SUZE ORMAN INTERVIEW WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 PAGE 32 Jan. 18, 2012 vol 27, no. 15 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES Store’s specialty: transgender women AIDS ACTIVIST by Lauren Everitt teetering steps in stilettos. It has two dressing rooms Connors works the store every Monday, and her entou- PHILL WILSON and a beauty bar where the staff works their magic. In rage starts to trickle in around 2 p.m., usually staying pagE 16 The yellow-brick boutique across from the Arlington walks a suit and tie; out walks Kimberley, Gina or Erica. until close. They sip wine and trade the latest gossip. Heights Village Hall was the talk of the town when it set The shop still draws looks of incredulity when dropped in The shop’s owner, Rori Scheffler, is visiting Transforma- up shop 12 years ago. It’s a simple affair, built in the conversation among Arlington Heights residents. tion’s Key Largo location, so Connors has been working geometric style of an ’80s strip mall, with “Transforma- Having stepped inside on a Monday, and it was as full-time for the past several weeks. tions” scrawled in white across the black awning. Sand- though the Stepford wives had reassembled for cocktail The scene was a little too perfect. The two cash reg- wiched between a red-brick house and a photography hour. ister conversationalists were accessorized to set off air- studio, where framed families flash toothy smiles from Olivia Connors, the sales associate, was a picture of port metal detectors, and their hands had only just left the window, the building is, well, ordinary—from the poise from her flawless foundation to the rounded tips of the manicurist’s table, their clothing perfectly pressed outside. her manicured nails. She was carefully arranging a blond and coordinated. Transformations by Rori (110 S. Arlington Heights Rd., mane around the shoulders of a teenage girl while the A stately woman more than six feet tall, Connors was Arlington Heights) is the only full-service commercial girl’s mother looked on approvingly. Olivia glanced up like a modern June Cleaver. Her habits include sipping shop for transgender women in the Chicago area. (Its from her work to flash a Crest Whitestrip smile. her martinis—with a single olive—through a straw so as sister store is located in Key Largo, Fla.) “Meet Katie and Lyseth. They’ll be able to help you out Turn to page 8 The boutique is a refuge for those who have long em- while I finish up here,” she said, gesturing to two ladies braced their inner chic and for those taking their first engaged in conversation by the cash register. AUTHOR TALKS ‘windy city queer’ page 31 COOL SHOWS WINTER THEATER & DANCE SPECIAL

page 21

Photos from: Come Fly Away by Joan Marcus; The Magic Flute by Dan Rest; The Ghost Is Here by John W. Sisson, Jr.; Iron Mistress by Ben Fuchsen. marriage equality: a busy 2012 page 4 2 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 3 this week in WINDY CITY TIMES NEWS ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Marriage-equality; Girl Scouts 4 Winter Theater Special 21 Religious leaders; Canada 6 ‘Come Fly Away’ dancer Rubio 24 North Side remap furor 7 ‘Man Boobs’ creator talks 26 Store for transgender women 8 Winter dance preview 30 Activists’ trial continued 9 Windy City Queer editor Bergquist 31 Catholics; MLK honor; Vida/SIDA 10 Suze Orman interview 32 Passages: Fisher, Ortleb, Evans 11 Author of ‘Dead Celebrity Cookbook’ 33 Protest ordinance 12 Knight: Pina, Dirty, Extremely... 34 Trans in the Life 14 ‘Dirty Girl’ director Abe Sylvia 34 Gay in the Life 15 Dish: Gay baker; dining news 36 AIDS @ 30 16 Travel: Ecuador 36 Viewpoints: Monroe; letters 20 Billy Masters 41

Photos on cover (left, from top): PR photo OUTLINES of Suze Orman; photo of Phill Wilson by Erica Real estate; classifieds 38 Demarest; photo of Kathie Bergquist courtesy Calendar Q 40 of Bergquist; photo of Evan Wolfson by David WNBA superfan writes book 42 Shankbone Visit the museum every Saturday in

GO’S GAY, LESBIAN, THE VOICE OF CHICA UNITY SINCE 1985 NS COMM BI AND TRA 2012 Jan. 18, UZE vol 27, no. 15 S N WINDY CITY ORMA EW INTERVI TIMESGroup.com 2 www.WindyCityMedia PAGE 3 January to watch films that focus on

entou- Store’s specialty: and her , Monday staying tore every sually the s p.m., u gossip. nors works around 2 e latest Con rickle in trade th rma- rooms ts to t and ransfo essing rage star ip wine s visiting T two dr . In They s er, i n working . It ha s ic til close. ri Scheffl bee lettos rks their mag un wner, Ro Connors has s in sti ca. op’s o ion, so ring step e the staff wo , Gina or Eri The sh o locat . h reg- teete wher mberley d in ey Larg al weeks two cas auty bar walks Ki n droppe tion’s K st sever . The ir- a be e; out ulity whe or the pa perfect et off a and t and ti incred ts. ime f little too rized to s transgenderlooks of womenas full-t so t left ts residen walks a sui draws h it was ene was a ts were acces had only jus eritt rlington hop still gton Heig , a nd The sc onalis nds ssed ev the A The s ng Arlin Monday ktail ersati eir ha fectly pre IST by Lauren rom set tion amo on a d for coc ister conv tors, and th g per IV across f n when it conversa ed inside eassemble tal detec eir clothin utique f the tow tepp had r port me ble, th DOWNLOADas THIS! AIDS ACT ick bo o lt in the ving s f st’s ta nors w -br s the talk air, bui Ha ford wives cture o nicuri all, Con WILSON The yellow Hall wa aff orma- the Step as a pi the ma . t ping PHILL e a simple “Transf though iate, w s of dinated an six feet e sip eights Villag ago. It’s ll, with soc tip d coor more th ts includ s E 16 H years trip ma ing. Sand- e sales as the rounded d an oman Her habi aw so a PAG 12 ’80s s awn hour. nors, th on to g a blon stately w a str up shop of an e black raphy a Con foundati gin A e Cleaver. through e 8 c style across th a photog Olivi awless efully arran ile the modern Jun olive— to pag geometri in white and er fl was car like a Turn awled ck house les from poise from h . She nage girl wh is—with a single s” scr red-bri toothy smi the nails of a tee glanced up rtin tion tween a es flash rom icured oulders . Olivia her ma be dinary—f her man d the sh ovingly wiched e framed famili well, or aroun on appr smile. her ng i s, mane looked rip out studio, w he buildi ts Rd., mother a Crest Whitest help you ndow, t eigh girl’s flash be able to ladies the wi Arlington H ercial to . They’ll o S. from her work esturing to tw utside. y Rori (110 ervice comm (Its atie and Lyseth d, g r. o ations b area. “Meet K re,” she sai registe ansform Chicago up he Tr ghts) is the only in full th-se nish on by the cash Hei women while I fi versati Arlington ender g em- ed in con for transg Key Largo, Fla.)ho have lon engag shop located in eir first re is ge for those w king th sister sto is a refu ose ta the LGBT communities. Films begin at or th boutique c and f Go to The chi www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com r their inne braced

AUTHOR TALKS y CITy COOL SHOWS ‘WIND ’ WINTER THEATER & qUEER DANCE SPECIALpage 21 PAGE 31 to download complete issues of Windy City Times and Nightspots.

MARRIAGE ITy: EqUAL A bUSy 10:00 a.m. and run continuously until 2012 PAGE 4 Then click on any ad and be taken directly to the advertiser’s Web site! 4:30 p.m. Screenings are FREE with online exclusives at Museum admission. www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com JANUARY 21 MODEL BEHAVIOR Paul Anderson reflects on his days with the Daddy & Papa Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency—and what he’s up to now. Becoming Chaz

Photo from Anderson Out and Proud in Chicago Philadelphia

JANUARY 28 Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin Financial guru I am the Queen Phil Sitar looks at resolutions If These Walls Could Talk 2 Read about the and debt payoff book Cambodian The Kids Are All Right strategies. BENCH MARKS Grrrl, which See pictures of and read about Judge looks at gender Photo from Sitar Deborah Gubin’s fundraiser at Sidetrack inequality in the and a recent queer teacher mixer at the Asian country. Chicago History Museum. COMING HOME OUT IN CHICAGO LESSON learned Read more about the LGBT panels that Out in Chicago explores the uncharted took place recently at the American history of Chicago’s LGBT communities Historical Association conference. over the past 150 years. Come see this exhilarating exhibition before it closes THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT This week’s entertainment round-up its doors on March 26, 2012. includes items on Darren Criss, Martha Stewart and RuPaul. Presenting Sponsors Lead Corporate Sponsor Additional Sponsor See many photos from President Obama’s visit to his hometown of plus Chicago last week. DAILY BREAKING NEWS Photo by Kat Fitzgerald

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Real Housewife Serving cute Melissa Gorga realness at comes to Spin. Mary’s Attic. Call 312.642.4600 or visit www.chicagohistory.org page 14 page 8 PLUS Find Nightspots on www.WindyCityQueercast.com 4 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES will be decided this year in favor of marriage ONLINE AT equality. If so, he says, they will put pressure on President Obama to announce his support. WINDYCITYMEDIAGROUP.COM Marriage equality: “Having a Democratic President, an African NATIONAL NEWS American at that, on the ‘wrong’ side of federal- appeals-court rulings on civil rights is an unten- A busy 2012 able situation,” he wrote. However, the cases are being decided by three-judge panels in each circuit, and could be by Dana Rudolph appealed further to the full circuit courts or di- Keen News Service rectly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Wolfson made no predictions about the presi- —Suze Orman (left): Proactive efforts got underway this month to es- dent’s stance but said Freedom to Marry will call tablish marriage equality in at least three more I can’t vote for a on the president “to follow through on the really GOP president states. important and great steps he’s taken” in 2011— Democratic leaders in the New Jersey Sen- especially Attorney General Eric Holder’s letter ate and Assembly, on Jan. 9, announced their —Two women “marry” to Congress stating that the administration be- in North Carolina intention to introduce a marriage-equality bill. lieves Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), a longtime (DOMA) is unconstitutional and would no longer supporter of rights for same-sex couples, an- —Va.’s primary ballot defend it. only has Romney, Paul nounced Jan. 4 that she will introduce such a Section 3 of DOMA states that the federal bill in her state. Also, in Maryland—where a government will not, for any federal purposes, marriage-equality bill passed the state Senate recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. but not the House in March 2011—Gov. Martin Both Wolfson and Socarides agree that sup- O’Malley (D) has said he will sponsor marriage porting marriage equality is no longer the politi- Wolfson said his organization has been deliv- equality legislation in 2012 and will take an ac- cal suicide it once was. ering that information to both Democratic and tive role in moving the bill forward this year. “The remarkable new reality for Obama in this Republican elected officials and party operatives And Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike election,” said Socarides, “is that supporting “to propel that momentum and have the politi- Miller, Jr., D-Calvert, has indicated his chamber Evan Wolfson. Photo by David Shankbone marriage equality is smart politics.” cal types stop acting as if this were 1996. The will shortly take action on such a measure. Wolfson noted that a July analysis of over politics of the freedom to marry have changed After a 2011 that saw marriage equality be- a decade of polling data by Joel Benenson, dramatically, as has public support.” to the state Senate, which under normal proce- come reality in the most populous state yet President Barack Obama’s lead pollster, and Dr. However, Freedom to Marry is also working in dure would not vote on it until at least April. and the Obama administration issuing a major Jan van Lohuizen, President George W. Bush’s communities to spread the message about “why Gov. John Lynch (D) has said he would veto the statement against the Defense of Marriage Act lead pollster, showed that support for marriage marriage matters and who gay families are” and bills, allowing marriage equality to remain, al- (DOMA), 2012 could do even better. equality nationwide rose about one percent per “painting real pictures through stories and con- though the legislature could override the veto. Evan Wolfson, president of the national group year between 1996 and 2009, but jumped to five versations,” said Wolfson. Wolfson noted that marriage-equality advo- Freedom to Marry, said progress towards mar- percent per year in 2010 and 2011. That, he said, “is how you build the support cates “continue to be vigilant” in Iowa, where The analysis also concluded that, since 2006, that creates the climate for political and judicial same-sex couples gained the right to marry in support has risen 8 percent among Republicans change.” 2009. The state House last year passed a bill and 13 percent among Independents. The study ©2012 by Keen News Service. All rights re- that would have started the process of putting was commissioned by Freedom to Marry. served. an anti-marriage equality measure on the ballot, but Democratic leadership blocked the bill in the Senate. what if we all bought a [lot] [Girl Scouts] Two other states—North Carolina and Minne- Transgender cookies from Bobby and [her] troop, showing sota—will be turning the matter over to voters controversy with our support, while allowing them to have the in 2012. The legislatures passed bills in 2011 for most successful cookie season in Colorado, ballot measures that seek to ban marriage for maybe in the U.S.” Girl Scout troops Katz was a Girl Scout for years and recalled same-sex couples under the state constitutions. By Ross Forman that the group stresses “open mindedness, Minnesota’s ballot measure will appear in No- tolerance, and acceptance of difference.” vember. North Carolina’s, however, will appear Girl Scout cookies have already caused a fire- “Basically, as a Colorado resident who be- on the May 2012 primary ballot—not in No- storm long before the first Thin Mints, Samoas lieves in equality, I’ve followed the story of Gov. Chris Gregoire. vember as originally planned—a move that may or Peanut Butter Patties have been eaten this Bobby Montoya since there was the issue make it more likely to pass. year. of Bobby being allowed in the troop,” Katz North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis, R- CNN reported that the website Honest- emailed Windy City Times. “I was ecstatic riage equality in 2012 will be “fueled by the ex- Mecklenburg, told a press conference that the GirlScouts.com features a YouTube video call- when [Girl Scouts of America] published their traordinary, transformative wins we racked up in date change was made to “remove politics.” ing for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies in re- inclusitivity policy, and welcomed Bobby back 2011.” Some Democrats had accused Republicans of us- sponse to a Colorado troop’s decision to allow into their troop. I was sad when troops across At the same time, he said, “We definitely have ing the bill to draw conservative voters to the a 7-year-old transgender child into its troop. the country disbanded in reaction to this act our big challenges in 2012 and we’re not going polls in November. However, the major contest- LGBT-rights groups have reported a grassroots of acceptance of all girls, but it was this re- to win every battle.” ed primaries in May will be the Republican ones movement of supporters buying Girl Scout cent YouTube video, from ‘Taylor’ that caught On the positive side, the three states above for president and governor, meaning the spring cookies in response to the video. my attention. could see legislative success toward achieving turnout to vote on the marriage measure will The video was prompted by the case of “For someone who calls herself a Girl Scout marriage equality in 2012. likely be largely Republican. Bobby Montoya, whose mother told a CNN af- to call [for] a message of hatred, and pro- O’Malley and Gregoire seem to be following Elsewhere, Indiana and Pennsylvania started filiate in October that a troop leader initially mote this boycott based on the Girl Scouts the example of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo the process in 2011 for anti-marriage equality told her that Bobby could not join the troop of America policy of inclusion, well, it was (D), who was actively involved in successfully ballot measures, and those could see further ac- because Bobby “has boy parts,” even though just time to do something. My friend Heidi pushing through marriage equality in his state’s tion in 2012. Both states require two legisla- her child identifies as a girl. posted Taylor’s video, and mentioned that it legislature in 2011. tive sessions to pass ballot measures that would The Girl Scouts of Colorado blamed the ini- would be nice if we could make Bobby the However, the road will be much harder in New amend the state constitutions. tial decision to exclude the child on ignorance number-one seller in the U.S., to show our Jersey, where Republican Gov. Chris Christie has In Maine, LGBT advocates collected enough of the Scouts’ policy. “If a child identifies as support and boycott the boycott. Both of us said he would veto any marriage equality legis- signatures to place a measure in favor of mar- a girl and the child’s family presents her as a emailed the Girl Scouts of Colorado offices, lation passed in his state. Supporters will have riage equality before voters on the 2012 ballot. girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as and I started the event on Facebook to bring to gain enough votes to override that veto. A spokesperson for the effort, Ian Grady, said a Girl Scout,” said the Colorado Girl Scouts, in attention to it. Other states may not get that far. West Vir- the advocates have not yet decided whether to a statement to a CNN affiliate. “I’ve decided to purchase as many boxes ginia Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson County, submit the signatures and proceed with the ef- In the YouTube video, 14-year-old “Taylor” as my modest budget will allow and donate told WEPM Radio News Dec. 22, 2011, that a fort. Their deadline is the end of January. speaks out against Girl Scouts’ acceptance of them to the local LGBTQ community center,” marriage-equality bill has “no chance” of pass- Some marriage-equality advocates also believe transgender boys. Mara Morken, a lesbian stay-at-home mom in ing his state’s legislature. But Doyle said he 2012 could see progress at the federal level. Shanna Katz, a Denver resident and former Fargo, N.D., told CNN. “I want to show sup- would introduce a civil union bill. Richard Socarides, a longtime Democratic ac- Girl Scout, spearheaded an online campaign port for GSUSA in their honorable decision to Colorado state Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, tivist and former White House aide under Presi- with Heidi Anderson to buy cookies from allow all girls to participate in their programs. introduced a civil-union bill in the Colorado dent Clinton, wrote in the New Yorker Dec. 19, Montoya, although their drive halted when However, I do not want that support to show legislature Jan. 11. The bill is expected to pass 2011, that he foresees “a strategically timed the Girl Scouts of Colorado said that Bobby is itself on my thighs, so I will donate the entire the Democrat-controlled Senate but will face a (if low-key) pre-election announcement” of the no longer interested in being a Girl Scout. cookie order.” tougher path in the House, which the Republi- president’s support for marriage equality. “However, they have reinforced their inclu- The furor over Taylor’s video has led to sev- cans control by one vote. Socarides said he believes two federal cases sivity statement, and I suggest we take this eral video replies, such as one from a younger One state could lose marriage equality this seeking to secure marriage equality —Gill v. Of- social networking power and use it to support Girl Scout named Emma who stated she is year. The New Hampshire House will likely vote fice of Personnel Management (the DOMA chal- the [Girl Scouts of America],” Katz wrote on “proud to support LGBT kids.” this month on a bill to repeal marriage equality lenge) in the 1st Circuit and Perry v. Brown (the Facebook. “Heidi and I came up with an idea; in the state. If it passes, the bill would then go equal protection challenge) in the 9th Circuit— WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 5

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government from doing so. Canada DoJ The reaction in the United States and Cana- Religious leaders da has been fierce. triggers “The notion that Canadian law should be dependent on the local laws of every single marriage scare other jurisdiction on the planet is asinine,” cry bigotry said National Post columnist Matt Gurney. “A By Lisa Keen By Chuck Colbert “We are not going to see bishops going to jail Keen News Service government that has made so much of stand- Keen News Service over this,” DeBernardo said. ing up for Canada’s values on the world stage Interestingly, DeBernardo said, “At least for The Canadian Department of Justice told has no business declaring our own laws sub- A group of nearly 40 conservative religious lead- the Catholic bishops who signed this statement, a court in Ontario this week that a lesbian servient to any other land’s. We might not ers released an open letter Jan. 12 that seeks to there was never any uproar over providing ben- couple from the United States and England have the hard- or soft-power to give our laws reframe the battle over same-sex civil marriage efits to divorced, remarried, but not annulled who obtained a marriage license there in 2005 much weight abroad, but we can at least hon- as a threat to their freedom of religion. people. The same Catholic principles of marriage should not be granted a divorce now because our them in our own country.” And in a new tactical twist, the signatories apply in that case. Why is there only an uproar they were not legally married in Canada. However, in fact, many jurisdictions do say their concern is not that their ministers when gay and lesbian people are involved?” The argument triggered a flood of news have this requirement. When Massachusetts will be forced to preside at same-sex weddings. Phil Attey, executive of Catholics for Equality, inquiries, aimed at determining whether the began issuing marriage licenses in 2004, the Rather, they say, allowing gays to wed would said the Catholic bishops are recasting them- administration of Conservative Prime Minister state supreme court ruled that only couples end up “forcing or pressuring both individuals selves from “bullies” to “victims.” Stephen Harper, who opposes same-sex mar- from states that did not bar same-sex mar- and religious organizations—throughout their “Politically, it’s imperative for the bishops to riage, might be trying to invalidate same-sex riage could obtain licenses in Massachusetts. operations, well beyond religious ceremonies— change the narrative, he said. “And the best marriages through the courts. And Vermont, after it passed its historic civil- to treat same-sex sexual conduct as the moral way to do this is to fabricate injustices against However, five of the U.S.’s top LGBT legal union law, required that to dissolve a civil equivalence of marital sexual conduct.” them. Ergo, we have their new ‘religious liber- groups issued a statement Jan. 12 saying they union, a couple had to reside in Vermont for The signatories include New York Archbishop ties’ campaign.” are not worried. at least a year. Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Confer- Catholics for Equality is a national LGBT advo- “No one’s marriage has been invalidated or Same-sex couples began obtaining marriage ence of Catholic Bishops; H. David Burton, pre- cacy organization. is likely to be invalidated,” said the groups. licenses in some provinces of Canada in 2003, siding bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of The use of public funds by faith-based orga- “The position taken by one government law- and, in 2004 under Prime Minister Paul Mar- Latter-day Saints; and Leith Anderson, president nizations is a key, say advocates and legal ex- yer in a divorce is not itself precedential. No tin, same-sex couples could marry anywhere of the National Association of Evangelicals. It perts, not religious freedom. Privately funded, court has accepted this view and there is no in the country. When Stephen Harper became also includes the Bishop of Oakland, Calif., the religious-based, charitable and social services reason to believe that either Canada’s courts prime minister in 2005, he initially tried to Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone. programs are exempt from non-discrimination or its Parliament would agree with this posi- overturn that marriage equality law but failed. “There is no doubt that many people and laws. But such taxpayer-funded faith-based pro- tion, which no one has asserted before during According to CBC television, about 5,000 groups whose moral and religious convictions grams are required to comply with state non- the eight years that same-sex couples have couples have come from other countries to forbid same-sex sexual conduct will resist the discrimination laws. had the freedom to marry in Canada.” marry in Canada. compulsion of the law and church and state “Religious freedom does not include a right Not everyone seems as confident. Peter Freiberg, a U.S. journalist who mar- conflicts will result,” the leaders caution, in the to special exemptions from the laws that bind Canadian Member of Parliament Olivia Chow ried his same-sex partner, legal activist Joe letter, entitled “Marriage and Religious Freedom: all citizens,” said professor Tobias Wolff at the told the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) Tom Easley, in Toronto in 2003, said he was Fundamental Goods That Stand or Fall Together.” University of Pennsylvania Law School. “Neither that she thinks Harper “is hiding behind the “very surprised” at the news. The signatories say that faith-based adoption does religious freedom include a right to avoid law and using a back-door way” to invalidate “The parliament voted and [Harper] just agencies would be required to place children criticism for one’s beliefs. Adherents to religions same-sex marriages. dropped the issue,” said Freiberg. Frieberg with civilly married same-sex couples and that that preach discrimination against LGBT people Another MP, Justin Trudeau, told CBC, “This said he and Easley did consider obtaining an religious employers would be required to extend have a right to explore their beliefs. They do is what we have been worried about with the additional marriage license in California in medical health care benefits same-sex spouses. not have a right to turn those beliefs into law, Conservative majority for a long time, we’re 2008, when it was possible to do so. The letter, posted on the website of the U.S. and they do not have a right to pursue their going to see the erosion of gains….” “But Lambda advises against that,” said Conference of Catholic Bishops, holds out mar- beliefs free from the disapproval of their fellow Liberal Party leader Bob Rae suggested Freiberg. “They advised very strongly against riage between heterosexual couples as the “true citizens.” Harper might be trying to defeat same-sex it because, if anything should ever come up in definition” that “must be protected for its own ©2012 by Keen News Service. All rights re- marriage through the courts now. court, it looks frivolous to go around and get sake and for the good of society.” served. “I understand Mr. Harper said he didn’t know married in different places, and the Canadian The religious leaders also assert that, in op- about [DOJ argument in the divorce case] and license is as good as any other license.” posing same-sex marriage, they and their follow- he doesn’t see every legal brief that goes be- In its statement Jan. 12, Lambda and the ers have been “marked” as “bigots, subjecting Huntsman drops out fore the courts,” Rae told reporters Thursday. four other groups noted that “Canada’s Par- GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman them to the full arsenal of government punish- But he added, “Of all the people in Canada liament codified the equal right to marry for dropped out of the race Jan. 16, and called for ments and pressures reserved for racists.” who could actually make that argument, it’s same-sex couples in 2005.” peace within his political party. Nationwide, the hierarchy of the Catholic a little hard for him to make the argument “The message for same-sex couples mar- The former Utah governor, who was also U.S. Church has been at the forefront advocating because my sense of that government is that ried in Canada remains the same as it is for ambassador to China under President Barack against equal civil-marriage rights for gay cou- he controls everything.” same-sex couples validly married here in the Obama, also endorsed ex-Massachusetts Gov. ples. One leading opponent is Dolan, whom the At a press conference Jan. 12, Harper said United States: take every precaution you can Mitt Romney. pope will elevate to cardinal next month. he was unfamiliar with the divorce case in to protect your relationship with legal docu- Huntsman finished third in the recent New Days before conservative religious leaders re- question and that he had “no intention of ments such as powers of attorney and adop- Hampshire primary, behind Romney and Ron leased their letter, Pope Benedict said same-sex further re-opening or opening this issue.” tions, as you may travel to jurisdictions that Paul. Tim Miller, Huntsman’s spokesman, said marriage posed a threat to “humanity” adding, The divorce case in question involves a don’t respect your legal relationship,” said that in South Carolina—where the candidates “Pride of place goes the family, based on the woman who resided in Florida and one who the statement. “There is no reason to suggest are currently campaigning—”it became clear marriage of a man and a woman.” resided in England at the time they acquired that Canadian marriages of same-sex couples that there wasn’t a path forward,” the Chicago “This is not a simple social convention, but a marriage license in Canada in 2005. Their are in jeopardy, or to advocate that people Tribune reported. rather the fundamental cell of every society,” he names have not been released. But according try to marry again elsewhere, as that could Huntsman, who was more of a social moderate said. “Consequently, the policies which under- to the National Post, a newspaper in Ontario, cause these couples unnecessary complica- than most of the candidates, believed in civil mine the family threaten human dignity and the the women sought a divorce in 2009, but tions, anxiety, and expense.” unions for same-sex couples—but not marriage. future of humanity itself.” were told Canadian law requires that at least The statement was issued by Lambda Legal, In stepping down, Huntsman said, “This race Pro-LGBT Catholic advocates reacted swiftly to one of them live a year in Canada to obtain the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Gay & has degenerated into an onslaught of negative the pope’s harsh words and the open letter. the divorce. The women challenged the resi- Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Freedom to and personal attacks not worthy of the American “The pope has it wrong, but this time he has dency requirement, but in court, the Canadian Marry and the ACLU. people and not worthy of this critical time in our it diametrically wrong,” said Francis DeBernardo, DOJ pulled out a new twist. It argued that Evan Wolfson, head of the national Freedom nation’s history.” executive director of Mount Rainier, Md.-based he women could not obtain a divorce because to Marry group, noted that Canada’s minis- New Ways Ministry, a gay positive ministry of they were never legally married in Canada. ter of justice, Rob Nicholson, seemed to be outreach with LGBT Catholics, their families and Cassidy fundraiser “The government is arguing that since Flor- “backpedaling” already on the divorce-case friends. ida and the U.K.—the home jurisdictions of argument. In a statement released Jan. 12, “The threat to ‘human dignity and the future Jan. 18; Gingrich-Jones the estranged couple—don’t recognize gay Nicholson said, “I want to be very clear that of humanity’ comes not from marriage equality to attend marriages, a gay marriage licence issued in the Government has no intention of reopen- but in opposition to it,” he added in a New Ways State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-14th Dist., will Canada isn’t legally valid,” reported the Na- ing the debate on the definition of marriage. Ministry blog posting. hold a fundraiser Wed., Jan. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m. tional Post. “People living in Canada, Cana- This case today involved the fact that, un- In an email correspondence, DeBernardo said, at the home of Brad Lippitz and Jonathan Pizer, dian or otherwise, would have no problem, der current law, some marriages performed in the open letters’ threat of “compulsion is a fan- 551 W. Stratford Pl. because Canada does recognize same-sex Canada could not be dissolved in Canada. I tasy that exists in the conservative religious Candace Gingrich-Jones, the lesbian half-sis- unions. But if your home country or state will be looking at options to clarify the law leaders’ heads.” ter of GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, doesn’t, then the government has argued that so that marriages performed in Canada can be “No one is going to be compelled to do any- is slated to attend. a Canadian marriage has no standing in law.” undone in Canada.” thing,” he said. “If religious organizations do Admission is $75-$1,000. Email KellyCassi- Six states in the United States recognize ©2012 by Keen News Service. All rights not follow government regulations, they will [email protected] or call 312-399-1902 for more same-sex marriages, but the federal Defense reserved. simply not receive government funding,” he information. of Marriage Act (DOMA) prohibits the federal said. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 7 Residents furious at North Side ward remap meeting By Kate Sosin choosing the voters,” said Sue Leibowitz. “If you pass these maps, I hope they get you More than 400 people packed into a room at De- re-elected,” said another man, who called the Paul University Jan. 11 to voice their concerns proposed maps an “atrocity.” over the ward redistricting process, and nearly Dozens spoke against the “Map for a Better all of them appeared furious. Chicago,” which went largely undefended by the The public hearing, heavily attended by Lin- aldermen who introduced it. coln Park residents, was the first of four sched- Mell—when questioned on why that map split uled on the remapping process. Five proposed the North and South sides into disparately sized maps are currently under consideration, two of wards—conceded, “That’s a good question.” which were introduced Jan. 11. Colleen Day, a Lincoln Park resident, said that Lincoln Park residents took aldermen to task the map divides her life into several wards. Her for what they claimed was a hasty and selfish daughter will attend school, 100 yards from her attempt at remapping at the cost of their neigh- house, in a different ward than she lives. borhood. Many Lincoln Park residents, including 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith, support the Taxpayer Residents oppose the “Map for a Better Chi- Attendee Jerry Pritikin holds a sign during a meeting about redistricting the 43rd Ward. Photo Protection Map the Latino caucus has proposed. cago” put forth by the City Council’s Black cau- by Kate Sosin cus and sponsored by Ald. Richard Mell, chair However, a number of residents from other parts of the City Council’s Rules Committee. That map of the city argued that that map is also unac- said his sights are on getting the needed 41 Several Chicagoans from other parts of the city splinters Lincoln Park into five wards—the 43rd, ceptable. votes for any map and that it remains unclear grumbled that the hearing, intended for all 44th, 32nd, 27th and a new 2nd Ward. “I don’t think we need 50 wards,” said Mike which map will achieve such support. neighborhoods, became a “Lincoln Park pep Residents also allege that that map attempts Riordan, president of the River North Residents Residents implored the city council to slow rally.” to keep incumbents in office, rather than re- Association. “I don’t think we need 50 alder- down and draw new maps. The fight is expected to continue at three re- spond to the population shifts facing city neigh- men.” The overwhelming majority of attendees ap- maining hearings in other neighborhoods. Little borhoods. A number of residents agreed, arguing that be- peared to be North Side White residents. Still, Italy could be severed into four wards under pro- Many have argued that the “Better Chicago” cause the population of the city has decreased, some residents of the city’s South and West sides posed maps, and Back of the Yards is fighting to map is illegal, because it creates South Side the number of aldermen should as well. also called for greater transparency. unite its neighborhood, which is currently split wards that are up to 5,000 people larger than Also taking heat was 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tun- Some expressed weariness with maps that they five ways. North Side wards, disenfranchising large sec- ney, who was pressed to speak up against the said prioritized segregated wards over neighbor- An up-to-date schedule of the remap hearings tions of the North Side to keep Black aldermen “Map for a Better Chicago.” Tunney, shifting in hood needs. can be found at http://chicago.legistar.com/ in office, despite a significant decrease of the his chair as the crowd shouted at him to com- One Lincoln Park woman noted that her neigh- Calendar. The Committee on Committees, Rules city’s Black population. ment, remained silent. borhood already lacked racial and ethnic diver- and Ethics is holding the meetings. “Democratic government is supposed to be the Mell previously told Windy City Times that this sity, and that she felt the “Better Chicago” map voters choosing the aldermen, not the aldermen redistricting is the worst he has ever seen. He simply furthered that trend.

