A Transformative Event

Home , Bob Mackie, Bob Paris, Frankie Knuckles, Geena Rocero, Miss Foozie, Tiq Milan

it’s all about miss foozie WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, PAGE 25 BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 April 2, 2014 vol 29, no. 27 TIMESwww.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Peller to lead AFC by Yasmin Nair the new leadership, and that it looked forward to his expertise and working with him at Howard On April 1, David Munar began a new chapter at Brown. He also emphasized that AFC was “not sit- Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC), as presi- ting still” and was a “nimble, quick” organization dent and CEO, taking over an organization rocked that could adapt to the times. He spoke about the by scandal for the past many years. His entrance changes and challenges ahead as the Affordable is a marked and, for many in the city, hopeful Care Act (ACA) rolled out. change; he will be its first leader in many years to According to Peller, AFC’s strategic plan is about actually have any experience in healthcare. its primary goal, “making sure people with HIV Munar began his career in health care in the have continued access to care.” AFC is not a di- field of HIV/AIDS policy and advocacy, and his rect service provider, but has three primary roles: training and experience came about at AIDS advocacy, fundraising, and maintaining govern- Foundation of Chicago (AFC), where he began in ment contracts to do prevention services. The last memorial held 1991. includes making sure that people diagnosed with for vernita John Peller has taken over as interim head of HIV get their first medical appointments but also the organization until the board finds a replace- get back into and stay in care. The organization gray ment for Munar; he has not yet decided whether also provides case management through the Ryan page 5 or not to include himself in the list of candidates. White act. This can include assistance with hous- Peller joined AFC as a state lobbyist and then ing rentals and providing supportive housing for made his way up to vice president of policy. people struggling with homelessness and/or HIV Speaking to Windy City Times about the chang- or chronic diseases. es ahead, Peller said that the organization would As to the Ryan White Act, “which has historical- miss Munar, but that it was working to make sure ly been the backbone of HIV care for low-income there was a continuity between his departure and John Peller. Turn to page 9 A TRANSFORMATIVE EVENT

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HOUSE MUSIC PIONEER FRANKIE KNUCKLES DIES pagE 27 Actress Laverne Cox (left) was one of the keynote speakers at the second annual Trans 100 event in Chicago March 30. At right, Chicagoan Gloria Allen was presented the “Living Legend” award. See inside and online for more coverage, photos and videos. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald: MysticImagesPhotography.com 2 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 3 this week in WINDY CITY TIMES CHICAGO WINTER = DEPRESSING NEWS ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Marriage in England and Wales 4 Scottish Play Scott 13 CHICAGO SUMMER = EXCITING! Vernita Gray memorial 5 Theater reviews 14 Trans 100 event 6 Youth empowerment project 20 Trans*H4CK 8 TV: Adrian Gonzalez on Here show 21 Are you Peller takes over AFC 9 Knight: Anita, notes 22 Human First gala pics 10 Bob Paris speaks out 23 Gay in the Life 11 Books: Colombian army; Carter 24 “summer body” VIEWS: Alexandra Bolles of GLAAD 12 Celebrating Miss Foozie 25 Dish: Azzurra review 26 ready? Frankie Knuckles dies 27 Billy Masters 29 Images on cover (left, from top): Photo of Miss Foozie courtesy of Foozie; photo of OUTLINES Mention Vernita Gray by Hal Baim; photo of Peter Classifieds 26 McGrath and David Cabreza by Tracy Baim Calendar 28 WINDy CITy TIMES and get

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Madrid offers A Trans*H4CK plenty of THERE GOES THE NBHD chat featured attractions for Bent Nights profiles a recent speaker/Web game tourists. performance from The Neighbourhood designer Mattie (also known as NBHD). Photo from the Ritz Brice (above). Madrid Photo by Gretchen Rachel Blickensderfer

TO THE LETTER A reader sounds off on living at Chicago WITH THIS RING... House’s TransLife Center.

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT Find out the latest about Oprah Winfrey, the Magic Mike sequel and Lance Bass.

The Chicago History Museum is plus planning an event for LGBT couples to plan their weddings. DAILY BREAKING NEWS Photo of museum wedding space by Mary Clare

#1115 • April 2, 2014 2014 PREDICTIONS WITH nightspots MISS CLEO

ANDERSONVILLE BREWING CO. MARY, MARY! Mary’s Rec Room rebrands as OPENS Andersonville Brewing Company. Page 17 Show #566 Find Nightspots on www.WindyCityQueercast.com 4 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES

Open To Thinking by Nick Patricca Religion & Nationalism

In 1912, in the publication of his work give comfort and hope to the soldiers Elementary Forms of the Religious Life and/or were they endorsing the nation- (Les formes élémentaires de la vie re- alistic goals of their respective nation- ligieuse), the French sociologist Emile states? Durkheim codified some of the best World War I, the War to End All Wars, is thinking from the 19th century about a special case for me because, with Paul the social functions of religion. Tillich, I understand this war to mark the Focusing on primitive (or primal) cul- end of Christian Civilization. Good Chris- tures in the hope of gaining a clearer tians fought on all sides in this war with grasp of these functions, Durkheim ob- the firm conviction that they were fight- served how the stories and rituals of a ing for the best values of Christianity as religion establish the unity of a society, well as the finest values of Western Civi- give identity to the individual within so- lization. Yet, WWI stands out as a totally ciety, initiate the individual into his/her unnecessary war blindly entered into by role in the society, educate the people profoundly corrupt and stupid men for Peter McGrath and David Cabreza, the first couple married in Islington, London, with registrars as a whole into the meaning and mission profoundly corrupt and stupid ends. from the town hall office. Photo by Tracy Baim of the society. Of course, it remains an Yet, we all, mostly good Christians and open question as to whether or to what good Citizens, marched off to war. Why? extent religion exercises these profound One of the reasons ‘Why’ is the formi- functions in modern and post-modern dable marriage of religion and national Same-sex weddings begin societies. identity in the socialization of the citi- Biblical scholars and the ‘scientifically’ zen into the modern nation-state. minded philosophers of the 19th cen- In WWI, Christian nations and empires, in England and Wales tury had already formulated these social in the name of civilization itself fought BY TRACY BAIM the campaign for same-sex marriage, too, and functions into two main categories: the each other ferociously with the most for rights in Russia, Tatchell said. Their pres- conservative (priestly) and the critical advanced weapons of terror and destruc- LONDON—After legalizing same-sex marriages ence here was personally, for them, very impor- (prophetic). The priestly function of reli- tion science, technology, and industrial in July 2013, the first official marriage ceremo- tant, Tatchell said. Their signs read “Congratu- might could produce. nies in England and Wales took place right af- lations Peter and David,” and “Thank you for Reason and Faith, the ter midnight on March 29, 2014. supporting same-sex marriage.” Enlightenment and At Islington Town Hall in London, at 12:03 England legalized civil partnerships in 2005, “Were these priests using religion Christian Civilization, a.m., Peter McGrath and his partner of 17 years, providing the same legal rights as marriage, were united and fo- David Cabreza, were married in front of dozens but activists felt the separation created a sec- to give comfort and hope to cused on the goal of of family and friends. They then went outside ond-class version of matrimony. the soldiers and/or were they total victory over the to greet the press and about 100 people gath- Despite opposition in his own Conservative enemy. And, the enemy ered to witness the historic occasion. Party, Prime Minister David Cameron supports endorsing the nationalistic goals were fellow Christians. Among those in the crowd were about a doz- same-sex marriage. Last year he said this, ac- of their respective nation-states?” In the mix of en African LGBTI activists from the Diamond cording to Reuters: “It’s been a real pleasure to symbols and rituals, Group, cheering them on. ... deliver this landmark social change for our beliefs and values, Peter Tatchell, one of England’s best-known country, which to me still comes back to the the relationship of a gay activists, was a witness at the marriage simple word of commitment.” specific religion to a and spoke to the media after. He was proud to Meanwhile, the Church of England has “barred gion concerns itself with preserving and specific nation is profound and complex. be joined by the LGBTI activists from Africa, priests from conducting gay and lesbian wed- inculcating through ritual and education This relationship is so intimate that it who feared for their own lives in their home dings or giving a formal blessing for a same- the principal values of a given tradition. becomes most difficult, and perhaps im- countries, including Uganda. Tatchell and the sex marriage performed by local government Entrusted with the founding myths, it possible, to determine the content of the married couple pointed out how important it is registrars. Only an informal blessing would be creates ‘cohesion’ in a group by provid- religion as distinct from the content of to continue to fight for LGBT rights all over the allowed,” Reuters said. ing ‘identity’ to the individual and to the the national ideology. world, not just for marriage rights in England. Couples who had previously entered into civil group in mutually defining roles of re- Martin Luther King Jr. marshaled the On March 19, 1992, Tatchell and other activ- partnerships can convert those partnerships to sponsibility as articulated in the primal prophetic/critical power of religious and ists organized a protest against marriage in- marriage. Scotland passed a marriage-equality stories of the tradition. The prophetic national myths to transform USA society equality, by having five same-sex couples file bill in February. Once marriages begin later this function of religion concerns itself with on matters of race. He masterfully mar- for licenses at Westminster Registry Office in year, marriage equality will be the law in the the judgment of the current state of af- ried the basic symbols and stories of London. They were refused, but that was the United Kingdom, except for Northern Ireland, fairs in a given society, with how well the Black Christianity and mainstream Chris- opening shot for the push for marriage equal- the Human Rights Campaign noted. people are living the original agreement tianity in America with the foundational ity, Tatchell said. “It has been a long, hard The Netherlands was the first country to expounded in the founding myths. Even stories of our national identity to enact struggle, often lonely,” he said. legalize same-sex marriage in 2001; now 17 Engels and Marx understood the power meaningful civil rights legislation and, The African LGBTI activists were involved in countries have such unions. of religion to prophetically critique and perhaps more importantly, to change change its host society, though they people’s hearts and behavior on race. were both constantly surprised when re- In 1967, in an article titled “Civil Re- ligion refused to fade away and become ligion in America,” Robert Bellah created an historical fossil as working and peas- the sociological idea of a civil religion to ant class consciousness ‘progressed and describe a peculiarly American faith or matured in the historical dialectic.’ worldview that most U.S. citizens share In the current Crimea crisis, in Kiev regardless of whether they are religious we witnessed Orthodox priests blessing or nonreligious and regardless of their the crowds that toppled the pro-Russia professed religion. For me the value of government and in Simferopol we wit- this idea of a “Civil Religion” is its use- nessed other Orthodox priests blessing fulness for understanding the complex the pro-Russia militiamen who seized interaction of the myths and symbols of the Crimea. In World War I, before yet a religion with those of the host society another futile battle commenced, Ger- in which the religion functions. man Catholic priests blessed the Ger- In another column I shall discuss Civil man troops while French Catholic priests Religion in the United States as it ap- blessed the French troops. pears to me today. Were these priests using religion to © [email protected]

Nick Patricca is professor emeritus at Loyola University Chicago, president of Chicago Network and playwright emeritus at Victory Gardens Theater.

Diamond Group activists backing marriage rights. Photo by Tracy Baim WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 5 Community gathers to remember Vernita Gray By Matt Simonette and First Lady Michelle Obama. “Vernita gave of herself to help move us to- Hundreds of friends, family and acquaintances ward a future where everyone is able to live of activist Vernita Gray gathered at the Good- and love as they see fit,” the Obamas wrote. man Theatre March 31 to remember her legacy “She will be remembered for opening hearts and pay tribute to her. and minds across our country, and for her self- The gathering was officiated by Mary Morten less support of young people in her commu- and Paul Fairchild. nity.” Morten said that Gray was “a person who led Gray’s frequent trips to the White House were Among the many who spoke at Vernita Gray’s memorial were (clockwise from top left) Mona a life of activism, a life of joy and a life of brought up many times. Noriega, Mary Morten, Camellia Noriega and Donna Rose. Photos by Hal Baim unparalleled gratitude.” “You know you’ve arrived when then Presi- Fairchild spoke of Gray’s final days, as she dent gives you the shout-out, ‘Hey, Vee,’” said gathered friends and family, and then the day Gray’s friend, Donna Rose. “I thought that she of her death. had a studio down in the basement” of the “She was alone with the two women who White House. loved her most, her wife, Pat [Ewert] and her Many people spoke of how Gray influenced mother, Toots [Hairston].” Hairston then read them in their youth. Dameon Christian fought A Psalm of David. back tears as he remembered that, “Vernita Gov. Pat Quinn then spoke of Gray’s activist taught me to be a same-gender loving indi- legacy, saying that Illinois “has a hole in our vidual” and thanked her “for the many seeds hearts. We lost one of our most special souls.” she placed in my life.” Quinn added he was grateful that, before Camellia Noriega, who Gray helped raise, Gray passed away, “We enacted something that spoke of her family’s life in Uptown, and read she worked for her whole life [marriage equal- her college entrance essay, which talked about ity]. ... She was here with us. She led us. She the influence Gray had on her life. Camellia and taught us.” Ramon are Mona Noriega’s children. “She taught us humility, compassion and how Fairchild read a letter from Cook County Cir- about a better world,” she said. of the great honors of my life. ... Somewhere to laugh at ourselves,” Camellia said. cuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown. Mona Noriega, Miles also discussed when Gray “dropped by” up there Vee is smiling down on us. May her Shantell Steve, who was mentored by both of the Mayor’s Commission on Human Rela- when she was so excited at having met Ewert. memory be a blessing.” Gray and Ewert, and the late Renae Ogletree, tions, who was Gray’s partner for several years, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who worked with Gray Pat McComb of Executive Sweet spoke of read a poem that expressed her gratitude for then read a letter from Mayor Rahm Emanuel. at the State’s Attorney’s Office, was also around Gray’s love for social events and social activ- their guidance. In the poem she thanked the “Vernita was a poet who could use her words at that time of that first date. ism, and Candace King recalled Gray’s love of women for having “taught me what it was re- to to rally against injustice and counsel and “She wasn’t sure at first, and told me to ‘Stick dancing—as she herself danced off the stage. ally like to have parents.” comfort those in need,” Emanuel wrote. “She close by,’” Cassidy said, but added that after it Musical numbers were performed by friends: Gray’s friend Kay Miles said that Gray pro- was a role model who lived an authentic life, was apparent that Ewert and Gray had hit it Lucy Smith, Vanessa Davis, Richard Streetman fessed to hippie values: love, peace, compas- and inspired a great many to reach for their off, “I knew that Vee had this one.” and June Gearon. The Drum Divas started out sion and sexual liberation among them. “She dreams.” Judge Patricia Logue, who married Gray and the day with a processional. not only believed them and lived them, she James Bennett of Lambda Legal followed Ewert in November, called the wedding “one with a dedication from President Barack Obama had a belief that these values would bring 6 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES

Left to right: Kye Allums; Geena Rocero and Stan Sloan; Laverne Cox; Angelica Ross. All photos by Kat Fitzgerald, www.MysticImagesPhotography.com 2014 Trans 100 list unveiled to celebration by GRETCHEN RACHEL BLICKENSDERFER and suicide amongst LGBTQ youth. “We’ve had lots of story submissions,” he said enthusiasti- On the eve of the International Transgen- cally. “I’m organizing them and you will see der Day of Visibility, people from the trans, more after April 1.” queer and gender non-conforming communi- Before presenting the second portion of ties across the city, state and country filled the Trans 100 list, senior media strategist at the Mayne Stage March 30 with an exuberant, GLAAD Tiq Milan talked about the importance resounding celebration of identity, accomplish- that the trans community be represented au- ment, humility, defiance, hope and love. thentically and with integrity in the media. “I The names of the 2014 Trans 100 were an- work with the understanding that the media nounced in three groups, by well-known trans- isn’t just something that documents the cul- gender people. There was no fear. No one was ture,” he said. “The media is what shapes the hiding. There was no separation of race or culture. The media is the conversation we’re economic background; no distinction between having about ourselves and with ourselves and showgirl, transgender, transsexual or gender- it’s extremely important that we are a part of queer. There was only unity in a community that conversation.” that—as keynote speaker, actress and activist While the bestselling author of Redefin- Laverne Cox noted—was in the midst of a revo- ing Realness Janet Mock has maintained that lutionary act of love and support “in a world conversation through her speaking tours and that tells us we should not exist.” activism across the country, she did not take The evening began with a showgirl revue the stage that evening to accept an accolade organized by and including the vivacious host but—alongside Center on Halsted Youth Out- for the evening Angelica Ross. “I want to get reach Coordinator Precious Davis —to present drunk with the love of the trans community!” one to a woman she called a living legend. been trans,” Fox added. “And I’m certainly not Off stage, Allums talked about his work on she said. “I’m tired of our community being “Legendary looks like the gorgeous, the gen- going to be the last.” Project I Am Enough with Windy City Times. divided. I want to celebrate all choices because erous, the luminous, the one and only Gloria Kye Allums was the first keynote speaker of The website invites people to share a short no choice for a trans person is easy.” Allen,” Mock announced. Audience members the evening. The first transgender man to play story and “possibly give someone the strength Jen Richards—who co-directed the evening stood up and applauded Chicago community on a NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball team to stand up and say, I am worth living. I am alongside 2013 Trans 100 member Asher Ko- leader and mentor “Mama Gloria” who spent and the founder of Project I Am Enough, Al- not alone. I am not perfect, but I Am Enough.” lieboi—reminded the audience that the 2014 years imparting her wisdom, beauty and inspi- lums thanked both the audience in the room As a student at George Washington Univer- Trans 100 was just a sampling of everything ration to generations of young trans people. and those watching the live feed “for simply sity, Allums said there were many moments the community has to offer. “When we choose “She’s given tools to the next generation that being who you are.” when he didn’t feel as if he was enough. “My a hundred, it’s just a way of saying we have will last a lifetime,” Davis said. He talked about a time when he was unsure freshman year of college, I took a human sexu- countless people doing incredible work. We A visibly shocked and emotional Allen ac- about adding the word trans to his male iden- ality class and there was a panel of LGBTQXYZ have everyone represented. A trans person who cepted The Living Legend Award. “It is a bless- tity. “I just wanted to be a man,” he admitted. people,” Allums recalled. “There was a trans thinks they are alone can look at this list and ing to stand here and see you all,” she cried. “Every time I went into a room full of people guy who told a story. That was how I realized see something of themselves in it.” Richards “I thank God for you all and I thank God for who had no idea who I was, I would experi- that trans existed. I started to research to find co-founded Trans 100 with Antonia D’orsay. transgender people. You are a blessing.” ence a shift in the way people would look at other trans people and I discovered YouTube The first portion of that list was presented Model and activist Geena Rocero provided me, the way they would act around me and videos. I watched other people transition and, by ESPN Sports Writer and Editor Christina the audience with a sneak preview of a Ted the way they would talk to me once they knew when I watched that, I wanted to do that but Kahrl and Mixed Martial Artist (MMA) champion Talk she did. “I gave a very personal journey that I was trans. I got sick and tired of being I couldn’t. I was a Division One athlete and I Fallon Fox. “I think the important message is as a proud trans woman,” she said. “I shared the only trans person in the room.” A subse- couldn’t stop playing to do those things and, that in the ring, on the field, in the press box, genderproud.com with them. It will be a global quent discussion with Richards changed that. in that moment, I was at my lowest.” in the locker room, I belong, you belong, we campaign for a gender recognition policy that “When people become aware, they become less Allums instead focused on what he could all belong,” Kahrl said. “We are all capable of will allow transgender and gender variant peo- afraid,” Allums said. “So, for me, being trans do—changing his name and gender marker. He achieving at the highest levels in sports.” doesn’t make me any less of a man. For me, believes that initiatives such as Project I Am “I’m not the first pro-athlete that has ever being trans is defining who I am.” Enough can help stem the rate of depression Turn to page 7

