Troy Winston. Photo by Martino Ramos

VOL 35, NO. 09 JAN. 22, 2020 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com GOODBYE, TROY LAUGHTER LIFE PAGE 6 Queer trans comic KJ Whitehead. Photo by Lindsay Williams Local LGBTQ icon

11 Troy Winston dies

BURNING BOWL Group bids ED farewell at annual event. Photo of Imani Rupert- Gordon by Carrie MARCHING ON Maxwell) Thousands 8

KING attend PRINCESS LGBTQ artist women's rules music realm. Photo by Vince Aung march, rally 14 PAGE 7 Photo by Carrie Maxwell

@windycitytimes /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 2 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES BIG ISSUES AHEAD IN 2020 FOR WINDY CITY TIMES

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NEWS When A Great Deal Matters, Shop Rob Paddor’s... Federal ruling benefits same-sex couples 4 ELECTIONS Officials attend Pizer kickoff 5 Evanston Subaru in Skokie Local LGBTQ icon Troy Winston dies 6 Thousands attend women's march 7 Affinity bids leader goodbye at Burning Bowl 8 FAST START 2020 Counterprotestors attend anti-abortion rally 9 COLUMNS Lynch; letter re impeachment 10 ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Queer trans comic KJ Whitehead 11 Theater reviews 12 INDEX LGBTQ artist King Princess rules musical world 14 Local author writes about love, loss 16 SHARING OUR LOVE WITH GRATITUDE Local high school hockey player comes out 18 •VETERANS •PET ADOPTION •SENIORS •SCHOOLS DOWNLOAD NIGHTSPOTS 19 e Classifieds 21 W •FAITH ORGANIZATIONS •MUSIC •THEATER ort THIS ISSUE Calendar 22 Supp •HEALTH CARE •SPORTS •THE ENVIRONMENT AND BROWSE THE ARCHIVES AT www.WindyCityTimes.com NEW 2020 SUBARU ASCENT

Troy Winston. Photo by Martino Ramos UPCOMING 2020 7 OR 8 PASSENGERS WINDY CITY TIMES PRINT DATES: Jan. 22, 2020 April 1, 2020 June 10, 2020 VOL 35, NO. 09 JAN. 22, 2020 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com GOODBYE, TROY LAUGHTER Feb. 5, 2020 April 15, 2020 June 24, 2020 LIFE PAGE 6 Queer trans comic KJ Whitehead. Photo by Lindsay Williams Local LGBTQ icon Feb. 19, 2020 April 29, 2020 July 8, 2020 Troy Winston dies 16 March 4, 2020 May 13, 2020 July 22, 2020 BURNING BOWL Group bids ED farewell at annual event. March 18, 2020 May 27, 2020 Aug. 5, 2020 Photo of Imani Rupert- Gordon by Carrie MARCHING ON Maxwell) 0.9% Thousands 8

KING attend PRINCESS LGBTQ artist women's rules music realm. Photo by Vince Aung march, rally 14 PAGE 7 Photo by Carrie Maxwell

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Ends 1/31/2020 4 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES Quigley part of letter Trans, undocumented Federal court ruling calling for end of students can now trans migrant access college aid benefits same-sex couples Undocumented and some transgender stu- BY LISA KEEN detention dents can now access state college aid, now that U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Illinois)—vice chair KEEN NEWS SERVICE a loophole preventing them from doing so has of the LGBT Equality Caucus and a founding mem- closed, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. ber of the Transgender Equality Task Force—led A federal appeals panel of Republican appointees The new statute—called the Retention of Il- more than 40 members of Congress in calling for ruled Jan. 17 that the state of Indiana must treat linois Students and Equity Act—providing a state Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to same-sex married couples the same as male-fe- mechanism for undocumented and transgender release all transgender individuals currently in male married couples when determining who to students to apply for Illinois financial aid took detention. list on a child’s birth certificate. effect Jan. 1; however, the program did not actu- LGBTQ immigrants are 97 times more likely to The case, Henderson v. Indiana, originated ally start until Jan. 6. be sexually victimized in detention than straight when the state of Indiana refused to list the non- Many Illinois students apply for aid using the and cisgender immigrants. At least two transgen- biological mother of a child born by her female U.S. Education Department administered pro- der women, Roxsana Hernandez Rodriguez and spouse on the birth certificate of the son. The gram, which allows them to simultaneously apply Johana Medina León, died in ICE custody. lesbian couple sued, noting that Indiana would for both state and federal aid. However, there was The recently enacted FY2020 Appropriations list a non-biological father on a birth certificate no sole application for state aid—meaning those package includes instructions for ICE to only de- of a child born by his wife. who did not qualify federally could not apply for tain transgender individuals in facilities specifi- Indiana argued that birth certificates were state-related assistance. cally contracted for their care. Currently, no ICE meant to reflect biology, but the appeals panel Gov. JB Pritzker signed the measure last June facilities meet these standards. noted that Indiana law states that a “man is pre- after it passed the General Assembly. Quigley and the letter’s other signers—includ- sumed to be a child’s biological father if [he] and The full article is at https://chicago.suntimes. ing House Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujan (D- the child’s biological mother are or have been com/education/2020/1/7/21055157/transgen- 7th Circuit Court Judge Frank Easterbrook. New Mexico), House Judiciary Committee Chair- married to each other and the child is born dur- der-undocumented-students-immigration-state- man Jerrold “Jerry” Nadler (D-New York) and ing the marriage….” The state, it said, was refus- Official photo college-aid-map-illinois-rise-act. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin ing to provide a similar presumption if the child’s dent Trump’s short-list nominees for a U.S. Castro (D-Texas)—demanded that ICE immedi- biological mother was married to a woman. That, Supreme Court seat, appeared to ready to rule ately bring facilities detaining transgender indi- it said, contradicted the U.S. Supreme Court’s rul- against the lesbian couple during oral argument. Me Too movement viduals into compliance or ensure the release of ing in Obergefell v. Hodges, which struck down According to reports, she said, “You can’t over- their transgender detainees. The members have founder at NU Jan. 27 state laws treating same-sex couples differently come biology.” requested a response, including a detailed plan Me Too movement founder Tarana Burke will in marriage licensing. The couple who pressed the challenge, Ruby for addressing this issue, no later than Jan. 27. keynote Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Week on The 7th Circuit appeals panel said the Indiana and Ashlee Henderson, lived in Lafayette, Indi- Monday, Jan. 27. laws governing birth certificates “are products of ana and had one child before they were able to Burke will speak on the Chicago campus at a time when only opposite-sex marriages were marry, following the Obergefell ruling. After they Lambda Legal noon in Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s recognized in Indiana” and that they also fail to married, they tried to get their child’s birth cer- Thorne Auditorium, 375 E. Chicago Ave., and at recognize the “possibility” that a female-female tificate amended to show them both as parents; releases report on 5 p.m. on the Evanston campus at Pick-Staiger couple could have two biological mothers (one the state refused. Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Dr. who donates an egg and one who carries the The 10-page opinion took an extraordinary judicial nominees The university will commemorate the life and Lambda Legal released the third edition of its child to birth). amount of time to produce: two and a half years. legacy of King with a series of events Jan. 15-28. annual report of judicial nominees, showing how The panel said Obergefell does not allow a state The case was argued in May 2017. Burke has dedicated more than 25 years of her the Trump-Pence administration, with the help to provide all husbands the presumption of being The Seventh Circuit jurisdiction includes Illi- life to social justice and to laying the groundwork of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has fathers “while denying an equivalent presump- nois, Indiana and Wisconsin. for a movement that was initially created to help filled the federal judiciary with what the orga- tion to parents in same-sex marriages.” Oberge- Meanwhile, in the same week the Henderson women of color who survived sexual abuse and nization called “an unprecedented number of fell held that same-sex couples must have the decision was released, Lambda Legal argued in assault. The movement now inspires solidarity, unqualified, extremist judges whose records re- same rights and protections under state marriage federal district courts in Georgia and Maryland amplifies the voices of thousands of victims of veal deep hostility for the rights of LGBT people, laws as opposite-sex couples. that a similar disparity is taking place for same- sexual abuse and puts the focus on survivors. women, immigrants, and other vulnerable popu- The Henderson decision also noted that the sex couples whose children are born abroad. Both events are free and open to the public. To lations.” U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Pavan v. Smith in “Children born abroad to married different-sex attend the Evanston campus event, online res- Among other things, the 2019 report “Trump’s 2017 that same-sex couples are entitled to mar- parents who are U.S. citizens are routinely rec- ervations are required; visit “Northwestern Uni- Judicial Assault on LGBT Protections: After Three riage “on the same terms and conditions as ognized as U.S. citizens,” said Lambda in a press versity MLK Dream Week 2020 Keynote - Tarana Years of Trump Nominees, Bias and Bigotry Re- opposite-sex couples.” The Pavan case involved release about the cases, “but the State Depart- Burke” on Eventbrite. a refusal of the Arkansas health department to ment is deliberately misapplying federal statutes main the Norm” showed that 36 percent of Presi- issue a birth certificate for a same-sex couple’s dent Donald Trump’s circuit court nominees have to deny similar treatment to the marital children Tarana child that included both mothers. a demonstrated history of anti-LGBT bias. of same-sex couples.” Burke. The Indiana case panel included judges Joel In Georgia on Jan. 16, Lambda filed suit on Recently, the U.S. Senate confirmed Lawrence Photo Flaum and Frank Easterbrook (both appointed behalf of an Atlanta male married couple whose VanDyke—who has a long record as an anti-LG- courtesy of by President Reagan) as well as Diane Sykes (an BTQ activist—to a lifetime appointment on the child was denied U.S. citizenship because she NU appointee of President George W. Bush). Easter- had been born in England where the surrogate 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. VanDyke made brook authored the opinion. mother lives. And in Maryland earlier this month, news when he cried during his confirmation hear- Sykes, who has been considered one of Presi- Lambda filed suit for another male couple who ing after being asked whether he would treat LG- married in California and had their daughter us- BTQ litigants unfairly. ing a surrogate mother in Canada. The State De- Eight of the country’s 12 circuit courts are now partment in both cases is claiming the children made up of 25 percent or more of Trump-nomi- were born “out of wedlock” even though both nated judges. couples were legally married at the time they had The full report is at LambdaLegal.org/Trump- their children. Judicial-Nominees-Report-2019. @windycitytimes ©2020 Keen News Service. All rights re- served. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 5 ELECTIONS 2020 Cassidy, Lightfoot among This Week’s Featured Properties

552 W. Belden Ave. those at Pizer kickoff East Lincoln Park BY MATT SIMONETTE $1,195,000 Brick row home with 2 car garage and yard Out officials Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy and in prime location. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot were among those joining community members, as well as other elected officials, present as openly gay Lake View resident and realtor Jonathan Pizer officially kicked off his bid to represent the 12th District in the Illinois House. 3920 N. Lake Shore Dr. #14N More than 200 persons attended the Jan. 16 East Lakeview event, which filled the “glass bar” at Sidetrack $1,000,000 nightclub in Boystown to capacity. Pizer wants the seat that will be vacated by longtime state Designer co-op with garage parking and amazing views. Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, who has been eyeing a seat in the state Senate. Feigenholtz’s seat is being contested, however; openly LGBTQ canddi- ates Ryan Podges and Marty Malone, among oth- ers, are also vying to represent the 12th District in the House. 516 W. Aldine Ave. #3 In her remarks, Lightfoot said that she was East Lakeview “all in” in her support of Pizer. She added, “We have to have representation that understands our $619,000 lives’ experiences. ... We owe it to ourselves to Perfect vintage condo with garage, deck, support [Pizer’s] efforts.” washer/dryer and central air. In his remarks, Pizer spoke about myriad is- sues, among them transgender rights and the increasing number of anti-semitic hate crimes Jonathan Pizer. across the nation. Photo by Matt Simonette “There are a lot of people who want to turn 545 W. Aldine St. #4F back the clock,” he said. “...We’re not going to “When I get to Springfield, we’re going to have East Lakeview let that happen.” real ethics reform,” he said. $495,000 He added, “Representation matters.” Pizer was introduced by Cassidy, who is co- Pizer also spoke of a number of changes he’d chairing his campaign. Cassidy said that Pizer “is Extra-wide 2-bed/2-bath condo with heated like to see implemented at the state government exactly who we need in the General Assembly. ... garage in East Lakeview’s best boutique level, among them term limits and restrictions on I want someone as amazing as Yoni to sit in the elevator building. how soon a politician can register as a lobbyist chair next to mine, [and] in the office next to when they leave office. mine.”