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Find disclosures on graduation rates, student financial obligations and more at www.harrington.edu/disclosures. Harrington College of Design cannot guarantee employment or salary. 215212 10/11 8 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES STORE from cover would never have existed if Katie came first. Kellie Edwards sauntered into the shop some- time later. Not being a drinker, she selected a not to smudge her lipstick. She opts for a deli- Mike’s Hard Black Cherry Lemonade, which the cate gold chain with a diamond pendant or the ladies eyed with some skepticism. She was more occasional strand of pearls to complement her reserved than the others and settled onto a attire, which consists of a teal V-neck sweater, black, velvet over-sized stiletto chair apart from black slacks and black velvet boots with a small the group. heel. Her blond hair has that tousled look, as Her long brown hair is her own and, at 43, though freeze-framed in a light breeze. She an- she’s younger than most of the group. Clad in swers the phone with an upbeat “Transforma- a light blue Columbia fleece, jeans and white tions, Connors speaking,” imparting an inflec- Keds, she is at home in the cabs of dump trucks tion in all the right places. and snow plows—she drives them for a living in Connors “dressed out” as a female for the first Wilmette. She can maneuver a snow plow with a time in her early 20s. She got involved in the skater’s finesse—a fitting comparison as Kellie transgender community 23 years ago. She’s coy also figure-skates. And slinging around a dump about her age, but the ladies periodically refer truck like a shopping cart has its perks, “Boy, to themselves in the over-50 bracket. do people stop and look” she said. She is out And like many ladies, she’s not shy about tack- at work and has a female driver’s license. She’s ling the tasks where she feels nature came up planning to take it a step further with facial short. Her methods include hormones, electroly- feminization surgery. sis—a process she describes as excruciating—to With starting costs around $35,000, facial remove all facial and chest hair, and several fa- surgery isn’t an option for many transgender cial surgeries. Her femininity isn’t a product of women. And for older folks, chipping away at science, however. It is a part of her identity, one the skull translates to sagging skin and another she reinforced by selecting a new name. $25,000 to pin it all back up. In fact, none of the names in this story are The night of Chicago Gender Society’s social, birth names. As Connors explained, they’re as Lyseth and Connors met at the store. Connors much for creating a new persona as for protec- Olivia Connors at Transformations. Photo by Kate Sosin sipped on a vodka tonic, resplendent in a little tion against a critical society. Like most people, black dress with a matching cardigan that re- she works hard to keep up appearances. veals her upper back through a lace cutout. A “It’s an image thing that we all have, and you vation that their mother and I were meant to be. It’s a night when the girls get to dress up in raven-haired newcomer was busy applying a jew- want to keep people thinking that’s who you Those girls were meant to be in this world,” she their finest and go out on the town. eled flower decal to the back of her own shoul- are, because it really is who you are,” she said. said with conviction. “How much is that red jersey dress in the der. Her curls swept to one side, she peered over The other ladies refer to her affectionately as Lyseth knew she was different from other chil- corner?” a blond with short, curly hair asked, the top of her Sarah Palin-like glasses at the “O.” The moniker calls to mind another Chicago dren at age 3 or 4. But with a family to think motioning toward a slinky number hugging the tiny sticker, carefully arranging the rhinestones woman in the business of helping people get about and 21-year career in the Navy, she waited curves of a mannequin in the corner. above her black-and-white, off-the-shoulder comfortable in their own skin. However, Connors more than 50 years to come out. “It’s a part of “How much did I charge you for the last one?” blouse. Connors introduced her as Lisa Peterson, doesn’t need a book club or a media empire to who you are, and when you’re repressing your- Connors asked. “$125?” Rori’s daughter—for tonight, anyway. shell out encouragement, support and some- self, it can go anywhere—it can go as far as The blond shrugs it off; she has too much red If she’s not in the mood, she simply swaps in times tough love. She recognizes that for many suicide, and it has,” she said. anyway. The inquirer, Katie Thomas, is happily the hair and makeup for Soto Petropoulos, Rori’s going “in femme” is not a fetish or dress-up Lyseth identifies as bi-gender, meaning she married with a supportive spouse. Not every- son. date—it is a necessity. She’s describes custom- creates a timeshare between identities. Today one is so lucky, she said. Thomas retired from a “Those earrings are fabulous. You’re going to ers coming into the shop literally shaking with she is sporting coral lipstick, a brown broom career as a successful salesperson and now has have little parakeets sitting in them before the pent-up emotion, anxiety and shame. skirt and dangly silver earrings. Tomorrow she more time to devote to being Katie and her oth- night is over,” Connors said, appraising Peter- “On Dec. 9, 2001, I reached the point where it might be him—the grandfather with a penchant er favorite role—grandpa. At 71 she could easily son’s oversized hoops. Lyseth nods in agree- was do something or cease,” Lyseth Brandt, one for building models and computer design work. pass for someone a decade younger—a gift she ment. of the cash register conversationalists, recalled. She sits erect on the stool, a legacy of her Naval attributes to the estrogen and good genetics. However, there was a small crisis. She vividly remembers the night she made the training with her calf-high brown boots carefully She came out, or “blossomed,” 11 years ago and Lyseth lost a nail. “I’m going to let you in on decision to come out. The cost was heavy—her crossed at the ankle. doesn’t have any regrets. a little secret,” she said, turning over the muti- marriage. For the most part she tries to keep things But Thomas, like many transgender people, nous square of pink plastic. She pulled out a set “When my wife found out this couldn’t be separate, stashing the makeup and clothes out had to bide her time. By kindergarten she knew of tweezers—she never travels without them— cured, that was the end of it,” she said matter- of sight when her grown daughters come over— her gender identity didn’t match up with her as- and deftly removed the strip of glue from the of-factly. although her oldest daughter still refuses to set signed gender. “But in those days you didn’t tell back, replacing it with a spare that can be pur- “She fell out of love with me, I never fell out foot in her house. Still, the two worlds overlap your mom, ‘I want to be a girl.’ That was unheard chased at the shop. “I can fix anything. Where’s of love with her,” she said later. Lyseth’s young- on occasion. of,” she said. So she kept quiet. the duct tape?” est daughter shared the father-daughter dance Connors takes her seat behind the store coun- As a newly married 20-year-old she tested the The tweezers re-emerged a half-hour later at with her stepfather at her wedding. And Lyseth ter after wrapping up the consultation and send- waters for the first time by dressing up as a girl the table in Bogies Ale House. This time, they wasn’t asked to escort their daughter down the ing her teenage client away with a new head of for Halloween; her wife got suspicious after she were hard at work repairing a clip-on earring aisle. Her former wife didn’t want her there. hair. The topic of conversation turns to the Chi- tried on the outfit five or six times. “I knew I that fell victim to the seat belt shoulder strap However, Lyseth harbored no regrets, “I look cago Gender Society’s monthly social tomorrow had to say something. … She didn’t have a clue on the ride over. Lyseth diligently bent over the at those girls and I know, I know without reser- night at Bogie’s Ale House in Mount Prospect. what it meant and nor did I,” Katie explained. intricate task while the other 20 or so ladies So for years Katie only came out in hotel rooms sip on their drinks and admire each other’s en- during business trips or the basement when the sembles. kids were asleep. “I will never forget one time It was not a young crowd, and everyone I looked in the mirror and I didn’t see the guy seemed to know each other. There were several self, I just saw the girl,” she said. “And then an cisgender (non-trans) women present—includ- hour later you scrub it off, and there’s that gray- ing Katy’s spouse, Shelly. haired old man again, and that’s the hard part,” Shelly was demure and almost timid. She had she added. a halo of hair that glowed whitish-blond. Katie She has put the painful past behind her, and summed up their relationship with a line from can don a dress in public these days without Sex and the City II: “Never mine, never thine.” shame. “I can’t tell you how freeing it is. It’s be- Shelly chimed in, and they finished together: yond belief. It can bring me to tears sometimes “Always ours.” Katie described their marriage just thinking about it,” she added. like any loving partnership—based on accep- If pressed to sum up Monday afternoons, tance, not perfection. Not everyone is so lucky. they’re quite simply girl talk. Conversation The process of the transformation is an art the ranges from the latest scandal to shopping. And shop has perfected, and a businessperson flew weight gain is an ever-present worry. Lyseth be- in form Boston on a bitterly cold Friday evening moans the addictive powdered-sugar Chex mix for a turn in the magical black barbershop chair. for sabotaging her waistline. A glass of red or The client resembled any other, middle-aged, white doesn’t help either, stocked for special oc- business-class traveler on a Chicago-bound casions—and emergencies. plane: salt-and-pepper hair, a thick Boston ac- Despite the light atmosphere, there is an un- cent and a coarse but engaging laugh that punc- dercurrent of regret. What if they had been born tuated each joke. Connors welcomed “Erica”— with their gender in sync physically and mental- who wore a suit and tie—and showed her into ly? “You still have that behind you, all the what the dressing room. if’s, ‘Well gee, what if I was a girl when I was 20 Turn to page 9 years old?’” Katie said. But she’s quick to dispel The inside of Transformations. Photo by Kate Sosin those ghosts by pointing out her children—who WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 9 Trial for immigration activists continued By Jamie Anne Royce tors a continuance because a state witness was ill. Six youth immigration activists, arrested while There was also confusion over the complaints. protesting an U.S. Immigration and Customs Both sides prepared cases for obstruction of Enforcement (ICE) Secure Communities public traffic and reckless conduct charges, but the hearing, will now face a jury trial March 2. charges filed were obstruction of traffic and mob The Department of Homeland Security hosted a action. series of public hearings across the country last “I don’t think anyone’s ready for trial,” said year on Secure Communities to gain feedback Ryan. from the people. During the Chicago hearing in The activists are now looking at a fifth court STORE from page 8 Erica’s head. The process is called teasing, and August, members of Immigrant Youth Justice date, with a trial set for March 2. Prosecutors the result is two inches of volume. League, Nuestra Voz and the Latin@ Youth Ac- previously offered plea deals with a punishment Erica rose from the chair and admired herself tion League shared their opinions on the pro- of fines and community service, but the defen- A few minutes, later Erica emerged in a black in the mirror. She was headed for a night out at gram and called for attendees to walk out. dants declined them. mini-skirt, black heels and a tight white, turtle- Hunter’s Night Club. “There’s no point unless you After leaving the meeting, six undocument- “We’ve seen our peers do civil disobedience neck sweater. go out,” she said. ed immigrants—Fanny Lopez-Martinez, Jorge while being undocumented in other states. We Soto, Lisa’s male alter ego, performed the The ladies reassembled for their usual Mon- Mena, Arianna Salgado, Ireri Unzueta Carrasco, didn’t expect Chicago to take it this far,” said transformation. He whipped a black cape over day gab session several weeks later. It was the Carla Navoa and Miguel Martinez—formed a Mena. Erica, hiding the female figure underneath. To day before Edwards’ facial-feminization surgery, circle on West Washington Street, blocking traf- The defendants will rely on the “necessity Soto, Eric’s face was a blank palate. a seven-hour ordeal during which doctors will fic. Police removed them from the street several defense,” an argument anti-war activists spear- He started with liquid foundation, and the shave her forehead, lift her brow, fill in her tem- times before the activists sat in an entrance to headed in the 1980s. To successfully argue this harsh lines and tell-tell traces of stubble disap- ples, angle her nose, narrow her chin, shave her the I-94 expressway. Police asked them to move, defense, they must prove the protest action is peared under the nude-colored cream. He added trachea, reshape her lips and lift her cheeks. The and upon refusing, the activists were arrested. directly connected with the laws being protest- a dusting of gold eye shadow over the lid and process is painful, expensive and requires a one- The activists were scheduled for a bench trial ed. under the eyebrow. “I need you to look up for month recovery period. Jan. 11, but Judge Jim Ryan granted prosecu- me sweetie,” he said and applied a thick coat “Look at the upside,” Lyseth said. “When it’s of mascara—long lashes appeared in the wake really nasty and ugly your eyes will be swollen of his brush. “Okay, close your eyes for me.” He shut and you won’t be able to see it.” carefully applied a thin line of jet-black liquid For Kellie, it was worth the pain, believing her eyeliner. facial features will more accurately reflect her Connors stepped in to add the final, critical feminine identify. She did not drink and decided touches: lipstick and hair. She chose a lip pencil to exit early; she had to be at the doctor’s by of Bright Sienna and rubbed it over a makeup 7 a.m. the next day. “If you need a ride, let light above the mirror to soften the tip before me know. I’ll take you,” Connors offered. As Ed- outlining Erica’s lips. She plucked a tube of wards got up to go, the ladies gave her a hug Cinnabar—a nice, warm shade to match Erica’s and wished her well. Italian coloring. “I’m going to pizzazz you right Transformations mirrors its clientele—you now” she said, dipping a brush into the small can’t judge the business from the outside alone. canyon of color. She carefully painted on a pair It’s not just a shop selling frills to the fringes of ruddy lips. Erica’s face glowed, but something of society. Transformation’s true trade is in af- is still missing. firmation. It’s a place where folks can shed the Nearby, a white mannequin head modeled a gender-role straight jacket and don a dress of curtain of strawberry blond hair with a fringe ambiguity. From the high school student with of bangs. Connors pulled out a strip of nylon two lip rings looking for a place to wear his wig, resembling a panty hose thigh, formally called to the timid, middle-aged person who has finally a wig cap. She pulled it over Erica’s head and found an outlet for the nagging sensation of be- lifted the red hair from the placeholder head as ing wrapped in the wrong color blanket at birth, though preparing for a coronation. With a bit of there’s a place for everyone. ceremony, she gently settled it on Erica’s head. And when you walk in the door Connors will She pinched a tress between her fingers and ask, “Can I get you a glass of wine, honey?” held it up vertically; with a green plastic brush Find out more about Transformations by she combed toward the scalp, creating a snarl in Rori at http://www.transformationsbyrori. Immigration-rights activists outside the courthouse Jan. 11. Photo by Jamie Anne Royce the process. She repeated this across the top of com. 10 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES of directors to strategize on what they felt was Wayne Besen, the executive director Truth an increase in hostile language from the Catho- Wins Out, an organization that combats anti- Local activists: lic hierarchy. gay religious extremism, said that the “religious “We felt that we were being called on to get liberty” argument is being rolled out nationally into the public arena on this,” Murray said. by Catholic leaders. Anti-gay Catholic remarks Taking into account the number of LGBT youth “That’s the whole ball of wax right now,” Besen suicides that were being reported, the decision said. Besen believes it will be the primary fight was made that RSM would go “from respectful for LGBT faith-based activists in 2012. signal national desperation dialogue to aggressive engagement,” he said. However Besen said that new rhetoric signals RSM currently releases a press statement al- desperation on the part of leaders who are out most daily, many of them directed at combating of touch with Catholics sitting in the pews who anti-gay rhetoric from the Catholic hierarchy. increasingly support LGBT rights. On Jan. 12, the organization issued a state- “I think they know that if they don’t throw ment against 40 religious leaders, including everything but the kitchen sink at us, it’s over, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, cardinal elect of New so the kitchen sink is coming,” he said. York, for publishing a letter in favor of marriage Besen believes that homophobia is a top-down “in its true definition.” measure from Vatican, fueling anti-gay com- Murray has issued a challenge to other pro- ments among bishops and cardinals. gressive Catholic organizations to get out and The fight has been especially tense in Illinois, protest such comments. RSM is co-sponsoring a which saw the start of civil unions last June Feb. 12 protest outside of Chicago’s Holy Name and consequently the end of state foster care Cathedral in support of marriage equality. contracts with Catholic charities that refused to Murray has also challenged George to engage place children with same-sex civil union spous- with the LGBT faith community in light of his es. recent comments.

This is the 27th year that Elgin has present- Gay attorney ed the award. Other awardees this year in- receives MLK award clude the YWCA of Elgin and LULAC (League of By Kate Sosin United Latin American Citizens) Local Council #5236. An openly gay attorney is the recipient of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitar- Vida/SIDA to Rainbow Sash Movement’s Joe Murray (left) and Gay Liberation Network’s Andy Thayer at Holy ian Award in Elgin. Name Cathedral Jan. 8. Photo by Kate Sosin John Dalton, a longtime community activist open youth and lawyer, was honored Jan. 14 for his LGBT BY KATE SOSIN Klan, demonstrating in the streets against Ca- advocacy and for speaking out against racism shelter in March tholicism.” in his community. BY KATE SOSIN Just days after Chicago’s Catholic Cardinal Fran- In his apology, George said his remarks were Dalton is a co-founder and past chair of cis George apologized for comparing the Pride made out of fear for the Church’s liberty, after Speak Out Against Prejudice (SOAP), a group Humboldt Park-based LGBT and AIDS service Parade to a Ku Klux Klan gathering, Pope Bene- the parade was initially planned to march past that formed to combat anti-immigrant and organization Vida/SIDA has finalized plans to dict XVI refueled the battle between some Cath- Our Lady of Mount Carmel church during Mass. anti-Latino rhetoric in Elgin. SOAP received open its much-anticipated LGBTQ homeless olic leaders and LGBT activists. That “fear” for religious liberty is likely to be the same award from Elgin in 2009. youth shelter, El Rescate. Multiple reports quote the pope as saying that the next battle with the church hierarchy in Dalton said his first thought when he The shelter will become the Midwest’s first same-sex marriage is a threat to humanity. Chicago and beyond, according local LGBT activ- learned of the award was that he didn’t de- LGBTQ youth shelter Saturday, March 3. Such comments from both Chicago’s cardinal ists, who noted that such arguments against gay serve it. “Housing services for homeless youth in and the pope may signal the start of a new kind rights increasingly follow this trend. “This award, named after the Reverend Doc- Chicago are extremely limited, and of the of fight with the Catholic hierarchy, said activ- “They’re sort of backed into a corner now,” said tor Martin Luther King Jr., an icon I’ve always services that do exist, few are specifically ists. Anthony Martinez, executive director of The Civil idolized, seems like it should be beyond the designed for LGBTQ and HIV-positive youth,” According to the U.S. Catholic website the Rights Agenda. grasp of mere mortals like me,” he said. the organization said in an announcement. pope said, that “in addition to a clear goal, that In the past, said Martinez, some Catholic lead- It has been a big year for Dalton, who is “El Rescate will provide housing and services of leading young people to a full knowledge of ers argued that the continuation of society de- running unopposed in the primary for 16th that address the unique needs of these young reality and thus of truth, education needs set- pended on heterosexual nuclear families. Now he Judicial Circuit Court Judge in the 2nd Subcir- people.” tings. Among these, pride of place goes to the said, the Vatican is claiming that LGBT rights cuit of Kane County. Dalton became a trustee The shelter will house eight to 10 young family, based on the marriage of a man and a threaten religious freedom. of Elgin Community College in May, and was people ages 18-24 and provide young people woman. This is not a simple social convention, Joe Murray, executive director of the local awarded the 2011 Award Sexual Orientation with social services like employment and but rather the fundamental cell of every soci- LGBT Catholic organization the Rainbow Sash and Gender Identity Award for Community education resources, skills training and case ety. Consequently, policies which undermine the Movement (RSM), attributes part of the change leadership from the Illinois State Bar Asso- management. family threaten human dignity and the future of in rhetoric to a change in sentiments among ciation last June. Plans to open the shelter have been in the humanity itself.” straight Catholics who support marriage equal- In the past, Dalton fought to get same-sex works for more than three years now. Vida/ Other news sources published the same com- ity. couples domestic-partnership recognition be- SIDA had announced the shelter project as a ments. “It’s overwhelming that Catholic voices do not fore it was common. He also lobbied local of- 2010 goal, but struggled through fundraising The pope’s comments have struck a particularly agree with Catholic leadership on this matter,” ficials to let him write LGBT protections into and red tape to make it happen. delicate nerve in Chicago, which is still recover- Murray said. “The recent statements are an indi- District U-46 handbooks, and he helped win The ribbon-cutting ceremony for El Rescate ing from a fight with George over his remarks cation of the pope and his bishops hitting the recognition of three Gay Straight Alliances in is scheduled for March 3 at 12 p.m. at 2703 to Fox News that the Pride Parade was at risk panic button.” that district. W. Division St. of morphing “into something like the Ku Klux Last June, Murray sat down with RSM’s board

