Greg Harris: What Went Right on Marriage by KATE SOSIN Because He Doubted That the Bill Had the Votes to Pass
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MARTINA NAVRATILOVA TALKS ABOUT LIFE, OLYMPICS WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 PAGE 21 NOV. 13, 2013 VOL 29, NO. 7 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES Greg Harris: What went right on marriage BY KATE SOSIN because he doubted that the bill had the votes to pass. He was keeping a prom- TOM HARKIN’S In May, detractors of openly gay Rep. ise to call the bill only when he had the Greg Harris, angry that he had not called votes, but some felt he was doubling back ROLE IN THE for a vote on marriage equality, pointed on another to call the bill before spring SENATE’S out that the man who would have enjoyed session ended. Harris told supporters that PASSAGE OF the glory for the bill’s passage would carry his colleagues vowed to back the bill dur- the blame for its shortfall. ing fall veto session. ENDA Harris had declined to call for a vote On Nov. 5, Harris stopped being the man page 6 on the bill before session ended in May Turn to page 8 Left: From the Oct. 22 March On Springfield. Photo by Tim Carroll Photography. Right: Rep. Greg Harris speaks at the march. Photo by Matt Mills IAN HARVIE SUPERHERO AMONG REELING’S FILMS MARCUS, MEL B pagE 18 AND MUSIC Windy City Times talks with former (and possibly future) Spice Girl Mel B, who discusses talk shows, the series America’s Got Talent and her new music. Also on the bill is openly gay singer Marcus Terell, who performed at the recent Springfield rally for marriage equal- ity. Photo of Mel B by Alexander George page 19 page 23 LGBTQ WOMEN’S GROUP SHE100 LAUNCHES pagE 4 2 Nov. 13, 2013 WINDY CITY TIMES CONGRATULATIONS, ILLINOIS! LEARN WHAT THE MARRIAGE LAW MEANS FOR YOU WITH OUR FAQ. lambdalegal.org/ILoveFAQ WINDY CITY TIMES this week in Nov. 13, 2013 NEWS WINDY CITY TIMES SHE100 launches; column National election results Senate passes ENDA; 4 5 ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Dancin’ Feats Marriage advances in Hawaii 6 Reeling films: Week two Marriage developments VIEWS: Baim; letter Interview with Mel B 3 6Books: Elledge; BOYS anthology 15 8 Navratilova at local festival 18 19 Photos on cover (left, from top): Publicity 14 Books: Reinventing You Dish 20 photo of Martina Navratilova; official 21 headshot of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin; photo of Music: Marcus Terell chats with WCT Billy Masters 21 Ian Harvie from Reeling31 staff; photo at 22 SHE100 launch party courtesy of organization 23 OUTLINES 25 Classifieds Calendar Q MARTINA NAVRATILOVA TALKS ABOUT LIFE, OLYMPICS WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 PAGE 21 22 NOV. 13, 2013 VOL 29, NO. 7 www.WindyCitTIMESyMediaGroup.com Greg Harris: What went right 24 on marriage BY KATE SOSIN because he doubted that the bill had the votes to pass. He was keeping a prom- TOM HARKIN’S In May, detractors of openly gay Rep. ise to call the bill only when he had the Greg Harris, angry that he had not called votes, but some felt he was doubling back ROLE IN THE for a vote on marriage equality, pointed on another to call the bill before spring SENATE’S out that the man who would have enjoyed session ended. Harris told supporters that PASSAGE OF the glory for the bill’s passage would carry his colleagues vowed to back the bill dur- the blame for its shortfall. ing fall veto session. ENDA Harris had declined to call for a vote On Nov. 5, Harris stopped being the man PAGE 6 DOWNLOAD THIS! on the bill before session ended in May Turn to page 8 Left: From the Nov. 5 March On Springfield. Photo by Tim Carroll Photography. Right: Rep. Greg Harris speaks at the march. Photo by Matt Mills Go to www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com IAN HARVIE SUPERHERO AMONG REELING’S FILMS MARCUS, MEL B PAGE 18 AND MUSIC Windy City Times talks with former (and possibly future) Spice Girl Mel B, who discusses talk shows, the series America’s Got Talent and her new music. Also on the bill is openly gay singer Marcus Terell, who performed at the recent Springfield rally for marriage equal- ity. Photo of Mel B by Alexander George to download complete issues of Windy City Times and Nightspots. page 19 page 23 LGBTQ WOMEN’S GROUP SHE100 LAUNCHES PAGE 4 Then click on any ad and be taken directly to the advertiser’s Web site! online exclusives at www.WindyCityMediaGroup THE REEL THING .com The 31st edition of the international LGBT film fest Reeling kicked off Nov. 7 (left). Photo of Reeling’s Richard Knight Jr. and Brenda Webb by Jerry Nunn BENEFITING THE FEAST WITHIN DIFFA’S “Dining By Design” had the theme “Beauty and the Feast.” Project Runway’s Austin Baidas has Nina Garcia made history as an hosted