THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Jan. 6, 2010 • vol 25 no 14 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com History-making gay judge set to retire

by Byron Flitsch

Thomas Chiola, the first openly gay elected indi- Star Gaze: vidual in Illinois, has announced his retirement page 6 from his 16-year Cook County Circuit Court judi- An Era Ends cial position. Chiola made history when he won his rigorous campaign for Cook County Circuit Court judge in 1994 in the eighth Judicial Subcircuit. In a telephone interview, Chiola recounted the campaign as “exciting because of how we were running [the campaign]. The “i” in my name was dotted with a pink triangle that was sort of a badge of honor. People knew where it came from and it stood for not backing down. It reminded people that we’d never go back.” According to the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame’s Web site, his momentous win was not only a political landmark, but also offered hope and inspiration for the LGBT community while fueling a connection between a diverse popula- tion demographic ranging from citizens living in Patrick neighborhoods like Chinatown, the Gold Coast page 14 and Cabrini Green. Andrews His campaign was heavily supported by some segments of the Democratic Party, and he was the first gay candidate to have support from a majority in his Democratic ward. Chiola said, “I’ve been nostalgic [about retirement] lately, and while going through old articles and photos I realized how many people helped me get to get this far. My supporters have been instrumental Fifteen years after making history as the first gay elected official in Illinois, Judge Tom Chiola Turn to page 8 is saying goodbye to the bench. Photo by Hal Baim Obama has first trans appointees

God-des By Lisa Keen protect national security through the manage- Missile Systems in Tucson and holds degrees in page 16 Keen News Service ment of international trade, the enforcement of physics, engineering, and business administra- and She treaties, and the promotion of economic, cyber tion, according to National Center for Transgen- Amanda Simpson starts work this week as one and homeland security. der Equality. She has worked in the aerospace- of the first presidentially appointed transgender Orr, a native of Seattle, graduated from the defense industry for 30 years, is a certified flight persons to the executive branch of any admin- University of Washington School of Law, in Se- instructor, and has 20 years experience as a test istration. The honor as the first belongs to Dy- attle, in July and was admitted to the bar in No- pilot. lan Orr, a 30-year-old law school graduate from vember. During law school, his studies focused The YWCA of Arizona honored Simpson in 2004 Seattle. on disability rights, civil rights, and employment as one of 12 “Women on the Move.” She has The Obama administration appointed both and immigration issues. He served as president also served on the board of the Southern Arizona nightspots Simpson and Orr in late November. Orr began of the law school’s GLBT student organization. ACLU, Equality Arizona (formerly Arizona Human n work Dec. 7 as special assistant to Assistant Sec- He did his undergraduate work at Smith College Rights Fund), and the Southern Arizona Gender pick it up retary of Labor Kathleen Martinez in the Office in Massachusetts, and also worked for a time Alliance. She has also served on the Tucson Com-

December 23, 2009 take it home #1008 with the Department of Social Services in Salem, mission on LGBT Issues. 2009 - The Green Issue of Disability Employment Policy at the Depart- Almost 100% recycled material. We’re, like, soooooo sustainable. ment of Labor. Simpson, 49, began work Jan. Massachusetts. Simpson, a Democrat, ran in 2005 for a seat 5 as senior technical advisor in the Bureau of Simpson, 49 and a native of Chicago, recently Turn to page 4 Industry and Security. The bureau’s mission is to worked as a chief engineer with the Raytheon

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NEWS Trans activist Joanne Herman 4 Indiana prof killed 5 Passages: Bronczyk 5 Star Gaze owner on closing 6 Pro-marriage GOP candidate 7 Pro-gay elementary school 8 Gay judge retiring 8 World news; Quotelines 9 Views: Bushong; letter 10

ENTERTAINMENT Theater: Looking at fests 11 Nettelhorst Elementary School’s devotion Abarbanel’s best & worst 12 to acknowledging diversity is showcased Talking with Uncle Fester 13 on page 8. Patrick Andrews of ‘Buffalo’ 14 Music: God-des and She 16 Music: Gretchen Bonaduce 16 Photo by Robin Schachtel New Year’s Eve photos 17 Books: Alix Dobkin & Stein 19 Billy Masters 21

OUTLINES Real estate; classifieds 18 Calendar Q 20 Sports: Chicago Force 22 Sports: World Series kick-off 22 Gay Games profile: Hewitt 22

Windy City Times examines My Red Cover photos and credits (from top): Photo of (from left) Susan Franz, Judith Markowitz and Star Gaze owner Blood, a book by lesbian singer/activist Mamie Lake by Linda “Kizzy” Ramos; Patrick Andrews Alix Dobkin. See page 19. romotional photo; God-des and She photo courtesy of God-des Photo by Tracy Baim

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>f[$[\j J_\ n K_\eZc`ZbfeXepX[Xe[Y\kXb\e[`i\Zkcpkfk_\X[m\ik`j\iËjN\Yj`k\ www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com n in g h t s p o t s ONLINE INDEX 2009: THE DISC AND THAT GREEN ISSUE (ALMOST Here are more DVD 100% recommendations, RECYCLED including The Mysteries of MATERIAL) Pittsburgh (right) and December 23, 2009 #1008 2009 - The Green Issue Almost 100% recycled material. We’re, like, soooooo sustainable. Streamers.

GOODBYE 2009, HELLO 2010! SHOW# 346 LOOKING BACK In his Bent Nights column, Vern Hester looks back at his favorite musicians www.WindyCity of the year, including Queercast.com Jennifer Hudson (left).

Photo by Vern Hester ‘world’ view TVN QueerTVNetwork.com Mike Manning, a bisexual who is part of the latest Real World cast, chats Check out our about everything from video channel for politics to sexuality. new videos weekly www.QueerTV Network.com 4 Jan. 6, 2010 a brighter future for younger generations. Her ONLINE AT hope rests on a basic goodness in human na- ture. “People have to stop worrying about un- WINDYCITYMEDIAGROUP.COM derstanding” all the intricacies of transgender NATIONAL NEWS and gender non-conforming identities. “Just think about computer software,” she explained. “You don’t need to know how every single func- tion works in order to appreciate its value.” Keep in mind, Herman said, “For some folks gender is not as clear cut as it is for others. Just think about how you might help a person by be- —Ellen ing a little more open and understanding.” DeGeneres in comic book Mary Daly dies (left) Mary Daly—a renowned feminist theologian, philosopher and academic—died Jan. 3 after —LAPD cuts a lengthy illness, according to CatholicCulture. ties with Scouts org. She was 81. Daly’s teaching career at Boston College— —Ohio gay-bar which ran more than three decades, from 1967 fight results to 1999—was marked by two situations. In 1968 in death she was dismissed; however, she was brought back and granted tenure after students at the Joanne Herman. Photo by Chuck Colbert then-all-male school protested her firing. Just place Jan. 4, including a morning event where over 10 years ago she was again dismissed after a 200-member orchestra and choir performed, tend to ask fairly sensitive things because there she refused to accept a male student into a class the Chronicle reported. Singer Jennifer Holliday Joanne Herman, is such a curiosity out there,” she said. on feminism. (“And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going”) sang at an “Just think about how the rest of the world Daly published several books, including the evening inauguration concert. explained thinks about your being gay,” said Herman. “For 1973 book Beyond God the Father, which some by CHUCK COLBERT some people, it just doesn’t compute.” cite as “a foundational work in feminist theol- LOCAL NEWS Therefore, gay and transgender folks have a ogy,” according to Wikipedia. In 1978’s Gyn/ Scholarship named She heard the same advice over and over: “You responsibility to help bring others along. Just Ecology: The Metaethics of Radical Feminism, are so good at explaining this, you ought to as gay people tell about life with a differing Daly contended that men have tried to oppress for McKeon write a book.” At first Joanne Herman, who lives sexual orientation, so transgender people must women throughout the ages. Peoria’s Acorn Equality Fund (AEF) has an- in Boston, Mass., just didn’t see the need. And communicate their experience with an alternate Her most recent book was 2006’s Amazon nounced a new scholarship named in honor of yet the same message kept coming back at her: gender identity (how they feel) and/or gender Grace: Re-Calling the Courage to Sin Big, accord- the late gay-rights advocate/politician Larry “No, you really do need to write a book.” expression (how the look and act). ing to her Web site, MaryDaly.net. Daly lectured McKeon. Herman began to wonder. Why is it that so “But the transgender person must lead the at more than 300 colleges and universities in A $1,000 scholarship in McKeon’s name will be many people don’t seem to understand trans- way in explaining,” she said. “Many aspects of North America over the past 36 years. given each year. gender people and our concerns? Long story the experience are very personal. Just because According to NCROnline.org, Mary E. Hunt, co- McKeon, who was 63 when he died in 2008, short—she took the advice. Her book, Transgen- someone is transgender, you can’t assume it’s founder and co-director of the Women’s Alliance was elected to the Illinois House of Represen- der Explained: For Those Who are Not is hot off safe to ask if the boobs are real or not,” she for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER), said in tatives in 1996, becoming Illinois’ first openly the presses. It is an outgrowth of a series of 20 said, “because that is a violation of privacy.” an online statement that Daly’s “contributions gay state legislator; he later announced that he columns she wrote for the Advocate over a two- Herman hails from the Main Line suburbs out- to feminist theology, philosophy, and theory was HIV-positive. McKeon represented the 13th year period. side Philadelphia where she grew up until her were many, unique, and if I may say so, world- District; Greg Harris is the current legislator for And much to her surprise, “There’s a lot of ex- family (she has one sibling, a brother, six years changing. She created intellectual space; she set the area. citement about it,” Herman said during a recent her junior) moved to Connecticut. As early as the bar high. Even those who disagreed with her Prior to serving as a state representative, interview. “I wasn’t expecting that.” age seven Herman “knew something felt wrong,” are in her debt for the challenges she offered. ... McKeon was an executive director at the Chi- Over her years of educating about and advo- she said, but “I had no words to express it.” She always advised women to throw our lives as cago Commission on Human Relations and Mayor cating transgender equality before corporate Growing into adolescence Herman experienced far as they would go. I can say without fear of Richard Daley’s liaison to the city’s gay and les- executives and serving on LGBT community “teasing,” she said. The perception, Herman ex- exaggeration that she lived that way herself.” organizations’ boards of directors, Herman has plained, “was my being a lightweight” for a lack bian community. learned a thing or two. “One of the secrets we of interest in athletics in a sports-focused public See www.acornequalityfund.com. learned from the marriage wins,” she said, “is school environment. New Hampshire that through [telling] personal stories people Excelling in high school academics, however, gays can marry got to know the gay couple next door.” Herman went on to attend Dartmouth—“a real The new year has brought change to New TRANS from cover “That’s what’s [necessary] for transgender macho school,” she said. But after Dartmouth Hampshire as the state has become the fifth to in the Arizona House of Representatives, but people,” she explained. “We need people to be went co-ed in 1972, Herman’s discomfort over allow same-sex marriage because of a measure was defeated by the incumbent Republican in out and for folks to have an experience,” for in- the frequent hazing of newly arrived female stu- Gov. John Lynch signed last year, USA Today re- the largely red state. She attended the 2008 stance, “of working beside somebody.” dents led her to spend her junior year at Smith ported. Democratic National Convention as a delegate More critical, Herman said, are “success sto- College. Yet even there she did not become fully Any of the state’s 600-plus same-sex couples pledged to Hillary Clinton. She shares cus- ries,” to which she devotes an entire chapter in aware of her transgender identity. That began who obtained a civil union can simply convert tody of her 13-year-old son with her former the book. “People are thirsty for [them].” And, to change after a 1995 trip to Provincetown for that certificate into a marriage license, accord- spouse. “If my book help makes it less challenging for Halloween. ing to a Windy City Times article that ran last Simpson said she moved into an apartment transgender people to be out and successful at Fast forward, Herman read everything she June. The bill passed 198-176 in the New Hamp- outside Washington, D.C., —in Silver Spring, the same time, writing it will have definitely could get her hands on. A fast study, Herman shire House after passing the Senate 14-10. Md.—on Saturday and that her first day at been worthwhile.” transitioned to live as a female by the end of New Hampshire joins Massachusetts, Connecti- work at the Bureau would be Jan. 5. Altogether, the primary audience for the book, 2002. “My life was so much better than my old cut, Iowa and Vermont in permitting full mar- According to LGBT blogger Autumn Sandeen she said, is “people who have a transgender per- life,” she said. “I am so appreciative to be liv- riage equality. at PamsHouseBlend.com, Simpson announced son in their life” in some cases for the first time, ing in the right gender.” Shortly after transition, on her Facebook page in late November that including parents, siblings, work colleagues, Herman began to think about giving back. That she had accepted the appointment from the friends and extended family relatives. opportunity presented itself when Jennifer Levi, Lesbian mayor Obama administration. “There is an important point to be made here transgender rights project director, at the Bos- sworn in “I like the idea that Amanda Simpson, a about the challenge this presents to family ton-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders Annise Parker, 53, was formally sworn in as the trans-identified woman with an incredible members,” Herman said. “Historically, we have approached her about serving on the organiza- 61st mayor of Houston, Texas, Jan. 2 in a private resume, is becoming an inspirational figure been told that gender is binary, and many have tion’s board. Herman said “yes,” and has gone ceremony, according to the Houston Chronicle. for trans youth,” blogged Sandeen. “Amanda worked for years to understand their gender on to serve as a board director for the Point Judge Steven Kirkland—Parker’s longtime Simpson’s appointment speaks to a new real- non-conformity. For those who transition gen- Foundation, which offers academic scholarship friend and former campaign manager—adminis- ity: The next generations of trans people can ders, many have also worked for years to plan program for marginalized LGBT college stu- dream much bigger dreams than trans people for it. But chances are the family has not had dents. tered the oath of office as her family and friends in generations past.” that lead-time.” Added Herman, “For family to She now also serves on the board of Boston- watched. In an interview in 2008 with a Tucson cable accept, they need a little more time to catch based Fenway Community Health where Herman According to a statement from the city, Parker show, Political Perspectives, Simpson noted up.” recently read from her book. kept the weekend swearing-in private to avoid that she has worked with “a lot of people in Knowing someone transgender may make all She has done radio interviews with broadcast overtime costs that city employees would have the military.” the difference in advancing equality and com- outlets as far away as Madison, Wis., and Long been paid. “And my customers at the time of my tran- passion. Herman is determined to reach as Island, N.Y. Central Voice News, located in the Windy City Times reported that Parker’s Dec. sition were Air Force and Navy officers,” she many people as possible, telling her own story “conservative” part of Pennsylvania, has sched- 12, 2009, win made her the first openly gay per- said. “And they were very accepting and sup- and being open to people’s genuine interest in uled print-issue interview with Herman for Feb- son to be elected as mayor of one of the top five portive.” what it means to be transgender or gender non- ruary. most populated cities in the United States. ©2010 Keen News Service conforming. “I will answer anything, and people Herman is optimistic, if not hopeful about Two public inauguration celebrations took Jan. 6, 2010 5 According to the Encyclopedia of Contempo- intellectual interests of his life. As somebody to build stronger ties with stakeholders; increase rary LGBTQ Literature in the United States, over who had worked “so much, and so tirelessly” to involvement in HIV/AIDS activities; and to en- the course of his life Belton maintained friend- examine the contradictions and tensions within courage ongoing communication with HIV/AIDS ships with writer James Baldwin, filmmaker Mar- masculinity, Miller said, “my guess is that Don allies, elected officials and the media. lon Riggs and poet Essex Hemphill. would also see this as a huge tragedy.” “This is a dynamic group of individuals who Marlon Bailey, a professor of gender studies as are taking the lead and fighting for the interests well as African-American and African Diaspora Affinity cuts ties of our state’s HIV/AIDS community,” said AFC Studies at IU, said that Belton’s work was in- Policy Associate Pete Subkoviak, who coordi- terdisciplinary—“he was really in the realm of with YPS/YPC nates IL ASAP. “In the short time since IL ASAP the public intellectual.” Bailey, who met Belton Affinity—a local non-profit organization that was created, I have been extremely impressed when they both taught at Macalester College in serves Chicago’s Black lesbian and bisexual with what its members have accomplished, and the 1990s, emphasized “how huge Don was in women’s community—is severing its ties with expect great things from them in the future.” African-American literature—how important his South Side’s Youth Pride Services/Youth Pride IL ASAP’s “inaugural class” has already made work was and what kind of prominence he had. Center (YPS/YPC), which focuses on minority headlines. Transgender and women’s health ad- “He was prolific and his work was very commu- LGBT youth, according to a press release. vocate Helena Bushong was believed to be the nity-engaged,” said Bailey. The release further stated, “Affinity made this Don Belton. From the Indiana University Web first-ever transgendered person to attend a White Professor Alyce Miller, who teaches in the Eng- decision due to a misalignment of the princi- site House National Strategy meeting on “Women lish department at IU, said that Belton had “a ples and values between the two organizations. and HIV/AIDS” held Dec. 8. (See her viewpoint very eclectic, intellectual, and creative imagina- However, we have informed the youth of YPS/ on page 10 of this issue.) Also, IL ASAP member tion. YPC that Affinity will continue to be a resource Patricia Johnson was featured in a recent local Gay Indiana “Don was not someone who fell easily into to them. news segment about rising HIV-infection rates categories,” Miller said. The statement also said that youth who were among African-American women. prof murdered Bailey noted that Belton’s death is one in a previously in the joint drop-in program of Affin- BY SAMUEL WORLEY series of murders of black gay intellectuals to ity and YPS/YPC and other youth who qualify for occur recently; others have included the killings the program can still attend Affinity’s sessions. Lesbian candidate’s Indiana University (IU) professor Don Belton— of University of California’s Lindon Barrett and comedic affair an academic and novelist who wrote extensively St. Mary College’s John Dennis. “This is … at a AFC launches alliance Linda J. Pauel, a lesbian candidate for Cook moment of a wave of homophobic violence,” said County Circuit Court judge, will host a fundraiser about the Black experience, queerness and mas- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has Bailey, pointing out that many victims of such Saturday, Jan. 9, at Joie de Vine, 1744 W. Bal- culinity—was murdered in his home in Bloom- chosen 17 AIDS advocates from across the state ington, Ind., Dec. 27. Michael Griffin, an ex-Ma- violence are queer and trans people of color. moral, at 4-6 p.m. The host will be comedian to form the Illinois Alliance for Sound AIDS Pol- rine who was apparently a friend of Belton, was Friends and allies of Belton have set up the Jessica Halem, a former Chicagoan. icy (IL ASAP), according to a press release. The arrested and charged with the murder. Web site JusticeForDonBelton.org, which prom- Tickets are $40 each. See LindaJPauel.com for goal of the project is to develop, nurture and According to a probable cause affidavit re- ises to monitor media outlets and the judicial more information. Also, see “Jessica Halem: Ser- support statewide policy and advocacy leaders; leased by the Bloomington Police Department, system as they respond to Griffin’s claims that vicing the Public Good” on Facebook. Griffin confessed to stabbing Belton in the chest Belton sexually assaulted him. The introductory “until he quit moving.” text to the Web site reads, in part, “we do want PASSAGES A vigil took place Jan. 1 in front of the Monroe law enforcement to understand that there is a John M. Bronczyk County Courthouse to commemorate Belton’s life long, established history of suspects invoking John M. Bronczyk (known by family as “Mi- and to ask local prosecutors not to accept Grif- a claim of sexual assault and/or a ‘gay panic’ chael,” and, when younger, “Mikey”) passed fin’s allegation that Belton sexually assaulted defense to get charges reduced or to win over a away unexpectedly Dec. 18, one month after him two days before the murder. Another vigil jury when the victim was a gay person.” his birthday, when he lost his battle with can- is planned for after students return from their Part of the reason for the Web site and the cer. He was 55. holiday break. vigil, said Marlon Bailey, is to “create a counter- A 1971 graduate of Lane Tech High School, Griffin has claimed that Belton assaulted him discourse—to anticipate the attempt to demean he was a four-year-member of both the ROTC, on Christmas Day. When Griffin confronted Bel- Don’s character” and to refute such claims. serving as battalion and color guard command- ton about it two days later, according to the The so-called “gay panic” defense has been er his senior year, and being in the National affadavit, Belton was “not in any way forgiving employed by defense attorneys in some high- Honor Society. He wore the gold and green col- and … he did not show or express any type of profile slayings of LGBT people, including unsuc- ors of Lane Tech with such pride that he would feeling that what had taken place was a mis- cessfully in the trial of Matthew Shephard’s mur- sing out the school song whenever something take.” Griffin said that a scuffle ensued that derers. Last year in Illinois, a Cook County jury reminded him of his high school years. He was ended with Griffin stabbing Belton to death with acquitted Joseph Biedermann, who stabbed his laid to rest in his beloved Lane Tech sweater a knife he had purchased prior to going to Iraq, neighbor Terrance Hauser sixty-one times after that was clearly decorated with patches from where he served in the Marine Corps. Hauser apparently made unwanted sexual ad- all his achievements. 13 years and, finally, was the senior contract- Police found an entry in a journal that Bel- vances. Biedermann claimed that the stabbing Bronczyk was an active and proud 1975 ing procurement officer at the Federal Home ton kept in which he had written, shortly before was done in self-defense. graduate of University of Illinois, where he Loan Bank of Chicago. Christmas, that he was happy about meeting an According to his supporters’ Web site, Belton was a James Scholar, member of Phi Eta Sigma He loved to play piano and enjoyed the Lyric individual named Michael. The entry led police had been friends with Michael Griffin and his girl- and summa cum laude graduate. He was in the Opera. He adored life, family and friends. He to Griffin, who has been pleaded not guilty to friend as far back as last summer. Editors of the Brotherhood and past president of Alpha Kappa leaves behind the three sisters who he helped first-degree murder. Web site criticized Bloomington media sources Psi, a past president of the National Education raise in the absence of their mother: Pauline Belton, who taught at IU since fall 2008, for suggesting that the relationship of the two Association of Illinois; also, he appeared in (Chester) Fields, Sally (Charles) Kuss and Marie was a former reporter for Newsweek. A prolific men had been “brief” and “conflicted”—a sug- “Who’s Who Among College and University Stu- (Tony) Carnevale. He was the uncle of Charles writer, Belton authored the novel Almost Mid- gestion, the Web site said, “not supported by dents.” Jr., Danya, Lindsey, Jay, Brittany, Sarah and night and edited a volume on black masculinity evidence.” Bronczyk started his career as a C.P.M. (certi- Joey, and a friend of many. called Speak My Name. Prior to going to Indiana, “The person that murdered him was someone fied purchasing manager) in 1976 at the U.S. A private service was held Dec. 20, 2009. Belton taught at the University of Michigan, Ma- Don considered a friend,” said Alyce Miller. Railroad Retirement Board. He moved to Sar- Arrangements were made by Cremation Soci- calester College, and the University of Pennsyl- Miller said that the circumstances surround- gent & Lundy LLC in 1985, where he worked for ety of Illinois (773-281-5058). vania. ing Belton’s death were intertwined with the

