'A Wonderful Life'
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INTERVIEW WITH BRANDY: ‘I LOVE MY WINDY CITY GAY FANS’ THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 JAN. 16, 2013 PAGE 23 VOL 28, NO.15 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES URVASHI VAID TALKS WITH wcT page 4 ‘A wonderful life’ 91-year-old Chicagoan WCT PREVIEWS CMSA WOMEN’S Jon Phillips reflects on SOCIAL a life well-lived page 30 BY ROSS FORMAN His small, quaint, well-kept, one-bedroom Evan- ston apartment is filled with a first-hand view of world history, including photos, business and legal documents, handwritten notes, books and the still-sharp memory of 91-year-old Jon Phil- lips, who talks openly and certainly knowingly about World War II, President Truman, Queen Elizabeth II and Mayor Richard J. Daley, and ce- lebrities such as Bette Midler, Rod Stewart and Steve Winwood. “I’ve had a wonderful life,” said Phillips who was, coincidentally, born on Christmas Eve 1921. He celebrated his 91st birthday at a dinner with about 30 other people, then went to a nearby Methodist Church service, and then back to his assisted-living residence. He even had a cake in 2012, which isn’t too common for Phillips, who often has had, instead, to simply enjoy Christmas cookies. “Walking down the halls [in this apartment WCT REVIEWS complex], I often meditate, thanking God for a fantastic life,” he said. “I’ve met wonderful CHRIS COLFER people—some famous, some not so famous—but FILM wonderful people overall.” pagE 21 Chicagoan Jon Phillips pictured at his home (above, photo by Ross Forman) Turn to page 24 and in the navy during World War II (right, courtesy of Phillips). 2 Jan. 16, 2013 WINDY CITY TIMES You stand apart from the crowd. Automatic, Stk #B47814 And so does the New 2013 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L Sporty. Stylish. Sophisticated. $25,688* Carr’s Honda...Known for Exceptional Selection and Awesome Service Touhy Ave W Calif A Ridge e v Clark St s e t e 6600 N. 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WINDY CITY TIMES this week in Jan. 16, 2013 NEWS WINDY CITY TIMES Interview with Urvashi Vaid Inauguration’s LGBT facets Marriage bill; Charles Hughes dies ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS TaylorMaid unites gay, straight 4 **Winter theater special** Burning Bowl; Cassidy engaged 5 Books: Cooking in Heels 3 Gay in the Life; T in the Life 6 Knight: Struck by Lightning Views: Royster, King 8 Local theater: ‘I Love Lucy’ star 13 9 Interview with Brandy 20 chicago 10 Dish: Roka Akor, Bistro Voltaire 21 now on saLe Photos on cover (left, from top): Brandy 12 Billy Masters 22 gay men’s PR photo; Urvashi Vaid photo by Jurek 23 Wajdowicz; CMSA women’s social photo by 25 chorus Kat Fitzgerald/Mystic Images Photography; OUTLINES 29 Real estate; classifieds photo from the film Struck By Lightning PRESENTS Calendar Q CMSA women’s social coming up 26 28 INTERVIEW WITH BRANDY: ‘I LOVE MY WINDY CITY GAY FANS’ THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 JAN. 16, 2013 PAGE 23 VOL 28, NO.15 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES This season’s scintillating stage selections include (counter-clockwise from top) Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Revelations (photo by Christopher Duggan); 30 TurnAround Theatre’s Faith Healer (photo by Joe Mazza); Pride Films and Plays’ Beautiful Thing (photo courtesy of David Zak); and Priscilla Queen of the Desert: HOT The Musical at Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (photo by Joan Marcus). THEATER & page 13 WINTER DANCEPREVIEW URVASHI VAID TALKS WITH WCT PAGE 4 DOWNLOAD THIS! ‘A wonderful life’ 91-year-old Chicagoan Go to www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com WCT PREVIEWS CMSA WOMEN’S Jon Phillips reflects on SOCIAL a life well-lived PAGE 30 BY ROSS FORMAN His small, quaint, well-kept, one-bedroom Evan- ston apartment is filled with a first-hand view of world history, including photos, business and legal documents, handwritten notes, books and the still-sharp memory of 91-year-old Jon Phil- lips, who talks openly and certainly knowingly about World War II, President Truman, Queen Elizabeth II and Mayor Richard J. Daley, and ce- lebrities such as Bette Midler, Rod Stewart and to download complete issues of Windy City Times and Nightspots. Steve Winwood. “I’ve had a wonderful life,” said Phillips who was, coincidentally, born on Christmas Eve 1921. He celebrated his 91st birthday at a dinner with about 30 other people, then went to a nearby Methodist Church service, and then back to his assisted-living residence. He even had a cake in 