3200 N. Lake Shore Dr. #403 East Lakeview “I commend Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford Don Harmon chosen on a historic run and am proud of her work tack- $150,000 ling big challenges for working families. Without Sleek one-bedroom in full-amenity high-rise. to lead state Senate Kim’s leadership we could not have raised the During a special session on Jan. 19, Oak Park minimum wage, lifting more than a million Il- Democrat Don Harmon was chosen as the next linoisans out of poverty and I know she has more Illinois Senate president, media outlets reported. important work to do as Majority Leader.” After more than a decade, John Cullerton re- State Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) sent a tired from the position, making way for Harmon. statement to Windy City Times saying, “The new Brad Lippitz Group The selection came down to Harmon and Kim- leadership under President Harmon will provide a berly Lightford. Lightford—who is also chair of fresh opportunity to reimagine safety and justice the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus—would have in our community. n 2019, we passed several ma- 773.404.1144 been the first woman to lead either chamber of jor criminal justice reforms, but the way I see it, [email protected] the General Assembly. that was only the beginning. There’s a lot more bradlippitz.com 3323 N. Broadway Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a media re- work to be done, and I’m confident that President lease, “With 17 years of experience in the upper Harmon will be a strong ally in that fight.” Brad Lippitz has supported and contributed more to chamber, I am confident that Don will ably serve In a separate statement, state Sen. Laura Fine LGBTQ causes and candidates over the years than any and lead the Senate with a steady hand and hold (D-Glenview) said, “I am excited to see Senator other real estate broker in Chicago. And Brad’s team integrity above all else. A staunch advocate for Harmon take Illinois and the Senate in a new happens to be in the top 10 in all Chicago with over $80 working families, Don was instrumental in shep- direction, and I know that his experience as a million sold in 2018. If you need to choose a real estate herding the most sweeping and consequential broker, why wouldn’t you choose a community leader champion of many progressive causes, like health Compass Real Estate is a licensed real estate broker with a principal office York,in New NY and abidesbut by isall subject applicable to errors, Equal omissions, Housing Opportunity changes in price, laws. condition, All material sale, orpresented withdrawal hereinherein without shallis intended notice. be construed for No statementinformational as legal, is made accounting aspurposes to the accuracy oronly. other ofInformation any description. professional is compiled advice All measurements outsidefrom sources the realm anddeemed square of real reliable estate footages brokerage. are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing legislative agenda through the state senate this care reform and enhanced public education, will who consistently gives back year after year? Brad looks past year.” serve our state well.” forward to working with you! Pritzker also congratulated Lightford, saying, 6 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES head on. As long as you could dance, Troy admit- as a guest on the Bonnie Hunt talk show in 2008 ted you into his Imported Taste group. Troy took and later told me that was one of the highlights Chicago LGBTQ icon/ freestyle and House music and combined them of his life. I will truly miss my friend.” into dance routines to share with the world. Oth- “Troy was the epitome of a Chicagoan,” said er dance groups would compete against us but longtime friend Byrd Bardot. “He was known and dance group co-founder that did not stop everyone from being the best loved from the North Side, West Side, East Side of friends/family and these bonds are still going and the South Side. Troy was true ‘club royalty’. strong to this day. He made the entire city his playground and gave Troy Winston dies “Additionally, Troy was a huge advocate for love to everyone he came across; especially on helping people experiencing homelessness. He the dance floor and will be greatly missed by my- BY CARRIE MAXWELL would dress up like Madea and go to Lower Wack- self and everyone else who knew him.” er Drive with donated cooked food and feed as “Do not get me wrong: Troy was not a saint,” Imported Taste dance group co-founder and LG- many homeless people that he could. Troy—with said longtime friend and Jenals owner Al Cisne- BTQ icon Troy Winston died Dec. 26, 2019 due to the help of his former employer, Yohel’s Barber- ros. “He had flaws. However, he also had the gift congestive heart failure. He was 56. shop—did haircuts for the homeless along with of gab, and his personality was larger-than-life. Winston was born June 15, 1963, on the South feeding and clothing them while they waited for He did not go to parties; he was the party. He was Side of Chicago and moved to the Cabrini-Green their turn. Troy had a huge heart and was a per- not just someone you knew, he was everybody’s projects when he was a toddler. He attended son that befriended anyone who graced him with friend. The biggest sin he ever made was leaving Richard E. Byrd Elementary School and graduated their presence. He will be deeply missed.” a hole in the lives of so many by leaving too from Wells Community Academy High School. “In the early ‘90s, a friend of [Troy] rented soon. I will miss him dearly.” Winston took classes at Wright College, Truman him a bar that he named Troy’s Bar on Milwaukee “Troy was one of a select few that I can hon- College and Columbia College Chicago for a brief Avenue,” said longtime friend Rogelio Velazquez. estly say has been to just about all the major time before embarking on a career as a licensed “This was a place where he could showcase his events I have done over the past four decades,” barber specializing in men’s haircuts. drag skills. Troy was the ultimate performer. His said yet another longtime friend, Tony Bitoy. “I In 1982, Winston and the late Martin Rodriguez favorite drag performance was taking on the per- am going to miss his energy and spirit on my created the dance group Imported Taste, while sona of his idol, disco queen Donna Summer, of dance floors. I would say rest easy but we all they were in high school, for young people of which he bore an uncanny resemblance. know that will not happen. Because we know as color and LGBTQ folks to compete for the title of “Troy’s drag performances were a natural out- soon as you walk through those pearly gates, Best Dance Crew at teen clubs Rainbo Roller Rink growth of his time with Imported Taste where he Troy, you will be saying, ‘Let’s get this party and Jenals as well as other venues. This was his became a larger than life persona. His popularity started.’ So shine on brother—shine on.” claim to fame throughout the ‘80s. only grew with his love for dance and his exuber- A dance party memorial in celebration of Win- Winston is survived by his siblings Anton Win- ance for living life to the fullest. If only Holly- ston’s life happened Jan. 11 at L.A.M.A., at 3519 ston, Robert Winston, Stacey Winston and Au- Troy Winston. wood could have gotten a hold of my friend, he W. Fullerton Ave. A funeral service took place at tumn “Kissy” Haynes; stepfather Jose Haynes; Photo by Martino Ramos would have set that town on fire. He did appear Leak & Sons Funeral Homes. dog Lil Bow Wow; and countless chosen family members and friends. He was preceded in death hand again one day.” ager of strategic initiatives at Heartland Health by his mother, Sarah Francis Winston Haynes. “Troy was an icon within our community,” said “Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, James Centers in Chicago. longtime friend and Imported Taste dancer Mela- Prior to her role at Heartland, she served at Brown, Celia Cruz, Prince, Aretha Franklin and nie “Angel” Rolon. “He was an openly gay man Troy; the world has lost another legend,” friend the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) with talent beyond words. Growing up in the late for 10 years in the Division of HIV/STD/Viral Curtis Shed stated. “You will always live on in all ‘70s and ‘80s—when times were changing with of our lives. I love you so much and will hold your Hepatitis. While at ISDH, Perez co-authored the music, dance and society itself—Troy embraced it Statewide HIV prevention plan and helped to identify and manage the HIV outbreak in Scott County. Perez will be integral to the successful im- plementation of the Getting to Zero plan and working with stakeholders, community-based organizations and HIV-impacted people in Il- linois. Access Living names new CEO Access Living’s board of directors announced Andrea Perez. that Karen Tamley has been named the next Photo courtesy of IDPH president/CEO of Access Living. Tamley takes the role March 2, bringing ex- IDPH welcomes new perience with advocacy, public funding and policy, having served as commissioner of the HIV section chief Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities in The Illinois Department of Public Health Chicago for 14 years. (IDPH) announced its new HIV section chief, Access Living launched a public search for Andrea Perez. a new president/CEO last fall, after Bristo Perez will play a crucial role in overseeing stepped down; she soon after passed away from the administration of HIV surveillance, preven- cancer, on Sept. 8, 2019. tion and diagnosis, and care under Ryan White Established in 1980, Access Living is a dis- Part B for IDPH. ability led change agent committed to foster- Perez brings with her more than 15 years of ing an inclusive society that enables Chicago- experience in health care, HIV and state gov- ans with disabilities to live fully-engaged and Troy Winston (on float at Pride Parade). ernment. Her most recent position was man- self-directed lives. Photo by Lugo Rosado WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 7 objecting to a plan to determine if the LGBT est champions for justice.” Photos by Carrie Maxwell community faces obstacles in obtaining city Along the march were signs and support- contracts—with a few aldermen using language ers highlighting the issues WMC and coalition that some considered borderline homophobic. For partners chose to focus on this year—the 2020 example, Ald. Walter Burnett (27th Ward) said, Census, climate justice, gun violence prevention, adding that while transgender business owners healthcare access and voting. GBTQ and HIV/ likely face discrimination, “white gay males, I AIDS organizations were among the many entities don’t think they’re discriminated against,” CBS listed as coalition partners on the WMC website. Chicago reported. WMC Board President Jaquie Algee told this “WMC exists to empower womyn across this publication, “Our goal today was for marchers to city, state and country to use their voice towards leave with a 2020 vision of what they marched the issues that matter most to them,” said WMC for and how they can be actively involved in board member Graciela Guzman. “For us, that those issues and others throughout this year to means marginalized voices are at the center of support the ‘must get right priorities’ for them, our movement: they lead our issue work and tell their families and community.” us what their communities need to feel safe, in- See WomensMarchChicago.org. cluded and welcomed at the march. Our partners challenge us as a board and community to be Women’s March Chicago transformational in our solidarity: do something and that means not just attending the march. “We have become strengthened from our coali- honors the disabled, tion building with communities of color, the dis- ability community and the LGBTQ+ community. These are communities that have been dispropor- highlights key issues tionately under attack during this administration and our job is to lift up their voices, causes and BY CARRIE MAXWELL tan Water Reclamation District Commissioner solutions to make our communities and country Debra Shore. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin was also a better every day. We all gain so much from not Women’s March Chicago (WMC) kicked off its march leader. just lifting up their voices but the invaluable ex- fourth large-scale march on a wintry Jan. 18 The march featured volunteer Wayfinders who pertise they have as some of this country’s great- Above: Marchers heading west on Jackson. morning in Grant Park. assisted people with disabilities as they made Below: Trans rights supporters with the Trans The march—with more than 50,000 partici- their way from Grant Park to Federal Plaza in the flag. Left: Mayor Lori Lightfoot (left), Rep. pants—honored people with disabilities and Loop. The elected officials served as honorary Robin Kelly, Cook County State's Attorney Kim celebrated the historic number of women elected Wayfinders. Foxx and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. to city, county, state and national office across Just before the march stepped off, Lightfoot Illinois over the past two years. said, “When people say stupid things that de- Representing the many women officials across monize our [LGBTQ] community I am going to Illinois were Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Chicago speak up every time. This is broader than what Mayor Lori Lightfoot, U.S. Reps Robin Kelly and happened this week at city council. We have an Jan Schakowsky, Cook County Board President obligation as leaders to make sure that we are Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County State’s Attorney speaking up, expressing our values and having an Kim Foxx, Cook County Commissioner Donna unambiguous voice about the things that matter Miller, Illinois state Comptroller Susana Mendoza, to our communities. I am going to continue do- Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, ing that.” Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and Metropoli- On Jan. 15, Lightfoot criticized aldermen for