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$PMPS Mariyana T. was used as a cafeteria when Sunday brunch was statement criticizing Martin’s radio spot: “His Mamie Lake, then age 50, didn’t know she was Lake returned to Chicago, only to find a two- served; ping pong until the table broke; and the statements today are consistent with his his- about to become the owner of Chicago’s pre- page violation report from the city inspector. raised club seating was used as a stage for a tory of bizarre behavior and often times hate- eminent lesbian bar for the first decade of the She would have to correct these violations be- multitude of things including comedy and musi- filled speech which has no place in the Illinois millennium when she and her real estate agent fore she could open for business and the grand cal acts, sports league sign-ups and award cer- Republican Party. Mr. Martin will no longer be opening was less than a month away. Lake told rushed over to 5419 N. Clark withDEMOCRAT a proposed emonies, burlesque, various fundraisers, and in recognized as a legitimate Republican candidate the inspector she’d have it done in a week. Re- contract'03
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$PMPS still on the list, the inspector said she was going district in Andersonville. This area was rapidly often found around the table several nights a nuendo, can no longer be tolerated. Mr. Martin’s becoming “the” lesbian neighborhood of Chica- to pass the bar for inspection because she was week. On Sunday afternoons, the outdoors went statements are clear attempts to use sexual ori- go and Lake wanted to open her bar there. The so impressed with the dogged determination DEMOCRAT from a romantic getaway to a cornhole-slingin’ entation as a political weapon and are criminal agent was able to identify three bars that met Lake exhibited. '03
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%*453*$5 her mistake, the agent called back two the cooking. … It was [also] very scary to open eral comments are complaints about the cover lems that desperately need our attention.” days later and said the bar was still available. the doors for the first time and get a sense of charge. Lake said, “The lesbians are cheap, to Meister also compared Hoffman to former vice- Smiling, Lake explained, “I told her let’s get running a business.” put it bluntly. I can’t tell you how many times I over there and write up a contract right now. As it turns out, the inspector and Lake’s have seen two women show up at 8 p.m., stay presidential candidate Sarah Palin, saying that Nothing is going to stop me. I want this bar. friends weren’t the only ones that took notice of until 1 a.m.and have a $25 tab between the two she, Martin and Hoffman use “the subtle innu- And that’s what we did!” The transition of Café what she was doing with Star Gaze. In 1999, the of them.” endo of the ‘family values’ issue ... to [imply] Ashe into Star Gaze had begun. Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Com- “I understand men make more money than that people who are lawfully refused the right to Now Lake had a bar that needed a name. She merce awarded Star Gaze “Best New Business of women, and women have to pick between Friday marry or begin a family are somehow less ‘quali- had alreadyMariyana decided sheT. wanted something with the Year.” And, perhaps more importantly, lesbi- and Saturday to go out, but they have to expect fied.’” ans were coming from the neighborhood, other Getting back to Kirk, Meister added, “Under 
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8=04B' lesbian community at times. QZWS\b(4W`abBcSaROg7\Q ¿\WaV(#¶f%#¶ b`W[(#¶f%#¶PZSSR(# #¶f%%#¶ZWdS("%#¶f% #¶ SZS[S\b(eOZYQO`R ¿ZS\O[S(4B' MA^g`]^]cZaE1'M@!W\RR Lesbians “are not loyal to any gay-owned busi- advocated, under current law Mark Kirk is sub- DEMOCRAT nesses. They will go to a straight bar that has a ject to being removed from military service.” The Hoffman campaign team was swift to deny '03
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9 Paid For by Citizens for Mariyana Spyropoulos garden license application. Jan. 6, 2010 7 parents more choices, either through vouchers, more charter schools or smarter school reform. Greg Harris’ This is not an either or issue for me, I have no one set plan for how to make this better, but I agenda: Marriage do see education choice as extremely important equality and more to our district. by ANDREW DAVIS WCT: The incumbent in this seat, Sen. Heather Steans, recently introduced an equal- When the state’s General Assembly reconvenes marriage bill to the Illinois Senate. You have Jan. 12, count state Rep. Greg Harris among come out in opposition to her action, citing those with a very full plate. (When asked if the bill’s timing. Could you explain why? he has any aspirations beyond being a state AR: You have to ask yourself “Why now?” Why rep, he told Windy City Times, “My aspirations now when there is a civil-union bill vote within [are] to pass marriage equality and to get our cially in terms of education, jobs and the family. the next 30 days does the incumbent state sena- financial house in order and protect our vul- There are basic things I think we can be doing in tor introduce a marriage-equality bill for Illinois? nerable people.”) Harris (who is currently un- order to better this district. I look at the posi- Why would she do this when just last year she is opposed in the race for his 13th District seat) tion of State Senator as being one of service. All on record as saying that civil unions are a good recently talked with Windy City Times about of the needs of the community should be met idea. Let’s start there—I’m paraphrasing here, the items that are on his agenda: by their representatives and I think I have the of course. I’m encouraged that she has done it —Marriage equality: Among the most im- Adam Robinson. right ideas and the right mentality to represent and I’m glad that she has raised awareness for portant of Harris’ initiatives is making civil the 7th District’s needs. this issue. However, she is facing a tough pri- marriage possible for all of Illinois’ residents, WCT: So what’s your plan for improving the mary challenge from a well-respected gay activ- STATE SENATE: regardless of sexual orientation. (“Civil mar- 7th District? ist in Jim Madigan. I think Jim pinned her down 7th DISTRICT riage,” as stated in House Bill 0178, “is used AR: There are three things I want to do. I on this issue and she’s worried. To me it looks as opposed to religious marriage,” explained want to make it easier, not harder, for families like she created this legislation in order to show Adam Robinson: Harris, who is openly gay. “Civil marriage [in- to thrive in this community; I want to make it how she is in support of marriage equality. I just volves] the benefits of marriage the govern- easier, not harder, for people to prosper eco- don’t buy it; there were plenty of opportunities Pro-marriage ment confers on a couple; religious marriage nomically and find a good job; and I want to for her to do this in the last two years, so why is the consecration of marriage according to make it easier, not harder, for families to give now? Republican the laws or traditions of a particular faith.”) their children a good shot at life through a good WCT: As a pro-equal marriage Republican do “It’s a tumultuous time,” Harris said when faces odds education. Those are three things we don’t do you find it hard to operate within the party? asked if he had any inkling how the measure BY chasse rehwinkel well right now and I think we need to get those AR: The Republican Party is founded on some is shaping up in the House. “This has now be- three things done before we move onto other basic fundamental rights. Personal freedom, the come an issue that [is] in the forefront of the Adam Robinson—a small business owner who things on the list. ability to have strong family, those are some of minds of virtually every one of my colleagues. lives in the Edgewood community—has been WCT: How will you improve these three im- these fundamental rights. I know Republicans in This is the civil-rights issue of the day. I look running on the slogan of “Common Ground” ever portant areas? general struggle on this issue, but if you look at at the defeats the community has suffered in since he announced his candidacy for the 7th AR: As far as strong families, as you know I the basic Republican platform we are in support Maine and California as well as the terrible District’s State Senate seat last month. am one of very few Republican candidates in of this. I think that in the next 20 years or so defeat in the New York Senate, and I don’t A Republican who is running in one of the the nation who strongly supports full marriage you will see a shift toward supporting full equal want that to happen in Illinois.” most liberal districts in Illinois, Robinson has equality. We have families that are in produc- marriage rights in all states not just Illinois and Find out a lot more about state Rep. Greg been attracting supporters through his rare tive, healthy households that will make our I’m proud to be at the forefront of this thinking. Harris’ agenda—ranging from foreclosure combination of fiscal conservatism and select schools stronger and our community better, but I really feel strongly about this ideal; it’s abso- mediation to the state budget—online at social liberalism. they aren’t allowed to because of their sexuality. lutely the right decision. www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. “This nation is being split in two over social Allowing them the right to marry is better in so WCT: Can a Republican actually carry the issues,” proclaims Robinson. “I think both con- many ways and to deny them this right is absurd 7th District? servatives and liberals need to debate more civ- to me. We should be trying as hard as we can to AR: A Republican can win the 7th District and illy in order to get things accomplished in our create an environment for strong families and will win the 7th District. Politicos will say this great nation.” granting full equal marriage rights is a step in is the most progressive district in the state and A graduate of the University of Illinois and the right direction for this. that a Republican candidate will never stand a DePaul Business School, Robinson has lived in For job creation, residents of the 7th District chance, but I just don’t believe that. I think that Chicago since 1990 and hopes to defeat either pay an oppressive sales tax. The state portion of citizens of this district are sick of Blagojevich incumbent Heather Steans or her Democratic that is higher than it needs to be, the county Democrats running this state and want change. challenger, Jim Madigan, in next year’s elec- portion of that is higher than it needs to be, we I want to show citizens that they can elect an tion. make it hard for small business to thrive in the official that will truly represent them in this race Windy City Times sat down with Robinson for a 7th District. 90 percent of all employees that regardless of party politics. brief discussion of his candidacy. work in the 7th District live here. If we make it See www.adamrobinsonforsenate.com. Windy City Times: Why did you decide to easier to operate a small business in our district, coming next: Interviews with Robinson’s run? if we make it easier to open up that grocery opponents, Democratic state Sen. Heather Adam Robinson: Well, I’m a small-business store or hair salon we create so many new jobs Steans and challenger Jim Madigan. State Rep. Greg Harris. owner, a father, a husband and a resident of the within the our community, good jobs. 7th District, and I love the community where I From an education standpoint, parents deserve live. I’m on a first-name basis with almost every- the right to send their kids to a school that one who works on my street. It’s a great com- works for them. Only the very privileged few in munity, an extremely diverse community and it’s our district can afford to send their children to a community that has all the structures needed a high priced private school. It’s a problem I to be a really vibrant one, but unfortunately the worry about myself almost every day. I have a legislation that has been passed down by the five-month-old and I wonder where he is going state has handicapped this development, espe- to go to school. As a parent I envision giving all

Happy We applaud Illinois Republican Party STATE REPRESENTATIVE 11th DISTRICT - DEMOCRAT Chairman Pat Brady on his recent statement denouncing an anti-gay New Year... Senate candidate.