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4840 N. MARINE DRIVE 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. CHICAGO, IL 60640 773.293.2665 1-800-888-0560 bookcellarinc.com www.chicagolakeshorehospital.com WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 11 er’s name at The Chicago Bar Foundation. Please affairs, and particularly the U.S. political scene. editor, graphic artist and video producer. contact the Foundation at http://www.chica- Although at times a quiet, introverted person, “He was so super-talented that he did every- gobarfoundation.org or 312-554-1204. he could provide a lively, informed debate, very thing,” said John Kamys, a close friend of Evans. A memorial service is planned for Jan. 20 at 5 much holding his own on subjects that inter- Evans was a well-known participant in Chi- p.m. in Chicago. ested him. cago’s LGBT music scene. According to friends, For information, contact Cremation Society of Ortleb enjoyed collectibles, and he frequented he advocated for up-an-coming artists and regu- Illinois, 773-281-5058 or http://www.crema- flea markets and antique venues alone and with larly donated his time and talent to artists he tion-society.com. friends in search of treasures. He enjoyed nos- believed in. talgia, and through the years he collected old “He was a really generous, kind person,” said PASSAGES postcards, vintage LPs and other pieces of mem- Scott Free, a longtime friend. orabilia. He successfully restored several antique Evans performed at Homolatte, Free’s biweekly Bill Ortleb radios and was also an avid fan of film noir. queer music show. He also directed and pro- Bill Ortleb, a longtime Chicago resident, died He traveled to many places in the United duced music videos for Free. Dec. 18, 2011. He was 53. States and Canada, and also made it to Europe He was also a strong supporter of entrepre- Ortleb moved to Chicago from Bloomington, twice with close friends John and David. He had neurs abroad, and participated in online micro- Ill., in the early 1980s, and lived here the re- a particular love of Switzerland. credit programs, lending money through kiva. mainder of his life. In recent years he was very Ortleb came from a large family that included org so that others could start businesses. attached to his dog, Honey. four sisters and five brothers. He worked in fields Evans is survived by his sisters, Tammy Brasher Socially, he was known to frequent Buck’s Sa- ranging from graphics to accounting. Terri McGovern and JaNeal Jones. loon, Cell Block, the Granville Anvil and Little He was a very meaningful person to his close Jim’s, where he made many friends. He was friends. He was preceded in death by his partner known for his interest and knowledge of world of several years, Karl. Earl P. Fisher Jr. A gathering in Ortleb’s remembrance is planned for Feb. 11. Interested parties can email John Morris at [email protected]. PASSAGES PASSAGES Earl P. Fisher Jr. Earl P. Fisher Jr., an attorney, passed away af- Kevin Evans BY KATE SOSIN ter a brief illness Dec. 25, 2011. He was 56. A native of Charleston, W. Va., Fisher gradu- Kevin Evans—a longtime Chicagoan and well- ated from Vanderbilt University and earned his known poet, musician and artist—died Jan. 13 Juris Doctorate degree from the DePaul Univer- after a battle with non-alcohol related liver dis- sity College of Law. ease. He was 47. “Earl the Pearl” will be remembered by many Evans, a native of Louisiana, graduated Oak dear friends for his rapier wit, keen intellect and Grove High School in 1983. He went on to at- exquisite taste. tend Northeast Louisiana University and then He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl got his masters degree at the University of Mas- Pitchford Fisher Sr. and Awilda Fisher Pfost (nee sachusetts Amherst. Smith) of Charleston, W. Va.; and one sister, An- He spent much of his life in Chicago before drea Fisher. He is survived by his loving partner, returning to Louisiana last year due to health Rene Mercado, and his brothers, Clifford and problems. Austin Fisher. Evans was a scriptwriter, guitar player, poet, Kevin Evans. Photo from John Kamys A memorial fund has been established in Fish- Bill Ortleb. Photo courtesy of John Paquet

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meet the criteria of the Open Meetings Act Proposed protest Suit questions is also a civil-rights violation,” Martinez said in a statement. “This definitely complicates Springfield’s pro- matters, but the issues addressed in this law- suit, if found valid, will only ensure the citi- ordinance worries civil unions vote zens of Springfield will be afforded a govern- By Kate Sosin ment aligned with the ideals of civil liberties for all.” LGBT activists The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) announced The committee initially voted against ex- that a reporter has filed suit against the City tending to benefits due to an actuarial pro- of Springfield over a recent vote to allow civ- BY KATE SOSIN Emanuel announced on Jan. 12, that he had jection that it would cost the city $725,000. il-union spouses to access insurance benefits. softened some of the rules in the initial pro- The committee argued that vote was legal Bruce Rushton, a reporter for the Illinois Anti-war activists have berated Mayor Rahm posals. But Thayer argues that the changes do because the city is self-insured. However, no Times claims that the Joint Labor/Manage- Emanuel in past weeks for his proposed Pride/ not satisfy concerns for protesters, who could city employee in a civil union had inquired ment Health Care Committee violated the protest ordinance rewrites, which they say will be looking at $1,000 fines for breaking the new about the benefits, and a revised projection open meetings act in holding a closed vote limit free speech. Among the most vocal has rules. put the cost at $66,000. Jan. 10, TCRA said. been Gay Liberation Network (GLN) co-founder Noa Shayden, an emerging LGBT activist, is Activists hailed the committee’s revote as a The suit could void the vote, which reversed Andy Thayer, who worries that the provisions also keeping an eye on the proposed changes. win for LGBT rights, but added that they felt the committee’s previous decision to deny will have a significant impact on LGBT protests. Shayden is the principal organizer of Chicago’s the city was legally required to extend the city employees in a civil-union spousal ben- “Emanuel is basically punishing the wrong 2012 Worldwide LGBT Civil Rights March, a glob- benefits anyway due to the civil-unions act. efits. people with these ordinances,” Thayer said. al demonstration planned for April 21. Shayden “It seems to us that the Committee and the Anthony Martinez and Lowell Jaffe of TCRA The proposed changes, aimed at the G8/North expects the Chicago march to be one of the larg- City Council has received bad advice regard- attended the meeting in case they were called Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summits in est in the country. Emanuel’s protest ordinance ing the City’s requirement to fulfill its obliga- to testify in favor of the benefits extension. May, will remain on the books after the summit proposals, which call for one marshal for every tions under Illinois laws as it relates to civil They confirmed that the meeting was held be- protesters roll out of town. 100 protesters, will likely impact that march. rights,” said Jaffe in a statement. “Although hind closed doors. That may stifle future LGBT protests and ac- Shayden called the proposals “unfair,” but said it’s difficult to see this issue drag on, we Martinez said that the lawsuit would not tions, said Thayer. they would not hinder organizing efforts. hope doing so will remedy what has clearly stop efforts to ensure that civil union spouses Thayer worries that new language in the ordi- “I’m still going to be out there,” said Shayden, been a wrong approach, and has deprived the get accesses to benefits in Springfield. nance will make it nearly impossible to organize adding that it was too early in the planning pro- citizens of Springfield the transparency they “However, we must recognize that failure to spontaneous downtown protests, a regular oc- cess to determine how the new ordinance could deserve.” currence in past years as LGBT rights nationally impact the march. are won and lost. Changes to the protest and parade rules could Groups like GLN, Join the Impact-Chicago, The also impact the Pride Parade. long-term Web developer, Martie Marro of Civil Rights Agenda, LGBT Change and others Richard Pfeiffer, Pride Parade coordinator, de- WCT now on Apple LoveYourWebsite.com,” said Tracy Baim, pub- have held last-minute demonstrations in down- clined to comment in the possible impacts. He lisher of WCMG. “For the last several years, town over the past four years in coordination said that he had not been able to independently Newsstand; website Marro has been moving our design in a daily with protests throughout the country, such as obtain a copy of the proposed ordinance and news direction, integrating our weekly print demonstrations around Proposition 8 develop- could not say how the proposal would impact redesign launched CHICAGO—Windy City Times, Chicago’s only visibility needs with the daily needs of our ments. the parade until he had. weekly LGBT newspaper, is among the nation’s readers and advertisers. This new design, with Thayer believes that new regulations will make The impact on the Pride Parade, however, first LGBT-media companies to offer its publi- a focus on categories of news and entertain- such spontaneous protests illegal. Under the might be small. Due to growing crowds and se- cation through the Apple iPad Newsstand. ment, will make it easy for people to find the new ordinance, protesters need to inform the curity concerns, Pfeiffer tripled the number of The company already has general news ap- information they need.” city of their plans at least week in advance, re- parade marshals between 2009 and 2011. Given plications for the iPad and iPhone, but it now WCMG, which has been an Apple product- ceive permits and provide information on what the number of parade entries, the parade com- also offers the newspaper as a free subscrip- based company going back to 1987 in the signs and sound equipment will be used. mittee was required to supply just more than 30 tion that includes a full print version of the days of floppy discs, is also very excited to be Thayer argues that the changes place an un- marshals. Pfeiffer’s team produced 120 marshals weekly paper as well as daily headlines and among the first LGBT media using the Apple fair burden on organizers, who cannot possibly last year. category sorting, available through the in- Newsstand technology. For all media com- anticipate the size of crowds or what signs indi- novative new Apple Newsstand system. Users panies, innovation is key to better serving viduals will bring. can download the app for Windy City Times a sophisticated audience of Web-smart early

News, and it will automatically show up in adopters. their Newsstand. The addition of the Newsstand product par- allels Windy City Media Group’s (WCMG’s) re- design of its company website, http://www. windycitymediagroup.com, to further en- hance the daily breaking news and features that complement the weekly newspaper, bi- weekly Nightspots bar magazine and weekly Windy City Queercast podcast produced by WCMG. “This redesign was done by our amazing

Your financial needs are unique. ture of what it is like to grow up Black and gay LGBT advocates in the United States,” hopes to engage 2,500 Whether you want to provide for your loved ones, support the organizations that are Black gay youth under the age of 25. important to you, or plan for your own comfortable retirement, I can help you plan for launch strategy for Groups involved in the effort include Youth your goals. I’ll look at all aspects of your finances, then find solutions that are right for your Pride Services, Advocates for Youth, Coalition unique needs. And as your goals and needs change, I’ll be there to adjust your plan and help Black gay youth for Queer Youth, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance put your dreams within reach. BY KATE SOSIN Against Defamation and Campus Pride.

® Survey results will be made available to part- Our Advisors. Your Dreams. MORE WITHIN REACH In conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, nering organizations in coming months to better Call me today at (312) 849.3002 a group of national LGBT activists has launched services for LGBT Black youth. the National Strategy for Black Gay Youth in According to Roberts, the strategy is almost Phillip J. Sitar, MBA 307 N Michigan Ave | Suite 1818 America. Financial Advisor Chicago, IL 60601 entirely youth-led, with young people 25 and The year-long project will result in a report to (312) 849.3002 younger handling nearly every aspect of the Ameriprise Financial be sent to the White House as well as a “Bill of campaign. Services, Inc. [email protected] Rights” for Black gay youth to be made available Organizers hope the project will address sys- ameripriseadvisors.com/phillip.j.sitar to homeless shelters, schools businesses and temic issues facing Black gay youth in the Unit- youth centers. ed States, including cultural competency issues Ameriprise Financial is proud to be “It is significant because it’s the beginning of and access to resources. recognized with another perfect score change,” said De’Andre Roberts, national youth on the Human Rights Campaign’s The strategy includes organizations in Ala- Corporate Equality Index. secretary for Youth Pride Services. “We’re trying bama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Missis- to improve the quality for Black gay youth living sippi, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Illinois, Brokerage, investment and nancial advisory services are made available through in America.” Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Min- Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and The project kicked off Jan. 16 with a national nesota, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, North services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. survey. Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, New York, © 2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. The survey, aimed at painting “a national pic- Michigan, Louisiana and New Jersey. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 13 0% financing for 60 months on all models!

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Offers expire 1/13/12. Offers exclude tax, title, license, and documentation fee. !Financing available for 60 months subject to credit approval. 60 month financing at $16.67 per month per $1000 financed. Excludes Abarth model. *Lease offer valid on MSRP $16,000 FIAT for 42 months and 12K mi/yr. †Price refers to the base model, optional equipment not included. Vehicle shown may differ from actual vehicle to be sold. 14 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES Lex Lawson ‘Pizza and Policy’ Preferred pronoun(s) When did you start questioning gender? Tin the LIFE No pronouns/neutral pronouns; they pronouns, “My sister took me with her to Payless Shoes Jan. 23 at AFC ze pronouns in 1993 to pick out stilettos for her wedding. Pizza and Policy—a roundtable-styled COMPILED BY KATE SOSIN She picked out a pair of “dyeables” and then event that will focus on the latest HIV/ dyed them ivory. The day she picked them up AIDS policy and national and statewide Identifies as I saw her put them in the top of her closet. politics—will take place at AIDS Founda- Many things depending on the day, most The moment she left I was gliding down the tion of Chicago, 200 W. Jackson Blvd., on frequently queer, pansexual, genderqueer, hall in them like they were mine! It was that Monday, Jan. 23, 5-7 p.m. transgender and androgynous. moment that would forever change my life. I This event will feature participants news was no longer a little boy. I knew I wanted to about the 2012 elections, healthcare re- Neighborhood be a girl.” form, the National HIV/AIDS strategy, the Uptown 2012 Illinois General Assembly and more. RSVP to [email protected]. What is the best thing about being trans/ gender-variant? Zodiac Roe v. Wade anniversary Sagittarius “One of the best things about identifying as trans* and genderqueer is that it helps me celebration Jan. 24 fulfill my life’s work. It requires me to continu- Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA) Life’s work ally examine myself and the world around me. will celebrate the 39th anniversary of Roe “To inspire people to think critically about Because I don’t feel like I easily fit into what v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court deci- themselves and the world around them, to society has already created the world to be, sion that legalized abortion, Tuesday, Jan., promote love and acceptance and share the I get to create my own space in the world. 24 at Carnivale Restaurant, 702 W. Fulton creative spirit within” This lends me to connecting with others in St. genuine ways that I would not have otherwise. There will be a VIP reception at 5:30 My world is bigger, more connected and more Career p.m., with a celebration at 6:30 p.m. exciting because I seek to look beyond what is “I am the Career Development Specialist at State Sen. Heather A. Stearns will be hon- presented and create spaces that work for me.” the Center on Halsted in the Youth Vocational ored with the Richard J. Phelan Profile in Program. I am the coordinator for Youth Speak Courage Award for her leadership in sup- OUT, a spoken word and performance arts ap- Do you consider yourself an activist? porting a bill that would mandate com- prenticeship program. I also facilitate groups “I consider myself to be a continual advocate prehensive sex education in Illinois public on trans* and gender issues in the youth against oppression, from what I eat to where schools. Personal PAC founder Marcena W. space.” I work, to how I travel and how I communi- Love will be honored with the Dr. Marvin cate with people. I believe that opportunities Rosner Award for Lifetime Achievement for to further social progress are everywhere. To her lifelong commitment to protecting re- What does “trans” mean to you? better our communities and the quality of productive health care. “I use ‘trans*’ [with the asterisk] intentionally life all aspects of our lives can be engaged to Tickets are $39-$390 each; see http:// to signify that trans can include people that distribute power back to people, animals and www.ppiaction.org. identify as transgender, transsexual, gender the earth. “ variant, etc. and it can mean many different things to different people but is a signal to a community of folks that are determining their own gender regardless of the one they were assigned at birth.” WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 15 GAYin the Reviews, LIFE listings Registered nurse and ALL things Brandy Hatcher Text AND PHOTOS BY Ross Forman delicious theDISH Knowing she is a registered nurse, many of her Chi- cago Force teammates often ask Brandy Hatcher for a sponge bath. To advertise She just laughs and shakes her head at their your business in The Dish good-natured request. Hatcher played her second season for the Force contact in 2011, earning the Most Improved Player award, having played multiple positions, including corner- back, safety and running back. advertising@ “I really enjoy being on the Force since there windycitymediagroup.com Age aren’t too many chances for that team experience 25 as an adult,” Hatcher said. Hometown The 2011 Force season ended in the playoffs in July—and Hatcher went on to graduate from Rush Lansing, Mich. Medical University in August, and then passed her medical boards in September. Lives in “I like my job, the skills it takes, the skills I have learned,” she said. “There’s an intrinsic reward to Highland, Ind. working with an older person and being able to find a vein on their arm,” to draw blood, Hatcher said. “The job as a whole can be very rewarding, but also very frustrating. Relationship status “There’s a lot of mis-communication in the medical work- Dating a Chicago Force teammate for about two years ers—and nurses often are in the middle and have to medi- ate, walk that fine line between a patient and a doctor.” Hobbies Hatcher said her job often is “very stressful,” and usually Reading and working out involves weeks with three 12-hour work days. She also, at Favorite Chicago restaurant times, works weekends, such as her job during Lollapalooza Lalo’s over the summer. Have your Favorite bar That’s when she came across one of her most memorable Spin patients, although not for favorable reasons. The drunk fe- male (who was screaming) had to be restrained to a bed, premiums Sporting past and she even urinated on Hatcher’s shoes—but then when Hatcher was a bowler and track-and- her mom arrived on the scene, the female turned into an field athlete in high school. Her best increased angel, Hatcher said, laughing. game was 256 and she threw the discus. Hatcher said many from her medical world have slowly recently? learned of her tackle football ties—and they, naturally, are Little-known fact surprised. She won the Little Miss Michigan “It’s always fun to watch their reactions” when they learn See me: title, a beauty pageant that she she plays for the Force, she said. “They often just assume I entered at age 6. Charles T. Rhodes, play for in the Lingerie [Football] League.” Agent 2472 N. Clark

State Farm773.281.0890 Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (not in NJ) State Farm Indemnity Company (NJ) Mothers of LGBT individuals will be the focus of a new photo essay book Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois from Windy City Times. We are soliciting submissions from LGBTs in the Chicago area, or those formerly from Chicago, for this new project.

Just in time for the holidays, people can submit photos with their moms via email, Facebook or Twitter through Feb. 5, 2012. Windy Friday, Jan. 27 City Times is looking for diversity in families. Once the winners are 7:30 p.m. MOM selected, a professional photo shoot will be done by Kat Fitzgerald of Poetry Reading Mystic Images Photography (of the winning mothers with their child or Charlotte Hart children), so winners must be available in the Chicago area, although Organic Spirits ibute some additional photos may be used. Winners will also be asked to Susanna Lang Tr t submit a 200-word essay about what their mother has meant to them. o Two by Two A Depending on the reception for this project, other books may be done with fathers, or queer parents, but the focus of this first book is on Sunday, Jan. 29 mothers. 4:30 p.m. Mary Sommers To submit: More than a Midwife Send photos of you with your mother to www.facebook.com/windycitymediagroup 5233 N. Clark Twitter: windycitytimes1 (773) 769-9299 or email [email protected]

DEADLINE: FEB. 5, 2012

Mothers of LGBTs You can also submit a short essay about why you think your mother should be selected to be photographed with you. Families with multiple [email protected] LGBT children are welcome to submit as well. www.womenandchildrenfirst.com Parking Available Images may also be used in Windy City Times newspaper. Wheelchair Accessible 16 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

A special series in partnership with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago Phill Wilson stays focused on fighting AIDS By Erica Demarest disease of opportunity, and it’s very difficult to fight the disease once it gets ahead of you. Over the last three decades, Chicago native Phill There’s been a disparity of resources in Black Wilson has firmly established himself as one of communities. I’m not just talking about dollar the country’s most outspoken HIV/AIDS activ- resources. There’s not the same kind of infra- ists. First diagnosed in 1981, Wilson has worked structure. The organizations that are charged as a community organizer, Los Angeles city of- with fighting the AIDS epidemic in Black com- Phill Wilson. Photo by Erica Demarest. ficial, and, most recently, presidential advisory munities are not as large or as old as other or- council member. ganizations. And there continues to be issues Since founding the Black AIDS Institute in around stigma that undermine our ability to ad- 1999, Wilson has worked to mobilize and unite dress the epidemic as well. That issue is getting Black communities across the country in the better, but it’s still there. fight against HIV. He’s published articles in The WCT: In 2010, you were appointed to Presi- New York Times, Essence, Ebony, VIBE and Poz; dent Obama’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. and has acted as a World AIDS Summit delegate. What does that entail? Wilson sat down with the Windy City Times to PW: I’m the co-chair of the disparities subcom- talk about his activist roots, President Obama’s mittee. The purpose of the council is to make track record, and what’s next for the Black AIDS recommendations to the President on how the Institute. Proposition 64]. After that, Eric Rofes, who was thought I was going to die. That was around the nation should respond to the AIDS epidemic. Our Windy City Times: You’ve been involved then the director of the Gay and Lesbian Ser- time where they had just developed the protease primary focus this year has been implementation since the very beginning. How did you first vices Center, called me to see if I would work on inhibitors. I went on them, recovered, and have of the national HIV/AIDS strategy and trying to learn about AIDS? the STOP AIDS Project in Los Angeles. That was been pretty healthy ever since. come up with tools to evaluate its effectiveness. Phill Wilson: My very first memory, actually, the first time I had a job working with HIV. WCT: Why did you decide to launch the WCT: Compared to other administrations was very personal. I came out in 1980; and At that point, my personal health was not at Black AIDS Institute? you’ve seen, how do you think the Obama in 1981, my partner found out he had swollen the front of my mind. My partner, Chris Brownlie, PW: In early 1999, I began to look around and White House is shaping up? lymph nodes. Our doctor raised the issue about whom I met in Chicago, was starting to exhibit kind of ask myself: Okay, so what’s going on? It PW: We will see what the final grade will be. I this new disease, and I realized that I had swol- symptoms. [Brownlie succumbed to AIDS com- felt like no one was mobilizing the larger Black believe that the President has had some hits and len lymph nodes as well. They did biopsies, and plications in 1989]. I was worried for his health, community. There were organizations that were misses. Developing a national AIDS strategy was the only information at that time was that the and when my partner was sick, I really moved trying to do prevention work, and there were or- a huge hit. Healthcare reform was a huge hit. lymph nodes weren’t normal. There were con- full-force into my activism. And then my per- ganizations with Ryan White funding trying to Lifting the travel and needle-exchange bans: versations about the ‘gay plague’ and GRID—all sonal health became affected too. do treatment and clinics. But there really was Those were significant and important policy ad- these kinds of things—but there wasn’t much WCT: Do you think working so much wore no one, in my opinion, that was taking on the vances. else to tell. you down? larger Black community with HIV and AIDS. I The response to ADAP has been a miss, and WCT: Did you get involved with activism ef- PW: I don’t. I really don’t. Not at all, actually. felt like we had to break away from the concept the administration hasn’t been successful in forts right away? In those days, there was no medicine. There was of AIDS as a ‘gay disease’, and expand it so it communicating the sense of urgency around PW: In 1981, I was involved in the gay com- not really anything to do. I think it was just a was important to the entire Black community. HIV. That is a miss. The President has not lent munity in Chicago, primarily through sports ac- matter of time. WCT: How did you go about doing that? his personal bully pulpit to HIV to the degree tivities and social activities. In 1982, we moved WCT: You went on to become one of Los PW: Our strategy from the very beginning was that I’d like to see. to Los Angeles, and a number of things hap- Angeles’ most prominent HIV/AIDS activists, to identify stakeholder communities: civil-rights WCT: When you spoke at a South Side Help pened. I got involved in Black and White Men with appointments throughout the 1990s at organizations, policy makers and elected offi- Center in Chicago event last fall, you said you Together, and I attended a meeting very early the Los Angeles County HIV Health Commis- cials, media organizations, faith-based organi- didn’t see a reason for the AIDS epidemic to on, where Kaposi’s Sarcoma Foundation in San sion, the HRSA AIDS Advisory Committee, zations, fraternities and sororities, colleges and exists as it does. Could you elaborate? Francisco was talking about opening a new AIDS Project Los Angeles and the city of Los universities, and businesses. We targeted them PW: The most talented painter can’t create branch in Los Angeles. Angeles. But then you stepped away for a few with the idea being that if we’re going to end great art if he doesn’t paint. The most remark- The next year, I spoke at a candlelight vigil years. the AIDS epidemic, that no matter who you are, able architect can’t create great buildings if he doesn’t build. Today the reason we should not have the epidemic that we have in Black com- munities is because we have the tools to turn it around. We know how to create a new HIV/AIDS re- ality. Some of the tools are not yet ready for primetime, but nevertheless, we have answered some of the most important questions. Can we diagnose the disease, and can we diagnose it early? Yes, we can. Can we identify where the epidemic is? Yes, we can. Can we treat people who have HIV and help them live healthier lives? For the most part, the answer to that question is: Yes, we can. Can we stop exposure? Yes, we Phill Wilson attends a Sept. 1 BTAN event hosted by the South Side Help Center. Left photo, left to right: (assistant); Phill Wilson; Vanessa know how to stop exposure. And that’s not even Smith, SSHC CEO; Charles Nelson, SSHC MSM Project Director. Right photo, left to right: Phill Wilson; Yaa Simpson, community epidemiologist new. We’ve known how to stop exposure for a and bioethicist for TACTS (Association of Clinical Trials Services); Charles Nelson, SSHC MSM Project Director. Photos by Erica Demarest. while through condoms and behavior modifica- tion. You put all that together … with all those in Los Angeles in the federal building in West- PW: In 1997, I retired from AIDS Project Los where you were, you couldn’t escape the reality things, you can literally end the epidemic. wood. That was my first real involvement. I read Angeles because I was too sick to work. I ulti- of the need to fight HIV. WCT: Why, then, do you think the numbers “Where will you be when they come?” by Black mately went on the new medication, HAART, and Pretty early on, we decided we were less con- persist? lesbian poet Pat Parker. by 1999, I felt like I was well enough to go back cerned about disparities and more concerned PW: We need to be clear that some of these On a personal level, more of my friends were to work. And that’s when I founded the Black about straight-out ending the epidemic in our tools are brand new, and most of the numbers starting to get sick. Another turning point was AIDS Institute. communities because the truth of the matter is, we’re looking at today are not today’s numbers. Larry Kramer’s article in The Native. And then HAART was what would start my road to re- you can reduce the disparities and still have a There’s a lag time. The most recent of those there was Proposition 64, which was an AIDS covery. Like most of us, my health had been like thriving epidemic. numbers are probably from 2009. They’re from quarantine initiative in California. That was a roller coaster. There were times I would get WCT: Why do you think AIDS has hit Black before the PrEp study and from before the mi- probably the straw that broke the camel’s back very sick, and then I’d recover. Then I’d get very communities so much harder than others? crobicide study. for me. I kind of said: This is where I needed to sick, and then I’d recover. And HIV back then [According to the CDC, African-Americans That’s why we’re at a deciding moment right spend my full time and energy. That was when I was this roller coaster, where every time you got comprised 14 percent of the U.S. population now. The question is: Now that we have these realized that we were really going to need to be sick, you got sicker, and your recovery was not in 2009, but accounted for 44 percent of all tools, what are we going to do with them? And fighting for our lives. as great as your recovery the time before. It was new infections]. that’s our call to action. WCT: What was your first step? a downward pattern. PW: We are still suffering from a late start. Our to learn more about Phill Wilson and the PW: I volunteered for the campaign [against In 1996, I kind of hit the bottom where they communities were slow to get involved. HIV is a Black AIDS Institute, visit www.blackaids.org. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 17