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Affinity Community Services’ (Affinity’s) annual kick-off event, Burning Bowl, got off to a rous- ing start with the return of the Drum Divas per- formance group Jan. 11 at the Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center in Bronzeville. This year’s theme was “Homecoming 2020.” At Affinity's The event served as a farewell for outgoing Ex- Burning Bowl ecutive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon, who also ceremony. gave the keynote address. Rupert-Gordon will be Photo by moving to San Francisco to take on the role of Carrie National Center for Lesbian Rights executive di- Maxwell rector in the coming weeks. After Affinity Board Vice President Aisha Da- to find Affinity. vis spoke, Rupert-Gordon delivered her address, Affinity Board Treasurer Jas Thurmond and Af- speaking about her obsession with the game- finity Board President Anna DeShawn presented EI to honor Baim, changers “who shift the way we think about the Barbara “Robbie” Smith Award of Excellence things”—including people/companies/items to Affinity 40+ peer leader Ann Rowell. youth center at gala such as Serena Williams, Magic Johnson, South- Among other things, Rowell spoke about how Equality Illinois will present its annual west Airlines, IKEA and the game show Jeopar- Smith, who was a realtor, is the reason why she is gala on Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Hilton Chica- dy!, specifically contestant James Holzhauer. now a homeowner, adding that the dwelling and go, 720 S. Michigan Ave., starting at 6 p.m. “I was at this talk and the person told us to Affinity have been her sanctuaries for many years The organization will honor Tracy Baim— pay attention to the things that give us goose- Imani Rupert-Gordon. from the racism, sexism and homophobia that ex- former publisher of Windy City Times and cur- bumps,” Rupert-Gordon said. “She said it was Photo by Carrie Maxwell ists in the world. Rowell said that while there has rent publisher of the Chicago Reader—for her how we knew we were getting closer to the been progress on many fronts society still has a 35-year career in Chicago journalism; and the things that we love. … Jeopardy! does not give long way to go, and that is why Affinity is such a Rainbow Cafe LGBT Youth Center in Carbon- her journey with Affinity, how she became the me goosebumps, but game-changers [like Hol- vital organization. dale for its work on behalf of LGBTQ youth in executive director and what the organization zhauer] do. What gives me goosebumps is when Affinity Program Coordinator Erma Standley southern Illinois. has taught her and meant to her these past four we find other people like us and create solutions previewed the soon-to-be re-launched Affinity The gala brings together 1,500 people years. for our problems so people like us do not have website and merchandise like the “This is Affin- each year to celebrate the power and energy “Playing in Affinity’s garden is one of the most those problems anymore. We do it in a way that ity” T-shirts, Affinity 25 co-chairs DeShawn and of the LGBTQ community. important things I will ever do in my life—and changes the game.” Mary Morten spoke about some of the “25 Events Visit EqualityIllinois.us/2020-Gala. that gives me chills,” said Rupert-Gordon. Rupert-Gordon said Affinity has been and will for 25 Years” they will be coordinating over the In addition, noted poet/activist e. nina jay continue to be a game-changer. She spoke about calendar year, while Affinity Interim Executive wrote and performed a poem about how she came Director Chris Smith honored the work everyone Lightfoot announces has done to make the organization a success and said “25 years is not a moment, it is a move- cannabis fair Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced ment.” that the city will host a first-of-its-kind can- The burning ceremony, led by Affinity Board nabis resource fair to connect residents with member Jovan Watkins and Thurmond, ended the employment and business opportunities, festivities. Attendees were asked to write down expungement and legal aid assistance, and their challenges and negative thoughts from the more information on cannabis regulations previous year on specially treated paper that was and laws within the city. instantly burned with candles over steel bowls. Led by the mayor’s office, the upcoming Attendees were also invited to write letters to resource fair, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. themselves that outlined their goals and affirma- 1, at 10 a.m.-3 p.m., will convene cannabis tions for 2020; the letters will be mailed to them businesses, industry experts, social equity this coming summer. leaders, advocacy groups, government agen- See Affinity95.org/acscontent/ and Facebook. cies and legal aid organizations from across com/AffinityCommunityServices for more infor- Chicago and statewide to serve as one-stop- mation. shop for residents interested in joining or learning more about this new and emerging industry. The fair is open to the public for free and will be hosted at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roo- sevelt Rd. @windycitytimes Residents and businesses interested in at- tending the fair can register at Eventbrite. com/e/city-of-chicago-cannabis-resource- From left: Chris Smith, Mary Morten, Ann Rowell with her award, Phoenix Matthews and Kim Hunt. fair-tickets-87807421361. WCT photo WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 9 hour before the anti-choice rally began. Donald Trump’s two arch-conservative appoin- That meeting—which took place at Stony Is- As the demonstrators marched, activists and tees—will in March hear arguments on a Loui- land Arts Bank, 6710 S. Stony Island Ave.—was other community members spoke about their siana case limiting curtailing hospital privileges the next step of the caucus’ three-year Prosperity commitment to fighting for affordable, on-de- for abortion providers. Plan. Launched in spring 2019, the plan, accord- mand abortions for all. “Movements have been why we’ve made social ing to the organization, “focuses on Black same- Speaker Linda Jennings of National Nurses change, both in this country and worldwide,” gender-loving men to understand how health is United, the U.S.’s largest organization of regis- Thayer said. “That is why we are out here on a impacted by living, working and loving in the tered nurses, described her mother’s near-deadly cold, miserable day, in Chicago. We know that City of Chicago.” unsuccessful abortion attempt, which was nearly when the Supreme Court ratified the demands An initial needs assessment survey carried out a decade before Roe v. Wade. of the women’s movement, it was the women’s by stakeholders throughout 2019 revealed what “All I remember is blood everywhere,” Jennings movement that was the driving force behind that caucus members perceived to be primary social recalled. “That moment has been seared in my decision in the early ‘70s. …[But it was also] determinants of health. Those determinants in- mind. My mom almost died at the age of 37. … truly an intersectional moment that won us that cluded education, safety, employment, racism This was before oral contraceptives, IUD’s, school right.” and discrimination, finances, health concerns, A counterprotestor at the anti-abortion rally. sexual information or drug-store pregnancy tests. The coalition that planned the Jan. 11 dem- healthcare [availability] and income. Photo by Matt Simonette It was only condoms, the rhythm method, absti- onstration are in the early stages of planning a Participants in the Jan. 14 meeting broke into nence or self-inflicted abortions in the bathtub.” March 4 action, coinciding with when the Su- small groups to discuss initial challenges and Bridget Doherty Trebing of Chicago Teachers preme Court hears arguments for the Louisiana goals in the various categories. Caucus officials Chicagoans march in Union’s (CTU) Women’s Rights Committee added, case. A planning meeting will take place Satur- will develop a specific tactics regarding those “It is critical that we have control over our own day, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lozano branch categories over the course of 2020; implementa- counterprotest at bodies, and can make our own decisions about of Chicago Public Library, 1805 S. Loomis St. For tion of those actions is slated to take place in anti-abortion rally when, if and how to parent. We understand that more information, see facebook.com/chi4abor- 2021. The Prosperity Plan was developed in con- BY MATT SIMONETTE abortion is normal. One in four women have had tionrights or contact chi4abortionrights@gmail. junction with the Chicago-based Morten Group an abortion. We all know and love someone who com. consultancy, and financed with a grant from Chi- Dozens of Chicagoans, among them members of had had an abortion.” cago Department of Public Health (CDPH) the LGBT community, turned out in icy rain the A group of anti-abortion protestors, all wear- The overall project looks at “what’s happening afternoon of Jan. 11 to stand in counterprotest ing ski masks, stood facing the activists and Black Gay Men’s all over Chicago with Black gay men and same- against the anti-abortion March for Life rally held mocked the various chants as the demonstration Caucus progresses gender loving men,” said Caucus Chairman David in downtown Chicago. progressed. When counter-protestors chanted, Dodd, and will “tackle the interlink around the The counter-protestors—organized by a local “Back alleys no more—abortion rights for rich with Prosperity Plan social determinants of health that have impact coalition that included Soundoff, the Gay Lib- and poor,” for example, the anti-abortion folks BY MATT SIMONETTE not only on HIV, but our overall health and well- eration Network, the Socialist Feminist Working countered with, “Back alleys no more—don’t be being as Black gay men living and loving in Chi- Group of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of a whore.” Members of Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus were cago.” America, Illinois Single Payer Coalition, Physi- Andy Thayer of Gay Liberation Network under- themselves “caucused” in the literal sense at a cians for a National Health Program and the Chi- scored that reproductive rights activists will have town hall meeting the evening of Jan. 14. cago for Abortion Rights—gathered at the corner to be ever-vigilant and active in 2020, since the of Dearborn and Washington Streets about an U.S. Supreme Court—now including President

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Close inspection revealed an unusual door closure. negotiation, no swat team, no bullhorns or crowd Eerily, instead of the emergency mechanism in nor- control. mal doorknobs, this one merely offered a dummy But it wasn’t over yet. This was a wily miscreant. LEE device that could be turned manually, but had no The men plied and prodded with screwdrivers, flash- LYNCH function. lights and penknives. They were as stymied as the “It was decorative only,” was the wife’s amiable occupants had been. The door remained closed. The THE AMAZON TRAIL comment when the crisis was later resolved. “Bless officers had no choice but to storm the bastion. VOL. 35, No. 09, Jan. 22, 2020 their hearts, you know how some male designers like One courageous man returned to the truck for a The combined forces of Windy City Times, their deco.” newly issued battery-operated weapon, surplus from founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, The tabloid founded May 1987. edition The suspect, a slim six-footer, had planned well; the military, he said. Once in hand, the siege was the windows in that room are arched and tinted, but over in no time. The latch apparatus, a spring-loaded PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky do not open. cylinder used to open and close the door, had mal- Bath Door Balks at Booting Hostage “Decorative again,” said the wife, later, with a functioned. In other words, the spring had sprung. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andrew Davis Hostage Trapped for NINETY-MINUTES wink. The door was intact; the offending mechanism Suspect Subdued with Electrical Weapon She reported that her job during the calamity was marched out to the metal bin for recycling. MANAGING EDITOR Matt Simonette to run back and forth to the garage, ferrying tools At her release, the hostage was asked if she DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jean Albright A woman in a remote town in Oregon suffered a har- ART DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR from a well-appointed toolbox. Together, with little planned to press charges. “No. We fundraised for Kirk Williamson rowing 90 minutes before her rescue by three brave ingenuity and much blunt force, wife and wife wrig- that electric saw and look how it’s come in handy.” SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Scott Duff public servants. gled screwdrivers and other small tools under the “You can’t beat a rural fire department,” the wife BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine The woman, who wishes to remain unnamed for door, but they were no match for the rugged culprit. remarked, “for their bravado and know-how.” SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Terri Klinsky, “professional” reasons, reports pounding on the hol- Kirk Williamson The suspect showed no mercy. As the desperate Leaving, one of the firefighters agreed. “Because NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, low core washroom door and adjacent walls for at hostage struggled to escape, she was injured. Try- who keeps screwdrivers and saws in their bath- 212-242-6863 least three minutes to alert her Lesbian “wife” about ing to staunch the outpouring of blood, she cried room?” THEATER AND DANCE EDITOR Catey Sullivan the ongoing crime. SENIOR WRITERS Jonathan Abarbanel, Mary out for the wife to fetch a weapon, stipulating their The freed hostage jerry-rigged a door handle with Shen Barnidge, Charlsie Dewey, Ross Forman, The crestfallen wife, who also declined to give her heaviest claw hammer. The wife, so armed, swung a thick washcloth that had no possibility of lock- Carrie Maxwell, Rev. Irene Monroe, Jerry Nunn, name due to her humiliating failure to rescue the ruthlessly at the suspect, swung again and again, ing whatsoever and therefore no probability of going Tony Peregrin, Angelique Smith, Sari Staver, hostage, said she was elsewhere in the home, run- Sarah Toce, Melissa Wasserman battering the offender beyond recognition. haywire. The couple plans to buy more. WRITERS Sarah Katherine Bowden, Ada Cheng, ning water, hearing aids off. When the sounds of The hostage attempted every available solution to “This one’s white for surrender. Next will be Red for Sheri Flanders, Joe Franco, Veronica Harrison, distress eventually reached her, she tore through the defeat her restraints. “I was sweating and bleeding Valentine’s Day,” said the freed woman. Kelsey Hoff, Aaron Hunt, Eric Karas, Brian Kirst, house in search of her damsel in distress. and in great pain,” she said. The offender did not “And green for St. Patrick’s. Paige Listerud, Billy Masters, Scott C. Morgan, The hostage complained she’d “[n]ever locked the Amelia Orozco, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Kerry relent. “Most importantly, rainbow for Pride.” Reid, Dana Rudolph, Ana Serna, Karen Topham, stupid door in the first place.” Despondent, the hostage managed a weak, van- Regina Victor, Sean Margaret Wagner, Lauren Her wife confessed, “There was no simple fix from quished plea to call the authorities. She dressed as Copyright Lee Lynch 2020 Warnecke, Steve Warren, Lauren Emily Whalen the mistress bedroom side. That d-mn entryway SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Hal she waited. About 10 minutes later, three uniformed 1/20 Baim, Tim Carroll, Ed Negron, Vernon Hester might as well have been cemented shut.” men confronted the perpetrator. There was to be no CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright DISTRIBUTION Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Sue and Victor letters WEB HOSTING LoveYourWebsite.com (lead programmer: Martie Marro) PRESIDENT Tracy Baim Impeachment and flattened the car tires and stabbed the car seats live under that is in jeopardy because of racism and (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 telling them to never be caught in Xenia, Ohio. white supremacy building and supporting systems of Editorial: [email protected] Sales: [email protected] Dear Editor: It’s about my Aunt Florence Blackshear, who, dur- oppression. Calendar: [email protected] ing every election, could be seen at the East High The impeachment is about every Latinx family Circulation: [email protected] Art/ad copy: [email protected] President Donald J. Trump has been impeached. School monitoring voting. The impeachment of Don- who has been living in fear of ICE for the past three Theater: [email protected] These words, for me, mean an intentional check on ald J. Trump is the defense of our democracy and our years, and whose only “crime” is wanting to make Copyright 2020 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media Trump’s efforts to corrupt the 2020 election. very republic. a better life. This is not about hatred of Donald J. Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back As an advocate for justice, I also see this im- Trump, but about a love for our democracy and for issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). Dec. 18 was a reckoning for my ancestors who Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, lived on a farm in Georgia in slavery, Jim Crow and peachment is for every queer person who knows the people who depend on it! and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. civil-rights efforts of the 1960s. The impeachment and understands that the Republican defense of this All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy president is about hatred directed toward LGBTQI Blessings, City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned is a defense of my mother’s and father’s efforts to for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing register people to vote throughout Ohio; and their persons. The impeachment is about every Black and T.J. Williams-Hauger, M.Div and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own standing up to the police officer who stopped them Brown person who understands the legacy that we and do not necessarily reflect the position of Windy City Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization. While we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept responsibility for advertising claims.