The Illinois GOP took a step forward in To All advancing GLBT equality for all families by stressing that hate speech is not Illinois viable campaign speech. Families Next meeting: February 7th at 3pm, The Center on Halsted Next social: February 7th at 4:30pm, Sidetrack –Ann Sign up for emails and learn more about us at www.LogCabinIllinois.org www.annwilliams2010.com 8 Jan. 6, 2010 Parents are hoping that the school’s strong ties Lakeview school with its surrounding community, Boystown, will help it to garner votes, said David Neubecker, a focuses on gay man with children at Nettelhorst. The school is particularly attuned to its neigh- diversity borhood. Gay and lesbian parents are common at by BLAIR MISHLEAU Nettelhorst. They are respected members of the school and, in many cases, are leaders as well. A Bright, delicious colors take up every inch of large group of gay and lesbian families and many space at Nettelhorst Elementary School. Exposed straight allies marched in Chicago’s most recent brick walls; donated museum-quality artwork; gay pride parade. themed hallways showcasing everything from They have also celebrated diversity in other Africa to outer space; and a disco ball make Net- ways, such as decorating the fence that sur- telhorst less than typical as far as schools go, rounds the playground with fabric in the pattern public or private. As the first-period bell rings, of a rainbow. The decorations actively reprimand little boots thump up and down the hallways, homophobic remarks or other negative language, scurrying to class. and promote an open outlook on family. Nettelhorst, located at 3252 N. Broadway, “At Nettelhorst, we believe family is every- gives and gets the support of the LGBT commu- thing,” said Edelberg. nity, making the school relevant to its neighbors in Boystown. The three-story school, nestled in a residential Lambda lawyer street, can blend in with the other brick build- joins private firm ings surrounding it. Upon entering, though, stu- Judge Tom Chiola. Jeff Torres, a member of the National Lead- dents are welcomed into a school that is over- ership Council of Lambda Legal’s Defense and flowing with life. member for IMPACT (a Chicago gay and lesbian Education Fund, has joined the Chicago Office JUDGE from cover All of this has been done by volunteers, many political action committee) where he continued of Lathrop & Gage. Lambda Legal is the oldest in helping me get to where I am today.” from the Boystown area. Jacqueline Edelberg, to work for passing sexual orientation-based national organization pursuing high-impact liti- According to QRD.org, Chiola’s career began who was one of two parents to start the revi- non-discrimination laws with the goal of add- gation, public education and advocacy on behalf shortly after graduating from University of Illi- talization in 2002, was quick to note that every ing “sexual orientation” to the Illinois Human of equality and civil rights for the LGBT and HIV nois-Champaign Law School in 1977. He moved spot of color in the building was done by volun- Rights Act. He’s also been celebrated for gaining communities. from Springfield to Chicago, where his first posi- teers. Before the community stepped up to help, the support of a variety of political representa- Torres has held leadership roles in the Hous- tion was as a prosecutor for the Illinois Attorney the building was painted in shades of dismal tives that pay attention to gay and lesbian is- ton-based Institute for Energy Law and the Chi- General’s Environment Control Division, where gray—leftover paint from World War II, Edelberg sues because “people in our community wanted cago Bar Association’s Energy and Communica- he concentrated on pollution cases. said. the opportunity to speak for themselves. It was tions Law Committee. While a partner at the law Shortly after, Chiola served as the chief ad- Currently, parents involved with the Nettelhorst important to be that voice and try to open more firm of McGuireWoods, Mr. Torres was a member ministrative law judge for the General Council Community Group are trying to win a $100,000 doors to more voices.” of the firm’s Diversity Committee and co-chair of for the Illinois Department of Professional Regu- contest sponsored by U.S. Cellular. They want to While volunteering as an attorney for Legal the Chicago office’s pro bono program. lation. In his six years as chief judge, Chiola use the funds to upgrade the school’s science Clinic for the Disabled, Chiola learned HIV/AIDS deliberated various medical cases that were of- department. In the massive amount of work that patients were refused advice. According to QRD. ten highlighted in the media due to scandals as- volunteers have done, the science department is org, in 1986 (with the help of Howard Brown Boystown sociated with the malpractice lawsuits that were one of the few areas still in dire need. Health Center) he organized a free legal proj- brought to his courtroom. “This is 21st-century science? Are you kid- eatery closing ect that allotted legal services for patients who Owner Doug Brandt has confirmed that, effec- Chiola later pursued his candidacy for Cook ding?” said Edelberg as she toured the area. An would otherwise have no other option. His hu- tive May 31, 2010, the lease of Pie Hole, 737 W. County Judge. About the political run, Chiola ancient, dented metal counter, which looks like manitarian efforts continued as an active par- Roscoe, will end. recalled, “I remember this giant banner—to me, it came from a 1950’s kitchen, is where the sink ticipant in fundraising efforts for the Chicago The lease agreement offered no option for Pie it looked as big as a football field—hanging in is nested. office of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Hole to renew. However, the lease agreement for Sidetrack. It was a big deal for me to see that. It “Our science room is crappy,” a student in sci- Fund, the NAMES Project and HIV/AIDS agency Cocktail nightclub—due to expire on the same [the campaign] became very real and exciting.” ence class said as Edelberg toured the room. Vital Bridges (previously known as Open Hand), date as Pie Hole’s—will renew, according to a Chiola’s impact on the gay community has The community group is encouraging anyone where he also volunteers. Pie Hole press release, and calls for expanding been just as influential. As an activist, he suc- in Chicago to walk into a U.S. Cellular store and Chiola’s enthusiasm also extends to sports. into the late-night pizza joint’s vacated space. cessfully aided in passing the Cook County Hu- pick up a voting card. To vote, go to the U.S. Not only has he been an active participant in “It was known from Day One that there was man Rights Ordinance in 1993—a measure de- Cellular Web site (www.uscc.com), click on the the organizational aspect of gay and lesbian a possibility of losing our lease, so I’ve been signed to protect all people who live and work “Calling all Communities” button, enter the vot- sporting events across the nation, but he is also running the business with options in mind,” in the county from discrimination and sexual ha- ing code and Nettelhorst’s zip code, 60657, and an athlete. According to QRD.org, Chiola has said Brandt. However, Cocktail will not be taking rassment based on a variety of instances includ- choose Louis Nettelhorst School as the recipi- been on the board of the Chicago Metropolitan over the business nor will it assume the Pie Hole ing sexual orientation. “I knew I had a big op- ent. Sports Association (CMSA) and Team Chicago; name, despite rumors floating around for years, portunity [to press bigger issues] in my position The school is presently in the top 20. To win, was a member of the Frontrunners; and a di- according to Brandt. and went with it,” Chiola told Windy City Times. they must be in the top 10. Voting ends Jan. 15, rector of Proud to Run. He ran a marathon and Before his judicial candidacy, Chiola was a board 2010. competed in bowling in the 1990 Vancouver Gay Games. He completed a triathlon and multiple swimming events in the 1994 New York City Gay Games. He also participated in a triathlon in the Saturday, Jan. 16 2006 Chicago Gay Games, and is preparing for 7:30 p.m. another event in the 2010 Cologne Gay Games. Sappho’s Salon Chiola was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian and Queer Women Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1998 for his unparal- Survivor Open Mic leled career and community efforts. He was hon- and Sarah’s Circle ored with a Judicial Leadership Award in April of canned food drive 2006 given by the Gay and Lesbian Legal Alli- ance (GALLA) from John Marshall Law School. In Wed., Jan. 20 2009, he became the president of AIJ (Alliance 7:30 p.m. of Illinois Judges), an organizational resource Have your Kathleen Rooney for fellow gay and lesbian judges. For You, For You I Am Select Italy Travel When asked what was next, Chiola said, “I premiums Trilling These Songs would like to get more involved in community Rome organizations. Because of my previous position, increased Florence I wasn’t able to be a part of certain projects. 5233 N. Clark Venice Whether it’s lobbying or working on state legis- lation … I’m looking forward to being active in recently? (773) 769-9299 You’re definitely not in the community again.” See me: Kansas anymore! Chiola has been a devoted activist, an award- winning professional, an inspiration to gay Charles T. Rhodes, youth and an avid athlete who continues to Agent Your Italian travel experts since 1997 make an impact on the LGBT community. His 2472 N. Clark generosity and professional strides will remain 303 W. Erie Suite 410 [email protected] a permanent footprint in the history of Chicago 773.281.0890 Chicago, IL 60654 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company www.womenandchildrenfirst.com public figures. (not in NJ) Parking Available www.selectitaly.com/wct A private party will be held Jan. 8 to celebrate State Farm Indemnity Company (NJ) 800-877-1755 Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois Wheelchair Accessible Chiola’s success and retirement. Jan. 6, 2010 9 the top of its official Web page. “I am happy to have accomplished this, which for others is so easy and for us has been so dif- ficult,” Freyre told Radio 10 after the ceremony. “We promised that we were going to do the im- QUOTELINES possible to fulfill our wish, which is not (just) BY REX WOCKNER something of José María and Alex but rather the wish of millions of gays and lesbians.” A bill to legalize same-sex marriage nation- Q wide is pending in Argentina’s Congress and “My parents, my family and my friends “Despite having a very well-funded FALGBT President María Rachid says there are all love me and accept me for who I am, and well-organized campaign (in Maine), enough votes to pass it. and even if the public are upset by this, I know the main lesson in what we need to do differ- “There is sufficient consensus to address the the love of those people who mean the most ently is we need to figure out how we best law at the beginning of (2010),” she said. “The to me will never change. I’m not going on a counter the right wing’s lies. Because they will (vote) counts show we have a sufficient majority crusade, but I’m proud of who I am. I feel I lie about what will happen in schools, they Gay activists Alex Freyre and José María Di to act on it and approve it.” have achieved everything I could ever possibly will lie about how this will impact children and Bello legally married Dec. 28 at a registry of- Buenos Aires, some other Argentine cities and have hoped to achieve out of rugby, and I did lie about what domestic partnership does and fice in Ushuaia, capital of Argentina’s Tierra the province of Río Negro already have civil- it being gay. I want to send a positive message doesn’t do.” — Equality California Executive Di- del Fuego province. Photo: Gobierno de Tierra union laws for same-sex couples. Elsewhere in to other gay people that they can do it, too.” rector Geoff Kors to The Atlantic, Nov. 6. del Fuego Latin America, similar laws are in force in Uru- — UK rugby legend Gareth Thomas in a Dec. guay, Mexico City, the Brazilian state of Rio 18 coming-out interview Grande do Sul, and the Mexican state of Coa- with the Daily Mail. Thomas WORLD huila, which borders Texas. plays for the Cardiff Blues. In addition to Tierra del Fuego, same-sex ROUNDUP marriage is legal in Belgium, Canada, the Neth- “It’s been really Elton (John) will by rex wockner erlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, tough for me hiding not be happy until and the U.S. states of Connecticut, Iowa, Mas- who I really am, but I bang on his sachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. It will I don’t want it to be like Gay couple that for the next young door in the become legal in March in Mexico City and Wash- middle of ington, D.C. person who wants to play weds in Argentina rugby, or some frightened A gay male couple legally married in Argentina the night. young kid.” — UK rugby Dec. 28. —George Michael legend Gareth Thomas in a Activists Alex Freyre and José María Di Bello Belarusians Dec. 18 coming-out inter- tied the knot at a registry office in Ushuaia, fined for picket at view with the Daily Mail. capital of the far-southern province of Tierra del Thomas plays for the Cardiff Blues. “I normally get up about 10 a.m., my PA Fuego. Iranian Embassy will bring me a Starbucks, I’ll have a look The couple had been blocked from marrying Three members of GayBelarus were fined a “In 1993 I voted for a bill prohibit- at my e-mails. At the moment I’ve got noth- in Buenos Aires on Dec. 1 after a national judge total of about $467 Dec. 23 for picketing the ing discrimination based on sexual ori- ing that pressurized other than keeping an eye issued a ruling that conflicted with a city judge’s Iranian Embassy in Minsk to protest Iran’s treat- entation in public accommodation, housing on the video they’re making for the Christmas ruling that had authorized their marriage. ment of gay people. and employment. That was 16 years ago. We single. Then, if I’m in the mood, I’ll come up to The nation’s Supreme Court then promptly an- Sergey Androsenko was fined $307 for organiz- overbaked that statute, for a couple of rea- the office in Highgate, do some work, writing, nounced it would resolve the matter of the con- ing an unauthorized protest and Sergey Praded sons. If I had to do it over again I would backing tracks or whatever. Come home. Kenny flicting rulings. was fined $123 for taking part in it. A third par- have changed some things. That statute is not will be here, the dogs are here. Maybe eat lo- In Tierra del Fuego, meanwhile, Gov. Fabi- ticipant was fined $37. worded the way it should be. I said I regretted cally, hang out, and then probably go off and ana Ríos issued a decree allowing the marriage An embassy employee testified that among the vote later because it included things like have a shag or have someone come here and there. the people handed protest material was the Ira- cross-dressing, and a variety of other people have a shag ... that’s probably a couple times She called the marriage “a breakthrough in hu- nian ambassador himself. involved in behaviors that weren’t based on a week.” — Singer George Michael to Britain’s man rights and social inclusion” and said, “We Androsenko said his fine was unusually harsh sexual orientation, just a preference for the The Guardian, Dec. 5. are delighted that it has happened in our prov- for nations of the former Soviet Union and equals way they dressed and behaved. So it was over- ince.” one month’s worth of his salary. ly broad. So if you are a third-grade teacher “Elton (John) will not be happy until Federal and provincial human rights officials “I am going to appeal for review ... to the and you are a man and you show up on Monday I bang on his door in the middle of the attended the wedding. U.N. Human Rights Committee,” he said. “It will as Mr. Johnson and you show up on Tuesday as night saying: ‘Please, please, help me, Elton. “Finally, the first marriage between persons of reveal the roughness of Belarusian legislation Mrs. Johnson, that is a little confusing to the Take me to rehab.’ It’s not going to happen. the same sex in Latin America and the Caribbean to issues of organizing such actions and restric- kids. So I don’t like that.” — Minnesota Gov. You know what I heard last week? ... Geri (Hal- has occurred,” said Claudio Morgado, president tions on expressing one’s own thought.” Tim Pawlenty to Newsweek, Dec. 21. liwell) told Kenny that Bono, having spoken to of the National Institute Against Discrimination, “The world can’t hear the voice of Iranian Elton, had approached Geri to say, ‘What can Xenophobia and Racism (INADI), who witnessed gays, who are being executed,” he added. “We, “She (Sarah Palin) is easily as quali- we do for George?’ This is what I have to deal the event. “This took place after a strong ac- activists of LGBT movement, have to become fied (to be president) as Barack Obama. with because I don’t want to be part of that tivist fight by FALGBT (Argentina Federation of this voice.” I would argue she’s more qualified in terms social clique. All I’d have to do to stop it is Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trangenders) and of leadership, experience, management and hang out in London, so people realize I don’t great work of coordination between INADI and —Assistance: Bill Kelley supervision—actually running something. She look close to death.” — Singer George Michael the legal secretary of Tierra del Fuego. INADI was a mayor, head of an energy commission to Britain’s The Guardian, Dec. 5. feels that we had to join in this historic moment Read more world news online at www. and governor.” — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty marking a major advance in the fight against WindyCityMediaGroup.com. to Newsweek, Dec. 21. discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals —Assistance: Bill Kelley and transgenders.” INADI immediately featured the wedding at 10 Jan. 6, 2010

VIEWPOINTS VOL. 25, No. 14, Jan. 6, 2010 The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, tional AIDS Policy with the task of developing a someday be climbing the steps to a meeting at founded May 1987. national HIV/AIDS strategy that will address the the White House.” HELENA goals of 1) reducing HIV incidence, 2) improving The meeting room was small and intimate. The PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR access to care for people living with HIV/AIDS, ladies searched out seats and greeted old friends Tracy Baim BUSHONG and 3) reducing HIV-related health disparities. and colleagues while we waited for the meeting ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky As part of this effort, we have conducted a series to begin as I went about the room introducing MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis of community discussions across the Country to myself and passing out my bullet point sheet. BUSINESS MANAGER Meghan Streit obtain public input on the National HIV/AIDS What an amazing group of women! I met such DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright Strategy. We are also hosting issues-specific ex- folks as Donna Hubbard McCree, PhD, MPH, RPh, ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson ACCOUNT MANAGERS: Terri Klinsky, Amy Matheny, A tranny girl pert meetings at the White House.” a Team Leader/ Behavioral Scientist Division of Kirk Williamson As my colleague continued to read, tears came HIV/AIDS Prevention, at the Centers for Disease PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT Cynthia Holmes to my eyes—this was real! A female transgen- Control and Prevention and Ravinia Hayes-Co- NIGHTSPOTS MANAGING EDITOR Kirk Williamson goes to the dered person was being invited to the table at zier, of the National Minority AIDS Council Ms NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, Marie the White House to help develop a National HIV/ Hayes-Cozier, Director of Government Relations J. Kuda, David Byrne, Tony Peregrin, Lisa Keen, White House AIDS Strategy regarding Women and HIV. and Public Policy Division. I also spoke briefly Yasmin Nair, Emmanuel Garcia When I was first diagnosed with HIV, I ex- with Ms Angela Burt-Murray, Editor-in- Chief of THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan As I sit here, I can’t help but ask the question, pected, and sometimes hoped, I would be dead Essence Magazine. CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight, Jr. “Just how did I find myself headed to Wash- BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair long before now. How would I gather the cour- The meeting was opened by Valerie Jarrett of ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS ington, DC to advise on public policy at the age to live with yet more stigma, shame, and the White House Office of Public Engagement/ Mary Shen Barnidge, Jim Edminster, Steve Warren, White House?” It’s been a whirlwind fall that guilt? Every day I thought about death and how Council on Women and Girls, and then Jeffrey Lawrence Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Catey Sullivan, all started with me applying for and being se- I knew I could not leave this planet without Crowley of the White House Office of National Zachary Whittenburg, Jonathan Abarbanel lected as a member of the newly formed IL Al- COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Susie an honest attempt to leave at peace someday. AIDS Policy did the welcome and introduction, Day, Jorjet Harper, Lee Lynch, Steve Starr, Lisa liance for Sound AIDS Policy (IL ASAP), a group Those thoughts have since been replaced with describing the focus groups he had witnessed Keen, Charlsie Dewey, Michael Knipp, Mark Corece, of statewide policy and advocacy leaders picked expressions of gratefulness. One’s life will never across the country. Sabine Neidhardt, Sam Worley, Billy Masters, John to increase community involvement in HIV/AIDS be the same with this virus, but life can also This day was a revelation to me. I realized how Fenoglio, Chuck Colbert, Micki Leventhal, Sarah activities, and fight for fair policies for those Toce, Rachel Pepper be enriched by the experience of HIV/AIDS. Af- many people, especially women, are fighting to PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Mel Ferrand, Hal living with and at risk for HIV and AIDS. ter diagnosis, I gained a new perspective and help those who are under served. How special I Baim, Steve Starr, Emmanuel Garcia On Nov.12, 2009, IL ASAP was fortunate enough started to give back and help others, as others felt knowing women such as Dawn Averitt Bridge CIRCULATION to take part in a National HIV/AIDS Strategy Fo- had so often helped me. of the Well Project, Dazon Dixon Diallo of Sister CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright cus Group. Jeffery Crowley, Director of the White When my colleague finished reading the email, Love, Inc. Tina Tchen of the White House Office DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Renee, Sue and Victor House Office of National Aids Policy and Senior we jumped, laughed, and then we sat quiet for of Public Engagement/Council on Women and Advisor of Disability Policy was the guest at the a moment, letting it all sink in. After a time, Girls and 40 or so others in the room were gath- focus group and listened as community members my phone rang. It was Adelle Simmons, advisor ered to help improve health care for women and spoke to issues that need to be addressed when of the Office of National AIDS Policy, calling to transgender such as myself and others all across forming the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. I testi- confirm I was planning to attend and to inform the country. fied at the focus group meeting regarding the me that a security check must be conducted on My overall sense was that Jeffery Crowley and barriers facing transgender, women, and aging all individuals attending White House meetings. his team has been working tirelessly, travel- populations; I had a lot to say! “Oh God,” I thought. I explained to her that I ing the country to hold focus groups and col- After the focus group, I spoke with Mr. Crowley have an Illinois photo Driver’s License, but at lect community input to develop a National as a follow up to my testimony and I offered him first, I did not tell her that the federal govern- HIV/AIDS strategy. The message was clear: Our Copyright 2010 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media a business card in case he had any questions or ment has yet to change the gender marker on my President is committed to a National HIV/AIDS Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back needed further input from me. I was impressed Social Security card. So many of us trans folks prevention Strategy. There are unresolved issues issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, that Mr. Crowley seemed to listen carefully to do not have complete I.D. to suit the gender we which stand out as we face the prevention of and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and testimony, took notes and asked thoughtful live under. Ms. Simmons said that as long as I HIV/AIDS, but this administration is resolved to no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. questions. I thought to myself, “Who knows?” All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy had a state I.D. with photo she would contact tackle them head-on. City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned I did not think about it anymore until I open the Secret Service. They would have final say, Afterwards, I got to speak with Jeffery Crowley for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing my email in early December, and spotted an and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, but she would get a response within 24 hours. and thank him for the invite. We also discussed cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own e-mail from the White House! Subject: Dec. 8, I knew I was not going to sleep this night; I the impact of SSI and disability rules as an ob- and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City White House “Women and HIV” meeting. It was worried about my past. I wondered, “Will any- stacle to productive workers. Some people who Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy flagged: Importance—High. thing pop up to close the door to the White are HIV positive are able and willing to work City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the At first, I thought it might be a joke. (Ido House for me?” The next day—Friday, Dec. 4—I part time, but fears of losing the crucial medi- sexual orientation of such person or organization. While we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make have some prankster friends). I returned to the checked my emails and there it was: From: Adelle cal benefits that come with disability force some this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept e-mail to read it again. As I read further, I felt Simmons Subject: December 8, White House into boredom and isolation at home. responsibility for advertising claims. almost unable to breathe. The email went on: “Women and HIV” Meeting Agenda. I was in! I realize I owe my lucky stars a debt of grati- (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 I arrived at the airport early on Tuesday. I tude for this opportunity. There have been mo- e-mail: [email protected]

