Entrepreneur Embraces Visibility Through Example by Gretchen Rachel Hammond “Have the Courage to Face the Truth,” Stone Once Said

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Joe Betancourt. Photo by Kat Fitzgerald, mysticimagesphotography.com Entrepreneur embraces visibility through example by Gretchen Rachel Hammond “Have the courage to face the truth,” Stone once said. “Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys Chicago-born author and philanthropist W. Clement Stone be- to living your life with integrity.” lieved there was little difference in people with one signifi- The transgender community faces a society which not only cant exception—attitude. refuses to do the right thing in recognizing transgender equal- The guiding philosophy for his co-authored 1960 book Suc- ity because it is right but, as in the case of North Carolina, cess Through a Positive Mental Attitude would evolve into the seeks to eradicate transgender people through legislation. bedrock of Stone’s legacy—one that influenced millions. Turn to page 10 WANDA WOMAN Wanda Sykes talks LGBT rights and political Illinois bathroom bill advances Page 4 correctness. Photo by Roger Erickson 23 NC activists battle their law Page 6

nightspots VANESSA SHERIDAN SPRING MOVIE SPECIAL Meet the Center on Halsted’s new Easter at Sidetrack (pictured), Pride Idol at The Richard Knight Jr. unveils what’s in director of transgender relations. Glenwood, Miss Continental Plus, more. theaters this season. Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond 14 Photo by Jed Dulanas 26 PR photo of Alice Through the Looking Glass 22

@windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 2 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 3 WINDY CITY TIMES INDEX

NEWS Trans bills advance in Illinois; column 4 download Georgia veto; AIDS czar resigns; healthcare index 5 this issue Controversial anti-LGBT N.C. law 6 and browse the archives at HRC defends Mark Kirk endorsement 8 Trans entrepreneur Joe Betancourt 10 www.WindyCitytimes.com Passages: Grivas, Roose, Cragon 12 Talking with Center’s trans director 14 Views: Balay and Shattell; letters 16 ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Scottish Play Scott 17

Knight at the Movies: Spring LGBT preview 22 vol 31, no. 27 March 30, 2016 Wanda Sykes interview 23 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com TRANS Gay rugby star Keegan Hirst 24 Lesbian musician Daphne Willis 25 ACTION

Joe betancourt. NIGHTSPOTS 26 Photo by Kat Fitzgerald, mysticimagesphotography.com Entrepreneur embraces visibility through example by Gretchen rachel hammond “Have the courage to face the truth,” Stone once said. “Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys OUTLINES Chicago-born author and philanthropist W. Clement Stone be- to living your life with integrity.” lieved there was little difference in people with one signifi- The transgender community faces a society which not only cant exception—attitude. refuses to do the right thing in recognizing transgender equal- Calendar Q 29 The guiding philosophy for his co-authored 1960 book Suc- ity because it is right but, as in the case of North Carolina, cess Through a Positive Mental Attitude would evolve into the seeks to eradicate transgender people through legislation. bedrock of Stone’s legacy—one that influenced millions. Turn to page 10 Classifieds 30 WANDA WOMAN Wanda Sykes talks lGbt rights and political Illinois bathroom bill advances Page 4 correctness. Photo by Roger Erickson 23 NC activists battle their law Page 6

nightspots VANESSA SHERIDAN SPRING MOVIE SPECIAL meet the center on halsted’s new easter at Sidetrack (pictured), Pride Idol at the richard Knight Jr. unveils what’s in director of transgender relations. Glenwood, miss continental Plus, more. theaters this season. Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond 14 Photo by Jed Dulanas 26 PR photo of Alice Through the Looking Glass 22

@windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com online exclusives at www.WindyCityTimes.com

WILD ABOUT HARRY Musician Peter Andredis (left) was among those paying tribute to Harry Nilsson at a recent show. Photo by Vern Hester

CLOTHES CALL

In The Amazon Trail, Lee Lynch talks about “airing the lesbian laundry.” Photo of Lynch and her partner courtesy of Lynch

‘history’ lesson EVENT horizon WCT reviews the book A History of Loneliness.

WIN, BOOZE OR DRAW A wine-and-dine event starts in Lake View; Dining Out for Life takes place soon.

THAT’S SHOW BIZ Find out the latest about Gwen Stefani, James Franco and Michael Sam. Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center’s 2016 Humanitarian Awards Dinner raised $3 million, while Second City plus opened the Harold Ramis Film School. Photo of Leon Panetta at the awards dinner from the DAILY BREAKING NEWS museum/center 4 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES Trans-related bills advance to Illinois GUEST VIEW by Kevin Jennings

House committee Why some gays are part of the problem By Matt Simonette Gay neoconservative Joseph Murray These kinds of experiences persist in Legislation that would force transgender stu- recently called for the dividing of the present day. According to GLSEN’s dents to use separate restroom facilities from movements for justice and equality 2013 National School Climate Survey, their peers—as well as another bill that would based on sexual orientation and gender more than 80% of LGBT students make it easier for transgender Illinoisans to identity—effectively promoting the experience harassment at school. And change the gender marker on their birth cer- idea that gay people should somehow it is deeply rooted in the issue of tificates—advanced into the Illinois House leave behind the trans community gender nonconformity. Human Services Committee on March 23. The and those who simply do not conform Whether it’s the effeminate boy who committee next meets April 5. to what it means to be a “man” or is mocked for “throwing like a girl” or House Bill 4474, which state Rep. Thomas “woman.” the “tomboy” who doesn’t like to wear Morrison introduced, requires school boards to As a gay man, I was taken aback by pink, students who do not conform designate school restrooms as being for the ex- the revisionism of such views—views to society’s rigid gender expectations clusive use of persons of a single sex, and de- that are ahistorical and ignorant of suffer from the earliest and most fines “sex” as the gender designation a person today’s realities. virulent forms of harassment. Childhood was assigned at birth. It also authorizes boards Trans and gender nonconforming bullies don’t make a distinction to designate a single-occupancy restroom or people have been at the forefront of the between sexual orientation and gender faculty restroom or changing facility that can struggle for justice and equality for all identity – they persecute anyone who be used by trans students if they submit a re- of us. Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, deviates from gender norms. quest in writing. and other trans patrons of the historic Sadly, that mindset hasn’t changed Last fall, a high school in Morrison’s district Stonewall Inn were at the forefront of much among those who single out was charged with discrimination by federal launching the modern-day LGBT rights others for being different, even in our authorities when it did not allow a transgen- movement and pushing back against own community. Some gay men have der girl to change in female-designated locker the rampant police brutality in 1969. gone as far as privileging and even room facilities. fetishizing gender expression that The bill’s progress came the same week as Then there are today’s trans activists passage of anti-LGBT legislation in North Illinois state Rep. Thomas Morrison, who like my friend Grace Sterling Stowell conforms to society’s rigid expectations Carolina. That new law overrode all local pro- introduced an anti-LGBT measure. who has been running the Boston of what it means “to be a man.” Case tections for LGBT individuals and was largely Photo from Valentine Alliance of GLBT Youth (BAGLY) for the in point: witness the number of online a response to an ordinance in Charlotte that past thirty years. profiles where gay men are seeking offered protections against discrimination in Equality Illinois is urging residents to sign a “masculine only” or “straight acting” housing and public accommodations on the petition against HB 4474 that will be present- partners. basis of sexual orientation and gender iden- ed to committee members and to the House As gay men, our own struggles toward tity. Legislators convened a special session to member who represents each signer. The peti- belonging and acceptance are deep- pass the bill—at a cost of about $42,000 to tion is at tinyurl.com/HB4474-petition. seated, but they should not be used to North Carolina taxpayers—and passed it on Harris is chief sponsor of a second transgen- vilify trans and gender nonconforming to Gov. Pat McCrory, who signed the same day. der-related bill, HB 6073, that also advanced people who we share a common legacy Throughout the debate, lawmakers stoked anxi- to the House Human Services committee March with. eties about transgender residents using “incor- 23. The bill amends the state’s vital-records act Unlike the fringe views of Murray, the rect” restroom facilities. A lawsuit to prevent so that a declaration by a physician that the LGBT community has expressed a strong the state from enforcing the law was scheduled individual is undergoing medically appropriate commitment to advance an inclusive agenda of equality and justice for all of to be announced March 28. treatment would be the main requirement to Sylvia Rivera (center) Marsha P. us. Illinois state Rep. Greg Harris said that cir- change the gender marker on a birth certifi- Johnson and other trans patrons cumstances with the Illinois bill are different, cate. Previously, an affidavit from a doctor say- of the Stonewall Inn were at the Thousands of LGBT people recently since Morrison’s legislation is being introduced ing that the individual had undergone gender- forefront of launching the modern took part in the Our Tomorrow campaign, through normal legislative channels and not reassignment surgery was needed to implement day LGBT rights movement. a nationwide effort to identify the under surreptitious circumstances as in North a gender-marker change. The new rule would Photo by Luis Carle; courtesy National future priorities of the movement Carolina. But Harris added, “We can’t let grass also apply to intersex individuals. Portrait Gallery among everyday community members. grow under our feet either. We have about a Activists have long advocated for such Out of more than 14,500 unique week to let legislators know how wrong this changes to birth certificate rules, since many contributions, trans issues ranked as kind of a law is.” transgender individuals may not be able, or For gay people to rewrite history the top issue among participants. Some advocates noted that legality of such a may not wish, to undergo gender-reassignment and turn our backs on the trans people This finding only confirms what so bill is murky, and could quite possibly endanger surgery. who have fought at our side is far from many of us actually know: we can’t and the federal funding of school districts—some “I’m happy with the progress we’ve made,” “strategic.” It’s cowardly and wrong. won’t leave anyone behind. of whom have enacted rules that are friendly to said Harris. “We’ve gotten good input from the While some like Murray would Those proposing a so-called “divorce” trans students—who enforce its policies. medical community, helping tighten the lan- suggest that gay people are completely of our movement want to throw trans “The problem with the Morrison bill is that guage.” different than those who are trans and gender conforming people under what he is proposing is in direct contrast with Co-sponsors include state Reps. Kelly Cassidy, and gender nonconforming, we need the bus is a vain attempt to win the how the Department of Education interprets Will Guzzardi, Cynthia Soto, La Shawn Ford, Sil- not look far from our own childhood approval of those who hate us. That’s Title IX,” said Edwin Yohnka, director of com- vana Tabares, Emanuel Chris Welch, Ann Wil- experiences. Growing up in the not a path towards liberation. It’s a munications and public policy for ACLU Illinois, liams and Sara Feigenholtz. Seventies, I remember attending my dead end. which litigated the case in the northwest sub- Ziri said that Equality Illinois is frequently father’s funeral at church and crying And that’s why more of us who are urbs. contacted by individuals needing assistance over his death. But my brother glared gay need to spend time listening to and Mike Ziri, director of public policy for Equal- in changing their birth certificates. He said at me and hissed, “Stop crying.” He lifting up trans people up so the world ity Illinois, said, “We don’t know the sponsor’s that Harris’ bill would “update a standard that then added more forcefully, “Don’t be a can better understand who all of us are. intention to call or not, but we are adamant hasn’t changed since 1962. We are modernizing f*ggot.” Otherwise we keep allowing bullies—in that we are not going to be the next North this law to keep up with several other states.” The message I got was clear: “real our childhood and adult lives—to win. Carolina. We’ve activated our base of support- Advocates are urging residents concerned boys” didn’t show their feelings even This column originally appeared in ers and talking to other groups.” about HB 4474 and HB 6073 to file a witness if they were eight and at their dad’s the Washington Blade, see http://www. Harris called the bill “a solution in search of slip to have their viewpoints presented for the funeral. So how do you separate the washingtonblade.com/2016/03/21/ a problem that hurts Illinois families.” Human Services committee. The witness slip issue of gender expression and sexual why-some-gays-are-part-of-the- Among Morrison’s co-sponsors on HB 4474 for for HB 4474 is at http://bit.ly/1ZFTYlN, orientation? You can’t. problem/. are state Reps. Mary E. Flowers, Jeanne Ives, while HB 6073’s witness slip is at http://bit. Brandon Phelps and Jerry Costello. One co- ly/25rHiDh. sponsor, state Rep. Camille Lilly, withdrew her sponsorship March 25. Kevin Jennings is an educator, social justice activist, and author of seven books. He is executive director of the Arcus Foundation, a global foundation dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 5 —Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage ber Creek failed to respond in a timely matter, HRC releases Hospital (Winfield) leading to the judge’s ruling. —Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital In a statement, Betty Tsamis—a lawyer in pri- healthcare index (Geneva) vate practice in Chicago who also represents The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has re- —Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospi- the Wathens—noted that the case provides an leased its Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) tal (Lake Forest) important precedent for “protecting against 2016, an annual survey that evaluates inclu- —Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago) discrimination directed at same-sex couples sive policies and practices related to LGBT pa- —Rush Oak Park Hospital (Oak Park) by businesses serving the public.” tients, visitors and employees. —Rush University Medical Center (Chicago) More than 2,000 healthcare facilities were —University of Chicago Medical Center (Chi- evaluated—with 496 being designated “2016 cago) AIDS czar steps Leaders in LGBT Healthcare.” Four states— —University of Illinois Hospital & Health Alaska, Idaho, Oklahoma and Wyoming—do Sciences System (Chicago) down from post not have Equality Leaders this year. Douglas Brooks—the first openly gay, HIV- —VA Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Moreover, when HRC launched the HEI in positive, African-American man to be named Care Center North (Chicago) 2007, just 78 major hospitals participated. This the head of the White House’s Office of Na- —VA Edward Hines Jr. Hospital (Hines) year, a record 568 healthcare facilities in states tional AIDS Policy (ONAP)—stepped down from —VA Illiana Health Care System (Danville) across the country demonstrated their commit- the position March 24. —VA Jesse Brown Medical Center (Chicago) Douglas Brooks. ment to LGBT inclusion by participating in the Senior policy advisor Amy Lansky will replace The four criteria for the evaluations were pa- Photo by Chuck Colbert HEI survey. Brooks in the interim. tient non-discrimination policies; equal visita- President Bill Clinton created the post in Illinois featured 25 Leaders—second in the an openly gay, Black man living with HIV, Mr. tion policies; employment non-discrimnation 1993. President Obama named Brooks to the Midwest only to Ohio’s 29. Brooks brought to his role a level of authen- policies; and training in LGBT patient-centered position two years ago. The ones in Illinois are (with cities in pa- ticity and perspective that has made real dif- care. In a statement, National Black Justice Co- rentheses): ferences in the lives of millions of Americans The report is at HRC.org/hei. alition Executive Director/CEO Sharon Lett- —Advocate BroMenn Medical Center (Nor- nationwide. He will be sorely missed and we man-Hicks said, “As the first openly gay, HIV- mal) owe him a debt of gratitude.” —Advocate Children’s Hospital-Oak Lawn Same-sex couple positive Black man to hold this post, Director (Oak Lawn) Brooks has led ONAP with grace, humility and —Advocate Christ Medical Center (Oak Lawn) prevails against B&B unyielding strength, while working to ensure Report: Female trans —Advocate Condell Medical Center (Liber- An administrative law judge with the Illi- that those most impacted and at-risk for HIV/ tyville) nois Human Rights Commission ordered Timber AIDS have access to the tools they need to detainees are abused —Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital (Down- Creek Bed and Breakfast, in Paxton, to stop combat this disease. According to a Human Rights Watch report, ers Grove) discriminating by turning away same-sex cou- “Under Director Brooks’ leadership, our fed- dozens of transgender women, including asy- —Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital (Bar- ples from its facilities for civil unions or mar- eral government updated the National HIV/ lum seekers, are locked up in jails or prison- rington) riages and to pay $15,000 each to the couple AIDS Strategy in 2015 by focusing efforts on like immigration detention centers across the —Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center who brought the case. the needs of minority communities, gay and country. (Chicago) In 2011, Timber Creek turned away Todd and bisexual men, women of color—including The report, “Do You See How Much I’m Suffer- —Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Mark Wathen, who were planning a civil union, transgender women—and other groups dispro- ing Here?’: Abuse against Transgender Women Ridge) saying “homosexuality is immoral and unnatu- portionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.” Lettman- in U.S. Immigration Detention,” documents 28 —Advocate Sherman Hospital (Elgin) ral.” Hicks also listed some of Brooks’ other accom- cases of transgender women who were held in —Advocate South Suburban Hospital (Hazel The ruling followed a hearing on damages plishments, such as the expansion of the role U.S. immigration detention between 2011 and Crest) held in Springfield in November 2015. Follow- of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and making 2015. More than half of them were reportedly —Advocate Trinity Hospital (Chicago) ing the hearing, attorneys for the Wathens filed “early and frequent testing for HIV a key tenet held in men’s facilities at some time, and half —Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital briefs to support the Wathens’ request for an of public policy.” also spent time in solitary confinement. of Chicago (Chicago) order to stop discriminating and pay damages, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Grif- The full report is at https://www.hrw.org/ —Howard Brown Health Center (Chicago) attorneys’ fees and costs. The lawyers for Tim- fin, in a separate statement, said, in part, “As node/287599/.