Left to right: Tiq Milan; Trans*H4CK winners; Jen Richards and Precious Davis; Mimi Marks. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 7 TRANS from page 6 ple to change their name and gender markers without being forced to go through surgeries.” Rocero wasn’t the only one to announce a new website that evening. Trans*H4CK creator, filmmaker and artist Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler presented the winning team of the 48-hour hackathon Trans*H4CK Chicago that was held at Dev Bootcamp starting March 28. “Trans*H4CK presents technology to improve all of our lives,” an exhausted Ziegler explained. “As trans people, we are the first to adopt technology, we find each other through the Internet. So it was important to me to cre- Above, left to right: Gloria Allen with Janet Mock; Angelica Ross, Jim Bennett and Mary Morten. ate something where we can use our minds to create something beautiful.” The winning technology was the Referral Ag- gregator Database constructed by trans-educator Riley Johnson and his team Catherine, Rachel, Eliot and Dominic. “We have organizations here and abroad that have inaccurate and inaccessible referral information,” Johnson explained concerning available information on medical providers to the trans community. Ulti- mately the team came up with a Yelp-inspired platform which will allow the assembly of accurate and up-to-date medical referrals for people to access.” Cox was the final keynote speaker of the evening, described by Ross as a “media slayer.” Before taking the stage, she spoke to Windy City Times about what an evening like the Trans 100 means to her. “I got to attend last year and helped out back stage,” Cox said. “And it was just an honor to witness. For me, trans people celebrating and loving each other feels so very special.” colm However, as much as she said she was honored and excited to be addressing the audience in 2014, Cox admitted that she was nervous to be speaking in front of her own people. “When I’m talking to my community, we know what ó ó the deal is, we know the struggles that we live with every single day and I guess I want to say the right thing and I want to inspire them,” she acknowledged. “But I also want to chal- toibin lenge my community as well. The stakes are so high. It’s easy to talk about what cisgender people and gay and lesbian people are not do- The ing for the trans community, but it’s hard to talk about what we’re not doing for ourselves and what we need to do within the community to lift ourselves and each other up.” On stage, she reminded the audience that “each and every one of us has the capacity to be an oppressor. We have to acknowledge that oppression hurts, that discrimination is deeply, deeply painful and so many of us are impera- tors of trauma around that oppression.” Cox Irish challenged the community to create spaces of healing rather than spending time hurting one another. Ross believes that the Trans 100 list is one such step in that healing process. Although she literary joked that last year, she was “a little salty when I didn’t see my name on the list,” she added that “it really made me understand that, not only does the greater public not know about the breadth of our community, but we don’t.” She was included in the list this year alongside professionals, activists, idealists and those Renaissance doing work for the community across the country. Allums, Milan, Davis, Johnson, filmmaker Lana Wachowski, Minister Louis J Mitchell, Dr. colm tóibín is an irish novelist, Jillian T. Weiss, D’Lo, and Shay(den) were just a few of the names called out to resounding essayist, playwright, journalist, poet and cheers. Brynn Tannehill was on the list. She had made author of the testament of mary the journey from small, scattered trans groups in Dayton, Ohio. “So often our movement is represented by people outside the community,” Tannehill said. “I think it’s extraordinarily important for people to see what we can do when thursday, april 10, 2014, 7:00 p.m., frick center, founders lounge we are working for ourselves.” 190 prospect avenue, elmhurst, illinois Entertainment for the evening was provided by Mimi Marks, Angelica Ross, Kaycee Ortiz and tickets $10 at the door or at elmhurst.edu/tix Eli Krell. Chicago House, GLAAD, Lambda Le- questions? (630) 617-3390 or visit www.elmhurst.edu gal and Trans*H4CK served as co-sponsors and follow us on: facebook.com/elmcol twitter.com/elmhurstcollege partners for the event. See the full 2014 Trans 100 list here: http://thetrans100.com/ . 8 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES first person to receive a doctorate in African American studies at Northwestern but that is Trans*H4CK powers something he does not dwell upon. “I’ve left a trans queer legacy at Northwestern, but I’m still trying to grow from that as a person and ideas, unity, change move on from that experience,” he said. Today, Ziegler lives in Oakland, Calif., and is still engaged in a learning process driven by a By Gretchen Rachel Blickensderfer Carroll—who describes herself as a “queer ravenous curiosity about the unknown around Blaxican and wannabe developer”—said she him. It has continued to fuel his filmmaking. Beginning in the early evening of March 28— never likes going anywhere by herself and that However, he has also begun to amass meaning- and for almost 48 hours—groups encompass- her idea will help reduce the isolation of peo- ful and lasting friendships. His Twitter account ing the spectrums of color and gender identi- ple who are new either to the city or the com- describes him as “Your new best friend.” The ties were gathered in the spacious River North munity. “We’ve started out with the idea of ride relationships he has forged have been among offices of Dev Bootcamp. They included pro- sharing,” she explained. “The premise is that the many benefits of what is now his third grammers, web developers, designers, visionar- everybody has somewhere they want to go and Trans*H4CK. “I’m an extrovert but I still have ies, idealists and artists—impassioned people we’re trying to match people who might also be a hard time making adult friends,” Ziegler ad- with the seedling of an idea requiring a simple going to the same place, like finding a support mitted. “But at each one of these, I walk away marriage of technology and code to nurture buddy to go to a doctor’s appointment who will with new friends, respect and a different per- into web products and applications that may stay with you and then get you home safely.” spective on humanity.” one day change the world for transgender and At the center of all this unrestrained enthu- Even more prolific, the first two gender non-conforming communities. siasm was the creator of Trans*H4CK, Dr. Kort- Trans*H4CKs—held in Oakland and Las Vegas The participants of Trans*H4CK Chicago clus- ney Ryan Ziegler. In the space of a couple of respectively—have already produced sites such tered around whiteboards and laptops, sketch- hours, he had visited every corner of the room, as Dottify.me—a social surveying site for the ing broad strokes and then fine-tuning ideas occasionally taking the microphone to offer a trans* and gender variant communities that for new apps, social-networking platforms, few words of encouragement, running around allows users to create anonymous identities, websites and games. The atmosphere was dy- ensuring everyone was fed or had a bottle of place themselves on a map, participate in sur- namic and replete with the formation of new water and hosting an interview with celebrated veys and share their stories. There’s also a Trans friendships, animated discussions and mentors game developer and critic Mattie Brice. Health Access Wiki and Trans H4CK Clothes and volunteers offering counsel and inspira- Ziegler conceived Trans*H4CK as a direct R4ck where trans people can exchange clothes tion. response to the issues that often devastate a at different points of their transition allowing Joshua (Hedon) Maravelias, Rusty Cook and trans person’s life: the loss of a job, a home, both economic and expressive sustainability. Matt McCarthy were collaborating on “Fam- inadequate access to healthcare, discrimina- As Ziegler ended his discussion with Windy ily by Choice”—a social-networking platform tion at almost every level of society and from Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler. Photo by Gretchen City Times, in another corner of the Trans*H4CK where older members of the trans and queer within government programs. It is part of his Rachel Blickensderfer Chicago room, trans health activist Riley John- communities can provide resources, structure uncompromising and relentless advocacy that son was putting an app together to aggregate and care for trans kids. “Often times, trans was demonstrated and bequeathed by the and automize the upkeep of trans medical re- youth are homeless because their families are grandmother who raised him in Compton, Cali- High, Ziegler would often come home crying. ferrals. “Sometimes records and provider lists not accepting or they don’t have familial role fornia—a woman who, at the same time, went “It was a horrible learning environment,” he aren’t accurate or people aren’t talking to each models,” Hedon explained. “This idea will pro- to every last length to help nurture his love of recalled. “I begged my grandma to take me other across agencies,” Johnson explained. vide that for them. Older people can come to- technology. Ziegler said that she was not only out of that school. At that time, in LA County, “My hope is to make that process easier in that gether, adopt parental roles and take younger supportive of his gender and sexuality but also where ever you lived you had to go to that there will be one spot that will contain all the members of the community under their wings his creativity and a lifetime fascination with school district. So she had to suffer through referral lists.” to form that kind of familial bond. The platform learning. the court system to allow me to go to a differ- As Trans*H4CK wound up March 30, Johnson’s will integrate that online.” Hedon added that “I was 14 years old and I went to a sum- ent school. But she understood what education idea and each of the others will be reviewed by their goal was to have a prototype by the end mer program for kids who wanted to go to col- meant to me.” a panel of judges. The winning design will be of the Trans*H4CK weekend with a prospective lege,” Ziegler remembered. “There was a com- Ziegler honored her fight for that education presented during the Trans 100 ceremony at launch a month later. puter class and I went online to mtv.com for first at the University of California Santa Cruz, Maynestage later that evening. Kara Carrell was focused on a whiteboard the first time in my life. As I watched the site and then during his masters in ethnic stud- Ziegler said he is optimistic that something on which was detailed the elements of “No slowly load, I just fell in love. I went home and ies at San Francisco State. It was as a part of extraordinary will emerge from the weekend. Solo”—a concept based upon building a com- begged my grandmother for a computer. We the latter institution that Ziegler began a more “You know, even if nothing comes out of this, munity around the idea that trans and queer were really, really poor but she saved up and personal journey outside of academia. “I iden- the actual experience of people of different people should not have to go anywhere alone. bought me a computer on my 15th birthday.” tified as a lesbian until I was 21 and never races and colors being in this room together “I think there’s a lot of major events that we He was glued to it from that moment. “I felt comfortable with it,” he said. “But going sets a precedent among trans advocacy and ac- keep ourselves from going to,” Carrell said, taught myself how to design websites and did to grad school gave me a great opportunity to tivism,” he said. “Sometimes we are very sepa- “because of the barriers of transport and the a lot of research on how to navigate differ- explore myself through meeting other trans rate in the work that we do even though we are fear of going alone. So this is about learning ent sorts of technologies,” Ziegler said. “It people. I thought ‘hey, that could be me,’ but I fighting for similar causes, but the fact that we who is in a person’s neighborhood and con- changed my life. It was the first time I was was still very hesitant.” can exist in this space together and have dif- necting them so they can broaden their access able to meet teenagers who were queer in chat Meanwhile—having read his thesis—Ziegler’s ferent allies means we are changing ourselves and ability to attend something that can help rooms and online and that just blew my mind.” department chair encouraged him to go for internally. That has a ripple effect that can socially or with self care.” Yet, when he was a ninth-grader at Compton his Ph.D.—something Ziegler never imagined possible. “I just didn’t know if I was smart help trans people all over the globe.” enough,” he smiled. Nevertheless, by 2006 Ziegler’s grandmother passed on when he was Ziegler was applying himself to his doctorate 22. By that time, she had set into motion the in African-American studies at Northwestern ripples of education that became a wave to University. power Ziegler’s own life. “Without her, I would At the same time, he was beginning to ques- have dropped out of school a long time ago,” tion his gender identity. Those questions and he said. “If my grandma was here right now, the search for a commonality in the struggles she would be in this room willing me and all of his peers lead to Ziegler directing what was of us on.” to become a celebrated and award winning documentary. STILL BLACK: A Portrait of Black Transmen was painted with the enduring and Trans activist unforgettable accounts of six men who talked launches campaign unashamedly about the struggles and conse- April 1– June 13, 2014 Silhouette Window Shadings quences of living visibly. The film garnered at TED Talk international acclaim and won both the 2008 To coincide with the celebration of Interna- $ $ Isaac Julien Experimental Award at Queer Black tional Transgender Day of Visibility, activist/ Light that invites. 25 to 10 0 Cinema and the Audience Choice award for Best model Geena Rocero launched her new glob- ® * Silhouette Window Shadings diffuse the sun’s rays, creating soft rebate per unit Documentary at the 2009 ReelOut Film Festival. al-awareness campaign, Gender Proud, which calls attention to the fact that there are only light that naturally illuminates your home. Save now with valuable ON SELECT HUNTER DOUGLAS Yet, Ziegler said his professors at Northwest- rebates. Ask for details. WINDOW FASHIONS ern simply didn’t get it. “There was a lot of a few countries where transgender individuals push back to STILL BLACK,” Zieger remembered. are able to change their gender marker without

The Art of “I was dealing with people who were superstars having to first undergo surgery. Ask about Window DressingTM HOM by Ray & Son ideas booklet in their field but—at the same time—were In addition, Rocero’s talk (Technology, En- Measuring and bigots. They looked like me but didn’t under- tertainment and Design) went live on March Chicago and All Suburbs Installation with this ad Gay Owned Over 35 Years stand that I was going through a gender jour- 31. Her talk marked the first time that TED has 847-541-4848 ney. African American studies is a new field. tackled transgender rights issues on the main www.hombyrayandson.com It discusses slavery but hasn’t caught up with stage. Follow Us At Facebook or Twitter gender identity and sexuality.” As it launched, Gender Proud initiated a peti- * Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for purchases made 4/1/14 – 6/13/14 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid Ziegler summed up his experiences at North- tion on Change.org that seeks to bring aware- reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance western as traumatic enough to push him to ness to the issue at a broader level; simultane- 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. © 2014 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas. SPG14MB3 41382 graduate in quick measure. He became the ously, an IndieGogo campaign will raise money. WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 9 Cassidy told Windy City Times in February that Quigley speaks she and Delgado were “looking for a way to on blood ban marry” the two bills. On March 31, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley spoke So-called ‘conversion’ therapy has been dis- to OutLaw, an organization for LGBT students credited in numerous mental health circles and at the University of Chicago Law School, about has been banned in California and New Jersey. re-evaluating the FDA’s criteria that prohibits men who have sex with men (MSM) from donat- Lambda Legal ing blood. MSM are currently prohibited from donating blood for life based on their sexual unveils marriage orientation rather than their level of risk. “Healthy would-be donors are turned away ads on Red Line based solely on their sexual orientation—a In Chicago, Lambda Legal has unveiled a policy that is not only prejudiced, but is also marriage victory ad campaign on the CTA Red out of line with our national need for blood line, making Chicago the site of the national donations,” said Quigley. “It’s time to end this non-profit legal organization’s first transit ad discriminatory practice and implement a policy campaign, according to a press release. that allows all healthy individuals to donate Lambda Legal—whose lawsuits Darby v. Orr, life-saving blood.” Gray v. Orr and Lee v. Orr were instrumental in the battle for the freedom to marry in Il- linois—will run the ads through April 15. Conversion-therapy The campaign bears the slogan,”You make your life, we make it legal.” The ads also fea- ban advances to ture Lambda Legal marriage plaintiffs Lakeesha House floor Harris and Janean Watkins from Chicago and By Matt Simonette Timothy Rice and Don Julian of Alto Pass, Ill., as well as the organization’s board co-chair, The Youth Mental Health Protection Act, which Karen Dixon, and her spouse Nan Schaffer, for- prohibits therapy claiming to “cure” homosexu- merly of Chicago. One of Lambda Legal’s marriage ads on the Red Line. ality for minors, passed the House Human Ser- vices Committee March 26 by a vote of nine to six, and is on its way to the House floor. HB5569, which state Rep. Kelly Cassidy introduced Feb. 14, forbids mental health providers from engaging in practices aimed at changing the sexual orientation of a person under the age of 18. It also says that any provider engaging in such efforts will be subject to action from their local licensing entity or disciplinary board, as will any provider making a referral for those purposes. “This bill would ensure that the most vulnerable individuals, those already struggling in the face of homophobia and transphobia, are not targeted and subjected to a practice that medical practitioners deem harmful and inappropriate,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, in a statement. A similar bill has been introduced in the Il- linois Senate by state Sen. William Delgado.

