BOY GEORGE TALKS WITH WCT WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 MAR. 9, 2011 PAGE 18 TIMES VOL 26, NO. 23 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Getting to ENDA: Is it lost, or obsolete? The first of a two-part series nation, still make sense? ity in the both chambers was losing power, and The answers to those three questions—for nobody knew for sure what hostile language Re- examines the state of things those readers who have reached their word-con- publicans might push in a last-ditch attempt to regarding ENDA sumption threshold—are “not if you’re assessing kill ENDA. They just knew they’d try something. BY LISA KEEN the real-world prospects,” “yes” and “maybe.” Still, it troubled some people recently when KEEN NEWS SERVICE A closer study finds the political reality for a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, Di- OR CHADASH ENDA in the 111th Congress was one with sharp ego Sanchez, told a “virtual forum” sponsored GALA Did Democrats squander an opportunity to edges, blurs of movement, and obscured details. by eQuality Giving that the votes were there in pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act Yes, the votes were probably there in the House, the House to pass ENDA and to defeat any Re- PAGE 11 (ENDA) last year? Should they even bother to but the votes in the Senate—as demonstrated publican attempt to kill the measure with some re-introduce the bill this year? And does a bill by two failed attempts to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t heinous “motion to recommit.” like ENDA, focused only on workplace discrimi- Tell—were unpredictable. The Democratic major- Turn to page 4 Supreme Court: Phelps protests Oui, oui! are protected BY LISA KEEN KEEN NEWS SERVICE The U.S. Supreme Court ruled March 2 that the First Amendment protects an anti-gay protester’s FORUM ON BULLYING, demonstrations in close proximity to a private funeral service. LEgacY ProJECT The case, Snyder v. Phelps, arose out of a con- flict around anti-gay activist Fred Phelps and his PAGE 9 followers staging loud and hate-filled protests near the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq. The protest signs claimed the soldiers de- served to die because American society was tol- erating homosexuality. One soldier’s family decided to take action to stop the protests and filed suit in federal court, claiming the protests amounted to intentional infliction of emotional distress, a violation of the family’s right to privacy, and civil conspira- cy. In an 8-1 decision, with only Justice Samuel Alito dissenting, the high court ruled that the free speech clause of the First Amendment pro- tects public speech, which includes speech re- lated to “any matter of political, social, or other concern to the community.” FABULOUS BEEKMAN The decision upheld a ruling by the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. BOYS INTERVIEW The vote was somewhat of a surprise. At oral PAGE 19 argument in October, most of the justices seemed to challenge Phelps’ attorney, his daughter Mar- gie Phelps, about their “outrageous conduct” and “exploiting” a family’s time of grief. tMarch 2, 2011 Sotomayor had said she had trouble with Phelps’ claim that the protests were simply en- gaging in public discourse about a public issue, given that some of their speech was “directed Take it off! Fasten your seatbelts as at the Snyders” and “talking about them raising pick it up Chicago Takes O with Lido des Boyz at Park West on Matthew for the devil, teaching him to defy the Sat., March 5. take it home page 3 Male and female dancers played the skin game March 5 at the Park West as Test Positive Aware Network held its annual fundraiser, Chicago Takes Off. The theme this year was “Lido des Boyz,” creator, to divorce and commit adultery.” Happy 5th Pubert chats lending a French twist to most of the evening. Photo by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotogra- anniversary to with Cut Copy. 3160. page 14 Turn to page 6 page 8 phy.com); many more on page 23 and online at http://www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com 2 Mar. 9, 2011 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY TIMES Mar. 9, 2011 3 this week in WINDY CITY TIMES NEWS ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Boehmer and DOMA; ENDA 4 Scottish Play Scott 15 Nominee stifled; women’s profile 5 Theater reviews 16 Rustin viewing; protests protected 6 Boy George interview 18 Anti-gay agencies under review 7 Beekman Boys talk with WCT 19 BEHIV’s bankruptcy; law confab 8 Knight: For Billy, Slaves 20 Legacy Project talk; Lobby Days 9 Real estate: Gold Coast B&B 21 Sex talk; Helizon, Stocker die 10 Chicago Takes Off photos 23 Congregation Or Chadash gala pics 11 Billy Masters 25 Gay, Inc. talk; homeless facility 12 Gay in the Life: Honey West 13 OUTLINES Views by