Mike Barnes: Overcoming heartache By Ross Forman their lives changed. It was April 15, 2007, and they were flying He rarely cries anymore, despite decades of per- home to Chicago from Palm Springs. sonal and professional pain and heartache, com- “On the flight, I could see that something bined with many, many deaths. Mike Barnes is wasn’t right. He look fatigued; he looked awful,” cried out, he says, the direct impact HIV/AIDS Barnes said. has had on him over the past 26 years. The next day, Barnes convinced Rarick to go Barnes, 55, was with his first long-time part- to the doctor, “and that’s when, literally, all ner, Donald Hendricks, from 1984-’89. Hendricks hell broke loose,” Barnes said. “They thought was diagnosed with HIV in 1986 and died in he needed a liver transplant, but discovered his 1989. liver actually was really healthy.” Barnes was then with Sky Bixby from 1989- However, he had circulation issues in his liver ’97. Bixby learned he was HIV-positive in 1995 and many blood clots. and died in 1997. “That has been our constant issue since Barnes is now partnered with Bart Rarick, a [2007],” Barnes said. relationship that started in 1999. Rarick, 53, Rarick is now just trying to put weight back has been HIV-positive for 22 years, and the last on, which is no easy task, Barnes said. He was five have been a “living hell,” Barnes said, as a flight attendant for American Airlines, but has Rarick has endured serious liver issues, caused been on a five-year leave of absence, the com- Above: Mike Barnes. by his HIV and cancer treatment over the past pany limit. Photo by Ross Forman. two decades. Rarick has dropped from 170 to On Jan. 8, Rarick was awake most of the day Left: Mike Barnes (left) 125 pounds and even struggles at times getting and able to feed himself, “and for someone who and partner Bart Rarick. out of bed or eating. hasn’t done [those two things] in a while, they Courtesy of Mike Barnes Barnes also has been a bowler since the mid- are big things,” Barnes said. 1980s in the local gay leagues, which have lost Rarick also in early-January backed off his in- countless former participants over the years to terest in dying. HIV/AIDS. Plus, Barnes is a pharmacist at a “He was ready to go, ready to die. We had had Lakeview Walgreens, so he has met customers many conversations [about death] because he who became casual friends during their battle wanted to die when he was happy. He had got- with HIV/AIDS—until many died. ten what he wanted out of life, including our And there have been plenty of struggles over Startled, Barnes replied, “Why do you need my Barnes learned last April, after a gut infection relationship,” Barnes said. “But then, almost the past five years—with rock-bottom coming partner?” got worse following a routine shoulder surgery out of the blue, he decided it wasn’t time to between Christmas and New Year’s 2010. Rarick The resident answered, “We’d just be happier if for arthritis, that he too was HIV-positive. die, that he said he still had things he had to went into the hospital for a routine colonoscopy he was here.” “Everyone always wonders why they’re here in do. Mostly, he doesn’t think I’m ready to live by and almost died, Barnes said. Barnes knew what he was about to hear. “I life. After Sky [died], I figured that must be my myself, yet.” During surgery, doctors nicked a vein, causing guess that tells me what the answer is,” he said lot in life: I’m here to take care of HIV guys,” Barnes, who has lived in Chicago since 1983, excessive bleeding. to the resident. said Barnes, who lives in Chicago’s Lincoln Park sees a mental health counselor himself to help “We really felt that was it,” Barnes said. “I didn’t really care [about the test result] neighborhood. “There are not a lot of mid-50- his emotional roller coaster. He also views him- The struggles have changed Barnes’ approach because I’ve dealt with [HIV] so much, for so year-old gay men, because so many of them died self as, “the world’s best caretaker.” But still, to life. Normally, a detailed, planning person, long that I almost feel like I’ve been positive for in the 1980s. That’s why I sort of feel like a “it’s been very tough, very very tough for me.” he now doesn’t—or can’t—look farther than the years,” he said. “I was disappointed more than survivor. But Barnes has friends for support, plenty of next day. shocked [at the test result] because I just felt “HIV/AIDS has been devastating over the past close, supporting friends. Or, as he says, “some “I live one day at a time,” he said. “I can wake like I was one of those people who would almost 25 years, but also has brought me joy because I of the best friends in the world.” Including “the up and he’s [doing] really well, or, I can wake up be immune to HIV. feel, at times, like I have been able to beat the ultimate faghag, who is proud to be called a and he’s really bad. So, we don’t make plans. Not “But I knew there was a chance,” of being in- virus.” faghag.” even a week ahead. There is no planning ahead,” fected. The battle Barnes fights now is alongside Rar- Barnes and Vicky Wagner met in the late- Barnes said. “That’s very frustrating, especially Barnes said he enters the New Year “very, very ick, who measures daily successes with simple 1980s in the gay bowling league at the now- for a guy who likes to plan every step of his healthy,” other than “normal growing old is- ventures, such as leaving their house—as Rarick closed Marigold Lanes. They were immediately life.” sues.” He still bowls every week alongside Wag- did one early January day—and not for a doc- attracted to each other’s spirit and sense of hu- Barnes learned he was HIV-positive last April ner, a stress relief and escape from HIV/AIDS tor’s appointment. mor, Barnes said. and, despite years of unsafe sex, was “surprised” for Barnes. He also anxiously awaits spring to After meeting in 1999, Barnes and Rarick Wagner, who is straight, is still bowling side at the news, especially since he was HIV-nega- return to his passion for gardening—an at-home quickly realized that they had many of the same by side with Barnes—for a team long known as tive two weeks earlier. oasis away from HIV/AIDS, where he planted values, as each was raised in Michigan. They the Gutter Queens. Barnes had a gut infection following shoulder more than 700 tulips in 2011. Barnes and Rarick became really good friends, and then started “She would do anything for me, literally any- surgery and his doctor ran an HIV test, just to have won the gardening contest in their 70-unit dating. Ultimately, they became, “best friends,” thing,” Barnes said. “She is one of my main re-confirm that HIV was not an issue. housing association for the past two years. Barnes said. They moved in together in 2000. pillars—through the death of my parents, the Sure enough, a resident at the local hospi- Victories are few, have been few, for Barnes— “It was a fun trip until five years ago,” said death of my dog, losing my last partner, and now tal had his result and asked, “Is your partner but he battles on. Barnes, who vividly recalls the exact moment through the struggles with Bart.” around?” “I don’t know how I do it, I just do,” he said.

Photos from the garden of Mike Barnes and partner Bart Rarick. Courtesy of Barnes. 18 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

‘Patient Zero’ discussed at history association panel By Erica Demarest

A panel of historians set to work deconstructing the “Patient Zero” myth Jan. 7, as the Ameri- can Historical Association (AHA)’s Committee on LGBT History convened at the Chicago Marriott Downtown. “In 2011, we marked the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” said Ian Lekus of Harvard University. “To be precise, it was the anniversary of the June ’81 epide- miological reports. The origins of HIV are far murkier. Where did the virus originate? How long did it manifest in gay men and other people in- fected in the United States before it became clear there was a crisis?” In his 1987 book And the Band Played On, journalist Randy Shilts identified gay Cana- dian flight attendant Gaëtan Dugas as “Patient Zero,” or the man responsible for bringing AIDS to North America. Dr. William Darrow from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had hypoth- esized that a singular person (“Patient Zero”) had carried the disease from Africa and spread it Richard McKay and Chet DeFonso (right, far right) chat with audience members. Photos by Erica Demarest through promiscuous sexual behavior. Dugas was posthumously vilified (he died resented his conclusions. Recent evidence sug- citrant’ Queer,” Philadelphia University’s Phil “Shilts’ dark characterization of Dugas drew in 1984) as many accepted the “Patient Zero” gests the virus may have arrived in the U.S. via Tiemeyer outlined how Dugas was used as a its intensity from—and indeed combined with— story as fact. Darrow later renounced his theory Haiti. catalyst for anti-gay legislation and quarantine the journalist’s intention to cast the disease it- as flawed and claimed that Shilts had misrep- In his paper “‘Patient Zero’ and the ‘Recal- efforts in the 1980s and 1990s. self as a character in his history,” McKay wrote. “Randy Shilts’s narrative may not have led di- David Palmer from the University of North rectly to [anti-gay] laws,” Tiemeyer said, “but it Carolina at Chapel Hill also presented a paper did tighten the perceived link between AIDS and titled “AIDS, the Religious Right, and Gay Sex in queer sexual depravity, thereby allowing such Late 1980s North Carolina.” He illustrated how legal changes to occur more easily.” gay press and local conservative figures helped Tiemeyer argued that the origin myth’s arrival shape a nuanced region-specific response to the some six years after AIDS was ‘discovered’ was pandemic, challenging the popular notion that uniquely suited to aid conservative agendas. the Religious Right had presented one unified, “Gaëtan seemingly proved that men who en- monolithic reaction. gage in anal sex and cavort in bathhouses in- “AIDS is a national, indeed global, issue, but vite plague-like diseases on themselves and the … it is also an epidemic rooted in local con- rest of society,” Tiemeyer said. “For the world cerns and political considerations,” Palmer said. to make this sensational myth about the origin “Responses to AIDS took shape in concert to a of AIDS in America … demonstrates more than host of locally drawn political concerns.” anything else society’s revulsion with gays post- Chet DeFonso of Northern Michigan University Stonewall sexual freedom.” emceed the panel, and Lekus closed with a call Richard McKay from King’s College London for more AIDS-related investigations. used his paper “Communicative Contacts: Randy “Scholarship on the pandemic is one of the Shilts, Gaëtan Dugas, and the Construction of most exciting emerging fields in U.S. history,” the ‘Patient Zero’ Myth” to examine Shilts’s re- Lekus said. “This growing body of work is over- porting tactics. turning all the ways that we thought we knew McKay argued that Shilts circumvented patient the historical narrative in the 1980s and first confidentiality laws and misused personal sto- half of the 1990s.” ries to construct a largely biased characteriza- Left to right: Chet DeFonso, Phil Tiemeyer, Richard McKay, Ian Lekus, David Palmer. tion of Dugas. 100,000 homes campaign in Chicago enjoys success Chicago’s single most vulnerable woman—HIV- to house the most vulnerable homeless,” Ben- There have been challenges, starting with ing intentional and more transparent about how positive, alcoholic mother of seven, homeless dixen said. finding the most vulnerable people—a designa- people who are homeless get connected to the for many years—now has a home. “These are the people who usually remain on tion based on years of homelessness, age, sub- housing resources they need.” This holiday season, she was one of Chicago’s our streets or in shelters for years because of stance use and mental health issues, and health The success of the 100K Homes Campaign in 212 most vulnerable homeless people who are their challenges, often mental health and sub- problems that make a person likely to die if they Chicago has been significant, both statistically sleeping inside, in their own beds, instead of out stance abuse issues, and the inability of our continue to be on the streets. Finding available and anecdotally. Consider the single most vul- in the cold. That heartwarming fact is a result of systems of care to respond to their health and housing units for them has been another. nerable woman identified in Chicago—an HIV- the 100,000 Homes Campaign here in Chicago. social needs,” he said. There were also challenges, as outlined in the positive, homeless, alcoholic mother of seven One year ago, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago Chicago is one of 103 communities participat- Loyola report, with coordination of the various children has a litany of health problems beyond (AFC) partnered with the Chicago Department of ing in the 100K Homes Campaign, a national agencies working together and integrating the her HIV diagnosis, including kidney and renal Family and Support Services, the Corporation for effort to house the 100,000 most vulnerable services. disease, a history of strokes, Hepatitis C, kidney Supportive Housing (CSH) and Beacon Therapeu- homeless people in the country. Chicago is also “In this first year we learned that really ‘hard’ disease and cirrhosis, and past brain trauma. tic to lead a campaign to identify and find stable a pilot site for finding homes for vulnerable people can be housed and we re-learned that She is now living in her own apartment in a housing for the city’s most vulnerable people. families, as opposed to individuals. So far, 35 supportive housing works and makes a huge im- supportive housing environment. She has kept In its first year of implementation, the 100K families have been housed through the initia- pact on changing lives—health, connectedness, her primary care appointments, maintained a Homes Campaign has been a success most viv- tive. community,” said Betsy Benito, director of the clean apartment, and cut back on the hard li- idly told and understood through the stories of This past year has yielded a clear picture CSH’s Illinois Program. quor. She has also worked to mend broken rela- the people housed, said Arturo Bendixen, AFC’s of successes and challenges to learn from, as “This campaign has been successful in moving tionships with her children. And her viral load is vice president for housing partnerships. outlined by Loyola University’s Center for Ur- the entire ‘system’ to recognize the seriousness now undetectable. “The Chicago 100K Homes Campaign is ex- ban Research and Learning’s “Evaluation of the of ‘vulnerable’ households, including families,” tremely important for our city as it is the first 100,000 Homes Campaign in Chicago,” released Benito said. “We have changed policies and pri- time that we have focused and worked together earlier this month. orities on a system-level so that we are becom- WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 19

History panel looks at healthcare and identity issues By Erica Demarest day, HIV/AIDS and homelessness grants account for half the organization’s budget. The American Historical Association (AHA)’s The question of identity continues to be prob- Committee on LGBT History continued its con- lematic for Lyon-Martin, which has faced pos- ference programming Jan. 7 with a panel discus- sible closure several times. But for one reason or sion on the relationship between identity and another, Houck said, the queer community con- LGBT-related healthcare. tinually mobilizes to keep the clinic, now known Judith Houck (University of Wisconsin-Madi- as Lyon-Martin Health Services, afloat. son) kicked things off with a look back at Lyon- While identity politics have been a source of Martin’s complicated history. Founded in San strife for Lyon-Martin in San Francisco, they Francisco in 1979 “by lesbians, for lesbians,” helped bring together Chicago’s Howard Brown and named after Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, Health Center in the 1970s. feminists and well-known lesbian-rights activ- Catherine Batza from the University of Illinois Judith Houck and John Goins. Photos by Erica Demarest ists, the famed healthcare clinic was originally at Chicago presented a paper titled “‘I Want You designed to cater solely to needs of queer for a Free VD Test’: Making Sexual Health Part to be tested. tity can be in addressing medical issues. of Gay Identity in Chicago, 1974-81.” Batza il- “The lackluster turnout reflected the distrust John Goins from the University of Houston that the gay community had for mainstream also presented his paper “Politiking the Gay medicine based on decades of persecution and Cancer: Electoral Intransigence and the AIDS mistreatment,” Batza said. Response in Houston.” Goins detailed gay ac- Realizing that looking like mainstream medi- tivism in Houston during Louie Welch’s reign as cal providers would continue to be a detriment, mayor. Welch famously suggested that one way Howard Brown hired popular local drag queen to curb the AIDS epidemic would be to “shoot Wanda Lust as a spokesperson. Armed with the queers.” campy humor and an Uncle Sam-inspired “I Want Leisa Meyer from the College of William and You … for a Free VD Test” poster, Wanda Lust Mary emceed the panel and presented commen- enticed record numbers of people to the van. tary. Houck’s paper was titled “Treating Men at a “She really symbolizes gay liberation,” Batza Lesbian Clinic: Identity Politics, Feminist Orga- said. “There is no shame here: I am out here do- nizing, and Health Care Provision, 1979 to the ing what I’m doing, having a great time … . It’s Present.” a fun thing. We’re all going to acknowledge that The 126th meeting of the American Histori- this is a problem within our community.” cal Conference convened Jan. 5-8 in the Chicago As participation increased, VD rates in the city Marriott Downtown, 540 N. Michigan Ave. dropped, illustrating how effective a tool iden- HIV advocacy organizations launch online resource HIVHealthReform.org A leading group of HIV advocacy organizations ments at the federal and state level. announce the launch of a new Website to serve “People with HIV stand to benefit tremen- as the go-to source for information, advocacy dously from health reform and they also face resources, and news on what healthcare reform unique challenges in the upcoming transition, Top: Leisa Meyer; sitting, left to right: Catherine Batza, Judith Houck, John Goins. (the Affordable Care Act) means for people living and this Website will help them learn more with HIV and their providers. about it,” Peller said. “The site aims to demys- The website—HIVHealthReform.org—is in- tify health reform for people with HIV, as well women. But as cultural dynamics shifted and lustrated how identity served as a catalyst for tended to educate people living with HIV, as as their medical and social services providers to the AIDS epidemic hit, Lyon-Martin’s clientele positive sexual health practices among Chicago’s well as their medical workers and social service better prepare them for the new landscape.” changed dramatically. LGBT community. providers, on the benefits and challenges of The website also encourages discussion and “By donating their time and money to the In 1973, then-medical student David Ostrow healthcare reform for HIV-positive Americans. action in local communities. As one example clinic, lesbians believed they were taking care of founded the Gay Medical Students Group as a The website will also provide opportunities to of how the Website will share updates, Project their own,” Houck said. “As AIDS hit, however, a response to the largely insensitive, overcrowd- share resources on healthcare reform implemen- Inform and the San Francisco AIDS Founda- new set of women desperately needed affordable ed and incompetent care people were often tation and advocacy. tion have launched a California-specific blog and culturally sensitive healthcare. Many people subjected to in clinics. Ostrow realized many HIVHealthReform.org is the collaborative (HIVHealthReform.org/California) that details associated with Lyon-Martin eagerly shifted LGBT Chicagoans weren’t visiting clinics, so he product of AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Project various implementation efforts that are on-go- their focus … . Others, however, resented and brought clinical care to the community. Inform, the Center for Health Law and Policy In- ing in that state as they relate to people living resisted the turn away from lesbian services.” With the help of social services organization novation of Harvard Law School/Treatment Ac- with HIV. Fairly rapidly, Lyon-Martin moved from serv- Gay Horizons, the fledgling group provided HIV cess Expansion Project, the HIV Medicine Asso- HIVHealthReform.org will further serve as an ing predominantly white lesbians to splitting its testing and other medical services in a local cof- ciation and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The advocacy resource for activists working to edu- attention with lower-income, straight women of fee shop. Ostrow and his team also partnered project is supported by a grant from the MAC cate key decision makers—particularly those op- color. Many traditional donors felt isolated, and with local bars and bathhouses to disseminate AIDS Fund. posing efforts to reduce funding for Medicaid, fundraising suffered. information and provide testing. “Though there’s been plenty of media focus on Medicare or health reform—on the importance “They did not embrace HIV/AIDS treatment “Howard Brown Memorial Clinic’s interest in the Affordable Care Act, it’s been hard to find of national health reform to people living with as their own cause,” Houck said. “Women who outreach contributed to the bars and baths of the facts about what it will really mean on the HIV. had thought they’d built [a space] for their own Chicago becoming visible, if somewhat improb- ground for those living with HIV,” said John Visit HIVHealthReform.org and its community found 12 years a later a facility they able, venues for gay sexual health in the 1970s,” Peller, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s vice blogs—HIVHealthReform.org/blog and no longer felt connected to or responsible for.” Batza said. president of policy. HIVHealthReform.org/California. Ironically enough, that very shift helped Howard Brown soon started a ‘VD van’ that HIVHealthReform.org intends to fill that void Follow them on Twitter HIVHealthReform Lyon-Martin expand its operations. HIV grants traveled to LGBT hot spots and offered free test- by compiling the work of leading HIV healthcare and on Facebook (search ‘HIVHealthReform. paid for the clinic’s first full-time doctor, and to- ing. But on its first run, only four people agreed reform advocates and reporting on new develop- org’). 20 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY VIEWPOINTS TIMES der, you do not have the same rights as other the Black Church, having both a profound im- Americans,” she said at Chicago’s Out & Equal pact on the mistreatment of its LGBTQ com- VOL. 27 No. 15, Jan. 18, 2012 rev. irene The combined forces of Windy City Times, Workplace Summit in 2006. “You cannot marry, munities, and its inattentiveness on the AIDS founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, monroe … you still face discrimination in the work- epidemic ravaging the Black community. founded May 1987. place, and in our armed forces. For a nation that Religion has become a peculiar institution in prides itself on liberty, justice and equality for the theater of human life. Although its Latin PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR all, this is totally unacceptable.” root, “religio,” means “to bind,” it has served Tracy Baim However, I must say, as an African-American as a legitimate power in binding people’s shared ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky minister, I have learned having pastored church- hatred. MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis es, and having worked alongside Black ministers However, King’s teachings taught me how reli- BUSINESS MANAGER Meghan Streit MLK Day DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright and their parishioners, that who we shout out gion plays a profound role in the work of justice. ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson reflection for and pray to on Sunday as an oppressed people, A religion that looks at reality from an in- SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS: Terri Klinsky, Amy does not exclude or have any relations to who volved committed stance in light of a faith that Matheny, Kirk Williamson, Dave Ouano, Kirk Smid we damn, discard and demonize; thus being an does justice sees the face of the damned, the PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT Cynthia Holmes LGBTQ justice in NIGHTSPOTS MANAGING EDITOR Kirk Williamson oppressor to people marginalized and disenfran- disinherited, the disrespected and the dispos- NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 the Black church chised like ourselves. The Black Church is an un- sessed—and that also includes its LGBTQ peo- SENIOR WRITERS Kate Sosin, Bob Roehr, Rex abashed and unapologetic oppressor to its LG- ple. Wockner, Marie J. Kuda, David Byrne, Tony Per- egrin, Lisa Keen, Yasmin Nair, Erica Demarest Monday was MLK Day. BTQ community and consequently, a hindrance As a religion columnist, I try to inform the THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan I am proud to count myself among the many in progressive movements toward LGBTQ civil public of the role religion plays in discrimina- CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight, Jr. people working for social justice today who rights in this country. tion against LGBTQ people. Because homophobia BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair stand on the shoulders of Martin Luther King Jr. While King would undoubtedly shake his head is both a hatred of the “other” and it’s usually SPORTS WRITER Ross Forman ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS Too many people think King’s statements re- in disbelief concerning his brethren he would acted upon “in the name of religion,” by report- Mary Shen Barnidge, Steve Warren, Lawrence garding justice are only about race and the Af- however applaud the stance the NAACP took on ing religion in the news I aim to highlight how Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Jerry Nunn, Alicia Wilson, rican-American community—thus excluding the marriage equality. religious intolerance and fundamentalism not Jonathan Abarbanel COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Jorjet LGBTQ community. In quelling the tension between Black civil- only shatter the goal of American democracy, Harper, Lee Lynch, Tully Satre, Lisa Keen, Charlsie However, King said that, “The revolution for rights activists and ministers of the 1960s who but also aids in perpetuating other forms of op- Dewey, Carrie Maxwell, Billy Masters, Chuck human rights is opening up unhealthy areas in still vociferously state that marriage equality for pression such as racism, sexism, classism and Colbert, Sarah Toce, Dana Rudolph, Sally Parsons, American life and permitting a new and whole- LGBTQ Americans is not a civil right, the NAACP anti-Semitism. Emmanuel Garcia, Jamie Anne Royce SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Mel some healing to take place. Eventually the civil Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., marked I miss King. I miss the sound of his voice, and Ferrand, Hal Baim, Steve Starr, Emmanuel Garcia, rights movement will have contributed infinitely the 40th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia—when the things he said with his voice. I miss the Dave Ouano, Tim Carroll more to the nation than the eradication of racial the U.S. Supreme Court, in 1967, struck down choir that resounded within him with his voice. CIRCULATION justice.” this country’s anti-miscegenation laws as un- In keeping his dream alive we must continue CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Renee, Members of King’s family also embrace his constitutional—by stating the following con- to lift our voices. We must speak our truth to Sue and Victor words, extending them to the LGBTQ community. cerning same-sex marriage: power. And for those of us who live on the mar- WEB HOSTING: LoveYourWebsite.com (lead pro- For example, in 1998, Coretta Scott King ad- “It is undeniable that the experience of Afri- gin we must speak out, because OUR survival as grammer: Martie Marro) dressed the LGBT group Lambda Legal in Chica- can Americans differs in many important ways LGBTQ worshippers in our faith communities is go. In her speech, she said queer rights and civil from that of gay men and lesbians; among other predicated on our voices being lifted. Copyright 2012 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media rights were the same. “I appeal to everyone who things, the legacy of slavery and segregation is Each year, I mark the MLK holiday by re-ex- Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). believes in Martin Luther King’s dream to make profound. But differences in historical experi- amining King’s teachings, remembering that my Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, room at the table of brother and sisterhood for ences should not preclude the application of longing for LGBTQ justice is inextricably tied to and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. lesbian and gay people.” constitutional provisions to gay men and lesbi- my work toward religious tolerance in the Black All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy Like her parent’s faith, the King’s eldest daugh- ans who are denied the fight to marry the person Church. City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing ter’s, Yolanda, faith in the civil rights movement of their choice.” This is why I continue to speak. and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, drove her passion for LGBTQ justice. However, if King were with us today, he would cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City “If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgen- be sad with how homophobia continues within 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 The marrying kind talk about the fear that motivated your harsh hope and not curse the darkness of fear. [email protected] words in comparing the gay liberation move- I want to take this opportunity once again to ment with the Ku Klux Klan. publicly ask you to enter into a meaningful dia- www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Dear Editor: radio: WindyCityQueercast.com You speak of this fear as if it were an addic- logue process where we can begin to address the video: QueerTVNetwork.com As Windy City Times recently reported, a number tion over which you have no control. Instead unreasonable fear you harbor against the LGBT of North Side state legislators are collaborating of honoring the words you spoke to the LGBT community, and seek common ground over fear. WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, with LGBT- and civil-rights organizations to ad- community, you appear to be attempting to walk There can be no justification or rationalization 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, Illinois 60640 away from that apology. for your uncharitable words directed at the LGBT U.S.A vance marriage-equality legislation in Illinois. (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) Creating same-sex civil unions in 2010 was a Why are three simple words so difficult for you Community. huge step for Illinois and puts our community to honor—“I am sorry?” I call on you to publicly honor the apology Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. closer to the goal of full and unequivocal LGBT I have reached out to you to encourage direct you gave to our community without any reserva- Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. dialogue about the fear you are harboring, but tions. OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE equality. To date, thousands of Illinois couples www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com have sought civil unions to enjoy the same legal instead of engaging in a meaningful dialogue www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com benefits that opposite-sex couples in this state you have chosen to publicly wallow in it, as your Sincerely, www.WindyCityQueercast.com are entitled to. For that, I am extremely grate- most recent column suggests. Joe Murray, Executive Director www.QueerTVNetwork.com ful. In our previous private written communication Rainbow Sash Movement However, civil unions are not enough. I have pleaded with you to light a candle of “Windy City Media Group generated enormous interest among their readers Legislators have a responsibility as public ser- in this year’s LGBT Consumer Index vants to ensure that every citizen we represent Survey. Out of approximately 100 is treated equally. I am proud to be a part of print and online media partners who this chapter in Illinois’ progress—past, present Send letters participated in the survey, Windy & future. City was the best performing regional Simply said ... let’s do it now. Let’s make mar- and viewpoints to media in the U.S. Only survey partners riage equality a reality in Illinois. with a nationwide footprint were Andrew@WindyCity able to generate a greater number of Sincerely, responses.” ­­—David Marshall, Research Sara Feigenholtz Director, Community Marketing, Inc. State Representative, 12th District MediaGroup.com. A letter to the cardinal Items may be edited Eminence: for length or clarity. I find myself conscience-bound to respond to your most recent column in the Chicago New World (Jan. 15 issue). Once again, you publicly WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 21 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Photo by Donata Wenders

ARMS RACE Fabian Prioville’s arms and Azusa Seyama’s head and torso provide body language in the movie Pina. See page 34. DISH THEATER TRAVEL Sweet sensation. Flurry of activity. Jungle love. Page 36. Page 22. Page 37.