PELLER from cover people,” Peller said that “its focus is going to shift from when it was the only payer for people with HIV to one that provides coverage completion, filling in the gaps that insurance or Medicaid leaves out.” Smaller, community- run organizations may also see their roles shift. Peller emphasized their continuing importance, pointing out that they know the communities they work in and are also culturally sensitive. However, under ACA, filing for Medicaid can take up a lot of resources, and the challenge will be to work with them to see how they might change their infrastructure to accommodate paperwork and other structural issues. But Peller was also enthusiastic about a new project with Harvard Law School, funded by the Mac AIDS Fund, which would help monitor implementation of the ACA, primarily through reporting by social service agencies. Peller said he feels the ACA offers tremendous opportunities in healthcare, but also acknowledged that there are significant challenges. He said, “There’s a continued need for advocacy to make sure people with HIV get the services they need. And there are very high out of pocket costs for medications, which dramati- cally affects low-income populations. If curing HIV was as simple as giving someone a pill we would have ended AIDS 15 years ago. The reality is that people need a tremendous amount of support to get into care in the first place. They need housing assistance, transportation, food, nutrition, and help overcoming the stigma— which is still with us to a degree that really continues to shock me.” 10 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES Center on Halsted hosts ‘First’-rate gala

By MATT SIMONETTE

About 750 supporters of Center on Halsted gathered in the Great Hall of Union Station March 29 for “A Mo- mentous Occasion,” the center’s 2014 Human First gala celebration. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, an honorary co-chair of the event, spoke and paid tribute to the progress made by the city’s LGBT community. “It’s a momentous occasion because a year ago we were a different state and a different city,” Emanuel said, before reflecting back on the mass ceremony he and Gov. Pat Quinn presided over in 2011, wherein some 33 couples were the first to enter into civil unions. “We can no longer be a forward looking state with backward looking laws,” Emanuel added, also stirring applause when he mentioned another recent honor be- stowed upon Chicago: “When we looked at all those bat- tles and all those struggles, who knew that Boystown would be voted the number-one gay neighborhood in the country?” Left to right: Celebrants at Center on Halsted’s Human First Gala; Mayor Emanuel; Jess Godwin. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald, www.MysticIm- Quinn also spoke, discussing his Nov. 20, 2013, sign- agesPhotography.com. Many more photos available at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com ing of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. “It was so meaningful because so many people all over Illinois came together as one,” Quinn said, adding that it was imperative to still keep the fight for marriage and other aspects of LGBT equality. “We’ve got to do it in every state of the union.” Former state Sen. Carol Ronen was among the honor- ees. Ronen was introduced by her successor, state Sen. Heather Steans, who described Ronen’s mentorship as a “driving force” in helping to strategize policy. Ronen said that she was “in awe of this community and all that you’ve accomplished. … The legislature didn’t just wake up one morning and say, ‘Let’s pass civil rights legislation,’” adding that even gay marriage was “not even a political wedge issue anymore” in the Left to right: Julio Rodriguez with Mona Noriega and Evette Cardona; Clark Pellett and Robert Kohl; Debra Shore and Art Johnston. state. Mona Noriega, chairperson of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, and her partner, Evette Cardona, vice-president of Programs at Polk Bros. Foundation, were next honored for their activist work. Noriega said that they dedicated the award to Vernita Gray and Pat Ewert. “They have modeled for us what life is and how to help demand our place in the world,” Noreiga said. Cardona added, “Many of you know how genuine Ver- nita was—she was one of the most genuine people I have ever met. [She] taught me how to be an activist and a mentor, and so it is just very fitting to dedicate this award tonight to her and Pat.” Activists Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett were recog- nized for their advocacy of marriage equality. Pellett spoke about the struggles facing many LGBT youth. “Tonight on the streets of Chicago, there are LGBT homeless youth that exceed the number of people Below: Mr. Chicago Leather sitting in this room. So, while we have accomplished 2014 Miguel Torres and much, we have much more to do for those who need our Anthony Meade. help and who have not had voices to championship their cause,” he said. Brian Mustanski, director of the IMPACT LGBT Health and Development Program, accepted an award on behalf of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and University. He said that he was gratified by “the idea of taking our re- Above: Gov. Quinn. Below: Sen. Steans, search and embedding it in our community, having our Carol Ronen and Tico Valle. science implemented in a tangible, immediate way, by partnering with programs like those based in the Center … [that] can benefit the community.” Mustanski was joined by Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, professor of human development and social policy at Northwestern Uni- Branden James. versity, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital President Richard J. Gannotta. The presentation closed with remarks from Center on Halsted CEO Modesto “Tico” Valle, who spoke about being mindful of the needs of LGBT seniors. “Our seniors—our LGBTQ trailblazers, are facing not only financial hardships as they age, but the isolation and fear of having to go back in the closet to receive care, and Center on Halsted is pushing forward, providing programming and opening the first of its kind LGBTQ senior apartment housing this coming September,” he said. Valle also paid tribute to Vernita Gray: “Center on Hal- sted can use Vernita’s legacy to push forward.” Entertainment for the evening was provided by singers Branden James and Jess Godwin as well as SHOUT OUT and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 11 It’s no surprise Christian Smoker is the owner of a new, snazzy salon in Lakeview. He grew up in the industry. “My mother, Freida Smoker, is a hair stylist and had her own salon. I also have an GAY in the aunt and my niece in the business as well. It’s in our blood,” he said. “I was an odd little boy, more interested in playing with mannequin heads instead of G.I. Joes. I’ve LIFE always loved being in the salon, playing with hair.” Smoker is certified by the American Board of Certified Haircolorists, and his focus is Christian Smoker healthy hair, he said. His favorite style is the sun-kissed ombre effect. Text AND PHOTOS By ROSS FORMAN color LAB Chicago, a five-chair salon focused on hair color, opened its doors April 2. “We are passionate about beautiful, healthy color, using the best technology to speed processing time and still maintain integrity of the hair,” said Smoker, who previously was a L’Oreal professional educator and color specialist, among other jobs. “My personal style is understated classic and that does spill over into my ideas of what hair should be. I believe one can achieve more with subtle perfection than screaming it—people may remember the screamer, but people want to be the beautiful one.” Smoker said color LAB Chicago will get involved with other businesses in Boystown “to continue the quest for equality,” of the LGBT community. “There is something so amazing about taking someone’s hair, enhancing it and showing them how beautiful they really are,” he said. “It’s very rewarding and nothing makes me happier than boosting people’s confidence in how they look.” color LAB Chicago is at 3310 N. Halsted St. in Lakeview. The salon’s website is www. colorlabchicago.com.

Age Favorite pizza topping 32 “I’m a pepperoni man—classic and Neighborhood always good.” Lakeview Little-known fact Job title Was a cheerleader at Purdue University Owner/stylist at color LAB Chicago in Family Lakeview “I grew up in a small town in Indiana, Hobbies [in] farm country. I have always looked, Working out, traveling, movies, symphony acted and spoken exactly how I do and opera now, so I stood out like a sore thumb and it caused me to be bullied a lot in Favorite movie school. Luckily, I have the most amazing, Amadeus supportive parents, and although it was Favorite TV show tough I never wanted to be anything but Downton Abbey me. My parents instilled a strong sense of self and pride in me, and thankfully I not Favorite drink only survived, I thrived. I’m a very lucky Orange press (orange vodka, half sprite, man to have such an amazing family.” half soda)

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www.keithhousechicago.com 1900 S. Prairie Avenue Phone: 312.907.7909 Chicago IL 60616-1321 [email protected] 12 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES VIEWPOINT WINDY CITY on medication with an undetectable load, and media need to be educated on the intricacies TIMES ALEXANDRA not infecting his partner at the time--he did and intersections at play in the lives of people VOL. 29, No. 27, April 2, 2014 not disclose his status. In late February, the who are HIV+ (so that they can in turn educate The combined forces of Windy City Times, BOLLES Iowa Senate voted unanimously to update the those consuming said media), but people on founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, law such that it criminalizes intentional trans- the ground and in the LGBT community need to founded May 1987. mission without consent. Senator Matt McCoy be educated on what it means to be HIV+. In PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR said that, while the bill isn’t perfect, it is an conjunction, people who wield legislative in- Tracy Baim important step. “We are sending a message fluence (donors, voters, political officials, you that we will no longer stigmatize one particu- name it) must understand the what resources ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky How the media is lar group in our state,” he told the Des Moines are required for those who are HIV+ to not only MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis Register. survive, but thrive--physically, psychologically, BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright criminalizing HIV, The criminalization of HIV is an issue that and socially. ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson not only disproportionately impacts the LGBT “Too many people characterize any sexual act SENIOR REPORTER Matt Simonette why that’s a problem community, but the Black community as well. on the part of a person with HIV as ‘malicious’ Senior Account Executives Terri Klinsky, Black gay men in the United States are at the or ‘deadly.’ While intentional harm done to an- Kirk Williamson, Amy Matheny, Chris Cheuvront, and how to fix it Gretchen Blickensderfer highest risk of contracting HIV of any people other person is clearly criminal,” said Mark, PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT Scott Duff The conversation around HIV/AIDS in America in the world, according to a 2012 report by “most scenarios exploited in the media don’t NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, Marie has in many ways evolved in recent decades. the BLACK AIDS Institute. This report, entitled pass this threshold… It’s a good thing the “Back of the Line,” found that while HIV is person who infected me 30 years ago wasn’t J. Kuda, David Byrne, Tony Peregrin, Lisa Keen, Though much of the general public has a great- Yasmin Nair, Kate Sosin er knowledge of HIV/AIDS, the stigma sur- twice as common among gay and bi men who sent to jail. He’d still be sitting there, or dead, THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan rounding it has not entirely dissipated and, ar- are Black than gay and bi men who are white, while I’m still living a full life of good health. CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight Jr. BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair guably, exists in a higher concentration within Black gay and bi men are seven times more The references to ‘murder’ and ‘a death sen- likely to have undiagnosed HIV than their tence’ are outdated and reactionary.” SPORTS WRITER Ross Forman the LGBT community than it did even twenty- ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS five years ago. In a recent commentary called white peers. Furthermore, they are less likely Perhaps because the state of HIV and AIDS Mary Shen Barnidge, Steve Warren, Lawrence “Gay-on-Gay Shaming: The New HIV War,” than white or Latino gay and bi men to live has changed, it’s become easy for many in the Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Jerry Nunn, Jonathan Abarbanel Treatment Action Group (TAG) co-founder Peter three years after developing AIDS. LGBT community to be unaware (or choose to This problem is severe and undoubtedly mul- be unaware) of who criminalization hurts the COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Jorjet Staley noted that the health issue served as a Harper, Meghan Streit, Charlsie Dewey, Carrie point of organization, advocacy, and unity for tifaceted, but has to do in heavy part with the most and how. But privilege is not, nor has it Maxwell, Billy Masters, Sarah Toce, Dana Rudolph, LGBT people in the 1980s, but that this is no stigma that exists within the African-American ever been, an excuse, even if that privilege ex- Sally Parsons, Melissa Wasserman, Joe Franco, Francesca Royster, Nick Patricca, Liz Baudler longer the case. “HIV is now hidden,” wrote Pe- community—the stigma that LGBT and main- ists within a group that often otherwise faces stream media perpetuate when they turn a discrimination from the mainstream. As Mark SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Mel Ferrand, Hal Baim, ter, “by...the very crowded HIV closet in which Emmanuel Garcia, Tim Carroll, Ed Negron, Susan many now choose to live. The result is a vicious blind eye to people of color and people who explained, “Those of us who are demonizing Mattes cycle where HIV-related stigma leads to more are HIV-positive. this man are playing right into the hands of CIRCULATION HIV while hiding its damage by instilling fear Mark put it bluntly when he said to us, “Of conservative prosecutors who are more than CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Renee, and shame in the newly infected.” The “vicious course regular HIV testing and disclosure is happy to put some ‘diseased fags’ into jail. key here. But if you don’t understand why a Many people with HIV already are serving 20 Sue and Victor cycle” of which he speaks is being perpetuated WEB HOSTING: LoveYourWebsite.com (lead by news media, and the consequences are dan- young gay Black man has difficulty disclos- year sentences for daring to have sex -- and in programmer: Martie Marro) gerous and targeted. ing his status, you’re clueless as to why the many cases, no transmission occurred and pro- epidemic is affecting young gay Black men in tection (condoms, no viral load) was in play.” Earlier this year, a former college student Copyright 2014 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media from Missouri who is HIV-positive garnered shocking numbers. We have an environment in GLAAD began in the 1980s as a direct re- Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back which those with HIV are labeled as murder- sponse to the dehumanizing ways in which the issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). widespread attention in which many outlets Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, demonized the former student when it was dis- ers, and then wonder why they have trouble gay community and HIV/AIDS patients were and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and disclosing.” mocked in the news. Since then, our society no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. covered that he did not disclose his status to All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy partners, many of whom he allegedly filmed. Ending stigma requires the appropriate tools. has made huge strides in how we represent and City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned He has been arrested with felony charges of Cultural tools, like media representation and relate to the LGBT community in entertainment for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing journalistic accuracy are necessary, but so are media, in journalism, and even in our legal and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, exposing others to HIV and could serve a life cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own sentence in prison if convicted. Unfortunately, policy tools that build equity. Kenyon Farrow, system. Recent coverage such as the case in and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City US and Global Policy Director at TAG, spoke Missouri, though, is a glaring reminder that our Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of the news media—within the LGBT community a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy and at large—have used this particular individ- with GLAAD about the important role of ac- work is not over. In order for a solution to take City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the cessible healthcare in the work to eradicate shape, changes need to be made and responsi- sexual orientation of such person or organization. While ual’s actions to justify salacious and vilifying we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make coverage that perpetuate stereotypes against stigma. He said, “We can talk about stigma in bility needs to be taken within LGBT as well as this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept HIV+ and LGBT communities. the Black community or the Black church all we mainstream media. responsibility for advertising claims. This story directly relates to the matter of want--but it’s not the Black community’s fault The news of this particular young man’s be- (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 for failing to expand the Affordable Care Act, havior gives rise to conversations that extend e-mail: [email protected] or treating people who have HIV as criminals, [email protected] while overlooking many of the realities with which is being blocked in the states that have beyond status disclosure, criminalization, race, which such people struggle, like stigma and some of the highest HIV rates, especially in the and homophobia. Mark left us with a comment www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com fear. Many media outlets have effectively rein- South. Making sure treatment for people with on why that should not leave the public or the podcast: WindyCityQueercast.com forced the very issues they fail to acknowledge. HIV is affordable and accessible, and ensuring media wavering when it comes to choosing Black gay men who are HIV negative have ac- education over criminalization. “If we are to WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, Mark S. King is an advocate, award-winning 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, Illinois 60640 writer, and “My Fabulous Disease” blogger. He cess to regular healthcare wherever they live truly understand the complexity of, and barri- U.S.A provided GLAAD with comments about the on- has to be a critical step in ending stigma and ers to, HIV disclosure,” Mark concluded, “then (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) going social, cultural, and legal criminalization discrimination.” we must have the fortitude to do that even Without equal access to life-sustaining ser- in scenarios that we find morally and ethically Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. of people living with HIV; the media’s manipu- Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. lation of the case at hand; and the necessary vices, social equality cannot put down roots, abhorrent, and that includes horny college stu- OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE role of education in yielding sustainable solu- and is therefore neither sustainable nor truly dents with a video fixation…The compassion www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com tions. attainable. Influencing policy and influencing with which we once approached those with HIV www.WindyCityQueercast.com “The fact that HIV positive people are crimi- people’s hearts and minds are intertwined and has been replaced with furious finger pointing nalized for behaviors while those who don’t often symbiotic practices. and a criminal mindset. I find that far more dis- “Windy City Media Group generated bother learning their status are not, tells you Too often and too easily, one can pick apart heartening than the actions of this student.” enormous interest among their readers in this year’s LGBT Consumer Index everything you need to know about the inanity a cultural short-coming, such as the environ- Alexandra Bolles is the programs and com- Survey. Out of approximately 100 of these laws,” Mark said, referring to such laws’ ment Mark described, without offering alterna- munications fellow for GLAAD. print and online media partners who tendencies to discourage people from learning tives or solutions. But sustainable solutions participated in the survey, Windy their HIV status, for fear of being criminalized exist in the form of education. Not only do the City was the best performing regional and stigmatized. He then added, “The fact that media in the U.S. Only survey partners these disclosure laws apply specifically to HIV, with a nationwide footprint were while other infectious diseases such as Hepa- able to generate a greater number of titis C and HPV are also transmittable and kill Send letters and responses.” —David Marshall, Research more people each year, is one indication of the Director, Community Marketing, Inc. homophobia and racism inherent in these laws. There aren’t enough jail cells in the world to viewpoints to Andrew@ hold everyone who has transmitted a harmful pathogen, nor should there be.” WindyCityMediaGroup.com. In Iowa, for instance, exposing a person to HIV was punishable as a Class B felony as recently as a few weeks ago. The term “expose” Items may be edited was perhaps generously applied, though; in one case, a man was sentenced to 25 years in for length or clarity. prison because--despite using condoms, being WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 13 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Photo from The American Film Foundation A PAGE IN HISTORY Windy City Times analyzes Anita, a documentary about ‘80s figure Anita Hill. See page 22. THEATER DISH BOOKS ‘Bed’ head. Not having a ball. Military tale. Page 14 Page 26 Page 24 Photo from Songs from an Unmade Bed Photo of rice balls (arancini) from Pride Films and Plays at Azzurra EnoTavola by Shira Kollins