With world-class indoor tennis courts, state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a philosophy that nurtures a feeling of community, isn’t it time you upgrade from gym to club? Join Midtown in March and we’ll waive your initiation fee. Learn more at midtown.com 6 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES That is what I intend to do.” heard frequently during the recent battle over In his statement March 28, Deal suggested a non-discrimination ordinance in Houston. Anti-LGBT N.C. law he was concerned that the legislation might A referendum in Houston overturned a non- “give rise to state-sanctioned discrimination” discrimination law there that prohibited nu- and that he does not believe the legislation is merous categories of discrimination, including challenged; Ga. guv needed to protect the faith-based community. race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender Lambda Legal, the ACLU, and Equality North identity. But in Houston, the referendum sim- Carolina issued a press release Sunday night, ply repealed the ordinance. In North Carolina, saying they would challenge the law in federal the new law repeals all existing local ordinanc- vetoes anti-gay measure court. es that prohibit sexual orientation and gender The Carolina law requires that all public identity discrimination and forecloses any fu- By Lisa Keen sexual orientation and gender identity. schools facilities have bathrooms or changing ture local ordinances. Keen News Service Pat McCrory, the Republican governor of facilities “designated for and used only by stu- According to HRC, North Carolina is the first North Carolina, signed a two-punch law March dents based on their biological sex.” Biological state “to enact such a law attacking transgen- Lambda Legal and the ACLU filed a lawsuit in 23 and the reaction was immediate and wide- sex is defined by what gender is indicated on a der students.” Kansas is bucking to be next. federal court March 28 to challenge the consti- spread. person’s birth certificate. It also declares that Kansas legislators on March 16 introduced bills tutionality of a law passed by North Carolina The National Basketball Association and the state law concerning “discriminatory practices” to the House and Senate that call for all pub- last week to prevent local governments from National Collegiate Athletic Association both will “supersede and preempt any ordinance” lic schools to label restrooms by gender and protecting LGBT people against discrimination. issued statements saying the state’s new law or regulation of any local government. North enables students who encounter “a person of The announcement came the same day Geor- might prompt them to withdraw upcoming ma- Carolina state law does not prohibit discrimi- the opposite sex” in their restroom or locker to gia’s Republican governor vetoed a bill that jor events from Charlotte. Carolina’s National nation based on sexual orientation or gender sue the school for $2,500 for “each instance” claimed to protect the freedom of religious Hockey League team issued a statement saying identity. and monetary damages for “all psychological, officials to decline to perform a marriage cer- it is “devoted to providing a welcoming and “This outrageous new law not only strips emotional, and physical harm suffered.” emony that violates their religious beliefs. respectful environment for all fans.” away the ability of local jurisdictions to pro- © 2016 Keen News Service. All rights re- ACLU Advocacy and Policy Counsel Eunice American Airlines, which has its hub in Char- tect LGBT people from discrimination, but it served. Rho said there are “more anti-LGBT bills this lotte, said, “Laws that allow such discrimi- goes further and targets transgender students year than in any other time.” She estimated nation go against our fundamental belief of who deserve to be treated equally at school— that “almost 200” have been introduced. equality and are bad for the economies of the not harassed and excluded,” said Human Rights The North Carolina and Georgia laws are part states in which they are enacted.” Campaign President Chad Griffin. of a concerted effort nationwide to pass state The board of aldermen of the town of Car- Borelli said it’s not yet clear how the trans- Clinical trial legislation that disadvantages LGBT people. rboro, North Carolina, passed a resolution reaf- gender bathroom provision in North Carolina addresses HIV and Earlier this month, South Dakota’s Republi- firming its support for LGBT people and called will be enforced, but that many transgender can governor, Dennis Daugaard, vetoed a bill for the rainbow flag to be raised over town hall students have made school officials aware of cardiovascular risks similar to North Carolina’s, although it also Monday. The Mayor of San Francisco has banned their special needs and legal activists have By Matt Simonette required transgender people to use a “single- city employees from any publicly funded travel heard that some school officials are calling occupancy” restrooms or locker rooms to use. to North Carolina on city business. parents of transgender students to warm them Researchers at two area universities are On March 22, Kansas’ Republican governor, The Lambda-ACLU lawsuit says the North Car- that they will not be able to use the bathroom among those participating in a nationwide Sam Brownback, signed an anti-LGBT bill that olina law violates the right of two transgender most appropriate to their gender identity. clinical trial focused on HIV-related cardio- prohibits colleges and universities from deny- persons and a lesbian to equal protection. McCrory allowed the state legislature to hold vascular disease. ing to any “religious student association” any ACLU attorney Chase Strangio said during a a special session just to consider the measure University of Illinois at Chicago and benefit available to other student groups be- telephone press conference Monday that “this aimed specifically at an ordinance approved Northwestern University are two local cause the religious group requires members to has been a really hard year” for the trans com- by the Charlotte City Council in February. The sites of the six-year clinical trial, known “comply with the association’s sincerely held munity, climaxing in the North Carolina bill at- city sought to prohibit discrimination based on as the Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascu- religious beliefs” and “standards of conduct.” tacking the rights of all LGBT people. their gender identity. But the new state law, lar Events in HIV (REPRIEVE). About 6,500 More than a dozen states have considered Lambda attorney Tara Borelli noted that “Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act,” subjects across the country are expected or are still considering legislation directed Charlotte’s human-rights ordinance was care- prohibits any local government from passing to participate in the study, which hypoth- against LGBT people. Two bills seeking to limit fully debated and considered “in stark con- non-discrimination ordinances. esizes that statins should reduce plaque use of public bathrooms by transgender people trast” to the state legislature’s “rush to target HRC said legislators had only five minutes development and improve cardiovascular failed in the Virginia legislature last month, in- the LGBT community.” to review the bill before voting on it and that outcomes in patients with HIV. cluding one that sought to fine students $50 Borelli said the law violates the right to pri- Democrats in the Senate walked out, rather Patients with HIV are one-and-a-half to if they used the wrong bathroom. Similar bills vacy of transgender people and violates various than vote on the measure. two times as likely to die of cardiovascular died in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Illinois federal laws. In a statement released March 23, McCrory disease as individuals without it, according legislature has a similar bill pending before The Georgia bill passed on close votes in the called Charlotte’s ordinance a “radical breach to Stockton Mayer, M.D., an assistant pro- a House committee. Other states considering House and Senate March 16. Since then, said of trust and security under the false argument fessor of medicine at University of Illinois laws relating to gender identity and/or reli- Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, he has been of equal access” and said it endangered the at Chicago College of Medicine. gious justifications for discrimination against hearing “insults” and “threats” from both sup- “basic expectation of privacy in the most per- “There are a lot of hypotheses for why LGBT people include Indiana, Mississippi, Mis- porters and opponents of the bill, including sonal of settings, a restroom or locker room.” people with HIV are at increased risk,” souri, Oklahoma, Washington, and Wisconsin. major corporations doing business in the state. Mara Keisling, executive director of the Na- Mayer said. “Some think there is a compo- Massachusetts is considering a pro-trans bill; “Some of those in the religious community tional Center for Transgender Equality, said 76 nent of what’s called immune activation. to provide “equal access to public places re- who support this bill have resorted to insults percent of transgender people do not have an People with HIV and chronic infection have gardless of gender identity.” that question my moral convictions and my updated birth certificate. a chronic stimulus of their immune system, The North Carolina law, by far, received the character,” said Deal. “Some within the busi- Jenny Pizer, law and policy director for which leads to inflammatory reaction and most attention, largely because of its scope. ness community who oppose this bill have Lambda Legal, said the law makes it impossible plaque-buildup in their coronary arteries, The law, which takes effect April 1, prohibits resorted to threats of withdrawing jobs from for transgender people to stay in school, hold which in turn lead to heart attacks.” transgender people from using a public rest- our state. I do not respond well to insults or jobs, or access public services because “as a Some researchers are concerned that HIV room for the gender they are living and bars threats. The people of Georgia deserve a leader practical and safety matter” they are barred medication might also contribute to lipid any local government from having an ordi- who will made sound judgements based on sol- from using bathroom facilities. abnormalities ultimately increasing risk for nance that prohibits discrimination based on id reasons that are not inflamed by emotion. The legislature’s debate echoed remarks cardiovascular disease. Mayer further noted that many patients who are on anti-retro- places for women in the community, as numer- viral therapies can also end up at increased Panel addresses ous lesbian bars across the county have shut- risk for other chronic illnesses as well. tered in the last several years. Rupert-Gordon “As we get more experience with anti- women’s issues in attributed that to “run-of-the-mill institution- retrovirals, and we get more mechanisms to LGBT community al oppression.” control the virus, and to extend [patients’] By Matt Simonette “Businesses exist to make money, not make lifespans, it becomes more important to people feel safe,” she noted. “Women make less look at some of these other things that Affinity Community Services Executive Direc- and we live in a society that privileges finan- are causing premature death in our HIV- tor Imani Rupert-Gordon and producer-promot- cial empowerment, so it’s going to happen.” positive patients and learning to control er Kristen Kaza of No Small Plans Productions Both Kaza and Rupert-Gordon said that wom- those for long, healthy lives,” Mayer said. headlined a March 21 talk at Center on Hal- en in the LGBT community still had much to Researchers are seeking participants in sted focused on how well-represented lesbian, fight for, even after marriage equality victories. the REPRIEVE study, primarily HIV-positive bisexual and queer women’s voices are in the “Women’s rights are really under attack right men and women aged 40-75 who are at LGBT community, and how those representa- Kristen Kaza and Imani Rupert-Gordon now,” Kaza said. “When women’s rights are un- low-to-moderate risk for cardiovascular tions—or lack thereof—affect the community (right). der attack, that means queer, lesbian and bi- disease. They should have been on anti- as a whole. Photo by Matt Simonette sexual women’s rights are under attack.” retroviral therapy for at least six months Rupert-Gordon and Kaza began by discuss- Rupert Gordon added that, when she is asked with a suppressed viral load. ing the implications of the word “queer,” and to that word is.” what “comes after” marriage equality, her reply For more information, visit reprievetrial. noted a hesitancy by some women to use the Kaza said that, “It’s perfectly fine to identify is, “Everything.” org. word “lesbian.” as both. … ‘Queer’ is about visibility and your The talk, the March installment in the Cen- Rupert-Gordon noted that “queer” had be- identity.” She added that she embraced the ter’s Chats series, was moderated by Andrew come loaded with meaning, adding, “When I word “lesbian,” too. Fortman, the agency’s director of Community define myself as ‘queer,’ I wonder what my right They also spoke about the lack of gathering and Cultural Programs. WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 7

If you’re living with HIV, you may face another clinical challenge to healthy aging

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EGRIFTA® was shown to reduce VAT in 2 clinical trials of 816 total adult patients who received 2 mg of EGRIFTA® or placebo (26-week Main Phase and 26-week Extension Phase).a Trial 1: 18% average reduction. Trial 2: 14% average reduction. aFor additional trial details, see the full Prescribing Information at EGRIFTA.com.

EGRIFTA® is not indicated to treat health issues beyond the reduction of excess abdominal VAT.

SELECTED RISK INFORMATION • Swelling (fluid retention). EGRIFTA ® can cause swelling in some parts of your body. What is EGRIFTA ®? • Increase in glucose (blood sugar) intolerance and diabetes. • EGRIFTA ® is an injectable prescription medicine to reduce the • Injection site reactions. Change (rotate) your injection site to help excess in abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lower your risk for injection site reactions. The following lipodystrophy. The impact and safety of EGRIFTA ® on symptoms around the area of the injection site can occur: cardiovascular health has not been studied. redness, itching, pain, irritation, bleeding, rash, and swelling. ® • EGRIFTA is not indicated for weight loss management. ® ® The most common side effects of EGRIFTA include: • It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA helps improve joint pain, pain in legs and arms, swelling in your legs, muscle compliance with anti-retroviral medications. soreness, tingling, numbness and pricking, nausea, vomiting, rash, and itching. EGRIFTA ® may cause serious side effects including: Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers • Serious allergic reaction. Stop using EGRIFTA ® and get you or that does not go away. emergency help right away if you have symptoms such as a rash over your body, hives, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, swelling of your face or throat, fast heartbeat, and feeling of faintness or fainting. Please see brief summary of full Important Patient Information on next page. Learn more at EGRIFTA.com A Transformation From Within 8 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION The following is a brief summary only. See complete Prescribing • Swelling (fluid retention). EGRIFTA® can cause swelling in some Information at EGRIFTA.com or request complete Prescribing parts of your body. Call your healthcare provider if you have an Information by calling 1-844-347-4382. This information does increase in joint pain, or pain or numbness in your hands or not take the place of talking to your doctor about your medical wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome). condition or your treatment. • Increase in glucose (blood sugar) intolerance and diabetes. What is EGRIFTA® (tesamorelin for injection)? Your healthcare provider will measure your blood sugar periodically. ® • EGRIFTA is an injectable prescription medicine to reduce the • Injection-site reactions. Change (rotate) your injection site to excess in abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with help lower your risk for injection-site reactions. Call your ® lipodystrophy. The impact and safety of EGRIFTA on healthcare provider for medical advice if you have the following cardiovascular health has not been studied. symptoms around the area of the injection site: • EGRIFTA ® is not indicated for weight loss management. • redness • bleeding • It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA® helps improve compliance with anti-retroviral medications. • itching • rash • pain • swelling Do not use EGRIFTA® if you: • irritation • have pituitary gland tumor, pituitary gland surgery or other problems related to your pituitary gland. The most common side effects of EGRIFTA® include: • have active cancer or are receiving treatment for cancer • joint pain • nausea • are allergic to tesamorelin or mannitol. • pain in legs and arms • vomiting • are pregnant or become pregnant. If you become pregnant, • swelling in your legs • rash stop using EGRIFTA® and talk with your healthcare provider. • muscle soreness • itching Talk to your doctor to find out if EGRIFTA® is right for you. • tingling, numbness and How should I use EGRIFTA®? pricking • Read the detailed “Instructions for Use” that comes with These are not all the possible side effects of EGRIFTA®. For more EGRIFTA® before you start using EGRIFTA®. Your healthcare information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. ® provider will show you how to inject EGRIFTA . Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may ® • Use EGRIFTA exactly as prescribed by your healthcare report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. provider. ® • Inject EGRIFTA® under the skin (subcutaneously) of your You may also report side effects to toll-free at stomach area (abdomen). 1-844-EGRIFTA (1-844-347-4382). • Change (rotate) the injection site on your stomach area For more information about EGRIFTA®, go to www.EGRIFTA.com (abdomen) with each dose. Do not inject EGRIFTA® into scar or contact ® toll-free at 1-844-EGRIFTA tissue, bruises or your navel. (1-844-347-4382). EGRIFTA® may cause serious side effects including: Manufactured by: Jubilant HollisterStier General Partnership, • Serious allergic reaction. Some people taking EGRIFTA® may 16751 Trans-Canada Highway, Montreal, Québec, Canada H9H 4J4 have an allergic reaction. Distributed by: Theratechnologies Inc., 2015 Peel Street, Stop using EGRIFTA® and get emergency help right away if you Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1T8. have any of the following symptoms: • a rash over your body • shortness of breath • hives or trouble breathing • swelling of your face or • fast heartbeat • feeling of faintness throat EGRIFTA® and EGRIFTA ASSIST ® are registered trademarks of Theratechnologies Inc. or fainting © 2016 Theratechnologies Inc. All rights reserved. 190-01-12/15 WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 9 issued five votes in favor of HRC’s position, mately perpetuating an obstructionist agenda in the 113th Congress. The senator supported in congress. HRC defends Mark ENDA, as well as a motion to invoke cloture “HRC is being blasted from coast-to-coast on ENDA; the Grassley Amendment to the Vio- for that endorsement, and rightfully so,” Gar- lence Against Women Reauthorization Act; a cia added. “In matters of politics, they don’t sponsorship of the Safe Schools Improvement know what they’re doing. No one can ever ac- Kirk endorsement Act; and marriage equality support. Kirk voted cuse them of being out-of-touch with fundrais- against HRC’s position by voting not to invoke ing, but that’s not the case with their politics. By Matt Simonette cloture on the nominations of Staci Michelle In all fairness to Sen. Kirk, he has consistently Yandle as U.S. District Judge for the Southern stood with the LGBT community, but at the end Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad District of Illinois as well as Darrin P. Gayles for of the day, is he going to be standing with Griffin, on March 23, released a statement de- U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mitch McConnell?” fending his organization’s endorsement of in- Florida. He also did not become a co-sponsor In a March 23 New Republic commentary, Eric cumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) in the 2016 of the Respect for Marriage Act or the Student Sasson wrote, “If HRC was troubled by taking a elections. The endorsement engendered numer- Non-Discrimination Act. He did not vote at all side in the race, it could have chosen to remain ous complaints from members of the LGBT com- with regards to invoking cloture on the nomi- neutral. It could have proclaimed how wonder- munity, many of whom believe that Kirk’s Dem- nation of Chai Rachel Feldblum for a second ful it is to have two candidates with strong ocratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth term as a commisioner Equal Employment Op- pro-LGBT voting records vying for the Senate (D-IL), is more worthy of the endorsement. portunity Commission. seat and wished them both luck. By choosing Kirk’s HRC congressional scorecard, in 2013- Kirk had no HRC scorecard for the 112th to endorse Kirk, HRC has simply reopened old 2014, was 78 percent. Duckworth’s was 100 Congress, since he was absent for much of the wounds while creating fresh ones.” percent in that same time period. Mark Kirk’s Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. session due to his illness. His scorecard in the Griffin’s statement for the Independent Jour- In the statement, posted to the Independent Tammy Duckworth. 111th Congress, from when he was a member of nal Review is at: http://bit.ly/1WIcI23. Daily Journal Review, Griffin emphasized that HRC Photo by Tim Carroll Photography the House, was 39 percent. Kos’ commentary is at http://bit.ly/1pGdqCS. was a bipartisan organization, and depended Writer David Nir, in a March 21 Daily Kos New Republic’s commentary is at http://bit. on bipartisan cooperation in order to move any to Kirk’s, since she is currently a member of the commentary, said that HRC’s calls for biparti- ly/1RzL9Ke. of its initiatives forward. House, not the Senate. sanship were actually plays for Republican and “Senator Kirk has been a strong ally in the Duckworth’s HRC scorecard for the 113th corporate sponsors. Republican Party,” Griffin said. “He was the first Congress shows that she supported all the po- “That’s an incredibly callow approach to poli- Senate Republican to cosponsor the Equality sitions that HRC was supporting, among them tics, but one the organization has practiced for ‘Human First’ at The Act, a critical step towards full federal equality. the McMorris Rodgers Amendment to the Vio- years (HRC infamously endorsed Republican Geraghty on April 2 He was one of fewer than a dozen Congressio- lence Against Women Reauthorization Act; the Sen. Al D’Amato over Chuck Schumer in 1998),” Center on Halsted will hold its annual nal Republicans to support marriage equality, Nadler Amendment to the FY 2015 Transporta- Nir wrote. “Do we seriously need to ask wheth- Human First gala on Saturday, April 2, at and he was also the Republican lead on the tion, Housing and Urban Development Appre- er the LGBT community would be better off if The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne St. The black- Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). ciations Act; Employment Non-Discrimination HRC’s coffers were flush, or if instead it would tie-optional event will have cocktails and a He supported the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd Act (ENDA); Respect for Marriage Act; Student be better off if ENDA became law? Everyone reception at 5:30 p.m., with awards, din- Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. And, the re- Non-Discrimination Act; Safe Schools Improve- knows the answer to that—everyone, that is, ner and dancing at 7:30 p.m. peal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ would never have ment Act; and marriage equality support. Duck- except HRC.” This year, the Center will be presenting passed the Senate without the leadership of worth began her congressional career in 2013, Nir also noted that a vote for Kirk was an Human First Awards to Denise Foy, Michael Republican Senators including Mark Kirk.” so her scores from the 113th Congress make up implicit vote to keep Senate Majority Leader McRaith and Lori Healey and the Communi- Griffin acknowledged criticism of Kirk’s im- her only scorecard. Mitch McConnell in place, and that votes for ty Spirit award to AT&T for collective con- perfect scorecard in the last congress, but said Kirk’s scorecard is different from Duckworth’s pro-LGBT legislation would be highly unlikely tributions to the advancement of Chicago’s it did not acknowledge Kirk’s current spon- since the Senate’s agenda over that time pe- under his watch. LGBTQ movement. sorship of the Equality Act. He added that it riod was different from the House’s; HRC was Chicago activist Rick Garcia also echoed See centeronhalsted.org/hf. would be unfair to compare Duckworth’s record measuring against 10 criteria, of which Kirk those concerns about support for Kirk ulti-