Dear Colleagues, started to sweat as I came to the airport secu- ments in life when I was ready to give in, and www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com We are in the process of finalizing the partici- rity check-in with boarding pass and photo I.D. I am grateful to those who exhorted me, “Never radio: WindyCityQueercast.com pant list for next Tuesday’s meeting at the White in hand. There is always a bit of stress when a give up, Never.” I want to thank them and as- video: QueerTVNetwork.com House. trans person has to show I.D. Trying my best not sure them that I will continue to fight and be And we hope you are able to join us. to faint, I stood in the line with about 12 or so of service to my community. I will continue to WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, Regards, Adelle Simmons 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640 USA folks ahead of me. Thankfully, all went well. share my experience in hopes that I may be able (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) I arrived in D.C. late due to bad weather; if to pass on the hope that was given to me. I got up from my desk and walked around a bit I wanted to make the meeting I had to hustle. As I left the White House, I thought with a Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. to keep my composure and to breathe! One of Forty-five minutes later (and $100 dollars poor- smile, “Tranny girl goes to the White House. Who Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. my colleagues was concerned. “Is anything was Identity (BLACKlines and En La Vida): Now er), I arrived just 15 minutes before the meeting would have believed it?” Before that day, even online only wrong?” she asked. I pointed to the computer that was due to start. As I arrived to 1600 Penn- I might have balked at the idea, but now, any- Deadline The 10th of month prior. and asked if she would read the email. She did: sylvania Avenue I thought, “Never in my wild- thing is possible. OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE “President Obama has charged the Office of Na- est dreams could I have imagined that I would www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com

www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com lost himself in the autocratic norm that says be- that is not even shared with the rest of Christi- www.WindyCityQueercast.com Letter: cause I said it must be so. Sectarianism should anity, arrogantly claim to speak for Christianity www.QueerTVNetwork.com never have the final word on who can and can- in the Manhattan Declaration. Evangelical lead- By George... not get married. That is the place for law and ers are divided. Dr. John MacArthur, an evan- not the church. The church is only a witness and gelical writer and minister, said, “The Gospel is Recently, Cardinal Francis George, president of not a legislator in a Catholic marriage. barely mentioned in the Declaration.” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote As someone who is both gay and Catholic, I Among the Catholic signers are those who re- “Windy City Media Group generated in his column his support for the Manhattan have difficulty with anyone who would promote ject Catholic and Orthodox doctrines that place enormous interest among their readers Declaration in the “Chicago Catholic New World.” his/her own religious dogmatic biases in order church ecclesiastical authority equal to that of in this year’s LGBT Consumer Index The cardinal says he sees marriage as a prin- to trample on the rights of people who are both Scripture, among other things. Survey. Out of approximately 100 ciple, and reducing it to a matter of “politics different and tax-paying citizens of this nation. Gay marriage is a movement whose time has print and online media partners who or a question of “rights’ is destructive of the There is an important point that is being over- come; it is unfortunate the individuals such as participated in the survey, Windy social order. looked by the signers of the Manhattan Declara- Cardinal George continue to promote respectable City was the best performing regional media in the U.S. Only survey partners According to the Catholic faith, marriage is lim- tion: Their position that marriage is sacramental bigotry, not unlike those of a redneck or Klan with a nationwide footprint were ited to baptized persons—a point that I think is not shared by all of Christianity or among persuasion. able to generate a greater number of Cardinal George would have difficulty refuting. I themselves. responses.” ­­—David Marshall, Research will not get into the theological dynamic of this Evangelical Christians joining with Roman Joe Murray Director, Community Marketing, Inc. nor will I ignore the fact that the Cardinal has Catholic Bishops to promote a vision of marriage Rainbow Sash Movement Jan. 6, 2010 11 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

‘MOUNTAIN’ MEN Brokeback Mountain—starring Jake Gyllenhaal (left) and the late Heath Ledger—is among the best LGBT films of the decade.R ead page 15. THEATER MUSIC BOOKS Lucky Kevin. Dynamic duo. ‘Red’ reckoning. Page 13. Page 16. Page 19.

PR photo Photo of Alix Dobkin by Tracy Baim

SCOTTISH PLAY SCOTT Four festivals This year’s line-up includes artists such as Film fans everywhere wade through winter Julie Caffey, BoyGirlboyGirl, Idris Goodwin and weather to get to the Sundance Film Festival ev- Hermit Arts, Bruised Orange, Silent Theatre and Tryouts ery January in Park City, Utah. But in Chicago, more. Featured events include Jeff Kowalkowski’s there are four theater festivals starting up in porcine opera King Pignacious, a group show by in trouble? January that make it worthwhile to bundle up faculty in The School of The Art Institute of Chi- BY SCOTT C. MORGAN and brave the cold. cago’s Writing Program and a special Valentine’s First up is The Ninth Annual Chicago Sketch Vaudeville show curated by Jenny Magnus. Hopes were really high this season when not Comedy Festival (a.k.a. the Chicago Sketch- RhinoFest runs Jan. 22-Feb. 14 at the Prop one, but two major New York-bound shows chose Fest). If you couldn’t get into the Second City’s Thtr, 3502 N. Elston. Tickets are $12-$15 for to tryout in Chicago. But by the time Cirque du big 50th anniversary bash (or if you didn’t want each show. Call 773-508-0666 or visit www.rhi- Soleil’s vaudeville-inspired Banana Shpeel and to pay the outrageous scalper fees), check out nofest.com the new musical The Addams Family both opened these sketch comedy troupes from around the The newest theater festival is the Bricks and in December, the critical reception was either world. Mortar Fest, which showcases old and new work mixed or as chilly as the weather. On Jan. 7-17, 100 sketch comedy troupes per- by Chicago company The Bricklayers and Collec- At the Chicago Theatre, the just-closed Banana form 125 shows within two weekends. But it’s tif Masque from France. Shpeel received a major critical drubbing. It was not all performances. Networking events, work- The two major productions in this festival are a shock since most Cirque du Soleil productions shops and even kids’ shows are also part of the 2008 revivals—Twelfth Night: Galaxy 4.2 (previ- prove to be such crowd-pleasers. mix at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. ously seen at the Athenaeum Theatre) and The Cirque producers have now postponed the start Belmont. Tickets to each show are $12.50, or Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (previ- of previews at New York’s Beacon Theatre from $150 for an all-festival pass. Call 773-327-5252 ously work-shopped at the old Bailiwick Reper- the original start date of Feb. 4 to Feb. 25. or visit www.chicagosketchfest.com. tory space). “The shift in dates will allow the production to Halcyon Theatre feels that women playwrights Both works feature unconventional staging have a full month of rehearsals at the Beacon,” are unfairly underrepresented in the theater techniques. Twelfth Night slips a sci-fi sheen said Cirque producers in a statement. “The ideas world. So the company is doing its part to right over Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy, continue to develop and the additional rehearsal the imbalance through its Alcyone Festival, while puppets populate Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. which was created specifically to showcase the On the newer side, the Bricks and Mortar Fest time on stage will allow the best opportunity to GayCo will be part of the 2010 Chicago theatrical writings of women. presents a slew of one-night-only readings of fully realize the show’s potential.” SketchFest. Photo courtesy of the company. Meanwhile, The Addams Family received far The 2010 festival celebrates the work of in- new works from other companies. Piccolo The- fluential Cuban-American playwright Maria Irene atre presents The Return of the Lump Bros. and kinder reviews when it officially opened Dec. “We are very pleased that Jerry is willing and Fornes. Six of her plays—Letters from Cuba, Other Vaudeville Gems Feb. 5, Chicago dell’Arte 9, 2009, at the Ford Center for the Performing eager to come on board at this point in the pro- Manual for a Desperate Crossing, Sarita, Sum- presents I’ll Miss You Lop Zhang Feb. 6, while Arts, Oriental Theatre. But many critics had com- cess to collaborate with our creative team to mer in Gossensass, Tango Palace and What of Filament Theatre Ensemble presents The Odyssey plaints about the show’s second act, plus many insure that the show achieves its full potential the Night—rotate in repertory Jan. 21-Feb. 27 of Arlecchino Feb. 7. other reservations. for its Broadway debut,” stated producer Stuart at Lincoln Square Theatre in Barry United Meth- The Bricklayers also presents previews of its In response, the largely Chicago-based Add- Oken to Playbill.com. odist Church, 4754 N. Leavitt. Single tickets are upcoming works this season, which include a ams Family producers have hired four-time Tony The production’s original team of British di- $10-$20, while a $50 festival pass gets you into mask version of Mother Courage and Her Chil- Award-winning director Jerry Zaks to oversee rectors/designers Phelim McDermott and Julian each show. Call 773-413-0453 or visit www.hal- dren Feb. 3, and an Appalachian rethinking of the production as a creative consultant. (Zaks Crouch will also stay on while composer Andrew cyontheatre.org. the fairy tale The Juniper Tree called Drainpipe was originally attached to direct the new Broad- Lippa and playwrights Marshall Brickman and Also back is the Rhinoceros Theater Festival Feb. 10. way-bound Dame Edna/Michael Feinstein show Rick Elice continue to reshape the show. The (a.k.a. Rhino Fest), now in its 21st year. This The Bricks and Mortar Fest plays Jan. 28-Feb. All About Me, but he was released from that Chicago run of The Addams family concludes month-long festival, sponsored by Curious The- 14 at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Bel- contract.) Zaks previously directed Tony-winning Jan. 10. The Addams Family performances on atre Branch and Prop Thtr, spotlights the best mont. Tickets prices to each show varies. Call Addams Family star Nathan Lane on Broadway in Broadway have also been postponed, but only and brightest Chicago fringe artists and troupes 773-327-5252 or visit www.theatrebuildingchi- Guys and Dolls in 1992 and A Funny Thing Hap- by four days. Previews now begin at the Lunt- that do experimental and off-beat theater and cago.org for more information. pened on the Way to the Forum in 1996. Fontanne Theatre March 8. music. 12 Jan. 6, 2010 Boom, Next Theatre—New Next artistic direc- tor Jason Southerland launched his first full sea- CRITICS’ PICKS son with a childish play about a new Adam and Eve, of sorts, after a modern Apocalypse destroys Jersey Boys, Bank of America Theatre, the earth. The downfall wasn’t the improbable through Jan. 10. The music of the Four Sea- situation, but playwright Peter Sinn Nachtreib’s sons spans generations, but this bio-musi- vacuous characters and failure to establish them cal is finally leaving after more than two as believable individuals. sell-out years. You’ve still got one weekend, Fake, Steppenwolf Theatre—Eric Simonson however, to see the show that’s even better overreached in both writing and directing this than the ads promised. MSB world premiere, which failed to be the poor man’s The Merry Widow, Lyric Opera of Chicago, version of Tom Stoppard to which it aspired. Set through Jan. 16. Fans of modern-day chick in two time periods, and purporting to be about flicks will love this brand new Lyric stag- the Piltdown Man (a famous early 20th-century ing helmed by Chicago director Gary Griffin, fossil fake) and Arthur Conan Doyle, it was— who wisely plays all the relationships seri- really—about issues of faith and belief. That’s ously without overemphasizing the camp. OK, but Simonson shifted focus too many times, You probably won’t see a Merry Widow sung repeatedly lost his thread and set the audience or acted better than this one. SCM up with red herrings. Oh Coward!, Writers’ Theatre at Books on Vernon, through March 21. This sublimely THEATER REVIEW and skillfully performed musical revue A Fool transports you to a celestial cocktail party Light in the Piazza. Photo courtesy of Peter Coombs and The Marriott Theatre celebrating the wit and sophistication of Such as I the (and gay) Noel Coward. SCM away hit (and deservedly so), Alan Bennett’s Playwright: Gus Edwards The Taming of the Flu, The Second City, 2009: The good clever play about a battle for the hearts and At: eta Creative Arts Foundation, open run. The new 50th anniversary revue minds of adolescent boys (and, more deeply, 7558 S. South Chicago is sharply topical (and bound to change, and the bad about the purposes of education) is on every- Phone: 773-752-3955; $30 therefore), witty more than ha-ha funny By Jonathan Abarbanel one’s “best” list for 2009. Superb ensemble Through Jan. 24 and features a six-person cast with acting performances (with veteran Donald Brearly re- BY SCOTT C. MORGAN chops in addition to comedy chops. JA Any given theater writer sees at most 250 shows markable in the chief role) and a clever envi- in a year (if he/she sees five shows a week, and ronmental staging helped fuel this production’s There’s nothing like a juicy affair to pique an that’s a lot) and most of us see far fewer. But triumphant six-month run. audience’s interest. And there’s a scorcher in —By Abarbanel, Barnidge, Chicago’s 200+ theater troupes offer 800 or so The Light in the Piazza, Marriott Theatre— Gus Edwards’ A Fool Such As I, now playing in Morgan and Sullivan productions every year (according to the League This unusual chamber musical, based on the an engrossing production at eta Creative Arts of Chicago Theatres), so the likelihood is high novel (and film) of the same name, featured a Foundation. that I—or any other reviewer—actually missed dazzling score by Adam Guettel and Jeff Award- A Fool Such As I lures in audiences hook, line the best show or shows of the year. My best/ winning performances by a fine cast. This ve- and sinker with a torrid love story that by the worst of the year, therefore, are selections made hicle started life at the Goodman Theatre, went end turns (not altogether convincingly) tragic. through a relatively narrow window. They are on to Broadway success and then returned in a But aside from that misstep, director Kamesha listed in the order in which they opened, begin- touring version that was swamped at the Audi- Khan skillfully helps make the overall journey a ning last January. torium Theatre. The all-new Marriott production captivating one. restored the proper intimacy and passion. Like John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation, The best Ballad of the Sad Cafe, Signal Ensemble— Edwards structures his comic drama largely and These Shining Lives, Rivendell Theatre Ensem- Carson McCuller’s tale of obsession, attraction effectively in a series of character monologues ble—Melanie Marnich’s history play about young and idolization is Southern Gothic all the way, (interspersed with bits of dialogue). While some women who painted radium watch dials in the and Edward Albee’s talky stage version is dodgy may see this as an easy way to share insight into 1920s and 1930s featured fascinating and com- at best, but Signal Ensemble’s impressively characters’ thoughts and actions, it snappily al- passionate writing, given a caring and heartfelt staged and acted version overcame all obstacles lows for many perspectives to be presented at production by Rivendell, which remounted the to create a mesmerizing experience featuring in- once. show late in the year. tensely physicalized performances. It all starts when the unemployed Chicago The Shape of a Girl, Pegasus Players—I wait- All My Sons, TimeLine Theatre—Even as The transplant Lonnie (David Goodloe) spots a torn ed for years to see a Chicago company produce History Boys still was running, TimeLine scored shopping bag being carried by the hospital this exquisite one-character work by Canadian again with a scorching rendition of Arthur Mill- worker Sharra (Kona Burks). She invites Lonnie playwright Joan MacLeod that concerns adoles- er’s early domestic tragedy, drawn from World home to help with the groceries and to meet her cent girl-on-girl violence and is based on real War II headlines about war profiteering. The husband, Damon (a one-time boxer who has let Vancouver headlines. The wait was long but familiar play became fresh, new and emotion- his body go a bit to seed). worth it, as Alice Wedoff delivered a primo per- ally devastating under director Kimberly Senior, Not long after that, Lonnie and Sharra fall into formance as a conflicted 15-year-old. with the deeply moving Janet Ulrich Brooks and a passionate affair unbeknownst to Damon. On Playing with Fire, Bohemian Theatre Ensem- Roger Mueller in the lead roles. the periphery is their embittered single mother A Fool Such As I. ble—Based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this neighbor, Aloma (Corvet Williams), who grows highly intelligent adaptation by Barbara Field The worst increasingly jealous of the two. recognized the work as a profound philosophical Oedipus, The Hypocrites—This ill-conceived The one plot device that feels jarringly out Since everything is told in flashback, it’s odd tract rather than a horror story. Boho’s produc- comic strip version of Sophocles’s noble tragedy of place is the late revelation that Sharra and that the character who commits the heinous act tion, squeezed into a tiny storefront, offered an robbed the work of all poetry, grandeur and pro- Damon have a mentally challenged six-year-old shows no indication of it early on. This flaw is a austerely beautiful look and superb lead perfor- fundity in a misguided attempt to make it rel- boy. Burks overplays this shoehorned informa- let down, considering how so much else in Ed- mances by Kevin Cox (Creature) and Buck Zach- evant, hip, accessible and fun. Well, the pop-art tion in a red-flag-raising monologue. Clearly the wards’ play clicks effortlessly into place. ary. environmental production WAS fun, but it sure child will become a flash point to turn the play Previous productions of A Fool Such As I have Ghostwritten, Goodman Theatre—I’m in the wasn’t Oedipus Rex. tragic. just featured the cast reading the play from mu- minority of critics who really liked Naomi Iizu- sic stands, but director Khan effectively uses the ki’s work of magic realism, freely based on the colorful eta stage to tell this swirling story of fairytale Rumpelstiltskin. Set in Southeast Asia love and betrayal. and the United States, Ghostwritten is a con- Khan is blessed with very personable and at- temporary of wishes granted and debts we owe tractive cast—so much so that in the cases of with cultural identity thrown in as a major bo- Goodloe and Burks, it feels like their characters nus. I really enjoyed Goodman’s well-acted and should have dialogue about regularly going to atmospheric production. the gym. But each cast member is able to get Red Noses, Strawdog Theatre—Ignored for you on their side, no matter how devious their years, Peter Barnes’s large-cast and strange actions and justifications prove to be. comedy about priests and plague in the Middle With A Fool Such As I Edwards effectively ham- Ages enjoyed two back-to-back productions in mers home the fact that the most agonizing of 2009. I saw only the Strawdog staging, which adulterous affairs can happen under our noses was an unblemished triumph of low comedy and on the supposedly worst street in town. Khan’s ensemble playing as creative as it was energetic. entertaining production makes you glad that Despite its 14th-century setting, Red Noses is you got to spend so much time with Edwards’ very much a contemporary work, with its mes- imperfectly passionate people. sage of the forces unleashed—good and not— by profound social change. Ghostwritten. Photo by Peter Wynn Thompson The History Boys, TimeLine Theatre—A run- Jan. 6, 2010 13 NUNN ON ONE: THEATER WCT: Well, if you need some good food for fuel, eat at Andies restaurant where I work Kevin again. Kevin Chamberlin KC: I loved that Mediterranean food. That was Chamberlin (center) as such a lovely night. Colin—our swing, who un- Uncle Fester in derstudies all the chorus people—lives around says uncle The Addams there. BY JERRY NUNN Famly: A New WCT: If you ever want to go out to the bear Musical. bars let me know. Openly gay actor Kevin Chamberlin has many KC: I heard there is “Fur” on Saturday nights at show-stealing moments as Uncle Fester in The Cellblock. I have been to Touche and Jackham- Addams Family: A New Musical, currently at Ford mer, too. Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre, WCT: So you have been able to get out and 24 W. Randolph. Windy City Times turned the not just stuck inside rehearsing then. light bulb on this rising family member. KC: Oh, yeah. I need to have my blow out Windy City Times: Hi, Kevin. I just saw nights. It has been a stressful month of pre- views. I have three really great numbers. We are you in the Addams Family musical. You look WCT: I talked to you at Grandma’s Jackie open in New York. We won’t know what the final like you are having a lot of fun up there on still doing a lot of development and work on the Hoffman show and it seems like The Addams score is until a week before we open there, be- show. You will have to come back and see it in stage. Family supports each other in whatever side cause songs get cut, rearranged and new songs Kevin Chamberlin: Yeah, it’s a great role. It’s New York. The lines for the box office are appar- projects that they do, with Zachary James come in. ently very long. quite a gift. You rarely get these kinds of roles. show, also… WCT: When I spoke with Chita Rivera she At first when they talked originally about the Get your tickets to this hilarious show by KC: A lot of us have known each other for a said that Broadway cast albums get rushed Jan. 10; after that, it heads to Broadway. For Moon song, when they were developing it in while. sometimes but this one you really get to workshop, I always pictured it in my head as more information visit www.TheAddamsFami- WCT: Did you meet Bebe Neuwirth on the know your role beforehand. lyMusical.com or www.BroadwayInChicago. something very fifth-grade pageant. It has that set of Frasier? KC: We have been working on this for a year quality to it but I never expected it to get the com. KC: Yes, Bebe and I had done two episodes and half. This is the longest development period Also, read an interview with one of Cham- reaction that it’s getting. It’s really very fun. of Frasier together. I also knew her through the I have ever worked on for sure. I am contracted wct: What was your journey to becoming berlin’s co-stars, Zachary James, online at musical Chicago. We did the 10th anniversary to April of 2011. www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. Uncle Fester? together. Nathan Lane and I had worked togeth- WCT: You were in Taking Woodstock and Die KC: Well, I was called to do a reading. I live er on Wise Guys. It was an early version of a Hard with a Vengeance. Do you want to do in Los Angeles but was in town doing the musi- musical by Sondheim that turned into this thing more movies? cal Chicago. Every now and then I go in for a called Road Show. It was the last show Stephen KC: I have been very fortunate in my career to couple of weeks to help them out. I play Amos Sondheim did. Nathan and I have been social bounce back and forth. I never thought I would on Broadway. So I happened to be in town for friends for a long time. We both hit New York at hear myself say it but I am truly bicoastal now. I the table read of the script. There was very little the same time. will have a home in both cities. We have a home music written. I have been connected with it WCT: You and Jackie had Queer Duck: The in Los Angeles and now I am setting up shop in since then. Movie in common. New York. The grass is always greener, you get WCT: You have done a lot of Broadway work KC: Yeah, I didn’t even know that. I had met tired of city living then just go back out to LA and been nominated twice for Tony Awards. her when she was doing Hairspray the Musical. and live the suburban life. KC: Yes, I moved to L.A. in 2002 after 9/11. The Broadway community is very tight because WCT: It sounds like everything is going great I didn’t want to be at the center of the world we all do these fundraisers for Broadway Cares. for you right now. anymore. Every three months there is a huge event. I can’t KC: It is. I am trying to get my show legs. I am WCT: You can do more movies when you live imagine Broadway without it. It is the glue that sore from the dancing. I am sure that will pass in California that way. brings all the Broadway people together. soon. Kevin Chamberlin. KC: Los Angeles is not a big theater town per WCT: Speaking of the group together, when se. My partner is a television writer so he is The Addams Family is standing in the grave- doing really well out there. We have switched yard and the theme song played, I swear I got gears; I was the breadwinner in New York and goosebumps! The old saying where casting is now he is the breadwinner out there. [Laughs] so important to the show was very true. WCT: You were on the TV show Better Off KC: Ninety percent. A NEW HORIZON Ted. I interviewed Jonathan Slavin before. He WCT: Were you allowed to improv very in improving bodily appearance is a great guy. much? Because I noticed Jackie [who plays KC: Yes, he is. We have worked together a cou- Grandma] did… • Hair Removal ple of times before. KC: That’s Jackie’s thing. They have given her WCT: Hollywood has given you the opportu- sections where she is free to put in different • Botox nity to be on Heroes as well. stuff every night. For the rest of us, we have KC: It can be a tough town. Basically Broadway been very instrumental in rewrites. They take • Fillers is 10 blocks and everyone knows each other. It many of our suggestions. But there is not very is a tight inner circle and your work proceeds much improvisation for our parts. • Zerona you. You reputation is there when you walk into wct: When does the Addams Family Musical (for simple body contour improvement) a room for an audition. In L.A. you are only as Broadway cast album come out? good as the last thing you did, and maybe not KC: We are working on it two weeks after we even that. • SmartLipo (for a more enduring contour)