SCOTTISH PLAY SCOTT and truthful, the way that life is,” Gernand said the Getting on bi? many difficulties his characters face in A Place in Two Chicago world the Woods from alcoholism to homophobia, and of premieres touch upon life and death issues. Happy Endings sexual fluidity in men and A Place in the Woods don’t have By SCOTT C. MORGAN character drama about a 40-something Chicago the same kind of gay man named Shaun who must return to his name recogni- Chicago is currently awash with LGBTQ dramas. small Indiana hometown with his biological tion (or market- The deluge of regional premieres include: Ci- teenage son when his mother becomes sick. ing budgets) of so cada by Jerre Dye via Route 66 Theatre Compa- “The big issues explored in the play ask what many other LGBTQ ny, The Great God Pan by Amy Herzog at Evan- does it mean to be gay and out in Chicago, plays opening up ston’s Next Theatre, the musical Songs from versus what that means to be gay and out in around Chicago an Unmade Bed produced by Pride Films and a small town in Indiana where things have not the same time. Plays and Aditi Brennan Kapil’s Brahman/i: A changed nearly as much, or at all in terms of Happy Endings’ Matt Tassell. Yet both Tassell One-Hijra Stand-Up Comedy Show co-produced gay rights,” said Gernand, an out playwright and Gernand hope by Silk Road Rising and About Face Theatre on the faculty at Northwestern University, but that local audi- Company. The House Theatre of Chicago is also who now lives with his partner in New York. his virginal straight friend, Stella, who has a ences will be will- bubbling up with an eagerly anticipated revival Matt Tassell’s drama Happy Endings originally ing to take a chance on their two world pre- of the dance-drama Dorian (inspired by Oscar focused on a love-triangle that was purely het- terminal disease. “It was interesting because I really didn’t miere plays produced by up-and-coming small Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray). erosexual, like him. But Tassell later switched theater companies. the gender and sexuality of his main protago- change much of the script structurally—ev- With so much going on, two world premieres The Fine Print Theatre presents the world nist to reflect upon relationship questions he erything still worked,” Tassell said about the opening this weekend at smaller Chicago stag- premiere of Erik Gernand’s A Place in the was intrigued by. revised gay-straight-bi dynamics of Happy End- es run the risk of being overshadowed. One is Woods from Saturday, April 5, through Sun- “Anytime I have been to a gay bar, there have ings. “The reason we did that was because we Matt Tassell’s Happy Endings produced by Sec- day, May 4, at The Alley Stage of Profiles been so many straight women there with their still felt it said something about desperation ond Thought Theatre Company at Stage 773, Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway. Performances gay friends, and I think part of the relationship and loneliness, but at the same time added this while the other is Erik Gernand’s A Place in the are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays is they feel safe, and they don’t feel like this extra layer on top of it and that was about a Woods produced by The Fine Print Theatre at with 3 p.m. matinees Sundays. Tickets are person is going to take advantage of them,” somewhat new relationship between straight The Alley Stage of Profiles Theatre. $25. Visit www.thefineprinttheatre.org/ for Tassell said. “But at the same time, the closer women and gay men, and how it sometimes Both dramas focus on men who identify as more information. you get to somebody; you’re actually going to isn’t always healthy.” gay, but have (or will) be faced with different Second Thought Theatre Company presents naturally have some sort of attraction physi- For his play A Place in the Woods, Gernand degrees of sexual fluidity through the course the world premiere of Matt Tassell’s Happy cally or emotionally to them. In the context of revealed that there was a traumatic event in of the play. Both plays also underwent radical Endings from Thursday, April 3, through Sun- the play, it’s an emotional attraction, but it’s the 1980s for his character, Shaun, in his In- changes in the writing and workshop processes. day, May 4, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont also physical as well.” diana hometown that pushed him to have a Gernand’s A Place in the Woods originally Ave. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays Happy Endings now focuses on Eddie, a rising relationship with a woman and produce a child started out as a two-character play of gay man through Saturdays with 2:30 p.m. matinees rocker and artist who is about to move in with before he eventually came out and moved to returning to his rural hometown to confront Sundays. Tickets are $25. Call 773-327- his boyfriend, Adam. But Eddie is confronted Chicago. the guy who was his childhood bully. But Ger- 5252 or visit www.stage773.com or www. nand later changed his play’s focus as a six- with a suddenly revealed unrequited love by “Something I’ve always treated in my dramatic writing, is how does it become real secondthoughttheatrecompany.com. 14 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES THEATER REVIEW the Starched White Shirt”), indelible memories of ephemeral occurrances (“Perfect, Finite”) Songs from an and the obligatory hotcha-hotcha “I Want to Go Out Tonight” just before intermission—yes, Unmade Bed a 90-minute show can schedule an intermis- Playwright: lyrics by Mark Campbell, sion. Others delight us with their reversals: “He music by Debra Barsha, Never Did that Before” reflects a lover’s suspi- Mark Bennett, Peter Foley, cion of his/her partner’s new bedroom skills, Jenny Giering, Peter Golub, et al. while “Dinner Party” celebrates preprandial At: Pride Films and Plays kitchen quickies. “An Admission” acknowledges at the Apollo Studio, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. a long-time relationship that began with an Tickets: 773-935-6100; underwhelming first glimpse of nudity, and in www.ticketmaster.com; $25-$30 “He Plays the Cello,” the boyfriend of a Pablo Runs through: April 27 Casals-wannabe expresses relief that his beloved doesn’t fancy the trombone. BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE This last composition (music by Jeffrey Stock) showcases an array of virtuoso riffs for cellist Mark Campbell wrote his song cycle as a one- David Keller, who, along with music director man show, but Pride Films and Plays director Robert Ollis on the Yamaha electric keyboards, Derek Van Barham thought it might add visual anchor the evening’s smoothly-integrated interest to have two men share the role of the progress. Jonas Davidow greets us as we enter narrator. What nobody anticipated, however, with a medley of torchers from the Broadway was that the first preview performance of his repertoire—no smarmy canned music in this revue would require three actors to play our joint—besides later doubling as percussion- solitary hero—Jordan Phelps, performing as ist and utility player, as needed, for Barham’s rehearsed, and understudy Tommy Thurston, imaginative choreography of the uniformly seated upstage with the orchestra, voicing charming Phelps and Webb. a temporarily mute Kevin Webb as the latter Less confident theater companies, upon mimed his designated stage business (which hearing of an actor’s illness, would have sim- includes lots of kissing, by the way). ply canceled the performance, but the alacrity The 18 songs encompassing the spectrum of and expertise exhibited by the Pride Films and the gay New York City life are the collabora- Bat-Hamlet. Photo by Jes Mican Plays ensemble under unforeseen duress en- tion of lyricist Mark Campbell and a diversity sures audiences a lively and exciting time, de- of composers, some of whose topics are what spite whatever conditions may be engendered Matthew Lunt navigates the slippery bal- you’d expect—lost innocence (“Oh, to be Stu- THEATER REVIEW by the caprices of live theater. ance between shyness and swagger as the pid Again”), eroding marriages (“The Man in Bat-Hamlet princely playboy-turned-macho man to retain Playwright: Jordan Pulliam a presence even in the company of Pete Navis’ At: Corn Productions at the slithery Riddles, Patrick A. Pantelis’ Tennessee Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave. Williams-lookalike Puffin and Lucas Thatcher’s Tickets: 773-650-1331; shrill Jester. www.cornservatory.org; $7-$15 It’s easy to imagine fresh-from-the-classroom Runs through: April 26 actors tumbling over themselves with the enthusiasm engendered by a script combining the BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE zany humor of Mel Brooks, Monty Python and Hanna-Barbera, but Corn Productions’ twenty Depraved New When you think “Man in Black,” what might years-plus reputation is founded on precisely World. PR photo come to mind is Zorro or Johnny Cash, depend- this brand of Looney-Tunes spoofery, making ing on your age and pop-culture compass. for entertainment smarter than its premise What came to Jordan Pulliam’s mind were the would appear to indicate. Dark Knight and the Melancholy Dane—and why not? Both share the introspective demean- or demanded of romantic heroes, both devote their lives to the restoration of order in a world rendered chaotic by villainy, and, most signifi- CRITICS’ PICKS cantly, both adopt a disguise in the course of THEATER REVIEW merry pranksters do not disappoint. While their pursuing justice. “Sometimes a man has not a fully formed “Harold” (as long-form to dress differently to do the things he does” Ghost Bike, Buzz22 Chicago at Green- Depraved improvisation is dubbed), the show takes Bat-Hamlet tells Ophelia before preparing to house Theater Center, through April 6. The off from a central premise—the voices in confront his likewise incognito adversaries, lit- company that brought us She Kills Mon- New World our heads we can’t turn off, often defeat- Playwright: The cast tle anticipating that his lesson will soon infect sters in 2012 takes us on a bicycle ride ist or devilish—and features several repeat- At: The Second City, 1616 N. Wells St. the entire Danish court. through a multicultural Realm of the Dead ing characters and scenes. The first act is Tickets: 1-312-337-3992; The funeral that launches our story is that with a grief-stricken teenager whose an- intellectually-sharp although not filled with www.SecondCity.com; from $23 of Police Commissioner James Gordrick, king of ger at the loss of her best friend fuels her big laughs, but Act II is bloody brilliant as a Runs through: open run Gothick, whose daughter Barbara, has married mission to defy the Grim Reaper. MSB combination of audience-interactive improv his successor, called The Jester. Their hasty King Hedley II, Congo Square Theatre and surreal moments take Depraved New BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL wedding leads her brother Hamlet to suspect Company at Athenaeum Theatre, through World to the moon. On an audience sugges- something rotten in his copyright-infraction- April 6. In the Athenaeum’s intimate tion, Newsome improvised a riff on avoca- For 55 years The Second City has been a reli- less kingdom. Once the hitherto-passive prince space, August Wilson’s florid prose lends dos and guacamole equal to the legendary able good night out. Smart critics long ago comes to recognize the advantage conferred a gritty urban tale of remorse and nemesis improvs of Severn Darden, followed minutes stopped judging its revues on their political by donning fearsome garb, he proceeds to all the grandeur of Wagnerian opera. MSB later by a full-cast improvised song on the content or university wit, hallmarks of the disclose a conspiracy of murder and extortion, Golden Boy, Griffin Theatre @ Theater suggestion of an umbrella. Even if the basic troupe’s early years with which ever-fewer despite the efforts of the Jester’s allies—the Wit, through April 6. Joe Bonaparte, a song structure is worked out in advance, it’s folks are familiar (although I am among Lords Riddles and Puffin, along with a trio of young man on the make, swaps his violin a high-risk form of group improv which the them). It’s better to ask if the players are henchpersons. Soon the mysterious Bat-Ham- for boxing gloves in a devil’s bargain that cast of six handles to beat the band. sharp as ever and if the new revue is in step let finds his quest aided by intrepid comrade costs him his soul. It’s a sterling staging Speaking of the band, Jesse Case triples with the times, and Depraved New World an- Horatio and the aforementioned Barbara (now of Clifford Odets’ impassioned Depression- as musical director, composer and sound swers with a formidable “YES!” rechristened “Songbird Boy” and “Bat-Hamlet- era drama with fiery Nate Santana as Joe. designer and Depraved New World offers the Politics and wit aren’t completely off the Girl”) as well as by the ambivalent O-Feline and JA most complex use to date at The Second City table, of course. This revue offers a wry Green Laertes. Venus in Fur, Goodman Theatre, through of music, sound and sampling. Case truly is a commentary on debates over Obamacare, a Pulliam wisely puts his superhero lore be- April 13. If size matters to you, see David seventh cast member, or Napier’s co-director. knowing wink to openly gay players emerg- fore his classical writ, resulting in a text no Ives’ acclaimed Broadway comedy that Bob Knuth’s set design also shines, an ele- ing in professional sports and a pair of funny, sillier than mandated by its genre, while Kal- playfully explores male-female power gant Deco-inspired cream-and-silver facade. pointed commentaries on race, built around lie Noelle Rolison’s deftly directs an athletic dynamics and sadomachoism in director The cast of three men and three women light-skinned actor Tawny Newsome. As for cast that sprints through its paces (including Joanie Schultz’s large-scale production freely essay cross-gender roles and polyam- wit, there’s a quote from a Langston Hughes Orion Couling’s spectacular action scenes) with before the play starts popping up in every orous matings. At least two scenes are spe- poem (a well-done nod to the old days) but olympic stamina and unwavering character- other storefront theater. SCM cifically gay: a blind date from hell and the it’s more likely to manifest itself in knowing izations—no easy task when the “play” that song of a “Poor Little Rent Boy” in love with the musical style of Phish rather than Villa- catches the conscience of the Jester King is —By Abarbanel, Barnidge a Senator. Both feature dynamic John Hart- Lobos. Hamlet performing a stand-up comedy act, and and Morgan man, who animates devil or twink with laser- With insouciant but dedicated Mick Na- the intermission leaves our captive caped cru- like focus. Chelsea Devantez, Mike Kosinski, pier as director, one counts on two things: saders menaced by a melting-ice jar containing Emily Walker and Steve Waltien complete the long-form improv techniques a la Del Close, a cobra with a grenade in its mouth. excellent cast of this brave new revue. and a touch of the surreal. Napier and his WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 15 SPOTLIGHT

Following the murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard in 1998, playwright/director Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project conducted hundreds of interviews in and around the University of Wyoming in what became the acclaimed and influential stage docudrama The Laramie Project. Good Boys and True. Photo by Dean LaPrairie This ensemble piece explores anti-gay violence, homophobia, tolerance and so much more. And in the wake of the death of anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps (who appears in the play), Green- THEATER REVIEW in the lobby recently. Man Theatre’s production of The Laramie Project in Elmhurst takes on an extra layer of newswor- For Good Boys and True, it’s definitely worth thiness. GreenMan Theatre’s production of The Laramie Project plays from April 4 to April 13 at Good Boys the trip up north to check out a moving, con- Asbury Hall at First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York St., Elmhurst. Tickets are $17, $15 for versation-starting and scandalous story before students and seniors; call 630-464-2646 or visit www.greenmantheatre.org. Photo courtesy of and True the end date of May 3. GreenMan Theatre Playwright: Roberto Acquirre-Sacasa At: Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets: 773-338-2177 or raventheatre.com; $36 Runs through: May 3

BY JERRY NUNN “this is the best production of ‘rent’ i’ve seen, broadway included.” The Raven Theatre is bringing a new version highly recommended of Good Boys and True to the North Side this spring. Back in 2008, Steppenwolf Theatre put – Hedy Weiss / CHiCago sun-Times on the world premiere of the St. Joe’s Prep School tale set in Washington, D.C., to stellar reviews. “more relatable and In this current production, which ensemble deeply touching than any member Cody Estle directs, the story about the impact of a sex tape on a private school has production i’ve seen” strong moments and performances throughout – dean RiCHaRds / Wgn the piece thanks to the cast and relatable writing. Set in the late 1980s, there are cultural refer- “a very fulsome and ences that, at times, are humorous, breaking expansive union ‘rent’” the heavy dramatic moments. There was just (out of 4) the right amount of humor, even though it’s  – CHRis jones / CHiCago TRibune a serious subject, and the actors proved up to the task, engrossing watchers in this intimate space. Will Kiley, who plays Brandon, has the difficult role of being likable and unlikable at the same time. His character has issues regarding being in the closet that spin the young kid’s life and future out of control. If anyone needs to see the repercussions of what happens when students don’t deal with their sexuality, this is it laid out in black and white. , Amanda Wingfield plays Elizabeth, the moth- 525 600 minutes spEnd 150 of thEm with us... it will bE lifE changing. er of the boy who exudes strength and conviction while coping the best she can with a bad situation. It’s her sister Maddy Emerson, played by ensemble member Kelli Strickland, who almost steals the show with her interpretation and “steal a car if you must, realness. but go see this show! 4 stars!” Karl Potthoff solidly performs as Coach Rus- – sCoTTy ZaCHeR / CHiCago THeaTeR beaT sell Shea. Also, Derek Herman is effective as the boy on the side who will have many gay audience members empathizing with his facial expressions of conflict and suffering. “another truly The choice was to leave the actors out on- masterful production” stage to pop in and out of the scenes while  (out of 5) deftly pushing the story forward at a quick – alan bResloff / aRound ToWn CHiCago pace. Robero Aguirre-Sacasa has written for Glee and the latest remake of Stephen King’s Carrie “timeless fresh, alive, and unday! so he knows teen angst and how to convey it Ends this s correctly. His writing for this play is the back- rip-roaringly fun. don’t miss it.” bone, with so much believability that this has  (out of 4) the feel of a true story with smart dialogue. – david Zak / CHiCago sTage sTandaRd The author injects real locations where he grew up into the storyline so it is obviously very personal for him. The Raven Theatre space is charming and, with this production, it is supporting our community, even holding an “Out at Raven” event paramount thEatrE 23 East galEna boulEvard, aurora tickets 630.896.6666 or paramountaurora.com 20 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES LGBTQ homeless youth project heals through performance By Melissa Wasserman ing and theatrical performance piece development. For the next six months, each ensemble Youth Empowerment Performance Project member has the opportunity to tell their story (YEPP) encourages LGBTQ Chicago youths expe- with an their own artistic medium as they per- riencing homelessness or housing instability to form at different venues around the country, rewrite their lives, transforming each of their raising awareness and educating communities own stories of hardship and heartache into per- about LGBTQ street-based youth issues. Each sonalized performance pieces. performance concludes with audience talk- YEPP was established in 2011 to aid LGBTQ backs. Bermudez added they try to include youth experiencing homelessness in explor- the audience, sometimes inviting them up on ing their history and to discover new ways to stage. address their challenges and find strengths “It’s just perfect to come into this space and through theatrical performance. Each year, the truly, deeply develop themselves,” said Bermu- group calls out for a group of five to seven dez, who previously worked with queer youths youths aged 18-24. Combining theater with at Broadway Youth Center. “I have noticed and advocacy, the organization uses harm reduc- learned that when people are safe in an envi- tion, social justice, transformative justice and ronment, they bring their inner self—who they education for liberation (theater of the op- really are. This program is created to really pressed and popular education) frameworks to have a safe space for them to bring who they contain and guide the work. are and not just to bring it, but to develop “Something unique about this program is something that they can stay with and they From left: YEPP members Greg Slater, Kendall Heart and Ahniyha Johnson. Photo by Alicia we are not looking for experts in theater, or can move in the future.” Williams dance, or movement, or visual arts,” said YEPP Made up of song, dance, movement, writing co-founder and Executive Artistic Director Bon- and other art forms, each ensemble member with,” said Bermudez. “People, in general, have beautiful person today. It’s ok to be vulnerable sai Bermudez. “We are just looking for young has a 10-to-15-minute segment. Bermudez acts different ways to heal and different ways to because a lot of people look at it as weakness people ready to do self-work, ready to do in- as a curator of the performance, establishing a connect themselves. There are so many ways and I found strength in my vulnerability.” trospective work in ways they can build their concept and finding common threads to transi- people have to cope and to find themselves. In this year’s performance, entitled “FACES,” new selves.” tion the stories. So, when I am processing things with them and Gaiter’s story, delivered through monologue For six months, members bring their in their “I focus on their strengths—what they bring building the performance, I focus on what they and song, is about coming out as gay to a min- stories, participating in individual/group heal- to the table and what they feel more connected really want to do.” ister father—which Gaiter described as con- Bermudez said their hope for YEPP is to cre- flicting and contradicting. ate a more solid foundation and potentially “Even though it’s harder because I don’t want have these programs for next generations. to hurt the other peoples’ feelings, I know that “This population is very talented and very I’m going to feel relieved in the end,” said Gai- CULTURE CLUB powerful,” said Bermudez. “They are visionar- ter. “My feelings come before anyone else’s. Me ies, they are young people that would like to expressing myself may hurt people. There’s so serve the world and serve their communities many more people out there like me that will and to serve their family members and serve feel empowered, that will understand where themselves. However, unfortunately, because I’m coming from that really need the help. All BEING GAY WASN’T PART oppression, because social issues, because sus- of us should be in charge and in control of our taining harm and because society and because own destinies.” OF THE MASTER PLAN of systems that should be educating, but what “FACES” looks at the different faces society they do is just to harm people—school for ex- and systems have defined for the ensemble ample, they finish up struggling and so much members versus the faces they strive to build GOOD BOYS that then they cannot thrive, they cannot stay and present for themselves. According to Ber- grounded, they cannot get what they deserve.” mudez, audiences will see a journey starting AND TRUE Kahari Gaiter has been involved with YEPP at self –deconstruction and finishing in a re- for two years. Gaiter grew up on the West construction of new and self-empowered iden- BY ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA Side of Chicago singing, dancing, acting and tities. Topics addressed include: homelessness, DIRECTED BY CODY ESTLE designing costumes since childhood. The en- spiritual struggles, trans physical-emotional semble appealed to Gaiter when seeing a previ- development and HIV stigma among other top- ous performance as the art forms conveyed a ics. “FACES” will debut at Chicago’s Free Street MARCH 11 – MAY 3 therapeutic message. Theatre June 12-14. YEPP, for its third season, “The most important part to me is it’s not a also has a Kickstarter campaign for donations RavenTheatre.com RAVEN typical theater group,” said Gaiter. “It’s actual- to raise funds at kickstarter.com. or 773.338.2177 THEATRE ly another form of counseling. It’s out there so “My story this year, it connects to my cur- we can help other people and at the same time rent life,” said Gaiter. “I’m telling everybody help ourselves. That’s the most important part who I am and where I am in my life and every- to me. Somehow I’m even surprised some peo- thing that brought me to this point. It’s hard ple are still alive and dealing with the people for me to express this because I mention a lot that hurt them. It makes me feel empowered. of people and I mention the most influential I’m around the people of the future who are people in my life and how they always told me going to make the change, that are going to be what I should be and what I shouldn’t be do- part of movements and revolutions.” ing and now I’m expressing to all of them why Last year, Gaiter performed the story of grow- I disagree with allowing someone else to tell ing up with a mother who was using drugs and me who to be.” the difficult experience to get simple things To learn more about YEPP and “FACES,” such as clothes, support and attending proper visit WeSayYEPP.com. Regarding the Kick- schools. Sharing such intimate details, as Gai- starter program, see http://www.kickstarter. ter described, was painful to revisit and dif- com/projects/yepp/season-3-youth-empow- ficult to share with an unfamiliar group. The erment-performance-project?ref=live. About Face Theatre and Silk Road Rising co-present feedback and support following the show encouraged Gaiter to continue with YEPP. A One-Hijra Stand “Society tells you that you shouldn’t allow Shinner event at BRAHMAN/I: Up Comedy Show people to see you sweat, you shouldn’t allow people to see you cry,” said Gaiter. “Don’t Thousand Waves Written by Aditi Brennan Kapil Tickets at tell people your business and all of that and April 12 silkroadrising.org March 27 through April 27 then I experienced actually telling people my The date for an event featuring Peggy Shin- aboutfacetheare.com Directed by Andrew Volkoff business, but also let them know how I over- ner at Thousand Waves is actually April 12. The came it and let them know that even though wrong date was given in last week’s issue. it was something bad that happened to me in Windy City Times regrets the error. my past, it made me stronger, it made me a WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 21 TELEVISION Adrian Gonzalez

