly; The story opens with a pair of demons, dressed hero, Clifford Bradshaw (Jim Weitzer, who makes cast as the bespectacled and nebbish visitor Score: David Reiser in suits very similar to those worn by the “gods” for an upstanding and handsome stand-in for Henry who later dons the heroic black tights At: Quest Theatre Ensemble in Brecht’s Good Woman of Setzuan, who call the ever-observant gay author Christopher Ish- of Zorro. He’s aided in his efforts by Jennifer at Blue Theatre, 1609 W. Gregory themselves Knife and Fork and slaver in antici- erwood). Young’s indignant Aunt Victoria. Erin Robinson’s Phone: 312-458-0895; pation of bloodshed. We are then introduced That decision may initially take away from the wandering Widder Jones and Angelica Keenan’s Free, but donations appreciated to the kinfolk of the recently deceased Ajala— disorienting command of Patrick Andrews’ Em- overly dramatic Senora De La Guitar add to the Runs through Sept. 27 who, it turns out, is not dead, but only evading cee, but he soon regains it by skillfully singing flavor of the proceedings. his creditors until he can harvest his drought- and dancing about the alternately shiny and in- Subtlety is not called for, and director Andrew crippled crops and pay off his debts. When this dustrially gritty stage (Brian Sidney Bembridge’s BY SCOTT C. MORGAN Park wisely camps it all up when the opportuni- deception is discovered, his resurrection is at- set design masterfully fills out the stage by si- ties arise. Also doing impressive work is the live Quest Theatre Ensemble’s free admission policy tributed to the holy powers of the local priest— multaneously suggesting a nightclub and mas- band led by music director Gary Powell, billed has allowed it to bill itself as “The People’s The- who also runs the “plantation” on which most sive train station). here as Gary and the Four Sombreros. atre of Chicago.” Now Quest takes that title one of the village populace is forced to toil. Ajala Performance wise, Corti has mostly come up The sung olio at the top of the second act (in- step further by producing the cheeky musical proceeds to expose the false prophet, throwing trumps with his casting. Rebecca Finnegan es- stead of at the end) is a nice touch, though melodrama Alas! Alack! Zorro’s Back the community into chaos, until the cutlery duo sentially steals the show by convincingly aging the referenced cartoon characters like Underdog, You can’t get more populist than melodrama. intervenes to restore the status quo. up as the world-weary landlady Fraulein Sch- Popeye and the Road Runner in the routines are Where else do you get to openly cheer and boo So is Babatunde saying that corporate exploi- neider. She’s paired nicely with David Lively’s probably more familiar to adults than the kids in the good and bad stock cardboard characters? tation is a beneficial system? That pretenders Herr Schultz, a German-Jewish lodger whose ro- the audience. Even better, the folks at Quest encourage you to swathed in pomp and luxury, or faith in super- mantic ambitions get heartbreakingly thwarted. So if you’re looking for theatrical profundity, throw popcorn at the bad guys, so bring cash to natural occurrences, are necessary for an orderly Christine Sherrill’s desperate working girl of it’s probably best to skip Quest’s silly Zorro. But visit the concession stand. society? If the entire country is under a drought, Frauline Kost also adds some funny va-voom as if you want a lot of unfettered fun, be sure to Script-wise, Tim Kelly’s version of Zorro is no why is Ajala confident of his harvest—for that she blatantly juggles her German sailor custom- check your brain at the door, drag a kid along great masterpiece of plotting or character de- matter, how does the plantation escape the ers under Fraulein Schneider’s watch. and throw as much popcorn as you can. velopment. Neither is David Reiser’s song spoof devastating effects of meteorological blight (artificial irrigation, maybe?). And what does it mean that Ajala decides to abandon his trick- THEATER REVIEW sterly ways—the basis for countless folk tales A Shroud in every culture—to allow himself to be set up as a figurehead for the domination of his fellow SPOTLIGHT for Lazarus citizens? Is this Babatunde’s cynical assessment Playwright: Rotimi Babatunde of the corruption inevitable in human nature? At: Halcyon Theatre at the Halcyon Theatre strives to promote opportuni- Berry United Methodist ties for global artistic expression, but what A Church, 4754 N. Leavitt Shroud For Lazarus delivers is a parable operat- Phone: 773-413-0453; $15-$20 ing on three separate, and not always cohesive, Runs through: Oct. 3 levels simultaneously. And while much of the ex- ecution is cleverly conceived—the pastor Pop- BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE pa’s be-bop liturgy, for example—the multiple dimensions it encompasses ultimately prove too Rotimi Babatunde appears to be an admirer of overwhelming to grasp in a single viewing. Bertolt Brecht, to judge by this tidy little dia- tribe on the evils of capitalism—enslavement of the masses, oppression of the human spirit, nur- Correction When you think of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, you typically think of style, grace and ture of tyrannical greedheads and so forth—per- In last week’s review of the production High glamour, but not necessarily the great outdoors. Yet, Theatre-Hikes aims to undo those expecta- formed by actors frequently departing from their Fidelity, Thomas Kitt and Amanda Green were tions since they’re staging Gip Hoppe’s satirical Broadway comedy Jackie: An American Life roles for casual asides to each other and to the credited as the composers of Ragtime. Actually, as part of its season at Morton Arboretum. Jackie: An American Life plays 3 p.m. Saturdays and audience. (Two characters even boast, “We need the composers were Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ah- Sundays through Sept. 27 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Tickets are $10-$25. no doors! We break through the fourth wall!” rens and Terrence McNally. Call 630-968-0074 or visit www.mortonarb.org. Photo caption courtesy of Theatre-Hikes before charging up the aisles.) But because Windy City Times regrets the error. Babatunde is Nigerian, we sensitive Americans Sept. 2, 2009 13 THEATER REVIEW Under Milkwood Playwright: Dylan Thomas SHARON GLESS IN At: Caffeine Theatre at the Storefront Theatre, 66 E. Randolph Phone: 312-742-8497; $20-$16 Runs through: Sept. 27
BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL
Dylan Thomas penned some of the most treach- erous and gorgeous poetry this side of Shake- speare. Get his “Under Milk Wood” right, and you’ve got lavish, hypnotic sublimity. Get it wrong and you’ve got something that’ll give Texas Sheen. Photo courtesy of Chemically your audience wholly inappropriate giggles and Imbalanced Comedy leave it wondering why the Welsh poet is revered the world over. Lines like “I will lie by your side THEATER REVIEW like the Sunday roast” require the inflection of the gifted. Moreover, Thomas’s winding, laby- Texas Sheen rinthine sentences are James Joyce-ian in their Playwright: Anthony Ellison complexity and wordplay. Actors who attempt At: Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, them without a clear, brilliant view of the lush, 1420 W. Irving Park dripping topography are doomed to disservice. Meet Sharon Gless Phone: 800-838-3006; $15 In Caffeine Theatre’s staging of Dylan’s “poem Runs through: Oct. 3 for voices,” an ensemble worthy of the words Sept. 26 illuminates the diverse and richly memorable BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE ghosts of a small Welsh town. From the drowned “Hannah Free is achingly beautiful, both in the rich, textured Captain Cat pining fathoms under brine for his The literary and film genre we call “Westerns” rosy Rosie Probert, to the impossibly lovely material and fine performances.” — Notes From Hollywood has been described as “romance fiction for 17-year-old Mae Rose Cottage luxuriating in “Sharon Gless brings grit, authenticity and dimension to the title men,” and rightfully so. If gender-linked con- clover and eagerly “waiting for the worst to vention dictates that women’s adventures be set happen,” to the pinched, scoured cleanliness of character. She commands the screen.” — San Francisco Chronicle in the interior realms of the heart, it also man- the Widow Ogmore-Pritchard as she terrorizes “Hannah Free reminded me of Fried Green Tomatoes - only the women dates that men’s occur in the external world of her beleaguered late husbands, Caffeine makes action—a formula facilitated by the wide open Under Milk Wood sing. were allowed to be lovers in this! Sharon Gless dominates the film and spaces of the American frontier. With its readers’ Director Paul S. Holmquist’s ensemble takes a is funny and touching and real.” — Greg in Hollywood gradual orientation to more egalitarian roles for stanza or two to find the rhythm—and to draw the sexes, however, stories combining the two the audience into Dylan’s world. There’s a shade spheres of consciousness have perpetuated the of self-conscious artifice to the first moments Hannah Free in Chicago Sept. 25-Oct. 1 popularity of the bodice-ripping/bronco-busting of the piece, an air of Dylan-worship in the air yarn to the extent that Anthony Ellison thinks it that imbues the words with precious (and not in Gene Siskel Film Center of the needs some spoofing. the good sense of the word) reverence. But by School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N. State Texas Sheen—a title as evocative as it is the time Dan Granata launches into the wild and meaningless—opens on the ranch of the cruel whimsical description of the scratch and babble Judd Lawson, which also houses his fey sister- Sharon Gless (Queer as Folk, Burn Notice, Cagney & Lacey) in Mrs. Organ Morgan’s general store, the amaz- Friday Sept. 25 in-law Mandrin, his beautiful daughter Lily (who ingly vivid world of Under Milk Wood’s small sea- stars in the drama Hannah Free, a film about a lifelong love looks a little like the girl in the Milo Manara side town is shining through. affair between an independent spirit and the woman she comics) and his scruffy farmhand Slaughter, Through physical transformations that verge calls home. The film is the story of six decades in the life of a who speaks in the idiom dubbed by Mel Brooks, on shapeshifting (watch for the scene wherein lesbian partnership. “authentic western gibberish.” Into this volatile all morph into a herd of slow, stupid cows) and family unit comes Elroy McShane—a recently vocal nuances that create a crowd of indelible Tix thru the Film Center Box office or Ticketmaster, discharged WW II veteran in the Marlon Brando/ characters, the ensemble brings to life a town as 800-982-2787, www.ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster William Holden mold—his intent, to redeem his crowded and bustling as a bee hive. Holmquist brother’s gambling debts, which Lawson agrees has the group making exquisite use of shape and outlets. The Film Center and its Box Office 312-846-2800 to let him work off through the sweat of his tempo, creating both an organic whole of a vil- (24-hour movie hotline) or 312-846-260, or visit www. brow and flex of his muscles. lage and a population of memorable individu- siskelfilmcenter.org. Wherever you have landowners, tensions be- als. Watch, for example, Kaitlin Byrd move from tween neighbors provide opportunities for plot the cold, compulsively hygienic Mrs. Ogmore- RIPE FRUIT FILMS PRESENTS SHARON GLESS IN “HANNAH FREE” Sunday Sept. 27 conflicts, just as an abundance of escape routes Pritchard into the skin of comfy, simple Mrs. TAYLOR MILLER MAUREEN GALLAGHER ANN HAGEMANN KELLI STRICKLAND does not necessarily free lovers from tribal re- Dai Bread One. Also wonderful is Kate Nawrocki JACQUI JACKSON Executive Producers SHARON ZUREK CLAUDIA ALLEN TRACY BAIM Monday Sept. 28 sponsibilities as severely binding as those in as the sad, sensual Rosie Probert, a vixen and Music by MARTIE MARRO Makeup Designer JILLIAN ERICKSON more structured societies. Wartime experience an otherworld wraith who in death, no longer Costume Designer IRIS BAINUM-HOULE Editor SHARON ZUREK Production Designer RICK PAUL Tuesday Sept. 29 allows heroes to be haunted by memories of recalls the lovers of her life. Then there’s the Director of Photography GRETCHEN WARTHEN Written CLAUDIA ALLEN hardships suffered on the front lines (recounted impish Charles Filipov as a Nogood Boyo, a Produced by WENDY JO CARLTON MARTIE MARRO SHARON ZUREK TRACY BAIM Wednesday Sept. 30 in authentic G.I. gibberish by a distraught Mc- scamp who wants to be good, “but nobody’ll let Directed by WENDY JO CARLTON Shane), while the death of Lawson materfamili- me.” And the luminous Elise Kauzlaric, invalu- Thursday Oct. 1 as gives rise to suspicions over Mandrin’s role in able as the town snoop and as a happily solitary www.HannahFree.com her untimely end. The travails of this ill-starred woman-in-love who prefers the romance of love clan also encompass its patriarch’s repressed letters to the complex fuss of a flesh-and-blood homosexual urges; Lily and Mandrin’s rivalry lover. Special Event featuring for McShane’s affections; and the disposal of a Ian Zywica’s planks-and-rope set emphasizes 60% Sold! deceased horse (seen only from the rear, natu- the all-important, sea-centric sensibility of the rally). piece down to its ghostly, drowned founda- 6+$521*/(66 Given these premises, most plays would have tions. no recourse but to spin into shrill chaos, but and the cast and crew of Hannah Free Ellison keeps a—well, tight rein on his sce- $100 Ticket to benefit the film. Limited number of seats! nario. The five actors, under the direction of Under Karisa Bruin, likewise maintain control of their Milkwood. 6CVWTFC[6GRV cartoon-sized personae, sustaining an appropri- Photo by ately brisk pace while never pushing the exag- — 7 p.m. Show at Gene Siskel Film Center John W. geration to annoying proportions. Even in final — Q&A following the film Sisson, Jr. preview, the smartly crafted plot complications — Chance to win autographed items ascertaining that the wicked be defeated and — Gala event at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, One West Wacker, one block the virtuous rewarded make for a surprisingly satisfying conclusion to the characters’ farcical north of the Film Center. Includes: Hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and soft drinks. progress. Tickets only available by emailing [email protected] with your contact info or call 773-387-2394. Space limited. 14 Sept. 2, 2009 porting roles himself, his first appearance in a movie always makes me perk up and, in Extract, Bateman proves that he can carry a movie as KNIGHT expertly and effortlessly as Judge can write and AT direct them. THE Film note: —One of the earliest documentaries about gay MOVIES life in America, the marvelously unfussy Word Is Out is playing twice this weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:45 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 6, at 3 p.m. This compelling film is shepherded by the queer filmmaker Peter Adair (who died from AIDS in 1996), who oversaw five others collectively known as the Mariposa Film Group. The movie features interviews with 26 people (ranging in age from 18 to 77) living in locales as far flung as San Francisco and Boston whose lives Extract; and professions are as diverse as those of any randomly selected 26 folks might be. The link- film note ing device—that these “normal folks” just all By Richard Knight, Jr. happened to be gay and lesbian—was an eye- opener to much of the country when the movie When I look back over the 2009 summer block- was originally released in theatres and shown on buster season, which is now officially over, it’s public television in 1978. Subtitled “Stories of not the gut-busters that I’m eager to see again Our Lives,” the movie was an enthralling experi- or that I’m recommending (with the vivid ex- ence when I first saw it, and it remains so. ception of District 9, which only really fits in Extract. The Siskel Film Center is showing a restored the category in retrospect; it’s like “the little 35mm print of the documentary as part of a blockbuster that could”). For me, it’s the “little” life with his wife, Suzie (SNL’s Kristen Wiig). into bed with Joel. Brad, who is almost as stu- touring series entitled “UCLA Film & Television movies that sprouted up between the behemoths Joel turns to his loopy bartender friend, Dean pid as the dumb stud played by Bill Paxton in Archive’s 14th Festival of Preservation.” The se- that have given sustained pleasure this summer. (Ben Affleck), for a solution. Dean, who offers Ruthless People, quickly agrees and Joel, horny ries, which runs Sept. 4-30, includes a wide range To this slate of winning pictures—500 Days of sage advice while chewing on Tums for a nervous to the point of distraction, pays the freight that of restored, little-seen and fascinating films and Summer, The Hurt Locker, Julie & Julia and Tak- condition, comes up with a nutty scheme that sets the scheme in motion. documentaries in its 14 programs, including film ing Woodstock—I am happy to add Extract, the Joel quickly jumps at. Dean enlists another cus- As this scenario is playing out, word leaks out noirs, indies (Cassavetes and Sayles), and even first comedy from writer-director Mike Judge tomer, Brad (Dustin Milligan), a blond tanned that Joel and his hard-assed manager (J.K. Sim- some silents. This series is highly recommended; since 2006’s Idiocracy. twink who looks as if he stepped out of ‘80s mons) are in talks to sell the plant. Then Joel is see www.siskelfilmcenter.org. Extract follows the good but predictable life gay-porn films and works as an amateur escort, completely distracted when Cindy (Mila Kunis), Check out my archived reviews at www. of Joel (Jason Bateman), the owner/operator of to pose as the new pool boy, seduce Suzie once a gorgeous con woman, enters his life. Cindy windycitytimes.com or www.knightatthemov- a small extract-flavoring plant as he deals with and break things off. Suzie, Dean theorizes, will quickly moves from a pseudo-relationship with ies.com. Readers can leave feedback at the a number of pesky employee problems at work naturally then feel so guilty she’ll jump back Step (Clifton Collins, Jr.), Joel’s injured employ- latter Web site. and tries to figure out a way to reignite his sex ee, to making a play for Joel himself. Primed for an affair (“How often am I going to meet a girl that’s pretty and into food flavoring?” he Queer CULTURE CLUB wonders) and with problems stacking up like the boxes of flavoring extract when the employee’s stage a walk-out, Joel’s world seems to be fall- Cinema 102 ing apart. A new, nonprofit film group comprised of EDWARD ALBEE’S But Joel, open-hearted and fair-minded though LGBT film critics, academics, historians and he is, isn’t exactly anybody’s fool and, surpris- authors called the Queer Film Society (QFS) the B a l l a d of the ingly, Judge’s viewpoint isn’t nearly as cynical has formed. as Payne’s (or Judd Apatow’s, for that matter). The group was created by Windy City Although Judge’s script once again traffics in his Times/Knight at the Movies film critic Richard Sad Cafe trademark—finding humor in the mundane, such Knight, Jr. “Members of the gay community from the novella by Carson McCullers Illustration: 'The Three of Them' by www.astridchesney.co.uk as the little tics and annoying habits that drive have been at the forefront of film criticism, people batshit (many of the laughs come from film academia, film history, etc. for decades,” the recognition factor in the audience)—he’s said Knight, “Yet, with so many openly queer never purposefully mean-spirited. He just loves members of our profession, I wasn’t able to pointing out stupidity when he encounters it find a single organization celebrating this and does so hilariously (his payoff to a running fact when I went looking. The QFS is here to joke with an obnoxious neighbor played with change that. Like other film groups—Women relish by David Koechner is a highlight here). in Film, the Latino Film Society, etc.