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'The Haggard Unicorn:' Queer trans comic talks representation, hurdles BY CHARLSIE DEWEY I critiqued their work—which, unfortunately, they don’t seem to understand that critique KJ Whitehead wants to see unrepresented coming from their cisgender, white instruc- voices take over the comedy world and her tors will go over easier than from someone latest project, The Haggard Unicorn, is a re- like me; lost all my money from unemploy- flection of that ambition. ment, [dealt with the] lack of opportunity for “Something strange. Something different. Black and Brown trans people; and [was part Something radical,” she said when asked to of] the recent CTU strike. Oh, and I had a re- describe the show, taking place Friday, Jan. ally bad breakup. That’s a few of the things 31, at The Salon. “Those who know me will going into this show.” know that the openers for this show are all a While Whitehead is processing her own reflection of me and who I feel I am in one experiences through her work on stage, she way or another.” said she is also working to change the face of Whitehead—who identifies as a queer trans comedy: “So, this show very much is inspired woman—has been performing for the past six by my life experiences and what I wish to years in Chicago and around the Midwest and see in the comedy world today: a complete has never been what one would call a “classic takeover of unrepresented voices.” standup comedian.” Instead, she’s focused Whitehead said she’s seen comics put in her work on “what comedy can be.” The per- half the time as she has and surpass her in formers joining her for The Haggard Unicorn terms of opportunities, so she knows the road all focus on sharing their unique experiences ahead is long—but she won’t give up. through comedy in their own ways as well. “The biggest challenge is to keep doing it, “The host, Arts & Culture Club’s Devin even if no one notices,” she said. “Honestly, Middleton, is a musician/comedian that it doesn’t feel like enough people notice. represents my pride in my Black culture and When I work my ass off for several years and heritage," Whitehead said. "Chicago comedy comics come along who have been doing this newcomer Jolly Bean is my joy in being dif- in less than half the time I have and they get ferent and just doing what makes me happy, a club spot or a festival I worked really hard and hoping I can brighten up someone else’s on the submission for, not enough people day doing it. Then we have the co-founder— have noticed. When I, a Black transgender producer and house member of Bad Taste, Mo woman, have to work twice as hard to get Less—a burlesque performer who lives within booked as a white or white-passing counter- the extreme and absurd and doesn’t hold part, not enough people have noticed me. that part of their being back for anyone, nor This challenge hasn’t really evolved so much should they. as it has been added upon. In The Haggard Unicorn, Whitehead contin- “So many folks want to say that they sup- ues to mine her personal experiences, telling port QTPOC [queer and trans people of color Windy City Times she's endured several crises. who] are performers, but our comedy circuit “This year, I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD; has trouble finding them? C’mon! We’re here! I’ve attempted suicide; I’ve lost a friend to Support us! That’s what I’m not seeing. That’s cancer; I’ve faced racism and transphobia what’s lacking. The support of a community KJ Whitehead. in the workplace; was suspended from my that says it cares but doesn’t really know Photo by Lindsay Williams teaching job at Second City under accusa- tions that I was bullying my students because Turn to page 21 12 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES THEATER REVIEW often terse and uninflected as Simpkins creates Deanna Myers and Kelli Simpkins in The Gulf. her more contemplative character. When a broken The Gulf Photo by Michael Brosilow motor strands the two on the water overnight, Playwright: Audrey Cephaly they find themselves facing some difficult truths At: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. involving their relationship, their motivations, Tickets: AboutFacetheatre.org and their fidelity to each other. Price: $32 Two-person plays can be inherently a bit claus- Runs through: Feb. 15 trophobic, but The Gulf’s claustrophobia is some- what ironic: though they literally have an entire BY KAREN TOPHAM sea surrounding them, the women are confined to the tiny space of their stalled boat. Director You walk into the theater and the first thing you Megan Carney makes the most of this limitation, see is veteran actress Kelli Simpkins standing on using it both to bring them together and to pull an old, worn-out motor boat repeatedly casting them apart. Much of the time, Betty and Kendra a fishing rod while Deanna Myers lies in the back confine themselves to their own ends of the boat, of the boat reading What Color Is Your Parachute? remaining separate while together. Scenic designer Joe Schermoly has surrounded Relationships are tricky to build and trickier to the dilapidated boat with buckets of water, obvi- maintain; it’s easy to wake up one day and dis- ously there to let the actors create the illusion of cover that you’ve drifted further apart than you actually floating somewhere and to tell us that, ever realized. Both women would like their rela- though they are not in the open sea, they might tionship to continue. There is even a dreamy Ti- as well be. For however long it takes until the tanic-like moment that finds them entwined with play begins, they remain in their own private each other at the boat’s bow, locked in a lov- worlds. This is how their characters, Kendra and ing dance under lighting designer Rachel Levy’s Betty, find themselves in Audrey Cefaly’s The Gulf: starlight. But the moment passes, and the play careers for Kendra, who she feels is wasting her time to fish in the Alabama coastal shallows. two lovers adrift in their lives. leaves them nearly dashed to pieces on waves of life in a meaningless job. Betty is about to go to It takes only minutes for the two seasoned ac- The broken-down boat clashes with the self- anger before their relationship drifts on without a community college to get a degree, but Ken- tors to establish these characters. Betty, the talk- help career choice book in a quiet, subtle man- any sign of resolution. dra, with no similar ambitions, is content to float ative half of this pair, flits between subjects with ner, much the same as the passive-aggressive way The Gulf is as much about the gulf between through life doing only enough to afford her the ease, filling the empty space with conversation in which Betty endlessly suggests possible new these two lovers as it is about the Gulf of Mexico that Myers peppers with childlike, sing-songy in which they float without the power to move elecution suggesting someone not entirely sure on seemingly destined to remain in this limbo of herself. Meanwhile, Kendra’s contributions are THEATER REVIEW ings for her, is threatened with internment. Lily forever. shields him, but Christopher—his father lost in Whisper House the South Pacific—reports them to the local Playwright: Duncan Sheik (music and lyrics) sheriff (T. J. Anderson, who doubles on trum- THEATER REVIEW potential for a future together. and Kyle Jarrow (book and lyrics) pet). A narrative structured in alternating time At: Black Button Eyes Productions, Under musical director Micky York, the sing- Stop Kiss frames, its individual scenes flowing freely be- the Athenaeum, 2936 N. Southport Ave. ing and playing are excellent. There are charm- Playwright: Diana Son tween flashbacks of happier times and a present Tickets: 773-935-6875; A ing instrumental combinations of, say, bass At: Arc Theatre/Pride Films and Plays at fraught with foreboding, can make for cognitive thenaeumTheatre.org; $30 clarinet and horn or reeds and harp, and the the Pride Arts Buena, 4147 N. Broadway delay while we struggle to locate ourselves in our Runs to: Feb. 15 singing ghosts—played by Mikaela Sullivan Tickets: $30-$40 dramatic universe, but an advantage to its fluid- and Black Button Eyes veteran Kevin Webb — Runs through: Feb. 9 ity is that the swift changes in mood never allow BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL drive the show along. us to become bogged down in gloomy anticipa- But the pleasant, jazz-influenced score isn’t BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE tion. On the contrary, the frequent reminders of Black Button Eyes Productions is on my “don’t- especially memorable, and Christopher and Yas- Sara’s propensity for nudging people out of their miss” list due to the stylish imagination of its uhiro hardly sing a note. The entire cast is only What could be more romantic than love at first comfort zones and Callie’s increasing willingness shows over the last few years. Still, not every six people so they all need to carry some musi- sight, unless it’s love poised on the verge of to embark on new experiences, are what sustain production is equally successful—and Whisper cal weight. In addition, much of the music and bloom, only to suffer calamity before its oppor- our hopes, much as they do those of the soul- House falls into the less impressive category. lyrics describe situations or past history rather tunity to blossom? Love that refuses to surrender, mates about whom we have come to care deeply. Vocal and instrumental performances in than expressing the emotions or desires of the though! Love that stubbornly thrives, stunted This joint Arc Theatre/Pride Films & Plays pro- this 90-minute musical are solid enough, but characters. Time is spent on the ghosts’ back- but steadfast, to ultimately triumph over adver- duction features a creative team helmed by di- dramatic values are weak because it’s not an story although they don’t influence the story’s sity—now that’s romantic! It’s no impediment, rector Kanome Jones with an assurance keeping effectively-written piece. It’s a minor work by outcome. Rule #1 of drama, remember, is “show either, when the lovers are young, hip, relent- the stage picture vibrant and engaging for every composer Duncan Sheik and book writer Kyle us, don’t tell us.” lessly charming women whose affections reflect second of its 90-minute duration. Kylie Anderson Jarrow, both of whom achieved considerable Beyond the music, the dramatic conflict is an indisputable social message. and Flavia Pallozzi embody warmth and charis- success with other collaborators. heavy-handed and the characters are not es- Our protagonist is sleek, cosmopolitan New ma to evoke an atmosphere of sunny nostalgia Set in 1942, Whisper House concerns Chris- pecially well-developed. The racist sheriff is a Yorker Callie, whose go-along-to-get-along at- (enhanced by the script’s name-checking of its topher, an orphaned 10 year old sent to live bludgeon and Christopher is a child without titude has not hindered her acquiring a degree neighborhood landmarks), while Joe Faifer and with his aunt, a Maine lighthouse keeper who charm. The actors don’t have a lot with which from NYU, a job as a TV traffic newscaster and Shane Novoa Rhoades deftly skirt stereotype in insists the boy call her “Miss Lily.” Two narra- to work, and director Ed Rutherford can’t fill in a rent-controlled apartment in the West Vil- their portrayals of assorted clueless males, as tors dressed in elegant evening clothes already the missing pieces. lage—material gains mostly facilitated by other does Sheila Landahl in the role of a sympathetic have set up the mood, which is that lonely, There’s a good scenic design in the intimate people’s incentive. Our precipitator is Sara, a St. elderly bystander. emotionally-isolated people like Lily (Kate studio theater by Nikolaj Sorensen, who com- Louis native brimming with enthusiastic aspira- Diana Son probably didn’t suspect in 1998 that Nawrocki) and Christopher (Leo Spiegel) would bines a semi-abstract seascape with a false tions for making the world a better place, start- her play, set in up-to-the minute contemporary be better off dead. The narrators, we learn, are proscenium arch to create a space for the band ing with a prized teaching position in a Bronx surroundings, would find itself, decades hence, ghosts of lovers torn apart who drowned in a in back—as if they were in the ocean—and the grade school. The two meet when Callie agrees to rediscovered by new generations taking heart wreck off the lighthouse rocks. rough-hewn lighthouse interior in front. cat-sit for Sara, triggering an immediate mutual from its lessons in courage and constancy. In- Complications arise when Yasuhiro (Karmann Like other Black Button Eyes shows, Whisper rapport. As their camaraderie gradually intensi- deed, far from being irrelevant in light of the Bajuyo), a Japanese-American who has assist- House is stylishly executed but may be for die- fies, however, we dread the moment—revealed by progress enjoyed today, fables of enduring love ed Lily for two years and has developed feel- hard Duncan Sheik fans. the playwright at the very outset—when a ho- have not diminished with age, but may be more mophobic hate crime will threaten to destroy all important than ever. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 13 Sean Hayes at Feb. 5 Patin at Hyde Park Goodman event through Feb. 28 eSPOTLIGHT Goodman Theatre, now in its 95th season, Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., is will host the “Legacy & Promise” Education and welcoming Nikki Patin as its new flex space resi- Glamorous young widow Hannah Glawari has all Engagement Luncheon Wed., Feb. 5, featuring dent through Feb. 28, 2020; she will be develop- the money to save the bankrupt country of Pon- Emmy-winning and Tony-nominated actor Sean ing ongoing performative work combining text, tevedro, but all she wants is a reunion with her Hayes. The event will take place at The Palmer music and movement. childhood sweetheart, Count Danilo. After many House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St., at noon. Patin is a writer, performer and educator whose complications, Franz Lehar's evergreen, ravishing Hayes is best known for his role as Jack McFar- practice addresses issues of body image, sexual 1905 operetta, The Merry Widow, concludes with a party at Paris's Café de Maxim’s. The original land on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, for which assault and the needs of the LGBTQ community. 1907 New York and Chicago productions starred Lina Abarbanell, distant cousin of WCT's theater edi- he won a Primetime Emmy Award and four SAG Also, she is the creator of Surviving the Mic—an tor. In this new production at the McAninch Arts Center (The Mac) in Glen Ellyn, the lusty widow is Awards, along with six Golden Globe nomina- organization dedicated to creating safe spaces played by soprano Alisa Suzanne Jordheim with baritone Jesse Donner as Count Danilo, heading an tions. for the creation and telling of stories of survivors ensemble of 35, accompanied by the New Philharmonic under Maestro Kirk Muspratt. The production Tickets start at $250 each; call 312-443-3811 of all kinds of trauma, with a special focus on is staged by Michael La Tour and is sung in English. Performances of The Merry Widow are Jan. 24, ext. 220. Proceeds benefit Education and Engage- Black- and female-identified survivors of sexual 25 and 26. Tickets: 630-942-4000; AtTheMAC.org; $59. ment at the Goodman. and domestic violence. Photo: Costume designs for The Merry Widow by Kimberly G. Morris Patin was featured on the fourth season of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam; has been one of Windy City Times stage. 30 under 30 honrees; and took the gold medal The 2020 festival includes full productions of in the poetry-slam competition at the 2006 Gay winning plays from the annual playwriting com- Games. petition for high-school-age writers in Chicago. See HydeParkArt.org. Pegasus Theatre Chicago professionally produces three one-act plays. The second oldest such fes- tival in the country, this annual tradition regu- Young Playwrights larly receives more than 500 submissions from Lisean ‘Ling Ling’ McElrath in Clause 42. Chicago-area teens. From those, the winning Festival running Photo courtesy of Pegasus Theatre Chicago playwrights are chosen to connect, workshop and through Jan. 25 produce their production with professional art- Pegasus Theatre Chicago is presenting the 33rd The Young Playwrights Festival (YPF) celebrates ists. Young Playwrights Festival through Saturday, the 33rd year of the program that aims to inspire Tickets are $18 for students, $25 for seniors Jan. 25, at The Courtyard Theatre in The Getz Chicago students to explore their histories, re- and $30 for general admission ; visit PegasusThe- Sean Hayes. Theater Center at Columbia College Chicago, 72 search their communities and mine their personal atreChicago.org or call 773-878-8864. Photo courtesy of Goodman Theatre E. 11th St. journeys to write dynamic one-act plays for the