The cast talks Here TV show, of From Here on OUT. nudity in Chicago Photo from by ANDREW DAVIS sex scenes. [Note: There are quite a few in Here TV From Here on OUT.] LGBT audiences probably first noticed actor AG: Uh, yeah. [Laughs] It can be awkward; Adrian Gonzalez as the hotter-than-hot boy- my first day, I shot four different sex scenes friend of a man whose ex attempted to win him with five different guys I had never met. back in the 2011 movie August, which was as WCT: That sounds like a regular weekend steamy as its title. for some people. Now Gonzalez, a graduate of Northwestern AG: [Laughs] Yes, it definitely does! There’s University, is on From Here on OUT, Here TV’s a combination of actors who are straight and first-ever original sitcom. The series revolves guy, and so you try to play the scene out and a man’s attempts to get his show, Guy Dubai: hope everyone’s comfortable with it. People International Gay Spy, made. were OK with whatever went on and Sam [Ir- Gonzalez recently talked with Windy City vin], our director, really set up a very safe en- Times about auditioning, stereotypes and his vironment. It was all for the fun of comedy, and Chicago roots. it was all well-done—a little over-gratuitious, Windy City Times: Hey, Adrian. Tell me how but it was fun. WCT: For people who may not know, what is auditioning for like? Do you just encounter hundreds of other people? AG: [Laughs] Yeah—depending on the role, you do tend to see the same people. I have even made a few friends. You get called in, you show up and you prepare for your role. WCT: It’s applying for a job. AG: It was weird. [Interviewer laughs.] I was AG: You’re basically applying for a job—over supposed to be on a platform pretending I was Queer concert and over. on a lake and I was just lying there, naked. I WCT: Who would be your dream actor or ac- even did some nude modeling before then to series starts tress to work with? prepare. By the first show, I was comfortable; AG: Oh, wow. I think anybody would say Meryl once you rip the Band-Aid off, you’re fine. April 9 in Chicago Streep, but I feel that’s so far-fetched. On TV, WCT: So you lived in Chicago for a while? Anna Deshawn of E3 Radio has an- who would I like to work with? I would say one AG: Yeah. I went to Northwestern and grad- nounced the “Queer As Art” concert series. of my favorite actors right now is Adam Driver uated in 2005. I then stayed in Chicago for The series is a sequence of four concerts hosting a variety of queer artists from Adrian Gonzalez. Photo courtesy of Gonzalez on the show Girls. I love that guy; I think he’s about three and a half years. I worked with great, and I hope to work with him one day. Bailiwick as well. But I then I decided to pur- acrossthe country. The shows will display [A conversation then ensues about various TV sue TV and film. Now, Chicago has some really music, poetry, comedy and additional sur- you became connected with the show From shows, including The Good Wife, Scandal and great shows [filming there]: Chicago P.D., Chi- prises. Here on OUT. Game of Thrones.] I’d love to work with [The cago Fire The first installment in the series hap- Adrian Gonzalez: I auditioned. [Laughs] My Good Wife’s] Julianna Margulies as well. WCT: The movie Divergent was filmed here, pens Wed., April 9, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. agent sent me out on an audition. WCT: And what’s with all the controversy and the show Shameless films here. Halsted St. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. WCT: When you found out what the charac- about [Girls’] Lena Dunham’s nudity? AG: That’s great! I didn’t know that about Di- and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Among ter would be like, was there any hesitation? AG: She’s very curvaceous and doesn’t work vergent. the slated acts are comedian Dana Austin, Some people have said that your character is out. She’s very much herself. WCT: Now you’ll have to come back. drag queen Vixen and singer-songwriter/ very stereotypical. WCT: She’s normal. AG: Yeah, but there’s that weather: eight poet Storie Devereaux. AG: Well, that’s what they were going for, AG: Exactly. But there’s a reason for the nu- months of winter, one month of spring, one The Windy City Times, Sidetrack and and I wasn’t afraid to play with that. I kinda dity—to make someone uncomfortable and to month of summer and two months of fall. [Both Remy Martin & Co. are among the event’s wanted to make him a hybrid, an [Agador] kind face one’s [truth]... laugh.] Here it’s always sunny and there’s a lit- sponsors. of thing; I wanted him to be like that character WCT: Well, she’s braver than I am. tle breeze. Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 at from The Birdcage. I don’t think there was any- AG: I was actually naked on stage in Chicago. From Here on OUT is currently on Here TV. the door. See www.e3radio.org. thing wrong with having him as a stereotype. WCT: What? Here TV can be found via VOD and SVOD ser- [Raul, Gonzalez’s character] is a very content AG: Yeah; this was over at The Center on Hal- vices by entering the “On Demand” menu, person; he’s a pool boy, and he loves what he sted. I played Ramon in the play Love! Valour! selecting “Premium,” and then selecting does. He’s pretty much the slut with a heart of Compassion! with Hubris Productions. Your “Here TV on Demand.” COME OUT gold. newspaper reviewed us—and you guys were To find out how to get Here TV, log on to WCT: Since you play a pool boy [with very very nice to me. I was on stage naked for, like, www.heretv.com/AGetHerePage. Here TV is & PLAY! little clothing], what is your workout regi- 45 minutes. also now available as a YouTube paid chan- men like to get ready for your scenes? WCT: What was that like? nel. PLAY an AG: [Laughs] I work out in general. I do a lot of CrossFit. I’ve always been in pretty good shape, although I’m not in the shape [co-star] T.J. Hoban is in. He’s pretty unreal. You see him and you can see every muscle.

WCT: I also saw you in August, and it was a instrument different role than the one in From Here on OUT, but I assume that’s what you want to do: challenge yourself as an actor. AG: Right. I think that was the fun part. With this role, it’s the freedom to be this happy character. The comedy was a challenge, and I think that’s why I wanted to do this. WCT: So you’d say comedy is more difficult ? than drama? AG: For me, it’s definitely being in a comedy. In a drama, it’s all about honesty and show a Support the LGBT community. Meet new people. part of yourself. With comedy, you do that as Become a member of Lakeside Pride today! well—but it’s a lot harder. There’s the timing and the pacing; there are a lot of technical as- No Auditions! Membership is open to all pects to comedy. I don’t think I’m that funny. people with basic musical proficiency. [Both laugh.] I love doing it, though. More info: [email protected] or WCT: You mentioned the technical aspects of comedy. There are also a lot of them in visit LakesidePride.org 22 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES tions. Kaleidoscope is director Paulo Paulista’s debut feature that focuses on seven loosely connected characters seen in “conversational set pieces” (including a gay artist who may KNIGHT have fathered an ex-girlfriend’s child). Paulista AT will attend the April 7 screening. Upcoming LGBT titles in the fest include Dangerous Loves THE (from Colombia, screening April 7 and 10), Dis- MOVIES rupted (from Mexico and screening April 14 and 16). Complete line-up, ticket information and more at www.chicagolatinofilmfestival.org The fest is also presenting a sidebar series titled “Latino Oscar with the Gene Siskel Film Center,” with these 11 films being presented at By the Siskel, 164 N. State St.. That line-up pres- Richard ents a collection of movies that have either re- Knight Jr. ceived an Oscar or been nominated. Everything in the line-up is worth seeing again (with se- lections such as The Sea Inside, Amores Perros, Anita and Saving Belle Epoque, The Secret in Their Eyes, Central Station, etc.) One of my favorite Almodovar Mr. Banks; films—his queer-infused 1999 masterful melo- drama, the Oscar-winning All About My Moth- film notes er—is screening on Sunday, April 6, at 3 p.m. http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/latino_oscar At first glance it might seem rather odd to as- —Sexy times redux: If you didn’t catch the sociate the gracious Anita Hill with P.L. Trav- critically hailed French queer thriller Stranger ers, the famously contrarian writer of the Mary by the Lake in one of its festival runs or at Poppins books recently portrayed by Emma Tom Hanks (as Walt Disney) and Emma Thompson (as writer P.L. Travers) in Saving Mr. Banks. the Music Box, the Siskel is giving you one last Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks. But consider chance to see this gay, very sexually explicit this: As Freida Mock’s new documentary about psychological thriller (albeit, of the slow-burn Hill, Anita, reminds us, it must have taken The sight of Hill, who remained calm case over 100 features and short films from variety) in a theatrical setting. The movie some kind of courage—built upon an immense throughout as she leveled these sexually pro- Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the United opens there this Friday, April 4, for a week. set of convictions for a lone woman to face vocative charges while carefully parsing the States. —Pasolini lives: The Siskel has even more down the powerful group of men confronting seamy details as clinically as possible (the The line-up runs the gamut, and includes queer-tinged fare when it kicks off its month- her from the other side of that hearing table country heard the words “penis,” and “pubic a small but discerning assortment of LGBT- long homage to Italian filmmaker Pasolini, the in 1991. hair” repeatedly) in this “dignified” setting— themed films. These include the award-winning murdered artistic renegade and queer activist, In fighting for the life of her famous cre- compounded by the fact that both she and festival favorite Blue and Not So Pink from on Saturday, April 5. The 12-film retrospective, ation, that’s in essence what Travers did, too Thomas were Black—galvanized the country. Venezuela (screening April 4 and 12) and Kalei- April 5-May 15, titled “Pier Paolo Pasolini: (albeit in a much more prickly manner), and Feminists seized the opportunity after finally doscope from Chile (screening April 7 and 10). The Eyes of a Poet,” includes Trilogy of Life seen within a certain light, her story can be seeing the issue of sexual harassment in the The former is a drama focused on a gay photog- (The Decameron, The Canterbury Tales, The taken as a variation on this familiar trope of workplace become front page news, pundits on rapher whose life is turned upside down when Arabian Nights) and the always controversial the movies: the noble but determined woman both sides weighed in and Hill’s life became an his partner is subjected to a brutal gay-bash- Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom. Complete line- daring to question the white male-dominated example of grace under fire. ing—at about the same time his estranged son up, screening dates, show times and more at status quo. These lone women—fighting for Although Thomas went on to narrowly win shows up ready with a lifetime of recrimina- http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/pasolini_2014 justice and to have their voices heard above the seat on the Supreme Court (which he still the din—have long been a staple of Holly- holds) and Hill was subjected to tremendous wood. (Sally Field in Norma Rae, Hilary Swank personal invective, she also emerged as a quiet others. Nanci Griffith’s shows, originally slat- in Conviction, Charlize Theron in North Coun- force—a leader whose determination to tell Reeling to take ed for April 5-6, have been postponed. try, and Sissy Spacek in Marie, are but a few the truth no matter the momentary cost has place in Sept.; See www.OldTownSchool.org. examples of this beloved genre.) continued to be an example not just to women Having just watched both Saving Mr. Banks but for all the disenfranchised (including, no call for entries again (which is out this week on Blu-ray and doubt, lots and lots of gay people). Reeling 2014: The 32nd Chicago LGBT In- CGMC to host ‘Big DVD) and Mocks’ film I won’t be surprised if a Mock’s documentary (which opens in Chicago ternational Film Festival is now accepting Package Auction’ biopic about Hill is soon ordered. And like Trav- April 4 at the AMC River East 21) shows us this film and video entries for this year’s festival, ers facing down the entire Disney organization, aspect of Hill’s life. In continuing to be an which will take place Sept. 18-25. April 5 including Walt himself, and finally succumbing advocate for gender equality, especially in the The event will screen approximately 75- Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC) will host to the patented Disney pixie dust pelted at her workplace, Hill has become a role model for a 100 independent films and videos during its 7th Annual Big Package Auction (featur- in a bit of revisionist but very satisfy history, generation of young women—several of whom that span. ing special guest hostess “Miss Richfield I expect the producers of a movie about Hill to are shown in the film speaking about Hill’s Entries are eligible for audience awards 1981”) on Saturday, April 5, 5-8 p.m., at take a lot of liberties with the truth in order to courage under fire. and juried cash awards in the categories of Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. meet the emotional demands of the audience. But the movie doesn’t really delve far beyond Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary The event will feature a live auction of Or maybe not quite so many will be neces- this and never seems to get below the surface. Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Docu- spectacular prizes and packages that (scant- sary. There is, after all, that amazing footage Although we see plenty of segments from Hill’s mentary Short, and Best Animated or Experi- ily clad) men of Boystown will present. Live of Hill’s testimony to draw from where she—to 1991 testimony, we don’t get the behind the mental Film. packages include a wedding package, an Af- paraphrase the title of her memoir of the pe- scenes story and Mock’s film doesn’t ask a To download a PDF of the entry form and rican safari, a trip to New York and a cruise. riod—spoke truth to power back in 1991 dur- tenth of the questions that the viewer wants guidelines, visit http://reelingfilmfestival. Presale tickets are $25 and include drink ing the Supreme Court confirmation hearings answered. There’s no attempt, for example, to org or submit online through FilmFreeway or tickets and hors d’oeuvres; tickets are $30 for President Bush’s nominee Clarence Thomas. delve into why Thomas’s wife, Ginny, famously Withoutabox. The entry form can also be e- at the door. VIP tickets (available for $50) Hill—who worked with Thomas at the EEOC, (and rather strangely) left Hill a voice message mailed or snail-mailed upon request; contact include a pre-show “Meet & Greet” with Miss and who she claimed sexually harassed her asking her to consider an apology decades af- [email protected]. Richfield and a silent auction preview. Visit there—made the charges in a written state- ter the hearing. The phone message is played www.cgmc.org or call 773-296-0541. ment that was seized upon by Democrats ea- at the outset, and Hill talks about what she Event sponsors include CRAM Fashion, Grab ger to block Thomas’ appointment. Hill became did after deciding it wasn’t a prank but then Ferrick, Vega Magazine, Westin Hotels, Orbitz, Sidetrack an instant media sensation and was called to it’s just left by the wayside. Nor does the film at Old Town Chicago and Windy City Times. Washington to deliver testimony about the ve- attempt to track down any of the then-senators racity of her statement to a senate committee who cross-examined (that’s the phrase, I think) School of Music charged with delving into the matter. Hill—or many of the other participants—to Singer Melissa Ferrick are among the up- Against Me! Hill’s televised testimony riveted the na- get their take on the proceedings and its af- coming acts at Old Town School of Music, tion. This dignified African-American woman, termath. 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. performing in her carefully considered blue dress, calmly Mock’s film is ultimately uncomfortably close Alt-rock singer Ferrick will perform Sunday, in Palatine April 4 and purposely backed up her statements when to hagiography and, yet, for those unfamiliar June 22, at 7 p.m. (Tickets are $26-$28.) Against Me!—a band headed by trans Chi- confronted by the all-white, mostly conserva- with Hill’s story or those who are and want to Sweet Honey in the Rock, as part of its cago singer Laura Jane Grace—is touring to tive men who all but scoffed at her story. Hill revel again in the event with all its attendant “Forty & Fierce 40th Anniversary Tour,” will support the CD Transgender Dysphoria Blues, didn’t get rattled or angry when met with scorn outrage and eventual inspiration (of a kind), be in concert Saturday, April 12, at 4 p.m. which was released Jan. 21. and derision by much of the committee—she Anita certainly supplies that. http://anitahill- and 8 p.m. Admission is $43-$45. Among the cities on the North America held her own and the David-vs.-Goliath aspects film.com/ Upcoming acts/events include the Chicago tour are Austin, Texas (SXSW festival; Den- of the arduous questioning and requestioning, Reel global dance party (March 28), Hugh ver; Vancouver; Indianapolis; Asheville, N.C.; amplified by the TV cameras, made millions sit Film notes: Masekela (March 28), John Cale (April 17), and Las Vegas. The band will perform in Pala- up and notice the inequity of the situation. —The 30th Annual Chicago Latino Film Joni Mitchell’s Blue: A Celebration (May 4) tine, Ill., on April 4. That Hill herself suddenly seemed to be on trial Festival is taking place April 3-17 at the AMC and Suzanne Vega (May 15), among many See www.againstme.net. was outrageous. River East, 322 E. Illinois St., and will show- WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 23 Former Mr. Universe Bob Paris on Oprah, coming out, married life BY TERRI-LYNNE WALDRON into publishing and also because I lost so much of my business, that this seemed like the natu- Bob Paris is best known as a former profes- ral thing to do because I had to pay the bills. sional bodybuilder who earned the title of Mr. WCT: Where has your writing taken you? Universe in 1983. BP: I never set out to become a fitness guru Despite being an openly gay man, his sexual so I sat down with my husband Brian [LeFur- orientation was not known by segments of the gey] and we talked about this and we made general population. Paris had been in a high- this real decision that I could make a complete profile relationship with model and bodybuilder break. Now I focus completely on fiction and I Rod Jackson and, in 1989, the two got mar- am also a screenwriter. ried in a commitment ceremony. Paris’ coming- WCT: This year you are celebrating 11 out story in the media, appeared in Iron Man years of marriage to Brian. BP: We’ve been together for 17 years and magazine in 1989 and it stirred up controversy. Left: Bob Paris with Mr. Universe trophy. Right: Bob Paris today. Left photo by John Balik and we married in 2003, right after [the Canadian Now retired from bodybuilding, Paris lives a right image by Brian LeFurgey more low-key life in Canada with Brian LeFur- province] British Columbia changed the mar- gey, his spouse of 11 years. Windy City Times riage laws. I fell in love with a Canadian and talked with Paris about coming out, life after living in the United States, the odious Defense After we married we decided for him to return really wonderful experience. bodybuilding and marital bliss. of Marriage Act (DOMA) very flagrantly prevent- home and for me to immigrate to Canada. Find out more about Paris at www.bob- Windy City Times: How did you get into ed me from sponsoring Brian for immigration. Where the U.S. blatantly prohibited me from paris.com and www.facebook.com/official. bodybuilding? He has a fairly complex cancer history and, sponsoring my spouse for immigration, Canada bob.paris. Bob Paris: I discovered weight-training al- in 2003, heBigPackage2014_WCM_1-2 was going through a cancer7.44x9 battle.FNL.pdf 1 welcomed 3/19/14 me 4:12 with PM open arms and it has been a most by accident. I found an old universal weight machine in the basketball gym of my high school and I started playing around with it and it just kind of made sense. I was in a kind of nihilistic time period in my life when I was 17 and I was in general an artist—I was a theater actor, a writer and the debate-team guy, but also a jock. I needed someway to for an evening of build myself up for football and I kind of start- FUN AND FRIVOLITY ed weight training. After that I accidentally discovered the sport of bodybuilding which I hosted by the FABULOUS never knew existed. I grew up in a small town in southern Indiana and there were no gyms in the town in those days. Miss Richfield 1981 WCT: Tell me about coming out in the media in 1989. HORS D'OEUVRES...COCKTAILS... VIP Meet & Greet BP: It was difficult in the ‘80s. I had tried with to come out in the media several times in the TREATS...LAUGHS ... Miss Richfield plus Drinks and years leading up to it and in those days re- Silent Auction Preview porter’s thought that they were actually pro- AND BOYS! tecting celebrities by not doing that story. I 4:30PM $50 had come out in other articles where reporter’s would literally cut that part of the article out by the time it went to print. So it wasn’t until 1989 that I actually found a friendly venue that I knew would handle the information right because they were friends. I did an interview in TICKETS $25 Iron Man magazine and they said what every- ($30 AT THE DOOR) one around me already knew. I thought I was going to come out and go back to work but WWW.CGMC.ORG the circumstances of the time—history and all those things—they kind of pulled me along a very different road. WCT: You recently appeared on Oprah: Where Are They Now? And you talked about getting death threats. BP: I think that I understood that when I came out in the media that there would be a certain vulnerability about that, and I think you have to come to a level of peace that there could be vile ramifications for the actions. At the same time, as a lot of death threats came in, it’s important to add that at the time, I Saturday probably got 20,000 or 30,000 positive fan letters and things of support from the heartland April 5, 2014 and all over the world. WCT: And your business suffered? BP: I watched as 80 percent of my business 5 to 8PM just vanished—bookings and endorsements— things just vanished within months. There was Sidetrack no set plan about how to do this, and it’s not like today where there is a cottage industry 3349 N Halsted St dedicated to celebrities coming out in the media. Back then you were making it up as you go. SPONSORS WCT: You have written nine books thus far. Is writing still a passion of yours?