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Masks encouraged. Black tie optional. April 23, 2016 l 6:00pm Royal Fox Country Club, St. Charles Order tickets: www.odhcil.org or call 847-695-1093 ext. 250 10 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES hallways in Wrigleyville that had radiators in see the glaring problems in subprime mortgag- safe place to speak out about their thoughts, ACTION from cover them.” es. By 2009, people’s dreams were collapsing feelings and grievances. The lessons of history taught by the Nurem- In those early days, he discovered that his into the abyss. “Kids need mentors to grow,” he said. “People berg Laws of 1935 demonstrate that stripping greatest skill was the kind of ferocious deter- “I had developed 24 buildings, I had three like us for them to look up to. To any transgen- away the rights of any group of people is inevi- mination that looked at the end of an eight- projects, a restaurant that I owned, my office der person right now, I would tell them not to tably followed by those who feel that violence hour work day as far too limiting. was moving and I was having a child,” Betan- be afraid to be themselves. I would tell them and murder committed against them is wholly “A lot of it was desire, confidence and setting court said. “I let go of the restaurant so I could to look for someone who is supportive of who justifiable. goals,” Betancourt said. “Asking myself ‘how do spend more time with my son but then, a year they are to be on their team. I didn’t give my Even in the face of an onslaught of legislative I get there?’ There has to be a belief that noth- later, the real estate market hit the bottom. family a choice but that is not something I and physical brutalization, courage, authentic- ing is impossible because it really isn’t.” Luckily, I had some money saved up and I was would recommend for a child of 13.” ity and lives of integrity are fundamental as- After few months, he became a dishwasher able to keep my office open. When life reaches Betancourt stands tall as an opposing tes- pects of the humanity which remain steadfast at a steakhouse on Broadway and Clark. He a level of difficulty, you sometimes have to tament to those who would not do the right in transgender individuals. worked his way up to a busboy position at the find a different direction, to overcome it or at thing by the transgender community—who They are aspects which are only part of the guiding principles at the heart and history of Joe Betancourt, whose life as a transgender man is one that he no longer feels he can keep a wholly private matter. “Throughout my life, I have believed in giving back to the community and helping or mentoring children,” he told Windy City Times. “But I’ve never been able to participate in helping children who are LGBT or transgender. I want to be more active in the community. In order to do that, I feel it would be best to reveal my identity so they can see that we are all equal and that we can all overcome our current situations, surpass them and do great things in life.” It’s an idea that Stone espoused when he said, “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” As a young man, Betancourt used to devour Stone’s work. A Positive Mental Attitude would eventually play a key role in taking him from a 13-year-old homeless kid on the streets of Chicago to the owner of Betancourt Realty— today a successful and continuously expanding company that was forged, as with everything in Betancourt’s life, through his embrace of re- lentlessly hard work. Family man: Above: Joe with his son Josh, daughter Chloe, and his niece Penelope (right). He was born in the North Side neighborhood My Pi pizzeria. Eventually he was employed as a Below: With his mother, Francisca Molina. of Wrigleyville. His father was an electrical cook by the Canteen Corporation before moving Photos from Betancourt worker at a Chicago factory and one of Betan- up to bookkeeping. court’s earliest role models. Betancourt was only 16. “I always looked up to my father,” he told He and Clara parted company three years Windy City Times. “I always wanted to be like later. Their separation might have been an ob- him.” stacle had Betancourt not discovered Stone’s For the first nine years, Betancourt was an work and that, for example, “big doors swing only child. Over time and following his parent’s on little hinges.” divorce and the subsequent marriages of his They did and opened into a management po- father, he became one of nine siblings. sition. “I remember at the age of four, I knew that I “I stayed in the restaurant business for 14 was attracted to women,” Betancourt said. “My years,” Betancourt recalled. “I was doing a first crush was on my babysitter. My family just great job. I was making very good money and I figured I was a tomboy.” have always been a provider but I wanted to be However, by the age of 13, Betancourt had an entrepreneur.” not only fully discovered but was living as his That desire was fueled when, at 28, Betan- authentic self—something he did not want court bought his first property—a Greystone concealed by misperceptions. No matter the in, at the time, the rundown neighborhood of depth of love and respect between him and his Logan Square. family, Betancourt drew a solid line. “It was an incredible feeling,” he said with a “I told them to accept me and, if not, then laugh. “I remember going up to the building, goodbye,” he said. “I didn’t give them a choice. kissing it and saying ‘this is mine!’” My uncle didn’t like it one bit. My mother didn’t It was another defining moment in Betan- believe me. My friends did not accept me.” court’s life. Empowered by the fruits of 80-hour His parents were each in the midst of relocat- weeks, careful budgeting and the refusal to al- ing to new states. But Betancourt had every low the word “impossible” into his vocabulary, reason to remain in Chicago. He had a girl- he left the restaurant business for real estate. friend named Clara. Betancourt Realty is celebrating its 20th an- least be safe until it turns around. This is where believe them to be lesser individuals. He has Whether or not love was a factor at such a niversary this year. friendship comes in. Supporting each other, exceeded the impossible with a mantra that young age was immaterial. Betancourt had al- “It was very easy to make the change,” he helping each other, advising each other. If you Stone presented and Betancourt built upon. ready begun to shape the pattern of his life said. “Because real estate is another type of fall, you build back up. That’s a habit that you “You have to work hard,” he said. “Know that around key principles. Ranking high among business where you are there for your client must have throughout your life.” you are in control. You have to focus on you, them was the belief that commitment—wheth- and you extend yourself as much as possible. I Today, Betancourt is a proud, single dad of believe in you, have a goal and just strive for er to a job, an ideal, a goal and in particular an was used to doing an above-and-beyond job in his son Josh and daughter Chloe—the births it. You don’t give up, you just continue and individual—is irrevocable and never subject to the restaurant business and now I was helping of whom he treasures as his greatest memories. always focus on the positive. By doing that, passing fancies, changing fortunes or even the people achieve their dreams. It was extremely He may have reaped success in business but, at the negative will go away.” security of a roof over his head. rewarding, especially when I was dealing with his heart, Betancourt remains a family man. Such is the fervency of his belief that even Ultimately, Betancourt emphasized that it first-time buyers who would run into their new In both endeavors, he has had his succes- bad news from North Carolina cannot diminish was his choice to leave home. He and Clara home with their kids, just full of joy.” sion of falls but has never stopped building it. were alone on the streets of Chicago. Betan- However, there are pitfalls in real estate, his life upon them. He believes that he has “I have so many friends in the community court had dropped out of school. He had no the depths of which were demonstrated even an example of love, faith and determination to who are doing great things,” he said. “This is a prospects. as Betancourt was celebrating the birth of his share and wants to direct his efforts to LGBT great time for all of us and for unity between “I was just trying to survive,” he said. “I son to Emily—a woman he met in 2002 and youth homelessness and outreach services. He everyone. It is an important moment in our worked at daily labor factories to make a buck. to whom he always remains “grateful that she is also weighing an idea of using his West Divi- lifetimes.” There were nights we would sleep in cars or gave me two beautiful children.” sion Street offices as a space in which to hold For more information about Betancourt Re- As early as the fall of 2006, Betancourt could monthly meetings for LGBT youth who need a alty, visit http://betrealty.com.

@windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 11 tial of this collaboration: “I am thrilled that tional relationship which began in the spring The Legacy Project and the Northalsted Busi- of 2010,” said Salvo. “ his newly expanded Northalsted Business ness Alliance are now officially collaborating relationship gives both organizations an op- to recognize and celebrate the contributions portunity to develop joint tourism initiatives that LGBT individuals have made to history and that will raise the profile and awareness of the Alliance, Legacy Project culture everywhere in this world. The board of Legacy Project’s many endeavors—most espe- directors of The Legacy Project are proud to cially the Legacy Walk—by driving patrons who move forward with the NBA to find new ways tour the outdoor museum to the streetscape’s form collaboration to boost tourism through discovery of the Leg- member businesses—and vice versa. We have acy Walk—the only installation of its kind on great hope for the future as fun and innovative earth. We are excited about the prospects and ways are found to tie LGBT history to the proud The Northalsted Business Alliance (NBA) and while paving the way forward to ensure a long opportunities for our future that this collabo- cultural heritage of Boystown in order to build The Legacy Project announce a collaboration legacy for the neighborhood.” ration represents.” the most exciting, multifaceted LGBTQ neigh- aimed at fostering engagement and advance- Ralph Kennedy, the Legacy Project board “This formal collaboration with the Northal- borhood in the world.” ment of the Boystown neighborhood of Chi- president, said he is excited about the poten- sted Business Alliance builds upon a func- cago—long considered one of the great LGBT destinations in the world. Under the agreement, the organizations will Boystown welcomes focus joint efforts around furthering tourism to the district and cementing the neighborhood’s student groups on rich history as a beacon for the LGBT commu- Legacy Walk Northalsted Business nity. Recently, through a new collaboration be- Alliance Executive Director NBA will employ a full-time program direc- tween the Northalsted Business Alliance (NBA) Christopher Barret Politan. tor, Victor Salvo, to oversee all joint efforts. and The Legacy Project, Boystown hosted a Photo by Matt Simonette Salvo will remain the Legacy Project’s founder group of 24 students from LaPorte High School and executive director. Under the scope of the to participate in The Legacy Walk tour. The agreement it is a goal that the two parties will students were able to see the LGBT icons from help create a permanent space on Northalsted throughout history, as well as shop at neigh- Street dedicated to tourism and cultural pro- borhood businesses including Nookies Tree and gramming. Beatnix. The students’ story is unique, as they “This collaboration is a synergy between two not only traveled more than 40 miles to learn students, their hopes to visit were soon chal- tional opportunities, it drives business into our like-minded organizations, both seeking to about Boystown’s rich history, but they also lenged when they found out that the signing local economy. It is incumbent upon past and ensure that Boystown remains an equally eco- self-funded their trip. of a permission slip for nearly half of the teens current generations to work together to pro- nomically and cultural vibrant neighborhood,” The Legacy Project Founder and Executive would “out” them to their parents. At this mote the robust history of our community, and said NBA Executive Director Christopher Barrett Director Victor Salvo, who is also the new pro- point, the number of students who were able to Boystown, as a beacon of hope.” Politan. “Through this endeavor, we anticipate gram director for this collaboration, said, “the participate decreased and the cost per student NBA has taken this challenge on by collabo- working to implement many of the goals of our students were wonderful. They were so pas- nearly doubled, leaving them with few options. rating with The Legacy Project to help foster strategic plan and look forward to partnering sionate and interested in learning about our A fellow student group, upon hearing about these relationships, and provide educational with Legacy Project to help foster a greater community and culture. Every time I started their situation, offered to donate the money and cultural programming for both neighbors appreciation for the incredible contributions telling the story of a plaque, you could hear they have been collecting, so their peers did and visitors. “Witnessing students express in- made by LGBT people throughout history.” a pin drop.” not miss the trip. terest in our history and neighborhood is in- NBA President Ramesh Ariyanayakam sees This was the first time this group of students “As a community, we should be supporting spiring. We strive to provide a safe and wel- the arrangement as a game changer for the has been able to venture off campus. The stu- these types of tourism projects,” said Christo- coming space for young people to come and neighborhood: “Together, we have the oppor- dents were given permission to come to Boys- pher Barret Politan, executive director of NBA. feel comfortable to learn about themselves, tunity to build a brilliant future for Boystown; town under the condition that they funded “Not only does it provide an avenue for LGBT our collective history and our community,” said one that expands on past accomplishments, their own trip. Starting out as a group of 40 students to express themselves through educa- Barret Politan.

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The 2016 Dick Uyvari Memorial Celebrity Bowl is sponsored by Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, 3712 N. Broadway, #637, Chicago, IL, 60613-4235; www.GLHallofFame.org. Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) Illinois not-for-profit corporation. SPONSORS: Sam Coady, Phil Hannema, Michael Leppen, Richard Pfeiffer and Timothy K. Frye, Bill Pry, Richard Turner

Celebrating 15 Years

2001-2016 Morten Group onenorthside.org/convention-2016 Sponsors list still in formation 12 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES PASSAGES nity, usually working behind the scenes. Sharon (Mike) Plomb, uncle and friend of many. “He held many fundraisers for the commu- His mother, Betty, preceded him in death. nity, but his greatest contributions were things Butch will be missed by all that he touched. Temptations owner he did anonymously. An example would be he May he rest in peace. would charter and pay for buses for activists Interment of cremated remains Tuesday, April and supporters to travel to Springfield to lobby 5 at 1 p.m. at Rosehill Cemetery, Cremation George Grivas dies for LGBT causes. Gardens, 5800 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago George Grivas—who was the owner of a pop- Chix Mix Parties. Windy City Idol events. Live “I knew George more than a bar owner. I Arrangements by Cremation Society of Illi- ular west suburban lesbian bar in the 1990s lesbian musicians coming to town. Windy City knew him to be an ardent supporter of LGBT nois, 773-281-5058 or www.cremation-society. and 2000s, Temptations—has died, according Times hosted Jill Sobule there and Lea DeLaria causes and we became friends. He shared his com to a Facebook post from his children. The cause and he always welcomed us with open arms. family with me.” was diabetes. “As a business owner, I’ll never forget that There was a memorial March 23 at Galewood PASSAGES Grivas also owned Hideaway in Forest Park. It George used to get T-shirts from the liquor Chapels, 1857 N. Harlem Ave. Funeral services was predominantly a men’s bar but was open to companies to pass out and, before he did, he were held Thursday at St. John the Baptist Rev. Canon Miller everyone. always screen-printed ‘Temptations’ on them. Greek Orthodox Church, 2350 E. Dempster St., M. Cragon Jr. Kathleen Ulm—a onetime Windy City Media What a great idea!!! I never forgot that. He was Des Plaines. Burial took place at Elmwood Cem- Group employee who worked with Grivas to always thinking how to promote Temps.” etery, 2905 N. Thatcher Ave., River Grove, im- hold events at Temptations—said, “George Timothy Hinsdale emailed Windy City Times mediately after the services. was always a supporter of whatever we wanted that Grivas “wasn’t just an owner of two LGBT to do for the lesbian community. Drag Shows. bars but [was] a true supporter of the commu- PASSAGES Floyd Edwin Roose Floyd Edwin “Butch” Roose—born in Toledo, Ohio, to Betty and Floyd Roose—died March 20 at home in Chicago, with his spouse, Kelly, at his side. He was 71. Butch started High School in Toledo, graduated in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, attended Ohio State University and graduated in 1979 from the University of Wisconsin.

The Rev. Canon Miller M. Cragon Jr. (left) and husband Gregorio Alvarado Schafler. George Grivas with Amy Matheny (left) and Kathleen Ulm. Photo courtesy of Brooke Benjamin Photo by Kirk Williamson