SPOTLIGHT Over 40? Feeling tired? Can’t keep up at work? Call Dr. Evans to change your life! We’ve already seen a live LGTBQ soap opera called Age-management The Ville at Mary’s Attic, so it was only a matter of time before Chicago got its first live drag-queen sit- medicine for com. Glitter in the Gutter was originally developed upper-level health at the Annoyance Theatre as part of its Triple Feature new works Showcase. Now it’s a full-fledged show evaluation and courtesy of Kellen Alexander, with significant input from his drag stars, Wes Perry and Seth Dodson. Glit- individualized care ter in the Gutter plays at the Annoyance Theatre, packages. ENFUSE 4830 N. Broadway, in previews 8 p.m. Thursdays A NEW HORIZON before an official opening on Jan. 21. Performances then continue at 8 p.m. Thursdays until March 11. Dr. William B. Evans Tickets are $8 for previews and $10 during the regular 1645 W. North Ave. • 773-904-8310 run. Call 773-561-4665 or visit www.annoyancepro- ductions.com. Photo of Wes Perry and Seth Dodson in 2457 N. Halsted St. • 773-904-8191 Glitter in the Gutter by Zach Dodson enfusemedspas.com 14 Jan. 6, 2010 PA: It’s interesting, because my dad is a really Face is a shining example of what that is all liberal minister, and my mother and father have about. Saints founder dies been big advocates of the gay community for It was really good to fall in with them last year Benjamin Joseph “B.J.” Nelson, the presi- years, and my dad preaches tolerance. But it’s during [About Face’s] financial crisis because I dent of the arts-volunteer organization funny—when it’s your own son, you still have think that Stupid Kids (which I was in) literally known as the Saints, died Dec. 9, 2009, from these fears and concerns. put the [company’s] mission on stage. The play injuries sustained in a car accident, accord- My mother was pretty funny. She was proof- was really in-your-face. We were asking people ing to the Chicago Tribune. He was 73. reading a paper, and she put her pen down and for money, and it felt like going to work had a Nelson’s longtime partner, Kyl Hamby, said said, “Oh, I figured.” My dad and I butted heads purpose instead of doing a fluffy piece of the- that Nelson was returning home after being a lot when I was in high school, but I think ater. an usher for a performance of The Christmas there’s something about fathers and sons, and wct: Now, let’s talk about American Buf- Schooner at the Theatre at the Center in Mun- there’s going to be that conflict. But he’s come falo. It’s about three men who plot to steal a ster, Ind. up to Chicago and stayed with me and my [ex-] buffalo nickel, correct? A funeral was held Dec. 14. In lieu of flow- boyfriend. PA: Yes. The main character, Don, in his eyes, ers, memorial contributions can be made wct: Give me some insight about the life has been ripped off pretty horribly; he gets less to Freids Cat Shelter, 509 Indiana Highway, of a theater actor, because what I envision money than he thinks he should get. So he is Michigan City, Ind., 46360 in Nelson’s name. is people going to auditions but they have plotting to steal this guy’s coin collection. It The Saints currently have approximately to hold down part- or full-time jobs. How ac- takes place in one day, and it’s pretty claustro- 2,000 members who “serve over [80] of the curate is that? phobic because things get pretty intense in this Chicago and suburban theater, dance and mu- PA: That’s really accurate. I’ve been really junk shop; these three men have emotional cri- sic organizations,” according to the organi- Patrick Andrews. blessed to work consistently as an actor, for the ses with each other. It’s like a Greek tragedy in zation’s Web site. Those who wish to post a most part. But I feel like I’m notorious for never this junk shop. It really speaks to me about the message can visit www.SaintsChicago.org. THEATER being able to keep a day job. You look at my personal dramas that go on with everybody, but resume, and it can hold itself up; but if you look it’s important to see into those stories and views at my day-job resume, it looks like the worst because it gives you a deeper awareness of the Yoni Ki Baat Patrick Andrews: person. But, yes, [people work] part-time jobs, throughline. at Strawdog and I work with a lot of people who have full- It’s interesting that [playwright David] Mamet Rasaka Theatre Company presents an up- The play’s time jobs. And with the theatre schedule, you focuses on this class of people in this play; dated version of their 2009 hit Yoni Ki Baat, don’t know when rehearsals might be. But I’ve if you saw them coming down the street, you a production loosely inspired by Eve Ensler’s the thing worked my share of retail jobs, and I’ve worked would probably cross over to the other side- The Vagina Monologues that includes new BY ANDREW DAVIS in a diner. walk to [avoid] them. But their struggles are work from Chicago authors performed for I’m working at a gym right now; they’ve been very universal. The play poses questions about the first time in 2010. By combining spoken Patrick Andrews, despite being in his early 20s, really great in helping me with my schedule. It’s friendship and business that are pretty spot-on, word, music and dance, Rasaka presents an already has extensive theater experience, ap- weird, though: You feel like this comic-book I think. exploration of female sexuality, seen through pearing in everything from Drury Lane’s Cabaret character leading a double life. wct: And you’re working with Tracy, Francis the lens of desi women. to About Face Theatre’s The Laramie Project: 10 wct: Well, your theater resume is certainly and Amy. What is that like? Yoni Ki Baat runs Jan. 7-31 at Strawdog Years Later. Now, his skills are being displayed impressive—especially considering you’re PA: Well, the first week I was very, very ner- Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway. To purchase tick- and tested in the Steppenwolf production 24. Tell me about working with About Face vous; I was just starstruck and [thinking], “Wow. ets, visit www.rasakatheatre.org. American Buffalo—a play in which he is the Theatre. This person is talking to me.” The three of them only non-ensemble member of the cast. In an PA: Something I love about Chicago is that you are just so wonderful and such great artists. It’s interview with Windy City Times, Andrews talked can find groups of people who are really passion- such an education just sitting in the room with about growing up artistic in Texas; working with ate about the art beyond themselves, and [find] them. But they are people just like everybody the revered Tracy Letts, Francis Guinan and Amy some sort of global awareness. I think working else; they drop lines and get frustrated with Morton (of “Buffalo”); and weighing the impor- with About Face has been wonderful because I themselves, just like everybody else. tance of About Face Theatre. feel very much in line with their mission, and it’s When a place like Steppenwolf is built up so, Windy City Times: You’re from Amarillo, a community that I’m a part of. So being able to it’s something to work towards, you know? But Texas. What was it like growing up there? take your wants and concerns for your commu- there’s a support system here, and they’re really Patrick Andrews: [Laughs] Growing up in Ama- nity, and have a platform to speak about them is interesting artists who bring a unique energy. rillo was interesting. It’s in the panhandle of really beautiful. When I fell in with them, it felt wct: Just so our readers can get to know Texas and is right in the middle of the Bible like going over to a really great friend’s house; you, what’s one surprising thing about you? Belt, so it has its unsavory [mix] of religion and we have a lot of talk about and a lot to catch up PA: Oh, God—I don’t know. [Pauses] I’m trying bigotry. However, I also thought it was awesome on. to grow my own kombucha. It’s a [food supple- because the liberal-minded artistic types really When I was 18, I had to decide where to move. ment] that’s good for health. You can grow it in had to seek each other; I had an awesome com- I’d been to Chicago, and saw some performances your house; it’s this crazy bacteria thing that’s munity of thinkers around me growing up be- that rocked my core. I wanted to move to Chi- good for your body. cause that was the community I had to create cago because I wanted to learn how to be an American Buffalo runs through Sunday, Feb. around me. actor. Coming here has really helped me develop 7, at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. I dated this guy for four years who had grown this eye for social awareness within art. About Halsted. See www.steppenwolf.org. up in the North, and his beliefs had never been challenged. Growing up in the South, you really had to form your opinions and stick by them. wct: So how did you develop a love of the theatre? PA: I started in community theater when I was 5 years old, and growing up in community theater is what gave me my backbone for want- ing [theatre] to be my livelihood. When you do community theater, everyone’s doing it for the love of it. You wouldn’t think of it, but Amarillo Yoni Ki Baat. Photo by Jonathan L. Green has a nationally recognized community theater, symphony [and] ballet, so I was able to delve into creating art at a really young age. It started out as a hobby and I pretended that I wanted to Plays get be in sports. My family was really supportive. My dad is a L.A. award nods Chicago Dramatists has announced that res- minister. If I wanted to be a Buddhist or an ident playwright Lydia Diamond’s play Stick atheist, I’m sure he’d be fine with it—just as Fly was nominated for five L.A. Stage Alliance long as I was believing in something passionate- Ovation Awards (including Best Production, ly. He’d talk to me about him having a calling to Director, Ensemble, Lighting and Scenic) and be a minister. But my dad is a minister and my resident playwright Keith Huff’s play The Bird mom’s a social worker; I remember having this and Mr. Banks was also nominated for Ova- existential crisis at 14 [because] I just wanted tion Awards for Best Actor for Sam Anderson to create plays. I didn’t know how I could make (Bernard on “Lost”) and Best Sound Design. a difference—but I realized that I had a calling The nods follow the recent success of the [of my own]. At around 14 or 15, I realized that smash hit production of Huff’s A Steady Rain, I wanted to do it seriously; I started creating my which opened in New York starring Daniel own pieces. Craig and Hugh Jackman in September. wct: You mentioned the support of your From left: Francis Guinan, Patrick Andrews and Tracy Letts in American Buffalo. Photo by Michael The 2008/2009 Ovation Awards will be held parents. What were their reactions when you Brosilow Jan. 11. came out to them—particularly your dad? Jan. 6, 2010 15 American doppelganger Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom. The highlight of 2008, of course, was Milk, queer director Gus Van Sant’s tremen- KNIGHT dous biopic of slain gay-rights activist Harvey Milk that won a well-deserved Oscar for Sean AT Penn and scriptwriter Dustin Lance Black, whose THE impassioned acceptance speeches helped to momentarily heal wounds after the backlash of MOVIES California’s Prop 8. The final year of the decade brought usan- other batch of award-worthy contenders—with A Single Man and Precious sure to be Oscar- nominated along with Valentino: The Last Em- peror as a possible Documentary Oscar nominee. There were several other notable LGBT-themed films in 2009—Outrage, Taking Woodstock, Bruno, Hannah Free and Little Ashes, among them—for queer film enthusiasts to trumpet and which give Our People much to anticipate at the The decade in movies in the decade ahead. queer movies; Gay Sex in the 70s. Film note: Chicago Filmmakers kicks off the new year Sat- urday, Jan. 9, with Confessions of a Lesbian film note to the movies. Nicole Kidman took the Oscar the & You, Hate Crime, Infamous, Quinceanera, By Richard Knight, Jr. Director: Films of Chris J. Russo. The evening, same year, playing bisexual writer Virginia Woolf Running with Scissors, Notes on a Scandal, V which is part of the ongoing Dyke Delicious in the adaptation of gay author Michael Cun- for Vendetta, The History Boys, Gay Sex in the The 1990s saw the unofficial birth of queer cin- screening series, will include a program of six ningham’s The Hours. (Meryl Streep played a 70s, The Quiet, Time to Leave, Kinky Boots, ema, a trend that started in the underground, of the short films of Russo, many of them au- lesbian character in the film, garnering another Two Drifters, Save Me, For the Bible Tells Me slowly made its way to the mainstream and ex- tobiographical in nature. Russo will appear in of her 2,000 nominations.) Far From Heaven— So, Zoo, The Man of My Life and, especially, panded exponentially throughout the last de- person. Titles include Straight Down the Aisle: new queer cinema director Todd Haynes’ master- the return of John Cameron Mitchell’s sexually cade. Though there still aren’t nearly enough Confessions of Lesbian Bridesmaids, Size ‘Em Up, ful homage to the ‘50s melodramas of Douglas explicit and rousing (pun intended) Shortbus LGBT-themed movies breaking through to main- A Woman Reported, I Just Want To Be Alone: The Sirk with Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid as helped keep LGBT-themed cinema alive. stream audiences (let alone queer ones) to suit Trailer, Directed By Dorothy Arzner: Scenes from her closeted gay husband—arrived in 2003, The year 2008 had very little in the way of me, the last 10 years have seen a steady upward the Directors Lab and 25 Random Things I Did along with a batch of offbeat LGBT-themed fare: gay movies (and forget about lesbian and trans- momentum in terms of quantity, quality and During My Big Fat Lesbian Depression. As with Die! Mommie! Die!, Girls will be Girls, Lat- gendered films) though again, there were some most importantly, visibility for Our People at the other Dyke Delicious programs at Chicago Film- ter Days, Monster, Normal and Party Monster decided exceptions to the rule—Brideshead Re- cineplex. Now that the Aughts are behind us as makers, 5243 N. Clark, the evening begins with among them. visited, The Witnesses, Shelter, Chris & Don: we enter the tens here’s a look back at some a social hour at 7 p.m. followed by the 8 p.m. A Home at the End of the World and Alex- A Love Story, Black, White + Gray, The Life of the highlights of the past decade in queer screening. Visit www.chicagofilmmakers.org or ander (both which featured Colin Farrell play- of Riley, and both Mamma Mia! and Wall-E, movies. call 773-294-1447. ing bisexual characters), Mysterious Skin, Bill two of the year’s biggest box-office hits— had The millennium opened with Big Eden, Be- check out my archived reviews at www. Condon’s Kinsey, Jonathan Caouette’s autobio- gay characters or subtext. (I’m convinced little fore Night Falls and Best in Show—three windycitytimes.com or www.knightatthemov- graphical documentary Tarnation, Brian Dan- Wall-E the robot is gay and Eve is his gal pal.) movies that helped define the years ahead in ies.com. Readers can leave feedback at the nelly’s Saved! and Hellbent—the first queer This was also the year that we got big-screen queer cinema. Big Eden, the charming debut of latter Web site. slasher flick—were some of the LGBT film high- versions of Sex and the City and its gay African- out writer-director Thomas Bezucha remains my lights of 2004. favorite gay-themed romance with its always- Gay movies went to the Oscars in 2005, headed potent message of love conquering all; on the by Brokeback Mountain, the critically lauded fi- other hand, Before Night Falls gave audiences nancial hit which found Heath Ledger and Jake -,# the double bonus of the compelling portrait of Gyllenhaal as two lonely cowboys romantically queer writer Reinaldo Arenas and an instant star involved with each other, enthralling audiences '5 ,22-!& ,%#2&#5-0*" in Javier Bardem, who played him. Christopher worldwide. (Ledger’s final film­—Terry Gilliam’s Guest’s improv comedy Best in Show lovingly and gorgeous-but-thin fantasia The Imaginarium hilariously gave us comedic portraits of both a of Dr. Parnassus, with Johnny Depp, Colin Far- gay and lesbian couple and the movie also gave rell and Brad Pitt filling in Ledger’s unfinished 25- out actor Jane Lynch her breakout role. The year scenes—opens Friday, Jan. 8, at the Music Box 2001 saw the arrival of John Cameron Mitchell’s Theatre.) Capote star Philip Seymour Hoffman ',##"2-# 0, *'4',% Hedwig and the Angry Inch—his searing, mov- won the Best Actor Oscar playing the gay icon/ ing and razor-sharp portrait of a transgendered author Truman Capote while Felicity Huffman rock singer along with the darling lesbian com- won a Best Actress nomination playing a trans- edy Kissing Jessica Stein. Other highlights of gendered woman in out writer-director Duncan 2FPCC the year included The Deep End, The Fluffer Tucker’s Transamerica. and director Robert Altman’s Gosford Park. Crash edged Brokeback for the Best Picture MDRFCRMNRCL The next three years saw an increasing number Oscar, an oversight that, in retrospect, perfectly of LGBT-related movies with some terrific high- justifies Our People’s protests over the slight. D?QRCQR EPMUGLENPMDCQQGMLQ lights that included out director Rob Marshall’s The loss presaged a relative dry spell in queer Chicago, which won the 2002 Oscar for Best Pic- cinema in 2006 and 2007—though Imagine Me ?PCGLNQWAFMJMEW ture and single-handedly brought back musicals