BP: I broke into publishing by writing fitness PaternoGroup.com by Design | Photography Sean Toth design by logo Original Big Package books and slowly transitioning to writing narrative memoir essays. I decided about 10 years ago to completely leave the fitness business. At first I was writing fitness books to break 24 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES BOOKS Man writes about being gay in the Columbian army By Sarah Toce behaviors that could signal my sexual orientation. But my straight colleagues were having A gay Colombian man finds himself at the fore- sex with other men without worrying about it, front of a war between his inner thoughts and thanks to certain rules that I explain in the emotions and outer portrayal of such as related book. None of these men, however, would think to the army in which he serves. A book writ- of themselves as “gay.” ten first in Spanish and then in English with WCT: How did you deal with the pressure names changed to protect the innocent, Juan of living as a gay man in such a macho so- Cordoba’s Steel and Velvet: A Soldier’s Story ciety? (CreateSpace) is a legit retelling of the strug- JC: Most of us learn to have double lives: one gle between human sexuality and the confines that meets the expectations of society and a often present in a heterosexually charged (and private, personal one. But that is emotionally many times chaste) society. taxing, living in fear, and being a slave to false Windy City Times: In the preface for Steel and Velvet: A Soldier’s Story, you say that all events in the novel are true. Why was it important for you to emphasize that? Juan Cordoba: I practiced psychology for 12 years, and having a professional interest in human sexual behavior, I found out there was a lack of reliable information about relationships in a single-sex environment (army, jails, etc.). This book was a project to portray what hap- WC&F bookstore hosts pens in these situations. I have always thought that reality may be more fantastic than fanta- Jimmy Carter event sies. Former President Jimmy Carter signed copies of his new book, A Call to Action: Women, Reli- WCT: In the Spanish version of A Soldier’s gion, Violence, and Power, on Thursday, March 27, 6-8 p.m. Women & Children First Bookstore Story you used your real name. In the Eng- hosted the event at the Swedish American Museum. lish version you used a pseudonym. Why did Hundreds, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. among them, lined up with copies of the book to be you feel that was necessary? autographed. JC: In the book, as a way to protect the iden- The book is about women’s rights. In the president’s travels around the world, he has noted tity of the people portrayed, I changed their many abuses against women and girls, as well as the religious beliefs that are sometimes used names, but that wasn’t enough. Some of the to justify those abuses. The president is the author of numerous other books, most recently the people still felt that they could be identified. controversial Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. I started getting threatening letters and ac- www.womenandchildrenfirst.com tions against my immediate family. The only Photos by Hal Baim; more images online at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com solution was to use a pseudonym in order to protect them. WCT: Along a similar vein, was there any- breathed. When we became members of the share with the world now, in this time in thing in the novel that you weren’t sure you moral standards. multinational force, we found out the torture history? should print because of safety reasons or WCT: Your work led you to Egypt and Is- we lived before wasn’t “natural” or acceptable JC: I showed in the book that the labels of other concerns? rael. What were those experiences like for anymore. We could be soldiers and still enjoy “straight” or “gay” may not apply in real world JC: Not initially, I thought I would get away you as a gay man in uniform? having proper food, good treatment and decent situations. We are more complex than that. I with the idea of a psychological study, but I JC: I learned that there are no absolutes: accommodations. realized that being one or the other refers to didn’t foresee the magnitude of the impact. Each culture approaches the body and expres- WCT: You write about your first love, Paul, the direction of our affective needs; that is, Some people thought the book was disrespect- sions of affection in different ways. The con- in the book. Have you found love again? who we fall in love with, is more complex than ful to the servicemen of the Colombian Army. cepts of “good” and “bad” are culturally deter- JC: I think love is one of our basic needs. We just satisfying our physical needs. My book is not about being judgmental but mined, but human basic needs are still there. develop affective and sensual ties with others Purchase Juan Cordoba’s Steel and Velvet: telling the true story of these situations. Sometimes open, sometimes hidden, but they whether we are in the army or outside. Yes, I A Soldier’s Story at Amazon.com (http:// WCT: What was a normal day like for you refuse to be regulated. have found love. www.amazon.com/Steel-Velvet-A-Soldiers- while in the Colombian army? WCT: If you could tell today’s military so- WCT: Why is this book so important to Story/dp/1494264811). JC: We were trained under the principle of ciety something, what would it be? “Make the training so hard that war seems like JC: Open your eyes. Same-sex relationships a vacation.” We had intensive training in com- inside the army are a reality and it has nothing Babes with Blades No advance planning or experience is need- bat, guns and exercise when not on duty. But to do with being gay or straight—it’s about ed. Admission is $10; however, no one will be still we could find moments for personal inter- human nature. to run ‘L’Imbecile’ turned away for lack of funds. For more in- ests and friendships. WCT: How does being in the Colombian formation, visit https://www.facebook.com/ WCT: Were there any moments where you army compare to being in the U.S. Army? Are in April, May ContraChicago or purchase tickets at http:// In a world-premiere production, Babes felt that you would be found out by your col- there any distinct differences? www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2014/04- with Blades Theatre Company will present leagues? JC: In the Colombian army we were con- 03-2014-queer-contra-dance-chicago-7pm/. L’Imbecile, by Aaron Adair, at Rivendell The- JC: That’s interesting because by my knowing stantly reminded of how worthless we were, atre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. I was gay I was worried about displaying any not deserving the food we ate or the air we The production is “a gender-twisted take on April 7 comedy Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto,” according to a press release. event to benefit Previews will be Saturday, April 5; Thursday LGBT program April 10; and Friday, April 11, at 8 p.m. The The event “Don’t Tell My Mother!” will take opening is Saturday, April 12, at 8 p.m., and place Monday, April 7, at Laugh Factory Chi- the show will run Thursdays-Fridays at 8 p.m. cago, 3175 N. Broadway, at 8 p.m. A NEW LECTURE SERIES WINDY CITY TIMES and Saturdays at both 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on IMPACT, the LGBT health and development PRESENTED BY & CENTER ON HALSTED April 12-May 10. program at Northwestern University, will Tickets are $8 (previews)-$20; visit www. benefit from the event. BabesWithBlades.org or call 773-904-0391. This evening will feature stories from Los NeXt lecture Angeles actress Jen Kober (The Mindy Proj- Sat., Apr. 5, 2014, 11am-1pm Queer Contra Dance ect, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and creator/host ANNE BALAY Nikki Levy, as well as local Chicago talent Steel Closets: Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Steelworkers Chicago on April 3 Fawzia Mirza (Kam Kardashian), Lisa Cordil- Drawing from extensive, detailed oral histories taken of a previously silent and Queer Contra Chicago will hold its next eone (Easy Abby) and singer JC Brooks (JC invisible population, this lecture investigates how gay, lesbian, and transgender dance on Thursday, April 3, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Brooks & The Uptown Sound). The Joans will steelworkers interact with their co-workers, communities and families in the context of their physically in Myron R. Szold Music and Dance Hall at perform. demanding, risky work. Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lin- $25 per lecture Tickets are $30 (general admission) and upcOMING Sat., 5/3/14 coln Ave. $50 (VIP, which includes the 6:45 p.m. VIP lecture: Timothy Stewart-Winter: From Civil Rights to Gay Rights in Chicago Contra dance is a form of folk dance, simi- reception and reserved seating). See http:// lar to square-dancing, but with lines of danc- donttellmymother.com/tickets/. https://community.centeronhalsted.org/lavenderuniversity ers rather than squares. WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 25 Celebrating Miss Foozie LGBT runners have By Ross Forman