Monroe, David Furnish 14 Real estate; classifieds; pets 22 Calendar Q 24 Photos on cover (left, from top): Boy George Sports: Plea for Ellen to join Ride 26 PR photo; image of Or Chadash gala at- Fitness: Cassandra Corum 26 tendees by Hal Baim; photo of bullying forum presenters by Carrie Maxwell; Fabulous Beek- man Boys photo from Planet Green WINDY CITY p.com TIMESindyCityMediaGrou www.W Getting to ENDA: Is it lost, or obsolete?DOWNLOAD THIS! e Court: Suprem rotests Phelps p are protected Go to www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Oui, oui! to download complete issues of Windy City Times and Nightspots. Then click on any ad and be taken directly to the advertiser’s Web site! online exclusives at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com ‘WICKED’ GOOD Idina Menzel—who has guest-starred on Glee, and has starred in Broadway productions of Wicked and Rent—performed in Indianapolis recently. WCT caught the action. Photo by Jerry Nunn Personal trainer Dan Geraci Art for Life talks about Bent Nights looks THAT’S ITALIAN! high-intensity at Unknown Mortal If you could transform a life, wouldn’t you? Sugar & Spice looks at the Italian training, which Orchestra (above) he practically restaurant DiSotto Enoteca. and the Smith Live & Silent guarantees will Westerns. yield results. Auction Photo by Vern Hester Photo by Andrew Davis ‘CRUEL’ runningS Featuring this Read a review of the book The Cruel THE DANE EVENT lithograph by Dale Ever After. Chihuly. THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT This week’s entertainment round- Thursday, March 24th, 2011 up includes items on Kylie Minogue, 6:30 pm till 9:00 pm Matthew Morrison and Andy Cohen. The University Club, Chicago, IL Danish singer Oh Land (above) talked with WCT; she is also featured in Pop plus Making Sense, which also covers Belinda Tickets $100 DAILY BREAKING NEWS Carlisle and others. PR photo Additional information & purchase tickets at Get on deck tMarch 2, 2011 Youth 773.327.9921 or with TPAN’s www.bonaventurehouse.org/art_for_life Lido des Boyz! Bullying Show #407 Take it off! Fasten your seatbelts as Be a ticket captain! Sell 10 tickets and attend the event for free! Chicago Takes O with Lido des Boyz at Park West on Sat., March 5. nightspots page 3 Proceeds benefit homeless Happy 5th Pubert chats anniversary to with Cut Copy. 3160. page 14 page 8 men and women living with HIV/AIDS. Find Nightspots on www.WindyCityQueercast.com 4 Mar. 9, 2011 WINDY CITY TIMES tion has opened this divisive issue at a time Trent Franks, said “absolutely” when a blogger Also, Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas introduced Boehner calls when Americans want their leaders to focus on from the liberal think tank Think Progress asked a bill (HRes. 143) directing the Speaker to take jobs and the challenges facing our economy,” him whether he supported an idea from Newt “any and all actions necessary” to defend DOMA. for House group said the statement. “The constitutionality of this Gingrich President Obama and Attorney General The bill has 26 co-sponsors, including Reps. Bill law should be determined by the courts—not by Eric Holder over their decision. Flores and Pete Olson of Texas, Rep. Phil Gin- to defend DOMA the president unilaterally—and this action by Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., introduced a bill (HR grey of Georgia, Rep. Dan Lungren of California, BY LISA KEEN the House will ensure the matter is addressed in 875) March 2 to prevent any federal court from Reps. Donald Manzullo and Joe Walsh of Illinois, KEEN NEWS SERVICE a manner consistent with our Constitution.” deciding “any question pertaining to the inter- and Reps. Jeff Miller, Richard Nugent and Steve In fact, the Department of Justice made clear, pretation of, or the validity under the Constitu- Southerland of Florida. U.S. House Speaker John Boehner announced when it announced it would no longer defend tion” of DOMA. The bill has 13 sponsors, includ- The advisory group, noted the Speaker’s press March 4 that his chamber would take some ac- DOMA in court, that it was up to the courts to ing four members of the Texas delegation (Reps. release, is a five-member panel consisting of the tion to defend the federal law that prohibits make the final determination of whether the law Joe Barton, Ralph Hall, Jeb Hensarling, and Ron House speaker; the majority and minority lead- recognition of same-sex marriages. Meanwhile, is constitutional. The administration also made Paul), and one member of the Florida delegation ers; and the majority and minority whips. at least three bills were introduced this week to clear it intended to continue enforcing the law (Rep. Dennis Ross). “Under House rules, the advisory group has either defend or expand the reach of the Defense until the law is determined to be unconstitu- Rep.