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Julianne Moore in The Hours. thechicagoschool.edu 312.329.6666 16 Jan. 6, 2010 MUSIC on the L Word. We were playing too many shows “Love Machine” is shaking up the crowd along to have day jobs. It was really exciting to make with Respect My Fresh. Everyone loves to make enough money to live on. That was four years out during “Spin The Bottle.” Three’s a ago now. We feel blessed and consider ourselves “Yeah Yeah Yeah” is our opener and always a very lucky to do this as our job. We will feel truly hit. We usually love to perform whatever are our lucky number successful when we hear our songs on the radio, newest songs. and can pay off our parents houses for them! WCT: What do you hope listeners most no- for God-des WCT: Tell me what happened after the tice about the new record? episode of The L Word with you both on it God-des and She: Our new record totally and She aired? stands out. Everyone has a different favorite by RACHEL PEPPER God-des and She: We were busy, and played a song which is awesome! There really is an equal ton of shows. The L Word was responsible for the amount of both of us on the album. We have Ever wonder what happened to the ultra-hot opportunity, and then we did the rest. fused our styles together to create something dyke duo God-des and She after their infamous WCT: Describe how you would summarize totally unique. We have some deep topics but L-Word appearance a few years back? Wonder your working relationship as a duo. mostly tried to have fun and inspire people on no more, because they’re about to release their God-des and She: We have a special musical this record. The world is so depressed that we third record, Three, and have big plans for tour- chemistry you rarely see. You just can’t be bored wanted to make people feel happy if only for ing, Grammy awards and general musical magic. watching a G&S show! I think this record really that moment. Both originally from the Midwest, God-des and cements us as a duo. Two powerful people com- WCT: What will you be doing to promote She started playing together in Madison, Wis., ing together to rock. It just works. Three? Any upcoming tours planned? in 1999. Since then, they’ve released two al- WCT: What are some of your musical influ- God-des and She: We will be touring a lot in bums, 2004’s “Reality” and 2007’s “Stand Up.” ences, and what groups are you loving these 2010 to support the new record. Make sure to A unique melding of hip-hop, soul, rock, dance days? catch us on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or our e- music and electro-pop, God-des is the band’s God-des and She: When we are on the road mail list via our Web site to get tour dates. Make rapper, and She, the singer. The pair has been we listen to a lot of ‘80s and classic rock. We sure to buy our new record, Three. It [came] out featured in two documentaries, including one both like Kings of Leon a lot. We like older hip- Dec. 3 and will be available via our Web site on LGBT hip-hoppers, held the number one spot hop and R&B. The new stuff has no soul. It’s at www.god-desandshe.com and also on-line via on MTV LOGO for 15 consecutive weeks, toured God-des (right) and She. too much of a product and not real enough for iTunes, Rhapsody and other on-line sites! We all over the world, and have enjoyed a growing people to feel. also are doing a fundraiser to raise money for and appreciative fan base. Currently, She lives caught up with this genre-busting act, who has WCT: What songs do fans love the best, and the release. We are in debt and our fans have in Queens, N.Y., and God-des recently moved to a new CD out. why? What are your current favorites to per- been stepping up to help support the release. Austin, Texas. Three was a project they worked Windy City Times: You’ve been working on form? Since we don’t have a record label, our fans are on with Public Enemy producer Brian Hard- being full time musicians for several years God-des and She: Fans will scream “Lick it” our record label. For more info on the fundraiser groove, and the gals hope their more mature, now. When and how did you both realize that till the end of time! We always make them wait go to our Web site. mainstream sound will finally catapult them out you could start actually making music full- for it. “Love You Better” is a huge hit among WCT: Any last words for your fans? from the underground. time, and survive financially on that? show fans. A lot of people know the song from God-des and She: We will always represent and In an e-mail interview, Windy City Times God-des and She: It was right after we were the video and get excited to belt out the hook. be positive role models.

MUSIC tal. You can imagine, as a mother, Chicago will always hold a special place in my heart. Gretchen WCT: Was performing always a goal of yours? GB: I have been performing in bands and Bonaduce’s choirs for most of my life. I certainly was never the most talented singer in the class. Usually new reality the teacher would throw me a bone and let me by Sarah Terez Rosenblum sing lead on a minor part in a show or concert. [They] knew I wanted to be the leading lady, For a woman who has graced the cover of Maxim but just didn’t have the talent to pull it off. I magazine and whose marriage dissolved in front have somehow reached a new level of confidence of a national audience, red-headed Republican in my 40s that I did not possess in my 20s or and reality-TV darling Gretchen Bonaduce is teens. surprisingly down to earth. Now divorced from WCT: You’ve been involved with several real- former child star Donny Bonaduce, and thrilled ity shows—Breaking Bonaduce and Gimme My about her engagement to “an amazing, wonder- Reality Show, to name two. Any regrets? ful, kind man,” Gretchen spoke to the Windy City GB: I have no regrets about doing anything I Times about her band, her love for Chicago and have done. To give comfort to people [by doing] her feelings about her gay fans. a silly little reality show, how can I be sorry Windy City Times: Are you excited to per- for that? People always ask if I think the show Gretchen Bonaduce (second from right) and the band Ankh. form in your home state? had anything to do with my marriage collapsing. Gretchen Bonaduce: I am absolutely ecstatic That was my life whether the cameras were roll- vocative photos I had taken at that point. I support they have always come through for me. to play these shows. I was born in Waukegan, ing or not. Cheating, drugs and alcohol abuse was convinced there must be a gas leak at the Always. and still have many friends and family members [and] ruin marriages, not reality shows. Maxim headquarters, and they were so high on WCT: It’s rumored that you do a bit of work in the area. My daughter, Countess Isabella (who WCT: What was it like to pose for Maxim? fumes that they thought making a 43-year-old for gay rights. Tell us about that. my clothing line at Hot Topic is named after), GB: Shooting those pictures was quite nerve- a Maxim girl was a good idea! I also received a GB: I have so many gay and lesbian friends was born in Chicago at Swedish Covenant hospi- wracking. They certainly were the most pro- six-figure offer from a men’s magazine to pose who are family to me. My GLBT friends in Hol- semi-nude, but I turned it down. I kept think- lywood know that they can always count on me ing, my dad’s disappointed face vs. six figures. for support if they need me to show up at their My dad’s disappointed face vs. six figures. My events or fundraisers. dad’s face won out. I figured the fact that I was WCT: As a Republican, how do you reconcile married to Danny Bonaduce for 17 years was your political views with your personal rela- embarrassment enough for my family. Sit down tionship with LGBT friends and fans? Danny—just a joke! GB: I think you would be surprised to find that WCT: What with the men’s magazines and a lot of Hollywood Republicans would support reality TV, how do you keep from being, shall gay rights—if you could find a lot of Hollywood we say, overexposed? Republicans. This town was built on many of the GB: Ha. I wish I were overexposed. I have gay communities’ sweat equity. I cannot believe tried to get on Dancing with the Stars and they that there is an issue with gay marriage. To me think I am not a big enough name. Let’s all work it goes back to the Bible and the Ten Command- on overexposing me. ments; treat thy neighbor as thyself. I think WCT: You’ll be playing a show at Circuit, a people spend far too much time worrying about gay Chicago club. How do you feel about your what the other guy is doing, when they ought enthusiastic gay fan base? to be worrying about themselves and treating GB: My gay fans are the most loyal and de- people with human kindness. pendable. My lame straight fans say they will Gretchen and her band, Ankh, will perform show up and never do—just kidding, of course. at Circuit Night Club Friday, Jan. 15, at 9 p.m. But I know if I call on the gay community for See www.myspace.com/gretchenbonaduce. Jan. 6, 2010 17

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Find it at the Regina Upright took over the role of BRAVO TV star Tabatha Coffey at Halsted’s, 3441 N. Halsted, on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The crowd gathered to watch the episode of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, which featured Boystown’s own Chicago Male Salon. Regina, also known as Chicago Male desk iTunes store manager Richard Biasi, was joined by many other salon employees for the night’s festivities. Photos by Kirk Williamson Jan. 6, 2010 19 BOOK REVIEW ing and travels. It feels in some ways like a time of East Coast folk music, and the start of the capsule, or an anthropological excursion into a women’s movement. It’s very detailed, and pro- My Red Blood: very unique time and place, the East Coast of vides one woman’s take on important events of A Memoir of Growing the U.S. during the pre- and post-World War II the past century. Up Communist, Coming Into the years of fear and fanaticism, freedom, folk and NOTE: The seeds of some of the passages in My Greenwich Village Folk Scene, fun. Red Blood were first published in column form and Coming Out in When Dobkin drops the names of famous peo- in Outlines newspaper in Chicago, and later in the Feminist Movement ple, it does not feel as if this is some celebrity Windy City Times after Outlines purchased WCT. by Alix Dobkin tell-all. In fact, don’t expect gossip on these I first met Dobkin during one of her Illinois con- $16.95; Alyson Books; famous singers. Rather, we see them as simply certs in the 1990s. She mentioned she was work- 275 pages humans, mostly on their way up the ladder and ing on a memoir, and I suggested we publish ex- trying to stay true to their art. Some met tragic cerpts as she was working on her book draft. The REVIEW BY TRACY BAIM endings due to drugs, while others made it big. column, Minstrel Blood, ran for several years. It’s also a closer look at the “before” life of one Chicago lesbians were familiar with Dobkin from The subtitle of singer/songwriter/activist Alix of the lesbian community’s most long-standing her almost-annual summer shows at Mountain Dobkin’s new memoir just about says it all. But Alix Dobkin. Photo by Tracy Baim musicians, and therefore provides some details Moving Coffeehouse. She will return to Chicago this book is not about her post coming-out life behind this controversial singer’s non-lesbian April 17 for a program at Women & Children First in lesbian music, but rather of her growing up bright community centers, listened to eloquent life. Bookstore. with Communist parents and relatives (the “red” speeches and plainspoken testimonies. Occa- It’s really a treat to hear first-hand about New in red blood), becoming a Communist herself sionally we crossed paths with others, like … York’s Village in the early days of the hippie before sliding out of that life into the folk mu- the Freedom Singers with Bernice Johnson [later movement, and how Dobkin navigated the sex- sic world, having a child with her husband, and Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Hon- ism of the 1950s and 1960s before she even had then coming out as a lesbian and feminist. ey in the Rock]. So impressed was Bob Dylan a name for it. The consciousness-raising move- That lesbian-feminist world, which has been when he first heard her sing that, when he re- ment was her saving grace, but she doesn’t show filled with many controversies because Dobkin turned to New York, he informed me that rather regret about her previous life, instead seeing it took a hard line on separatism, is only touched than his ‘favorite female singer,’ I was now his just as part of the journey. In fact, it is fascinat- upon in the book’s final pages. This is a look at a ‘favorite white female singer.’” ing to see how she often hated the idea of les- Jewish leftie learning and loving in New York and Most people who would look back on the early bians and she was full of mistaken stereotypes Philadelphia, with a brief Midwestern stint. She decades of their life would be hard-pressed to of what that life would be for her if she followed met famed Communists like singer Paul Robeson, remember small and even some significant de- that path (she had been with some women, but and later was part of the emerging folk scene tails. Fortunately for Dobkin, the FBI assisted. mostly men). populated by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Ronnie Because of Communist fears, the FBI kept de- Dobkin’s book ends just as she starts to make Gilbert, Bill Cosby, Flip Wilson and many more. tailed records of Dobkin’s family, and later Dob- her mark in the lesbian community. Her Laven- She traveled to Mississippi to work for Black vot- kin herself when she joined the Party. When der Jane Loves Women was the first lesbian al- ing rights. Dobkin was not a folkie Forrest Gump, Dobkin retrieved her much-blacked-out records bum made all by women, in 1973. Dobkin was 33 but she was in the right place at the right time from the FBI years later, it helped to jog her years old, and ready to expand her horizons. to be part of several of the last century’s critical memory of the details of her young life. I’d recommend this book for anyone interest- movements. The love Dobkin had for her family and her ed in learning more about the anti-Communist Here is one passage from My Red Blood: “We friends is especially clear in these pages. There witch hunts in the U.S., about the early years gathered [in Mississippi] in dim churches and is tremendous minutia recalling her early school-

