State Changes Trans-ID Policy
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THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Nov. 18, 2009 • vol 25 No 7 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com State Changes Trans-ID Policy BY SAMUEL WORLEY Hall A new policy adopted by the Illinois Depart- page 7 ment of Public Health’s Division of Vital Records of Fame makes it easier for transgender people to receive birth certificates that accurately reflect their gender identity. Previously, trans people who had sex-reas- signment surgery (SRS) were only able to have that surgery recognized if it was performed by a U.S.-licensed surgeon. With the policy change, people who travel overseas for surgery—for rea- sons of cost or to seek surgeons with greater expertise—will be able to obtain birth certifi- cates reflecting the fact of their SRS no matter where it was performed. The change came as the Division of Vital Re- cords issued new birth certificates to two trans- women who had overseas surgeries. It also is- sued a new birth certificate to a transman who, under the previous policy, would have been re- Clinton quired to have medically unnecessary surgery. page 4 “I am a woman and now I have a birth certifi- in Chicago cate that reflects this reality,” said Victoria Kirk, one of the beneficiaries of the policy change, Vital said in a statement. Kirk was a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois. According to the ACLU, Illinois had for years al- Idols page 8 lowed individuals to change the gender marker on their birth certificates regardless of where SRS took place. Earlier this decade, the state reversed its policy and began interpreting the relevant law to require that individuals obtain Vital Bridges/Groceryland volunteer manager and activist Lori Cannon (far left) took part in treatment from U.S.-licensed surgeons only. honoring Victor Salvo, Stuart Keeshin and John Regalato (next to Cannon, from left) as Groceryland’s The statute pertinent to the case requires “[a] founders Nov. 15 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. See page 8 and www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com for more photos of the event. Above photo by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com) Turn to page 5 Taylor Dayne page 14 LGBTs and cyberstalking BY MEGHAN STREIT Rebecca Dreke, a senior program associate at tions, and to have someone targeting you can the Stalking Resource Center in Washington DC, be really hurtful and frightening,” she said. “Un- Cyberbullying among adolescents and teens has said that as social networking sites become in- fortunately, with the use of technology to stalk, grabbed headlines lately, but using technology creasingly ubiquitous is our daily lives, the cre- laws sometimes aren’t keeping up with ways November 11, 2009 #1005 to harass or stalk someone is a problem in the ation of fake MySpace or Facebook profiles with stalkers are doing these things.” adult world as well. the intent to harm someone’s reputation is fast Illinois’ stalking law was amended last year Cyberharassment or cyberstalking can take becoming one of the most common methods of to include cyberstalking. The statute defines nightspots many forms. A disgruntled employee could write cyberstalkers. cyberstalking as “knowingly and without law- n a negative, and possibly untrue, blog post about Just like in-person or phone harassment, ful justification, on at least two separate oc- pick it up Snow Fooling! you, a jilted ex-lover could bombard you with Dreke said cyberstalking victims can suffer real casions, harassing another person through the Snow White and the Drag Queen Who Stole X-mas hits Hydrate this weekend. take it home inSIDE page 14 Jesus Christ, Halloween Behind bars with Mink Stole. psychological stress and fears about personal use of electronic communication.” It also covers was fun! threatening e-mails, or someone you barely page 8, 16-17 page 20 know could use the web to discover personal safety. Turn to page 6 information about you. “It can be so damaging to people’s reputa- Brought to you by the combined efforts of page 18 windy 1118 pass:Layout 1 11/12/09 4:07 PM Page 1 2 Nov. 18, 2009 GIVE SHARON GLESS IN THE GIFT YOU’D WANT YOURSELF THE 2009-10 STEPPENWOLF PASS Treat those on your holiday list this year Return Chicago Engagement to the Steppenwolf Pass— World Class Theatre that fits into their schedule. after sold-out shows during its premiere Gene Siskel Film Center of the Get 3 tickets to one show or 1 ticket to three shows, the Pass is School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N. State the most flexible way to experience our season. With quantities limited, don’t miss out on the easiest way to enjoy any of these Sharon Gless (Queer as Folk, Burn Notice, exciting