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A NEW MUSI CAL book, music & lyrics by PAUL GORDON adapted from the novel by Jane Austen IN THE BAND directed by BARBARA GAINES 14 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES KP: I know you do. I can totally tell! [Laughs] WCT: Why are there so many downtempo King tracks on the album Cheap Queen? Princess. KP: I have been thinking about this as I work Photo by on more music. There’s one song for the gays and Vince Aung then one for the sad dykes. These are two very prominent parts of myself that I can pay homage to. For this album, this was reflective of how I felt. I felt sad and downtempo. My next project is not going to be like that. It was cool, but I don’t necessarily want to do the same thing for long periods of time. With my background, I look at myself as a musicologist. I love the history of music. I want to reference shit that makes me smile. My taste is eclectic and so NUNN ON ONE: MUSIC is my music. WCT: It must be amazing working with Mark Ronson, with his eclectic style. KP: Mark is an amazing mentor for a lot of rea- King Princess: sons. I’m a young producer coming up under him. I played some stuff for him yesterday. I want to do him proud. He’s a DJ, so I keep him in mind. Ruling the musical realm Like you were saying, some songs of mine are slow, but I want to make stuff that he would spin. I think that’s the highest honor for him to say he would spin a song of mine. WCT: Who is your best friend for the dance video of your song “Hit the Back?” KP: Oh, Henry Metcalf. He’s my Judy. He’s great because he’s a teacher and a friend. Dancing with him has been really freeing. If you are some- one like me, my femininity has been learned. It wasn’t inherent. I think that meeting people like Henry, who defy gender or any type of binary, was BY JERRY NUNN Lesbians are traditionally stereotyped with us an experience where saw each other eye to eye being academic and into books. Which is fine, in so many ways. We are two people that exist in Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in the stu- but I feel that the gay women who are at my between. So much is unspoken without having dio thanks to a recording engineer father, Mikaela shows embody that queerness with a type of ex- massive discussions about who we are. The proof Mullaney Straus eventually evolved into pop sing- citement. It makes me happy that queer women is in the pudding. er King Princess. are queening out and busting it. WCT: How do you identify now? In 2018, she released the single “1950—a trib- I’ve seen more trans inclusion at the recent KP: I identify as gay. But if you want to get ute to the Patricia Highsmith novel The Price of shows, which makes me happy. I feel my crowd technical, I’m definitely a genderqueer person. Salt by and to the LGBT community. One Direc- is diverse, but it can always be more. We can do WCT: I saw a RuPaul picture in your video. Do tion’s Harry Styles tweeted a lyric from the song better. you have a favorite Drag Race queen? that brought her international attention. Her I think with drag and club culture reemerging KP: I love so many of them. I love Bianca [del career took off, and she was signed to Mark Ron- into popular media, it’s a lot easier for gay wom- Rio] and Jinkx [Monsoon]. They are all so tal- son’s label Zelig Records. en to feel included in traditionally male or queer ented. Her debut studio album, Cheap Queen, brought environments. For me it’s the most fun to see My mom bought me an authenticated RuPaul fans a variety of songs about happiness, heart- gays, lesbians and trans people coming together headshot and my girlfriend had it framed. I love break and bottoming. to dance. it and it’s in my kitchen. She watches me cook! Windy City Times: Where did the name King My shows are really safe. There’s no violence WCT: I will invite some of the local Chicago Princess come from? and everyone’s nice to each other. People make dimensional vibe to the stage, but still making RuPaul Drag Racers to your show. King Princess: I was in the studio when I was friends, which is really cool. I can’t name a show it rock 'n' roll with something decrepit about it. KP: Absolutely. I have learned a lot from drag 14 years old with my friend Doug. We would say, where people are really kind to each other in a There are hands with dripping red nails—which is with my live shows. It’s been a huge part of my “This is King Princess Day” and it would set the crowd like that. very gay, rich and lux. life. I think the best way to pay homage to that mood of whatever song we were working on. I WCT: Do you want Chicagoans to bring rain- The backdrop is something Cody painted. I love is give local queens a time slot in my concert to realized later that it was just me in general. bow flags to the concert, like they have in the the idea that when you go see a play a backdrop show their stuff. I think it’s important to have WCT: I met you briefly at Lollapalooza. past? is painted to look like a forest or a lake. That was that energy at my shows. It hypes me up. The KP: Cute—I had so much fun! KP: Oh, they will. We have a whole wardrobe kit important to have a nature element to it. only thing I want to watch before my show is WCT: You played a set at Berlin Nightclub af- that we dedicate to fan stuff. WCT: Do you have a favorite cover song on that. It’s helpful! terward. WCT: I heard Cody Critcheloe, also known as this tour? WCT: Do you feel about opening for Harry KP: Yes. I always enjoy playing in Chicago. I SSION, made the sets for your tour. KP: I haven’t done a cover song in a while, be- Styles on the European part of his tour this feel there’s an energy about it. It’s kind of grun- KP: Cody and I are both theatrical. We want- cause I’m getting through a lot of material from year? gy, like New York. ed the richness of theater sets. When you look my record and EP at my shows. I did do a cover of KP: I’m very excited and I feel it’s a really good WCT: Are your live shows like Berlin Night- at old rock 'n' roll shows, they had worthy set Perfume Genius’ “Queen” that was really fun. pairing. He’s a very kind person. I’m not an open- club, with a variety of types in attendance? pieces that were physical. They weren’t projec- WCT: Why is the “Useless Phrases” song so er. I’m a fucking main act, but if I have to open KP: There’s a dominant gay and female vibe at tion screen-based, obviously because of the time short? for somebody, it would have to be Harry! the shows. I had never gone to events that were period. KP: Because it’s an interlude. King Princess rules at Riviera Theatre, 4746 directed toward gay women even though, for a We wanted to have pieces that felt like a weird WCT: But I want it to be a full song. N. Racine Ave., on Wed., Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m. long time, I identified strongly as a lesbian. That circus ornament. We had to brainstorm on how KP: Me, too—but that’s why you need to stream Ticket information can be found at RivieraThe- wasn’t the community I felt welcomed into. we could bring that theatricality and three- it over and over again. atre.com. WCT: Which I do. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 15

Kevin Iega Jeff. Photo by Mayor appoints new Ken Carl members to city's cultural advisory council The Chicago City Council approved the appoint- ments made by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot to the Cultural Advisory Council of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in- cluding Council Chair Amina J. Dickerson and Vice Chair Alison Cuddy. —Kevin Iega Jeff, creative director, Deeply —Claire C. Rice, executive director, Arts Alli- The appointees are a diverse group of Chica- Rooted Productions ance Illinois goans from across the city representing a broad —Ginger Lane, arts & culture project director, —Silvia Rivera, managing director, Vocalo cross-section of arts genres. They include prac- Access Living —Myrna Salazar, co-founder and executive di- ticing artists, representatives from major cultural —Josephine Lee, president & artistic director, rector, Chicago Latino Theater Alliance organizations, neighborhood and community or- Chicago Children’s Choir —David Schmitz, executive director, Steppen- ganizations, and the community at large. —Tonika Lewis Johnson, artist, Folded Map wolf Theatre Company New council members include: Project —Jennifer A. Scott, director/chief curator, —Paola Aguirre Serrano, founding principal, Alison Cuddy. —Bill Michel, associate vice president and ex- Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, University of Borderless Studio Courtesy of the Chicago Humanities Festival ecutive director of UChicago Arts and the Reva Illinois at Chicago —Alison Cuddy, artistic director, Chicago Hu- and David Logan Center for the Arts, University —Paul J. Sznewajs, executive director, Ingenu- manities Festival —Robert Gomez, owner, Subterranean/Beat of Chicago ity —Sandra Delgado, theater artist, writer, actor Kitchen/Underbar —Heather A. Miller, executive director, Ameri- —Vivian Teng, managing director, Cinema/Chi- and producer —Esther Grisham Grimm, executive director, can Indian Center cago and the Chicago International Film Festival —Amina J. Dickerson, president, Dickerson 3Arts —Cesareo J. Moreno, chief curator and visual —Omar Torres-Kortright, executive director, Se- Global Advisors —Tracie D. Hall, director of the culture pro- arts director, National Museum of Mexican Art gundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center —Juan Díes, co-founder and executive director, gram, Joyce Foundation —Margaret C. Murphy-Webb, executive direc- —Tanner Woodford, founder/executive director, Sones de Mexico Ensemble —Akilah S. Halley, executive director, Marwen tor/co-founder, South Side Jazz Coalition Design Museum of Chicago —Bob Faust, owner, Faust and Special Projects —Tempestt Hazel, arts program officer, Field —Coya Paz, artistic director, Free Street The- —One additional member to be named later Director, Nick Cave Studio Foundation of Illinois ater