Photo from Sean Whittington Photo from Blizzard ‘67 Photo by Jerry Nunn by Jeff Pines

WINTER THEATER SPECIAL Blowing hot and cold: Theater for a Chicago winter BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE Feb. 12 at Chicago Dramatists, and the upcoming Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting. Photo by Sean Williams Dating Walter Dante, opening Feb. 12 at Raven What a winter this is turning out to be! Can Theatre. Home-grown playwright Ronan Marra’s there be any excuse for not going out see a play? football-themed Motion opens Jan. 28 at Signal atre’s Moon For The Misbegotten, opening March House Theatre, opening Jan. 29. The start of 2012 features several of the Ensemble. It’s not all grim and solemn, how- 15. Expanding their budgets, if not their physical never-before-seen-here productions for which ever—the romantic comedy Ten Chimneys, set A trend begun last year involved plays previ- dimensions, are Jason Wells’ The North Plan, a Chicago is famous: among those addressing in the Lake Geneva summer home of Alfred Lunt ously seen in the big venues being staged in hit at Steppenwolf’s 2010 First Look, opening at topical subjects are Enron (corporate rapacity), and Lynn Fontaine during a visit by a youthful small spaces—e.g., the Ka-Tet Theatre Compa- Theater Wit Feb. 26; Eric Pfeffinger’s Accidental opening Jan. 27 at Timeline Theatre; Disgraced Uta Hagen, opens at Northlight March 16. ny’s intimate Side Man, or Redtwist’s Bug and Rapture, moving to the suburbs, where it runs (obstacles to assimilation), opening Jan. 30 at This doesn’t mean that those seeking classics Man From Nebraska. Continuing the roster of through Feb. 18 at Berwyn’s 16th Street Theater; American Theater Company; Time Stands Still from the repertoire should go into hibernation what music-radio deejays call “Not the Origi- and Randall Colburn’s Hesperia, transferring (wartime trauma), opening Jan. 21 at Steppen- until the vernal equinox. On the equity circuit nal Version” revivals are Tracy Letts’ Superior from the Right Brain Project’s cinder-block cell wolf, Megacosm (the menace of technology), is the Gary Griffin-directed Midsummer Night’s Donuts, currently running through March 25 in in the Ravenswood corridor to open in the more currently running through Feb. 26 at Red Orchid; Dream, opening at Chicago Shakespeare Feb. 15. Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s cozy loft; Michael Heal- sumptuous quarters of Glencoe’s Writers Theatre and The Fishermen (disgruntlement in the labor Off-Loop, The Petrified Forest, Robert E. Sher- ey’s The Drawer Boy, opening for the Filament Feb. 2. sector), opening Feb. 25 at Stage Left. wood’s hostage drama, opens Feb. 26 at Straw- Theatre Ensemble at the Den Jan. 19; and Craig Add to this already impressive roster imports In addition, there are the Invisible Man (social dog Theatre. Lucas and Adam Guettel’s The Light In The Piaz- like Victory Gardens’ slam-infused Ameriville, alienation), opening Jan. 21 at Court Theatre; The recently resurrected Shattered Globe The- za, as fitted to Theo Ubique’s pocket-sized room opening Feb. 6; Collaboraction’s virtual-world Punk Rock (Brit-school teen angst), opening atre presents Tennessee Williams’ expressionistic at the No Exit Café, opening March 11. Dark Plays or Stories For Boys, currently running Jan. 22 at Griffin; The Legend of Buster Neal Orpheus Descending Feb. 10, while Raven The- Moving in the opposite direction, Ed Schmidt’s through Feb. 26; and Lookingglass’ Rick Bayless (drugs, violence and the need for male mentors), atre also offers Arthur Miller’s The Price (opening Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting—a hidden gem for in Cascabel—featuring the title chef himself currently running through Feb. 29 at eta Square; March 4), and the Artistic Home invites contro- the Chicago Theatre Company in 1991—finds in a star vehicle lending new meaning to the and Race, Windy City icon David Mamet’s dia- versy with its production of Robert Anderson’s new audiences at Lookingglass’ Water Works term “dinner theater”—opening March 27. Now tribe on the eternal racial dialogue, opening at 1953 shocker, Tea and Sympathy starting March (currently running through Feb. 19), along with whether we end up enjoying the sunshine or the Goodman Theatre. 18. A pair of Eugene O’Neill plays celebrate St. Nathan Allen’s Death and Harry Houdini, with battling cabin fever in the next three months, Ripped from the local headlines are Jon Stein- Patrick’s Day with Eclipse Theatre’s Beyond the Dennis Watkins performing his persona’s danger- don’t you feel like taking in a show? hagen’s Blizzard ‘67, currently running through Horizon, opening March 18 and Seanachaí The- ous water torture escape in the round (!) for 22 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

THEATER REVIEW Karch), who has a fetish for dildo headgear and white bread. Then there’s the sailor Hig- Titanic gins (Daniel Dvorkin) who finds himself in Playwright: Christopher Durang various states of undress throughout the The Ghost At: Cock & Bull Theatre at show. Is Here. Athenaeum Theatre, Titanic is undoubtedly difficult to perform Photo by 2136 N. Southport Ave. with so little that makes sense or so few plot John W. Phone: 773-935-6860; $12-$17.50 strands to tie into any form of social com- Sisson Jr. Web: http://www.CockandBullTheatre.org mentary. (You tell me if it’s supposed to be Runs through: Jan. 28 a criticism about parental domineering and deception.) So the actors at least deserve BY SCOTT C. MORGAN some credit for delivering lines that spur the occasional laugh or comic groan. Cock & Bull Theatre’s Titanic at the Ath- Also admirable are the handsome produc- enaeum Theatre is not the 1997 Tony Award- tion values like the assembled period cos- winning musical. Nor is it a spoof on James tumes (no designer is credited) and set de- Cameron’s 11-time Academy Award-wining signer Heinrich Haley’s work featuring watery blockbuster film. plastic sidewalls and three oversize portholes This particular Titanic is an obscure 1976 for characters to pop their heads through to THEATER REVIEW ments, even a run for the office of mayor. A off-Broadway flop by out playwright Christo- make interjections. journalist is skeptical of this invisible celebrity pher Durang. He’s better known for acclaimed Like the play, Chris Garcia Peak’s direction is The Ghost (who speaks only through Fukagawa, his “inter- absurdist comedies filled with sharp social sometimes a mess. The production’s over-long preter”), as is Sankichi’s daughter, puzzled by commentary like Betty’s Summer Vacation, pantomimed prologue could be shortened Is Here the craze for necrophilic consumer goods over Beyond Therapy or Sister Mary Ignatius Ex- Playwright: Kobo Abe, and the task of moving characters on and off practical expenditures. In the meantime, for plains It All For You. translated by Donald Keene stage is sometimes muddled. anyone willing to champion the dead among us, Durang’s Titanic is absurdist all right, but At: Vitalist Theatre of Chicago One saving grace for Cock & Bull’s Titanic is the money just keeps rolling in. aggravatingly so. It’s a puzzler exactly why at the Storefront, 66 E. Randolph Dr. that it allows Durang fans to finally see a pro- Novelist/playwright Kobe Abe’s aesthetic has Durang felt the need to place his anachronis- Phone: 312-742-8497 or duction of his notorious flop that originally been compared to that of Kafka and Beckett, tic characters that are sexually abusive and http://www.dcatheater.org; $25 starred Sigourney Weaver. Otherwise, it’s not but it’s the, um, ghost of Bertolt Brecht that orientation-shifting aboard the ill-fated 1912 Runs through: Feb. 19 really a show worth recommending. hangs most heavily over Donald Keene’s trans- ocean liner that sank on its maiden journey. lation of this 1957 satire on post-war delusion Nearly as head-scratching is why Cock & Bull BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE and free-market rapacity—notwithstanding its Theatre felt the need to lavish so much time

decidedly un-Brechtian happy ending for every- and effort on this play that is so blatantly Maybe you can’t take it with you, but in the one, whether their values lie in truth, love or juvenile and out to shock for shock’s sake. Japanese village of Kitahama, plenty of people lucre. Vitalist Theatre director Jaclynn Jutting Titanic follows the bickering husband-and- will gladly do it for you. Army veteran Fukagawa also departs from stereotypical conventions sur- wife duo of Victoria and Richard Tammurai Keisuke simply wants to raise start-up funds to rounding Asian culture to conjure a vivid-hued (Sarah Hecht and Noah Lepawsky), who hurl publicize the story of how he came to be haunt- panorama of a country undergoing globaliza- their infidelities at each other in their first ed by the ghost of a fellow G.I. for whose death tion, populated by amoral characters eager to scene while terrifying their timid 14-year-old he blames himself. After he meets professional embrace the new risk-taking economy. son Teddy (Matthew Olson) into wondering con-artist Oba Sankichi, currently on the run An athletic ensemble—ed by Jamie Vann and exactly who his parents really are. from the law, a plan is hatched: they will cre- Edgar Miguel Sanchez, respectively, as the swag- In the mix comes the captain’s aggressive ate a picture file of deceased citizens, enabling gering Sankichi and meek Fukagawa—maintains daughter, Lidia (Sarah Jackson, done up to Fukagawa’s spectral sidekick to locate, literally, a sprint-speed pace, even when breaking with look very Bettie Page), who has a penchant any lost souls, who can then be reunited with fourth-wall restrictions to address pithy asides for stuffing live animals up her vaginal cav- their loved ones. to the audience. The dazzling decor scrambles ity. Lidia also shifts how she’s related to se- Oh, but there’s a catch. Grieving relatives samisen music with American jazz, Dior-styled lect people aboard, so you never know if she wanting to reclaim their pawned mementos frocks and three-piece suits with unisex ki- really is Teddy’s deceptive aunt or long-lost discover that the return price of the portraits monos. Shocking-pink telephones glow in the sister. is considerably higher. It doesn’t stop there, gloom of bombed-out buildings and sexy man- Also aboard is the ship’s captain (Edward either—since (as the local newspaper mogul Titanic. Photo by Lesley Jackson nequins model burial fashions. Whoever thought observes) Capital attracts capital, and “Mister the funeral industry could be so much fun? Ghost” is soon petitioned for medical advice, speaking engagements, philanthropic endorse- THEATER REVIEW rities and ambitions, and all envious of the se- rene, single, childless, mortgage-free, recent- Blizzard ‘67 ly promoted Henkin. Surrounded by whiteout Playwright: Jon Steinhagen as dense and terrifying as outer space, every At: Chicago Dramatists, decision—Go on or turn back? Stay in the car 1105 W. Chicago Ave. or set out on foot? Assist strangers in distress Phone: 312-633-0630 or or protect themselves?—must be considered http://www.chicagodramatists.org; $32 carefully in terms of its group dynamic. SPOTLIGHT Runs through: Feb. 12 Told as straightforward crisis-drama, it would be easy for us to wallow in the emo- BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE tional hysteria, but Steinhagen’s purpose isn’t facile hankie-chewing thrills. Our unlikely If the precipitation that heralded the opening band of brothers announce at the outset that night of this new play at Chicago Dramatists they are recounting an adventure long con- had been that of 1967, you wouldn’t be read- cluded, and the fates of the disparate partici- ing this review until next week—or maybe pants settled, in hopes that their hindsight even next month. Forty-five years ago, our will bring us wisdom, comfort and perhaps city experienced 29 hours of steadily falling courage in the face of other seemingly over- snow accumulating on the ground to a depth whelming adversaries. Their final exhortation of nearly two feet, making it the meteorologi- to “wrap up, stay warm and drive safely” is cal disaster against which all future natural also a benediction, extended by those who disasters would be measured. From this event, survived (or didn’t) an unforeseen cataclysm playwright Jon Steinhagen has fashioned a— changing the course of their lives forever. take a deep breath—men-at-war story. Four chairs, a table and some unobtrusive Well, why not? Under attack by forces of, tech-effects make for a visually stark odys- literally, superhuman proportions, it’s not un- sey, leaving it to director Russ Tutterow and common for a bunker mentality to set in after the sharply honed ensemble-acting of Andy a disturbingly short time. The bunker, in this Hager, John Gawlik, Andy Lutz and Stephen eta Creative Arts Foundation commences a trilogy of plays focusing on reclaiming communities case, is a 1963 Ford with no radio or horn— Spencer to convey the enduring trauma aris- with Jackie Alexander’s drama The Legend of Buster Neal. See what happens when a supposedly no communication with the outside world, ing from fear as immediate as that of armed deceased civil-rights leader comes back to life to face down his 16-year-old great-great grandson in other words—containing four car-pooling combat. Look for this fable to play theaters lost to the streets. The Legend of Buster Neal continues now through March 4 at eta Square, corporate drones bound for the suburbs. They throughout America’s northern regions for 7558 S. South Chicago Ave. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 3 and 7 are a generically diverse company: Grumpy many winters to come. Better yet, see it p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20-$30 and $15 for students and seniors; call 773-752-3955 or visit Landfield, stoical Bell and restless Emery are here—now. http://www.etacreativearts.org. Photo courtesy of the company married, each one harboring unspoken insecu- WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 23

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER April 11 – 15 Kirven James Boyd.Kirven Photo by Andrew Eccles. 2011-2012 DANCE SERIES

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Student Matinee Sponsor Student Matinee Sponsor Offi cial Hotel Partner Offi cial Airline 24 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES THEATER REVIEW has been drawn to the Sinatra repertory for al- recordings have been segregated from their most 30 years. She created her signature piece, original orchestral accompaniments so that for Come Fly Away “Nine Sinatra Songs,” for her own company in Come Fly Away, Ol’ Blue Eyes sings to a live big Playwright: Conceived and 1982, and laid it upon Chicago’s own Hubbard band that faithfully channels the legendary ar- choreographed by Twyla Tharp Street Dance Chicago 10 years later. Come Fly rangements of Nelson Riddle, Neil Hefti, Don At: Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. Away is an enlargement of Tharp’s original con- Costa and their ilk. One wonders what happens Tickets: 800-775-2000; cept in which dance and the shifting moods and if something goes wrong with the pre-recorded http://www.BroadwayinChicago.com; lyrics of Sinatra’s music tell a story. Sinatra vocals or with the live band and dancers. $32-$95 The show is set in a classy watering hole fre- Hopefully, audiences never will find out. Runs through: Jan. 22 quented by attractive young men and women, The songs themselves range from great Sinatra some coupled and some solo. As the evening standards such as “Fly Me to the Moon,” “That’s BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL progresses and liquor flows, couples uncouple, Life,” “One for My Baby,” the incredibly torch others hook up and the night grows increasingly “Body and Soul” and “Witchcraft” to oddities Come Fly Away is an exuberant, playful, sexy and uninhibited and downright raunchy into the wee such as Eddie Cantor’s “Makin’ Whoopee” and supremely athletic celebration of Broadway and hours. The program assigns character names to “I Like to Lead When I Dance.” Also, there is modern dance at its best, put together by one of the eight principal dancers, and Tharp gives a total aberration with the inclusion of Dave the great contemporary masters of the art and each one distinctive character traits and dance Brubeck’s “Take Five” as an instrumental-only performed by a dazzlingly talented and diverse moves, but since there is no spoken dialogue ensemble dance piece. It’s wonderful to hear ensemble backed by a powerhouse 14-piece big and no photos of the dancers in the program these iconic tunes, but they tell a story only in band. If you happen to love Frank Sinatra, too, (or in the theater lobby) it’s utterly impossible the most general sense. Maybe that’s enough in there ain’t a thing about this show not to like. for the casual theatergoer to know who is who, an 80-minute show that entertains from start to That’s the long-and-short of this review and which isn’t right. finish with great dancers, a great band and great what follows merely is discussion and quibbles. In an interesting piece of technology, the moves in a sophisticated and artistic twist on The master choreographer is Twyla Tharp who Come Fly Away. Photo by Joan Marcus vocals from about two dozen of Sinatra’s best the jukebox musical.

CRITICS’ PICKS WINTER THEATER SPECIAL to see the show and check up on us. That week that she was there somebody was sent home. We each had to have a separate conference with ‘Come Fly’ with dancer her. I told her about studying her in dance his- Elizabeth Rex, Chicago Shakespeare The- tory class and couldn’t believe I was sitting five ater, through Jan. 22. Last week for this feet away from her. well-acted, splendidly designed costume Julius Anthony Rubio If Wonderland hadn’t closed then I wouldn’t drama in which Gloriana—Elizabeth I— have been as hungry to book this job. Twyla passes a night with Shakespeare & cohorts, BY JERRY NUNN Tharp is getting older so it is so nice to have a and is confronted about life and love by a chance to do her work while she is still around. very modern gay actor. JA The song “Come Fly with Me” was written for She is one of the most intimidating people I Late Nite Catechism, Royal George The- Frank Sinatra back in 1957. Who knew all these have met for sure. atre, open run. The Church of Rome may be years later people would still be dancing to it? WCT: Everyone gets naked in the show, ready for a trip to the principal’s office, but Tony Award winner Twyla Tharp created, di- which audiences are probably not expecting after 17 years, Sister still rocks the class- rected and choreographed the show Come Fly with Frank Sinatra. room in Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan’s with Me—currently in Chicago—that shows that JR: The funny story about that is when we interactive drama-verité that even non- Ol’ Blue Eyes is back. were in Atlanta, people would get up and walk Catholics can enjoy. MSB We tracked down one of the dancers, Julius out. The Magic Flute, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Anthony Rubio (who’s openly gay), to hear how WCT: Oh, no—some of the older people? through Jan. 22. Mozart’s final full-length he did it his way. JR: Yes, some of the older and more reserved stage work from 1791 is a wonderful intro- Windy City Times: Hi, Julius. How was the people. They watch it, then get up and go. That duction to wonders of opera. Kids will revel cast party last night? is upsetting because “My Way” is towards the in the magical stage effects and catchy Julius Anthony Rubio: It was cute. The venue, end and one of my favorite numbers. With the tunes, while adults can ponder all of the Jilly’s on Rush, is an historic place [that] Frank spacing and couples it is so classic to me. It is Masonic symbolism that runs throughout. Sinatra frequented a lot. The owner was friends a shame for people to leave when we get sassy SCM with Frank and wanted to throw it for us. When on stage. They had to tone it down a bit for one Penelope, Steppenwolf, through Feb. 5. we realized the liquor was flowing for free, it place with the crazy stuff they were doing but The view of four decidedly middle-aged turned into a free-for-all! Twyla loved it. I guess because there is a modern straight men in Speedos is scary, but Enda WCT: What is your nationality? Julius Anthony Rubio. Photo from Rubio touch to the show but it is still stylized. Walsh packs poetry as well as testosterone JR: I am Dominican/Israeli. I was born in the WCT: How do you warm up as a dancer? into this dark comedy of four suitors woo- Dominican Republic and raised in Miami. After gave me a kickstart to moving to New York with JR: They offer class every day. There is a volun- ing Penelope as she awaits Ulysses on a I graduated high school I worked a cruise ship a Broadway show. tary ballet class everyday. I am hitting seven to sun-washed, modern Greek isle. JA for about six months. I wanted to get out and WCT: What was the name of it? eight shows a week because the principles only about to try something new. I lived in L.A. for JR: Wonderland. do five. I cover two of the leads: Sid who dances —By Abarbanel, Barnidge four years and did commercial work. I worked WCT: I thought that production did better with the girl in the red dress, and the drunk guy. and Morgan on a pre-Broadway show after, for two years off than that. Sony sent me the cast recording. So I can’t take class every day because it wears and on. I moved to New York for it and, unfortu- JR: You know Regina George in the [movie] me out. I will do a 45-minute warm-up before nately, it closed after three weeks. It definitely Mean Girls? If there is anyone that is a mean a show. I always go to the gym before so that girl, then it is the Tony committee. The music begins my warm-up. If I take class then I feel was composed by Frank Wildhorn. Broadway has exhausted by the time the show comes. CULTURE CLUB a huge thing against him for some reason. He WCT: I noticed you get sweaty up there. also did Jekyll & Hyde and Bonnie & Clyde. There JR: Last night was so hot. We were all sweat- was also so much competition on Broadway this ing our asses off. past season, with Book of Mormon. WCT: Has your family always been accepting WCT: Have you always loved Broadway? of you being gay? JR: I started theater when I was 10. I think I JR: I never really had to say anything when I was dramatic from the day I was born. I realized was growing up. I was very eclectic and outgo- I was the only one that got attention from my ing. I liked girls and boys so I teeter-tottered mom after a while. I didn’t start dancing until I between my flavor. I never really like labels. was about 15, so 10 years ago. WCT: Well, you come off very straight on WCT: How does the Sinatra song go? “You stage. Make Me Feel So Young?” I mean old! You JR: That’s because it is what I get paid to do! took classes in school? [Both laugh.] JR: I went to a performing-arts high school. WCT: Are there many gay dancers in this I only had six solid months of training before cast? I was accepted. I went to a competitive dance JR: There is one other one from the cast studio also to get the best of both worlds. I last night. In the dance world there are many studied classical; then at the competition studio straight men but in the musical-theater world, I would learn ballroom, jazz or tap. I had a very well, good luck! honest dance teacher that told me to kick it up Fly over to the Bank of America Theatre, a notch. He influenced me greatly. 18 W. Monroe St., before the show disap- WCT: How is it performing Twyla’s choreog- pears like “Witchcraft” Sunday, Jan. 22. Visit raphy? http://www.broadwayinchicago.com for tick- JR: When we were in St. Paul, she showed up ets. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 25 “The Great Work Begins.” Professional Theatre at Angels in America Part 1: Millennium Approaches Part 2: Perestroika sponsored by the University of Chicago By Tony Kushner Directed by Charles Newell March 30 – June 3 at Court Theatre Ask the Box Office how you can save when you see both parts in one incredible day of theatre! Call (773) 753-4472 for tickets.