plays. Tickets are subject to availability. Cagney & Lacey) stars in the drama Hannah Free, a film about a lifelong love affair between Friday Nov. 27 an independent spirit and the woman she calls home. The film is the story of six decades in the Saturday Nov. 28 American Buffalo life of a lesbian partnership. Tix thru the Film Center Box office or Sunday Nov. 29 December 3, 2009 – February 7, 2010 Ticketmaster, 800-982-2787, www.ticketmaster. com, and all Ticketmaster outlets. The Film Monday Nov. 30 Center and its Box Office 312-846-2800 (24-hour The Brother/Sister Plays movie hotline) or 312-846-2600, or visit January 21 – May 23, 2010 www.siskelfilmcenter.org. Thursday Dec. 3 Endgame “(((”— Chicago Tribune April 1 – June 6, 2010 “Hannah Free affords a terrific role for Sharon Gless, who runs with it gloriously. ... Claudia Allen has skillfully adapted her play to the A Parallelogram screen.” — Los Angeles Times July 1 – August 29, 2010 Austin Gay & Lesbian Philadelphia Q-Fest International Film Festival Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature Best Feature Film Order online at steppenwolf.org Montreal Image+Nation LGBT Film Festival or call 312-335-1650. Audience Award 5 NOMINATIONS - Midwest Independent Film Festival 5 NOMINATIONS - Out Music Awards RIPE FRUIT FILMS PRESENTS SHARON GLESS IN “HANNAH FREE” TAYLOR MILLER MAUREEN GALLAGHER ANN HAGEMANN KELLI STRICKLAND JACQUI JACKSON Executive steppenwolf Producers SHARON ZUREK CLAUDIA ALLEN TRACY BAIM Music by MARTIE MARRO Makeup Designer JILLIAN ERICKSON Costume Designer IRIS BAINUM-HOULE Editor SHARON ZUREK Production Designer RICK PAUL Director of Photography GRETCHEN WARTHEN Written CLAUDIA ALLEN Produced by WENDY JO CARLTON MARTIE MARRO SHARON ZUREK TRACY BAIM Directed by WENDY JO CARLTON www.HannahFree.com Nov. 18, 2009 3 ts ke st! fa , tic g index ry in ur ll H se NEWS e Clinton talks at Hilton 4 ar Equality Illinois has Saved Laiacona petitions Mell 5 Schroer at Center 5 the Best Seats Just for You! Birth-certificate benefit 5 Maddox; Fiorito 6 Patti’s award 6 Cyberstalking & LGBTs 6 Hall of Fame pics 7 Vital Bridges ceremony 8 Truth in Progress 8 Forum; Stroger; vets 9 Quotelines 9 Views: Keen, Mixner 10 ENTERTAINMENT Scottish Play Scott 11 Theater reviews 12 Local singer Stephen Leonard talks about Kushner; arts awards 14 music and marriage equality. See page Taylor Dayne 14 15 Stephen Leonard 15 Photo by Nathan Fry Photography Kuda book review 16 KATM; Reeling 17 Billy Masters 19 Comcast channel & gays 21 OUTLINES Calendar Q 18 Real estate; classifieds 20 Sports: AFC, Midtown 26 Cover photos and credits (from top): Frank Robinson at Becoming Ingrid (above) is one of the the Hall of Fame ceremony by Hal Baim; Bill Clinton by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com); Taylor productions reviewed this week. See page Dayne PR photo 13. Photo by Rory Tanksley JkXk\:_Xe^\j KiXej$@;Gfc`Zp ?Xcc f]=Xd\ ;FNECF8;K?@J >fkfnnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfdkf[fnecfX[Zfdgc\k\`jjl\jf] :c`ekfe M`kXc `e:_`ZX^f @[fcj N`e[p:`kpK`d\jXe[E`^_kjgfkj% KXpcfi C>9KjXe[ZpY\ijkXcb`e^ ;Xpe\ n K_\eZc`ZbfeXepX[Xe[Y\kXb\e[`i\Zkcpkfk_\X[m\ik`j\iËjN\Yj`k\ www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Purchase these ONLINE INDEX great seats to see November 11, 2009 the show everyone is SNOW #1005 LE VILLAGE PEOPLE WHITE X-MAS Get a taste of the French- talking about & benefit Canadian retreat known Photo by Adam Veness as Montreal and its very Equality Illinois. Snow Fooling! gay Le Village area. Snow White and the Drag Queen Who Stole X-mas hits Hydrate this weekend. inSIDE page 14 Jesus Christ, Halloween Behind bars with Mink was fun! Stole. page 8, 16-17 page 20 Photo by Blair Mishleau ACTOR Join Equality Illinois for the CHEyENNE JACkSON Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009 SHOW# 338 MONEy business performance at Tom Franklin (left) starts the first in a series of articles on LGBTs and www.WindyCity financial matters. (The final night of previews!) Queercast.com Hurry... HE’S A SURVIVOR get tickets for this special event at With Survivor currently on TV, it’s a perfect time www.EQIL.org to find out what’s going Check OUT OUR on with Todd Herzog video CHANNEL for (right), the show’s second EQIL event graciously sponsored new videos WEEkLy gay champ. in part by our friends at... www.QueerTV Photo courtesy of CBS Network.com 4 Nov. 18, 2009 Clinton noted that Chicago has the sixth- diverse Palmer House crowd—especially in com- Clinton speaks largest HIV/AIDS problem in the country. “But parison to the TV show Mad Men. you’re doing your job because you’re not the “You ever watch that TV series Mad Men? If at Chicago sixth largest city,” he said, highlighting the I keep watching this program, will I ever find work of Chicago House.