—the Extract is, in many ways, an updated riff on QFS will not only celebrate our queer coun- August 9 - September 12 those “wacky” wife-swapping/Walter Mitty day- terparts but will work to build awareness and SIGNAL ENSEMBLE THEATRE at CHOPIN THEATRE 1543 W DIVISION | SIGNALENSEMBLE.COM | 773.347.1350 dreamer comedies that were rife in the ‘60s— appreciation of cinema from the distinctive stuff like How to Murder Your Wife, Good Neigh- and diverse perspectives of the LGBT commu- bor Sam and A Guide for the Married Man. (So nity.” many were released in the swingin’ ‘60s these The QFS is continuing its Monday series, HELD OVER & Jeff Recommended movies became a genre unto themselves.) From Queer Cinema 102, with Barbarella, Desperate “Camp comedy at it’s best.” bad to sublime, they always featured crack co- Living and The Lonely Lady. No screening will medic actors in the supporting roles and most happen on Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day). 86HID; were carried by leading men like Jack Lemmon All films will begin at 7 p.m in the Hoover- &&H>C<>C< known for their Everyman qualities. Judge’s can- Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted, 3656 &&96C8>C< nily chosen supporting cast and his star are an- N. Halsted. There is a suggested donation of &&86EH>O>C< other link to these movies. $5 at the door. Openly gay film critics from Bateman’s specialty (and it’s a very winning Chicago’s prominent LGBT publications—Chi- 1")1#&&-/,0#0 one) is his ability to get along with anyone—to cago Free Press, Gay Chicago and Windy City Times—as well as from Time Out Chicago—all “parody of the (cult classic) play the moderator and the arbitrator between a film plus the songs provide lot of cranky, eccentric personalities—and be the members of the QFS—will introduce each film high-concept camp delights” guy whose job it is to relay the bad news, take in the “Queer Cinema 102” series. Screen- -Chicago Tribune the heat and put the positive spin on things. ings will be followed by Q&A’s with audience Hell in a Handbag Productions at He usually plays a variation of this kind of char- members. www.HannahFree.com is helping to Thur, Fri & Sat - 8pm, Sun - 5pm acter, an archetype that provided his breakout sponsor the series. Chopin Theatre Tix $25/29 @ chopintheatre.com in the defunct though critically adored black- For more information, please e-mail qfsoci- 1543 W. Division or 800-838-3006 comedy sitcom “Arrested Development.” He is [email protected] or visit www.queerfilmsoci- 773-278-1500 FREE PARKING handsome but not too handsome—a realist with ety.org. an innate kindness which helps to soften him in the eyes of his audience. Usually cast in sup- Sept. 2, 2009 15 Five years ago I knew lots of closeted and aspiring actors who wouldn’t even go to gay bars because they were afraid they might get The new Black spotted by their agent and lose representation. That’s where I really found the problem to be. By Lawrence Ferber volved with around this event? It’s not with the directors or studios. It’s with A few things. I’m involved with an education the agents and managers. These are the people Dustin Lance Black hit the ground running both campaign called STAND UP, which is being an- doing the filtering and saying it’s so much easier creatively and as a gay activist following his nounced next month and you’re the first person to represent a straight or closeted actor than Best Original Screenplay Oscar win for MILK. I’m telling about. STAND UP is a campaign of [openly] gay actor, which is funny because so While juggling a handful of Hollywood proj- outreach and education. We’re making a national many of these agents who do that homophobic ects, including an adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s call for LGBT people’s stories [through] the Cour- filtering are gay themselves. I know with Milk we “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” for MILK direc- age Campaign (couragecampaign.org). Once we specifically requested LGBT actors and we asked tor Gus Van Sant, and his own feature directo- get all of these stories I’m going to take some of our casting director to do a search and it was rial effort, What’s Wrong With Virginia (which the best filmmakers on the road and document difficult because then you have to go through commences production in Michigan late Sept.), those stories and 8-12 of them will be turned these agents and managers and say who do you Black has made appearances and been honored into 30- and 60-second ads, which will be aired have who’s openly gay and they won’t tell you. all over the country, from LGBT events to college nationally. In this commercial campaign LGBT We hit a wall there. In fact, we had to go to speaking engagements. people, in their own voices, will introduce them- theater actors—Broadway actors—to audition Taking a break from writing on a recent Sunday selves to America and to the people in America people who were openly gay. afternoon, the San Antonio, Texas-raised Black who need to hear their stories the most—those LF: Are you concerned about the day when discussed the upcoming National Equality March who don’t know LGBT people personally, because you do meet Kevin Spacey? (scheduled for Oct. 10-11 in Washington, D.C.), those are the people who vote against equality. DLB: No. I’m not in favor of outing people un- his experiences touring the country, closeted We know that seventy percent of Americans who less they’re in a position of power and using that Hollywood actors and, for the first time, a na- have changed from voting against LGBT people to hurt gay or lesbian people. It’s not my mis- tional LGBT awareness campaign he will launch to voting for equality do so because they’ve come sion to go outing people just so they’re out, so this Sept.. to know a real LGBT person. Our personal stories I’m not going to have a confrontation with any Lawrence Ferber: Let’s begin with the march have the power to change minds and help win actor who chooses to stay in the closet. That’s in Washington. How did it come about and full equality for LGBT people across this country. their personal choice. I wish it was a different what is your involvement with it? The campaign will be impactful, memorable and choice, I wish they would all come out. But in Dustin Lance Black: I’m doing anything Cleve personal, of a “Rock the Vote” scale, with a sig- terms of the more aggressive tactic of outing I [Jones] asks me to do—I guess that makes me nificant viral video and online component. Also, would save that for people who are deliberately a humble servant to the march on Washington. in California we have the federal case against hurting the gay community and there’s a lot of It starts with David Mixner calling for a march Proposition 8, which I’m on the board of. that in Washington. on Washington a couple of months ago [on his LF: Do you feel that we’re making progress LF: Have you heard from a lot of gay kids Dustin Lance Black. blog]. For a serious march. Not a gay Lollapa- in the struggle for full equality? in the heartland, like the phone calls Harvey looza. And Cleve Jones, who has been so incred- DLB: We’re doing far better in terms of polling Milk would get? ibly skeptical about having another march, read numbers for gay marriage than interracial mar- DLB: I don’t know Kevin Spacey. A lot of my DLB: It’s not phone calls anymore. It’s Face- that piece and believed that now is the time. It’s riage at the time of [1967’s] Loving v. Virginia. I friends—like T.R. Knight and Neil Patrick Har- book. But I have gotten thousands upon thou- time for two reasons. One is to make our voices also think until we start acting like we deserve ris—they all came out and are still working sands of emails, probably split between young heard. We’ll likely never see an opportunity like full and equal rights, federal rights, in every and doing great things. They’re not just playing people reaching out, their parents, and a lot of this again in our lifetime, which is having a state and county, who outside our community gay roles, which is exciting and feels fair. Hol- president who I firmly believe is interested in is going to feel like we deserve them? Put your- lywood’s opened up a lot. It wasn’t this way five Turn to page 17 full equality for LGBT people and a Congress I self in the shoes of someone looking in from years ago, that’s for sure. also think is. the outside and they’re saying, ‘oh these people There have been promises made by the Obama don’t even feel like they deserve full equality, administration while he campaigned, really ex- they feel they only deserve it in these little lib- citing and specific promises, and he still occa- eral areas and ghettos.’ I think it goes back to sionally talks about them but has done nothing a lot of damaged self-esteems and internalized about achieving any of those goals. He’s set no homophobia and sadly I think a lot of us are dates, he’s shown no way forward meaning he’s afraid perhaps we don’t deserve full equality and not pressing Congress or demanding or request- so we’re more careful. But the truth is that we ing legislation. We need to make our voices do deserve it, we have to demand it, and now is heard. The second reason, and the thing I think the time. is so incredibly important, is this march unlike LF: What have you learned or discovered previous marches is an organizing march. We while on the road making personal appear- have reached out to LGBT leaders in all 435 con- ances and speaking? gressional districts and where we couldn’t find DLB: I’ve gone to many cities across the coun- leaders we found people we’re trying to teach try that are either conservative, or like in Colum- how to lead and organize and gather a group bia, Mo., that’s considered a purple area because of LGBT people that is representative of their it flip-flops from red to blue each election. In district and bring them to Washington. We will one of these places I was met with “You A Fag” have leaders from all 435 congressional dis- written on the big wall of the green room. I’m tricts represented in the D.C. mall and use that met with that initially but as I get up and speak moment as an organizing conference so these and begin to relate my story and I ask people people learn about grassroots activism, how to from the audience to relate their stories, which lobby their federal representative back home in is always a part of what I do, you can feel the their local district, and how to do the door-to- homophobia melt away. The discomfort turns door activism that really does change minds. All into laughter and by the end people are coming of this is because there’s a philosophy that you up and shaking my hand or shaking their friends’ only can achieve full equality through the fed- or classmates’ and starting to have those con- eral government. All the leaders before us have versations. I know it sounds corny but having known that. But we haven’t demanded it until had the chance to travel and speak in every kind now, and if you look at the history of any civil of town there is across this country, I feel more rights movement in this country federal quality than ever that all Americans love LGBT people is the only way to full equality. and those who think they don’t simply have not LF: How important is it that Obama be in met us yet. town and actually acknowledges or appears at LF: How do you feel when you’re in the com- this march? pany of closeted stars or talent in Hollywood? DLB: I think it’s incredibly important that Harvey Milk’s resounding message was “we all Obama is invited to speak. Cleve is the orga- must come out,” after all. nizer at this point and I know he’s negotiating DLB: I don’t have a lot of closeted friends. I that and in contact with the White House, and have a lot of actor friends and they’re out, work- if Obama does show up and speak I think that ing actor friends. says a lot. And if he doesn’t, that also speaks LF: I won’t name names… volumes. I’m all for him being given the only VIP DLB: You can. invite to speak.” LF: Well, Kevin Spacey comes up a lot as an Boston • Chicago • Dallas • Las Vegas • Los Angeles • Miami • New York LF: What other plans or activities are you in- alleged closet case. Orlando • Philadelphia • San Francisco • Washington DC 16 Sept. 2, 2009 Need more Blige? The “Be Without You” diva appears in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself. Is this one Pie Hopes step closer to the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul portray- ing the late High Priest- ess of Soul, Nina Simone? Blige has been attached POP to a biopic on Simone for some time now. Blige’s new MAKING album is due out later this year, featuring “The One” SENSE with Drake. At this year’s Brit Awards, The Pet Shop Boys put on quite a performance. After receiving the Outstand- ing Contributions to Music by David Byrne with Tony Peregrin Award, the gay duo strolled down memory lane with a medley of hits in- LGBT-rights organization Equality Illinois hosted a pie toss Aug. 29 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. On her latest Whatever It Takes, Sandra Bern- cluding “West End Girls” and the recent club chart-topper “Love Etc.” Joining the pair were Halsted. Among the people who got their “just hard leaves the comedy routines behind for an desserts” were Equality Illinois’ Rick Garcia and array of polished, mature songs. The outspoken Lady Gaga, who sang Dusty Springfield’s part on “What Have I Done to Deserve This” and Bran- Paula Basta; Nirmipal Sachdev of Steamworks; starlet favors world music arrangements with Howard Brown Health Center CEO Michael Cook; lush strings here. The set opens with the capti- don Flowers of the Killers on “It’s a Sin.” Yes, the latest from the Pet Shop Boys, is electronic State Reps. Greg Harris and Sara Feigenholtz; vating “All Around,” a collaboration with Chris- and Tracy Baim and Kirk Williamson of Windy sie Hynde and Jean Paul Samputu. “We’re on Our pop at its finest, courtesy of “Did You See Me Coming” and “Pandemonium.” My favorite here City Media Group. Activist Cleve Jones—a friend Way” takes listeners on a spiritual trek and “Why and adviser of the late Harvey Milk, and founder So Blue” is a plea for world peace. But Bernhard is the uplifting “More Than a Dream,” which is somewhat reminiscent of Dario G.’s “Sunchyme.” of the NAMES Project—was a special guest at shines brightest on the closing track, “A Woman the event. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticI- in Love.” Whatever It Takes is out now. The Pet Shop Boys will be returning to the Windy City with The Pandemonium Tour at The Chicago magesPhotography.com). See more photos on- Forget the Diane Sawyer interview, although a line at WindyCityMediaGroup.com. sock-puppet rendition has surfaced on YouTube. Theatre, 175 N. State, on Monday, Sept. 14. Never mind the disastrous realty show Being Little Boots has created a buzz with the im- Bobby Brown and its infamous constipation- pressive E.P. Illuminations. Ne Victoria Hesketh, relief scene. Block out her performance during U.K.’s Little Boots captures the camp electro- the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special, goodness of Goldfrapp (“Stuck on Repeat”), where she kept dancing after the music to “Wan- Kylie Minogue’s knack for pop (“Not Now”) and na Be Startin’ Somethin’” had already stopped. Robyn’s left-of-center craft (“New in Town”). Il- Whitney Houston needs to repair her tarnished luminations also has a cover of Freddie Mercury’s image. Partnered with her mentor Clive Davis, “Love Kills.” The video to “New in Town” is per- Houston returns with I Look to You. The lead fect introduction to Little Boots, as she chimes, single, “Million Dollar Bill,” provides a familiar “I’m gonna take you out tonight, I’m gonna make disco beat that just begs for remixes. The title you feel alright. I don’t have a lot of money, but track is a ‘90s-worthy inspirational power bal- we’ll be fine.” Luckily, Little Boots’ brief state- lad, and “Like I Never Left” recalls the warmth side tour will have a show on Thursday, Sept. of Houston’s 10-year-old hit “My Love Is Your 17, at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, with Yes Love.” Tune in, as Houston will be on The Oprah Giantess opening. The teaser, E.P. Illuminations, Winfrey Show Monday, Sept. 14. Also, who is available now and the full-length debut Hands doesn’t love a good comeback story? is expected to drop later this year. Queen Latifah has crossed over seamlessly Can’t wait for Kylie Minogue’s first U.S. tour? from music into acting; gone from rapping to Her musical collaborator, Calvin Harris, will be singing; and even became a cosmetics spokes- spinning at Vision Nightclub, 632 N. Dearborn, person with her own fragrance line. The tal- on Friday, Sept. 11. Earlier this year, he landed a ented superstar continues to forge forward with massive hit overseas with “I’m Not Alone.” Har- her latest outing, Persona. Here, she returns to ris’ sophomore effort, Ready for the Weekend, her hip-hop roots on “Cue the Rain” and “The is chocked full with pulsating electro goodies, Light.” On the standout “People,” Mary J. Blige including “Dance Wiv Me.” The title track has and Jadakiss guest. The Grammy winner nails a the catchy chorus “I put on my shoes and I’m Crystal Waters-inspired throwback house number ready for the weekend.” Ready for the Weekend on “Take Me Away (With You).” Persona success- is available digitally now. fully marries genres and is out now on Verve. Perez Hilton certainly knows how to ask a question at a beauty pageant. Now the celebrity blogger proves he can assemble an impressive line-up for The Perez Hilton Presents Tour. Semi Precious Weapons, Sliimy, Ida Maria and Lady- hawke share the bill with a stop at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark, on Saturday, Sept. 19. Norwegian Ida Maria has made heads turn with the song “I Like You Much Better When You’re Naked.” Her sound recalls a blend of P.J. Harvey and Feist. Her debut Fortress around My Heart is out now. Recording under the name Ladyhawke, multi- instrumentalist Phillipa “Pip” Brown finally released her breakthrough eponymous titled album in the U.S. via Mecca Records. The set contains an ‘80s feel-good vibe on “Magic” and “Crazy World.” Unlike its import-only counter- parts, this edition boasts five bonus tracks in- cluding acoustic versions of the singles “Paris Is Burning” and “My Delirium.” Just try getting the latter out of your head.
Sandra Bernhard. Photo by Jasmin Hirst Sept. 2, 2009 17