www.CourtTheatre.org EPIC EVENT 26 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES is not comedic—and they enjoy it! In queer the- ater, we don’t really see these kinds of images Man Boobs: Winter Theater Special and it can be quite jarring. I truly believe that it is still socially accept- Play tackles able to discriminate and make fun of overweight or obese people, so when Marty and Spence kiss and are enjoying their sexuality in a truthful body image, way, I think that makes most audiences un- easy—purely because it’s something they don’t see often or have ever seen. sex and WCT: If the overt sexuality of the play makes some audience members titter in their seats, I have to ask: Do the guys do more than identity simply kiss on stage? BY Tony Peregrin JJC: The play has lots of sexuality in it. There is nothing more than kissing, but clothes do A gym-built body and ripped abs (“cum gutters” come off and the kissing is definitely sexual in in porn parlance) can make some gay men fizzy nature, and much more than just a peck. with lust, but when it comes right down to it, WCT: In a recent column on Gay.net titled being with a partner who is simply comfortable “No fats, femmes or … the ugly side of on- in his own skin can be an even bigger turn-on— line dating,” the writer notes that online an idea that is at the center of the J. Julian dating has always featured gay men candidly Christopher’s play, Man Boobs. stating what they want from a partner or fuck The Chicago premiere of Man Boobs— a buddy in terms of physicality—but with the dark comedy about love, body image and ac- immediacy afforded by technology and apps ceptance—opens Pride Film and Plays’ 2012 like Grindr, these physical expectations have season. In the one-act play, Christopher, 34, a actually gotten more extreme. Do you agree? college professor and veteran of the New York JJC: I think that online personal ads are based International Fringe Festival, introduces audi- on the ultimate sexual fantasy. I have also seen ences to “Spence,” a librarian, and “Marty,” a personal ads looking for overweight men, men macho truck driver who tries to get his paramour with small penises and men with flat feet. I into bed—unknowingly pressuring him to reveal think that personal ads ultimately serve on pur- more than his overweight torso. pose—sexual fulfillment. If people are on Grindr Directed by David Zak and starring Rick Heintz Man Boobs. Photo courtesy of David Zak looking for dates, then there is a bigger issue at as Spence and Michael Hampton as Marty, Man hand. Finding someone you connect with or a Boobs opens Saturday, Feb. 18, at 7 Mary’s Attic. people think there is a revelation about Spence JJC: Man Boobs is slightly autobiographical. future partner is a different story. I think, inevi- In Australia to catch the premiere of Man being self-conscious about his body, but to me Spence is based on myself, and Marty is an amal- tably, we learn that what we thought was “our Boobs, Christopher fielded questions via e-mail that isn’t a revelation. The play is about how gamation of various men I have dated. I have type” isn’t always the person we end up with. about the play and its impact on audiences. [body image] drives Spence to handle relation- sabotaged relationship after relationship based WCT: You also produce a Web-based drama Windy City Times: Let’s start with the title ships. on my poor body image, and it is just now, as series, BULK (http://www.bulktheseries. of the play: Man Boobs. Why did you select Man Boobs also has double meaning for me. A I have come into my 30s, that I have begun to com), which follows the character of Leo this particular title for your play? “boob” is often a term for someone acting stu- come out of this idea of what my body “should” Durán as he returns to the New York City bear J. Julian Christopher: Honestly, I just thought pid—and Spence and Marty both act like boobs look like and embrace the one I have. scene after a devastating break-up. Are you it was a funny title! I thought it was catchy and at certain points in the play. WCT: A recent study revealed that almost trying to reach the same audience with BULK [captured] exactly what the play is about. The WCT: Is Man Boobs autobiographical? half of the gay men surveyed would give up a as you are with Man Boobs? title doesn’t ruin the reveal of the play; a lot of year or more of their lives to have a ripped, JJC: I created this series along with D.R. gym-body. How do the results of this survey Knott. We wanted to give voice to underrep- register with you, both as a gay playwright resented communities, and I believe that the A sAvAGE COMEdY. A sPRAWLInG tRAGEdY. and as a member of the bear community? bear community is one of those communities. JJC: Well, I am definitely a proud member of “superb clarity as well as high drama The series does have a similar audience as Man the bear community, and I honestly hate the Boobs, but that’s not to say that I don’t want ... brings the mysterious world findings of this survey—although I think that other audiences who are not bears to think that of high finance to vivid, they are, sadly, quite accurate. Five years ago, these shows are not meant for them. I write comprehensible life.” I would have been one of the respondents to about relationships—and these guys just hap- — The Telegraph this survey who would have given up a year of pen to be big and furry. I think both BULK and my life [for this], but I think there does come Man Boobs celebrate the sexuality of the bear a time when you finally wake up and look in culture, and the notion is that these characters the mirror and you say “Screw it.” That doesn’t are real men—they just happen to be larger. mean throwing caution to the wind and not tak- Man Boobs runs Feb. 18-March 10 at Mary’s ing care of yourself, but it means you start to Attic, 5446 N. Clark St. Tickets are $15; visit CHICAGO PREMIERE not care about your ideal of what a perfect body http://www.BrownPapertickets.com or call is because it is just that—an ideal. 800-838-3006. The play directly deals with the findings of the survey. Spence, the main character, would prob- ably be one of the survey respondents who would voluntarily give up a year or more of his life to Young Playwrights look a certain way. Truthfully, the survey says Festival through less about “gay vanity” and more about what we think makes us a better man. This thinking Jan. 29 by LUCY PREBBLE is skewed, and that is why the bear culture ex- Pegasus Players will hold its 25th Annual directed by RACHEL ROCKWELL ists as it does now, in absolute defiance of that Young Playwrights Festival—a professional societal norm. production of winning one-act plays writ- WCT: Man Boobs toured Montréal and Que- ten by Chicago teenagers—at the Uptown NOW PLAYING! bec in 2011 and premiered at The Midsumma Hull House Center, 4520 N. Beacon St., Festival in Melbourne, Australia, this month. through Jan. 29. Does it surprise you that the play has struck The festival typically receives more than such a chord with audiences around the 800 plays written by high school students world? throughout Chicago. The winning students JJC: I am not surprised that the play is con- will receive $500, a full production of their necting with people all over the world. I think scripts and a professional playwriting men- that body image and self-worth are universal tor to work with them during pre-produc- themes. I am, however, often surprised by how tion. audiences react to the piece. Audiences have Regular performances will be Friday and gasped upon seeing the unapologetic sexuality Saturday nights at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. 615 W. Wellington Ave. (at Broadway) in the play. In the beginning, I tried to wrap my brain Tickets are $10 (students), $15 (seniors) in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood around why this was happening, but I think it is and $25 (adults). Tickets may be purchased 773.281.8463 | timelinetheatre.com because straight and gay audiences are not used at http://www.pegasusplayers.org or 773- 878-8864. to seeing two large men explore their sexuality in a truthful and honest way, in a context that WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 27 LuPone’s own parents were divorced at a time when divorce was uncommon. LuPone says that her mother wasn’t a “stage mother” but she took pride in her brood of three. LuPone and her older twin brothers were danc- ers, and the trio was often seen on TV but when they were defeated—under suspicious circum- stances—on The Amateur Hour, LuPone turned “THEIR ENERGY AND REALNESS– The Village Voice to music. IS UNMATCHABLE!” Although she really didn’t want to go to Jul- liard, LuPone auditioned and was accepted. She was taught opera but she “wasn’t planning on “THE UNMISTAKABLE BIRTH OF NEW – The New ART York Theatre Experience becoming an opera singer.” After her first year, FOR A NEW GENERATION.” she auditioned for the newly formed drama di- vision at the school and was accepted there— which changed her life. The actor John Houseman was one of her teachers at Julliard, and he became a big influ- ence on LuPone’s career by igniting a love of theatre in her. Following graduation from the iconic school, she and fellow classmates trav- eled the East Coast in a repertory company they AMERIVILLE had assembled. LuPone honed her skills, learned and gathered contacts. She was noticed by the “right” people. Her career blossomed. One of LuPone’s favorite memories of her BOOK REVIEW childhood includes a role in a backyard perfor- mance of Gypsy when she was a teenager. It should come as no surprise, then, that Gypsy is Patti LuPone: what won LuPone her second Tony Award… Oh, my. Where do I begin? A Memoir LuPone’s self-titled memoir starts off about as by Patti LuPone, clunky as a partially restored 1957 Edsel. Do we, with Digby Diehl for instance, need to know the names of teach- $25.99; Crown Archetype; 324 ers she had nearly 50 years ago? Does the av- pages erage reader care about a bit-player in a 1975 REVIEW BY Terri Schlichenmeyer repertory group who is no longer acting? This attention to what could be considered incon- When you were 4 years old, you were already sequential detail is occasionally amusing but, an expert. more frequently, appears to be just a chance for Okay, so you were an expert at play, but that name-dropping and shout-outs. was important. Play taught you to learn, and There’s a bit of humor in this book and I did Turn to page 31 learning led to what were some undoubtedly enjoy LuPone’s wonderfully fine-tuned sense of unique ideas about what you wanted to “be” the absurd, but there’s an awful lot of complain- some day. Imagine where you’d “be” if you had ing here, too—good-natured complaining, but followed those plans. complaining nonetheless. Author, actress and Broadway star Patti Lu- I think that if you’re a theatre fan of the rabid Pone knew, at just 4 years old, that she wanted sort, or if your name is actually in this book, to be a performer. In her new book,Patti LuPone: you’ll love it just fine. For the rest of us, though, BY UNIVERSES A Memoir (with Digby Diehl), she writes of her “Patti LuPone” is merely a “four.” journey to get there and beyond. Want more? Look for Mainly on Directing: Gyp- DEVELOPED WITH & DIRECTED BY CHAY YEW Patti LuPone was born into a Long Island fam- sy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals by Arthur ily filled with drama. Rumor had it that her ma- Laurents, or Broadway Musicals: The Biggest AN ELECTRIFYING THEATRICAL RIDE ternal grandmother was a bootlegger and that Hit and the Biggest Flop of the Season-1959 to Grandma had something to do with Grandpa’s 2009 by Peter Filichia. murder. One of LuPone’s aunts was a bellydancer. BEGINS JANUARY 27 Using Hurricane Katrina as a jumping off point, Ameriville is a highly entertaining performance piece fusing hip-hop, poetry, fl amenco, standup comedy and spoken Victory Gardens 1225 W. Belmont Ave. word. Universes weaves this electrifying 90-minute theatrical exploration of race, The ladies and gentlemen of Vaudezilla pay class, poverty, immigration and political awareness into a great adventure about gets $25K tribute to the scavengers in everyone with a what it means to be American. spin on that most American of pastimes: the NEA grant garage sale. This production co-sponsored by Victory Gardens will receive $25,000 from Among the scheduled performers are Trixie the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Sparx, Jeez Loueez, Tito Bonito, Mister Junior to support the development of Jackie Sibblies and Tila von Twirl. at the Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago Drury’s new play, We Are Proud to Present a Tickets are $18 each; see http://www.vau- Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, dezilla.com. 773.871.3000 Formerly Known as South-West Africa, From (TTY 773.871.0682) victorygardens.org the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 20 Tix Daily for $20 • Students $15 • Groups (10+) call 773.634.9874 1884-1915. ‘Color Purple’ at We Are Proud to Present…—by Jackie Sib- blies Drury and directed by Eric Ting—was GSU Feb. 8 The Governors State University Center for chosen and developed through Victory Gar- Performing Arts, 1 University Pkwy., Univer- dens’ 2010 IGNITION. The production will run sity Park, will host a production of the Broad- March 30-April 29 at Victory Gardens, 2433 N. SEE THIS PLAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $20 way musical The Color Purple for one night Lincoln Ave. only Wed., Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. WHEN YOU PURCHASE MAR 30 – APR 29 The NEA is awarding 863 grants to orga- JUN 29 – JUL 29 Gary Griffin directs the production, which nizations and individual writers across the A 3-PLAY PACKAGE! WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner OEDIPUS country, totalling more than $22 million. A PRESENTATION... EL REY Marsha Norman; music and lyrics by Grammy- 3-Play, Flex Passes and our winning composers/lyricists Brenda Russell, ‘Junk in the Trunk’ Allee Willis and Stephen Bray; and choreog- BRAND NEW Runway Series raphy by Donald Byrd. are all available. Call the Box burlesque Jan. 21 Tickets are $15-$65, and student tickets are Offi ce today to learn more Vaudezilla Productions will present “Junk $28. Tickets are available by calling 708-235- about the rest of our season! in the Trunk: A Naughty Nostalgia Burlesque” 2222 or visiting http://www.centertickets. Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10:30 p.m. at Stage 773, net. 28 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES LGBT winter theater preview BY Jonathan Abarbanel for another boy, with lurid and disastrous results (although not what you might predict). The play In the Windy City Times’ Fall Theater Preview I really isn’t an LGBT story, but is about truth and noted a distinct absence of LGBT-themed fare, lies which, basically, are the warp and woof of but I predicted that the tide would turn with the Internet. time, and things were likely to heat up when the Are you there, Judy? It’s me, Cancer, GayCo weather turned chilly. Well, sho’nuff they have! Productions at Donny’s Skybox, Feb. 3-24 For the next three months, you won’t be able (Fridays only): In one of the few concessions to stroll ‘round the block without bumping into this season to a strictly female perspective, Gay- some queer theater. Co offers its first-ever one-person show in Judy Titanic, Cock and Bull Theatre at the Athenae- Fabjance’s journey through breast cancer, billed um, through Jan. 28: I’ll bet you didn’t know as an evening of “comedy, cries and choreog- that half the passengers on the world’s most fa- raphy” with music. Fabjance is both writer and mous shipwreck were drag queens? Too bad they performer. didn’t all look like twinkie Leo DiCaprio. Yes, my Hit the Wall, The Inconvenience at Step- Judy Fabjance. Photo from GayCo dears, for hijinks on the high seas with a very penwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, Feb. cold shower at the end, you may rely on this 3-April 8: This world premiere by Ike Holter is with regard to LGBT individuals and issues? outrageous early-career farce by the very gay one-third of the 2012 Steppenwolf Garage Rep Tea and Sympathy, The Artistic Home at

Christopher Durang. Titanic has been done in and will play in rotation with two other plays. Stage 773, March 18-April 22: Robert An- Hairspray, Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Chicago before, but not for quite a few years. In Hit the Wall, Holter takes a revisionist look derson’s huge hit of 1953 (and 1956 film) was Terrace, April 19-June 17: OK, there’s nothing Don’t Act Like a Girl, Annoyance Theatre, at the summer of 1969, the death of gay icon about an adolescent boy perceived to be gay really LGBT about this one, either, unless you through Feb. 12 (Sundays only): Wes Perry is Judy Garland and its interconnection with the (“sister boy” he is called by his schoolmates). count its entire ethos: from a story and movie by back at the Annoyance with a new one-man Stonewall Riots. Using a live rock band, the play Sixty years ago, it was as close to being out as John Waters, with a drag lead female and telling show about how difficult it is to be perceived focuses on 10 so-called LGBT activists who may a play could be. Elia Kazan directed it on Broad- a tale of the ultimate outsider—a fat adolescent as “different,” especially when you’re an adoles- or may not have been in the Greenwich Village way and Vincente Minelli on film, with Deborah girl—who wins the day (and the pretty boy). cent boy at summer fat camp who loves musical streets on that hot, sultry night. Kerr and the unrelated John Kerr (a beautiful And there you have the winter and early spring theater. We are told the show touches not only The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, boy then) in the leads on stage and film. How LGBT Theater line-up. There is, of course, always on queer teenage angst but also queer teenage Redtwist Theatre, March 4-April 7: Veteran di- will it play in today’s much more open era? If more. About Face Theatre will stage its XYZ Fes- drag queens. Perry is accompanied by a band. rector Greg Kolack stages the Chicago premiere anyone can make it work well, it should be di- tival of New Work, with a play by Tonya Saracho Dark Play or Stories for Boys, Collaboration of this 2008 work in which Moises Kaufman and rector John Mossman, co-founder of The Artistic as the featured attraction (winter dates and lo- at the Flat Iron Building, through Feb. 26: The his Tectonic Theater Project revisited Laramie, Home. cation TBA). Also, the Cadillac Palace Theatre will host the tour of the latest Broadway revival intelligent and interesting playwright Carlos Mu- Wyo., and almost all of the people interviewed Jersey Boys, Bank of American Theatre, of South Pacific (Feb. 5-26), certain to feature rillo and director Anthony Moseley are straight, for the original stage play, a legendary docudra- April 5-June 12: This lively jukebox musical but they are taking on a very contemporary am- ma about the Matthew Shepard murder and its about Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons isn’t a number of well-sculpted and semi-naked male bisexual phenomenon, that of Internet hook-ups immediate aftermath. Ten years later, who has an LGBT show, but the group’s manager and pro- bodies (a tradition of the show since its first and Internet deception. In Murillo’s play, a boy changed (and how) and who has not? What has ducing guru was gay and out at a time when it production in 1949). Of course, that and $4.35 pretends to be a girl on the Internet as a lure changed (if anything) in Laramie and nationally wasn’t always cool to be, and the show doesn’t will get you a mocha grande at Starbucks ... or hide it. It’s a fine piece of entertainment with or a date with me, if that’s your idea of a good without the gay angle. time. It would be better if you spent a little more money and went to see a show.

her triumphant production of Ragtime at Drury ‘Hunger’ at Lifeline Lane Oakbrook and was named Best Director of Theatre Feb. 12 2010 by Chicago Magazine. LORNA LUFT Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwwod Ave., is The cast of Enron features Sean Fortunato Celebrates her mother presenting a world-premiere adaptation of Elise as Andrew Fastow, Bret Tuomi as Jeff Skilling, Blackwell’s Hunger, by Lifeline Theatre ensemble TimeLine Associate Artist Terry Hamilton as Ken member Chris Hainsworth. Lay and Amy Matheny as Claudia Rowe, with Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Robert Christopher Allen, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Kauzlaric will direct the production, which will Elizabeth Dowling, Sean Patrick Fawcett, Mark JUDY GARLAND D. Hines, Matt Holzfeind, Barbara Roeder Harris, run Feb. 12-March 25. (Previews begin Feb. 3.) The Legend - The Music - The Memories The work centers on Russian botanist Ilya, Benjamin Sprunger and Demetria Thomas play- who must ultimately “choose whether to pre- ing multiple ensemble roles. serve his life or protect his ideals” during the TimeLine is at 615 W. Wellington Ave. Tickets Nazi siege of Leningrad. are $32 (Wed.-Friday) or $42 (Saturday & Sun- Regular performance times are Thursdays and day); preview tickets are $22. To purchase tick- Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 ets or for more information, call 773-281-8463, p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are ext. 6, or visit http://www.timelinetheatre.com. $35 for regular single tickets on Saturdays and Sundays, $32 for regular single tickets on Thurs- days and Fridays, $27 for seniors, $20 for stu- Mary-Arrchie to run dents (with I.D.), $20 for rush tickets (available ‘Superior Donuts’ half hour before show time, subject to availabil- Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. will open Superior ity) and $20 for previews. Donuts, by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts, Tickets may be purchased by stopping by the Thursday, Feb., 16 at 8 p.m. Lifeline Theatre Box Office, by calling 773-761- Performances continue Thursdays-Saturdays at 4477 or by visiting http://www.lifelinetheatre. 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through March 25. com. Superior Donuts is the story of Arthur Przy- byszewski, an aging anti-war activist and the proprietor of a rundown donut shop in the Up- ‘Enron’ at Timeline town neighborhood of Chicago. When Arthur Jan. 27-April 15 hires Franco Wicks, a fast-talking African-Ameri- TimeLine Theatre Company—recently named can kid with big dreams and bigger troubles, Ar- one of the nation’s top 10 emerging profes- thur’s world is quickly changed—quite possibly sional theatres by the American Theatre Wing, for the better. the founder of the Tony Awards—presents the Tickets are $18 on Thursdays and Sundays, $20 FEB 12, 4PM Chicago premiere of Enron by Lucy Prebble, Jan. on Fridays and $22 on Saturdays. There will be 27-April 15. previews on Feb. 14-15 at 8 p.m. Tickets for pre- Enron marks the TimeLine debut of director views will be $5. “SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME” Rachel Rockwell, who received the 2010 Equity For more information on the company and to Jeff Award for Outstanding Director (Musical) for purchase tickets, visit http://www.maryarrchie. ParamountAurora.com • 630.896.6666 com. For reservations, call 773-871-0442. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 29

“delicious, modern riff... fills your brain a witty, intelligent look at love and loss, with so many ideas you can’t think of much else” refracted through the lens of war. —Chicago Tribune

must close february 5 now Playing

the last legion of suitors vie for the love of beautiful PeneloPe. after barely surviving a bomb blast in iraq, a Photojournalist who will survive? who will win the Prize? must confront her addiction to the chaos of war. PeneloPe time by powerhouse irish playwright enda walsh DirecteD by ensemble member amy morton Featuring ensemble members Ian Barford, Tracy Letts and Yasen Peyankov stands with Scott Jaeck and Logan Vaughn still by pulitzer prize winner donald margulies DirecteD by ensemble member austin Pendleton Featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and Sally Murphy with Randall Newsome and Kristina Valada-Viars

Tickets start at just $20. buy tickets at steppenwolf.org or call 312-335-1650 30 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES social dancing in its piece, Kiss Kiss Missles, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago then takes to while choreographer Rachel Damon uses impro- the Harris Theater for its winter engagement Winter dance preview visation and the live drumming of percussion- titled Passion and Fire featuring many company ist Frank Rosaly to challenge her collaborators repertory pieces at 8 p.m. March 9-10. Tickets BY SCOTT C. MORGAN multimedia piece InfraChoreography. in the piece Without Pause. Rounding out the are $15-$60. The Joffrey Ballet’s Winter Fire plays Feb. program is Mott, who utilizes object manipula- The weather outside may be chilly, but temper- 15-26 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt tion and sculptural costuming for her piece Five Hubbard Street happenings atures are bound to rise indoors if you catch University, 50 E. Congress Pkwy. Tickets are $25- Gaits, Four Walls, Fourteen Knots. Performances Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is offering performances by any one of the local and visit- $149; call 800-982-2787. are 8 p.m. March 8-10, and tickets are $26-$30. a new festival called danc(e)volve: New Works ing dance companies this winter season. There’s The Joffrey Ballet also shows off the winners Festival, featuring world-premiere works by plenty of ballet, contemporary and even par- of its Choreographers of Color Awards 2012 at Going modern in Millennium Park choreographers and dancers from both its main ticipatory dance events for you to get the blood 4 p.m. March 11 at the Harris Theater for Mu- Millennium Park’s Harris Theater for Music and company and Hubbard Street 2. The festival runs flowing. sic and Dance, 205 E. Randolph. On the bill are Dance is another hive of dance activity this win- Jan. 19-22 and 26-29 at the MCA Stage of the world premiere contemporary works by choreog- ter as the host of many local modern and jazz Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ballet: On your toes raphers Bennyroyce Royon, Carlos dos Santos, Jr. dance companies. These performances are at 205 Ave. Tickets are $35, but may be harder to come If you want laugh with your classical dance, and Ray Mercer performed by Joffrey Academy E. Randolph Dr.; call 312-334-7777 for more in- by since the Jan. 19-22 dates are already sold then you can’t miss the return engagement of dancers, plus academy artistic director Alexei formation. out; call Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at 312- Les Ballets Trockaderos de Monte Carlo, the Kremnev’s piece Le Roi s’Amuse: Dances in An- We’re not sure if we should take The Seldoms 850-9744 or the MCA Stage box office at 312- famed troupe of men in ballet drag who also cient Style. Tickets are $15-$18 and can be re- at its word for its upcoming show, This is Not 397-4010 for more information. perform en pointe just like the women do. These served at http://www.joffrey.org/winningworks. a Dance Concert, at 7, 8:15 and 9:30 p.m. on masters of comedy ballet perform 7:30 p.m. Jan. Saturday, Feb. 4. What we do know is that any Big dance musicals 24 at Millennium Park’s Harris Theater for Music Contemporary courtesy of Columbia College perceptions you have of a dance concert should Fans of Broadway dance musicals have plenty and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Dr. Tickets are $45- As always, The Dance Center of Columbia Col- be put on a shelf with this full-immersion per- to be thankful for this winter with two major $75; call 312-334-7777. lege Chicago continues its artistic mission of formance that breaks down barriers between tours and one home-grown professional regional The State Ballet Theatre of Russia brings two hosting both national and homegrown dance audiences, musicians and dancer as any space show. classical ballets to two Chicago-area locations companies. See plenty of Chicago premieres in the theater (backstage, the lobbies and the The Paramount Theatre in Aurora continues its in the next few weeks. Fans of the film Natalie at this venue this winter at 1306 S. Michigan auditorium) become performance spaces. Tickets first full season of locally produced professional Portman’s Black Swan (or of Tchaikovsky’s classic Ave.; call 312-344-8300 for more information on are $20 for each performance and $100 for the 8 musicals with a staging of the classic 1970s audition musical A Chorus Line Jan. 18-Feb. 5. It will be interesting to see how closely the show hews to the original staging by late direc- tor/choreographer Michael Bennett. Tickets are $34.90-$46.90; call 630-896-6666. Choreographer Twyla Tharp’s Frank Sinatra- inspired dance musical Come Fly Away contin- ues its run at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre through Jan. 22 ($32-$95), while the interna- tional Irish step dancing hit Riverdance makes another return to Chicago at the Oriental The- atre from March 13-18 ($30-$85); call 800-775- 2000.

Get moving yourself Get into the action yourself with fundraisers and festivals this winter, too. Tie on your tap shoes for the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Winter Tap Jamboree Feb. 2-6. It features master classes, scholarship auditions and performances to celebrate African-American History Month in a variety of Chicago-area ven- ues ranging from the DuSable Museum, the Ath- enaeum Theatre and Elgin Community College. For more information, visit http://www.chicago- tap.org. The Dance Colective teams with Big Hearts Fund for a family-wellness fundraiser titled Wholehearted Wellness Jam 2012: Zumbathon 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Grossinger City Au- toplex, 1530 N. Dayton. Advance registration is $35; call 773-377-5560 for more information.