an event at openly gay person Emporio Armani. PEIRCE-ING INSIGHT in Gov. Pat Quinn’s Film director Kimberly Peirce talked Photo by Jerry Nunn administration. about remaking Carrie at a Chicago Photo from Baidas Humanities Festival appearance. BURN RUBBER THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT Find out the latest about Sia, Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Lansbury. FRIDAY, DECEMBER PM UNION STATION GREAT HALL plus PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE MAGNIFICENT WORLD OF CHOCOLATE AT DAILY BREAKING NEWS AIDSCHICAGO.ORGCHOCOLATE The 17th Mr. International Rubber Weekend took place, mostly at the Center on Halsted. Photo by Andrew Davis night SPONSORS nightspots spots #1106 • Nov. 13, 2013 Jim Bennett of Lambda Legal and the Illinois SEXY/SCARY HALLOWEEN: House Passing SB10 PLUS Our 2011 Holiday PART TWO Moose’s musicGift gifts (and Guide gaffes). Peter Pointers’ “12 Ways To Bliss-maspage 10 .“ page 25 Pubert’s Favorite Things. pages 28-29 American AirlinesSUPPORTING | Bell Litho Printing SPONSORS | Blommer Chocolate Company Find Nightspots on Food for Thought Catering | Kehoe Designs | Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant | Orbitz Public Communications Inc. | Wilde Bar & Restaurant www.WindyCityQueercast.comShow #547 BestGayChicago.comMEDIA | Chicago PARTNERS Magazine | ChicagoPride.com GRAB Magazine | Windy City Media Group 4 Nov. 13, 2013 WINDY CITY TIMES Cultural Q’s by FRANCESCA ROYSTER Is there a “Queer Agenda?” and should there be? “I envision a politics where one’s relation Every Easter when I was growing up, to power, and not some homogenized we’d dress up in our pastel sundresses identity, is privileged in determining and unseasonably springy sandals (and one’s political comrades. I am talking heavy wool coats—this being Chicago) about a politics where the nonnormative and make our annual trip to Church. On and marginal position of punks, bulldag- these outings, I’d find my mind wander- gers, and welfare queens, for example, is ing to the different facial expressions of SHE100 the basis for progressive transformative the Virgin Mary statues and to the smell coalition work. Thus, if any truly radical of incense, which I wanted to burn in potential is to be found in the idea of my bachelorette pad when I grew up. I LGBTQ queerness and the practice of queer poli- honestly believed that my wandering, cu- tics, it would seem to be located in the rious approach to Church was what God women’s ability to create a space in opposition to wanted. Otherwise, why would She have dominant norms, a space where transfor- made me queer—and with such a short group mational political work can begin.” — attention span? Like Shug Avery’s belief Cathy Cohen (2005) that God made flowers because He wants launches A few weeks ago, a colleague tells me us to love the color purple, I figured that Chicago’s newest LGBTQ that he’s had it with the “queer agenda.” God and I had a deal, whatever the priest group, SHE100, had their first He’s gay and doesn’t want anything to do said. mixer “SHE100 Official Coming with queer. Coming of age at a time when I identify as queer, despite the fact Out Party” Nov. 8. The event “queer” was a common slur used against that there are many aspects of my life was a celebration of SHE100 him, his fit with queer as an identity has that might be called homonormative: I to inspire more women to join am civil unionized to the group. “The turnout, en- my partner Annie, and ergy and diversity was great, and SHE100 is really excited about its future,” said organizers. we’ve had a committed SHE100 is an active LGBTQ women’s community whose work, presence and advocacy aim to strength- “In my mind, queerness has relationship for more en the greater LGBTQ community. Organizers stated, “SHE100 was founded in 2013 in response to a than 14 years. Together widely observed but little acknowledged truth: LGBTQ women are present but far less visible than always been marked by its we adopted Cecelia last LGBTQ men when it comes to charitable, philanthropic and community endeavors in Chicago. SHE100 defiance of definition.” year, and we own our was formed to increase the volume of LGBTQ voices and to influence positive change.” own home. I am a ten- Founding board members are Angela Barnes, Maia Benson, Amy Bloom and Brooke Skinner. ured faculty member in For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.she100.org. a Catholic institution always been an uncomfortable one. Now and I actually like my job very much. And he’s tired, he says, of being told by queer maybe because of this, I think it’s even theory that his sexuality is necessarily more important to align myself with oth- fluid, when he doesn’t experience it that ers in opposition to dominant normative way.