est and absorption in the life of a man who ness that might otherwise be overlooked if we result in a book-length project. For now, she is was among the most long-standing behind-the- only think of the Muppets and their characters busy with a zine tour that began in Albany, N.Y. scenes performers on Sesame Street and The as aimed at children: “I love that this project Jan. 2 and will culminate in Chicago. This tour is Muppet Show, and whose off-screen humor and speaks to these contradictions,” she told Windy a follow-up to the first one she undertook in the colorful personality imbued his puppets with the City Times. “People think of muppets as exclu- summer of 2009, traversing New York City; Madi- kind of vivacity that has made them popular for sively for kids, but I also see them as very adult son, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; so long. Hunt was born in New York City in 1951 and queer. Richard and Oz created Miss Piggy and and San Francisco. Stein is especially looking and, according to his mother, got the job on the when you think of it, hers is a total performance forward to connecting with the motley crew of Muppet Show when, a few months after graduat- of femininity.” What also intrigued her was the people that comprise her audiences: “The read- ing from high school, he decided to cold call character of a man who had clearly engendered ings bring together a lot of people who wouldn’t Henson Associates (the late Jim Henson’s com- fondness, even as some admitted he could be otherwise be in the same room: the fanboy nerdy pany) and ask if they were hiring puppeteers. acerbic: “He was totally effervescent; his mom straight guys, the people who just love the Mup- It so happened that they were auditioning, and described him as “expansive,” and I see that’s a pets, queers.” Hunt was soon hired. great synonym for ‘big queer.’” Stein was also in- Jessica Max Stein will read from The Rain- For Stein, it’s that kind of impetuosity and trigued by Hunt’s life and work as emblematic of bow Connection Sunday, Jan. 10, at 3 p.m. at bravado that proved most intriguing and en- the era he lived and died in: “We can’t separate Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North. See www. chanting as she began to hear more about his life from the times.” jessicamaxstein.com. Hunt’s life and career. Hunt, an out gay man, Hunt was in one sense a casualty of the AIDS would go on to become a main performer on The epidemic, which decimated the U.S. gay male BOOKS Muppet Show, and one of five performers to be population in particular in the 1980s. But in his Book on Queen out a regular performer on all five seasons. He was death, Stein saw an opportunity to celebrate a QUEEN: The Ultimate Illustrated History of also on Fraggle Rock, playing both Junior Gorg decade that the gay community now looks at the Crown Kings of Rock, a comprehensive Chicago makes and Gunge. mostly through the lens of loss and sometimes look at one of rock’s most unique bands, is Both Sesame Street and The Muppet Show in very simplified terms, without much attention now available. a rainbow have gained enormous success and international to the vitality of those who died. Stein is clear Containing more than 400 photographs and renown, and those who worked on them have that she has no inclination to romanticize the pieces of memorabilia, QUEEN: The Ultimate connection continued to do well professionally in large part, era, and she has friends who speak of feeling Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock BY YASMIN NAIR according to Stein, because Henson was intel- like survivors as most of their friends died: “It also includes a discography as well as com- ligent about maintaining creative and financial was a plague.” For her, however, the lingering The Muppets have entranced and educated gen- mentary from dozens of admiring musicians integrity. Hunt, according to Stein and other questions are about how we choose to remem- erations of children and generated nostalgic and performers. historians of the show like Christopher Finch, ber the decade and grieve the dead. The project memories for millions of adults. Fans can even The book retails for $40. who wrote Of Muppets and Men, was well-liked, has also prompted questions about the state of take a Facebook quiz to determine which Mup- energetic and every bit as playful as the puppets the current gay movement. Speaking of the cur- pet they most resemble. Yet, comparatively little he gave voice to. He died in 1992 of AIDS-re- rent emphasis on gay marriage, she said that is known about those who turned the simplest lated complications, with Frank Oz among those “We made all these trade-offs and we’ve forgot- Lady Gaga at hand puppets into expressive, unique and some- at his bedside. According to the Wikipedia en- ten that there used to be different options for times cantankerous but always beloved charac- Rosemont Theatre try under his name, “many panels were created gay people. People are forgetting that very fast. Lady Gaga is headlining her own national ters. On Jan. 10, the New York City-based writer in his honor for the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt, What I loved about Richard Hunt is that he lived show (“The Monster Ball Tour”)—and will and zinester Jessica Max Stein will be at Quim- including one created by his friends in The Mup- with abundance.” She bases her understanding sing at the Rosemont Theatre Jan. 8-9. The by’s Bookshop to discuss the life and work of pet Workshop.” Jon Stone, a former director of of him not only through histories like Finch’s show had previously been scheduled for the Richard Hunt, a gay man who was the voice be- Sesame Street, said about Hunt’s death and in- book, but also through the interviews she has Chicago Theatre. hind Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Statler, Wayne and fluence: “A generation has grown up absorbing conducted with the people who knew him, like Tickets are $37.50-$75. Tickets are avail- Sweetums, among many others. He also shared Richard’s art, and I have to believe that every his mother and co-workers. able at www.livenation.com, www.thechica- the role of Miss Piggy with Frank Oz until the one of them is a smarter, funnier, stronger, sil- The Rainbow Connection was conceived as a gotheatre.com or www.ticketmaster.com; the end of the first season of The Muppet Show. lier, more generous person because of him.” zine, but Stein’s research on Hunt has continued venue box office; or by phone at 800-745- Hunt is the subject of Stein’s new 84-page Stein said that her fascination with the man even after its publication. She is contemplat- 3000. zine, The Rainbow Connection: Richard Hunt, has a lot to do with the ways in which his life ing the possibility that the greater amounts of Gay Muppeteer, which showcases Stein’s inter- and personality imbue the show with a queer- material she has since been uncovering might 20 Jan. 6, 2010

Sunday, Jan. 10 Queer Muppets at Quimby’s Jessica Max Stein reads from the Rainbow Connection. We all know Ernie and Bert are gay, but what about the puppeteers? “The Rain- bow Connection: Richard Hunt, Gay Mup- Brought to you by the combined efforts of peteer,” chronicles the life and work of Richard Hunt, a central puppeteer on the international blockbusters Sesame Street ACE OF BASE and The Muppet Show. Stein will read from Friday, Jan. 8 the zine and screen over an hour’s worth of Muppet footage. 3pm, 773-342-0910, The NAGAAA World Series Quimby’s Queer Store, 1854 W North, kickoff party will be at Wed., Jan. 6 www.quimbys.com Spin, 800 W. Belmont. Live Band Karaoke Every Sunday after our World Music Wednesdays Continuing cele- POETIC ‘JUSTICE’ all new Sunday Brunch Gone Wild Minibar bration of the record release of The Pilsen Saturday, Jan. 23 will be host to live band Karaoke. Come Soundtrack 1.0. an independent produc- enjoy your favorite songs performed live tion with 7 bands of Pilsen/Chicago, Photo from the 2009 on stage. Whether singing or watching it the heart of the immigrant and Mexican Equality Illinois’ “Justice for World Series by is an experience not to be missed this fall! community in Chicago. Genres range from All” gala will take place at Ross Forman 3pm, 773-871-6227, Minibar Ultra Lounge traditional Mexican music and Cuban son the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. and Cafe, 3341 N Halsted, http://minibar- to ska, bossa nova and alternative rock. Michigan. chicago.com Two of these, Fandanguero and Son del Male Call with Miss Foozie Roscoe’s and Wed., Jan. 13 Viento, will take the stage in a Chicago ChicagoPride.com present Male Call with COH: “I am… Living Positive” exhibit take on the Son Jarocho tradition. 8:30 Photo of Jim Madigan at the Miss Foozie. Here’s your chance to meet closes Artist John Cotter’s photography p.m., 773-728-6000, Old Town School of 2009 gala by Kat Fitzgerald the unexpected and end the weekend exhibit “I am... Living Positive” closes. Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, www.old- right. 5pm, Roscoe’s Tavern, 3356 N Hal- Third floor art gallery. Part of World AIDS townschool.org/concerts/world.html sted St, http://www.missfoozie.com Day 2009. 12pm, -773-472-646, Center on Lesbians-of-the-North meet up Come cago’s GLBT writing workshop meets. Info Elvis Fest On what would have been Elvis’ Roman Catholic Mass Dignity-Chicago cel- Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, http://www.cen- out for drinks and tappas. Please RSVP at [email protected]; 7:30pm, 773-528- 75th birthday, meet Radio Hall of Famer ebrates a Roman Catholic Mass every Sun- teronhalsted.org online. 7pm, 847-398-2400, http:// 3637, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, Dick Biondi from True Oldies 94.7 as he day, 5PM, at Broadway United Methodist Dollar Skate Admission is only $1 every www.meetup.com/lesbians-of-the-north/ http://www.newtownwriters.org broadcasts live and talented Elvis Tribute Church 3338 N Broadway; 5pm, http:// wednesday night from 6-8pm. Roller Skate calendar/12149562/ American Veterans for Equal Rights (gay Artists take the stage to rock the songs dignitychicago.org/current.htm Rental $3 and inline skate rental $5. 6pm, DJ Phil DaBeatz at Scarlet ChicagoPride. veterans) Monthly meeting. AVER is a that made the King…well…the King. 630 289 8000, Mainstreet USA Roller Rink, com’s own and Centaur Music’s “Boys- non-profit association dedicated to full Elvis-look-alike contest for a trip for two 23 West Streamwood Blvd., http://www. town’s Favorite DJ” Phil DaBeatz brings and equal rights for all present and for- to Graceland in Tennessee. $5 suggested mainstreetusaskating.com a damn fun night of great music every Monday, Jan. 11 mer members of the U.S. Armed Forces. donation. 7pm, 312-642-7251, http:// ASL Class (Winter) American Sign Lan- Wednesday at Scarlet. Happy Hump Day! 7:30pm, 773-472-6469, Center on Halst- www.originalmothers.com guage (ASL) is the primary language of 9pm, Scarlet, 3320 N Halsted, http:// ed, 3656 N Halsted, www.averchicago.org Two Way Street Coffee House Pete Nor- the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communi- Friday, Jan. 14 www.scarletbarchicago.com man’s Post-Christmas Blues Fest! Folk/ ties in the United States and Canada. Energy Efficiency, Green Room Sessions Friday, Jan. 8 Americana Music, 25th annual show, sure Whether you have Deaf co-workers or at Uncommon Ground Free monthly eco- awareness series featuring local environ- Thursday, Jan. 7 “A Hero Comes Home” exhibit on the life to banish your post-Christmas blues. customers, friends or family, or you are and times of Daniel Sotomayor Soto- Gongwriter Pete, DK and guests present simply curious about signing our course mental organizations along with live music Funny Girl opening Rounding out their mayor, an inductee in the Chicago Gay folk, blues and fun songs. Guitar, Dobro, will introduce you to the basics of this and free appetizers featuring the product 2009-10 smash hit season, Drury Lane and Lesbian Hall of Fame, was a cartoonist fiddle, banjo, more. $7. 8:15pm, 630-969- visual style of communication. You will of a local farmer; 6pm, 773-465-9801, Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Ter- and one of Chicago’s most explosive AIDS 9720, http://www.twowaystreet.org build your sign vocabulary and begin to http://www.uncommonground.com/ race, IL, presents the 1964 classic Broad- activists. The exhibit includes cartoons NAGAAA World Series Kickoff Party The understand ASL’s unique grammar, while Speed Dating for women Speed Dating at way musical comedy Funny Girl. Janu- by Sotomayor, photos, T-shirts, the AIDS Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association becoming acquainted with aspects of Deaf Center on Halsted is scheduled on the ary 7-March 7. RSVP (630) 530-0111 or Quilt panel created in Sotomayor’s honor, (CMSA) and Spin present the NAGAAA Culture. Location: Deaf Quest, Inc., 3711 2nd Thursday of every month, alternating TicketMaster (312) 559-1212. 1:30pm, and more. On display until March 5, 2010, World Series Kickoff Party. Bar package N. Ravenswood Ave, Suite 146, Chicago, between Men’s Night and Women’s Night. (630)530-0111, http://www.druryla- from 9am to 5pm on Mon, Tue, Thur, and including Miller Lite and Absolut from IL 60613; 6pm, (773) 857-7709, http:// The first round will begin at 7:15 pm. neoakbrook.com Fri; 11am to 3pm on Sat. Closed Wed and 9-11pm, Drag Show starring CMSA Mem- www.deafcomm.net/asl_class.htm 6:45pm, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Hal- NewTown Writers writing workshop Chi- Sun. 11am bers at 11pm. $20 tickets. 9pm, Spin Oberman for Illinois State Treasurer fund- sted, http://www.centeronhalsted.org Nightclub, 800 W. Belmont Ave, http:// raiser 43rd Ward Democratic Committee- Center’s danceOUT: conversation with The www.chicagomsa.org man hosts a reception to support Justin Joffrey Ballet’s “Cinderella” Sir Freder- Girl Shower Contest Dida Ritz hosts Spin’s Oberman, Candidate for Illinois State ick Ashton’s “Cinderella” returns to The “girl” Shower Contest with $150 first Treasurer. Parking available in building. Joffrey Ballet. In Ashton’s ballet of this prize. Sign-up by 11:30pm. 11:30pm, Spin Suggested Contributions: $50 Individual, timeless fairy tale, Cinderella transforms Nightclub, 800 W. Belmont Ave, http:// $250 Sponsor, $500 Patron. Purchase from a sad young woman into a beauti- www.spin-nightclub.com tickets at http://tiny.cc/January11 or ful princess, despite the best efforts of mail check to Oberman for Illinois, P.O. her overbearing stepsisters, portrayed, as Saturday, Jan. 9 Box 146475, Chicago, IL 60614. Info and is tradition, by male dancers. Center on Pancake Breakfast-Rainbow Friends Coun- location at Nora Sheahan, nora@ober- Halsted’s danceOUT event will feature the tryside Church Unitarian Universalist in- manforillinois.com; 6pm, 773-316-3468, talented Joffrey dancers in their gender- vites the LGBT community to a pancake http://tiny.cc/january11 bending roles! Moderated by dance critic breakfast and social. 9am, 847-359-8440, Viniyoga Monday Class at Yoga Now Edge and editor Zachary Whittenburg. 7pm, http://www.ccuu.org Water Viniyoga class focusing on asana, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted Jessica Halem fundraiser for Linda J. pranayama and meditation. All levels wel- Pauel In “Servicing the Public Good”, come. Adjustments in teaching are made Halem brings her best comedy with mu- for the physical abilities of the attendees. Saturday, Jan. 23 sic by The Daisies to support Pauel in her $16 class fee. LaGenia Bailey, Certified Equality Illinois “Justice For All” Gala run for Cook County Circuit Court Judge. AVI Instructor; 7:30pm, www.yoganowchi- Equality Illinois “Justice For All” fundrais- $40 regular ticket (includes free food, live cago.com ing Gala! 7pm, 773-477-7173, Chicago entertainment and cash bar), $200 host Hilton and Towers, 720 S Michigan Ave, level (or bring 5), $500 benefactor level. http://www.eqil.org Donate at http://lindajpauel.com/ thru Paypal and enter “Jessica Halem” in the Tuesday, Jan. 12 notes section. 4pm, http://www.lindaj- Chicago I2I Monthly Social Are you API/ Sunday, Jan. 24 pauel.com Asian/Asian American and looking for a Lesbian Comic Kate Clinton, The Lady Dyke Delicious Screening Series: Con- safe space to meet other lesbian, gay, bi- Haha Tour Kate performs her world-fa- fesssions of a Lesbian Director Chris sexual, transgender, queer, or questioning mous burlesque Bubble Wrap Dance and Russo has been charming audiences with APIs? Then, this is a great first place to her fun, quirky films for years. She puts pops the air out of deniers and disruptors, start. Chicago I2I is a community orga- birthers and dearthers, conservadems and a lot of herself in the films and relates nization and was established in 2004 to to women who don’t fit into easy social bibliocrats, the -stans and the bans, spine build community, celebrate, and affirm. straightjackets. This program is the first flu and whine flu, ex-gays and A-gays, the ever dedicated to Chris’ work, and will fea- Restaurant to be determined; 6:30pm, audacity of nope and of course, the pope. ture six short films made since 2000 with 773-330-6878, http://www.chicagoi2i. All material digitalized and styled by the Chris herself providing a revealing guided org Haus of Ha. Hoover-Leppen Theatre. 6pm, tour. Social hour 7 pm. Screening of six Musical Open Mic on Tuesdays at the Clos- 773-472-6469, Center on Halsted, 3656 N ‘GOOD’ TIMES short films begins at 8 pm. $10. 7pm, et; 7pm, The Closet, 3325 N Broadway, Halsted, http://www.centeronhalsted.org Saturday, Jan. 9 773-293-1447, Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 http://www.theclosetchicago.com N Clark, http://www.chicagofilmmakers. Comedian Jessica Halem (above) will host the com “Servicing the Public Good” fundraiser for judicial candidate Linda Pauel. Get : WindyCityMediaGroup.com online ChicagoPride.com Jan. 6, 2010 21