The real-life Miss Foozie was out with some two races this June friends one night about 20 years ago and they were thinking of having a party, so he suggest- By Matt Simonette This is Brown’s third year as Proud to Run’s ed his birthday—April 6—which was approach- co-director. “It’s two of my favorite things, ing as the ideal date. And since he worked at Runners from Chicago’s LGBT community will raising money and running—they’re my favor- a bar in Boystown at the time and previously have two races they can participate in when ite things to do when I’m not doing my nine- worked at others, they were convinced it would Pride weekend arrives at the end of June. to-five job.” be a great, well-attended affair. (Note: Miss A new event, the Pride 5K, takes place the Brown and Barry both said they were not Foozie preferred to keep her real name private.) evening of Thursday, June 26; its organizers looking to set up a rivalry between thier races, So, at Circuit Nightclub on April 6, 1997, say they largely intend it to be a celebration to and each maintained that Proud to Run and Miss Foozie was created—on her alter ego’s kick off the weekend. Meanwhile, Proud to Run, Pride 5K are differently focused. birthday. the annual 5K and 10K race organized by the “We love the Proud to Run folks and really “I walked into the bar and some of my friends Frontrunners/Frontwalkers (FR/FW) club, takes want to support what they’re doing” Barry said. pulled me to the back room and on a table was place the morning of June 28. “There’s no competitive vibe on our side. There a wig, dress, jewelry and make-up—[that] was Pride 5K starts at Fullerton and Lake Shore are morning people and there are night people. my first time to wear it and have it put on,” Drive at 7:30 p.m. Some people like to come out early and run, Miss Foozie said. “At the time, I looked like “We all sat around here trying to figure out and some people like to come out at night to a lady … well, it took a lot of work. As time the cool angle of this race,” said John Barry, do that, and I think there’s room for both of passed, maybe an hour or two, I heard a lot of president of Star Events, which is organizing us.” noise in the bar and one of my friends opened Pride 5K. “We wanted to do ours at night— “I think you can do both,” said Brown. “What the door and said, ‘You are not going to believe that’s part of what makes it unique. Another they’re trying to do is different, on a Thursday this, but the bar is packed; there must be 200 part of that is the ‘plus one’ angle we have.” night after work. I plan to go check out the or 300 people here; you better hurry, Foozie, Runners have been encouraged to bring event myself—it’s not [trying to be] competi- and get out here. along a “plus one,” be it spouse, partner, tive, I think. And even if it is, I don’t mind a “I said, ‘Foozie … I will be Miss Foozie. That friend or relative. Fashion designer Borris Pow- little competition myself. It keeps us on our was the beginning.” ell planned matching T-shirts for each pair of toes.” About a year later, a Foozie fan gave her a Miss Foozie. Photo courtesy of Foozie participants. Information and registration for Pride 5K is gift—a pink wig—and it was used, although “It’s really just coming out with someone you at http://www.iloveruns.com/pride-5k. now it’s her legendary white wig. fabulous and fun performances, she said, “and want to spend time with, but you don’t have Information and registration for Proud to “It’s funny how the creation of my character I always have a special guest performer every to come with a ‘plus one,’” Barry said. “Maybe Run is at www.proudtorun.org. FR/FW will addi- was actually created by listening to the ideas week, which gives a chance for more fun en- you’ll meet your ‘plus one’ there.” tionally host its “Proud to Runway” fundraising and suggestions from my fans, which helped tertainment.” He added that Pride 5K is intended to have event at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., 4:30-7 make who I am today, [including] the letter F The inaugural Fooz-a-Palooza Day will be a “party feel” and that entertainment following p.m., on April 26. for Miss Foozie, which is on almost every dress held Sunday, April 6, at Sidetrack in Lakeview, the race would be provided by DJ and perform- I have … and don’t forget my pearls,” Miss from 1-4 p.m., including a look-alike contest er Adam LeBlanc of Sixteen Candles. Pride 5K Foozie said. with celebrity judges. organizers expect about 300-400 participants Ty Pennington at Known to most now as just Foozie, her name “Miss Foozie dedicates her life to entertain- this first year. truly is Miss Lucy Foozie—named such because Disco Dash June 26 ing and bringing laughter into the world while “It would be great if we could get 1,000. It of her love of the TV show I Love Lucy, she Home-improvement expert Ty Pennington bridging relationships within communities and all depends on many factors. But it’s a huge admitted. will be at the 4th annual Disco Dash 5K and beyond,” she said. “It’s really not about [the community and we don’t know what will hap- Age? 10K race on Thursday, June 26, at Soldier real me], the man behind Miss Foozie, I don’t pen over the next few months,” noted Barry, You know that’s not being revealed. She just Field’s Stadium Green. think anyone really needs to know [about me]; pointing out that Center on Halsted will be said, “golden years … ageless.” The race is followed by a ‘70s dance party it’s all about Miss Foozie, who is the real per- beneficiary to the event. She lives in Edgewater and admittedly is sin- son everyone loves. But, the man behind the outside the stadium, and runners are encour- “From all the folks that we talked to, Center gle, “and looking for someone to share my life character is the same person with the same aged to dress up in their best disco-era cos- on Halsted felt like a really great fit,” he said. with, but not in a hurry.” love. tumes for fun and prizes. “This year we are going to focus most of our Of course, Miss Foozie is “gay and proud.” “Fooz-a-Palooza was suggested by several of Early bird registration runs through April 30, [fundraising] energy on the Center because it’s The character artist, hostess, animal lover, my fans and my fans are why I am here.” with entry fees reduced to $40 for the 5K and a first year event, and we are somewhat dip- activist, entertainer, show director and pro- For more information, go to www.miss- $45 for the 10K race. Registration for youths ping our toe in the water with this whole race.” ducer has lived in Chicago for 19 years. foozie.com. 12 and under is $20 through June 15 to en- Miss Foozie used to have a Sunday show The 2014 Proud to Run kicks off at 8:05 a.m. courage families to participate. More informa- called “Miss Foozie and her Floozies,” and two days later. According to co-director Gary tion and online registration information is at then, after that, “Talk Foozie Show,” with sing- Brown, FR/FW has added several board posi- https://www.guaranteedrate.com/news/disco- ers, performers, dancers, comedians, poets, Judy Gold among tions to help with planning the race, which is dash-2014-announcement. story tellers, drag queens and more. “I believe City Winery’s the organization’s largest annual event, and that the reason it was so popular, and I am who plans to have newly-designed T-shirts and par- I am, is because a lot of who I am is because upcoming acts ticipant medals. of how I was raised and my love for humanity, Lesbian comedian Judy Gold will be part In 2013, the race had about 1,600 runners animals and life,” she said. of Downtown Seder on Tuesday, April 8, at participating. “This year the goal is to sell Miss Foozie is, without question, an icon in City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St. out,” said Brown. “With the Park District, we’re Chicago, an institution in our city, as famous There will also be Israeli singer-song- allowed up to 2,000 participants. We’re trying as Sidetrack, as recognizable as anyone flying writer David Broza, Sean Altman as Jew- to sell out and not have registration the day under the rainbow banner. She has been pho- mongous, Paris-based singer-songwriter of the event.” tographed and worked alongside such celebri- Keren Ann and the Chicago cast of Old Proud to Run’s three main beneficiaries this ties as Kathy Griffin, Cyndi Lauper, Lance Bass, Jews Telling Jokes, among others. year are Test Positive Aware Network, Night Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes and Kelly Osbourne, Prices are $70-$145. Ministry and About Face Theatre. among others. See www.CityWinery.com. In 2013, FR/FW raised about $27,000 for its Still, she said she “never” thought notoriety beneficiaries, Brown said, adding, “I don’t see would happen. why we won’t be able to grow that number sig- “Success is in your heart, from the day you nificantly this year.” are born, and if you believe in yourself than FR/FW asks that beneficiaries use money they you will make it,” she said. receive not to cover operating costs but to take Miss Foozie’s high-octane persona is fueled on new initiatives, he noted. “We have an open by … pineapples, of course. application period and look at how [the orga- “This is a true story,” she explained, when nizations] have a direct impact on the LGBTQ asked about her fabled tag-line ‘Hey, Pineap- community. What it comes down to is, we’re ple.’ “When I was a younger Foozie, I would not looking to make a donation to keep the visit my Mom at work and she was a waitress. roof over our beneficiaries’ heads. We ask each She would get so busy and they would be call- beneficiary to tell us how they’d spend their ing her ‘Miss,’ so my mom would reply, ‘I will be money on special projects.” right with you, Pineapple.’ I thought, what a Over the last three years, corporate sponsor- great and fun word to add to my character Miss ship for the race has grown significantly; more Foozie and to honor my mom.” than 100 companies have given cash and in- Miss Foozie, who spends up to $200 per out- kind donations, among them Pepsi and CNA. fit, now hosts Retro Foozie Bingo every Thurs- “CNA has donated over $50,000 in the last de- day at The Call bar in Andersonville, and every Judy Gold. cade,” Brown said. Ty Pennington. Photo by Steve Starr time she calls out “I-17,” she does one of her 26 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES theDISH WEEKLY DINING GUIDE IN a lively strip of Milwaukee Avenue. The dining room is visually jarring, unlike the subdued and charming décor at Ombra, Acre and Anteprima. The room manages to be neither hip and urban, nor quaint and Italian. Instead it’s a bizarre hybrid of the two that doesn’t mix well, made even worse by too-bright lighting. The menu is made up of Italian small plates, Azzurra EnoTavola many similar to the cicchetti you’ll find at Om- BY MEGHAN STREIT bra, as well as a selection of slightly larger pas- tas and fish and meat dishes. All of the items [Note: This is an anonymous review, as op- are meant to be shared. selection of the menu because it includes so of the small plates. Unfortunately, the bar ser- posed to last week’s profile by Andrew Davis.] The arancini, which is typically made with risotto, is filled instead with farro. I love farro, many of my favorite foods: gnocchi, short ribs, vice is irritatingly slow. I waited 20 minutes for cavatelli with basil pesto and ravioli with sage my first cocktail, and when my sparkling rose The team behind Andersonville’s Ombra, Acre but I don’t think it works well as a risotto sub- butter, to name a few. Sadly, the items I sam- finally arrived, it was served in a big wine gob- and Anteprima, some of my all-time favorite stitute. The arancini, while nicely flavored with pled just didn’t deliver. The gnocchi was served let instead of a champagne glass, which makes spots, opened a new Italian restaurant in Wick- pungent mushrooms, ended up a bit on the dry in a cheesy cream sauce, which was nicely sea- it less bubbly. Major fail. er Park late last year. I dined there recently, side once it was fried. A more satisfying use soned. But the tasty sauce couldn’t compen- I was surprised that Azzurra EnoTavola didn’t with high expectations, based on my previous of the farro was a warm salad with tender es- sate for the gummy texture of the gnocchi. I measure up to its North Side siblings. Perhaps experiences at the group’s other restaurants. carole. My favorite of the small plates was a was looking forward to delightful springy little it will improve with time. But, for now, when Unfortunately, while there were some high savory mixture of soft polenta, Italian sausage pasta pillows, but this gnocchi was under- you’re in the mood for Italian small plates and points, Azzurra EnoTavola didn’t quite deliver and shrimp. The presentation left a little to be cooked and doughy. wine, don’t bother leaving Andersonville. You the same delicious kind of meal I’ve come to desired and the shrimp could have been bigger, Even more disappointing was the Chianti- can get a better version of the same thing, expect from its sister establishments. but the flavors worked well together. braised beef short rib. Like you’ll find at so with a distinctly gayer crowd, at Ombra. Win, Azzurra EnoTavola occupies a small space on I was really excited by the pasta and meat many restaurants these days, the short rib is win. served with polenta and Brussels sprouts. I didn’t necessarily mind the lack of creativity— azzurra EnoTavola is located at 1467 N. CLASSIFIEDS it’s a winning combination of flavors. However, Milwaukee Ave.; call 773-278-5959 or visit the short rib had a sweet, almost chemical fla- www.azzurrachicago.com. ATTORNEY HOME IMPROVEMENT vor that for me rendered it inedible. Do you need some more Sugar & Spice in BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY. Debts have you down? Ready GAY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 35 YEARS - Azzurra EnoTavola does a have a nice wine your life? Follow me on Twitter @SugarAnd- for a fresh start? Filing bankruptcy may be the best carpet, tile, wood flooring, window treatments, gran- solution. In most cases, you keep your home, your ite/stone countertops, complete remodeling services, list, with lots of great Italian varietals. 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House music pioneer Frankie Knuckles has passed away. He was 59. Frederick Dunson, Knuckles’ producer, confirmed that Knuckles had died on March 31, according to Chicago Tribune. Knuckles reportedly died at home and a statement was expected April 1. The producer, who was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1996, mixed work by artists such as Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson and Depeche Mode. He reportedly had been ill, missing his 59th birthday party this past January, but still maintained a busy schedule and had appearances scheduled in the United Kingdom for April. News of Knuckles’ death broke March 31 on social media. For several hours that evening, Knuckles’ Twitter followers posted to his feed, asking if the rumors of his death were true. Many said they hoped it was an April Fool’s Day joke. DJ David Morales posted on Twitter at 10:11 p.m., “I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today. Can’t write anymore than this at the moment. I’m sorry.” WCIU correspondent Art “Chat Daddy” Sims posted on his Facebook page March 31 that Knuckles passed away. “My heart is so heavy right now,” Sims wrote. “I just got confirmation that my extremely talented, caring & giving friend Frankie Knuckles ... [has] made his transition. My friendship with Frankie goes back many ... wonderful years. Thank you Frankie!” Frankie Knuckles spins at House of Blues in 2004 (below, photo by Kirk Williamson) and in Chicago house artists Paul Johnson and DJ Deeon also posted that Knuckles had died. 2005 (above, photo by Peter Mavrik). Born in the Bronx in 1955, Knuckles was a DJ at, among other NYC venues, the Continental Baths, where Bette Midler and Barry Manilow were among other notable performers to get their starts. In 1977, he moved to Chicago, where he was DJ at the Warehouse, then at his own club, the Power Plant, which opened in 1983. Knuckles moved away from Chicago but returned in 2000, telling Windy City Times in 2001 that the city “is one of the places in the world I feel most natural. It feels more like home and I think the inspirational effect from here would help fuse that.” In 2004, the corner of Jefferson and Adams Streets was renamed “Honorary ‘The Godfather of House Music’ Frankie Knuckles Way.’ Knuckles also spun music for the Opening Ceremony of Gay Games VII in Chicago in 2006. Knuckles maintained that he tried not to buy into hype, and keep his focus on the music and his colleagues. “Because, at the end of the day, we’re just conduits,” Knuckles said in 2001. “If we can put this music together well, and really entertain people and tell stories with it and make them feel good— even make them escape from whatever it is they have to deal with on a day-to-day [basis], for an eight-hour period, one night a week—that’s saying a whole lot. … I think the greatest reward I’ve gotten out of it is the kind of friendships and camaraderie I make with people all around the world.”

Above: Frankie Knuckles with Craig Loftis (left). Below: Knuckles spins at House of Blues.

Knuckles spins at Gay Games VII, Soldier Field, 2006. Photo by Frankie Knuckles (center) with Frederick Dunson (left) and Steve Becker Photography Dennis Evans of D/E Entertainment.

Left: Photo by Pierre Cameron. Below: Knuckles with Renae Ogletree. Photo by Tracy Baim 28 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES

touring to support the CD Transgender Scott Duff hosts LGBT radio talk show Dysphoria Blues, which was released Jan. LGBT-specific talk show “Out Chicago” on 21. 6:00pm Durty Nellies, 180 N Smith politics, entertainment, celebrity gossip St., Palatine http://www.againstme.net 11:00am - 1:00pm WCPT 820 AM CALENDAR Tickets: http://buy.ticketfly.us Fooz-a-palooza Day Celebrate Miss Foozie’s Best of Fetisch Film Festival at LA&M birthday by dressing up like ... Miss Brought to you by the Join the Leather Archives & Museum for Foozie! Special prizes for the following combined efforts of an evening of five award winning film categories: Funniest Miss Foozie; Most shorts from Germany’s Fetisch Film Festi- Convincing Miss Foozie; Sexiest Miss val. Friday, April 4th, 2014 8p - 10p. $10 Foozie; Best Group Miss Foozie; Most Wed., April 2 oldtownschool.org/concerts/2014/04- adults, $5 student / senior, Free for LA&M Outrageous Miss Foozie Celebrity. Dona- members. Tickets available at the door. tions accepted for PAWS Chicago. 1:00pm Affinity Forty Plus Meeting Includes but is 03-2014-queer-contra-dance-chicago- Three films are in English, one film has no - 4:00pm Sidetrack 3349 N Halsted St not limited to individuals who identify as 7pm/ speaking, and one film is in German with http://www.sidetrackchicago.com lesbian, bisexual, or transgender women Happy Endings Play examines a ten-year English subtitles. http://www.leatherar- WACT is a brunch and social who are at least 40 years of age. Led by friendship between a young heterosexual WACT brunch chives.org/film.htm ‘IDOL’ WAVE support organization or all lesbians and Glynis Morris. Activities defined by partici- woman and a young homosexual man, bisexual women. We are especially inter- pants. Meets on the 4th Wednesday of the and power, manipulation, sexuality versus Sunday, April 6 ested in meeting and befriending each month. 7:00pm Affinity Community Ser- sexual identity. $25 at the door or online. Saturday, April 5 Frontrunners/ Frontwalkers Chicago Fun other across ethnicities, ages, incomes, vices 1424 E. 53rd St., Suite 306 http:// 7:30pm Stage 773 1225 W Belmont Run/Walk A club for lesbians, gay men, Windy City Gay Idol etc. Bring a healthy dish to to serve six www.affinity95.org http://www.secondthoughttheatrecom- bisexuals, transexuals and friends who gets started again at (in a brunchy way). [email protected], GenderQueer Chicago Grassroots, peer-led pany.com Tickets: http://www.stage773. are interested in running and walking [email protected], torlene@ group that works to create safe spaces for com The Sofo Tap, 4923 N. together along Chicago’s great open lake- comcast.net 3:00pm Contact an orga- all of us to talk about, think about, ex- Ann Hilton Fisher’s retirement ALCC’s Clark St. front, meeting twice weekly, on Saturdays nizer for private location plore, and express gender. They are open long-time executive director’s retirement Photo of Windy City Gay Idol at 9am and Tuesdays at 6:30pm 9:00am 12th annual search for to those who wish to talk and think about event 9:00pm Winston & Strawn LLP, 35 Windy City Gay Idol Totem Pole in Lincoln Park https://www. 2013 Maria Pahl by Hal Baim the Windy City’s best singers in the LGBT gender. GenderQueer Chicago meets every W. Wacker Dr., http://www.aidslegal.com facebook.com/groups/52950773133/ community. Up to 20 singers perform and Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00PM. Lavender University LGBTQ programs: are judged by an expert panel of judges, 7:00pm - 9:00pm Center on Halsted Friday, April 4 Anne Balay Steel Closets: Gay, Lesbian, but it’s the audience’s votes that count. 3656 N Halsted http://www.centeronhal- 2014 Amnesty International Human and Transgender Steelworkers. Anne Balay Top two performers will advance to the sted.org Rights Conference Every year, the human is a scholar who has published work on semi-finals in June; first place singer wins Companhia de Teatro Contemporaneo rights conference is jam packed with ex- St., http://www.orchadash.org/ Tickets: fantasy fiction, children’s time travel, and $100 cash! Sign ups begin at 7 pm, con- from Brazil Improvisation group called citing events. From concerts to marches, http://www.orchadash.org/documents/ queer pedagogy. She lives in Gary, Indiana. test starts at 8. $5 cover; $10 contestant IMPROTEMPO at the Chicago Improv Fes- lectures to workshops, you will have the Passover%20Registration%20Flyer%20 11:00am - 1:00pm Center on Halsted sign-up fee. $5 Smirnoff and Tanqueray tival 8:00pm The ComedySportz Theatre opportunity to meet new people and 2014.pdf 3656 N Halsted http://www.windycityme- cocktails, $6 Ketel One cocktails. 7:00pm 929 W Belmont http://chicagoimprovfes- get hands on experience tackling human Windy City Cycling Club Annual Kickoff diagroup.com/lgbt/Lavender-University- - 10:00pm The Sofo Tap 4923 N Clark tival.org rights issues. This year’s Human Rights Party Join your friends from Windy City launches-LGBTQ-programs/43375.html http://www.facebook.com/windycitygay- Glitter Creeps 11: Spaced Out Special Conference will take place from April 4 - 6 Cycling Club and Dykes Pedaling Bikes Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance idol guest DJs: Members of Bleach Party. Host- at the JW Marriott Hotel located at 151 W for our Annual Kick Off Party! WCCC is Weekly Saturday meetings. A peer-led ed by Donnie Moore. Photos by Marisa KM. Adams St., http://www.amnestyusa.org/ hosting the event for all club members, support and education group for people Background movies: Aliens and Alien. $2 events/human-rights-conference-2014/ and anyone else who wants to find out Tuesday, April 8 with mood disorders and family and A Hamm’s, $5 Hamm’s and Beam, $3 beer conference-agenda more about cycling with Chicago’s LGBT Frontrunners/ Frontwalkers Chicago friends. Ask receptionist for room number. club for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, specials. Free pool. 9:00pm - 1:30am Ar- Engendering Change Conference 2014 bike club is invited to join in the fun. 11:00am - 1:30am Center on Halsted transexuals and friends who are interested chie’s Tavern 2600 W. Iowa St. Graduate student-led conference that 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Sofo Tap 4923 features Chicago-area graduate students 3656 N Halsted 872-216-3272 http:// N Clark https://www.facebook.com/ in running and walking together along www.dbsa-glbt-chicago.com Chicago’s great open lakefront, meeting Thursday, April 3 and postdoctoral scholars from many dis- events/1410947185828921/ K9 Egg-stravaganza! Dog Easter Egg Hunt twice weekly, on Saturdays at 9am and Brahman/i: A One-Hijra Stand Up Comedy ciplines sharing their scholarship, perfor- CAKE Chicago - Queer Arts Showcase - Bring your dog for a fun Easter egg hunt Tuesdays at 6:30pm. Totem pole in Lin- Show About Face Theatre and Silk Road mance practice, and/or community work NOW with PARKING! Readers Choice - and help to raise money for homeless ani- coln Park, https://www.facebook.com/ Rising present the Chicago premiere by in gender and sexualities. Keynote address Chicago Reader - Best Gay Variety Show mals 1:00pm - 3:00pm Rex’s Place 2120 groups/52950773133/ Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by AFT Ar- by Professor Francesca Royster, author It is one of the club’s busiest nights.” - Ashland Ave., Evanston, http://www.red- tistic Director Andrew Volkoff, with Fawzia of Sounding Like a No-No: Queer Sounds The Red Line Tap Come for the Beer, stay Comedian Judy Gold at Downtown Seder doorshelter.org/events.php Comedian Judy Gold will be among guests Mirza in the title role. Provocative play and Eccentric Acts in the Post-Soul Era. A for the Queer - CAKE Chicago 9:00pm Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC) 7th onstage for City Winery’s wildly imagina- masquerading as a stand-up comedy rou- faculty response by Alex Weheliye, audi- - 12:00am The Red Line Tap, 7006 N Annual Big Package Auction Featur- tive and interactive annual Passover Seder tine, an Indian intersex person, or hijra, ence Q&A, and reception will follow. Free Glenwood Ave., http://www.facebook. ing special guest hostess, Miss Richfield dinner hosted by City Winery founder Mi- explores history, mythology, gender roles. 12:00pm Northwestern University, Evan- com/cakechicago Tickets: http://www. 1981. Live auction of spectacular prizes chael Dorf. (Kosher option available for an Through April 27. Start times to come. ston Campus, Evanston Tickets: http:// brownpapertickets.com/event/605292 and packages presented by scantily clad additional $25). $70/110/145. 6pm doors 12:00pm Silk Road Rising, Pierce Hall engenderingchangeconference.wordpress. men of Boystown. This year we also offer a 7:00pm City Winery Chicago 1200 W at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, com/registration/ Sunday, April 6 VIP level that features a special pre-party Randolph St http://www.citywinery.com 77 W. Washington St., Chicago 312-857- Bolder Than Out (BTO) Civil Rights and Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago Meet- from 4:30-5:30, a photo with Miss Rich- 1234 ext. 201 http://www.silkroadrising. Social Justice Identity Conference of ing every Sunday from 10:30 to noon, field 1981, two drink tickets and passed org Tickets: http://aboutfacetheatre.com African-American Same Gender Lov- featuring a speaker on a variety of topics- Wed., April 9 foods, and a preview of the silent auc- Trans*Health @ UIC Community Forum Queer Contra Dance Contra dance is a form ing (SGL) Black LGBTQ People and Al- -personal ethics, education, psychology, tion items. 5:00pm - 8:00pm Sidetrack Alli- of folk dance, similar to square dancing, lies The Coalition for Justice and Respect politics, philosophy, medical care, equal to Celebrate, Educate, and Create 3349 N Halsted St 773-296-0541 http:// ances Gender identity, race, the right to but with lines of dancers rather than (CJR) and the Coalition for Justice and Re- rights, the environment, etc., followed www.cgmc.org/event/2014/big-package- medical access, why the new trans* inclu- squares. In our gender-free version, in- spect Foundation (CJRF). Theme: Breaking by a coffee hour. Free and open to the auction-2014 sive health policy at UIC matters to all. stead of typical male-female gender roles, the Silence. Contact CJR at cjr.chicago@ public. Also Sunday School, weddings, Or Chadash Gala Honoring past president Panel discussion. Refreshments. RSVP to dancers determine their own role as a gmail.com 5:00pm Northeastern Cen- service projects, book group, film group. Lilli Kornblum and HIV/AIDS educator and Ryan Viloria at [email protected] 3:00pm leader or follower. 6:30 lessons, 7-9:30pm ter for Inner City Studies, 700 E. Oakwood 10:30am - 12:00pm Ethical Humanist activist, Nathan Linsk. Food, music, silent - 5:00pm UIC Student Center East Illinois dance and socializing. 6:30pm - 9:30pm Ave., http://www.cjrchicago.org. Society of Chicago 7574 N. Lincoln Ave. auction. Registration form online. 6 p.m., Room 613, 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago Old Town School of Folk Music 4544 N Against Me! performing Band headed by Skokie , IL 60077 http://www.ethicalhu- The Arts Club of Chicago, 201 E. Ontario http://irrpp.uic.edu Lincoln Ave., Tickets: http://www. trans Chicago singer Laura Jane Grace is man.org