The Rev. Canon Miller M. Cragon Jr. died peacefully at his home in Edgewater, Chicago on Saturday, March 19. He was 91. He was born in Ruston, Louisiana, the son of Miller Murray Cragon Sr. and Lou Willie Bond. Floyd Edwin “Butch” Roose. He was preceded in death by his brother Wil- Photo courtesy of Brooke Benjamin liam Louis Cragon. Canon Cragon graduated from Tulane Univer- tiny home Butch met Kelly Walkner on Dec. 26, 1997 in sity in New Orleans (B.A.), Southern Methodist summit Chicago. Kelly worked for United, so they both University in Dallas (M.A.) and The School of New Solutions for Youth Homelessness shared a love of aviation. The couple wed May Theology at the University of The South in Se- 20, 2014. Butch was hired by Western Airlines wanee, Tennessee (M.Div.). Where: UIC Chicago When: April 18-19, 2016 in 1976 as a flight attendant based in Minne- He was ordained a deacon in 1946 and a apolis and Salt Lake City. When Western merged priest in 1950. He had been curate of St. An- with Delta in 1987, Butch lived in Salt Lake drew’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans, rector Can lower-cost, quicker-to-build tiny homes provide City, Chicago and New York City. of Christ Episcopal Church in Covington, Loui- affordable and support housing in Chicago? When first based at JFK Airport, Butch walked siana, and director of religious education at All into the flight attendant lounge and said “My Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas. In 1978, he Featuring experts from Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, name is Butch. Don’t called me Floyd,” and was appointed by Bishop James W. Montgomery went on to fly to Amsterdam, Moscow, Athens, to serve as canon to the ordinary for educa- Austin, Memphis, Greensboro and Nashville. Istanbul, Stuttgart, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, tion and ministry for the Diocese of Chicago. Lyon, Rome and Venice. Upon his retirement in 1990, he was made an On display: A model home built based on the Butch loved to travel by train, plane and honorary canon at St. James Episcopal Cathe- winning design from an international contest. ship. He went on several cruises and enjoyed dral, Chicago by Bishop Frank Griswold. He was shopping for crystal on his many European ad- a member of St. James Cathedral and recently Presented by: ventures. had been attending the Episcopal Church of the An avid sports fan, particularly of Ohio State Atonement. football (really, almost any sport Ohio State He is survived by his partner of 48 years, played), he also followed University of Wiscon- Gregorio Alvarado Schafler, whom he married sin football, Chicago Blackhawks, wrestling, in New York City on Sept. 6, 2011. He is also Sponsors: Alphawood Foundation, UIC Gender and Sexuality Center, survived by two brothers—Blithe Bond Cragon Windy City Times, AIA-Chicago, AIDS Foundation of Chicago swimming and diving. He enjoyed all the holidays—Christmas, Easter, Halloween; and loved of Jackson, Mississippi, and Harvey Cragon of to watch kids open their gifts as well as enjoy Dallas, Texas—and many nieces and nephews. Easter egg hunts and Halloween costumes. Requiem Mass will be concelebrated at 3 p.m. Butch looked forward to his retirement in on Sunday, April 3, at the Episcopal Church of 2008. He traveled a bit and just loved not the Atonement, 5749 N. Kenmore Ave., Chi- having those 5 a.m. check-ins. Unfortunately, cago. Interment will be in St. James Cathedral his health took a downturn and, the past few Memorial Garden at a later date. years, he was confined pretty much to home. Memorials are suggested to the Episcopal He had a great sense of humor and, if you Church of the Atonement or St. James Episco- were lucky to be his friend, he would do any- pal Cathedral. thing for you. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Illi- Butch was the spouse of Kelly Walkner, son of nois, 773-281-5058 or www.cremation-society. Floyd, brother of Richard (Kathleen) Roose and com www.chicagotinyhomes.com WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 13 charges against Tulasi and the others are completely erroneous. Queer filmmaker “The allegations against them are ransack- ing the vice chancellor’s office which they had absolutely no access to,” she said. “This whole story has been blown up so that all the people arrested, held after who were active in the movement and the protests are now in jail.” Meanwhile, the university has been com- protest in India pletely locked down. “Power has been cut off, access to food and By Gretchen Rachel Hammond that aggravated the situation,” Rai said. “And water has been shut down, there is no access he had also come under the pressure of the to the Internet,” Rai said. “Media cannot enter. Chicago-based queer filmmaker Moses Tulasi central government. Thanks to his allies there, The only people who can are the police and was arrested March 22 alongside more than 30 he was extremely repressive to Rohith and the the army.” students and faculty members on the campus other students.” Meanwhile, a petition for bail was expected of Hyderabad Central University located close After a two-month absence, Rao returned to to be taken up March 28 after opposition from to the outskirts of the Southern India city. the campus to resume his role. The students the public prosecutor. Rai said that a team of The director of the acclaimed documentary were outraged, claiming that the university human-rights lawyers is working with Tulasi Walking the Walk—which is set in Hyderabad, was being run “by a murderer.” Moses Tulasi. and the others. and focuses on events surrounding and follow- On March 22, Tulasi was taking part in a In an interview about Walking the Walk re- ing the murder of a local trans woman named peaceful protest when he, alongside over 30 leased by IndieMeme, Tulasi said that, as a gay “We didn’t know where they were,” Rai said. Pravallika—was rounded up during a protest other students and three faculty members, were man, he wanted his work to throw a light on “Later we realized that they were all beaten up against the return of the university’s vice chan- taken into custody on charges of vandalism. social issues. inside the van and were taken to the district cellor, P Appa Rao. “They were sitting on the lawn and shout- “When I went to India in search of a subject police station. The magistrate remanded them Rao had left the campus owing to the outcry ing slogans when members of the local state for my first film, I got in touch with a group to 14 days custody.” which followed the January 2016 suicide of re- police and the Rapid Action Force [RAF] came of activists who were trying to do something Not only was their appearance before the search student Rohith Vemula shortly after he and took them away,” Rai said. different in terms of bringing in intersection- magistrate long after the 24-hour limit man- and fellow students were expelled from univer- The RAF is known for its extremely brutal alities and forming alliances,” he said. “I felt dated by Indian law, Rai asserted that the sity housing. tactics. the least I could do is to provide a platform.” They were members of the Dalit. There are almost 170 million of them in India who suffer systemic and society-wide discrimination, hor- rific physical and mental abuses and are forced Now under construction — Delivering in 90 days! into menial, low-paying work such as cleaning up human feces or removing the corpses of dead animals. With rare exceptions, Dalits are denied access to education. Extreme poverty, illiteracy and debilitating health problems are rampant. There are similar restrictions placed on marriage and, indeed, every aspect of their day-today lives—even with whom they can or cannot have a meal. According to Banglaore, India-based lawyer Greeshma Aruna Rai, before his death, Vemula was raising questions about issues such as cap- ital punishment. “He was being a leader,” she told Windy City Times. “He was talking constantly about discrimination faced by his community and other minorities. After about eight months, he and four other students were completely excluded from university housing but they continued the struggle from the campus.” Without access to housing, remaining on campus meant that the students had to pitch tents in which to live while they organized activities in order to raise awareness of their situation. More than two weeks of the struggle over- came Vemula who, according to news reports, hanged himself from a hostel-room ceiling fan. Design matters. Protests erupted across India after his death at what people called “an institutional mur- Visit our off-site model der.” So does value. located in Logan Square Students shut down the university and called for the removal of Rao, claiming that his poli- 4 bed/3 bath single family at 2655 North Hamlin cies and actions ultimately bore responsibility for Vemula’s death. homes from $499,900 SatURDAY & SunDAY “He was a constant source of help,” Rai said. “But [during the arrest] his camera was taken 10am –4pm away and trashed and he was also beaten up.” During a Facebook post about a March 25 vis- COME HOME TO NEW IRVING PARK it to the jail, Tulasi’s friend Vaikhari Aryat said DELIVERY SPRING 2016 that “he seems good in spirit[s]. His mother also was there to meet him, by the time we reached [the jail]/” Tulasi is a board member emeritus of Trikone Chicago. Since 2008, the organization has worked to “provide supportive, empowering, and affirming community for queer/trans South Monique 312.925.6299 Asians in the Chicagoland area.” Trikone Chi- cago released a March 24 statement concerning Pieron [email protected] his arrest. “We are deeply concerned and disturbed by these recent developments,” the statement BASECAMPSFH.COM said, in part. “Whatever the reasons for police action at the university, we have no doubt that the arrest of Moses Tulasi was entirely unwar- ranted. ” “There were many actions that [Rao] took 14 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES I will say that I have an authentic interest in reaching out to particularly people of color in Center’s director of the trans community and creating connections and building bridges. I can only be who I am. I can only listen. One of the things that I have learned here at the Center is that we want to transgender relations listen, we want to grow from that listening and we want to engage and move forward. WCT: Can you share some of your ideas? discusses her post VS: Not at this point. They’ve never had someone in this position before, so that we are still in the process of defining what this is By Gretchen Rachel Hammond what it meant to be trans or different in terms going to be like as we move forward. We’re in of your gender identity or expression, I felt like dialogue about that constantly. We want to lis- Last fall, the Center on Halsted began a search I was the only person in the world who was ten and be responsive to the needs of the com- for a director of transgender relations and com- crazy enough to be this way. munity. We have to discern those needs and munity engagement. This position, part of a It was a long, drawn-out process of self-re- be responsive to what we’ve learned. That’s a plan to develop a strategic direction to en- alization and a long journey to reach the point process that’s going to take time. gage transgender and gender non-conforming of self-acceptance. I enjoyed my high school WCT: How would you answer those who (TGNC) communities and create structure, was years. I had a lot of friends and I was keep- Vanessa Sheridan. wonder if someone with no experience with designed to lead and sustain programming. ing my trans identity very much a secret and Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond the local community could possibly under- In February, Minneapolis-based author, pro- basically was living in denial even to myself. I VS: I came out in 1987 to myself and started stand the experience of a trans person living fessional speaker, trainer and corporate consul- just focused on living a cisgender life, fitting attending a local support group in Minneapo- in, for example, the Austin neighborhood? tant Vanessa Sheridan relocated to Chicago in in and getting along and that seemed to work lis and met other trans folks. That was a very VS: I can only do what I can do. I can’t be all order to fill the role. out pretty well. I spent four years in the Air transformative experience for me. It showed me things to all people. I can only learn as much Born in Asheville, North Carolina, and raised Force. I was involved in top-secret crypto work that I was not the only person in the world who as I can and try to be as responsive as I pos- principally in Orlando, Florida, Sheridan au- basically monitoring Russian and Chinese com- was crazy enough to want to do this and that sibly can. I would ask people to meet me half thored Cross Purposes: On Being Christian and munications. When I got out, I went to school I could potentially go out and operate in the way and judge me on my actions and attitude Crossgendered in 1997. Five years later, her [in Minneapolis] on the G.I. Bill and graduated world as Vanessa and make that happen and rather than some preconceived notion of who book Crossing Over: Liberating The Transgen- with a degree in psychology and went on to do be successful at that. When something is real or what I might be. I’ve been doing trans advo- dered Christian became a double finalist for the some graduate work in theology in seminary. and intrinsic to who you are, you can repress cacy work for a long time. national Lambda Literary Award. It was also the WCT: Why the shift in graduate studies? it for a while but, sooner or later, it’s going to This isn’t my first rodeo. I am aware of a lot first of its kind to be released by a mainstream VS: I’ve always been a very spiritual person bubble to the surface. I’d been repressing who of the problems that do exist. I can try to dia- publishing house. and growing up in a Southern Baptist home I truly was and I began to suffer physically and logue with people and learn from them and, Her 2009 project The Complete Guide to had shaped my spiritual parameters to a cer- psychologically. out of that dialogue, will hopefully emerge Transgender in the Workplace is described on tain degree. But I felt very confined by the nar- WCT: For your public speaking and training some potential solutions. We’re going to make Sheridan’s website as “the premier resource for row, theological perspective I’d grown up in. business, what sort of groups formed your the effort. This week I was at Deborah’s Place organizations seeking to successfully navigate So I really wanted to expand that. I wanted to audience? on the South Side helping to do a training for the waters of transgender inclusion.” learn more about other approaches to theol- VS: It was mostly cisgender groups. I did the staff and I met several trans people of color Windy City Times: What was it like grow- ogy. It was very eye-opening and sent me down some speaking to trans groups at local and re- who were on the panel with me and we had ing up in the South? a fairly extensive rabbit hole. I began looking gional conferences. As time went on, it became some in-depth sharing of information. Vanessa Sheridan: I grew up in a fundamen- at my gender identity situation from a theo- almost exclusively non-trans people because I WCT: What will you do with that informa- talist Southern Baptist home, which was per- logical perspective. That led to a lot of note- felt that was where most of the education was tion? haps not the most promising environment for a taking which eventually turned into a book. needed and that’s where I put most of my ef- VS: I will bring it here. I will process it and young trans kid. I knew I was different when I Writing Crossing Over was cathartic and gave forts. I started to look at the workplace as a I will try to put it into whatever initiatives we was 2 or 3 but, due to the lack of information, me an opportunity to help other people. target demographic and I began to do a lot of choose to pursue. awareness and resources to help understand WCT: Were you out at that point? research on trans inclusion in the workplace. WCT: What if you have an idea that could [The Complete Guide] has gone on to make a help trans people of color but leadership difference for a lot of folks around the world. pushes back? How do you work with that? Employers have to be educated about the po- VS: I would work with leadership to find a tential benefits that trans people could bring compromise if there was a specific need that to the workplace. There’s a lot of skilled, tal- deserved to be addressed. I don’t think saying ented people who could potentially come into “no” just to say “no” is how leadership oper- an organization and make a significant differ- ates here. If leadership says “no” there’s usu- ence and employers either don’t know that or ally a pretty good reason for it. I want to give aren’t willing to take a look at it and that’s a them the benefit of the doubt. On the other problem. We have to educate them. hand, I expect leadership to be responsive to WCT: With the success of your business the stated and understood needs of the com- and your books, why did you want to relo- munity. I tend to hold people’s feet to the fire cate to Chicago and take up this position? just as they hold mine to the fire and we’re VS: I was on the transgender advisory com- going to do what we can. mittee for Out & Equal Workplace Advocates WCT: Do you believe you can help change and one of the members of the committee, Lori some fairly widespread negative perceptions Fox, sent an email about the position. As I be- of the Center? gan to read the job description, I thought it VS: I don’t know that I can change anything. sounded like an ideal position for me. I had All I can do is be myself and be honest with reached a point where I felt I’d plateaued. I people and try to make a difference. I have an wanted to continue to work on behalf of the opportunity to try to move the Center towards community but find a new venue in which to changing that perception. How I’m going to do do it. I thought that, if I came to work at the that, I don’t know. Leadership is well aware of 5K WALK/RUN TO SUPPORT Center, it would provide the infrastructure and the perception. It’s an issue and it’s something the platform to move into new directions and we’re aware of and something we’ll try to ad- PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH create the support necessary to create new op- dress on an ongoing basis. portunities. WCT: Actively? WCT: The Center has a troubled history VS: I certainly hope so. I think the fact that SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016 / 9AM with the trans community, particularly the Center has created this job, they have homeless youth. In your research about it, hired me and they are making trans issues part SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO did that concern you? of their strategic plan moving forward says a VS: No. First of all, the things I heard about great deal about the intent of the Center to REGISTER: ROLFEFOUNDATION.ORG happened before I was here and what I have really take this seriously. I like to think I’m experienced so far has been nothing but posi- Exhibit A in that regard. tive. A statement from the Center on Halsted WCT: How do you reach out to the trans to Windy City Times said: “Center on Halsted community of color in Chicago? How do you continually strives to hire the most qualified bridge the gap? individuals to advance our mission. As an or- VS: I’m well-aware of what the perception ganization that both impacts the Chicagoland might be. I cannot help being what I am. I am community and also works to produce national white. I am a person of privilege and I don’t models for success, we often attract talent na- take that lightly. I don’t mean to imply that tionally. Vanessa Sheridan embodies these char- I can completely understand the struggles of acteristics and was referred to the position and 2015 WINNER WITH MOST PARTICIPANTS: TEAM MEGAN people who are not white or in a position of recommended by local members of the LGBTQ privilege. That would be foolish and inaccurate. community as highly qualified to fill the role.”

Dash_poster_2016-1.indd 1 1/11/16 11:16 AM WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 15

Imp Queen at Beauty Bar. Photo by Erik Michael Kommer

me sophomore year of college whenever I was particularly turnt. After college, I was billing myself as Imp Kid, doing performance art with my in the LIFE two best friends as the group WITCH HAZEL. When I started to do proper Imp Queen at Berlin. drag, Imp Queen seemed like the obvious next version of the name.” Imp Queen Photo by Kater Jayne Photography Imp Queen is celebrating her one-year drag anniversary in April, and TEXT BY ROSS FORMAN can be seen every Monday at Annex Nightclub, 1958 W. North Ave., PHOTOS courtesy of Imp Queen hosting Boom Boom Room with Jojo Baby, from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.; and Imp Queen is a trans fashion figure, a rising pop star and a queer every Thursday at Debonair Social Club, 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave., hosting community leader—and just an extension of her true personality. Neo with Jojo Baby and Nico. • Age ... mindlessly “There isn’t really a ‘character,’ just my own mannerisms amplified by a 25 scrolling through spotlight, a microphone and an audience. I consider the work I’m doing the Internet [and] • Orientation now as Imp Queen part of my ongoing art and life practice,” she said. Photo by Jo Control daydreaming about “Queer non-binary Imp Queen said she looks like a “classy bitch, but acts like a trashy girl. being famous.” trans femme, but I She’s a total sweetheart, but a little butthead, too.” also think labels are • Favorite TV show Imp Queen likely won’t remember your name until you’ve met in the clunky, ill-fitting RuPaul’s Drag Race club at least a few times, she said, and then she’ll likely just refer to you and divisive.” • Favorite apps as “Daddy,” as she does with everyone. She’s a 1960s fashion illustration, seen through the lens of a 1990s • Neighborhood Uber and Instagram club kid, then reinterpreted by a contemporary non-binary artist, Imp Pilsen • Little-known fact Queen said. “The look is very over the top, very surreal, very graphic. I • Job title “Before drag, I like to think I’m the world’s littlest queen, but I wear the world’s biggest Self-employed was going to be an clothes.” actor. I did a year Imp Queen collaborates with many other local queer fashion designers • Hobbies as a Lost Boy in to create her looks. “Thrift shopping, the national tour The debut Imp Queen EP is due out in late April, and she worked with collaborating of Peter Pan right producer Ariel Zetina, and she previewed a few songs at the mid-March on music and out of college, and fashion projects, hated it so much, South By Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin, Texas. dancing, cooking, I realized I had to “In folklore, an imp is a cute, little, devious magical creature—not evil, sleeping all day, quit the theatre.” but definitely chaotic,” she said. “It’s a name my friends started calling

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CALL FOR DETAILS OR A PRIVATE SHOWING 773.326.6508 [email protected] 16 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES viewpoints WINDY Bathroom blues by Anne Balay and Mona Shattell CITY North Carolina is at it again. This time for signing into law the so-called “bathroom bill” that requires trans and gender non-conforming per- TIMES sons to use public bathrooms that are consistent with their birth gender, instead of their VOL. 31, No. 27, March 30, 2016 The combined forces of Windy City Times, gender expression. founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, Although this has been unleashing a fire- founded May 1987. storm of protest in social media and elsewhere, we’re afraid that other states might follow suit. One the one hand, we see this legislation as PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tracy Baim an opportunity for the LGBT civil-rights movement to live up to its promise regarding trans* ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky folks. On the other hand, we worry that this MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis might only throw blue-collar and working-class ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matt Simonette BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine queers under the bus. DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright Consider the predominant internet response: ART DIRECTOR/NIGHTSPOTS EDITOR Kirk Williamson various memes depict a public bathroom con- Anne Balay (left) and Mona Shattell. SENIOR REPORTER Gretchen Rachel Hammond taining several people whose perceived gender Photo of Balay by Riva Lehrer Senior Account Executives Terri Klinsky, Kirk Williamson, Amy Matheny, Chris Cheuvront, Gretchen is obvious. Uniformly, these people are white, are likely targets for harassment and prosecu- Our concern is with identifying and protecting Rachel Hammond, Scott Duff, Freddie Bain and typically they’re coded as southern red- tion under this legislation. In doing oral his- the bodies most likely to pay the price for this NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Tony Peregrin, Lisa necks through fashion or context cues. A per- tories of truck drivers and steelworkers, Anne legislation—poor and working-class transfolk son of visibly different gender stands among Keen, Yasmin Nair Balay, co-writer of this column, has heard from who may be easier to visually identify. Blue- THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan them, calling attention to the silliness of the countless transwomen, lesbians, AND straight collar jobs often call for butch body styles; CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight Jr. law via visual common sense with an edge of women who get “sirred,” and who get driven marginal workers don’t have medical insurance SPORTS WRITER Ross Forman sexual threat. from bathrooms (that are consistent with their or time to make sleuth identity possible (and ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS James P. Sheffield, whose tweet initiated one Mary Shen Barnidge, Lawrence Ferber, Mel Ferrand, gender expression) by other users, or by uni- often don’t want to); and working-class folks Jerry Nunn, Jonathan Abarbanel of these memes, followed up with a thoughtful formed authority personnel (who, ironically are often out in the world interacting with the COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Jorjet Harper, analysis of his own image (see http://usuncut. may fall into the class that we are talking public in settings that make them vulnerable. Charlsie Dewey, Carrie Maxwell, Billy Masters, Sarah Toce, Dana Rudolph, Melissa Wasserman, Joe Franco, com/resistance/north-carolina-anti-lgbt-bath- about). Working class trans* and gender non- Their bodies are on the line—that’s what be- room-law/ ), acknowledging where the real Nick Patricca, Liz Baudler, Rex Wockner, Marie J. conforming persons were shunned long before ing blue-collar means. We encourage the larger Kuda, Angelique Smith, Meghan Streit risks lie. As a transman, if he adheres to this legislation this week that legitimized this queer community to keep them in mind as we SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Mel Ferrand, Hal Baim, Tim law, he stands a good chance of getting shot practice. Many female truckers who we know move forward in our opposition to this and Carroll, Ed Negron Gene Naden in the ladies room for fear that he’s a sexual try to limit their trips to the bathroom by fairly other regressive legislation. WEBSITE LISTINGS VOLUNTEER predator. Further, those who are persons of col- drastic means—they conserve fluid intake and Anne Balay, Ph.D., is a visiting assistant or and/or poor, without access to safe private risk (or get) UTIs and kidney stones because professor at Haverford College, the author CIRCULATION bathrooms, may be even more vulnerable. CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright they have learned, through experience, that of Steel Closets: Voices of Gay, Lesbian, DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Sue and We think that Sheffield’s points are all good, bathrooms aren’t safe spaces. This adds to the and Transgender Steelworkers (University of Victor and he’s a mensch for making them, but absent other stresses that are part of being a truck North Carolina Press, 2014), and a former WEB HOSTING: LoveYourWebsite.com (lead from the public response to North Carolina’s driver or other marginal workers in this current, long-haul trucker. programmer: Martie Marro) bathroom bill is that this is a class issue. When neoliberal climate. mona Shattell, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, is a pro- Copyright 2016 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media we’re talking about fear in the bathroom—fear Trans* bodies are clearly targeted by this leg- fessor and chairperson of the department Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back in public spaces generally—we’re really talking issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). islation and we as a community need to get of community, systems, and mental health Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, about fear of the person whose gender is per- immediately and strongly behind protesting nursing at Rush University, Chicago, IL, and and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and ceived as dangerous. Often that person is poor no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. and reversing it. Sex panic is good theater, and former Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy or working-class. It’s about the perception of in an election year, politicians are effectively Project. City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned “the other”—what you see, not what you get. for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing mobilizing public anxiety about the increasing and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, Truck drivers and other blue-collar workers, visibility of sex and gender non-conforming cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own whether trans* or not, whether queer or not, and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City bodies. Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization. While we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept letters responsibility for advertising claims. (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 e-mail: [email protected] or Fighting back and we’re fighting all the harder. #WeAreNotThis and #KeepNCFair. [email protected] The national trans community is with you. Contact the ACLU of North Carolina. We’re all standing behind trans North Carolin- Contact your legislators to let them know www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Open letter to trans community from National podcast: WindyCityQueercast.com Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE): ians and your loved ones. We’re going to work how disappointed you are. together to minimize the impact this has on Contact Gov. McCrory to let him know how WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, North Carolina’s government spent just half a people’s lives. And we’re going to make it clear disappointed you are. 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL, 60640 U.S.A day jamming through a dangerous anti-trans to the government of North Carolina that legal- Write an op-ed for your local paper. Contact (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) bill. They overturned the LGBT protections that izing discrimination is a huge mistake. us if you need help. There are state government officials on our Go to a rally Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. Charlotte’s city council just passed a month Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. ago. side. North Carolina’s attorney general, Roy OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE Cooper, said that legalizing discrimination like And here’s what to do if you’re outside of www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com But that wasn’t enough for them. www.WindyCityQueercast.com They also made it state law that people must this is “shameful.” We’re working on reaching the state: use bathrooms in all public buildings accord- out to mayors’ offices, city councils and local Take care of yourself and the trans people government agencies to get support and to let around you. “Windy City Media Group generated enormous ing to the gender on their birth certificate. interest among their readers in this year’s LGBT That includes public schools and universities. them know what’s going on. Storm social media with the hashtags Consumer Index Survey. Out of approximately 100 That includes all major airports. That includes NCTE will shortly release resources so you #WeAreNotThis and #KeepNCFair. print and online media partners who participated in the survey, Windy City was the best performing government-run hospitals, libraries, DMVs, know how this law impacts you and what you can do about it. These will include information Contact Gov. McCrory. Let him know that regional media in the U.S. Only survey partners state and county courthouses, parks and his- with a nationwide footprint were able to generate toric sites. about federal laws that protect your rights, the rest of the nation is watching, and that a greater number of responses.” —David Marshall, Make no mistake: This is terrible news. North such as for schools. You’ll have those later to- we won’t stand for mandatory government dis- Research Director, Community Marketing, Inc. Carolina has just written mandatory govern- day. crimination in North Carolina. Here’s what you can do if you’re in North ment discrimination into its law. You have FOUNDING MEMBER every right to be angry. You have every right Carolina: National Center for to be upset. You have every right to feel com- Take care of yourself and the trans people Transgender Equality pletely let down by the people who are sup- around you. posed to be acting in your best interest. Find a bathroom you can use and add to the This just means we’re going to keep fighting, list of safe bathrooms. Storm social media with the hashtags

FOUNDING MEMBER

FOUNDING MEMBER WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 17 WINDY CITY TIMES DIVERSIONS THEATER • FILM • ENTERTAINMENT • SPORTS

Choosing my religion 17 28 28 The production Mosque Alert is having its stage world premiere. Photo by Airan Wright Brunch at Appellation. Miss Continental Elite & Plus.