His freshman album, Enjoy the Sadness (March 2007), was released under the stage name Jet Kanashi. After overcoming emotional barriers, he retook his real name and released Embracing the Light ... and then some (March 2009). Future projects for Evan include several regional performances and plans for a third al- bum with the pending title Out of Inner Self. See www.joelevanmusic.com. Cazwell is out with ‘Mouth’ Openly gay hip-hop artist Cazwell has re- leased his latest CD, Watch My Mouth. Club bangers like “All Over Your Face” (which originally was out in 2006) and the recent vi- ral-video sensation “I Seen Beyoncé At Burger Dance Fever Joel Evan. King” are on the CD as well as “Tonight” (fea- turing the classic Shannon chorus hook “Give MUSIC me tonight!”). Joel Evan’s About Mouth, Cazwell said in a statement Five of the city’s top dance companies performed at the 18th Dance for that “I wanted a CD that you could just play Life, the largest performance-based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest; ‘Storm’ is coming the whole thing through at a house party. the Aug. 29 event raised awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS prevention and Joel Evan—a singer who has undergone a Cazwell will perform at Berlin Nightclub, 954 care programs, with this year’s recipients including the AIDS Foundation of personal transformation over the past couple W. Belmont, on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 10 p.m.; Chicago, Chicago House, AIDSCare, Center on Halsted and the Dance for Life years—will be out with the single “Storm” this see www.berlinchicago.com. Fund. Participating companies included Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Hub- fall. bard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, River North Chicago Dance Company and Same Planet Different World. There also were a world-premiere Web site EqualityAcrossAmerica.org. I’m obvi- finale by renowned choreographer Randy Duncan and a world-premiere col- BLACK from page 15 ously really invested in the Courage Campaign laborative work by Harrison McEldowney. A gala reception preceded the gay people saying thank you. because they do grassroots and door-to-door ac- event. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com). See more LF: Do you have any pop-culture addic- tivism. They go to a different city every month photos online at WindyCityMediaGroup.com. tions? and train people in how to make real change DLB: There’s nothing I’m watching. Oh—I do in their area. I’m a big supporter of the Trevor tune in to The Soup. It’s brilliant and hilarious Project and GLSEN. Gay straight alliances are and I can watch it on my TiVo in 20 minutes. It very important to me. There’s a project right brightens my day. now called Live Out Loud which is encouraging LF: Are there any other Web sites or LGBT LGBT people who have done something notable activism organizations we should look up now in their life, whatever their field, to go back to or become involved with while we prepare for their high schools and talk to the student body the march? gay and straight about what their experience DLB: First off, to get involved in the march on has been as a gay or lesbian person since leav- Washington I’d encourage people to go to the ing high school.
<_dWbbo$$$7d7fWhjc[djH[djWbI[l_Y[ j^WjIf[Y_Wb_p[i;nYbki_l[bo_d 9^_YW]eÊiIekj^Beef M[Êh[OekhED;#IJEFI>EF Iekj^BeefH[djWbi CWdW][c[dj Iekj^Beef )'($(')$-'-* Iekj^BeefH[djWbi CWdW][c[dj"BB9 18 Sept. 2, 2009 WHAT TO DO? Friday, Sept. 11 Wednesday, Sept. 2 Prairie Avenue Gallery presents Burn- 17.10 a.m. – 8 p.m; Fri Sept 18, noon – Speaker. Hyatt Regency Chicago. Spon- American Idols Live! Tour 2009, final- ham architectural shows and art work- 10 p.m.; Sat Sept 19, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; sorships and reservations, Mariah Pearl ists from the latest season, including shops. Architecture students from the Sun Sept 20, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.. Christ Cunnick at [email protected] or 312- Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Danny School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Church of Oak Brook, 501 Oak Brook 577-2827 Gokey, Lil Rounds and Idol Kris Allen. Visionary Event Spaces exhibit through Rd. (31st Street and York Road), Oak Little Boots with Yes Giantes, Empty 7 p.m. Tix $43.50-$69.50 Allstate Sept. 27, Prairie Avenue Gallery, 1900 Brook www.worldvisionexperience.org Bottle, 1035 N. Western www.empty- Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim, Rosemont. S. Prairie. www.pdnachicago.com bottle.com www.Ticketmaster.com Monday, Sept. 14 NewTown Writers Fortnightly Writing Hyde Park Art Center reading series Friday, Sept. 11 Pet Shop Boys, Chicago Theatre, 175 N. Workshop 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. new- dedicated to showcasing experimen- Calvin Harris, DJ Set, Vision Night Club, State St. www.chicagotheatre.com [email protected] for location tal writing in the US and the Midwest 632 N. Dearborn www.visionnightclub. The Queer Film Society’s Queer Cinema Words that Kill. Every 3rd Thursday po- through readings, discussion and per- com 102 shows Barbarella hosted by Hank etry & comedy series featuring local, formance. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 Flesh Hungry Dog Show featuring Dy- Sartin, Film Section Editor and Critic, national touring, and award winning S. Cornell Ave. 773-324-5520. www. lan Rice, Congress of Darlings and Time Out Chicago. Sponsored in part comedians and poets. Poetry Slam, 2 hydeparkart.org Bobby Conn and Monica BouBou, Jack- by www.HannaFree.com 7 p.m. $5. bouts, 3 judges , a prize. $5 or canned hammer, 6406 N. Clark; www.fleshhun- Hoover-Leppen Theater, Center on Hal- goods. The Spot, 4437 N. Broadway. Thursday, Sept. 3 grydog.com sted 773-728-8934 www.spotchicago.com AVER, gay and lesbian veterans, meet Luis Fernando Uribe: New Works, open- the first Thursday of each month at the ing reception 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. through Tuesday, Sept. 15 Friday, Sept. 18 Center on Halsted. www.averchicago. Oct. 10. Aldo Castillo Gallery 675 N Harris Theater Eat to the Beat, lunch- World Music Festival city wide, multi- RICE TO MEET YOU org Franklin St 312-337-2536 www.artaldo. time dance performance featuring venue through Thursday, September Newtown Writers, Chicago’s GLBT writ- com Sons of the Never Wrong, My Witness, 24. Half events are free, the rest $15 Dylan Rice will be a part of the Flesh Hungry ing workshop, meets Thursday Sept. 3, . DanceWorks Chicago, noon, $5. Lunch or less. www.worldmusicfestivalchi- Dog Show at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark. 7:30 PM, at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Saturday, Sept. 12 available for purchase. www.harristhe- cago.org Halsted. Barry [email protected] OUTsource, a career transition program aterchicago.org or 312-334-7777 LGBT Mental Health and Chemical De- Photo by Emily J. Nelson 773-528-3637 for the LGBT community, second and pendency Care: Creating Sexual Health MADDOX booksigning for “The Alphabet third Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon : Career Wednesday, Sept. 16 in Psychotherapy 1 - 5 p.m. 4 continu- of Manliness Revised” 7 p.m. Borders Jump Start, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. ,Center on 23rd annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s ing education credits. $75. Register Books and Music, 2817 N Clark St. Halsted, located at 3656 N. Halsted Conference starting with the Women’s at www.centeronhalsted.org “New & 773-935-3909 www.centeronhalsted.org Forum Breakfast. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pen- Events, SOGI Seminar. Saturday, Sept. 12 TPAN’s 2009 Aware Affair: Ultra Lounge ny S. Pritzker will keynote at noon. World Music Festival city wide, multi- Monday, Sept. 7 featuring Kristine W.; Ravenswood Bill- Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Register venue through Thursday, September Frontrunner/Frontwalkers Chicago will board Factory, 4043 N. Ravenswood www.wbdc.org, or 312 853-3477, x 24 24. Half events are free, the rest $15 host Frontrunner clubs from throughout www.tpan.com Anti-Defamation League Upper Midwest or less. www.worldmusicfestivalchi- the Midwest. www.frfwchicago.org U2 through Sun. Sept. 13 at Soldier chapter will honor Abner J. Mikva and cago.org Field, 1400 S. Museum Campus Dr. Newton N. Minow for their work to Wednesday, Sept. 9 www.U2.TicketsNow.com preserve the five freedoms guaran- Saturday, Sept. 19 Festival of Potluck Foods, annual com- teed to every American under the First Audition Call for 17th Annual Night of munity fest by an association of insti- Sunday, Sept. 13 Amendment. 4th Annual First Amend- 100 Drag Queens Review. www.side- tutions and neighbors, 4 - 7 p.m. Ad- Chicago Half Marathon & 5K race along ment Freedom Award Dinner. 5:30 trackchicago.com/events.html mission: a favorite dish to serve nine. Chicago’s south shoreline and skyline. p.m. Chicago Hilton. www.adl.org/ Second Story Goes Sapphic, Serendip- Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St. 7:30 a.m. www.chicagohalfmarathon. firstamendment ity Theater Collective goes Sapphic for [email protected] com/Home.htm Chicago NOW’s annual cocktail recep- a special Sappho’s Salon edition of the Nami Mun author of Miles from No- Coming Out/Saliendo del Closet, “Ne- tion and fundraiser, Women Who Dared. Second Story reading series. Women & where ,about a thirteen-year-old gotiating Family and Safety/Negocian- Cocktail reception and silent auction. Children First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark Korean-American girl who flees her do la Familia y la Seguridaa” presented 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Flourish Studios, 3020 St., 773-769-9299 www.womenand- dysfunctional family for life on the by Amigas Latinas Proyecto Latina N. Lincoln, www.icanflourish.com. $25 childrenfirst.com streets. 7:30 p.m. Women & Children Committee. 