BOOK REVIEW 1980s when “the promise for sexual freedom golden years of this virus. and sexual expression existed…” They are the “This virus has taken me halfway around the The AIDS Generation: men who, in the prime of their lives and when world, and I’m still here.” Stories of Survival they should’ve been the picture of health, At first blush, The AIDS Generation may seem and Resilience watched their friends and lovers die and who like it’s more academic than not. That assess- by Perry N. Halkitis were told, upon their own AIDS diagnosis, that ment is true; there is plenty for academics in $49.95; Oxford University they, too, would probably be dead within two this book, but casual readers will find some- years. thing here, too. Press; 249 pages But, of course, that wasn’t necessarily true. As one of the AIDS Generation, Halkitis knew, by TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER This book, the culmination of a large-scale specifically, which questions to ask of his sub-

project on gay men who have lived with AIDS jects in order to get the memories and emo- Some of the best experiences you had last year for decades, pulls together 15 survivors who tions he pulled from them. That questioning were with your friends. were “still alive to tell their stories as middle- leads to a fresh sense of heartache in the tell- When you think back about the highlights, aged men.” ing of tales, and a distant theme of horror that you remember dancing together, eating togeth- Some of them don’t remember when they bubbles with anger and ends with a general er, late-night bull sessions, parties, travels and learned of their diagnosis, while some remem- awe for life and an appealing sense of triumph. idle man-watching. Those shared experiences ber the day clearly. Regardless, all exhibited Despite linguistic stumbles that might’ve been are the glue that forever hold your friendship “the pause,” as Halkitis calls the stress reac- better off edited out, that makes them compel- together. tion to remembering that time. lingly readable. Or maybe, like the men in The AIDS Genera- Some of the 15 knew, deep-down, that they’d I believe there are two audiences for this tion, by Perry N. Halkitis, your bond is that been infected; one said it would’ve been “a book: long-term survivors who count them- you’re survivors. miracle… not to be positive.” For others, it selves among the warriors, and younger men The history of AIDS is vast and can’t be told came as a surprise. Some got sick, while others who need to learn. If you fall into either cat- without the stories of the people lost to the waited for illness that never really came. All are egory, then reading “The AIDS Generation” will disease and the ones they left behind. Of the “resilient,” says Halkitis, and are now surprised be a worthwhile experience. latter, says Halkitis, “… all the gay men of my and amazed to experience the kind of normal Want more? Look for AIDS at 30: A History, generation, infected or not, are long-term sur- health issues that men in middle-age endure. by Victoria A. Harden; or Chronicle of a Plague, vivors...” “I’ve been at the worst of this virus,” one Revisited, by Andrew Holleran. Those are the men who came of age in the Perry N. Halkitis. of the men told Halkitis, “and now I’m in the WINDY CITY TIMES April 2, 2014 29 BILLY MASTERS

“Well, @guardian, it makes for a nice change. the organization, and the 2006 documentary .. at least I didn’t wake up to the internet tell- Follow My Voice put a spotlight on the school. ing me I was dead again.”—Patrick Stewart’s Bravo! Twitter response to “The Guardian” announc- Last week, I found myself spending some ing that he’s gay—which, as it turns out, is time with design Bob Mackie, so I just had untrue. But, in many ways, is indeed a compli- to ask him about Cher. I had seen photos of ment. her in a really hideous multicolored cat suit It’s just been announced that Uma Thurman and had to ask if he had designed it. Bob was will take on the starring role in Anita, a bi- shocked—how did I not hear about the whole opic about anti-gay activist Anita Bryant. (She Cher-Mackie “break-up?” Clearly, I’ll have to 15th annual would be completely inappropriate in a film turn in my gay card. Just before the opening about Anita Hill or Pointer.) I know many of night of the tour, Cher tweeted the following (I’m taking out all her CAPS to spare you the annoyance): “Telling you something that has broken my heart. The man who made all my costumes since 1972 decided he couldn’t do my chili last tour. No matter how disappointed any of u are, you don’t know my grief. I’m sure Bob can’t know how much I miss him. Felt I had to tell u I’m crying. I tried to convince him to end cook off with me, but he had many reasons as 2 why he couldn’t do it. 2 many obligations. Not enough time even 2 do 1.” Needless to say, a designer of Mackie’s stature has quite a bit on his plate—including a line of furniture, linens and clothing on QVC. But even with all of that, he was excited about doing ® this project. Although the tour was announced last September, many of the specific details weren’t coming together in enough time for him to design a wardrobe worthy of both the WANTED: JUDGE & JURY Mackie and Cher name—especially for a tour called “Dressed To Kill!” But have no fear— TASTE & JUDGE OVER A DOZEN ENTRIES there is NO break-up. The two are still good friends and I hear that Cher will once again $10 donation at the door benefits

The Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian don Mackie—sooner rather than later. Bob did CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Actually, Cher (left, with her mother, say one thing that made me laugh: “When Cher Sidetrack the Video Bar • 3349 N. Halsted • SidetrackChicago.com Georgina Holt) has not parted ways with Bob Sidetrack the Video Bar • 3349 N. Halsted • SidetrackChicago.com tried to convince me to end with her, I said, Mackie, according to Billy. ‘End? I’m not going anywhere!’” While discussing this situation on Today, Hoda Kotb gave you will find it ridiculous that I have to even Cher a philosophical way to look at it: “He’ll do explain who Anita Bryant is, but I have a very the next one. He’ll do the next final tour!” TheatrePros.com young fan base. Anita Bryant was a singer and Our “Ask Billy” question comes from Keith holding spring former Miss Oklahoma who had a hit with the in New York City: “I was just watching the 48 song “Paper Roses” long before Marie Osmond. Hours Mystery and they ran a story about a preview April 6 She also was a popular television personal- wrongly imprisoned guy named Ryan Ferguson. TheatrePros.com will hold a mass spring- ity who was a spokesperson for the Florida WOW—he’s like porn-star beautiful.” theater preview Sunday, April 6, at Greenhouse Citrus Commission throughout the ‘70s. But Oh, I remember that case. At the time of his Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., at 8 p.m. that all came to a crashing halt in 1977 when arrest, Ryan was a 17-year-old who had been Ten member theaters will perform 10-min- she spearheaded a movement to repeal an or- out drinking (illegally) and was then accused ute previews of their upcoming spring shows. dinance that made it illegal to discriminate of a murder he didn’t commit. He was convict- Participating theatres include 20% Theatre against gay people in Florida. So you see, Flor- ed and has sat in jail for the past 10 years. His Company, AstonRep Theatre, Mondisa Monde ida’s been like that for a long time! case would occasionally pop up on 48 Hours Productions, The Rum & Coke Collective, The Bryant’s group was called “Save Our Chil- Mystery or Dateline, but I really could only fo- Plagiarists, Fury Theatre, Piccolo Theatre, Cor dren,” which perpetuated the myth that gay cus on his gorgeous face and what appeared Res Theatre, Three Cat Productions and Organic people are also pedophiles. Why, I make sure to be a hot body under his orange jumpsuit. Theater Company. everyone I sleep with is of legal drinking age. Fast-forward 10 years, and he’s now free. And Early-bird tickets are $10 each; visit the (Alcohol is gonna be involved sooner or later.) what’s one of the first things he did? He got Greenhouse Theater Center’s website or http:// Bryant was successful in having the anti-dis- his first spray tan in February. And when show- www.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=627997. crimination ordinance repealed. What I discov- ing off the results—well, I think I had what ered while researching this story is that gay was once referred to as “the vapors!” My, my, bars around the country started boycotting or- my—prison definitely agreed with him. And I Lake View street to Attendees Kelli Simpkins and Andrew Volkoff ange juice and began marketing a new drink— bet many of the inmates agreed, too. You can be renamed at 2013 Wonka Ball. Photo by Jerry Nunn the “Anita Bryant,” which was vodka and apple see for yourself on BillyMasters.com. But I juice (which sounds positively dreadful). She must warn you that he does have a girlfriend. after Yoshi’s chef traveled around the country helping other cit- Myka Cain started writing to Ryan while he was On April 2, at 5:45 p.m., the intersection of Wonka Ball’s theme ies strike down anti-gay discrimination laws. still in prison. She did what she could to help North Halsted and West Aldine streets will be That led to the infamous episode in Des Moines campaign for his release, and they seem to be renamed “Yoshi Katsumura Way.” is ‘The Gayme Show!’ when someone threw a pie in her face on live inseparable ... for now. Chef-proprietor Katsumura and his wife, No- About Face Theatre (AFT) invites guests to TV. Her response? “At least it’s a fruit pie.” When I’m looking for love on death row, it’s buko, have been creating and serving meals at “come on down” and celebrate its 18th year Oh, there’s that famous Bryant wit! Say what definitely time to end yet another column. It’s Yoshi’s Café, 3257 N. Halsted St., for nearly 32 with a throwback to daily doubles, free spins, you will about the crazy old girl, I bet her life not as silly as it sounds. Look at those Menen- years. and lifelines at Wonka Ball 2014: The Gayme will make one helluva movie! Plus, who hasn’t dez brothers. Since being in jail, they’ve both Ald. Tom Tunney, who sponsored the City Show! on Friday, May 9, at 8 p.m. (with a VIP wanted to throw a pie in Uma Thurman’s face? gotten married—twice! So while you’re check- Council ordinance designating Yoshi Katsumura cocktail reception at 7 p.m.) at Macy’s on State One of our most visible gay stars is Neil Pat- ing out the inmates, be sure to check out www. Way, will preside over the renaming ceremony. Street in the 9th Floor Event Center, 111 N. rick Harris. With How I Met Your Mother leav- BillyMasters.com—the site that’ll never screw The new street sign will be installed a day or so State St. ing the air, he’s able to return to the Broadway ya (unless you want it to). If you have a ques- prior to the April 2 unveiling. The Katsumuras AFT’s annual fundraiser will celebrate TV’s stage. When Hedwig and the Angry Inch opens tion for me and have already used up your one will be presented with a replica of the sign at iconic game shows with an evening of clas- April 22, it will also be helping to raise money phone call, just send a note to Billy@Billy- the event. sic challenges, live entertainment, music and for LGBT youths. The producers will donate a Masters.com and I promise to get back to you dancing, edibles and an open bar with signa- portion of all ticket sales to the Hetrick-Martin before Cher asks Mackie to help her turn back ture cocktails. Institute, the home of the Harvey Milk High time. Until next time, remember, one man’s The VIP cocktail reception starts at 7 p.m. School in NYC. This is not the first connection filth is another man’s bible. General-admission tickets are $150 each; VIP between the show and the organization. The passes are $200 each. Visit www.aboutfacethe- 2003 CD Wig in a Box: Songs From and Inspired atre.com or call 773-784-8565. by Hedwig and the Angry Inch was a benefit for 30 April 2, 2014 WINDY CITY TIMES LGBTQ homeless youth summit May 2-5

CHICAGO—Windy City Times is hosting a etc.), public policy (city, county, state, feder- summit May 2-5 on LGBTQ youth in the Chicago al), legal issues (emancipation, public safety), region, to assess the current issues impacting education and job training, healthcare access, homeless youth, and new solutions to these mental health and substance abuse. complex issues. Kim Hunt, executive director While attendance at the summit is focused of Affinity Community Services, is the summit’s on youth, non-profits, service providers, gov- director. ernment and foundations, the summit does The title of the summit is “Owning Our Lives: need help from the general public. This is how Dream It. Speak It. Do It!!” The website for the LGBTQ and allied communities can be en- registration, donations and full information is gaged: http://chicagosummit.lgbthomelessness.com/ Donations to help cover the costs of the sum- . mit, including stipends for youth attending, “Windy City Times wants to bring a public an opportunity for everyone—from policy mak- Each of the summit’s three days will have a food, staff, and other expenses. spotlight to these issues, inviting all major and ers and faith leaders to advocates and activ- different area of focus: Experienced facilitators are needed for the smaller agencies and individuals addressing LG- ists—to come together and find new ways to —Friday, May 2, 2-8 p.m. first two days. BTQ youth, including youth themselves, to par- address an ongoing challenge,” said Commis- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Volunteers are needed with the following ticipate in a new way of working together, sim- sioner Bechara Choucair, M.D., Chicago Depart- Open to people 25 and under who have been skill sets: Video taping, photography, note- ilar to the diverse and transparent approach to ment of Public Health. impacted by homelessness. taking, general support. the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality The foundations and groups so far assisting Registration: FREE State Rep. Greg Harris issued a statement in 2013,” said summit host Tracy Baim, Windy with the summit include: The Crossroads Fund, —Sat., May 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. about the Summit: “As an appropriation chair- City Times publisher, and founder of the march. True Colors Fund, Polk Bros Foundation, Alpha- University of Illinois at Chicago, Behavioral man overseeing the State budget, every day Additional Summit Team members are youth wood Foundation Chicago, Liz and Eric Lefkof- Sciences Bldg, 1007 W. Harrison St. I see how education, sports, arts, healthcare, organizers Breezy Connor, Keyshia Lay Morris sky, Pierce Family Foundation, Ronna Stamm Open to youth, nonprofits, government agen- substance abuse counseling, physical and be- and Zanareyah Phillips; and Bonn Wade, adult Lehman-Stamm Family Fund, Heartland Human cies, politicians, foundations, activists, service havioral health, child care, parenting, afford- ally. Care Services, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for providers, academic researchers and individuals able housing and a myriad of other issues over- “Marriage is behind us. Housing is next. What Justice, Affinity Community Services, Lambda working on these issues. lap, and how challenging it is for many youth, are we doing to fight for the cause? The time Legal, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Chicago Registration: $45 adults, youth free particularly homeless youth, to access and use starts NOW!” LayMorris said. House, Howard Brown Health Center, and Chi- —Mon., May 5, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. services. Everything we do to collaborate, co- The summit has several goals, including: cagoPride.com. The venues donating their fa- Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 ordinate and help youth access and navigate —Looking at the complex causes of home- cilities are: Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s N. State St. across institutions, geography, services and lessness Hospital, the University of Illinois at Chicago Report to government agencies, politicians, organizations are tasks we owe to thousands —Shining a light on existing work being Gender and Sexuality Center, and the Museum foundations (private, public and corporate of young people who are struggling to achieve done of Broadcast Communications. foundations encouraged to attend), academics, their full potential.” —Reporting on the gaps and needs Information and links to registration and do- and donors. The summit is a followup to the award-win- —Listing short-term and long-term strate- nation pages here: Registration: FREE ning Windy City Times Generation Halsted se- gies http://chicagosummit.lgbthomelessness. The first two days of the summit will be bro- ries. That series of articles, plus several other —Creating action steps com or email: [email protected]. ken down into general plenary sessions and important reports on issued related to LGBTQ “Addressing LGBT youth homelessness re- facilitated workshops focused on areas in- youth, are available for download on the sum- quires a team effort. This summit presents cluding: Housing issues (shelters, DCFS, HUD, mit’s website. Mulryan & York Attorneys At Law JOSEPH RICE INTERIORS, INC. 4001 N. Wolcott CHICAGO (773) 271-2361 Chicago, IL 60613 www.josephriceinteriors.com (773) 248-8887 Specializing in Drapery Treatments

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