SCOTTISH PLAY SCOTT on the videos with their thoughts—many of viations,” Khoury said. “And they’re constantly which that played an influence on how Khoury feeding each other and it becomes this vicious wrote his ultimate stage script. circle.” “The responses have just been invaluable and But Khoury is also encouraged to see Mosque ‘Alert’ on stage really vital to taking this into this new form,” Alert tapping into the cultural zeitgeist where Khoury said. “I had access—and have access other entertainment projects ranging from the BY SCOTT C. MORGAN director Khoury with his life partner, execu- because people continue to share thoughts— Netflix drama series House of Cards to the Dis- tive director Malik Gillani, the company’s name to perspectives, insights and reactions that I ney animated film Zootopia are all exploring It’s been a long and winding developmental was changed so it could encompass things like may not have considered through a different the manipulation of fear and intimidation for road for Jamil Khoury’s Mosque Alert. This short films and documentaries that went be- lens or pieces where people were relating to political gain. contemporary drama inspired by the heated yond limited-run stage productions. the particular conflicts or characters.” “For the LGBT community in particular, a controversy surrounding New York’s so-called Khoury’s approach to Mosque Alert was to set Having these videos ready and available also number of our issues get addressed within “Ground Zero Mosque” finally sees its official his fictionalized drama in the western Chicago became a tool for Silk Road Rising’s outreach the play, but also many of the parallels of stage world premiere this spring in Chicago, suburb of Naperville in DuPage County. There, discussions in various college, library or com- how groups of people or communities or how courtesy of Silk Road Rising. Khoury wanted to show how three different munity centers over zoning, Islamophobia and identities are scapegoated,” Khoury said. “We “The project itself started about four-and-a- families react to plans of transforming a be- other topics. just saw this horrifying thing in North Carolina half years ago in a digital online life,” Khoury loved city landmark into a mosque. But in writing his stage script for Mosque where the state legislature and the governor said. “It really had a twofold intent, which was Yet, Mosque Alert was different in that Alert, Khoury had to ultimately turn his back have gutted anti-discrimination protections in really new play development, but also civic en- Khoury sort of “crowd-sourced” his plot ideas on these videos. Though they live on via You- key municipalities in the state. This is this kind gagement.” and inspirations via short online video clips. Tube, the videos were taken down from Silk of perverse use of power and processes to pun- Indeed, Mosque Alert was part of the com- The characters would express their thoughts Road Rising’s own website due to some pa- ish entire communities.” pany’s global online presence and expanding via monologues and bicker over contentious trons’ confusion about it solely being an online Silk Road Rising’s world premiere of outreach efforts. Co-founded originally as the points in two-person dialogue scenes. Silk video project (also, none of the video actors Mosque Alert continues through Sunday, Silk Road Theatre Project in 2002 by artistic Road Rising then invited people to comment ended up being cast in the stage production May 1, at Pierce Hall at the The Historic Chi- due largely to availability issues). cago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St. Mosque Alert has already seen developmental The official press opening is 4 p.m. Saturday, Silk Road Rising co-founder two college productions in 2015 at both Knox April 2. Tickets are $25 for previews and and artistic director Jamil College in Galesburg, Illinois, and Valparaiso $35 during the regular run; call 312-857- Khoury. University in Indiana. Both were extremely 1234, ext. 201, or visit www.mosquealert. Photo from Silk Road Rising valuable to Khoury in making the transition org or www.silkroadrising.org for more in- from a fragmented video project to a profes- formation. sional stage production overseen by director Edward Torres. Khoury ended up expanding his character list from 6 to 11 people, while throwing out some video scenes and altering others ‘Flash’ at Dance for the final script. One vital video dialogue that Khoury re- Center of Columbia tained and shorted involved a gay activist and a Muslim imam. As a gay man, the scene had in March, April many personal resonances for Khoury. The Dance Center of Columbia College “That conversation about a gay male charac- Chicago, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., will pres- ter who is coming to a spiritual leader of this ent “Rennie Harris and Michael Sakamoto: particular mosque community as an ally and Flash” March 31-April 2 at 7:30 p.m. looking at developing a strategy since LGBT Written, choreographed and performed by people and Muslims publicly face so many of Harris and Sakamoto, Flash is conceived as the same adversaries and obstacles,” Khoury a “conversation” between the artists’ re- said. “And he receives a great deal of pushback spective aesthetics (hip hop and butoh), from the imam, who is not really coming from cultural backgrounds (African-American an overtly hateful or hostile place, but it’s a and Japanese-American) and personalities. place of discomfort. And that kind of struggle Admission is $30; call 312-369-8330 or we’ve seen in a lot of religious communities visit colum.edu/dancecenter. where on the one hand people don’t want to be unkind or they don’t want to discriminate in a certain way, but the reconciliation between Big Noise’s ‘Cabaret’ faiths or a belief system with homosexuality becomes very uncomfortable and problematic.” April 22-May 8 In light of recent Islamic State terrorist at- Big Noise Theatre Company, a division of tacks in Europe and so much Islamophobia be- Winnetka Theatre, continues its 2016 sea- ing openly spouted by Republican presidential son with the musical play Cabaret. candidates, Khoury feels that Mosque Alert has Cabaret will be performed at the Prai- plenty of vital things to say. rie Lakes Theater, 515 E. Thacker St., Des “We’re sort of in this dual battle taking Plaines, from April 22 through May 8. place in the battle against Islamophobia on Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for se- one hand, but also the battle against radical niors; visit www.bignoisetheatre.org or call extremist Islamism and its distortions or de- 847-604-0275. 18 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES THEATER REVIEW Matilda the Musical. Matilda Photo by Joan Marcus the Musical Playwright: Dennis Kelly (book, after Roald Dahl), Tim Minchin (music/lyrics) At: Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St. Tickets: 800-775-2000; www.BroadwayInChicago.com; $25-$123 Runs through: April 10

BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL

Roald Dahl’s Matilda remains a great family favorite, judging from the audience for Matilda the Musical. Dahl’s book, at 230 pages, wasn’t intended for very young children, especially with its dark and threatening story; nonethe- less young’uns in great numbers were at the Oriental Theatre, and scrupulously well-be- haved, too. Such is the enchantment of theater. Although not completely unique—children oppressed by their elders and put through trials is a commonplace of literature, explored more than once by Dahl himself—Matilda remains an unusual story, given a bold, comic desire to learn is encouraged by Miss Honey still are fewer songs than most musicals have I don’t feel that the monolithic ogress, Miss bookish musical adaptation which simplifies (Jennifer Blood), her teacher and only friend. and at least one number, “Telly,” is padding at Trunchbull, is sufficiently punished. I don’t and amplifies the original tale, depending on Alas, Matilda, Miss Honey and myriad kiddies the top of Act II, as delightful as it may be as want her just to go away; I want something what plot point it’s making. are under the rancid thumb of school headmis- satiric social commentary. Also, dance is un- bad to happen to her! Am I too vindictive? Set in contemporary England, the story tress Miss Trunchbull (David Abeles), a villain important as a storytelling tool in Matilda the Or do I identify Miss Trunchbull with Donald concerns amazingly precocious Matilda (Lily of Dickensian proportions. Musical, although there is a lot of musical stag- Trump? Brooks O’Briant at the opening performance), Matilda the Musical is well-done and quite ing, some of it quite athletic. (Peter Darling is FYI: the Oriental Theatre is way too big for five or six years old, who is unwanted and un- obviously appealing. The leads are strong and the choreographer). Matilda, essentially an intimate musical. The loved by her uber-Philistine parents (con-man the kids’ chorus mostly is amazing although Perhaps I’m being too critical, but emotion- travelling version of Rob Howell’s cheery scenic dad Quinn Mattfeld, Latin-dancing mum Cassie their shrill, high voices make words extremely ally I wasn’t fully satisfied either. I’m delighted design, inspired by children’s alphabet blocks, Silva). Matilda teaches herself to read and difficult to understand. However, I perceive the that heroic little Matilda finally is rewarded leaves six feet of unused stage space on each develops a keen sense of fair play and truth. show as a serious drama with music rather than with the nurturing she deserves (which all chil- side. Perhaps I’m the only person bothered by Her rich-but-dark fantasy life is encouraged a full musical. While it has a lot of music, there dren deserve, which is the story’s point), but that. by the local librarian (Ora Jones), while her

THEATER REVIEW MCL, or Music Comedy Live, presents Black- nations. fish the Musical, poking fun at this documen- Upon entering the theater, be sure and dodge Blackfish tary. This version is set at Sea Universe, where poles in the room that can obstruct viewing at Natalie Carmeal leads the cast as head trainer the Sheffield space (By the way, BYOB is also the Musical Cybil Bass and works with a killer whale named an option.) Playwright: Jonald Reyes CumCum. The show within a show follows the Some singers need to practice their scales At: MCL Chicago, 3110 N. SheffieldA ve. trainers interacting with each other and an after hitting a few sour notes and there was Tickets: 773-610-5930; www.mcl.com; $10 inflatable orca. When things go awry, Allison some stumbling over lines but, overall, there Runs: April 2 and 9 Hamster steps in to fix the bad public-relation were several fun bits that worked. situation. Morgan Phillips-Spotts plays her well This fish doesn’t exactly stink but it could BY JERRY NUNN and takes the situation seriously. use a little more seasoning in execution. There are jokes about My Pretty Pony, Free The 2013 documentary Blackfish centered Willy and Scientology. Much of the cast has around the story of Tilikum, a bull orca per- Second City backgrounds; they just need to forming at SeaWorld and the death of his train- turn up the camp more as a group. Also, it er Dawn Brancheau. The film brought a great would help if they turn up the microphones lo- deal of attention to the subject matter and has cated on the lip of the stage. The band tends to created change. In March of this year all orca drown out the performers at times. breeding has now been stopped at SeaWorld The orca-costumed usher in front was ador- c and live performances will be halted. able, giving out programs and encouraging do- Blackfish the Musical. Photo by Loreen Targos CRITICS’ THEATER REVIEW preters and audiences alike. Viewers should her mother, Countess Croom (Charon Cross)? listen hard because Arcadia moves quickly Stoppard also manages to relate everything PICKS Arcadia via literate, witty and idea-laden language as to English landscape design and to classicism Butler, Northlight Theatre, through April 17. Playwright: Tom Stoppard well as bountiful comedy. Halberstam and his versus Romanticism. A significant moment early in the Civil War that At: Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe large cast of top Chicago actors balance ev- The twisting plot lines all are celebrations likely helped lead to the Confederacy’s ultimate Tickets: 847-242-6000; erything beautifully, emphasizing the play’s of passion—whether scientific, artistic or defeat is thoughtfully dramatized in Richard www.writerstheatre.org; $35-$80 intellectual and comedic qualities over what sexual—and all have equal value for Stop- Strand’s contained play. SCM Runs through: May 1 might be deemed romantic or sensual. pard, who suggests that our passions choose D.O.A., Strawdog Theatre at Hugen Hall, Arcadia is set at Sidley Park, the English us rather than vice versa. Arcadia offers pas- extended through April 10. This noiresque BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL country estate of the Earls of Croom, with sions expressed and not expressed, repressed screen-to-stage adaptation makes the perfect scenes alternating between 1809 and now. and not repressed, and—true to chaos theo- farewell to Strawdog’s soon-to-be-vacated loft A round room was an elegant conceit of Eng- The modern plot concerns egotistical literary ry—each random choice or coincidence ren- studio. MSB lish 18th-century neo-classical architecture scholar Bernard Nightingale (Scott Parkinson) ders what follows unpredictable. The Explorers Club, Windy City Playhouse, (say, that of Robert Adam), to which Collette and his fellow scholar Hannah Jarvis (Kate Halberstam and his wonderful cast make all through April 17. Farce isn’t easy, even when it Pollard pays homage in her handsome, rich Fry) acting as foil and nemesis. Circumstan- of this clear. Parkinson—in a welcome return revolves around a fraternity of Victorian Scien- scenic design for Arcadia, the opening pro- tial evidence convinces Nightingale that Lord to Chicago—has a great time playing a Diony- tists, but David H. Bell’s direction keeps men, duction in Writers Theatre’s new $34-million Byron killed a man at Sidley after seducing sian character with Fry as his prim-and-proper women, flora, fauna and libations flowing at a North Shore home. The scenic design is the his wife; but Nightingale’s two-plus-two ul- counterweight. Stenholt as Thomasina creates lively pace. MSB only classical flourish in the spacious, spar- timately equals just 3.5 as the 1809 scenes a charming prodigy while Anderson is droll The Matchmaker, Goodman Theatre, through kling two-theater complex designed by Studio reveal the truth little by little. They focus but smoldering as the audacious tutor. In April 10. Thornton Wilder’s delightful combo of Gang Architects, who have created an instant on the Earl’s brilliant 16-year-old daughter, fact, every performance is detailed and intel- traditional farce and comedy-of-ideas became landmark for Glencoe and Chicago theater. Thomasina (Elizabeth Stenhold), a mathemat- ligent, down to Torrey Hanson’s stately butler. the musical, Hello, Dolly! The original play The production, helmed by founder/artistic ics genius who elucidates then-unknown rudi- Short of a stunning world premiere, this ex- is charming in this delicious production with director Michael Halberstam, also sparkles ments of chaos theory, and her deeply learned ceptional production of Arcadia is the perfect Kristine Nielson as Dolly Gallagher Levi and as Arcadia must or don’t do it. Perhaps Tom but brashly amorous tutor, 23 year-old Septi- choice to open Writers Theatre’s bright new Allen Gilmore as her pigeon, rich curmudgeon Stoppard’s finest work, it brims with intellec- mus Hodge, Lord Byron’s friend. Will Hodge home. Horace Vandergelder. Joyful! JA tual and emotional challenges for its inter- seduce his pupil or she him? Will he seduce —By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 19

Toya Turner (left) and Laura Resinger in Christina, the Girl King. Photo by Matthew Gregory Hollis e SPOTLIGHT Acclaimed cabaret duo Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael reunite for their new show The Piano Men, which pays tribute to the music of famed pianists Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and Michael Feinstein. The Pi- ano Men plays at 8 p.m. Saturdays in April at Davenport’s Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave. Reserva- tions are $20 plus a two-drink minimum purchase; call 773-278-1830 or visit www.davenportspianobar. THEATER REVIEW (Laura Resinger). com, www.beckiemenzie.com or The ambition and non-traditional approaches www.tommichael.net for more in- Christina, by Cor Theatre in producing Christina, the Girl formation. King is admirable, from the color-blind cast- Photo courtesy of Menzie and the Girl King ing to a fair parity when it comes to depicting Michael Playwright: Michel Marc Bouchard; onstage female and male nudity. Unfortunately, Translator: Linda Gaboriau the overall effort doesn’t come together as a At: Cor Theatre at Frontier whole. The clash of modern and old design Theatre, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave. visuals isn’t always reconcilable, nor are the Tickets: 866-811-4111 or many apparent budgetary restraints. www.cortheatre.org; $10-$25 Runs through: April 9

BY SCOTT C. MORGAN

For lesbians seeking role models from history, Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) is a contradictory choice. “ZANILY WONDERFUL” Some will argue that she pushed back against the patriarchy by refusing to marry and how she was valiant in trying to bring about “LAVISH, DELICIOUSLY RENDERED” educational reforms and peace to her majority Protestant country. Others condemn her as –CHICAGO SUN-TIMES a selfish public-relations pawn of the pope’s Counter-Reformation, when she abdicated her throne in 1654 and converted to Catholicism. French-Canadian gay playwright Michel Marc Bouchard explores many of these complexities “WILDER’S WISDOM in Christina, the Girl King. This even-handed historical drama (which doesn’t shy away from AND GOODMAN’S CAST Christina’s attraction to women) is making its U.S. debut in Linda Gaboriau’s English transla- tion in a tiny Edgewater storefront by Cor The- MAKE A FINE COUPLE” atre. A 2015 Finnish film version of the play also recently screened at Chicago’s Gene Siskel “SUCH CONSCIOUS DIVERSITY OF Film Center. Clearly, Cor Theatre doesn’t have a huge bud- CASTING HELPS PULL THE PLAY get to realistically depict a 1600s period drama. There’s also likely limited backstage space, INTO THE AMERICAN FUTURE” too, since the actors wander and warm up in –CHICAGO TRIBUNE full view of the audience to piped-in house music before the play begins. But director Tosha Fowler tries to use these limitations to her advantage by prodding audiences to contemplate modern political parallels to the difficult plights faced by a female The ruler branded as an outsider. Costume designer Alarie Hammock’s outfits of historically inspired modern pieces is also reflected in this approach. But Fowler’s main tactic is the non-traditional casting of Jamaican-American actress Toya Turner in the title role. This adds extra racial MatchmakerBY THORNTON WILDER | DIRECTED BY HENRY WISHCAMPER dimensions to the script’s built-in dramatic tensions of a court being both deferential and resentful in taking commands from a female Cunning, crafty and thoroughly modern, matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi ruler. (Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen) knows a good catch when she sees one. Turner plays the role with a confrontational So when the wealthy Horace Vandergelder hires her to find him a wife, Dolly petulance, especially when sparring with her doesn’t need to look far to find his perfect mate. male courtiers (played by the likes of Tony Bozzuto, Will Von Vogt, Adam Benjamin and Scott Shimizu), who all scheme and try to ma- NOW THROUGH APRIL 10 | TICKETS START AT JUST $20! nipulate her to do their bidding. Many women at court are no help, either, especially with the queen’s mentally unstable mother (Meg Elliott) demanding that her daughter marry and the 312.443.3800 | GoodmanTheatre.org servant Erika (Bridget Schreiber) spreading all GROUPS OF 10+ ONLY: 312.443.3820 kinds of gossip. Yet Turner also plays up Christina’s loneliness WHAT GREAT THEATER SHOULD BE and doubt, particularly when she calls upon the French intellectual Descartes (Danny Taylor) to help her comprehend her romantic urges toward the beautiful lady-in-waiting Ebba Sparre Corporate Sponsor Partners 20 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES CULTURECULTURE CLUBCLUB

From left: Rudy Galvan, James Doherty and Johnny Arena in United Flight 232. Photo by Michael Brosilow tickets at aboutfacetheatre.org! THEATER REVIEW range from perplexed pilots and engineers played by Johnny Arena, Rudy Galvan, Kroydell United Flight 232 Galima and James Doherty, to frightened and Playwright: Vanessa Stalling; heroic passengers played by Elana Elyce and Original book: Laurence Gonzales Michael E. Martin. At: The House Theatre of Chicago at The exceptions to taking on multiple parts Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. are Echaka Agba, Alice da Cunha and Brenda Tickets: 773-769-3832 or Barrie, who each respectively and powerfully www.thehousetheatre.com; $30-$35 play the noble flight attendants Susan White, Runs through: May 1 Jan Murray and chief flight attendant Jan Brown. These three get right to the heart of BY SCOTT C. MORGAN their characters’ duty of keeping calm and relating all of their training to the passengers a chicago premiere Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sobbing under their watch. Contemplating how these directed by andrew volkoff through The House Theatre of Chicago’s world three maintained such calm demeanors under premiere of United Flight 232. Vanessa Stall- such tremendous pressure is truly inspiring. to MAR 11 APR 10 ing’s stage adaptation of Laurence Gonzales’ Stalling and the rest of her design team also at theater wit acclaimed book of the same name is a deeply create a perfectly contained yet airy environ- moving and theatrical rumination on life and ment for the production. By placing the audi- mortality. ence on two sides facing each other and the United Flight 232 consists of select inter- central playing area, set designer John Musial views with passengers and the crew of the DC- makes sure that everyone feels in on the ac- 10 that crashed landed in Sioux City, Iowa, on tion with no escape. The unsettling work of July 19, 1989. The Denver-to-Chicago flight, composer and sound designer Steve Labedz with 296 people aboard, was paralyzed mid- and lighting designer William Kirkham are also air—and defied expectations when 184 people simply top-notch. survived the disaster. Some might be scared off by seeing United Stalling, who also gracefully directs the har- Flight 232 due to its frightening subject mat- rowing production, smartly deploying simple ter and the inherent sadness of recounting so diagrams early on by projection designer Paul many tragic deaths. But I would counter that Deziel to lay out the framework of the plane United Flight 232 is truly a rewarding experi- and how it ended up breaking into five piece ence that prods you to imagine yourself in that upon impact. With those particulars revealed situation and to reevaluate your connections upfront, the focus rightly turns to Stalling’s to friends and loved ones. superb company of nine actors who share the Everything in United Flight 232 is eminently SPRINGApril 1-2, SERIES 2016 at 7:30PM thoughts of those aboard and in the aftermath. relatable if you’ve ever taken a commercial Dressed in airline-inspired shades of navy flight. But it’s the heart-wrenching fears and Featuring the World Premiere of SNEAKY PETE by award-winning choreographerHarris Theater for Brock Music Clawsonand Dance and sky blue (a great uniform decision by cos- emotions brought forth by Stalling’s powerful 205 East Randolph Drive tume designer Delia Ridenour), many of the performers and design team that will haunt and HarrisTheaterChicago.org | 312.334.7777 actors switch easily into multiple roles. They linger.