2 - 4 p.m. Email for loca- in advance or $30 at the door; $60 in- First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St., 773- tion: [email protected] cludes Chicago NOW Membership; $10 Monday, Sept. 21 769-9299 www.womenandchildrenfirst. Jason & deMarco, winner of MTV LOGO’s for students. Tix at www.womenwhod- The Queer Film Society’s Queer Cinema com Music Video of the Year award, part of ared2009.eventbrite.com 102 shows Desperate Living hosted an Alternative Worship Experience 10 Equality Illinois Annual T-Party. Cel- by Chicago Free Press film critic Gregg Thursday, Sept. 10 a.m. at Gregory Middle School, 2621 ebration for Equality Illinois’ transgen- Shapiro. Sponsored in part by www. Bloodshot Records Artist Wayne “The Springdale Cir. Naperville. www.unity- der members, supporters and friends. 6 HannaFree.com 7 p.m. $5. Hoover- Train” Hancock: www.waynehancock. innaperville.org p.m.- 9 p.m. Sidetrack, Glass Bar, 3347 Leppen Theater, Center on Halsted com Justin Gillam of the Mudflapps Peoria Pride Festival on the Peoria Riv- N. Halsted Street. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER $10 adv / 15. door 8 p.m. Heartland erfront., noon - 6 p.m. inaugural event Tuesday, Sept. 22 will include a full day of entertainers, Thursday, Sept. 17 Cafe, 7000 N. Glenwood www.heart- Hall of Fame Celebrity Auction benefits Kristine W will be the featured entertainer landcafe.indietickets.com speakers, vendors, exhibitors, great Divine Décor, Drinks with Benefits to the 2009 Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall Chicago Underground Film Festival food. Hosted by Central Illinois Alli- benefit Chicago House. Renowned DJ of Fame. Registration reception, silent at Test Positive Aware Network’s 2009 Aware through September 17, Gene Siskel ance for Diversity & Equality. CEFCU Madrid. 6 - 9 p.m. $30 adv at www. auction and raffle begin at 7 p.m. Bid- Affair at Ranvenswood Billboard Factory, Film Center, School of the Art Insti- Center Stage Peoria Riverfront Peoria chicagohouse.org or 773-248-5200 ding starts at 8 p.m. Auctioneers are 4043 N. Ravenswood. tute of Chicago, 164 N. State St. www. “World Vision Experience: AIDS” x303 or $40 door at Primitive (rare Circuit Mom, Amy Methany of Windy siskelfilmcenter.org unique, multimedia, interactive exhibit Asian art/ furniture gallery), 130 N. City Queercast, and Molly Callinan, Photo courtesy of Len Evans Fake, exploring the theme of belief, that allows Americans to step into the Jefferson Rock Goddess lead singer of “Catfight” through November 8. $20. Steppen- lives of children affected by HIV and Dr. Maya Angelou, celebrated poet, au- Sidetrack,3349 N. Halsted St. www. wolf’s Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. AIDS in the hardest-hit region of the thor, playwright, actress, professor and glhalloffame.org sidetrackchicago.com Halsted. www.steppenwolf.org world: Sub-Saharan Africa. Free. Sun, civil rights activist. Chicago Founda- 9 a.m. – 7 p.m; Mon Sept 14/Thu Sept tion for Women, 24th Annual Luncheon See our online calendar: www.windycitymediagroup.com/calendar Flip service About Face Theater Company put on its third annual Flip Flop event—one of the organization’s biggest annual fundraisers—Aug. 24 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Entertainers began singing some of their favorite ‘70s songs with a twist, as male singers sang songs popularized by women and vice versa. “We’ve launched our past two seasons with Flip Flop,” stated About Face’s Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar. “It’s a great way to get people together and celebrate what’s coming up.” The entertainment included Amy Matheny and Stephen Rader (both of Windy City Queercast), Paul Stovall, Aunt Lola Cabana and many others. 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Handsome Candidate should have experience directing community 773-401-1339, or e-mail [email protected] private suites with view of river, nature preserve; choruses. Send cover letter, résumé and references [P-TB] heated pool, hot tub, kayaks, nature trails. Near to [email protected] by September beaches, golf, galleries, gay bars, wineries, microbrew- 15th. (9/02/09-3) eries. www.wherethedeerplay.com 888-333-7728, 269-857-DEER. (9/16/09-4) 20 Sept. 2, 2009 BILLY MASTERS “Yes, I saw ‘Twilight’—my granddaughter made Rebecca Gayheart nude video (she’s now been me watch it, she said it was the greatest vampire accused of being a “madam,” but that’s another film ever. After the ‘film’ was over, I wanted to story). And Carter recently said, “I want to be smack her across her head with my shoe, but I do with an older woman. Age is just a number. Jen- not want a book called ‘Grannie Dearest’ written nifer Aniston would be great, I would love that.” on me when I die. So instead I gave her a DVD of Aniston? An older woman? I mean, sure, she’s Murnau’s 1922 masterpiece ‘Nosferatu’ and told older than him. But would you call her an “older her ‘Now that’s a vampire film!’”—You can always woman”? Be on the lookout for a woman with a 8 count on Lauren Bacall to say it like it is. grown-out “Rachel” haircut who looks like she 18 10 I’m a born and raised Bostonian, so I have a might jump off a cliff! 2 special fondness for Ted Kennedy. And I have The Ali Forney Center in NYC will now and for- a personal connection. Back in the 90s, I pro- ever be known as the Bea Arthur Residence for 4 duced a large AIDS benefit that took place in LGBT Youth. Four years ago, Bea flew to the Big 16 11 9 1 Symphony Hall and relied on the presence of a Apple and gave a performance of her one-wom- European singer. Although no one was getting an show as a benefit for this homeless shelter. 17 paid, the State Department informed us we’d That performance raised over $40K. After that, 12 3 6 19 55 14 5 need work papers for this person to enter the she helped the center expand from two to eight 15 13 country—two days before the concert! Going residences—including the one that will bear her through the proper channels, approval would name. Thank you for Bea-ing a friend. 7 normally take two weeks. We placed a call to Because I know you’re all gonna salivate, yes, Senator Kennedy and he took care of it in two I will post the photos of True Blood actor Me- 58 46 48 hours! Rest in peace. hcad Brooks doing a triathlon in Hawaii last 47 60 44 45 Paula Abdul is returning to television, but week. He worked up quite a sweat and it cer- not FOX (not yet, anyway). She’ll be hosting the tainly did wonders for his physique—he’s never 54 59 “VH1 Divas Live” concert Thursday, Sept. 17. 50 Intriguing that Abdul will be on a show where 52 25 49 people are singing “live”...but why go there? 37 22 51 She’ll be in good company—former “Idols” Kelly 24 26 32 Clarkson and Jordin Sparks are part of a roster that also includes Adele, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus. Maybe we’ve simply run out of divas. 33 31 30 56 23 Although she’s performing in NYC on Septem- 53 39 28 38 ber 26th, you won’t see Barbra Streisand at the 41 57 36 “Divas” concert. But you may get to see this 40 29 27 21 43 diva in a courtroom. She’s not particularly happy 42 with a former paramour. A decade ago, Barry 20 34 Dennen wrote a dishy book, “My Life with Bar- bra: A Love Story”, in which he relates several spicy conversations with Babs about what he’d 35 be writing about. He reminded her that he had three live recordings of her singing in rehearsal and performance—circa 1960. She asked him to ANDERSONVILLE 18 Touché 35 Manhandler 52 Jeffrey Pub give them to her. He refused, saying, “No. They 1 @mosphere 6412 N. Clark St. 1948 N. Halsted St. 7041 S. Jeffery Blvd. 5355 N. Clark St. ToucheChicago.com 36 minibar/winebar are the only thing I have left of our collabora- atmospherebar.com 19 Wild Pug 3341 N. Halsted St. THE BURBS tion.” He’s apparently had a change of heart, 2 The Anvil 4810 N. Broadway Ave. minibarchicago.com 53 Club Krave 1137 W. Granville Ave. WorldsGreatestBar.com 37 North End 13126 S. Western Ave. because he’s now willing to part with them—for 3 Big Chicks 3733 N. Halsted St. Blue Island, IL the right price! Yup, he’s auctioning off these 5024 N. Sheridan Rd. BOYSTOWN NorthEndChicago.com ClubKrave.com BigChicks.com 20 3160 38 Pie Hole 54 Hideaway cherished possessions. But he’s no fool. “I’m a 4 Cattle Call 3160 N. Clark St. 737 W. Roscoe St. 7301 W. Roosevelt Rd. little trepidatious. I don’t know what the fall- 1547 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Chicago3160.com PieHolePizzaJoint.com Forest Park, IL out will be. I don’t like upsetting Barbra, and I CattleCallChicago.com 21 Berlin 39 Roscoe’s 55 Hunters 5 Crew 954 W. Belmont Ave. 3356 N. Halsted St. 1932 E. Higgins Rd. don’t want her fans angry at me.” I think Salman 4804 N. Broadway Ave. BerlinChicago.com Roscoes.com Elk Grove Village, IL Rushdie had better luck with that fatwa! WorldsGreatestBar.com 22 Bobby Love’s 40 Scarlet HuntersNightclubs.com 6 Eagle 3729 N. Halsted St. 3320 N. Halsted St. 56 John L’s Place Levi Johnston might get to make good on 5001 N. Clark St. BobbyLoves.com ScarletBarChicago.com 335 154th Pl. his promise to pose in the buff. When asked ChicagoEagle.com 23 Bucks Saloon 41 Sidetrack Calumet City, IL if he would, he said, “The price would have to 7 El Gato Negro 3439 N. Halsted St. 3349 N. Halsted St. 57 Maneuvers 1461 Irving Park Rd. BucksSaloonChicago.com SidetrackChicago.com 118 E. Jefferson St. be right.” A few hours later came an offer— ElGatoNegroBar.com 24 Cell Block 42 Spin Joliet, IL StraightCollegeMen.com normally pays newbies 8 The Glenwood 3702 N. Halsted St. 800 W. Belmont Ave. JolietManeuvers.com 6962 N. Glenwood St. www.CellBlock-Chicago.com Spin-Nightclub.com 58 Moda VIP $500 for a shoot. They’re offering Levi 50 times TheGlenwoodbar.com 25 Charlie’s 43 Steamworks 2409 N. Mannheim Rd. that amount. He’d get $25K plus travel and oth- Will Sarah Palin’s grandbabydaddy “unzip” 9 