Les Ballets Trockaderos de Monte Carlo. Photo by Sascha Vaughn score) might be keen to take a trip up north to these performances and special family matinees p.m. 10th-anniversary gala in the Harris Theater see Swan Lake at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at attached to each run. Donor Room. the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Wauke- The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company per- River North Dance Chicago, once again, has gan. Tickets are $23-$53; call 847-782-2366. forms its namesake choreographer’s evening- prime Valentine’s weekend scheduling with its Then The State Ballet Theatre of Russia per- length piece, Light Moves, which is a collabora- winter performances at 8 p.m. Feb. 10-11 and forms Prokofiev’s famed 20th century score for tive multimedia piece featuring a score by Paul 3 p.m. Feb. 12. What’s being offered is the U.S. Romeo and Juliet at 8 p.m. Jan. 28 and 2 p.m. Dresher, poetry by Michael Palmer and multime- debut of choreographer Mauro Astolfi (artistic Jan. 29 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt dia projections by Naomie Kremer. Performances director of Italy’s Spellbound Dance Company) University, 50 E. Congress. Tickets are $30-$87; of Light Moves are at 8 p.m. Feb. 9-11. Tickets who is creating a world premiere. Another world call 800-982-2787. are $26-$30. premiere on the bill is by Frank Chaves who joins The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago offers a mixed Local choreographer Molly Shanahan and her forces with conductor/composer Josephine Lee repertory program called “Winter Fire,” and it dance company, Mad Shak, present a hypnotic of the Chicago Children’s Choir for an original features three pieces by some of the world’s piece called Stamina of Curiosity that is part of piano suite. Tickets are $30-$75. most important contemporary ballet choreog- a three-year project to explore the terrain be- Thodos Dance Chicago celebrates its 20th an- raphers. First on the bill is U.S. choreographer tween planning and spontaneity in movement. niversary with revivals of choreographers Ann William Forsythe’s challenging In the Middle, Performances are 8 p.m. Feb. 23-25. Tickets are Reinking and Melissa Thodos’ one-act story bal- Somewhat Elevated set to an electronic-punk $26-$30. let The White City: Chicago’s Columbian Exposi- score by Thom Willems. Next are works by two The Space/Movement Project, Rachel Da- tion of 1893 and company signature works in- British choreographers: Christopher Wheeldon’s mon/Synapse Arts & Erica Mott is a shared cluding Getting There, a modern take on Thodos’ After the Rain set to music of Arvo Pärt, then program of premieres. The dance-making col- 1988 piece Reaching There. Performances are at Ricardo Santos of the Joffrey Ballet. Photo by the U.S. premiere of Wayne McGregor’s high-tech lective The Space/Movement Project explores 8 p.m. March 2 and 3. Tickets are $25-$60. Sandro WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 31 BOOKS there is very important, as is networking and continuing to write yourself.” This spring, Bergquist will be teaching abroad in Prague. “I also found it a great time to run the Kathie Bergquist Prague Marathon. Yes, I’m aware it’s hilly there,” she said. Aside from her many, many miles of running before the main event, Bergquist will gives Chicago queer also be preparing another round of students to write, to read and to learn, hands-on, the ap- preciation of what a literary community actually means. literature a stage In the end, Bergquist said that she was “su- per proud of the end result.” Bergquist found working with the University of Wisconsin Press BY Joe Franco from a lifetime of being a bookworm: “It began to be great: “We were in a decline for many years for me with the Betsy Tacy Series by Maud Hart of a queer press. The University of Wisconsin Chicago may be America’s “Second City” but for Lovelace. The books follow young Betsy from Press keeps that tradition alive.” She attribut- Kathie Bergquist, editor of Windy City Queer; childhood through her early twenties and from ed the success of Windy City Queer not to her LGBTQ Dispatches from the Third Coast, the Mankato, Minnesota to Milwaukee. Since I’m own adeptness as an editor but to the talented Windy City comes first for LGBTQ literary tal- from Minnesota, I was drawn to the series.” She writers and their stories. “In some small way, ent. “I moved here in 1988 and began working received her master’s in fine arts from Columbia I wanted to show others that Chicago is still a at Unabridged Bookstore and Women and Chil- in 2008 and began teaching creative writing at place to become a writer and to be an artist,” dren First. I immediately had access to greater Columbia soon after. “I often advise my students she added. Chicago queer literature from the start,” said to never put the cart before the horse. Don’t go Windy City Queer: LGBTQ Dispatches from Bergquist. out and look for an agent. Work on your craft,” the Third Coast is available from The Univer- Windy City Queer was the culmination of five said Bergquist. “I often suggest that one should sity of Wisconsin Press, online retailers or years of active interest in both the Chicago and become familiar with the literary landscape that neighborhood booksellers. national queer literature scenes. “In 2005 Rob- they are working in. Becoming involved and ert McDonald and I came up with A Field Guide honoring the wider literary community that is 1 POINT STROKE to Gay and Lesbian Chicago after that Alyson Press began publishing a series of books like Love, Castro Street, Love, Bourbon Street and Love, West Hollywood all focusing on the queer literature scenes in those cities,” said Bergquist. “It was in that milieu that I started putting together the idea for Windy City Queer. I was working on a novel at that time and this was an excellent diversion for me to channel my energy elsewhere for a while.” In 2010, Bergquist submitted a query to Ra- phael Kadushin, the senior acquisitions editor for the University of Wisconsin Press, proposing the idea for Chicago’s own collection of gay and lesbian literature. “I heard back within hours and Kadushin was interested,” said Bergquist. LREADY KNOW She began sending out invitations to submit to YOU A known LGBTQ writers, like Edmund White, and also calls for submissions for other established or even new writers to answer in journals such ! as The Chicago Reader and The Lambda Literary Review. YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT “The organization of this book has been criti- cized for not being more thematic, such as fic- tion or memoir or poetry,” she said. “I found that to be pedantic. Organically, the movements began to form. It was kind of like making a mix tape where one piece of music flows nicely into the other. Here each story flows into the next unless I felt like creating an interesting jux- taposition. It’s really the only creative outlet for an editor of an anthology of literature. The narrative push is in that flow from one story or one section to the next.” She admitted that she agonized over the order of several chapters, most notably “Family Matters” and Hooking Up”. Bergquist commented saying, “I didn’t want the .5 POINT STROKE order to be hook up, marriage then happily ever after. I wanted something different.” Windy City Queer involves stories and reflec- tions from all corners of the city, including the suburbs like Evanston and Oak Park. “Boystown and Andersonville are huge for a gay presence but they are not the only ones. There are lots of other queer experiences happening all over Chicago,” said Bergquist. In the afterword, E. Patrick Johnson speaks TM about his South Side’s blocks of queer culture “hidden in plain sight.” It was these hidden ex- ©LITTLESTAR periences that Bergquist brings to the surface. MammaMiaNorthAmerica.com Follow us on facebook.com/MammaMiaNorthAmerica “When people in New York or San Francisco think ‘Midwest’ they think somehow we are lacking in depth and significance in our queer culture,” she said. “When someone from the Midwest does January 24–29 something great, something notable, they are often seen as an exception to the rule. It must • have been that person’s particular tenacity that 800-775-2000 brought them out from the Midwest.” TickeTs available aT all broadway in chicago box offices and TickeTmasTer reTail locaTions • groups 15+: 312-977-1710 For Bergquist, her interest in writing stemmed 32 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES NUNN ON ONE: TV So it was my idea to take my money and let me give $50,000 for a first prize and $5,000 away for five different people. So that’s $75,000. An exam was written from all six episodes. Suze Orman on So right now we have about 30 questions but I think I’m going to sculpt it down to maybe 10 questions and then maybe an essay question. I her new show, am trying to figure out a way that people who don’t get the Oprah Winfrey Network [OWN] are able to go to Harpo.com and read the guide- civil unions and more books so that it’s not just a class. I want people who don’t have cable or who me than just staring right into the camera. haven’t yet subscribed to OWN or can’t afford WCT: How do you keep it entertaining? whatever, I want them to be included as well so Orman: It’s by being me. The reason that I we’re figuring that out as a way as to how to do think I’ve enjoyed the success that I’ve enjoyed that. is that what you see on the screen is absolutely WCT: Will there be more of your personal no different—what you see when the screen is life on OWN or any other venue? over and the cameras shut down and the lights Orman: Well, you know, the one reason that up go away. So I am who I am and I’m a serious until now that you haven’t seen a lot about my character. I’m a character that loves talking personal life is because I didn’t want anything about money, not the money itself but the rea- to get in the trouble or in the way of money. sons why you don’t have that in your life, which I didn’t want people’s minds to be troubled by you know you should have. What’s wrong with the fact that I’m gay and I’ve been with KT now this equation? And I’ve been doing this now for for 11 years. So I always wanted to be known as over 30 years. the Money Lady, not the Money Lesbian. I just find myself amazed that I can still have With that said, I’m always very open on my BY JERRY NUNN the great passion or the enthusiasm to say what own show. When somebody asks a question I al- I do because I’ve loved the topic of personal ways talk about KT. I never try to hide any of it; Famous financial advisor Susan “Suze” Orman finance and I’m really good at it. And because Suze Orman. look at my scrapbook on my website. I always was born on the South Side in Chicago, and then I’ve mastered it and I don’t have to think twice show off my girl because I love her so much. I studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana- about what I’m going to say it just all flows. don’t make a habit of talking about it only be- Champaign. After moving to California, she once WCT: People definitely identify with your cause the truth of the matter is people whenever again returned to her roots to appear on The story. that we have here. they get on the phone with me they don’t ask Oprah Winfrey Show, where she surprised guests Orman: They love the fact that I was a wait- Because we have a new year we ended on the me about it. They ask me about money. But if by giving away 1 million copies of her book ress until I was 30 years old making $400. They up note and the market seemed relatively okay they ask me about it I’d be more than open to Women and Money. love that I didn’t come from a wealthy family. it’s that people forget and that scares me. That talk about it. Orman continued working with Oprah on O They loved all the things that I’ve gone through. they just might go right back to where they were WCT: When are you coming back to Chicago? Magazine and appeared on the television show The way that you make it entertaining isn’t to and who knows what can happen. Orman: That’s a good question. I’m sure I’m Oprah’s All-Stars. try to make it entertaining. So I’m concerned about that. I think people going to be coming there for the Rosie Show She has written 10 books and won two Emmy You just literally respond the way your heart need to remember what they just went through. sooner or later. I’m just waiting for them to in- Awards for fundraisers she hosted on CBS. She and your mind is telling you to respond in the I think they need to not freak out and going, vite me but usually when I travel [it’s] because married Kathy Travis, who is the co-producer of very moment. I think that’s the key to my suc- “Oh, my God! I have to buy a new home right there’s actually a business reason for me to be her very successful show The Suze Orman Show, cess. now before I lose the chance to be able to do there. I very seldom travel just for pleasure. two years ago. WCT: What are your recommendations with so.” I think people need to just stay in their Start studying with The Money Class and Her newest project just started recently, with LGBT folks being in civil unions now? Should bodies and see what happens. you may even win $50,000. Visit http://www. The Money Class on OWN. they wait to get joint bank accounts until WCT: Where did the idea of viewers earning oprah.com/own or check local listings. Windy City Times: Hi, girlfriend! [same-sex] marriage is legal? $50,000 on The Money Class come from? Want more Orman? Her website is http:// Suze Orman: I tweeted you today, didn’t I? Orman: Yes. Here’s the thing: You don’t have Orman: It came from me thinking, truthfully, www.suzeorman.com and she’s on Twitter at Sometimes I think people wonder, is that Suze to be married or in a civil union to actually share what can I do to get people to pay attention. @SuzeOrmanShow. Orman really tweeting? It most certainly is. money. You could just do it with anybody that People don’t pay attention to the most impor- WCT: Yay. How did this new show come you wanted to. The real question is: Is it a wise tant thing in their lives. They’re not paying at- about? thing to totally share money? I will be forever tention to their money. Orman: I wrote a book called The Money Class a believer in that when you enter a relationship and I wrote it a year or so ago with the theme of you are an autonomous human being and you for Best Performance by an Actor In A Tele- that the American dream has died. I think that I should remain autonomous while you are in a Golden Globes vision Series—Drama for Boss, which is set was probably the first person to actually put in relationship. in Chicago. Gay fave Modern Family won the writing the possibility and the probability that So, in truth, you should always have three spread wealth award for best TV series (comedy or musical) that in fact had happened. accounts: one that is yours; one that is your On a night when most of the attention was and Jessica Lange won for her haunting role I was talking to some of the producers about life partner’s or your spouse’s or your boyfriend seemingly focused on the show’s host, the in the series American Horror Story. In addi- this book we then came up with an idea of giv- or girlfriend or however you want to designate Golden Globes honored the best in movies tion, Kate Winslet won for portraying the title ing a money class. I could teach people in a them; and one where you put in equal percent- and television Jan. 15 in Hollywood, Calif. character in the miniseries Mildred Pierce, classroom essentially what I did in the book. ages to the housing bill. The silent film The Artist won three awards, helmed by out director Todd Haynes. Now from the start to the finish of it obviously So, for instance, let’s say it costs you $3,000 including best musical or comedy, and best Morgan Freeman received the Cecil B. DeMi- the show changed because it wasn’t interesting to live, which are the expenses that are your actor in a musical or comedy for Jean Dujar- lle Award after being introduced by Helen enough just to have a lecture on topics. But joint expenses. Maybe it’s your rent, your food din. The movie had six nominations. Mirren and legendary actor Sidney Poitier, a that was how we started with the concept of or whatever it may be. Among other film winners were The Descen- former recipient himself. America’s money class. You should not be each putting in $1,500 a dants (Best Motion Picture, Drama), Meryl Host Ricky Gervais was back for third con- WCT: How will this show be different? month, which would be 50/50. You want to put Streep (Best Actress, Drama, for portraying secutive year—and some speculated attend- Orman: You know advice is always the same. in according to what you are making. So let’s Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady), George ees would be in fear after the acerbic British Good financial advice is good financial advice just say one of you was making $7,000 and let’s Clooney (Best Actor, Drama, for The Descen- comic memorably skewered the glitterati last no matter what the forum is that you are giving say the other one was making $3,000. Together dants) and Michelle Williams (Best Actress, year. He unearthed some slams, such as say- out that advice in. The difference here is on my that’s $10,000 that you are bringing home. Comedy, for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My ing the Globes “are just like the Oscars, but CNBC show—which I love more than life itself, You would then divide the $3,000 or your joint Week with Marilyn). Octavia Spencer won for without all that esteem. The Globes are to we’re going on 11 years with it—all you ever see expenses by $10,000 and that would give you best supporting actress in a motion picture the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate is me staring into that camera and telling you 30%. So each of you should put 30% of your for her turn in The Help. Middleton.” However, some stars—including what you need to hear. take home pay into that house account. So 30% Christopher Plummer won for Best Perfor- Madonna and Colin Firth—responded with I was not scripted and it was impromptu in of $3,000 would be essentially $900, 30% of mance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in their own biting comments about Gervais. this case. I get to do exactly what I wanted to $7,000 would be $2,100. So they’re equal per- a Motion Picture for portraying a 75-year-old Paul Telegdy—NBC’s president of alterna- do which is the only way I know how to roll. You centages but not equal amounts of money and man who comes out of the closet after his tive and late night programming who over- get to literally see these people in depth for the that’s really how it should be done. wife’s death in Beginners. In addition, Ma- sees the Golden Globes—praised Gervais for first time with me and I think that adds in this WCT: What trends are you seeing for 2012 donna edged Sir Elton John, Mary J. Blige, his hosting duties, according to Deadline. case anyway a dimension where people will be in personal finance? Chris Cornell and Glenn Close to win the com. However, Gervais said in a separate in- able to identify with these families and you get Orman: Here we are just a few days into the award for Best Original Song—Motion Picture terview that “I’m really done this time. It’s to see their responses. new year and I think people are being overly op- for “Masterpiece,” from the film W.E., which enough. Three is plenty—at least that’s what So this also shows a different side of me. At timistic, I’m so sorry to say. I think they’re mak- she directed. Charlie Sheen told me.” times we’re funny, at times we’re sad, at times ing light of what’s going on in Europe. I think Regarding television, Kelsey Grammer won I’m very stern, but you get to see more sides of they’re making light of the economic situation WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 33 NUNN ON ONE: BOOKS in there is Betty White. She would have rounded out that lovely chapter on The Golden Girls. She has to still be funny and want this fabulous ca- Frank DeCaro reer. She is at the height of her popularity in her 80s. I was watching her last night in Hot in Cleveland. If she would rather be brilliant than be in the Dead Celebrity Cookbook, then I can’t dishes on ‘Dead do anything about it! WCT: I saw Truman Capote in the book, then I was looking for Audrey Hepburn. Did she Celebrity Cookbook’ cook? FD: I don’t know if she ate, let alone cook! In all my vast archives of crap I don’t know if By JERRY NUNN since you were little? I have an Audrey Hepburn recipe. Now I will FD: Oh gawd, no. I should be selling shoes have to look for it. It would be nice to have a Comedian, writer and XM Radio personality Frank in a mall in New Jersey saying, “I’ve got the Breakfast at Tiffany’s breakfast recipe but I don’t DeCaro has it all rolled up into one. He has ap- same thing in a brown!” That should be my think I have one. peared on the Game Show Network’s I’ve Got a life. [Laughs] Everything worked out beyond my WCT: What is an easy recipe for someone Secret and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and wildest dreams. I wanted to be a performer and out of the book? is the author of A Boy Named Phyllis: A Subur- took the safe route of becoming a journalist. I FD: Because the weather is getting cold I have ban Memoir. wanted to be like Rex Reed as a movie reviewer a hankering for Harriet Nelson’s chicken. In addition, the lifelong gay-rights activist but he was in Myra Breckinridge. You have to You take three kinds of canned crème soups, lives with his husband in New Jersey. admire that he was in this cult film. I ended up you mix them with rice, then add more crème Some people’s cooking is to die for, but his getting this gig on the Daily Show in my 30s. It and more butter, lay chicken breasts on top then new project takes the cake. Frank made a cook- was the first time I had done television. I think sprinkle with paprika. After baking, it is actually book that celebrates dead celebrities’ recipes people assumed I was a stand up comic before kind of wonderful. while tying in their life’s works. We dished on that but I was not. It inspired me to be a writer WCT: I could even make that… gossip and food all afternoon that made me and performer that is what I have been doing FD: It is easy to make, but I am not sure it is starve for more. ever since. easy to survive! Your arteries will say, “That was Windy City Times: Hi, Frank. I just saw you WCT: This book was inspired by a dead ce- where. Over the years I just started collecting dead good but maybe we shouldn’t go slow on this.” on The Rosie Show. lebrity party? WCT: You have a whole gay section in the Frank DeCaro: Oh, I had such a good time. It FD: It was so good and in Evanston, Ill., down celebrity recipes as an avid flea-market shopper. I was buying anything that had a celebrity rec- cookbook. was everything that I hoped it would be. I have near Dempster. A friend of mine gave a party FD: You gotta have a gay section! I had to never been calmer on a stage in my life. Rosie called the “Dead Celebrity Party.” Everyone was ipe in it. Then the celebrities were kind enough to drop dead, and there you have it! put something next to the Rat Pack section. I O’Donnell is just delightful. I have met her a dressed up and I came as Euell Gibbons. He was thought it was fun to put them together. I do bunch of times and I think she is very generous a spokesperson and a naturalist, not a nudist. WCT: Did any of their families give you trouble with publishing this? a show on OutQ Sirius XM Radio. I always tell and lovely. He used to say, “Many parts of a pine tree are people, “I am not a gay, I am THE gay!” I had to WCT: She wrote a little blurb in your cook- edible,” and then he died. People were there FD: Not yet. [Laughs] WCT: You have a Batman section… have a gay chapter and I just got married this book, also. from Eve in the Garden of Eden to Sid Vicious year. FD: Yes, she did. She worked at Sirius for a to Sharon Tate—even Jack Soo, who played Ye- FD: Oh, my God! That is my favorite show! WCT: I was hoping that you are not waiting WCT: Congrats on that. couple of years when she did her show there. mana on Barney Miller. Some were very obscure FD: Now that we can do it for real, thank heav- CLICKTOWIN! She has always been kind to me. She liked my and some very famous. The only thing we didn’t for my friend Julie Newmar, who played Cat- woman, to die to get her recipe. en. It is a strange thing to be legally married first book. have there was dead celebrity food, so I think and there are no quote marks. Gay Pride is really WCT: Have you always been into celebrities it placed a seed in the back of my head some- FD: No. That is why I put Eartha Kitt in there. The only one that I can’t believe is still hanging Turn to page 39

Win tickets to the highly anticipated new Glenn Close film Albert Nobbs A WiNdy City times speCiAl eveNt JAN. 23

Award-winning actress Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) plays a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some 30 years after donning traditional men’s clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making. Mia Wasikowska (Helen), Aaron Johnson (Joe) and Brendan Gleeson (Dr. Holloran) join a prestigious, international cast that includes Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Janet McTeer, Brenda Fricker and Pauline Collins.

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN A FREE PAIR OF TICKETS: Send your name and contact information to: [email protected] by Thursday, Jan. 19, 4 p.m.

Winners will be drawn at random and notified by Friday, Jan. 20. Tickets (12 pairs of tickets, 2 per winner) will be held at the door. screening info: Albert Nobbs Monday, January 23, 7:30 p.m. Landmark Century Theater 2828 N. Clark St., Chicago

WCTad.indd 1 1/3/12 1:59 PM 34 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES KNIGHT AT THE MOVIES

By Richard Knight, Jr. Dirty Girl; Extremely Loud...; Pina; Coriolanus; film note

Juno Temple, a young British spitfire with an an- gelic face and sassy manner, certainly made her mark in queer cinema last year. The pint-sized actress was funny and audacious as a college Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Photo by Francois Duhamel temptress with a voracious sexual appetite in queer auteur Gregg Araki’s black comedy-mys- nice music budget, no doubt arranged by savvy or the most jaw-dropping piece of manipulative Interspersed among these epic pieces are in- tery, Kaboom. She followed that with a similar queer producer Christine Vachon). Clarke also gush you’re likely to encounter. My reactions lie terviews with the dancers (whose thoughts are role in Dirty Girl, out writer-director Abe Sylvia’s gets to fulfill his fantasy during a scene reminis- somewhere in the middle. heard as they stare into the camera mournfully) debut feature. The latter—a charming coming- cent of Thelma & Louise when the duo pick up a I loved the annoying 10-year-old kid (Thomas and scant details of Baush’s life. The film also of-age road comedy in which Temple plays the hot-as-a-pistol drifter (Nicholas D’Agosto) who Horn) looking for clues all across New York City features rousing sections featuring Bausch’s title role—skipped Chicago during its theatrical turns out to be a sexy stripper. Another fantasy as to where the key will fit that was left behind dancers in solo fragments, captured in outdoor run and has just been released on DVD. of Clarke’s involves Melissa Manchester (who by his father (Tom Hanks), killed in one of the locations in and around Wuppetal, Germany. It’s a lovely divertissement, albeit one with a makes a cameo and penned a lovely new ballad, towers during 9/11. I also liked the terse but Pina was shot in 3-D but is just as sensational in familiar and sometimes thin trajectory: Two high with lyrics by Steenburgen, for the movie) and indulgent mother (Sandra Bullock) who seems to the 2-D version—Bausch’s genius (and Wenders school misfits in Oklahoma (Temple as Danielle an emotionally climactic performance of “Don’t let him have his way, as well as Max Von Sydow ability to capture it) obviously not really need- and newcomer Jeremy Dozier as Clarke, the over- Cry Out Loud.” Shot in hot candy colors, and as the mute gentleman living with the grand- ing any camera tricks to amplify it. weight, shy gay nerd) have their pop-culture filled with plenty of telling details and finely mother (Zoe Caldwell) who accompanies him on dreams, and hit the road when their home lives etched performances, Dirty Girl is a welcome ad- his journey. I had less use for Viola Davis (again Ralph Fiennes stars and makes his directorial become too much to bear. Danielle and Clarke dition to the queer-cinema genre. The DVD in- weeping buckets) as the first of many strang- debut in a highly charged adaptation of Shake- leave behind her trampy mother (Milla Jovovich) cludes a lot of fun bonus material as well. ers he encounters along the way. Using 9/11 speare’s Coriolanus. Fiennes plays the title and his homophobic parents (Dwight Yoakam as the backdrop for a story, this emotionally character, a banished hero of Rome, linking with and Mary Steenburgen), and bond as they head Depending on your ability to fall—and I mean manipulative film will understandably put off his sworn enemy to take back the city that has toward California and a hoped-for reunion with hard—for films that emotionally pummel you viewers (just as the climax of the Robert Pat- disowned him. Reimagining the material in a Danielle’s long-lost father (Tim McGraw). until you cry “Uncle,” out director Stephen Dald- tinson romance drama Remember Me did) but at modern-day, gritty setting with contemporary This being 1987, the soundtrack is filled to the ry’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is ei- about the midway point, I threw up my hands warfare accoutrements was a very canny choice brim with a raft of New Wave hits (thanks to a ther the one movie you should see this weekend and yelled, “Okay, ya got me” and, tossing my by Fiennes and he helps audiences, resistant to emotional caution to the wind, reached for my the bard, find their way to this bloodthirsty ma- Kleenex box. terial by casting Gerard Butler as the onetime Not surprisingly, the material, based on a nemesis and a host of brilliant supporting ac- novel, has been expertly adapted for the screen tors (Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain, Brian by Forest Gump-Horse Whisperer-Benjamin But- Cox, et al). Fiennes is brutal, coarse and, unlike ton scribe Eric Roth, whose facility with mounds other protean Shakespeare characters, not given of treacly words are beloved by millions. The much to reflection or melancholy—or much of haunting music is by Alexandre Desplat, and it anything other than seeking revenge and mak- gives the movie added heft that will certainly ing war. That right there lets me out, but may help pull you in—and might help you to keep just be the thing others need to give Willy the you there. Shake a try.

Pina, a new film by German director Wim Film note: Wenders, is being billed as a documentary but —The Chicago Area Women’s History Council, it’s actually a tribute—a memorial to the in- Chicago Foundation for Women, Chicago De- sanely creative choreographer Pina Baush, a partment of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, paragon of the modern-dance movement who ITVS, and WTTW Channel 11 are co-presenting was based in Germany and who died suddenly Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock. The of cancer just as the film was in the planning 60-minute documentary, from director Sharon La stages. Cruise, is a portrait of a Black unsung hero of the Bausch was a leading exponent of “Tanzthe- civil-rights movement. The film—to be shown ater” (dance theater)—a term that dates back to Saturday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Chicago Cul- the ‘20s and the seeds of German expressionism. tural Center, 73 E. Washington St. in the Claudia Combining modernist dance moves and dramatic Cassidy Theatre—will be followed by a panel scenarios, Bausch’s company has wowed fans discussion with women leaders of the Chicago around the world for decades. Upon her death, civil-rights movement; those leaders include Wenders wanted to abandon the film but, en- Lorne Cress Love (Students for Non-Violence Co- couraged by her company, he came back aboard. ordinating Committee), Sylvia Fischer (Chicago The finished result is a breathtaking work of art Area Friends of SNCC) and Fannie Rushing (As- in which four of Bausch’s most famous dances sociate Professor, Dept. of History, Benedictine are caught on camera in thrilling detail. Sensual, University). The event is free and open to the oddly compelling, filled with jerky movements public. and exaggerated repetition, and relying on sim- Check out my archived reviews at http:// plistic spaces (a dirt floor, an empty room with www.windycitymediagroup.com or http:// chairs), Bausch’s originality is exhilaratingly ap- www.knightatthemovies.com. Readers can Gerard Butler in Coriolanus. Photo by Larry D. Horricks/The Weinstein Company parent. leave feedback at the latter website. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 35 MOVIES gives Clarke a night he’ll never forget. Can white characters. you talk about that scene? WCT: There’s also a perception in general AS: It’s a pretty magical sequence and the se- that gay movies are not as financially viable. Getting ‘Dirty’ quence of the film I’m most proud of, in terms of I’m going to guess that you experienced some pure cinema. Nicholas [D’Agosto] the actor who of that because you came out of Toronto with played the part is a really fearless, wonderful ac- a hot distribution deal and then the film with writer/director tor and had no qualms about playing Joel—who didn’t get the greatest reviews in New York I don’t think is gay. I think of him as sort of and L.A. and suddenly its distribution got omnisexual. He’s one of those guys who will flirt scaled back a bit. Does that have to do with Abe Sylvia with anybody, you know? it being a “gay” movie or am I reading into WCT: I got that—he’s like the character Co- that? By Richard Knight, Jr. lin Farrell played in A Home at the End of the AS: I hope not; I don’t think so. If our re- World. search showed us anything our movie scored Out writer-director Abe Sylvia spent close to AS: That’s a really good corollary, yeah. We very high and audiences loved it. I don’t think it seven and a half years getting his debut fea- rehearsed that scene within an inch of his life was a gay backlash so much as it was— ture, Dirty Girl, made and into theatres—at because getting all of those elements on camera WCT: I’m just wondering if the “gay movie” least some theatres. After a hot bidding war at was going to be tricky. (Joel does a strip tease tag was part of it? the 2010 Toronto Film Festival where the film while dancing on the hood of the car at a de- AS: I honestly don’t think so. I’ve seen the premiered and theatrical runs last fall in New serted drive-in theater.) That whole sequence is movie with so many kinds of audiences and that York and Los Angeles, Weinstein, the movie’s about how as a gay kid growing up—this has has never been my experience. The movie aims distributor pulled Chicago and other cities from changed a bit now—you fell in love with the to please and you get past the fact that I made a its release schedule. Now, with the film arriving movies but yet there were no images of yourself movie where the two lead characters are osten- on DVD, movie fans in the Windy City will finally in the film. sibly in the Hollywood vernacular “unlikeable.” have a chance to check out Sylvia’s energetic There were no images to claim for yourself if There’s no middle ground with this movie. The little road comedy. you were gay; there were no images of the kinds people who love it, love it and the people who The movie centers on a mismatched duo: Juno of feelings you were having in the movie and so hate, hate it. Temple as Danielle (the title character), a cynical you would identify with the girl or whoever—a WCT: So what’s up next, Abe? high school tramp shielding a heart of gold and bit of a transference would have to happen. I AS: I’m writing a pilot for HBO with Josh Bro- Jeremy Dozier (in his movie debut) as Clarke, the want gay kids to come along and say, “Yes, I lin attached and I’m very excited about that. I gay, awkward and shy, overweight object of high Abe Sylvia. Photo courtesy of Sylvia deserve romance and there it is in Dirty Girl.” can’t really talk much about it but one of the school bullying. Outside of school, both Danielle WCT: It’s wonderful to hear young queer lead characters is transgender. and Clarke have their proverbial crosses to bear, filmmakers like yourself determine that this WCT: Love that. too—a trampy mother (Milla Jovovich) mixed up starting with your lead, Juno Temple. next generation will have images to call their AS: I’m working with Claudia Shear on a film with a conservative Mormon boyfriend (William AS: Yes, absolutely. When I was going around own—that they won’t have to reconfigure in adaptation of her play, Dirty Blonde, and I liter- H. Macy) for Danielle and a homophobic father to festivals people in the audience would say, their heads. ally finished a draft of that this week. I’m very (Dwight Yoakam) and mother in denial (Mary “Where did you find that girl? She’s amazing,” AS: The downside of this is that now some- excited about that—it’s about Mae West and the Steenburgen) for Clarke. When things reach an and I would say, “That’s the little red-headed times I think gay audiences only want ideal- people who worship her. [Laughs] I like making emotional breaking point the mismatched teens girl from Atonement.” There would be an audible ized images of themselves and they might not movies about iconoclastic women. My fascina- hit the road in search of Danielle’s father (Tim gasp because she so got the character of Dani- always be the most truthful depictions. It’s hard tion with Danielle is not so far off from women McGraw). Along the way they bond and, in one elle and, in real life, she was a British boarding because there are still so few films made with who aren’t afraid to be themselves. memorable sequence, Clarke loses his virginity school chick but she’s a real actress and is really gay characters in the lead. And that means that WCT: Well, we look forward to more of those to a hot male stripper (played with sensual fi- able to transform herself. People don’t realize every gay character on film bears the weight women in your movies. nesse by Nicholas D’Agosto). how many times they’ve seen her in something of being a role model or an image that we all AS: Thank you. Dirty Girl is set in 1987 in Oklahoma and has because she’s such a chameleon. have to look up to. It’s unfair to the character. See http://www.abesylvia.com. an autobiographical basis (although the openly WCT: I understand you went through hun- We don’t put that kind of pressure on straight, queer Sylvia had supportive parents). The movie dreds of auditions in L.A. to find the actor is awash with bright, hot colors and the New to play Clarke but you ended up finding him Wave music that Sylvia, who started as a Broad- somewhere else. way dancer before deciding instead on a career AS: That’s right. We just couldn’t find him. We in film, remembered listening to as he was grow- knew this kid had to feel incredibly real and my ing up during that period. Singer/songwriter casting director finally said, “Let’s open this up Melissa Manchester, whose songs play a big part nationwide” and about a week later we got this in the movie, also wrote (in collaboration with tape from Jeremy [Dozier]; he was a theater stu- Steenburgen) a new ballad for the film that is dent at the University of Texas and he sent this being touted as a possible Oscar contender. The tape that was utterly charming. He shot it in his young filmmaker enthusiastically chatted about dorm room after finals; he’d hung a bedsheet up his movie and upcoming projects in an exclusive on his wall and I think he lit it himself with a interview with Windy City Times. lamp and we flew him to L.A. He was terrific.