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NOW PLAYING WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG | 847-242-6000 PICTURED: CHAON CROSS AND SCOTT PARKINSON. PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA. WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 21 run on Minneapolis stages this year, followed Gay Play Weekend by Le Switch at The Jungle and his adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches. schedule set See MixedBlood.com. Four new LGBTQ+ plays and one musical have emerged as finalists in Pride Films and Plays’ 2016 Great Gay Play and Musical Contest. Those BoHo names new five scripts will be performed as enhanced staged readings at the Center On Halsted’s executive director Hoover-Leppen Theatre, 3656 N. Halsted St., BoHo Theatre, now in its 12th season, an- during Gay Play and Musical Weekend, April 22- nounced the appointment of BoHo company 24. member Meg Love as the company’s new execu- The schedule for the weekend is: tive director. —Friday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m.: All-American Love has been part of the company since Boy by Donald Gecewicz, Directed by Jo Cattell 2012, serving as producer, production manager —Saturday, April 23, at 2 p.m.: TBD (To Be and stage manager prior to accepting the new Determined) by Paul Elliott, Directed by Delia position. She succeeds Kaela Altman. Kropp BoHo Theatre’s 2016 season continues with —Saturday, April 23, at 7 p.m.: Another Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, directed by company Horatio Alger Story by Jason Jacobs, Directed member Charles Riffenburg, opening at the by David Belew Heartland Studio May 12; and Next to Normal, —Sunday, April 24, at 1 p.m.: Spectacular directed by Theatre at the Center Artistic Di- Brown by Brian Pracht, Directed by Mara Stern rector Linda Fortunato, opening at Theater Wit —Sunday, April 24, at 4 p.m.: A Woman On- Aug. 20. stage, book and lyrics by Stephen deGhelder, Natya Dance Company is among the groups slated to take part in Chicago Dance Month. music by Brad Simmons, Directed by John Nas- Photo by Amitava Sarkar ca with Musical Direction by Adam Shenk ‘Wonka Ball: Find more information at www.pridefilmsand- Dragstrip’April 15 in Tapman Productions and Natya Dance Theatre plays.com or 800-737-0984. Chicago Dance as well as food, drinks, special giveaways and Ravenswood more. About Face Theater’s annual gala Wonka Ball In addition, a free, special celebratory event ‘Charm’ having run will take place Friday, April 15, at Ravenswood Month in April will take place Friday, April 29, at Federal Event Center, 4011 N. Ravenswood Ave. , 8-11 The fourth annual Chicago Dance Month, in Minneapolis Plaza. “Dance on the Plaza: A Chicago Dance p.m. (There will be a VIP cocktail reception at April 1-May 1, coinciding with National Dance Minneapolis’ Mixed Blood Theatre will run Month Celebration” invites all dance lovers to 7 p.m.) Week (April 22-May 1). Philip Dawkins’ production Charm—which get outside and enjoy dance from a variety of The event’s theme this year is “Dragstrip.” Chicago Dance Month features a wide variety Skokie’s Northlight Theatre originally per- companies, including Red Clay Dance Company, Guests are invited to make a pit stop to enjoy of performances, classes, educational opportu- formed last year—April 20-May 8. Project Bound Dance, Winifred Haun & Danc- food from Ravenswood Event Center and par- nities, open rehearsals and more, many for free Charm (inspired by the true story of Mama ers, Joel Hall Dancers and Tapman Productions, ticipating restaurant partners, refuel with an or offered at a special “Hot Deal” discount rate Gloria Allen and her volunteer work at the Cen- among others. open bar serving signature cocktails, and join of 20-50-percent off regular ticket prices. ter on Halsted) tells the story of Mama Dar- For a full list of all Chicago Dance Month AFT on the dance floor with music and enter- To kick off the month of movement, a special leena, an African-American trans woman in her events and more information, visit SeeChicago- tainment from DJ Circuit Mom. event hosted by Audience Architects will take 60s teaching an etiquette class to trans youth Dance.com. Admission is $150-$200 each; see About- place Friday, April 1, at Walgreens, 151 N. State experiencing precarious housing in a LGBTQI FaceTheatre.com. St., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The free kick-off party will Chicago community center. feature performances by Culture Shock Chicago, Charm is the first of three plays by Dawkins to

HARRIS THEATER PRESENTS “MR. MORRIS HAS CREATED A DAZZLING INTERPRETATION OF PURCELL’S SUPERLATIVE WORK.” - ALASTAIR MACAULAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES TICKETS START AT $42 MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP AND MUSIC ENSEMBLE DIDO AND AENEAS TUESDAY / APR.5 / 8:00PM TICKETS START AT $42

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Official Airline of the Harris Season Sponsor Theater Season Hotel Partner 22 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES KNIGHT at the movies

By Richard Knight, Jr. Spring LGBT movie preview

Spring is officially here and that means that the summer blockbuster-movie season (which now starts in early May) as well as lots and lots of sequels are also about to arrive. Not one high-profile, queer-themed movie is on the immediate horizon, unfortunately, but no doubt we’ll see plenty of those as we head into award season.

April Born to Be Blue—Ethan Hawke takes on the role of Chet Baker—the essence of the phrase “the beautiful and the damned”—whose com- bination of matinee-idol looks, somber trumpet playing and sexily whispered crooning made Emily Blunt (left) and Charlize Theron in The Huntsman: Winter’s War. him an overnight poster boy for cool jazz in the 1950s. But Baker’s sullen, narcissistic behavior, (thanks to that magic mirror) in this prequel/ neighbors. This time, they’re expecting their Charles Xavier aka the Professor (James McA- rampant womanizing and insidious heroin ad- sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman that second child—and instead of uber-stud Zac voy) and Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) diction set him on a path of destruction that features her equally rotten sister Freya (Emily Efron and his hard-partyin’ frat bros, the cou- lead a group of up-and-coming mutants and a ended with his early and accidental death. Blunt), who can freeze those who displease her ple has to contend with a new set of noxious few of their elders (including gay-as-a-goose Writer-director Robert Budreau’s film uses Bak- in ice. This rotten pair (the evil doppelganger neighbors: sorority gals. This time out, Efron Magneto, played by Michael Fassbender) as er’s life as a leaping off point, focusing on the of the sisters in Frozen?) assemble a seemingly takes the side of the Radners in helping to rid they go against the ancient mutant Apocalypse persona and the milieu, rather than the actual unstoppable army. But they haven’t counted them of their unwanted neighbors. May 20 (red-hot Oscar Isaac) and his followers. Out di- details. It’s a risk that pays off artistically. Car- on the fighting spirit of the Huntsman (Chris The Nice Guys—Ryan Gosling and Russell rector Bryan Singer is once again at the helm. men Ejogo co-stars. April 1. Hemsworth), his lady love (Jessica Chastain) Crowe co-star in this black comedy set in Los May 27 The Boss—Melissa McCarthy stars in this and their followers. April 22 Angeles in 1977 about a pair of bumbling pri- Alice Through the Looking Glass—A sequel over-the-top comedy about mega-wealthy A Hologram for the King—Tom Tykwer vate investigators joining forces to solve the to Tim Burton 2010’s fantasy extravaganza trader Michelle Darnell (a female Trump with (Cloud Atlas; Perfume: The Story of a Murderer; mystery of a party girl’s disappearance and (this time directed by James Bobin) is on tap better hair) who never loses—until she’s taken Run, Lola Run) wrote and adapted Dave Egg- the seemingly unrelated death of a porn star. with Mia Wasikowska returning to trippy, eye- down for insider trading and sent to prison. ers’ novel, a dramedy about a failed corporate Shane Black co-wrote and directs. Out actor popping Wonderland as Alice, Johnny Depp as Emerging broke, hated and homeless, Michelle businessman (Tom Hanks) who travels to Saudi Matt Bomer, Kim Basinger and Keith David co- the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the hooks up with her old assistant (Kristen Bell) Arabia to try and secure a large deal to save star. May 20 big-headed Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as the and hatches a new business venture that in- his fortunes and who ends up falling in love. X-Men: Apocalypse—The ninth—yes, the White Queen and out actor Matt Lucas as Twee- volves Girl Scout cookies and perhaps a new, Sarita Choudhury, Tom Skerritt and out actor ninth—installment of the franchise focused dledee and Tweedledum. Sacha Baron Cohen kinder outlook on life. April 8 Ben Whishaw co-star. April 22 on mutant (code word for gay) superheroes plays Time, a new addition to the cast. May 27 Demolition—Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buy- Mother’s Day—Garry Marshall (The Princess and their struggles to coexist with ordinary ers Club, C.R.A.Z.Y.) directs a tearjerker about Diaries, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Pretty (code word for boring) humans. This time out, an investment banker (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose Woman) is back with another all-star romantic life starts to fall apart after the death of his comedy—this one a tale of white sisterhood wife (Heather Lind). Redemption comes in the For an overview of each film and tickets for solidarity, intertwining the lives of a TV host ‘Paris Is Burning’ form of a sympathetic woman (Naomi Watts) both events, check out Humpfilmfest.com. (Julia Roberts), a divorcee looking for love and her rebellious son (Judah Lewis). John (Jennifer Aniston) and a woman (Kate Hudson) at Logan on March 31 Malkovich, Molly Smith and brothers Thad and trying to improve her relationship with her Paris Is Burning—Jennie Livingston’s 1990 Trent Luckinbill co-star. April 8 MoCP exhibition mother. Jason Sudeikis, Timothy Olyphant, Jon award-winning documentary about the Har- Hardcore Henry—It’s a Russian-American Lovitz and Margo Martindale costar. April 29 lem drag-ball scene—will screen at Logan action thriller shot in the first person—a gim- through April 10 Center, 915 E. 60th St., on Thursday, March The Museum of Contemporary Photogra- mick usually reserved for horror films that finds May 31, at 7 p.m. phy (MoCP), 600 S. Michigan Ave., has an- the audience experiencing everything from the Captain America: Civil War—The superhe- Solveig Nelson, an art critic and Ph.D. can- nounced free public programming related killing maniac’s point of view (Michael Myers in roes are back in this third (or is it 10th?) film in didate in art history at the University of Chi- to the “MoCP at 40” exhibition, running the Halloween series, for example). This gim- the ever-expanding Marvel universe that kicks cago, will introduce the film. through April 10. mick goes back to 1947’s film noir Lady in the off the summer blockbuster season. It’s a year Admission is free. See http://filmstudi- All of the works on view will come from the Lake and found new life in found footage hor- after the events in Avengers: Age of Ultron and escenter.uchicago.edu/events/2016/paris- museum’s permanent collection of more than ror films like The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield after another international incident in which burning. 14,000 objects. The exhibition will feature and Paranormal Activity. This variation applies things don’t go exactly as planned, a system of noteworthy collection works by more than the device to the science-fiction genre and fo- accountability is put into place. Steve Rogers/ 200 artists, including Diane Arbus, Roy De- cuses on Henry (Sharlto Copley), a cybernetic Captain America (played by megahunk Chris Dan Savage’s HUMP! Carava, Walker Evans, Sally Mann and Andy super-soldier trying to save his kidnapped wife. Evans) comes into conflict with inventor Tony Warhol. April 8 Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and, soon, festival April 8-9 See MoCP.org. Miles Ahead—Don Cheadle’s dream proj- Dan Savage—the writer behind the fireworks—in the form of lots of special-effects ect—his first as director—finds him starring as 20-year-running Savage Love advice column, sequences costing millions of dollars—come another giant of cool jazz: trumpeter Miles Da- LGBTQ and political activist, and co-creator into play. May 6 vis, whose magisterial recordings and elusive of the It Gets Better Project—will run his ‘Hannah Free’ Money Monster—Out actor-director Jodie stage presence masked a controversial offstage HUMP! Film Festival at the Music Box The- Foster (Little Man Tate; Home for the Holidays; screening April 16 life. April 8 ater, 3733 N. Southport Ave., on April 8-9 The Beaver) helms her fourth film, a dramatic A screening of the 2009 lesbian-themed The First Monday in May—The trend in fash- with shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. thriller with George Clooney as a TV finance movie Hannah Free will take place Saturday, ion documentaries continues with this insider’s The idea for the festival started in 2005, guru taken hostage on-air by a disgruntled April 16, at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 look at the Metropolitan Museum Ball—the when Savage asked readers to send him viewer (Jack O’Connell) after losing his family’s N. State St., at 3 p.m. annual gala co-chaired by Vogue editor Anna homemade adult films. They did—in droves. money following a tip from Clooney. Julia Rob- Among those slated to attend are cast Wintour (the inspiration for The Devil Wears In addition, on Thursday, April 7, Savage erts plays Clooney’s producer. Dominic West, members such as Sharon Gless, and screen- Prada) that gay fashionista Andre Leon Talley will have a live recording of his podcast Caitriona Balfe and Giancarlo Esposito co-star. writer Claudia Allen. describes as “the Super Bowl of social fashion “Savage Lovecast” also at the Music Box, May 13 Tickets are $11 each; visit SiskelFilmCenter. events.” April 15 starting at 8:30 p.m. Savage will answer sex Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising—Seth Rogen org/hannahfree. The Huntsman: Winter’s War—Charl- questions from the audience with some help and Rose Byrne are back as the Radners, the ize Theron is resurrected as the evil Ravena from other revered freaks and “sexperts.” couple besieged by their party crazed next door WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 23 figuring out what the joke is. Now I think, “I Wanda Sykes. better not say that because someone is going Photo by Roger Erickson to record it and take it out of context. My career could be over after that.” It is hard to find little rooms and places where one can go out and be totally inappropriate to work on a bit. WCT: Did you hear about Dave Chappell requiring at his show for people to put cell- phones in a special no signal bag? WS: Yeah, I think that is great. WCT: Maybe we can do that at your show at the Chicago Theatre. WS: I know for me as a mom, I have young NUNN ON ONE: COMEDY kids so it would hard for me to give up my phone. I need to be reachable. My audience might have reminders on their Dishing with phones on when to take their medicine! I have a little older crowd. My crowd is across the board, I have young and old people. WCT: Do you have more movies coming out? People love those voiceovers you do on Wanda the cartoons. WS: The new Ice Age will be out in July. Granny is back! WCT: Would you ever want to host the Os- cars? Sykes WS: I don’t know. I guess it would depend on the year and what is going on as far as the movies. If it is a year where I am excited about the movies, then probably. Right now, though, I would say no because it is a hard job. WCT: Are you already planning for gay pride? WS: I know I am doing a few things being a guest speaker here and there. It is hard because that is right when the kids get out of school. I have a few things booked in June that coincide with Pride. by Jerry Nunn with a great group. I am in the office and it is of my bad habits. I love talking about comedy WCT: We can always use a good grand mar- just nonsense in there with a bunch of crazy with comics. shal for the parade in Chicago. Wanda Sykes works it with new projects all the people. I am having fun over there. WCT: Do you think comics have to be more WS: Oh, boy. Well, thank you! time. The comedian who began winning Em- WCT: You have a new ABC soccer TV show politically correct these days? Watch Wanda at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. mys for The Chris Rock Show soon graduated coming out called Dream Team. Can you talk WS: I think mobile phones with cameras have State St., Saturday, April 9, at 8 p.m. Visit to appearing onscreen for The New Adventures about it? changed comedy. It is not even being politi- www.thechicagotheatre.com or ticketmaster. of Old Christine and Curb Your Enthusiasm. WS: We just wrapped the pilot last night. We cally correct, but we have lost that freedom to com for ticket information. In films she stood out with Monster-in-Law, will see and hopefully get good news about it. get onstage, explore and talk about anything, Evan Almighty and My Super Ex-Girlfriend plus My lesbian character is married to a woman. I voiceover work in Over the Hedge and Ice Age: am an OBGYN and our daughter is on the soc- Continental Drift. cer team. Her stand-up comedy performance I’ma Be WCT: How is it continuing to mentor co- Me was featured on HBO and now she takes a medians on the television show Last Comic brand-new tour on the road landing her on the Standing? Windy City. WS: I enjoy working with the comics. My pro- Windy City Times: Hi, Wanda. I’m excited ducing partner, Page Hurwitz, and I go out and you are coming back to Chicago. scout. We find a hundred comics that we invite Wanda Sykes: Me, too. It is one of my favor- to the show. We watch a lot of comedians. We ite cities! take care of them and let them know it will be WCT: What topics are you talking about on a great experience. We tell them not to worry this comedy tour? and no one will make them look bad. They pret- WS: This is for my special so I am shooting ty much trust us. With me mentoring them, we at the end of May out in L.A. This is to get the only get to air a few minutes here and there fine-tuning going on for the special. It will be because of time, but it last two full days. new material. It is fun because it also sharpens my skills. It is more of an exploration. I am trying to It reminds me that I also need to correct some figure out how I got in the situation I am in. I’m not complaining about it. I am very happy but here I am, a Black woman, lesbian, married Exhibit spotlights to a white woman and I have two little white March 31, april 1 & 2 | 7:30pM kids. I am now a minority in my own home! I women and feel like I am going backward. What happened? WCT: Did you always talk about topics like HIV/AIDS The University of Illinois at Chicago is racism and LGBT rights? presenting “In Plain Sight: A Women’s Rennie Harris & WS: I guess when you look back at my per- History of HIV/AIDS in Chicago,” an ex- formances, I would speak up for the underdog hibition featuring oral histories, photos, or the little guy. I was always attacking the documents and hand-written stories from administration. Now it is personal. [Laughs] Michael Sakamoto Chicago women living with HIV. I’m not just talking for you guys, now I am Flash, a duet choreographed, written and performed “In Plain Sight” will run through Satur- speaking up for me! by harris and Sakamoto, is an interdisciplinary day, April 2 (on Thursdays through Satur- WCT: Are politics a part of the show? performance project combining hip hop + butoh days), at the Pop Up JUST Art Center, 1255 WS: Yes. You kind of have to now with all of dance forms, multimedia and other theatrical S. Halsted St. this craziness going on. elements to address the intersection of urban and The exhibition and corresponding proj- WCT: We might have a woman in the White environmental crisis, social resistance and identity. ect are the result of collaboration between House. the UIC-based History Moves project and WS: Yes. How about that? That is exciting, Chicago participants in the Women’s Inter- and maybe she can do something about this agency HIV Study (WIHS), a 23-year-old slut-shaming. That is just nuts! clinical research study on women living WCT: How was it being on [the ABC show] with HIV. Black-ish? I spoke to Miles Brown from the Admission is free and open to the public; The Dance Center’s presentation of Rennie Harris & Michael Sakamoto is funded, show. call 312-413-2458 to arrange group tours. in part, by Engaging Dance Audiences, a program administered by Dance/USA WS: He’s great. They have the best kids. and made possible with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. For more info, visit http://historymoves. colum.edu/dancecenterpresents Additional funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and Those kids are amazing. I had such a good time The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation. org/inplainsight/. doing episodes over there. It is a good show Above: Michael Sakamoto and Rennie Harris, photo by Janelle Weatherford 24 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES hangover ever. NUNN ON ONE: WCT: You could keep going with these SPRING MUSIC SPECIAL songs, like “LOL!” Do you have a full album coming out? DW: I am in the process of putting together a Beatles project. I’m a huge Beatles fan and Out singer Sony has The Beatles catalogue so they suggested it to me. I am writing for an album also and hope to Daphne Willis record it in the summer. The Beatles album will come out in the meantime. Daphne Willis. WCT: What is your favorite Beatles song? talks goggles, Photo by Rebecca Ward DW: It is a tie between “Eleanor Rigby” and “Come Together.” WCT: Have you noticed how the LGBT bar scene in Nashville is all together and it is Meghan more separated in Chicago? DW: Yes, I noticed. People go to bars like Tribe and Play in Nashville. There is also fun Trainor karaoke at The Lipstick Lounge. I do like that here in Nashville is not so segregated. I think the whole thing started off where gay bars could be a safe, comfortable place but now that times are changing, in a really great way, that needs to come down. We need to have places where everybody hangs out together, gay, straight, bi, or whatever. Let’s all By Jerry Nunn a few years ago that I should write with his WCT: You must like playing it live. hang out together! friend Meghan. At the time she was not some DW: It is fun to play for people that have Come together with Willis at Martyrs, 3855 Coming out of Chicago and landing in Nashville big mega-pop star. We got together and wrote never heard it. I want to write another one N. Lincoln Ave., on April 7. Visit daphnewil- has worked well for singer Daphne Willis. Dur- “Done With Bein’ Done” in an hour. She is recalled “FML” because there are a lot more ac- lis.com and martyrslive.com for more infor- ing her time as a DePaul University student, ally phenomenally talented. Six months later, ronyms out there. It could be about the worst mation on tickets. she began performing in Chicago that eventu- she busted through the wall of the record in- ally led to her moving down south. She record- dustry like the Kool-Aid Man! ed her latest EP, Get It, in Nashville. Her new Chris Gelbuda produced her recent song with pop-crafted single, “Done With Bein’ Done,” John Legend. He co-produced my EP Get It. We ‘Toast to the Queens’ was written by hitmaker Meghan Trainor and wrote the songs “Take My Time” and “Get It” herself. together. April 7 at Playhouse Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park This out and proud talented singer was fea- WCT: Was it fun making the video for Rd., and drag-queen show Lips will celebrate tured on After Ellen and Perez Hilton recently “Done With Bein’ Done,” with all that paint? the current Playhouse production The Explor- as she heads into the big time. DW: It was not fun at all. I hated it. ers Club with “Toast to the Queens,” a high- Windy City Times: Hi, Daphne. You are We were partying and drinking. It was all of energy post-show performance by three of originally from Chicago? my friends. I told them to wear shit they don’t Lips’ talents: Ariel Sinclair, Skyla Versai and Daphne Willis: Yes; I went to Fremd High care about. They said it would wash out but it All Beef Patty. School in Palatine. I then went to DePaul Uni- did not. Everything was ruined! The event will take place Thursday, April 7, versity for a couple of years in the city. The video was amazing, though. I love ab- at 7:30 p.m. Doors and the bar will open at WCT: Did you study music? stract and philosophical videos like that, with 6 p.m. There will also be a red carpet and DW: No; I studied secondary education and symbolism going on. photo booth as well as a drag show with late- English. I am a huge literature buff. I was do- WCT: What is the story behind your gog- night entertainer Tom Boi hosting. ing open mics and writing on my own. I formed gles? Madonna: Like a Virgin and Other Hits. Admission is $25-$45 each; call 773-891- a band and we would play at aliveOne, Tin DW: I have collected them for a long time. I Photo courtesy of Rhino 8985 or visit windycityplayhouse.com. Lizzie and Lucille’s back in the day. have World War II fighter pilot goggles, weld- Then things progressed and I made an acous- ing goggles and vintage goggles. It started Rhino to release tic EP. It got sublicensed through a company from when I played six years ago. My sunglass- Lollapalooza called DMX—like when you are at Kohl’s and es had broken and I stopped at a gas station to vinyl specials you hear music playing. It ended up playing on buy some cheap biker glasses. I had them on lineup announced a flight that the president of Vanguard Records at a concert I played and felt like Superwoman. April 16 Radiohead, J. Cole, Lana del Rey, Ellie In anticipation for Record Store Day (April ended up on [the flight]. When his iPod died, After I was done, people wanted to take Goulding, rapper Future, LCD Soundsystem 16), Rhino has curated a collection of vinyl he plugged in his headphones and heard my pictures with them on. It was a moment when and Red Hot Chili Peppers are among those for 2016, including 27 limited-edition 12-, song playing. He looked me up in the pamphlet people forgot about things and looked through headlining this year’s Lollapalooza festival 10-and seven-inch releases. and saw I was unsigned. a different lens for a second. It became a sym- that will take place July 28-31 in Grant Park. Just a few of the items include releases He sent up A&R rep Gary Paczosa from Nash- bol for perception and perspective. I’m a phi- This year marks the festival’s 25th anniver- by a-ha (Hits South Africa; $14.98), Da- ville to talk to me. I took the deal and dropped losophy nerd. sary. vid Bowie (12-inch picture disc of The Man out of college halfway through. About four WCT: Is your song “TMI” about the age we Among the dozens of other acts are St. Who Sold The World; $21.98), Madonna (12- years later, I moved down to Nashville. live in? Lucia, Griz, The Front Bottoms, Wolf Alice, inch pink vinyl of “Like a Virgin” and other WCT: How did you meet Meghan Trainor? DW: Yes. It is a song poking fun at everybody Jackal, Flatbush Zombies and Alessia Cara. hits; $14.98), The Notorious B.I.G. (12-inch DW: I have a friend named Chris Gelbuda and social media in general, also how dating One-day tickets are on sale now. VIP, plati- “money” green vinyl of “Mo Money, Mo Prob- who is also on the same publishing company and meeting people has changed to be more num and hotel packages are also available. lems”; $14.98), The Monkees (10-LG set of as Meghan, Big Yellow Dog Music. He told me online now. classics on various colors of vinyl; $134.98) and Alanis Morissette (12-inch translucent Orchestra council splatter 180-gram vinyl of The Demos, 1994- Rachael Sage has 1998; $21.98). announces awards For a list of participating stores, visit Re- The Illinois Council of Orchestras (ICO) has new album, tour announced the 2016 recipients of its annual Singer/songwriter Rachael Sage has an- cordStoreDay.com. awards for excellence in the field of music nounced the release of her forthcoming full- performance and for support of musical orga- length studio album, Choreographic, due May Kinsey Sicks at nizations. 20. Some of the awardees include the Elgin Through this self-described “ballet-pop,” Davenport’s April 13 Symphony Orchestra (Professional Orchestra Sage delivers a tribute to her very first love: The Kinsey Sicks will hold the world pre- of the Year), Lakeview Orchestra (Commu- dance. miere of the new musical Electile Dysfunction nity Orchestra of the Year), Gregory Hughes Also, Sage has confirmed appearances at 2016: Hard Choices, Firm Choices on Wed., (Conductor of the Year, Community Orchestra SXSW in March as well as a new tour, with April 13, 8-9:30 p.m., at Davenport’s Piano category) and Friends of the Illinois Philhar- a stop in Chicago on Friday, June 10, at Un- Bar, 1393 N. Milwaukee Ave. monic Orchestra (Guild of the Year). common Ground Edgewater. In the show, Rachel, Trampolina, Trixie and Presentation of the ICO Awards will take Fresh off the heels of her 13th song place- Winnie campaign to become the first Draga- place through July at local concerts and oth- ment on Lifetime TV’s Dance Moms, Sage’s pella® beauty-shop quartet to be elected er events of the winning orchestras. For the music has reached an ever-widening audi- president of the United States on the Repub- full list of honorees, visit ILCouncilOrches- ence since her previous release Blue Roses, lican ticket. tras.org. amassing more than 9.5 million views on General admission is $32; call 773-278- YouTube. Rachael Sage. 1830 or visit http://reservations.daven- See RachaelSage.com. Photo by Shervin Lainez portspianobar.com/events/the-kinsey-sicks/. WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 25 GLD: Pro sports fans are known to be fre- Keegan Hirst. quently homophobic. Has any homophobia been directed at you from the fans? KH: I haven’t heard anything. It’s rare you can make out what individuals in a crowd are SPORTS saying when you’re concentrating on playing, but nothing has got back to me about [any- body] in the crowd saying anything. I think, Life out of the by and large, rugby is a family or a community game, and it prides itself on being inclusive to everyone. I guess I’m an example of that. GLD: How do you feel about becoming an closet for pro overnight celebrity, cover boy, underwear model—a gay sex symbol? KH: I wouldn’t say I was any of those things. rugby player Am I? No, I get the odd look as if people recognize me from somewhere, but if people consider me any of those things nobody told me! GLD: What is your relationship, if any, Keegan Hirst with Britain’s overall gay community? KH: I don’t know, really. I guess you’d have to ask them. I’ve had nothing but support from them, so I guess it’s good. I don’t particularly hang around in the gay community. I don’t get much time to myself with playing and training and having two young kids, so I don’t venture out much. And when I do it’s usually with the rugby lads so we’d go to our local pub. I try to get to big events, like I went to the Attitude Awards last year, and Manchester Pride. It’s nice to see people and talk about their experiences too. GLD: Are you dating? Is there someone special in your life? KH: As if I have time for that! by Gary L. Day mosexuality is widespread among team sports teammates changed? GLD: Are you planning for life after rugby? such as baseball and football (in America) and KH: It hasn’t changed at all, really. I was KH: To be honest, I haven’t thought about it We have reached a point in our culture where soccer and rugby (in Britain and Europe), rela- terrified it would do before I told them, but at all. I’d like to think I’ve got a good few years it has become so commonplace for entertainers tively few athletes have come out, at least dur- they’ve been nothing but supportive. I suppose left playing, injuries permitting. Who knows to come out of the closet that to do so hardly ing the active phases of their careers. there’s the odd bit of banter flying around, but what could happen in that time? Maybe when I raises a ripple in the news media. For example, Keegan Hirst is the captain of the Batley everyone gets that for one reason or another. get to 30 [he’s 28] I’ll start thinking about it. actors Zachary Quinto and Jim Parsons live as Bulldogs, a British professional rugby league Everything has become an innuendo, though— openly gay men with a happy family life, and team he has played for since 2012. He was mar- “Pass the balls, Keegan,” etc. no one has ever made a fuss about it. ried to woman, had two small children and had The world of men’s professional athletics is a promising professional career ahead of him a whole different story, particularly in team when he came out as gay in an August 2015 sports where the culture is hyper masculine, interview with the Sunday Mirror. This makes the money involved is sometimes monstrously Keegan the first professional rugby player in large, and the athletes are often under pressure Britain to come out. Australian Rugby League from teammates and management to stay clos- player Ian Roberts was the first internationally, eted. So, despite persistent rumors that ho- coming out in 1995, and Gareth Thomas came out in 2009 while playing for the Welsh rugby union. ‘Nominee Night’ Unsurprisingly, the media frenzy in Britain was immediate and widespread. In the short May 17 at Sidetrack months that followed Keegan gave countless Local musical-theater performers will gath- interviews, became the cover subject of At- er and 2016 Jeff Award Nominees will be titude, Britain’s leading gay magazine, and honored at “Nominee Night” on Tuesday, was hired to become an underwear model. May 17, at 7 p.m. at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Of course, when the modeling shots were re- Halsted St. leased, Keegan became Britain’s newest gay Pride Films and Plays is partnering with sex symbol. Chicago’s Buzz On Stage to present the But how has life been for him now that the event. initial press frenzy has cooled off? Well, for one All proceeds from the evening will benefit thing, he has had an amicable separation from the New Musical Initiative at Pride Films his wife (who gave interviews of her own in and Plays, including the upcoming free support of her husband’s coming out), though workshop of Adam Mathias and Jonathan he still shares custody of the children. And the Monro’s A History of Summer, the story new rugby season is starting, so Keegan is fac- of Fire Island, at Theatre Wit on Tuesday- ing normal life as a gay man on the field. Wed., June 28-29. Keegan was kind enough to answer some of Tickets can be purchased online at www. my questions how life has been since his com- BuzzOnStage.com/nominee-night, or just ing out, via email from his home in England. search for “Nominee Night.” Gary L. Day: Were you surprised that your coming out made such a splash with the media? ABT’s ‘Little Shop’ Keegan Hirst: Yes, I was surprised. It hadn’t been too much of a big deal for my friends and April 29-May 29 family and teammates, so I honestly didn’t American Blues Theater (ABT) continues think it would be a big deal. The response I its 30th-anniversary season—“Seeing is got was amazing. Believing”—with the comedic rock musical GLD: Were you prepared for the attention? Little Shop of Horrors, with book and lyrics KH: How could I have prepared for that? by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, The amount of support I’ve had has been bril- directed by Jonathan Berry, and music di- liant. Knowing people took time out of their rection by Ensemble member Austin Cook. busy lives to send letters and emails was very Little Shop of Horrors runs April 29-May humbling. 29 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 GLD: Have things calmed down in the time N. Lincoln Ave. since? Tickets are $19-$49; call 773-404-7336 KH: Things have calmed down a little, yeah— or visit AmericanBluesTheater.com. although the season has started and I have the kids, so I’m always busy with something! GLD: Has your relationship with your 26 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES

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James Tyrcha. Photos by Verdell Shannon

IML-bound: Trans man Tyrcha claims title, preps for IML

By Ross Forman title. “For me, acceptance is the most important thing in the world—and the future of our James Tyrcha transitioned 10 years ago this community relies on acceptance, 100 percent,” April, and yet for years after he lived in fear of he said. “Without acceptance, our community rejection just for being transgender. Two years cannot grow and change; it will [just] stay ago, that stopped—when he came out to ev- stagnant forever.” eryone about his transition. Tyrcha’s title earned him entry into the IML “I just needed to be open about my transi- Contest this May in Chicago, along with more SIDETRACK tion and be an advocate” for the transgen- than $5,000 in prizes. And he is confident der community, said Tyrcha, spurred to speak about his chances to shine at IML, where he Windy City Cycling Club’s fundraising Easter Bonnet party, Easter Sunday., March 27. out by bathroom/locker room use debates for will battle among 50 contestants. His IML goal Photos by Jed Dulanas transgender and the hoard of trans-bullying is simple: “To win,” he said without hesitation. and physical attacks, particularly against trans “I want to represent our community in ways women. that are unimaginable.” Flash-forward to the present, and Tyrcha is Tyrcha said the 64TEN title has skyrocketed now an award-winning trans male. his social-media status. Within the first 72 Tyrcha, 39—who grew up in suburban Mi- hours after winning, he had more than 500 nooka, now lives in Chicago’s Uptown neigh- Facebook friend requests from all over the borhood and works at Crew Bar & Grill and world, including Australia, Italy, Germany and Jackhammer—was the winner of the first Mr. beyond. “The fact that I’m a trans male doesn’t Leather 64Ten contest, held in mid-March at matter to them. What matters is I’m represent- Jackhammer (2015 Mr. Leather64Ten Michael ing our community and making a change—cre- Pacas was appointed). Leather-goods retailer ating dialogue for acceptance,” he said. Leather64Ten hosted a slew of weekend events Tyrcha said both Crew and Jackhammer have around the contest for Chicago’s leather com- been “very supportive” of his transition. munity. This was the first contest Tyrcha ever entered, as one of five competitors. “I was thrilled, flying high. The experience was like no other,” said Tyrcha, the founder of the website TransMaleChicago.com. “Being on stage was absolutely overwhelming, an experience that created lifelong companionship, brotherhood. “It was an unbelievable bond created between us competitors.” Tyrcha admitted he was reluctant to enter the contest, worried about his physique and how it’d compare with/against his opponents. He said he won the title “because of my passion to change the community and make a difference in the world—and that’s what being a SCOT’S title-holder is all about.” Tyrcha was emotional when asked about the Easter really went to their heads, Easter Sunday., March 27. Photos by Rick Bejlovec WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 27 Billy Masters

“I’m fairly new to modeling but I’ve been a performer for many years in musicals, concerts and the like. I am a singer/songwriter first but I feel it’s time for me to try my hand at modeling.”— Steve Grand’s post on a website while looking for modeling work a couple of years ago, under the name Finn Diesel. More on that later... Years ago, I worked with a very famous per- Steve Grand has had plenty to say, according former—a true triple-threat. Make that a qua- to Billy. druple-threat, because my life would often be Photo by Hal Baim jeopardized if I questioned anything this person said. This was difficult when I heard complete “I never was a model. I never got paid for any of fallacies being spoken in interviews. I once tried it. I’m just another guy who has photos online of to privately correct some of the inaccuracies—I me in my underwear and that’s really all it is. ... was told that the facts were wrong. This person I just wanted to take pictures of myself with my went from claiming to have been “almost nomi- clothes off.” nated for an Oscar” (How are you “almost nomi- First, some fact-checking: Despite assertions to nated?”) to later describing how it felt to have the contrary, Grand was most certainly a model. been nominated. Years later, I saw a TV inter- In 2010, he did one of his most revealing pho- view where this person talked about WINNING an toshoots under the name of Steve Chatham—and Oscar. When nobody questions you ... the truth I assume DNA magazine pays its cover models. becomes irrelevant. There were other risque shoots under the name That was a long-winded way to get into a sto- Finn Diesel. They probably slipped his mind. What ry about Adam Lambert. The pop star has had outraged fans was that this hot, young, white one of the most erratic career trajectories I’ve guy was lamenting his plight and describing him- ever seen. After languishing for years in musical self as a “target.” My favorite post said, “Don’t theatre, he enjoyed a meteoric rise on American hate Steve Grand because he’s white; hate him Idol. He may have come in second, but trumped because he’s clueless.” That sums it up. Grand Kris Allen in his post-AI career. Then, the inevi- tried to smooth things over on Twitter: “I say a table lull. He rebounded as the front man for a lot of things. Some of those things don’t always reconstituted Queen, which brought him a huge come out quite right. I can do better, and I’m go- payday. But without new material of his own, he ing to continue to try and do so.” As long as he’s risked becoming a tribute artist. His most recent still showing skin, I’m OK with that. Just don’t solo effort was well-received, but the ensuing ask me to hum any of his songs. tour did poorly—many dates played to paltry au- I recently told you that Sophia Loren was diences even after tickets were discounted to low charging $750 for a meet-and-greet. Apparently, double-digits on Goldstar. Mariah Carey is charging $700 for a similar expe- Now he prepares to fill yet another legendary rience. But let’s be clear—it’s a meet and a greet; singer’s shoes—Meat Loaf’s in The Rocky Horror it’s not a touch, hug, kiss or otherwise fondle. Picture Show Event. But Adam claims this wasn’t Fans in line were told that you walk over to her, the role Fox wanted him to play: “They actually stand next to her, pose and move on. Well, you asked me early on—this is sometime last year— can’t blame Mariah. She can barely move since to look at the role of Frank-N-Furter. I was re- she’s always poured into a dress at least four siz- ally flattered, and I thought, yeah, that could be es too small, which is ready to burst. You jostle quite fun. But [with my] schedule, [it was] just her the wrong way and the whole infrastructure not looking likely. And on a side note, I kind of could be compromised! Fans were told that Mari- Ripley felt like in 2016, to be cis and playing the role of ah might touch them if the spirit moved her ... a trans character, it felt inappropriate to me. ... assuming the spirit could move. I think casting Laverne [Cox] was so brilliant.” Logan McCree is making a drastic career Because, eh, transvestite, transsexual—it’s all change—he’s retiring from gay porn to become a Caine the same, right? firefighter in Scotland! Logan, whose real name is CD Release Party If ever Pantene revives its “Don’t hate me Philipp Tanzer, was previously an Army medic and because I’m beautiful” campaign, might I sug- wants to continue being of service to the commu- for her new gest Steve Grand as the new spokesperson? Poor nity—which is kinda what he did in his last job. Steve. He’s just too pretty for his own good. Now, But I digress. He’s open about his past, but no- full-length recording, there may be some people out there who don’t body seems to care. One of his fellow firefighters know who Grand is. He’s an out-and-proud singer said, “We would all have preferred it if he was a whose campaign to finish his All American Boy female porn actress. But he is what he is. ... None album became the fourth-most-funded music of us have a problem with his past. I haven’t seen project in Kickstarter history. any of his movies, but apparently he’s very good. .bravo. But the body of work Grand is best known He’s just Philipp. He’s a damn fine guy.” I hasten for is his body. To be fair, Grand is a very good- to add that, despite his gay-porn past, Philipp looking guy with an amazing physique, which hopes to marry a woman: “I can only imagine he has flaunted to acclaim with selfies, workout to be in a relationship with a woman.” Well, no- videos and underwear shots. And why not show body’s perfect. it off—especially if it translates into attention When Scots are putting out fires with their and money. But that comes with a price. In a bags and pipes, it’s definitely time to end yet Saturday, widely circulated interview, Steve made some of another column. Let me remind you that there’s the following statements: “I’m such an easy per- even more dish at www.BillyMasters.com, the site son to target. Young, good-looking, white, gay that’s not afraid to show what’s under the kilt. April 9 men—we love to hate those people;” “I take my If you have a question, send it along to Billy@ 9 pm music seriously. I’m a good musician and I’m a BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to good performer and I also like to work out my you before Adam Lambert wins his next Grammy body and show it off sometimes. It’s a fleeting . Until next time, remember: One man’s 27 Live thing; when I’m 50, I’m not gonna look like this;” filth is another man’s bible. 1012 Church St., Evanston, IL