2012, which isn’t too common for Phillips, who often has had, instead, to simply enjoy Christmas cookies. “Walking down the halls [in this apartment WCT REVIEWS complex], I often meditate, thanking God for a fantastic life,” he said. “I’ve met wonderful CHRIS COLFER people—some famous, some not so famous—but FILM wonderful people overall.” PAGE 21 Chicagoan Jon Phillips pictured at his home (above, photo by Ross Forman) Turn to page 24 and in the navy during World War II (right, courtesy of Phillips). Then click on any ad and be taken directly to the advertiser’s Web site! online exclusives at www.WindyCityMediaGroup FEEL THE HEA .com Travel writer Jeff GuaracinoT discusses why Key West, Fla., (left) was his top destination of 2012. Photo from Stephen Smith A Valentine Cabaret Love is L sometimesike hard,candy: sometimes sweet, ROCK OF PAGES but mostL Check out online reviews of books such a L y as Astray and Tea Leaves. Cody Critcheloe, ittLe bit sticky. who formed the music project Read an interview SSION, chats with Christopher about his band. EA Kennedy Lawford T’S NEWS PR photo Find out news aboutTO local ME restaurants, about his recovery including upcoming special events. from drug addiction. ‘LIGHTS’ OUT PR photo FeB CUTTING EDGE ruary Scissor Sisters is among the acts 7, 2013 8Pm discussed in this week’s Pop Making Sense. PaLm at cour plus The Dra T DAILY BREAKING NEWS Read a review of Keep the Lights On, now on DVD. Ke ho Photo by Jean-Christophe Husson Te sP TickeT L eciaL Va s $45 (incL LenT uD ine’s Day T es ViP sea rea Ting anD night orDer onL T)/ $35 (generaL spots Pre-show dinner/drinks avaiineL a More 2013 Predictions with T cGmc.or aDmission) 312.787.2200 140 e G WHERE WERE YOU nightspots MISS CLEO #1084 • January 9, 2013 abL FOR NEW YEAR’S? ast e; contact the d waL ton street c rake hoteL hica Go, iL Find Nightspots on www.WindyCityQueercast.comShow #504 4 Jan. 16, 2013 WINDY CITY TIMES said, “is the extent to which [gay equality] is an issue for non-gay people,” most notably young Seeing a future beyond people. She cited the 2009 March on Washing- ton where scores of heterosexuals, many of them students from college campuses nationwide, car- ried signs reading, “I am a heterosexual ally.” formal LGBT equality: “It is extraordinary,” Vaid said. “The expansion of the movement beyond the LGBT community” to increasing numbers of heterosexual allies “is one of the reasons that we are winning.” Talking with Urvashi Vaid Perhaps the best example of non-gay allies making a difference was their key role in win- by CHUCK COLBERT ning marriage referenda on Election Day. “In every one of those four states [Maine, If the LGBT movement is, at its core, a pro- Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington], you gressive struggle for justice and equality, then had heterosexual leaders—major politicians, should not the gay-rights agenda include issues major business figures, leaders of color, faith- of economic, racial, class and gender? In other based leaders, saying ‘We support this,’” Vaid ex- words, is there more to gay rights and liberation plained. “That’s really a different situation than than simply securing passage of non-discrimina- four or eight years ago.” tion laws and gaining the right to marry? Sure enough, President Obama’s coming out Longtime activist and LGBT community leader for marriage was a game-changer. “If you think Urvashi Vaid certainly thinks so. For years now, about it, the supporters of the president are the she has been urging mainstream movement people who support marriage equality or the ex- leaders to take up broader economic-rights and pansion of LGBT rights—young people, women racial-justice programs. voters, people of color who are overwhelmingly In a 1996 book, Virtual Equality: The Main- in support of fair and equal treatment,” said streaming Of Gay And Lesbian Liberation, Vaid Vaid. “It’s been so interesting for me to see what argued a larger vision for the movement, with Jesse Jackson used to call the Rainbow Coalition social justice as a window into the future. actually come into being for this election.” And now in a new book, Irresistible Revolu- In winning marriage equality this time around, tion: Confronting Race, Class, and the Assump- lessons learned from Proposition 8 were also tions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgen- helpful. “What I took away from the 2008 Cali- der Politics Vaid offers pointed criticism of the fornia defeat was the need to do more work to movement’s shortcomings on that score. engage people and involve non-gay people in “We need a movement that is conscious of our movement,” she said.