BILLY MASTERS ® “If I wanted to tell people what I do with my managed to make the show even gayer by add- vagina, I’d have made a sex video a long time ing Vegas correspondent Lance Bass. He really ago.”—Michelle Rodriguez responds to those was the most feminine person on the telecast— ever-present lesbian rumors. and that included Sushi the drag queen being Welcome to a brand new year. 2010 is only a lowered in a giant shoe in Key West (and how all the generous guests of our Holiday Party. few hours old, but there’s already gossip. How- fabulous was it to see Randy Roberts as Cher)! ever, that’s got to wait. You don’t think someone Kathy tried her best to embarrass Andy, but he guests can tackle a pope on Christmas Eve and I won’t never took the bait. Instead, he just stood there, ice, the . of serv onated.. have something to say about it, do you? First off, giggling like a giddy girl while winched into his ears s have d ’s 15 y Partie es yLand rsary 16 bottl did you know that the crazy bitch tried this be- Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. Another New Year for the rocer ve s 2,1 In G and Anni Cleanser 660 cans iday Bathroom fore? Last year, she attempted to climb over the record books. track Hol ner 498 pkgs t Side ,000 rolls Air Freshe ttles a 68 heets 941 bo barrier at the service but was stopped. So how r ,938 rolls Dryer S Toilet Pape 14 oftener 3,884 pkgs els ,740 Fabric S the hell did she get into St. Peter’s again this Paper Tow 19 Bags 858 cans ,964 cans Garbage ttles Razors 6 aner 210 bo year? I’m sure people aren’t just milling around 4,390 cans Rug Cle s ttles Coffee s Refresher 470 bo Cream ,194 bottle Fabric rs the Basilica and wandering in on Christmas Eve. Shaving ams 4 s y Pre-treate 7,784 Hand Cre ,942 boxe Laundr Lotions & 2 s s & Scrubs 679 pkgs That’s gotta be a hot ticket—easily one of the ,154 boxe Sponge ttles Q-tips 1 s 995 bo s ,232 bottle Table Napkins xes top two of the year. Did she hobble in with the Baby Wipe 4 oap/pump 2,422 bo ,336 pkgs Hand S ttles Shampoo 1 Tissues 628 bo cripples? I suppose I’d be understanding if she & Napkins ,464 Kleenex xes Tampons s 5 y Soap 809 bo e Toiletrie ,596 Laundr pkgs. were an anxious leper. Other than that, there’s Travel Siz 3 Spices 50 gift ,296 Teas & s Toothpaste 3 s atments 2,420 jar gotta be a hungry lion somewhere who still likes s ,526 bottle Spa Tre s Tooth Brushe 2 s nts 1,150 jar 758 bottle Condime Christians. Don’t get me wrong—I certainly Mouthwash Butter 2,685 cans ,538 Peanut uble pks Bubble Bath 1 52 do have no undying love for this Nazi pope. But I’m ss ,494 Soup Dental Flo 2 s ma ,354 bottle Fleet Ene all about a little pomp, a little circumstance. Cleanser 5 s ,794 bottle Dish Soap 4 e! And what’s the use of having Swiss Guards if aners mor Liquid Cle much you can’t use them? Admittedly, they don’t look and so like they could do anything more menacing than keep you off “It’s A Small World” at Disneyland. the staff of But, they do carry sticks with little spears at the top. Use ‘em, God damn it. It’s the Vatican, for Christ’s sake! I read that Renee Zellweger spent Christmas ® meeting the family of her “boyfriend,” Bradley Bradley Cooper might have a love hangover. Cooper. (The quotes around “boyfriend” were not in the other reports, but they seem appropri- wishes all our friends ate.) We even hear the couple is looking to buy I always call Bravo our de facto gay network, but a Happy New Year! a home. Sigh, when will that Zellweger learn? CNN is really giving it a run for its money. Prior I’m reminded of my sister-in-gossip Ted Casa- to the New Year, porn star Collin O’Neil turned Sidetrack the video bar • 3349 N. Halsted • SidetrackChicago.com blanca’s take on Cooper’s numerous romantic en- up doing the weather! The sexy stud filed an tanglements a few months back: “We seriously iReport for CNN Dec. 17 under his given name, think his publicist has more to do with these Shawn Loftis. He was in capri pants and a white A-list couplings than his heart. He knows he’s tank top while reporting about heavy rain and, unavailable—in more ways than one, trust—but at one point, waded through a puddle. Oh, it he’s trying to convince these women otherwise.” was riveting footage. Catch it on BillyMasters. Truer words were never uttered. com. But Bradley is playing gay—at least on screen. Our first “Ask Billy” question of the New Year In the upcoming “Valentine’s Day” (which comes is about someone I haven’t thought of in eons. out, you guessed it, on Valentine’s Day), he’s Travis in Baltimore writes: “I hear that the kid paired with sexy Eric Dane. Well, now I’ve got from ‘Billy Elliot’ is now some hot buff guy and your attention! Dane plays a closeted football making a period piece with Channing Tatum. Can player who is dating Cooper. Of course, no one you confirm and maybe show us what he looks at the studio is talking about this subplot. And like all grown up?” from the ads, it kinda looks like Bradley’s char- Believe it or not, Jamie Bell is all grown up acter is dating Julia Roberts, who actually is the and quite buff. Although he’s been working best friend. We’re told that the screen time for steadily, most people probably think of him the gay duo is pretty minor, but it’s still enough as that 14 years old boy in tights and a tutu. to make me wanna check it out. Now at the ripe old age of 23, he’s in Scotland We got an end-of-year gift from ABC—the first filming “Eagle of the Ninth.” He plays a slave same-sex love scene on daytime. Scott Evans to Roman soldier Channing Tatum—which ap- and Brett Claywell (collectively known as “Kish”) parently means it’s a comedy! Some pics have consummated their relationship on “One Life To surfaced from the production and it does appear Live” in a sex scene that included candles, long- that Buff Bell is a good nickname for Jamie. He’s lingering glances, and unbearably slow removal shirtless, muscular, and a little dirty—just how I of clothing. In short, all the passion usually love my men. If they throw in one of those bath- exhibited in a love scene with Jeanne Cooper! ing scenes from Spartacus, I’ll be there! Pics can When a post-coital Claywell deliriously asked, be found on BillyMasters.com. “Is it always going to be like this?”, I audibly When Channing Tatum has been cast in a pe- responded, “God, I hope not!” That’s not to say riod piece, it’s definitely time to end yet another it wasn’t sexy. It was—in that “Playboy After column. Every year, people ask me if I have any Dark” kinda way. But it certainly wasn’t what I’d New Year’s Resolutions. Although I usually don’t, expect from two hot guys with pent-up “enthu- this year is different. I want to be a contestant siasm.” Still, it’s a step in the right direction. on “Wipeout.” You may not know this about me, You can see it for yourself on BillyMasters.com. but I am as agile as a gazelle. I’m also as clumsy Now, onto New Year’s Eve. Dick Clark...sigh, as an ox. Obviously this is a winning combina- what can I say that I haven’t said before? Last tion—at least in terms of riveting television. I year, he made it through about 13 minutes of seriously think I could kick ass on this show ... live TV and then disappeared. Ironically, this except for those damn balls. They could be my year 13 was an unlucky number for Dick—he downfall. While I’m practicing maneuvering all completely forgot it in his countdown! In case sorts of balls, I’m still updating www.BillyMas- anyone is keeping track—because I am—Dick ters.com. If you’ve got a question, drop a note clocked in 6 full minutes. Yup, SIX MINUTES! at [email protected] and I promise to get And is it me or is Mrs. Clark’s New Year’s kiss back to you before CNN hires Michael Lucas as a starting to resemble someone performing CPR? foreign correspondent! Until next time, remem- Over on CNN, Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin ber, one man’s filth is another man’s bible. 22 Jan. 6, 2010 nancial benefit to the city,” Neilsen said. “I want everyone to have an amazing experience here in FGG seeking to Chicago.” get athletes CMSA’s World Series Board meets every month, and includes Doug Malm, Brian Redar, Aaron to Gay Games Brost, Aaron Feeney, Nathan Jenks, Brian Harder The international Federation of Gay Games and Frank Kisner. (FGG) has awarded scholarships to 34 sports and cultural participants from countries as diverse GAY GAMES: VOLLEYBALL as South Africa, China, Chile and The Philippines so they can attend and participate in the 2010 Stephen Hewitt’s Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, July 31-Aug. 7, according to a press release. net gain Ten additional deserving applicants from In- By Ross Forman donesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa and Sri Lanka have been approved, When he was 9, Stephen Hewitt tried out for the but will not be able to go to Germany unless Sports Performance Volleyball Club (SPVC) and $20,000 in additional scholarship funds are became the youngest and first boy inducted into raised. (Games Cologne is separately funding a primarily all-girls 12-under program. He ulti- The Chicago Force during the 2009 season. Photo by Ross Forman some athletes from Eastern Europe.) Contribu- mately played at SPVC for nine years, qualifying tions can be made online at www.gaygames. for the National Tournament when he was 14, com/en/donate/. have players joining in our workouts throughout 16, and 18. SPORTS the pre-season. “Many of these athletes face challenges that “I was constantly plagued with injuries and most of us will never experience,” said Paul Oos- “If you missed tryouts and are interested in illness in my later years,” said Hewitt, now 19 Force gears playing, contact us now. We’ll assess your abili- tenbrug, co-chair of the FGG Scholarship Com- and a Chicago resident in the South Loop. “When mittee. “Where being openly gay or lesbian can ties, coach you up, and work you into the pro- I was 16, I severely injured a muscle in my lower gram.” risk life or limb, participating in the Gay Games for another run back that took me out for weeks and also devel- may seem like a luxury. But the experience is By Ross Forman oped a tendency to pass out from dehydration. extremely moving for them, and offers our schol-

When I was 17, my knee began giving out and, arship athletes a chance to learn how the LGBT The Chicago Force will have two regular-season Play ball: [when] 18, I injured my hand right before a big sports movement can be a vehicle for change games against the defending IWFL Champion tournament in California. In order to keep play- in their own community. Without a full scholar- Kansas City Tribe in 2010, and none against its The 2011 ing I covered it up and never let it heal properly. ship, participation would be impossible.” long-time rival, the Detroit Demolition. I also punctured a hole the size of a quarter in The eight-game regular-season opens April 3 World Series my foot at National’s, and [this fall] I may have By Ross Forman with a home game against the Wisconsin War- popped a vein or two in my right hand.” SkiBudz trips to riors at the Holmgren Athletic Complex, 3225 W. Despite the injuries, Hewitt is still driven, Foster. Game time is 3 p.m. The road to the 2011 Gay Softball World Series Wis. and Aspen in Jan. motivated to excel. He’s weight-training to get SkiBudz, a local LGBT skiing/snowboarding The Force will play at the Wisconsin Warriors in Chicago—which actually will be held in the back in top shape and focused on the 2010 Gay club for participants of all levels, is travelling April 17. The Warriors are the Tier 2 defending suburbs—officially kicks off Friday night, Jan. 8, Games in Cologne, where he will compete in to Wauwau, Wis., for its 4th Annual Granite Peak champions. 2010, with the first of what will be many fund- beach volleyball and/or indoor volleyball. Trip Jan. 8-10, 2010 and Aspen, Colo., Jan. 19- “We have an exciting and challenging sched- raising parties for the event. “My [Gay Games] goals are to represent myself 24. ule,” said Force general manager/owner Linda The inaugural party will be held at Spin Night- as a strong competitor/teammate who will help The Jefferson Street Inn is even offering Bache. “The two games against Kansas City will club, 800 W. Belmont. lead my team to [victory],” he said. “I also would SkiBudz discounts for its rooms, which now define our season. We both run a high-powered The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association like to represent young gay men in sportsman- cost $109-$259 per night. Reservations must be spread offense. Our entire offensive line is re- (CMSA), which will be hosting the 2011 Series, ship, teamwork, drive, and communicability. booked by Dec. 5. For more information on the turning, which is huge for us. All five members has an eight-person World Series board of di- “For me, the Gay Games mean an official return Granite Peak ski area, see www.skigranitepeak. of our offensive line were voted to the all-star rectors, led by Jack Neilsen, who has played in to the sport that I built my life around.” com. team and jointly received the offensive MVP numerous past series. Hewitt is now the men’s and women’s club vol- Regarding the Aspen trip, the cost is approxi- award last year. In addition, we return quar- The CMSA must raise $160,000 to cover use leyball coach at Illinois Performance Volleyball, mately $950, which includes includes round-trip terback Sami Grisafe, and wide receivers Trish of the fields; opening and closing ceremonies; and also a sales associate at Aeropostale. He is air SFO to Aspen on United Airlines, ground Harper, Albi Zhubi and Martha Dantuma.” transportation; and more. single, a 2008 graduate of St. Francis Catholic transfers to and from the Aspen Airport, five The Force will play four home games, includ- The 2011 Gay Softball World Series will have College Preparatory in Wheaton and now a soph- nights lodging and a four-day lift ticket good at ing the grudge match May 1 against the Tribe— men and women participating. More than 200 omore at Columbia College in Chicago. all four mountains. the team that knocked Chicago out of the 2009 teams and 4,000 participants are expected from across the United States and Canada. For more, visit www.skibudz.org. playoffs. And May 22, the Force hosts the Pitts- More about Stephen Hewitt … The Amateur Sports Alliance of North American burgh Passion, a former champion and perennial —Hobbies: Volleyball, running, hanging out (ASANA) holds a separate, annual all-women’s contender. with friends, movies, screenwriting, and visiting softball world series—and CMSA officials did not Red Stars holding The 2010 IWFL National Championship will be my family back home. bid to also host the 2011 event. held July 24 in Austin, Texas. —Superstitions: “I’m not sure if this is a su- winter clinics “When you have a budget of about $160,000 “The Detroit Demolition are not on our sched- perstition, but I cannot begin eating my pop- The local women’s pro team Chicago Red Stars to cover, you need to plan as far out as pos- ule this year as [Detroit] changed ownership and corn in a movie theater before the previews is holding multiple soccer clinics throughout sible,” Neilsen said. will not be fielding a team in 2010,” Bache said. start. Honestly, [but] bot really sure why.” Chicagoland. The 2011 event, running Aug. 31-Sept. 3, will “At this point, it’s unclear whether they will be —Little-known fact: Can say the alphabet Several sessions include the opportunity to be played at multiple-field complexes in the sub- returning in 2011. After spanking them twice in backwards learn alongside Red Stars defender and 1999 urbs of St. Charles, Elmhurst and Schaumburg. 2008, our main rivalry shifted last year to Kan- —Greatest sporting accomplishment: Com- World Cup champion Kate Markgraf as well as “Hosting the World Series is a huge undertak- sas City.” peting at nationals when I was 18 for the third Red Stars forward and former University of Illi- ing,” Neilsen said. “We just want it to be right The Force held tryouts in late 2009 and more time nois All-American Ella Masar. Space is limited for when it comes back to Chicago. We want the city than 90 women participated, including 57 new- —Favorite sports team: Chicago Bears the Red Stars’ winter clinics, so register early. to be showcased; we want everyone to have a comers. —Favorite pro athlete: Shawn Johnson Contact Red Stars Camp Director Kate West- “We definitely could see 5 to 10 new players great time; we want it to be a Series that every- fall at 708-496-9511, or register online at Chi- that we expect to contribute right away,” Bache one remembers.” cagoRedStars.com. Winter sessions run through said, “and a number of other players showed Chicago has played host to the annual Gay Feb. 27. great potential as well. Softball World Series only once, in 1983, since it “There is a tremendous amount of opportunity was first held in 1977. Chicago has had only five at a variety of positions for incoming players. championship teams in series history, including Vital Bridges The coaches are looking to improve at certain the 2009 Spin Cougars (B Division). bowling Jan. 30 positions and considering replacements at oth- “I want to see an opening ceremony where ers. We have a lot of talented veterans return- everyone has a great time, with great entertain- “Strike Out Hunger,” Vital Bridges 13th annual ing, but they’re going to have major competition ment. That’s key,” Neilsen said. bowling event, will take place Saturday, Jan. 30, for their positions. Opening ceremonies will be Monday night, at River Rand Bowl, 191 S. River, Des Plaines. “There was a lot of talent in general [at the Aug. 29, 2011. Registration is 6:30-7 p.m. tryouts], with a higher level of athleticism than Chicago will have two teams in B, C and D di- Tickets are $30 per person, or $150 for six we’ve seen in previous years which has the visions, and an unlimited number of A-Division people. The cost covers three games of bowl- coaches and management very excited.” teams; along with one extra team (from any di- ing, shoe rental and light snacks. All proceeds Conditioning and injury prevention for all vision) since it is the host city. Next year, the benefit Vital Bridges, an agency that helps more players starts Jan. 11 and rookie camps begin on CMSA will have its first A-Division team in at than 2,000 people impacted by HIV/AIDS. See Jan. 16. Formal team practice begins Jan. 30. least three years, Neilsen confirmed. Cameron www.vitalbridges.org or call Genevieve at 773- “We’ve been contacted by a number of in- Turner will run the A-Division team. 271-5117. terested athletes who found out about us af- “It may only be a few teams from Chicago par- ter tryouts,” Bache said. “Our policy is to take ticipating, but everyone will see [participating] Stephen Hewitt. Photo courtesy of Hewitt athletes whenever they become available. We’ll players all around town. The event is a huge fi- Jan. 6, 2010 23

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