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Joffrey Company Artists Dylan Gutierrez and Jeraldine Mendoza. Photo by Cheryl Mann. 16 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES Actors honor their own at 2019 SAG Awards BY MATT SIMONETTE spectively. On the television side, Sam Rock- The acclaimed South Korean thriller well and Michelle Williams were both Parasite won the Screen Actors Guild’s honored for their lead performances (SAG) Award for outstanding perfor- as Broadway legends Bob Fosse and mance by a motion picture cast the Gwen Verdon in the FX miniseries evening of Jan. 19, the first time “Fosse/Verdon.” Peter Dinklage was that peer honor has been given to a awarded Outstanding Performance by foreign-language film. The ceremony a Male Actor in a Lead Role for Drama was held at the Shrine Auditorium in for his turn as Tyrion Lannister on Los Angeles. Game of Thrones. Jennifer Anniston On the movie side, a number of the won Outstanding Perfomance by a Fe- Marc Patton in Scream, Queen! SAG honorees otherwise duplicated male Actor in a Lead Role for Drama those who were previously honored at for The Morning Show. Anniston beat My Nightmare on Elm Street. the Golden Globes on Jan. 5, and are out Jodie Comer, who played a lesbian Photo ©2019 Scream Queens favorites to win further accolades at assassin on Killing Eve. the Oscars on Feb. 9. Those persons Phoebe Waller-Bridge continued include Joaquin Phoenix (Outstand- her sweep-up through various awards Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers ing Male Performance in a Leading shows this season; she won Outstand- —Film Performance of the Year—Supporting Actor: Song Role) for his acclaimed turn as Bat- ing Performance by a Female Actor in Kang-ho, Parasite man’s future arch-enemy in Joker, and a Lead Role for Comedy for Fleabag. —LGBTQ Film of the Year: Portrait of a Lady on Fire Renee Zellweger (Outstanding Female Tony Shalhoub won for lead actor in LGBTQ critics —Foreign Language Film of the Year: Parasite Performance for a Leading Role), for a comedy program for The Marvelous —Screenplay of the Year: Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin- her portrayal of iconic performer Judy Mrs. Maisel; that series won Outstand- won, Parasite Garland in Judy. ing Performance by an Ensemble in a name film, —Documentary of the Year: Honeyland “I’m so grateful for the privilege of Comedy Series. The Crown won Out- —LGBTQ Documentary of the Year: Scream, Queen! My reflecting on the life of one of our standing Performance by an Ensemble Nightmare on Elm Street own, and one our most beloved,” in a Drama Series. TV honorees said Zellweger, who was accepting her As is the trend with many awards GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics— third SAG honor. “Judy Garland, 50 programs recently, there was no host composed of 260 mainly U.S. journalists covering film and years later, your community is think- at this year’s SAG Award ceremony. television—named its final-round choices for 2019’s fin- ing of you tonight.” For a list of nominees and winners, est movies, performances and more across a host of main- Other film honorees included Brad see https://www.sagawards.org/nom- stream and LGBTQ-focused categories. Pitt and Laura Dern, for their sup- inees-and-recipients/26th-annual- South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite won in porting turns in Once Upon a Time… screen-actors-guild-awards. five categories, including Film of the Year, Director and in Hollywood and Marriage Story, re- Screenplay. Renee Zellweger took Performance of the Year—Actress for Judy, with Antonio Banderas the top choice in the actor race. The Society’s Rising Star of the year was deemed to be Florence Pugh (Little Women). Among the professional LGBTQ journalists group’s trade- Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever in Booksmart. mark categories, Booksmart scored as Unsung Film of the Photo by Annapurna Pictures CULTURECULTURE CLUBCLUB Year, while Cats took the Campy Flick of the Year category. —Visually Striking Film of the Year: (tie) 1917 and Por- FX's Pose again won TV Drama of the Year and LGBTQ trait of a Lady on Fire TV Drama for the second year—and its star Billy Porter —Unsung Film of the Year: Booksmart took another Dorian win as well—while Comedy Central’s —Campy Flick of the Year: Cats THE TONY-AWARD WINING CELEBRATION OF The Other Two was named best Unsung TV Show. Amazon’s —TV Drama of the Year: Pose THE DUKE, HIS LIFE, HIS LOVES & HIS MUSIC Fleabag was anointed TV Comedy of the Year, with star- —TV Comedy of the Year: Comedy creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge reigning as TV Performance —TV Performance of the Year—Actor: Billy Porter, Pose of the Year—Actress and Wilde Wit of the Year. —TV Performance of the Year—Actress: Phoebe Waller- Lady Gaga won a special vote as Wilde Artist of the De- Bridge, Fleabag cade. Gaga’s duet with Bradley Cooper on “Shallow” at last —LGBTQ TV Show of the Year: Pose year’s Oscars also counted with the group as the TV Musical —Unsung TV Show of the Year: The Other Two Performance of the Year. —TV Current Affairs Show of the Year: Leaving Neverland Olivia Wilde, the first-time director of Booksmart, will —TV Musical Performance of the Year: Bradley Cooper be receiving a special honor at the group’s Dorian Awards NOW PLAYING and Lady Gaga, “Shallow,” The 91st Academy Awards Winners Toast on Sunday, Feb. 2, in Los Angeles. —Campy TV Show of the Year: The Politician The full list of winners is below: —The "We’re Wilde About You!" Rising Star Award: Flor- —Film of the Year: Parasite ence Pugh —Director of the Year: Bong Joon-ho, Parasite —Wilde Wit of the Year: Phoebe Waller-Bridge —Film Performance of the Year—Actress: Renee Zellwe- —Wilde Artist of the Decade (Special Accolade): Lady TICKETS & MORE AT ger, Judy Gaga PORCHLIGHTMUSICTHEATRE.ORG 1016 N DEARBORN —Film Performance of the Year—Actor: Antonio Ban- —Timeless Star (Career achievement award): Catherine deras, Pain and Glory O’Hara —Film Performance of the Year— Supporting Actress: WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 17 much more than that,” Jacobi said. “It covers Yehuda Jacobi. how you can rediscover yourself after someone Photo by Matt so important in your life, who has been with you Show examines life Simonette for so long, suddenly leaves this earth. It doesn’t matter how they die—you still have challenges of Barbara Jordan ahead of you.” The life of the late lawyer, educator and Jacobi came to numerous revelations as he politician Barbara Jordan will be examined in grieved for Arthur. Foremost was, “I realized that City Lit Theatre’s Voice of Good Hope. I had laid an awfully large amount of guilt on Voice of Good Hope is being described as “a myself,” he recalled. “I learned to resolve that dramatic portrait” of Jordan’s life. guilt, and learned that I’m stronger than I real- Jordan (1936-96) was the first African ized—and better than I realized. But I punished American elected to the Texas Senate and myself a lot, for all the things that I didn’t do for the first Southern African American woman him.” elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In journaling, Jacobi realized all that he had Jordan (who was lesbian) is best known for contributed to Arthur’s well-being. her opening statement at the House Judicia- “I was there for him for many situations where ry Committee hearings during the impeach- he was struggling,” Jacobi said. “He had a weight ment process against Nixon. problem; that never bothered me. He would go Performances will take place through Feb. into these periods of depression and I would say, 23, at the venue 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., ‘I love you just the way you are—you’re fine.’ with previews Jan. 10-18. For tickets, vis- It was that sort of thing. These little [recollec- it https://www.brownpapertickets.com/ tions] start creeping up as you move away from event/4254900. the grieving process, and you remember, ‘I did do this, and this is a good thing.’” Beyond the Open Door has won Jacobi two lit- Area author Jacobi erary awards. He recently retired from his job as an accountant and will keep on writing. “I don’t need people to agree with me, but addresses love, loss there’s something in the book that will make people think—and make them think differently,” Jacobi said. “If you stimulate your thoughts and @windycitytimes in acclaimed book open a door, you might discover some things BY MATT SIMONETTE about yourself that you didn’t know before.”

Glenview-based author Yehuda Jacobi often re- ceived some pivotal advice from his late partner, Arthur. Jacobi recently recalled that Arthur would say, “Everybody is going through something. You may not see it in their face. Give them the benefit of the doubt, and if you can help them, do so, as long as you don’t compromise your own integ- rity.” Jacobi wrote a book addressing how he came to terms with Arthur’s death, tackling one of humankind’s most complex emotional processes, grief. That book, Beyond the Opened Door: Grief as an Opportunity to Rediscover the Self, traces how Jacobi processed Arthur’s loss and reconnected with his positive memories of their time together. Jacobi also wrote about living with HIV and his subsequent relationship with Michael, to whom he is now married. Beyond the Open Door “covers the four steps of the grieving process, but I think it covers 18 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES “Sitting and talking with my teammates one “For years people have been fighting to get day and discussing our boy/girl troubles,” he where we are today and even though the fight began, “This is one memory that resonates with isn't over, being your true self is the best way you me because I remember thinking to myself how, can help,” he said. “Unapologetically, be who you a conversation that I was never really able to are because at the end of the day, as long you can participate in, I was now being listened to just as live your life, that's all that matters.” my other teammates are used to and thought of Arnoni’s coming-out was assisted by Dylan how beautiful it was that these people still cared Geick, who was a wrestler at Stevenson High about what was going on in my life, regardless of School in suburban Lincolnshire. Arnoni watched whether it was a boy or girl [I was attracted to]. Geick’s coming-out video on YouTube and “got my “Another memory that comes to mind was last bit of courage to do it myself,” he said. one time when I was out with my friends. I was Geick went on to wrestle for Columbia Univer- thinking to myself how different, yet how normal, sity in New York. Anthony Arnoni. things have evolved into within a matter of a “Last January I [was] a scared boy who didn't Photos courtesy of Arnoni month. Every aspect of my life had stayed the have a clue about the events that [were] about same, expect I was looking through a completely to unfold. I [was] desperate for someone to reach different lens.” out and help, or guide me in some way, to show Arnoni has received worldwide responses and me that everything is going to be OK,” Arnoni support since coming-out, including coverage said. “Today, I [am] a completely new person, yet in the Chicago Tribune. Within 72 hours after a someone who hasn't changed at all. I am still the column about his coming-out was posted on Out- same loud, annoying, funny person that I have sports.com, Arnoni had people reaching out to always been, except I now have a stronger sense 'Positive reactions' him from such countries as Turkey, Poland, Cana- of self-confidence and joy when I look into the da, Hungry, France and the Dominican Republic. future. Arnoni also heard from other in-the-closet stu- “Before my journey, whenever I would think of follow local hockey dents at his school and nearby schools. the future, I would be scared and shutter at the Even out CNN broadcaster Anderson Cooper thought of moving forward. Now I am eager to reached out to him. take on new adventures and am not scared to go player coming out “About a week after my Outsports article was through life, waiting to see what each chapter released, I received an email from Anderson Coo- holds. I can now see a future that all I have to be per, [who] congratulated me and told me how worried about is the uncertainties and unfamil- upend defending Combined Division State Cham- BY ROSS FORMAN inspiring my story had been,” Arnoni said. iarity just as everyone else normally is. pion Waubonsie/Metea—a tall task, as the reign- “All you have to [do] in life is [be] a good per- “I no longer have to be scared to be myself.” ing champions have been ranked in the state’s Anthony Arnoni is the senior skating king for the son and a good friend to others," adding that This past fall, Arnoni was named his high Top 25 all season and Waubonsie/Metea features co-op Leyden Eagles, a four-year varsity hockey sexual orientation does not matter. school’s homecoming king—a development that some of the most skilled players in Illinois. player in jersey No. 22 who shoots left-handed Arnoni has only heard anti-gay trash-talking in surprised him. Arnoni’s final state tournament also will be his and plays defense. one game, and was admittedly surprised. “Almost “I was overwhelmed with love from everyone in first as an openly gay hockey player. The 17-year-old Franklin Park resident attends every team that we played has been respectful my school, even [from] kids that I don't know,” “I slowly started to come out to individual East Leyden High School and still is undecided on and not crossed the line when trash-talking,” he he said. “Hearing everyone cheer for me made people, [beginning] with my best friend Julie in his schooling plans for next fall. said. me feel happy that there is proof that times had December 2018. After that I [told] my closest “It is very hard to pinpoint one single memory, “When I was playing while in the closet, I felt changed, and people look past others’ sexuality friends until [last] march when I finally made an but I would definitely say that the state hockey like I wasn't mentally in the sport like I wanted and judge one another off personality.” Instagram post for everyone to see,” Arnoni said. tournaments have been my favorite,” he said. to be. I was more worried about the way that I As Arnoni skates his final high school games “My coming out wasn't a normal coming out. The 2020 Illinois High School Hockey State acted, talked, and presented myself than how I over the coming months, his future is anchored Typically, when people [come out], especially in Tournament kicks off in late January, culminating played. After I came out, I was allowed, ironi- on a tattoo he shares with his mom. It reads "EX- the [sports] world, there is a stigmatism or hesi- with the state championship at the United Cen- cally, by myself, to just play the game from raw HALE," and it's based on the movie Love, Simon. tation that other people [might not face]. In my ter in March. Arnoni and the Eagles will look to emotion without any worries.” “There is a scene [in the movie] where the case, I had an immediate outpouring of positive So, Arnoni’s advice is to not worry about wheth- mother tells her son that since he came out, he reactions. My family, friends, coaches, teammates er coming out is going to make others upset. can now exhale,” Arnoni said. and others were super happy. I figured the locker Nancy Pelosi play room atmosphere would change, and I couldn't have been more wrong. Everyone was extremely debuting Jan. 26 [supportive]; you would have thought nothing The Adult in the Room, a new play by Bill had happened.” McMahon about the life of U.S. Speaker of Arnoni said coming-out instantly changed his the House Nancy Pelosi, will receive its world life—for the better. premiere Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. at Chica- “School became easier; hanging out with go’s Victory Gardens Theater’s Richard Chris- friends became stress-free, and life just got more tiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. fun,” he said. “It definitely was the right thing to Directed by Heather Arnson and Conor do for my mental health.” Bagley, the play is produced by Tony/Emmy/ And his hockey, too, which dates to his younger Olivier Award-winning producer Jim Kier- years skating for the Franklin Park Panthers. stead (Kinky Boots, Pippin, Hadestown) Arnoni praised Leyden head coach Pat Terretta Emmy-winning producer Linda Karn (Matt and the entire coaching staff. They talked to Shepard is a Friend of Mine) and Broadway him after coming-out and Terretta said that if he producer William Fernandez (The Inheritance, needed anything, they will be there for him. “My The Great Comet). Previews begin Jan. 22. coaches reassured me that they are by my side.” Tickets are $49 each; visit VictoryGardens. His teammates also have been supportive, org or call 773-871-3000. For more about the starting with his defensive partner Daniel Deter- production, visit TheAdultInTheRoomPlay. mann, a longtime and close friend. com. The players also have talked about off-ice rela- tionships, good and bad—including Arnoni. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 19 BILLY MastersMasters