Hamburger 3726 N. Broadway Ave. 3246 N. Halsted St. (bath) Franklin Park, IL er expenses to come to Vegas for a shoot that Mary’s/Mary’s CharliesChicago.com SteamworksOnline.com myspace.com/modavip for the cameras? Money talks... Attic 26 Circuit 59 Rumors would be legit (well, as legit as StraightCollege- 5400 N. Clark St. 3641 N. Halsted St. DOWNTOWN 2433 Desplaines Ave. Men.com can be). “Unzipped” magazine has also HamburgerMarysChicago.com CircuitClub.com 44 The Baton North Riverside, IL 10 Jackhammer 27 The Closet 436 N. Clark St. RumorsPubOnline.com offered an undisclosed amount directly to Levi looked better. All that scrumptious skin can be 6406 N. Clark St. 3325 N Broadway Ave. TheBatonShowLounge.com 60 Velvet Rope and his “people”. The mag issued a statement: found on BillyMasters.com. Jackhammer-Chicago.com 28 Cocktail 45 Second Story Bar 728 W. Lake St. 11 Joie De Vine 3359 N. Halsted St. 157 E. Ohio St. Oak Park, IL “As the top-selling nude men’s magazine, Levi There’s no specific “Ask Billy” letter this week. 1744 W. Balmoral Ave. CocktailBarChicago.com VelvetRopeOakPark.com will receive a level of quality in his shoot that Many of you wrote in wanting details on Zac 12 Man’s Country 29 FireFly NEAR NORTH can’t be found anywhere else.” That’s probably Efron’s latest film project, which probably stems 5017 N. Clark St. (bath) 3335 N. Halsted St. 46 Club 2506 INDIANA MansCountryChicago.com FireflyOnHalsted.com 2506 N. Clybourn Ave. 61 Dick’s R U Crazee? true. I’m also hearing rumors of a $50K offer from some photos of him that were leaked to 13 Scot’s 30 Halsted’s Bar & 47 Crobar 1221 E.150th St. from a video company—if there’s another man the tabloids from the Vancouver set. The film is 1829 W. Montrose Ave. Grill 1543 N. Kingsbury St. Hammond, IN ChicagoScotsBar.com 3441 N. Halsted St. 48 The Prop House DicksRUCrazee.com involved. I think he’ll probably pass on that called “The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud” 14 SoFo HalstedsChicago.com 1675 N. Elston Ave. 62 Encompass one. and has something to do with a young man who 4923 N. Clark St. 31 Hydrate 2415 Rush St. With the upcoming season of “Dancing with grieves the death of his brother and gets a job in SofoBar.com 3458 N. Halsted St. Lake Station, IN 15 Spyners HydrateChicago.com THE SOUTHSIDE EncompassNightclub.com the Stars,” I’m interested to see which Aaron a cemetery. He’s so distraught, he dyes his hair 4623 N. Western Ave. 32 Kit Kat 49 Club Escape Carter will show up—the young, fun, energetic blonde and walks around the cemetery shirtless Spyners.com 3700 N. Halsted St. 1530 E. 75th St. 16 Star Gaze KitKatChicago.com ClubEscapeChicago.com entertainer who I hung out with a few years ago; in some snug sweat pants which show his busi- 5419 N. Clark St. 33 Little Jim’s 50 Escapades the hard-partying addict from “House of Cart- ness all bunched up—although I don’t know if StarGazeChicago.com 3501 N. Halsted St. 6301 S. Harlem Ave. er”; or the weathered-beyond-his-years, angry, it’s worded that way in the script! But I call ‘em 17 T’s LittleJimsChicago.com 51 InnExile 5025 N. Clark St. 34 Lucky Horseshoe 5758 W. 65th St. detoxing young man from those tabloid shows. like I see ‘em on BillyMasters.com. TsBarChicago.com 3169 N. Halsted St. InnExileChicago.com One thing’s for sure—anything could happen. I A blonde Zac Efron reminds me of porn pup just discovered two interesting things. First, he Brent Corrigan. If you’re a fan of Brent (and was engaged to defrocked Miss Teen USA Kari Turn to page 21 Ann Peniche, the chick who’s in the Eric Dane/ Sept. 2, 2009 21 BOOKS When everything HOLIDAY WEEKENDS ARE SIDETRACK WEEKENDS. changed for Kairol Rosenthal by Yasmin Nair monday, sept. 7 • open at 1pm Bookstores abound with stories by and about cancer survivors. But cancer is still largely seen as a middle-aged or older person’s issue, even though there are, increasingly, more reports of younger people (from children to young adults) Labor Day no cover getting some form of cancer. Kairol Rosenthals’s new book, Everything Changes: The Insider’s Guide to Cancer in Your 20s and 30s, is the first book to focus on what the author says is a much-neglected population of cancer patients and survivors. The Chicago- Furr•BQ based author read to a crowded room of nearly BBQ from 3pm thanks to 50 people from her work at a book launch at Women and Children First on Aug. 12. Rosenthal was diagnosed with thyroid can- cer at the age of 26, nine years ago. Her di- agnosis came after a chiropractor showed her a And join us at 6pm for your chance to win lump on her throat and insisted that she see tickets to see PET SHOP BOYS LIVE at a doctor about it. Rosenthal then struggled for the Chicago Theatre months to get biopsies and an eventual and ac- on September 14th Kairol Rosenthal. curate diagnosis. She wrote the book in large part because she saw a lack of support systems for young adults have not improved in 30 years. Thechicagotheatre.com Ticketmaster.com and resources for people in her age category. A quarter of us will not make it.” But she was 1.800.745.3000 As she explained to the multi-generational audi- equally adamant about the need for health care ence, one of the biggest hurdles facing young reform in the U.S., a topic that came up during adult cancer patients is that their symptoms are the question and answer session; she has been often dismissed by doctors who still adhere to meeting with elected officials to talk about the a generational stereotype about the disease. problems facing her population in particular and Rosenthal said that doctors are apt to tell young encouraged everyone to be as vocal as possible adults with potential cancer that their aches are about the need for reform. When asked whose simply due to having experimented with sexual stories are not represented in the media, the positions, or too taxing yoga classes. There is author pointed out that most representations nothing in medical schools that provides them 33334499 NN.. HHaallsstteedd are of people in urban areas and that she was SSiiddeettrraacckkCChhiiccaaggoo..ccoomm with the knowledge to foresee cancer in young particular about including a geographical and people. In addition, many young adults lack regional range in her book. She spoke about a healthcare or the kind of healthcare that would young man in his 20s living with stage four can- grant them access to the right tests. cer in rural Texas, where the combination of a Everything Changes is structured as a series lack of adequate patient care and peer support of first-person accounts, culled from hundreds group could be profoundly isolating. Rosenthal of interviews, and linked to different sets of is- also spoke about the issues that might get over- sues particular to young adult cancer patients. looked, such as those facing the many incarcer- For instance, few young adults will have thought ated and mostly African-American youth facing about advanced directives, wills, and life insur- the disease in jail. ance but those can be crucial matters to con- Kairol Rosenthal blogs regularly at Every- sider in the event of a grave illness. Similarly, thingchangesbook.com, where she updates and issues around body image affect this population adds resources and observations on the issues differently and perhaps with more intensity than facing young adults with cancer. other age groups. The issue of young cancer patients and sexual orientation was the focus of Rosenthal’s presen- Fire & Ink III tation. She read an account about Seth, a gay man living in San Francisco who was faced with, in Texas Oct. 8-11 Fire & Ink III: Cotillion—which will bring first, a cancer diagnosis and second, having to together hundreds of individuals interested in negotiate revealing his gay identity to his par- Black LGBTQ writing—will take place Thursday- ents. According to Rosenthal, he asked his par- Sunday, Oct. 8-11, at the Hilton Austin in Aus- ents to not come to San Francisco because he tin, Texas. could not both “navigate cancer” and deal with The many workshops will include “Tongues his life issues with his parents. Nevertheless, as Afire/A Model,” “Hiphop & Haiku” and “Radical Seth puts it, “I think being queer affords me Voice and Movement.” Presenters will include re- a different perspective on cancer Through the nowned writers/spoken-word artists Staceyann AIDS epidemic, not only have gay men come to- Chin and Chicagoan C.C. Carter. gether as a community and shown our humanity, The registration cost is $175, and the deadline but … we know how to take care of our own.” to register is Thursday, Oct. 1. (There is no on- Rosenthal said that there needs to be far site registration.) See 2009.fireandink.org. more awareness about young adult cancer pa- tients and their issues: “Cancer survivor rates BILLY from page 20 time for me to prepare for my 90th birthday and end yet another column. I hate to tell you, but most of my readers are), you’ll be happy to the summer is over. You’d never know it from know that you’ll soon have a chance to see all the hot hunks in this column—and over at him in the flesh. He’s going to be in a play www.BillyMasters.com, the people’s choice for called “The Masseur” where he plays...prepare delicious dishing. If you’ve got a question, be to be shocked....the masseur!!! Plans are for creative and be original. Just send it to Billy@ it to debut in Palm Springs on October 1st, BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to with later shows slated for San Diego, L.A. and, you before Zac hires Brent as his stand in ... or maybe, San Francisco. More details to follow. masseur! Until next time, remember, one man’s When Jennifer Aniston is an older woman, it’s filth is another man’s bible. 