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28 March 30, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES

nightspots the big TO-DO OUR WEEKLY PICKS TO PLAN THE GLENWOOD YOUR NIGHTLIFE CALENDAR Pride Idol, the weekly competition to find the best talent in Chicago’s LGBTQ community, kicked off Wed., March 23. Photos by Kirk Williamson the DISH Weekly Dining Guide in WINDY CITY TIMES

SAVOR Team Cheetah Brunch at Ride For AIDS Fundraiser Fri., April 1, 6-10 pm Appellation; Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan Rd. upcoming lecture Hot girls, facny guys, Jell-O shots and raffles prizes, all to raise money for BY ANDREW DAVIS Team Cheetah’s participation in this Arborio rice porridge at Appellation. year’s Ride For AIDS. $20 suggested do- I recently went to weekend brunch at Anderson- nation includes two drink tickets and a PR photo raffle ticket. ville’s Appellation (5212 N. Clark St.; Pasto- ralArtisan.com/appellation)—which I could also grapefruit mimosa. I’m not a huge fan of grape- seemingly call Pastoral/Appellation, as the 75- fruits, but this Ruby Red concoction was refresh- Appellation (or Pastoral/Appellation) has other seat bistro is an extension of the Pastoral Artisan ing and VERY delicious. items that warrant trying, including cornmeal- Cheese, Bread & Wine business located at the same Regarding the culinary fare, we started with and-sage pancakes, the Croque Monsieur and (most address. arborio rice porridge, accompanied with poached grandly) the continental breakfast with Quicke’s Something that surprised me was the fact that pears and honeycomb brittle. For some reason, Devonshire Butter, Crescendo Crescenza, Pio Tosini there weren’t too many diners at Appellation at 11 this initially gave me pause—but I would return Proscuitto di Parma served with toasted miche and a.m. Maybe people were still adjusting to the re- for this dish alone. The dish was almost comfort- panettone. Hopefully, there’ll also be more people cent time change. (I know I’ve had my struggles.) ing, with the right amount of sweetness. sampling the fare this eatery has to offfer. Hopefully, the place was bustling after I left be- For the main dish, my friend had the smoked cause the bistro has quite the impressive brunch. whitefish tartine with fennel apple salad and pick- Lecture on fats at Next Door Appellation has a wide-ranging selection of led mustard seed deviled eggs—which he really A free event focusing on good versus bad fats dishes (including sweet and savory items as well liked. I also really liked my selection: grilled hang- will take place Wed., March 30, at Next Door, 659 as sandwiches)—and, much to her credit, the er steak with sunny eggs, cheddar grits & kohl- W. Diversey Pkwy., 6:30-8 p.m. Man Bits: server was candid with me and my dining compan- Ed O’Brien (Ed-Obrien.com), a dietary expert and rabi-Brussels sprout slaw (and hanger steak can A Solo Photo Show ion about which dishes worked better than others really trip up some chefs). We concluded things former owner of Bountiful Eatery healthy eating (which might have saved this write-up from going with ricotta fritters with grapefruit curd—a pair of restaurant, will lead the discussion. in a different direction). tasty desserts that happened to be the right size. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/good- Sat., April 2, 7-9 pm To start, she was on the money about trying the fat-vs-bad-fat-tickets-23060051234?aff=EMAIL. The Sofo Tap, 4923 N. Clark St. Join photographer Shannon Jenkins to view this solo photography show. Shannon’s latest collection is a colorful, sexy salute to the male form featuring several hunky Chicagoans. Photo by Shannon Jenkins

Candy Land: Miss Club Krave 2016

Sat., April 2, 9 pm Club Krave, 13126 S. Western Ave., Blue Island, Ill. Over $600 in cash and prizes. Honoring Miss Club Krave 2015 Jazzelle Boyette (pictured). Categories are interview, MISS CONTINENTAL ELITE & PLUS presentation, gown and talent. Contact Jason Howell at 708-289-0462 for more The preliminary rounds of both pageants in one night, Sunday, March 27, at the Park West. info. Photos by Jack Neilsen WINDY CITY TIMES March 30, 2016 29

houses compete for prizes in categories - 12:30pm Center on Halsted 3656 N Hal- Chicago http://www.gerberhart.org COMMUNITY like voguing and “butch queen realness.” sted St., http://dbsa-glbt-chicago.com Free 7:00pm Logan Center screening Or Chadash Shabbat Morning Service & Monday, April 4 room 915 E. 60th St.; http://filmstudi- Study Synagogue dedicated to meeting Athletic Alliance of Chicago presents The CALENDAR escenter.uchicago.edu/events/2016/paris- the needs of the LGBT community in the Follies Members of AAC performing in drag burning Chicago area meets first Saturday of each at many levels of amateur to semi-profes- month. 10:00am Emanuel Congregation, sional levels, all in fun to raise money for Wed., March 30 Friday, April 1 5959 N Sheridan Rd; http://www.orcha- several Charities. There will be raffles, mo- Housing Instability performance event CatalystCon Conference to inspire and stim- dash.org ments of audience participation and plenty and panel discussion Youth Empowerment ulate attendees to create important con- Workshop: Helping families prevent sui- of fierce, fiery numbers $20 in advance, Performance Project performing parts of versations within communities and change cide among LGBT children Caitlin Ryan $25 at the door. One night only. First show our newest production Making It Home discourse on sexuality within society. and Philip Rodgers. The Family Acceptance 6:30 pm. 9:00pm Baton Show Lounge and panel discussion including Bonsai Through April 3, 5:30 pm. $45 to $200. Project is a research, intervention, educa- 436 N Clark St Chicago Tickets: http:// Bermudez executive and artistic director 9:00am Hyatt Regency O’Hare 9300 Bryn tion and policy initiative that works to aacfollies.com of YEPP, Dr. Casey Holtzchneider visiting Mawr Ave Rosemont, IL 60018 Tickets: prevent health and mental health risks for research specialist at UIC’s Jane Addams http://catalystcon.com/register/ LGBT children and youth, including suicide, Tuesday, April 5 College of Social Work and members of Chicago Dance Month Highlighting breadth, homelessness and HIV - in the context of OUTspoken! LGBTQ Storytelling Malissa YEPP. 3:00pm - 5:00pm Jane Addams diversity, rtistic richness of Chicago dance their families, cultures and faith communi- Rainey among tonight’s storytellers. The Hull House at UIC, 800 S. Halsted St., community, featuring many performanc- ties. 3:00pm - 4:00pm Palmer House series is curated by David Fink. No cover. Chicago http://www.wesayyepp.com es, classes, educational opportunities, Hilton 17 E Monroe Chicago http://fami- Doors to main bar open 6pm. 7:00pm Howard Brown annual meeting Awards open rehearsals and more, many for free. lyproject.sfsu.edu Sidetrack 3349 N Halsted St Chicago presentation and celebration of Howard ‘FIRST’ love Through May 1 12:00pm Various loca- Center on Halsted’s Human First Gala Hu- http://www.sidetrackchicago.com/ Brown’s community, growth, and future Saturday, April 2 tions http://SeeChicagoDance.com man First Awards to Denise Foy, Michael opportunities. Free. RSVP to events@ Flash Written, choreographed and performed McRaith and Lori Healey and the Commu- Wed., April 6 howardbrown.org with names and by Harris and Sakamoto, a “conversation” nity Spirit award to AT&T. Black Tie Op- The Integrity of the In Between Sean addresses. 6:00pm Brown Elephant Center on Halsted will hold between the artists’ respective aesthetics tional. Free parking. $350. Cocktail recep- Parker Dennison, pastor of Tree of Life - Clark 5404 N Clark Chicago http:// its Human First gala at (hip hop and butoh), cultural backgrounds tion, 5:30 pm. Awards, dinner, and dancing UUC Church in McHenry, IL, will be hosted howardbrown.org The Geraghty. (African-American and Japanese-Amer- 7:30pm The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne, by Gay and Lesbian & Family and Friends Good fats, bad fats Free lecture on the 2015 photo by Kat Fitzgerald/ ican) and personalities. 7:30pm The Chicago Tickets: https://community.cen- Ministry. Welcoming Catholic pastors, truths, myths, more about fat, good fats Mystic Images Photography Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago teronhalsted.org/HF teachers from parishes throughout the and bad ones, why it is important to 1306 S Michigan Ave Chicago 312-369- The Piano Men Beckie Menzie & Tom Mi- Chicago area as well as pastors, leaders, know the difference, strategies for losing 8330 Tickets: http://colum.edu/dance- chael will celebrate and pay tribute to people in the pews from other faith com- weight while still having a lot of energy 5:30pm - 7:30pm Dana Hotel, 2nd Floor center three iconic piano men - Barry Manilow, munities. 7:30pm - 9:30pm St. Nicholas to do everything you love. 6:30pm Next 660 N State St, Chicago Tickets: https:// Tret Fure Lesbian musician Tret Fure’s ca- Michael Feinstein & Billy Joel. 8:00pm Church, Oldershaw Hall, 1108 Washington Door Community Center, 659 West Diversey glchamber.chambermaster.com/eventreg- reer spans four decades. Along the way, Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret 1383 St., Evanston 847-864-1185 Parkway; Tickets: https://www.eventbrite. istration/register/2852 she worked as a duo with Cris Williamson N Milwaukee Ave Chicago 773-278-1830 Ani DiFranco @Park West $40 plus fees. com/e/good-fat-vs-bad-fat-tickets- Trans Day of Visibility: ResonaTe Choir in throughout the ‘90s, releasing three CDs http://davenportspianobar.com 8:00pm Park West Chicago 322 W Ar- 23060051234?aff=EMAIL Concert Evening of song celebrating the together during those years and earning mitage Ave Chicago Tickets: https://www. trans community in a fresh, new way, high- Janine C. Rae Award. She has her own Sunday, April 3 etix.com/ticket/p/3094092/ani-difranco- Thursday, March 31 lighting resilience, strength, and vibrancy label, Tomboy girl Records and a line of Teen Group Book Group Discussion about -chicago-park-westchicago-il Transgender Day of Visibility Online cam- through music. Chicago’s first and only clothing called Tomboy girl. On Facebook, the Brazilian film, “The Way He Looks” paign inviting trans and gender non- choir specifically created for trans voices see Tret in Concert at Two Way Street Cof- available at three of Chicago Public Librar- Thursday, April 7 conforming people and especially their in concert. 7:00pm - 9:00pm Center on fee House 8:00pm Two Way Street Coffee ies. Every first Sunday, we have a drop-in Lambda Women & Wine: a pop-up event allies to post on social media with the Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago Tickets: House, 1047 Curtiss St,, Downers Grove format designated teen space from 2-4 for LBTQ women Free 5:30pm Joie De #MoreThanVisibility. Time:TBA On- https://community.centeronhalsted.org/ PM open to those between 13 and 18 and Vine 1744 W. Balmoral Ave. Chicago Tick- line https://www.facebook.com/ TDOV Saturday, April 2 would like to discuss LGBTQ books, films ets: http://support.lambdalegal.org/site/ events/449087488622609/ Film screening: Jennie Livingston’s “Paris Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance and graphic novels, or play games. Future Calendar?id=106043&view=Detail Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Is Burning” Exhilarating celebration of (LGBTQ) Support meeting to talk about ill- discussion topics and activities are decid- Commerce Dana Hotel Soiree Mix and self-invention is an intimate tour of Har- nesses, symptoms, treatment, doctors, and ed upon active members. Check Facebook mingle. $20 pre-registered members. lem drag balls, where gay and transgender personal issues such as dating, relation- for updates! 2:00pm - 4:00pm Gerber $25 members at door. $30 non-members black and Latino participants in family-like ships and work. Every Saturday. 11:00am Hart Library and Archives 6500 N Clark St

day, April 15. The nomination should be 100 words or few- Windy City Times Managing Editor Andrew Da- er, and should state what achievements or con- Nominations sought vis coordinates the awards program for the pa- tributions the nominee has made. Nominators per. Hundreds of people have been honored by should include their own names and contact the paper in the more than 10 years since the information as well as the contact information for 30 Under 30 Awards; awards were established. Most honorees have and the age of the nominee. gone on to great success in their careers and Note: Following the policy instituted in 2005, educations, including working for the Obama individuals can only win once. Those have won ceremony at new site presidential campaign and administration, plus the award since that year are ineligible for this Windy City Times is seeking to recognize 30 Nominees should be 30 years or under as individual successes in music, legal, profes- year’s awards. more outstanding LGBT individuals (and allies) of June 30, and should have made some sub- sional and academic careers and much more. This year’s sponsors include Polo Cafe & Ca- for its annual 30 Under 30 Awards. stantial contributions to the Chicagoland LGBT Individuals, organizations, co-workers, etc. tering, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Center on The awards are moving this year to the South community, whether in the fields of entertain- can nominate a person by emailing Andrew@ Halsted, Howard Brown Health and Chicago Side, to Polo Cafe and Catering, 3322 S. Morgan ment, politics, health, activism, academics, WindyCityMediaGroup.com or faxed to Andrew House. St., on Wed., June 22. There will be a 5:30 p.m. sports or other areas. Davis’ attention to 773-871-7609. Self-nomi- Honorees will be notified in May. reception, with the program being 6-7:30 p.m. The deadline to nominate individuals is Fri- nations are welcome.

events/520675301445143/ Sidetrack holding —Saturday April 23: Proud to Runway Last year’s Chicago Dragons Rugby Bachelor Auction. 1980s. Proud to Runway is back and in full Photo by Jed Dulanas LGBTQ community force to celebrate the 35th annual Proud to events this spring Run Race. As an homage to their start, this year Several community organizations will be the models are bringing ‘80s realness. Benefi- holding gatherings and fundraising events this ciaries for this year include Trans Tech Social spring at Sidetrack, 3349 N Hasted St. Enterprises, About Face Theatre and Center —Saturday April 2, 6-9 p.m.: Chicago Drag- on Halsted A $20 donation includes two drink ons Rugby Bachelor Auction 2016. Are you tickets and benefits Frontrunner/Frontwalkers ready to take home a Dragon? Join the Chicago Chicago. Dragons as they host their annual bachelor Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/ auction. There’s a $25 donation that includes events/233978070283120/ two drink tickets. —Saturday April 30, 4-8 p.m.: Havana in Event page: https://www.facebook.com/ Chicago—a benefit for First Hand Aid events/1523513554610145/ Proceeds from this event will be used to help —Saturday April 16, 4-8 p.m.: Chicago Gay First Hand Aid fulfill its mission of delivering Men’s Chorus Big Package Auction. Chicago medical and day-to-day supplies, providing ser- Gay Men’s Chorus presents The Big Package vices to families and feeding seniors in Cuba. Auction ‘16, hosted by Judy Tenuta. There will There will be a Cuban buffet from Siboney Cu- —Saturday May 14, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: MOMosa tions for additional details. be comedy, gourmet food, cocktails, and silent ban Restaurant (SiboneyChicago.com) and Cu- Brunch 2016. It’s a brunch cocktail event for Sidetrack opens at 3 p.m. Monday through and live auctions—featuring a super-sexy all- ban music by Angel D’Cuba and guests. patrons, their mothers, and all friends and fam- Friday, and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. male big package auction. The VIP reception There will also be a Cuban inspired silent ily who support equality! All proceeds benefit Many of these events have a suggested dona- starts at 4 p.m., with the main event starting auction with artwork, artifacts and gift certifi- the work of Equality Illinois. tion at the door. Sidetrack will offer separate at 5 p.m. cates. All the money raised during this event— Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/ bar areas open to the general public, with no Visit CGMC.org/2016-events/big-package- from ticket sales, silent auction and drink events/972944832792232/ cover, during all events. auction/ sales—goes directly to First Hand Aid. Tickets Schedule subject to minor changes. 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and Darrick Johnson. “Dick helped raise hun- LGBT Hall of Fame dreds of thousands of dollars for various chari- Hakeem (Bryshere Gray, L) and Jamal ties over the years, including for AIDS groups, (Jussie Smollett, R) perform on Empire. Celebrity Bowl May 14 Gay Games VII in 2006, and most recently the Photo by Chuck Hodes-FOX CHICAGO—A major benefit for the Chicago Hall of Fame. Dick and his late partner Joe La LGBT Hall of Fame has been renamed in honor Pat are both inductees into the Hall of Fame for of the event’s founder, who died last year. The their commitment to the LGBT community.” 2016 Dick Uyvari Memorial Celebrity Bowl will People can support the event by either bowl- be Saturday, May 14, at Waveland Bowl, 3700 ing and raising pledges from friends, or they N. Western Ave. can donate to a bowler or the event itself. For information contact [email protected] or call 773-459-8337. The free event starts with registration at 10 a.m., followed by bowling at 11 a.m. and the wrap-up at noon. Donations can be sent to Friends of the Chi- cago LGBT Hall of Fame, 3712 N. Broadway, #637, Chicago, IL 60613-4235. The organization is a 501-c-3 nonprofit. Online donations students; $35 screening and award-night cer- can be made through Paypal. Those sponsoring Chicago TV Awards emony; $75 screenings and award-night cer- a bowler can indicate their name on the memo emony/reception) are on sale now; visit Chica- April 18-20 goFilmFestival.com. line of the check, or in the additional infor- The Chicago International Television Awards mation link on Paypal: http://tinyurl.com/ will expand its programming April 18-20. mwow4kc. All events will take place at the AMC River Tedeschi to depart In addition to Caldwell and Johnson, event East 21, 322 E. Illinois St. organizers include Israel Wright, Jr., Gary Among the events slated are a screening of Art Institute Chichester, Mary Morten, Suzanne Arnold, Tracy the Chicago-based Fox show Empire, complete James Rondeau, president and Eloise W. Mar- Baim, Megan Carney and Vincent Pagan. with a panel discussion including key crew tin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago, Sponsors of the LGBT Hall of Fame include members; and a screening of the newest epi- confirmed that Martha Tedeschi, the museum’s Dick Uyvari. Sam Coady, Phil Hannema, Michael Leppen, sode of HBO’s Veep, along with actor Gary Cole deputy director for art and research, has ac- Photo by Ross Forman Richard Pfeiffer and Timothy K. Frye, Bill Pry, speaking about the show, now in its fifth sea- cepted an appointment to become the next Richard Turner, Rick Aguilar Studios, Ann Sath- son, as well as his Chicago roots. Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of the er Restaurant, BOI Magazine, Center on Hal- The annual benefit is sponsored by the The expanded programming culminates Wed., Harvard Art Museums. sted, Chicago History Museum, ChicagoPride. Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, a April 20, with the annual Chicago International Tedeschi will depart the Art Institute of Chi- com, Grab Magazine, Hall’s, House of Blues, nonprofit that raises funds for the Hall of Fame Television Awards at the AMC River East 21. The cago to assume her new title and duties in July. International Mr. Leather, J&L Catering, Morten itself, the first LGBT Hall of Fame launched by celebratory evening begins at 60 p.m. with a Tedeschi began her career at the Art of Chicago Group, Napleton’s Northwestern, Sidetrack, Su- a city in the world. cocktail reception at the Lucky Strike Lounge as a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) pergurl Images, Waveland Bowl and Windy City “We are excited to honor the legacy of Dick followed by the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Intern in 1982, and became a full curator in Times. Uyvari,” said event co-chairs Kathy Caldwell Tickets ($20 screening passes, $15 members/ 1999.

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