“OK, people, time to recalibrate our gaydar. Bat- woman is a lesbian? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but talk to me, Gotham—what ever happened to politics staying out of our super- heroes?”—Not only did Batwoman just out her- self, it was discussed in the on-air commentary of Vesper Fairchild, as voiced by Rachel Maddow. “Some people call it a train wreck. We call it The View.” Truer words were never spoken than during this Saturday Night Live spoof of the talk show’s opening (said by Cheri Oteri as Barbara Walters). Whatever you may think about The View, it is appointment television. The show not only reports the news—it makes news. And it opened the new year with a bombshell— RuPaul's success has led to some woes, Billy the departure of right-of-center Abby Huntsman. says. A popular co-host’s departure would be news at Photo by Kevin Lynch any time. But a co-host’s departure during an election year is huge—especially for a show the bar. It’s because it’s a gay bar with a stripper New York Times recently dubbed “The most im- pole! Someone from the mayor’s camp checked portant political TV show in America.” The first out the venue and felt there was a “visual ele- question is why—why is Abby leaving? The im- ment” that wasn’t appropriate for a fundraiser. mediate answer is that she’s going to help her Personally, I’ve made lots of money on a pole— father, who is running for governor of Utah. But but that’s neither here nor there. The event was then, more tidbits trickled out. First, who knew moved from here to there—there being the Back- that Meghan McCain was pregnant? Hands? Any- stage Bar at the Hotel Providence. one? Apparently, she was pregnant last summer If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand and even wrote a New York Times piece about her times—Jussie Smollett is his own worst enemy. miscarriage. So, bad Billy—I missed this entirely After last year’s “incident,” he could have simply (in my defense, in the summer I am at my most paid the City of Chicago $130,000 to compensate self-involved and promiscuous). According to for the investigation. By refusing to pay, he’s sources, Meghan considered Abby’s on-air “child- opened the whole case up to scrutiny. Last week, centric chats” during this difficult time “insensi- a judge signed a search warrant for Smollett’s tive.” While this isn’t the only reason Abby left, Gmail account to be turned over to investigators. the term “toxic work environment” was brought And you people laughed at Hillary having a pri- up more than once. Abby’s dad running for gover- vate server! nor may simply be a good excuse. Despite his legal woes, rumors continue to swirl This leaves us with the bigger question: Who that Jussie may return to Empire for the series will fill the seat? An election year is not the time finale. If they want him, I hope they don’t send for a revolving door of co-hosts. Friday fill-inAna him an email! new show, Dragnificent!, that will star Drag Race Navarro would be a perfect fit, but she won’t re- It’s been a great few years for RuPaul. She’s alumnae Jujubee, Bebe Zahara Benet, Thorgy locate to NYC. Perpetual also-ran Rachel Campos everywhere. OK, perhaps not on FOX, which took Thor and Alexis Michelle as sort of a drag ver- has surely already made herself available. What a hard pass on Ru’s daytime talk show. But it sion of Queer Eye. The ladies will travel around I believe the show needs is a newswoman. Of certainly isn’t slowing the drag diva down. She’s and try to make people’s lives better. I hope they course, Meredith Vieira is the obvious answer. starring in AJ and the Queen, which has a 10-epi- let them loose on some of those people from My Diane Sawyer likely doesn’t want to continue be- sode commitment from Netflix and producerMi - 600-lb Life! The show debuts in the spring. ing a Barbara Walters stand-in. But what about chael Patrick King. And she’s got another season When Jujubees aren’t just for eating, it’s defi- ABC’s former golden girl Elizabeth Vargas? She’d of the award-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race. Then nitely time to end yet another column. You know fit in perfectly. Or, if the show wants to be really there’s a Las Vegas residency coming up at the what’s never a drag? Checking outBillyMasters. edgy, why not reach out to Megyn Kelly? Replace Flamingo Hotel (formerly the home of Donny and com—the site where you’ll never wait to be one Bombshell character with another? Marie). And RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK was a huge serviced. If you’d like to cut to the front of the Speaking of former Fox News anchors, we’ve hit. line, drop a note to [email protected] and I been hearing stories about Shepard Smith’s next Alas, that also led to some woes. Last weekend, promise to get back to you before RuPaul replaces move. Since his departure from the network in the UK hosted its first-ever DragCon—a popular Abby Huntsman on The View. Until next time, re- October, Shep has had several meetings with CNN event for drag queens and their fans. Alas, Drag- member: One man’s filth is another man’s bible. and MSNBC. His non-compete clause doesn’t run Con was a victim of its own success, with too out for another six months, but that would be a many tickets being sold and people queuing in perfect time for him to slip into a new seat. lines for hours. Photos at the Olympia London Last week, Mayor Pete Buttigieg had a fun- (the venue) reveal hordes both inside and out. draiser scheduled in Providence, Rhode Island. World of Wonder (the producers) issued a state- The event, which was hosted by the mayor’s ment offering to honor tickets the next day, or hubby, Chasten, was supposed to take place at offer refunds. The Dark Lady. At the last minute, the venue was With all this hoopla, more producers are cash- changed—but not because The Dark Lady is a gay ing in on the drag craze. TLC has announced a @windycitytimes 20 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES trumpet mushrooms, collard greens, harissa including at least 350 restaurants in the city (giving it a kick) and gribenes (chicken-skin neighborhoods and 50 in the suburbs. Just a few cracklings). However, there wasn’t quite enough of the new restaurants participating in Chicago bread for all the spreads that came next: labneh, Restaurant Week 2020 are Offshore Rooftop the DISH pickles, ezme, pumpkin tershi and cipollini and Bar (Streeterville), Tzuco (River North), Il Dining Guide in onions. My favorite was probably the tershi, a Culaccino (McCormick Square) and Queenie’s mix of the Turkish chili pepper urfa biber, cumin, Supper Club (Near West Side). WINDY CITY TIMES garlic, nigella and cilantro. (Fortunately, the A complete list of restaurants can be found at server gave us another pita in our doggy bag.) ChooseChicago.com/chicago-restaurant-week/ SAVOR Then, there are the entrees. My friend liked participating-restaurants. the chicken thigh immensely, but I favored the Note: Profiles/events are based on Galit; Chicago Tunisian-style fried fish, accompanied by dips invitations arranged from restaurants and/or Restaurant Week and herbs. We both also really liked the halloumi firms. (Jerusalem artichokes, with chiles, kohlrabi and BY ANDREW DAVIS pecans) as well as the most brilliantly green Friends of mine, who happen to be a couple, told falafel I’ve ever had. me they had to wait two months to get into the But please make room for dessert, especially Lincoln Park restaurant Galit (2429 N. Lincoln the phyllo apple pie, which a staffer described as PROFILE BY Ave.; GalitRestaurant.com). “apple pie meets baklava meets bread pudding”— TONY PEREGRIN I discovered two reasons for this long wait. One an apt description for a delicious and deceptively is that it turns out that a certain section of the Hummus at Galit. complex item. It’s no secret why this sweet is a spot is reserved for walk-ins—meaning that they Photo by Sandy Noto favorite of patrons. might’ve gotten in much sooner had they just Galit is worthy of the buzz it’s been getting— entered directly one night. or one of the Middle Eastern wines you can’t get whether you wait for two months or try your luck The other is that the cuisine there is most anywhere else in Chicago, there’s something for and just stop by one night. impressive, resulting in a backlog of reservations. everyone. BEHIND James Beard Award-winning chef Zachary Engel As for cuisine, my dining companion and I Chicago Restaurant Week is here THE NAME had a hard time deciding which route to take: “I used to work puts his spin on Middle Eastern fare, inspired On Jan. 24-Feb. 9, Choose Chicago will host ::LAILA McQUEEN:: selecting our own items or going for “The Other a small store inside a strip by travels to Israel as well as co-owner Andres the return of the city’s 13th annual Chicago PERFORMER OF THE WEEK Clavero’s Palestinian heritage. Menu,” which are all the chef’s choices for the Restaurant Week (CRW). club and Laila sounded like a However, as delicious as the food is, be sure evening. (All of your choices have to be given During Chicago Restaurant Week, diners pretty stripper name that none of the to start with something from Galit’s drink menu. to the server at once.) We ultimately decided to can enjoy special prix fixe menus at various other girls had. And as far as McQueen, Whether it’s the cocktail of the week (as I had do our own thing—and it made for a fascinating restaurants throughout Chicago and nearby I was paying homage to one my favorite Last Year’s Resolution, although the latest is culinary journey. suburbs. These multi-course meals are $24 for designers—but also its sorta a joke, because Danny Took Some Thyme Off); mocktails and I urge you to start with the hummus and the brunch or lunch, and $36 and/or $48 for dinner the brand of McQueen is so impeccable and other cocktails, like The Flowering Fox, with large, round, wood-fired pitas. There are a few (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). my style is the opposite.” hummus varieties, and we went with one with vodka, hibiscus, mezcal, sumac, honey and rose; More than 400 restaurants will be participating, MY MUSE “I’m more inspired by films like Rocky Horror, Party Monster, Beetlejuice (my walk- in look on RuPaul's Drag Race season 8 was inspired by him!), Hedwig… I'm practically GoFundMe page a fictional character myself, so I’m drawn to other weirdos in films. Oh—and the '80s!” launched for GO-TO NUMBER TO SLAY A CROWD DJ Teri Bristol “I love doing feel-good rock songs that A GoFundMe campaign has been launched when it comes on, you immediately want to help Teri Bristol, who has been a longtime to start singing out loud. I’m all about DJ at various LGBTQ venues as well as spots invoking those good vibes! But my favorite such as Smartbar. to close out a show is Bon Jovi; nothing gets After DJing a New Year’s show with long- drunk straight girls at a drag show to scream time mixing partner DJ Psycho-Bitch in Mil- louder and hand over money faster waukee, Bristol was admitted to St. Thomas than Bon Jovi.“ Rutherford Hospital in Tennessee with kidney MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT I ... failure on Jan. 3, BigShot magazine noted. “ … went to the same high school that the Bristol underwent surgery and is undergo- Lifetime movie 'The Pregnancy Pact' was ing dialysis treatments. based on, I’m terrified of sharks and I don’t Donations for Bristol can be made at Go- eat soup because it grosses me out.” FundMe.com/f/gofund-teribristols-kidneys. WHEN I NEED A PICK-ME-UP, I … “Sometimes, when I’m feeling tired, I like to DJ Teri scream really loud or shout weird-sounding Bristol. words or scream monologues from movies in PR photo different inflections. It gets my momentum back up!” WHERE CAN WE CATCH YOU "Nearly every month I perform at Berlin for Drag Matinee and also Smartbar for Queen!" MARY'S ATTIC SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @misslailamcqueen Seeing red at Jerry Nunn's 50th birthday/ Twitter: @lailamcqueen on twitter fundraiser for Heartland Alliance. Photos by Jerry Nunn Photo by Adam Ouahmane WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 21 HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING DECK MAINTENANCE AND STAINING. We Make Holes in CLASSIFIEDS Drywall Go Away. We also do Remodeling, Bathrooms, REAL ESTATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR WANTED Carpentry, Tile Backsplashes, Painting. “A+” with CONDO FOR SALE CHESTNUT ORGANIZING AND CLEANING SERVICES: BBB. Licensed-Bonded-Insured, One-year Warranty LARGE ONE BEDROOM CONDO steps from the lake in especially for people who need an organizing service Free Estimates! Andy OnCall 847-328-3100 www. Buena Park. 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To place an ad, contact Terri at 773-871-7610 ex 101, [email protected], or go to our MOVING TO From 2019's Mr. Chicago Leather contest. website http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/ Winner Saber Onyx (center), with IML 2018 placeaclassified.php. PALM SPRINGS? James Lee (right) and American Leatherwoman 2018 Sky Cotton. CLEANING SERVICES Joseph Stevens Photography CHESTNUT ORGANIZING AND CLEANING SERVICES: You: Let’s Up Your especially for people who need an organizing service because of depression, elderly, physical or mental SwimGame! Mister Chicago challenges or other causes for your home’s clutter, disorganization, dysfunction, etc. We can organize for Non-Swimmers to Leather 2020 the downsizing of your current possessions to more TriAthletes to Olympians easily move into a smaller home. With your help, we have elevated their skills contest Jan. 23-26 can help to organize your move. 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255115 of those who wouldn’t have otherwise gotten a St., at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. PR photo 22 Jan. 22, 2020 WINDY CITY TIMES and Gay Association: Stories from the cynicism, and greed of religious and Reader for her over 35-year career in Chi- History-Making First Decade. Twenty political leaders, witnesses the behead- cago journalism and the Rainbow Cafe COMMUNITY early members have written stories re- ing of John the Baptist in whom he had LGBT Youth Center in Carbondale, IL for calling the dramatic day when OPALGA+ placed his hope for true reform. A choice their work on behalf of LGBTQ youth in was formed. 2:00pm - 3:30pm Oak confronts him -- to live in fear and de- southern Illinois. 6 p.m. Silent Auction CALENDAR Park River Forest Museum, 129 Lake St., spair or once again to dare to hope by & Cocktail Reception, 8 p.m. Seated Din- Oak Park, IL http://opalga.org committing himself to the call of Jesus ner & Awards Program, 10:30 p.m. Danc- LezSING! Thirty singers/musicians! There of Nazareth. Part of Valient Theater's New ing & Music. VIP $500, general $300. Thursday, Jan. 23 are only two performances. Continues Works Festival 2020. Evenings A and B in 6:00pm Chicago Hilton and Towers, Fishhead. Republic of Want Author Igna- Jan. 26 at same time and venue. 7:30pm rotation through Feb. 14 and Frist Called 720 S Michigan Ave. Tickets: http:// tius Valentine Aloysius in conversation Broadway Theatre, 4139 N. Broadway. is part of Evening A. 7:30pm Other- www.equalityillinois.us/events/equality- with local author Sarah Connell. Amidst Visit http://pridefilmsandplays.com/ world Theatre, 3914 N. Clark St. Tickets: illinois-2020-gala/ the teeming tenements of 1970s Bombay second-annual-lezsing. http://www.valianttheatre.org/nwf Mr. Chicago Leather 2020 contest/af- (Mumbai), a hungry teenage boy strug- Lakeside Pride Ensembles Aural Borealis terparty Which contestant will go on gles through life in a poverty 7:00pm Celebrate the great Arctic phenomenon Thursday, Jan. 30 to represent Chicago at this year's IML? Women & Children First Bookstore 5233 of the Northern Lights with an eclectic The Cake When Jen, the girl she thinks of Contest taking place at Leather Archives N Clark St Chicago http://womenand- mix of Lakeside Pride's Chamber Ensem- as her 'goddaughter' asks Della to make & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview, doors childrenfirst.com bles with a mysterious and colorful se- her wedding cake, not for one bride but open at 7; contest at 8. Followed by the Full Kit Gear 10th anniversary party lection of music as unpredictable as the two, it's hard to follow one of her tried victory bash at Touche, 6412 N. Clark St., Kicking off Mr. Chicago Leather 2020 Aurora Borealis itself 2:30pm Logan and true recipes. Faith, family and food https://touchechicago.com/mr-chicago- weekend. Giveaways, champagne, hors Center for the Arts' Performance Hall, impact one another in the discovery leather-2020 d'oeuvres, music and more. 6-9 pm, 5021 915 E. 60th St. Tickets: http://do312. that love is the key ingredient to any N. Clark St. com/artists/lakeside-pride recipe in this timely play from a writer Tuesday, Feb. 4 of NBC's hit "This Is Us.". Free pre-show Transfemine Alliance Chicago (T-FEM) Friday, Jan. 24 PARTY TIME Tuesday, Jan. 28 discussion from 6:45 - 7:15p 8:00pm Peer-led discussion group for anyone Andy Warhol-From A to B and Back Saturday, Feb. 1 The Haggard Unicorn KJ Whitehead McAninch Arts Center at College of Du- who was assigned male at birth and Again Acclaimed traveling Andy Warhol wants to see unrepresented voices take Page 425 Fawell Blvd Glen Ellyn, IL identifies as female, feminine of center, exhibit debuts in Chicago-with a hotel Candidates and elected over the comedy world. Whitehead-who 60137 Tickets: http://www.atthemac. or questioning their gender. Meets ev- package and exclusive Absolut Warhol identifies as a queer trans woman-and org/events/bte-the-cake/ ery Tuesday in Room #200. Free. Gearah cocktail and an immersive experience officials will be among those at the Equality other feminist stand-up comedians. $10 Goldstein, [email protected] at its rooftop bar 4:00pm - 12:00pm 10:00pm The Playground Theater 3209 Friday, Jan. 31 7:00pm - 8:30pm Center on Halsted theWit Hotel, 201 N. State St. http:// Illinois gala. N Halsted St, Chicago The Haggard Unicorn KJ Whitehead 3656 N Halsted Chicago http:www.tfem- WarholAtTheWit.com. Photo of Debra Shore by Kat wants to see unrepresented voices take chicago.com About Face Theatre's The Gulf Six years Fitzgerald Wed., Jan. 29 over the comedy world. Whitehead-who OUTspoken monthly storytelling event into a relationship, tensions and pas- The Boys in the Band An iconic piece of identifies as a queer trans woman-and Celebrating uniquely personal stories sions flare as a lesbian couple clash over ture a teeming crowd, stripping down LGBTQ culture with a fresh, immersive other feminist stand-up comedians. $10 from across the LGBTQ community. OUT- past infidelities, life-choices, and job and jumping into the freezing waters production. Limited preview week avail- 8:00pm The Salon, 1579 North Milwau- spoken is held on the first Tuesday of struggles. Through February 15 7:30pm of Lake Michigan together, all in the ability. $50. 7:30pm Windy City Play- kee Ave. each month at Sidetrack. Doors to Main- Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tick- name of charity! 12:00pm Oak Street house, 3014 W. Irving Park Rd. Tickets: Bar open at 6 p.m. 7:00pm Sidetrack ets: http://AboutFaceTheatre.com Beach, Chicago http://www.chicagopo- http://boxoffice.diamondticketing.com/ Saturday, Feb. 1 3349 N Halsted St Chicago http://side- larbearclub.com windycityplayhouse/events trackchicago.com Saturday, Jan. 25 Equality Illinois Gala 100+ public of- Proud Oak Parkers: OPALGA+ at 30 gal- First Called: Andrew of Capernaum, By ficials, dozens of business leaders, and 19th Annual Polar Plunge The CPBC hosts lery discussion This will also launch the Nicholas A. Patricca An ordinary fisher- hundreds of LGBTQ champions. Honor- to raise funds for local families chal- new publication, The Oak Park Lesbian man, struggling against the hypocrisy, ing Tracy Baim, publisher of the Chicago lenged by difficult circumstances. Pic-