22 Sept. 2, 2009 much, but I always enjoy going to the Taste [of ries director. “It’s going to be a fun event; we To further support these local organizations, Chicago], the Jazz Festival and the Gospel Fes- can’t wait. It’s an amazing thing for the CMSA to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) will give tival. host this event.” 100 percent of all money raised by Community- “Usually, when we’re not playing or practic- Only four Chicago teams have won a cham- Direct teams back to the participating HIV/AIDS ing, I’m just resting. It’s such a long season and pionship at the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Se- service organizations. In order to participate in we have so many games. I also like to catch up ries, which dates back to 1977. The most recent the CommunityDirect Program, agencies must on movies, which I’ve done a lot this summer. I champion was Jackhammer Heat, which claimed belong to AFC’s Service Providers Council. For guess I need to find a hobby.” the D Division title in 2006. The Chicago Cou- more information about CommunityDirect, con- gars were the C Division champions in 2003, tact Katie O’Malley at [email protected] while Chicago MSA Little Dog Properties was the or call 312-334-0946. Chicago to host D Division winner in 2002. ‘11 Gay Softball NAGAAA also ran the Women’s World Series from 1985-2007, and Chicago had four cham- Dykes Pedaling World Series pions in that event: the Chicago Finale and Chi- Bikes get-togethers BY ROSS FORMAN cago Mud Hens in 1994, and Chicago Synergy in Dykes Pedaling Bikes is getting together once 1989 and 1990. a month on Saturdays (Sept. 5 and Oct. 3) for The 2011 North American Gay Amateur Athletic The 2010 NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series lakefront rides. Alliance (NAGAAA) Softball World Series will be will be held in Columbus, Ohio. Jia Perkins. Photo courtesy of William Sher- The group meets at 9 a.m. at the totem pole held in Chicago—the suburbs, to be exact— bondy at Addison and Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview, marking the second-biggest sporting LGBT event and then rides to Grant Park, stopping briefly ever held in the Windy City, only behind the AIDS Walk/Run at “Queens Landing” (across Lake Shore Drive 2006 Gay Games. Jia Perkins: registration from Buckingham Fountain) at about 9:40 a.m. The 35th annual tournament will be held Aug. to meet additional riders. They then ride north 29—Sept. 3, 2011, with games played at three still on and have brunch at Tweet, 5020 N. Sheridan, at The goal softball complexes, each boasting multiple There is still time to register for the AIDS Run 10:30 a.m. Helmets are required. fenced-in fields, a NAGAAA requirement. Games & Walk Chicago 2009 at www.aidsrunwalk.org. Dykes Pedaling Bikes is sponsored by the will be played at East Side Sports Complex in To participate alongside thousands of support- standard Windy City Cycling Club, the Lesbian Community St. Charles, Olympic Park in Schaumburg and ers Saturday, Oct. 3, in Grant Park, visit www. By Ross Forman Care Project and dykediva.com. For more info, Helmut Berens Park in Elmhurst. aidsrunwalk.org and click “Register Now.” E-mail e-mail [email protected] or visit www.windy- Chicago last hosted the Gay Softball World [email protected] if there are any ques- This is Jia Perkins’ sixth WNBA (Women’s Nation- citycyclingclub.com. al Basketball Association) season and, clearly, Series in 1983, and Chicago Sidetrack was the tions. her best. An appearance in the annual All-Star champion that year—but the tournament then AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2008 raised more Game in late July—her first—is proof of that. was significantly smaller than today’s mega- than $500,000. She’s averaging about 15 points, 4 steals and event. The 2009 Series in Milwaukee started 5 assists per game, and her 43 percent three- Monday, with more than 4,000 participants and point shooting average ranks fifth in the WNBA. fans from 37 leagues in North America. It is the Think pink “I think we had a good team last year and it’s world’s largest annual LGBT sporting event. pretty much the same team this year, just with a Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association little more experience,” said Perkins, 27, in her (CMSA) bid in 2008 to host the 2009 Series, but fourth season with the Chicago Sky. “I think we it ultimately was awarded to Milwaukee. CMSA recognize how good we are and we don’t want to officials made their presentation Saturday night settle for being anything less than what we are to host the 2011 Series, and Chicago was the and that is, a playoff team. I think we’re really only city bidding. The official announcement working hard to get a spot in the playoffs. was made Aug. 30. “Our destiny is in our own hands. We’re not “It’s going to be a great event [in 2011]; we’re going to rely on anyone else. We’re going to get thrilled. I’m really happy that CMSA stepped up things done with our game and not worry about and made the winning bid,” said CMSA President [hoping other] teams lose. I think we’ve been Marcia Hill. “We know that a lot of people want playing some good basketball lately.” to come to Chicago to play softball ... and also Perkins has scored 20 or more points four hit Boystown in the same trip. There will be a times this season, highlighted by a 29-point ton of teams wanting to come to Chicago in showing in July against San Antonio. 2011 to play softball.” “I’m just doing anything I have to do to help The NAGAAA Softball World Series is a predom- my team,” she said. “Offensively, I’m trying to inantly male event, though some women annu- step my game up. Having two of the best post ally participate. players in the league on my team just helps The Amateur Sports Alliance of North America make my game a lot easier because they demand (ASANA) runs the annual women’s Softball World so much attention. Series, and the 2009 event is being held Sept. “I’m happy with my play this season. I think 1-6 in Madison, Wis. I’ve been a lot more consistent this year. It’s Hill confirmed that CMSA will not also bid to been a rewarding season because I made the host the 2011 ASANA event. All-Star Team, but I had a good year last year In addition, Hill confirmed that the ChiTown as well.” Classic, a two-day softball tournament that Perkins attended Texas Tech University, and CMSA resumed in 2009 around the July 4th holi- then made her WNBA debut in 2005 with Con- day, might be suspended for 2011, although one necticut. And yes, that meant a collegiate option would be for another city to host the Chi- brush-with-Bobby … former Texas Tech men’s Town Classic for the one year. coach Bob Knight, that is. Chicago will have at least seven participating “It was good times [at Tech], close bonds teams in the 2011 NAGAAA World Series: two with my teammates,” she said. “My senior year, in B, two in C and two in D Divisions, and one I think we could have made it to at least the more as the host city. (There now are no Chicago Final Four, but we didn’t. Still, it was fun, a good teams competing in the top-tiered A Division.) learning experience. “We’re very excited and honored to host the “[Knight] was a great coach, but I never was World Series,” said Jack Neilsen, the CMSA Open star-struck when I saw him. He was a nice guy.” Division commissioner and CMSA 2011 World Se- After all, she could have been star-struck at home—her dad, Johnny, played for the New York Giants. “I know that he knows what he’s talking about All WNBA games played Aug. 28 supported breast cancer awareness in the culmination of a in sports,” Perkins said. “He’s always believed Marcia weeklong effort to both generate awareness about breast cancer and raise funds to help fight I can be a great player, no matter where I was Hill. the disease. Each team picked a local charity in its franchise area to support. With a large [playing]. He knows a lot about the sport [of Photo by selection to choose from, the Chicago Sky chose six organizations to benefit from its “PINK basketball].” Hal Baim OUT” game, including Howard Brown’s Lesbian Community Care Program (LCCP). The other So, Jia, what about Chicago? groups who shared in part of the game’s proceeds were A Silver Lining Foundation (ASLF), “I like it, though it’s still a little cold during Susan G. Komen, AVON, Gilda’s Club and A Sister’s Hope. the summer. Remember, I’m from Texas, so I’m Sky fans cheered their team on to victory against the New York Liberty in a thrilling basket- not used to any cold [temperatures] during the ball game. This win was necessary for the team to make the playoffs and these women proved summer,” she said. “I like the city; there’s a lot that not only are they a professional team of role models—they are also inspiring female to do here, especially culturally. However, I’m athletes. Photos by Mel Ferrand and courtesy of William Sherbondy; text by Mel Ferrand actually a homebody, so I haven’t really done Sept. 2, 2009 23 NEW OFFICE, CONNEXIONS Same “Good Neighbor” agent. MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS Call or visit me today. Linda Kuczka, Agent 954 W Webster Ave • Chicago, IL 60614 Bus: 773-975-9111 • [email protected] i State Farm Insurance Companies • Home Offices: Bloomington, IL • statefarm.com® l P02610 09/04 o Mulryan i 25% OFF l Custom Framing o & York Attorneys At Law CUSTOM FRAMING 4001 N. Wolcott 30% off all custom framing! Chicago, IL 60613 1478 W. Berwyn - 773.784.3962 (773) 248-8887 The Law Offices of Making A Alexander Weaver Difference in Our 312-588-5005 Community email: [email protected] PARKVIEW PET Kiki Calumet A Full Service SUPPLIES Senior Consultant Law Firm EST. 1921 773.305.7010 for the Community since 1988 312.909.9372 5358 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 60640 410 S. 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