won a Golden Globe statue Jan. 5 for his work on in Dolemite Is My Name, and Awkwafina in The Rocketman. Egerton was not mentioned Jan. 13, Farewell. Oscar nominations however, Rocketman—specifically, John himself Another omission that will surely raise eye- ’Freedom Ride’ talk, out, with favorites and his frequent writing partner—was nominated brows will be Greta Gerwig’s direction for Little performance Jan. 29 in the Best Original Song category only. Women, which otherwise received six nomina- Newberry Library is hosting a discussion and and surprises Other 2019 Golden Globe winners proverbially tions. Gerwig was nominated for the film’s adapt- performance with Chicago Opera Theater (COT) snubbed by the Academy included Eddie Murphy ed screenplay, but her exclusion from the Best involving the production Freedom Ride on Wed., BY MATT SIMONETTE Director category undoubtedly will raise discus- Jan. 29, 6-7:30 p.m., at the library’s Ruggles sion about the academy’s historical ambivalence Hall, 60 W. Walton St. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to female directors. The production’s plot is as follows: When the announced its 2019 Oscar nominations Jan. 13. Among the major nominations, personnel from Congress of Racial Equality comes to New Orleans As widely expected by commentators, films with and themes related to the LGBT community were in the sweltering summer of 1961, Sylvie Dav- multiple nominations included critics’ favorites pretty sparsely represented this year. Gay director enport is torn. Handed a pamphlet and asked to such as The Irishman, 1917 and Marriage Story. Pedro Almodovar’s Pain and Glory was nominated board a Greyhound bus, Sylvie is forced to choose Joker, the gritty origin story of Batman’s fierc- in the newly-renamed International Feature cat- between her academic future and the future of est adversary, also bagged 11 nominations—the egory, as was Antonio Banderas for his lead role the nation. most of any film this year. in that film. Margot Robbie received one of the In this conversation, theater director Tazewell As is frequently the case with the Oscars, how- three nominations for the drama Bombshell, in Thompson will discuss this new work with Chica- ever, what wasn’t mentioned was just as notewor- which she played a sexually fluid (and fictional) go Opera Theater and Staley Music Director Lidiya thy as what wasn’t. For example, Taron Egerton Fox News employee. As was widely expected, Yankovskaya. Their discussion will guide viewers was widely anticipated to be nominated for his Renee Zellweger was nominated for her role as through exclusive excerpts from the opera, per- performance as openly gay musician Elton John iconic performer Judy Garland in Judy. Zellweger formed by Freedom Ride stars Lauren Michelle, in Rocketman; such a nod would have seemingly took home a Golden Globe statue for the part on Cornelius Johnson and Robert Sims. put the actor on a similar career path as Rami Jan. 5. COT is running Freedom Ride on Feb. 8, 14 and Malek, who last year won playing Freddie Mer- The ceremony will take place Sunday, Feb. 9. 16. cury in Bohemian Rhapsody. Egerton had suppos- Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. The complete list of nominees is at Oscars.org. Admission is free to the Newberry event, but edly widely campaigned for the nomination and Photo by Niko Tavernise RSVPs are required; visit Newberry.org WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 22, 2020 23 CONNEXIONS Alan Sanchez PROBATE CPA, P.C. TRUSTS GUARDIANSHIP Accounting Services ESTATE PLANNING 312-855-0875 | 221 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL Tax Consultation/Preparation ELDER LAW [email protected] 312.985.5938 | [email protected] 24/7 Emergency Phone : 847-309-7777 • State & Federal Courts • Weapon & Gun Charges 3418 N. Sheffield Ave. Clark Hill is a multidisciplinary, national law fi rm that • Felonies & Misdemeanors draws on our attorneys’ industry and policy knowledge, • Internet & White-Collar Crime • Drunk Driving Chicago, IL 60657-8589 our deeply held shared values, and a global network of • All Drug Charges • Orders of Protection premier fi rms and advisors to provide innovative legal • Expungements solutions and client-service excellence worldwide. 773-871-1256 Speak to an experienced attorney within minutes who www.alansanchezcpa.com

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