Windy City Times: You had a terrific pro- WCT: What sequence in the shoot stands out ducer in Christine Vachon for your first movie. when you look back? Abe Sylvia: Oh yes, I did but, you know, no AS: The first day really stands out. When I movie gets made easily and Christine actually pulled up that first day and all the trailers were has a favorite quote that she repeats from time there and that was so thrilling to me—and to to time. When people say, “I don’t know how see all these people there to create something movies get made,” Christine answers, “Producers that I had started writing on my laptop at a are how” [laughs] and, luckily, I had wonderful Starbucks not that many years before. It was producers to help make this happen. Everyone pretty amazing. really believed in the script. We had a great WCT: One of the film’s highlights for queer team, all onboard making the movie we wanted audiences no doubt is going to be the scene to make. where Danielle and Clarke pick up the hitch- WCT: You also had a great cast, hiker who turns out to be a male stripper and

Abe Sylvia and Juno Temple on the set of Dirty Girl. Photo by David Moir & The Weinstein Company

Turn to page 35 36 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

the DISH WEEKLY DINING GUIDE IN Gay baker makes great impression

BY Ross Forman “Things are going pretty well. I like the direc- tion the company is going,” said Whittington, Sean Whittington got his first true taste of who works in security and at the front desk of a cooking while attending Chicago High School downtown apartment building. for Agricultural Sciences. Whittington received his food-sanitation cer- He chose food science as a career path, which tification last summer, and soon plans to launch was a two-year program at the South Side a website and form an LLC. school. As a junior, the focus was the science of In 2013, he plans to open his first café-style cooking, the science of food, sort of a chemistry bakery, open to the public, probably in Hyde class. As a senior, it was more cooking and bak- Park and/or Bronzeville—and eventually expand ing. In fact, the school actually ran a business, nationally. known as Just Another Bakery. First Impressions cupcakes were sent by the “That’s where I found my niche, where I re- Youth Pride Center to select donors last summer. alized that, yes, I like this,” said Whittington, “That was fun and, from that, I realized that now 26 and living in Chicago’s Chatham neigh- I could do this long-term and not get tired or borhood. bored,” Whittington said. Whittington’s passion for sweets is turning “I do expect to take this business to great lev- into his profession, slowly. els, one day.” Sean Whittington (above) and some of He is the owner of First Impressions Cheese- See “First Impressions Cheesecakes & Truf- his creations (right). Photo courtesy of cakes & Truffles, meshing his talents with oth- fles” on Facebook. Whittington. ers’ taste buds. First Impressions offers a variety of cheese- cakes, cupcakes, truffles, and cookies for every —onesixtyblue—the restaurant once partly call Britt at 312-587-0508 or visit https://gib occasion, with numerous flavors such as vanilla Dining news owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan—has sonsrestaurantgroup.3dcartstores.com/Gibsons- bean, strawberry, cherry, blueberry and lemon. closed, but will re-emerge with a new concept, Rush--Wine-Dinner_p_44.html. The white chocolate raspberry swirl is the COMPILED BY Andrew Davis the Chicago Tribune reported. The restaurant, on —Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., invites most popular cheesecake, along with the Oreo West Randolph Street, will undergo renovations Chicagoans to enjoy their new specials. Specials cookies n’ cream. —Pennsylvania-based Bookbinder Specialties while it is closed, and the new concept is sched- will include Odd-Bit Mondays, featuring a rotat- “I’m putting my full effort into the business,” recently added four new flavors to its line of uled to start in the spring. ing dinner special created by Pioneer Tavern said the openly gay Whittington, who was born gourmet, ready-to-serve soups packaged in 15 —Music/wine impresario Michael Dorf has an- Group Corporate Chef Brian Jupiter. Addition- in Milwaukee and has been living in Chicago oz., resealable glass jars. The first four flavors nounced the purchase of a 30,000-square-foot ally, guests can enjoy the Wednesday “Hunter’s since 1989. in this line, which were introduced last year, re- property in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop to Special” where they will receive 25% off the First Impressions was conceived two years cently received a gold medal in the 2011-2012 open the first offshoot of his City Winery New “hunted” section of the menu and $4 select craft ago and officially opened last year. His clien- Gourmet Product Awards. The new flavors are York location. City Winery Chicago—a fully op- beer cans including Big Sky Brewing Company’s tele, since the business is now run out of his Irish potato-leek soup, Cuban black bean soup, erational winery, restaurant with outdoor patio, Moose Drool and Trout Slayer. southside home, comes from Facebook, referrals, Tuscan minestrone soup and Sicilian tomato- concert hall, and private event space—is sched- —President Bill Clinton will address attend- co-workers and elsewhere. zucchini bisque. See http://www.bookbinder- uled to open at 1200 W. Randolph St. this sum- ees at the 2012 National Restaurant Association specialties.com. mer. Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show May 6 at Chicago’s —Chicago Cut Steakhouse, 300 N. LaSalle St., —Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, 1028 N. Rush McCormick Place. Clinton will share insights into has unveiled a late-night dinner menu. Items in- St., will hold the first installment of its 2012 his presidency and his current work with the Wil- clude Chicago Cut Steakhouse prime beef burg- Perfect for Holiday Entertaining Sommelier Dinner Series with an exclusive din- liam J. Clinton Foundation. The annual National ers ($12), prime beef sliders ($10), the sushi ner hosted by Gina Voci Wed., Jan. 25. The din- Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel trio ($18) and lollipop lamb chops ($16). The ner features wines from Opus One Winery and Show is the largest single gathering of restau- restaurant is open until 2 a.m. seven days a courses prepared by Executive Chef Daniel Hueb- rant, foodservice and lodging professionals. week; see http://www.ChicagoCutSteakhouse. schmann. The reception is at 6:30 p.m., with the Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup. com. dinner starting at 7 p.m. The cost is $150 each; com.

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Bucktown com cacia bread and more. 773-784-6969 We’ll create a cake for any 773-227-2300 Creative Mexican cuisine in hamburgermarys.com/ celebration. clubluckychicago.com the Pilsen neighborhood. chicago Roscoe’s Sidewalk 1940’s style Italian Supper Handshaken margaritas and Burgers, salads and sass Club & Cocktail Lounge Cafe Fondue affordable wines. 3356 N. Halsted St., served up in a kitschy Geja’s Cafe Award-winning. Holiday Chicago atmosphere with an on-site decorations and private brew pub. 340 W. Armitage Ave., 773-281-3355 party room. Accepting Chicago online reservations. roscoes.com ASIAN 773-281-9101 Visit our popular outdoor gejascafe.com Miss Asia cafe. Salads, burgers, wraps, Romantic fondue dining. Mediterranean sandwiches, drink specials, 434 W. Diversey Pkwy., Live classical and flamenco Socca and Sunday Brunch. Chicago guitar. Extensive, moder- 3301 N. Clark St., Miss Asia 773-248-3999 Chicago ately priced wine list. 434 W. Diversey, Chicago Jane’s Restaurant missasiacuisine.com 773-248-1155 773.248.3999, MissAsiaCuisine.com 1653-55 W. Cortland At Miss Asia we provide ITALIAN soccachicago.com Ave. fine traditional Thai cuisine Taverna 750 Featured on Food Network. FREE APPETIZER* 773-862-5263 and an elegant dining Italian/French cuisine. atmosphere. 750 W. Cornelia Ave., janesrestaurant.com Dinner daily and weekend Chicago brunch. Outdoor patio. WITH ANY PURCHASE An everyday, upscale eatery 773-348-5172 Promo Code “Pride” Fresh Asian Cuisine in Boystown *Does not apply to the sampler plate. To get your business listed in The Dish, contact [email protected] WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 37 TRAVEL Ecuador: Welcome to the jungle BY JERRY NUNN dancing, including a shaman to heal the village. Bees constantly swarm on a tall tower in the The Republic of Ecuador lies in South America, rainforest, although toucans and sloths could be bordered by Colombia with the Pacific Ocean to spotted next to this Ceiba tree. its west. The word “Ecuador” translates to equa- Experience the dragon’s blood tree, where you tor and we traveled to the center of the world to can drink the sap or apply it to a bug bite to report back about it. stop the itching. There were moments to pro- Known for its exotic wildlife and ancient civi- ceed with caution, as we saw poisonous frogs lization, this country makes the perfect destina- on the ground. A tarantula actually surprised us tion for the adventure traveler. in our quarters one evening after dinner. This Our trip began with American Airlines and jungle tour lasts for four days and three nights, switching to LAN in Miami. I recommend at- and includes all meals buffet style. tempting to only bring carry-ons for the plane; Afterwards we trekked back to Quito to have however, be careful of baggage weight. Whether lunch at El Crater Restaurant with an amazing a smaller roller board or duffle bag this will view and delicious fish on the menu. Close by is make your life easier. One of the reporters from a tour at the Middle of the World where tourists our group had his checked luggage lost for four can find ground zero and try balancing an egg days. LAN was a joy to fly. The flight attendants on a nail. dressed in uniforms that would give Pan Am For dinner, Boca del Lobo was a hip place to Ecuador. Photos by Jerry Nunn a run for its money. Dinner was served, along check out, with retro décor and tasty salads with alcoholic beverages with no extra charge. to enjoy. Down the street was a gay bar called Carnero can transport a traveler back to the ‘70s ing in the background. Personal televisions offered entertainment and Buddha that was packed and filled with sweaty with its Brady Bunch stairs and stylings. It is Across the Guayas River is a train that takes made the flight literally fly by. In no time we people as it blasted singer Olga Tanon; people only open part of the year so call before you tourists through rice fields. The tour guide arrived at the capitol of Ecuador, Quito. cruised, dancing the night away. drop in. played games with the passengers to pass the Quito is the most populous city in Ecuador. Another short trip from Quito is the city of The Megaterium Museum is nearby, housing time and somehow tricked me into singing Ma- The elevation can make it hard to breathe hav- Manta, which has an incredible beach in Bay a giant sloth skeleton. After discovering these donna’s “Like a Virgin” on a microphone! ing nothing to do with age or health and has Caraquez and a museum. With a tour of the man- fossils in 2003, the State University of the Santa For an encore we arrived at a rodeo where we no specific factors. Headaches and dizziness are grove visitors can learn more about the ecosys- Elena Peninsula created this museum to study learned how to make chocolate, drain sugar cane typical symptoms of altitude sickness. Locals use tem and the nesting of birds. the remains. Another museum to check out was and ride a bull. tea from the coca plant to combat it. Discover the history of Panama hats at one the Sumpa Lovers Museum, where you can learn Overall, this will give an idea where to start Swissotel is a luxury hotel in the heart of the stop, then travel to Casa Ceibo, with its hand- about the burial bones and see ancient homes. for a traveler that sometimes was off the beaten city and makes a good base to begin your stay. crafter beds and spa bathrooms. The pool alone Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador, and path. In this vibrant country expect wildlife, Look for a rose on the bed with plenty of pillows makes this a getaway that one can forget their has more than 2 million inhabitants. The Oro museums, shops and restaurants. and enjoy relaxing in the plush space. troubles once and for all. Verde Hotel makes a safe, luxurious accommoda- For a country about as big as the state of Colo- The Ventanal Restaurant has a breathtaking A spa treatment can include an energy bath in tion including restaurants, bakery and gambling rado, Ecuador is the highest populated area in view of the neighborhood of San Juan. With bife a sulfur lagoon, but make sure you don’t mind inside the property. South America and is packed with things to do de chorizo and delicious chocolate desserts, this the smell or kids jumping all over the area. Wit- Nightlife offered a karaoke bar that was not and see. place knows how to present a dish. ness a two-headed chicken at the Agua Blanca too friendly but the GYE Disco made up for it. Visit http://www.ecuador.travel for further After a short flight to Coca an eco tour began museum, along with ancient artifacts. With shirtless severs and three free drinks with ideas for traveling in this diverse part of the at the Napo Wildlife Center. To reach the accom- The Hosteria Alandaluz made a comforting the cover charge, this dance club eventually was world. modations, one must travel by high-speed mo- place to stay, with the beach right outside the packed with videos of Rihanna and Britney play- torboat and canoe. Thus began a total seclusion property complete with night bonfires. Meals are experience and bug repellent along with flash- included and pitchers of caipirinhas flowed dur- lights are suggested. The lodge is next to the ing happy hour. Anangucocha Lake—which is loaded with large Puerto Lopez opened the way for a full day Erotic sculptures at reptiles called caymans—so swim at your own boat trip to La Isla de la Plata, where there is risk by the dock after 6 p.m. wildlife to match Galapagos Island. After hiking Leather Archives Jodie Guests are treated to excursions beginning at for two hours we spotted many a blue-footed Jan. 27 Carey’s the crack of dawn after a quick breakfast. We booby (a species of bird) next to us on the path. “Of Myth and Mortals”—artist Philip Hitch- bone traveled by boat, arriving at the clay clicks to Lunch and snorkeling were part of this bumpy cock’s exhibition of almost a dozen male erot- chandelier. see hundreds of parrots coat their stomachs with boat cruise but how often do you see clown ic sculptures—will be on view at the Leather PR pic the earth to protect it from toxins. We hiked fish straight out of Finding Nemo? On the boat Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview Ave., for hours through the jungle to observe wild ride back to the mainland turtles, dolphins and Jan. 27-June 30, 2012. deer, howler monkeys and bullet ants that can whales escorted us back to the shore. There will be an opening reception Friday, paralyze a grown man for an hour with one bite. Don’t miss Los Frailes and Salinas, beauti- Jan. 27, 7-10 p.m. Hitchcock will be on hand We turned back time with locals performing and ful beaches with outdoor markets. Hotel Punta to sign copies of his book, Dark Impressions: The Art of Philip Hitchcock. “Of Myth and Mortals” focuses on legendary myths borrowed from Greek, Celtic, Egyptian and Christian mythologies. Among the stat- has been an art collector for four decades. ues on view are Cernunnos, the horned Celtic The two major components of this exhi- god of fertility; Anubis, the Egyptian god of bition are the “War Room,” highlighting the dead; Thor, the Norse god of thunder; and the atrocities of war in notable works from Jesus. the 17th century to present day in the 4th See http://www.leatherarchives.org. floor Exhibit Hall; and the “Kunstkammer of Death,” a modern-day “cabinet of curiosities” housed in the Sidney R. Yates Gallery, featur- Huge ‘Morbid ing a wide-ranging survey of mortality across cultures and spiritual traditions. Curiosity’ exhibit at Additional highlights include works by cultural center artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Jasper One of the Chicago Cultural Center’s larg- Johns and Rembrandt; ethnographic artifacts; est exhibitions to date, “Morbid Curiosity: The and a 13-foot-high chandelier made of 3,000 Richard Harris Collection,” runs through July handcrafted plastic bones. 8. There will be a public reception Friday, Jan. “Morbid Curiosity” showcases the eclectic 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the center, 78 E. Wash- selection of nearly 1,000 works of fine art, ington St. artifacts, massive installations and decorative Visit http://www.ChicagoCulturalCenter. objects. 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Comedian Kate Clinton. Tickets are $17 in advance (and $22 at Photo by David Rodgers Kate Clinton in the door); see http://www.stage773.com/ Madison Feb. 17 Show?id=10. Lesbian comedian Kate Clinton will perform at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wis., Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Orion to mark Women’s Michael Feldman, the host of NPR’s “Whad’Ya Know,” will open the evening. History Month In honor of Women’s History Month in March, The proceeds of the event are going to sup- the all-female Orion Ensemble will be “Celebrat- port The Progressive magazine, now in its 103rd ing Women Composers” of three centuries, four year of publication in Madison. Both Clinton and countries and four distinct styles. Feldman write for The Progressive. Performances are March 4 at Fox Valley Pres- Tickets are $30 each; see http://www.bar- byterian Church in Geneva, March 11 at Music rymorelive.com. Those interested in meeting Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall in Clinton before at a pre-event dinner should call Evanston and March 14 at Roosevelt University’s 608-257-4626 or email [email protected]. Ganz Memorial Hall in Chicago. Shows will cover the works of Stacy Garrop, ‘The Wall’ burlesque Louise Farrenc, Phyllis Tate and Fanny Mendels- sohn. tribute opens Feb. 9 The Orion Ensemble consists of five musicians: Hot & Heavy Burlesque will present, for its Kathryne Pirtle (clarinet), Florentina Ramnicea- third year, the Burlesque Tribute To Pink Floyd’s nu (violin), Diana Schmück (piano), Judy Stone The Wall. (cello) and Jennifer Marlas (viola). The 2012 production has moved to a new ven- Single tickets are $26, $23 for seniors and ue at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., and also $10 for students; children 12 and younger are features new acts, sets and projections. Audi- free. A four-ticket flexible subscription provides ences will see a rock opera-inspired adventure a 10-percent savings on full-priced tickets. For that incorporates a visual journey. tickets or more information, call 630-628-9591 The show runs Thursday, Feb. 9, at 10 p.m.; or visit http://www.orionensemble.org. Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7 and 10 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 39 from Tara Hardy, who has started and runs one of Artemis to present the nations only LGBT writing institutes (http:// COOKBOOK from page 33 would love your book. ‘Near & Far’ Jan. 21 www.bentwriting.com). Additionally, royalties FD: Now that you mention it, I need to send Chicago lesbian feminist chorus Artemis Sing- from the album are being donated to support fun in New York so I live for the last Sunday him a copy. Every year he sends a Christmas ers will present “Near & Far” Saturday, Jan. 21, community based arts programs. in June. card and they are hysterical. Now I need to 2012, at the Irish American Heritage Center, See http://www.theworldbeforeandafter.com. I invite my friends over and those bitches send him a book. You are very good at this, 4626 N. Knox Ave., at 8 p.m. are critics. I always thought it would be fun thank you! Founded in 1980, the 22-member Artemis to do recipes of famous gays so that is where WCT: What are working on next? Singers specializes in music written or arranged Jim Flint at Center that came from. FD: I am going to do a Christmas cookbook by women. on Halsted Jan. 25 WCT: I didn’t think about many famed for 2012. It will be all people iconically linked “Near & Far” will feature many songs about The Center on Halsted will host a chat with transgender celebrities back then, but you to the holiday. It is just in the planning stag- social justice and matriarchal culture. Artemis Jim Flint, Wed., Jan. 25, 7:30-9 p.m., at 3656 mentioned Christine Jorgensen. es. Singers will showcase choral pieces from South N. Halsted St. FD: Isn’t it hysterical to have a recipe of WCT: Where can people buy the current Africa, Japan and Sweden. There will also be Chicago leatherman Douglas O’Keeffe will in- the original transgender celebrity? I think the book? First Nations (Aboriginal people in Canada) mu- terview Chicago legend Flint, owner of the Ba- whole sense of humor she approached her ac- FD: They can go to http://www.deadcelebri- sic; a Jewish song in the Nigun tradition; and a ton Show Lounge. This interview, the first in a tivism with was a good lesson actually. She tycookbook.com. All the places have it, such Belgian anti-apartheid song. series of four O’Keeffe will conduct at the Center said she went abroad and came back one! as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. Artemis Singers will spotlight the work of in 2012, coincides with the Owen Keehnen and That is pretty funny. She served in the war More information can be found on The Chicago composers, too. Artemis member Karen Tracy Baim biography about Flint released in De- then became a woman. That is fantastic. A Dead Celebrity Cookbook: A Resurrection Mooney wrote the chant “Peace in our Time— cember 2011, Jim Flint: The Boy From Peoria. sense of humor is something we can’t lose be- of Recipes from More Than 145 Stars of Obama @ Nobel.” Mooney is a chaplain resident Following the formal interview, the floor will cause it is a bridge-builder. People calm down Stage and Screen at http://www.frankdeca- for Rainbow Hospice. open for audience questions. if you have a sense of humor about yourself. ro.com. Advance “Near & Far” tickets cost a suggested See http://www.CenterOnHalsted.org. WCT: I was just thinking John Waters donation of $15 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and younger. At the door, tickets are a suggested donation of $20 for adults and $10 ‘The Wall’ burlesque for children. Visit http://www.artemissingers. org. tribute opens Feb. 9 Hot & Heavy Burlesque will present, for its Frank third year, the Burlesque Tribute To Pink Floyd’s DeCaro. ‘The World’ CD out The Wall. Photo by The unique album The World: Before & After The 2012 production has moved to a new ven- Erica is out on Fireign Records; it features poems in- ue at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., and also Berger spired by the artists’ views on a range of worldly features new acts, sets and projections. Audi- topics. ences will see a rock opera-inspired adventure The poems included on this album span a vast that incorporates a visual journey. array of topics, centered around the artists’ dif- The show runs Thursday, Feb. 9, at 10 p.m.; ferent views on the world, that allow the lis- Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 11, at tener’s mind to wander as each poem flows from 7 and 10 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. one to the next. Tickets are $17 in advance (and $22 at The CD features spoken-word poetry from 13 the door); see http://www.stage773.com/ poets accompanied by a score, including a track Show?id=10. from Greg Brisendine on gay rights and a poem

Share your special moments with the community in A Progressive, Inclusive and Celebrations Windy City Times’ new announcement section! Welcoming Catholic Community BIRTH: Mass each Sunday at 5:00 pm Maxwell Baptism Reconciliation Tsamis-Auwerda First Communion preparation Betty Tsamis and Laura Auwerda Holy Unions of Chicago’s Andersonville Anointing of the Sick neighborhood proudly announce the arrival of their son, Maxwell Tsamis-Auwerda. Photo courtesy of Tsamis 3338 N. Broadway www.dignity-chicago.org [email protected]

Kat Fitzgerald Photographer

www.mysticimagesphotography.com 40 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES

who led the charge to desegregate the all- white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. 2pm, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., http://www. cfw.org Chicago Curve Wine Tasting Network- ing and social event for lesbian women. Brought to you by the combined efforts of Tickets are $40 for the wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and live music. 7pm-11pm, Chi- WINDY CITY cago Curve, 5255 N. Clark St., http://www. NO JONES chicagocurve.com TIMES Artemis Singers Near & Far concert Ar- ABOUT IT temis Singers (www.artemissingers.org), Wed., Jan. 18 Chicago’s lesbian feminist chorus, will Candace Gingrich-Jones Wed., Jan. 18 present a concert of world and local music at 8pm. 8pm-10pm, 773-764-4465, Irish (above) will attend state 3D Karaoke and $1 Drinks Join Velvet Rope THIS IS ‘FIT’ American Heritage Center 4626 N. Knox for $1 drinks, dancing, and karaoke hosted Rep. Kelly Cassidy’s Ave., http://www.artemissingers.org by Lyndon! 5pm, 708-358-8840, Velvet Wed., Jan. 25 fundraiser. Junk in the Trunk: A Naughty Nostalgia Rope, 728 W. Lake St., Oak Park, http:// Out former ambassador James Burlesque A sexy, funny spin on that velvetropeultralounge.com Hormel will sign copies of his most American of pastimes: the garage Photo by Andrew Davis Neighborhood Night Every Wednesday eve- sale, where burlesque performers find ning is Palette Bistro’s local neighborhood memoir, Fit to Serve, at The some of their best costumes and sexy, night. Anyone with a 60614 or 60657 zip Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln sparkly things. Tickets: $18; 10:30pm, code gets 15 percent off the bill; 6pm- Ave. Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., http:// dith Kachel and Matteo Lane. Zanies, 1548 11:30pm, Palette Bistro, 2834 N. South- www.vaudezilla.com N. Wells St., 7pm-10pm, Zanies, 1548 N. port Ave. Photo from Hormel Wells St. $1 Drink Night Enjoy $1 cocktails, and beer Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo In drafts and wine all night long! Free en- Sunday, Jan. 22 Taverna 750 First Call Brunch Come sample an exciting new program the cult stars try before 9pm, $7 cover after; 8pm, Spin the amazing food and drink of Taverna bring their playful, entertaining view Nightclub, 800 W. Belmont Ave., http:// 750. Spruce up your Sunday as Taverna of classical ballet in parody and in dis- www.spin-nightclub.com ing Club Please RSVP by Mon. Jan. 16 to Archives & Museum; 9:30pm, Chicago His- 750 unveils its tasty creations and won- guise—proving that men, can indeed Rep. Kelly Cassidy fundraising reception hotline. 7pm, 312-409-1573, Siam Noo- tory Museum, 1601 N Clark, Chicago derful libations. $20 packages to meet dance en pointe without falling on their Candace Gingrich-Jones is slated to at- dle, 4654 N. Sheridan Rd., http://www. Out Rock presents Featured Artist Night your Sunday Brunch goals! 11am-3pm, faces! Mixing impressive technique with tend. RSVP at progressivesolutionsllc@ afchicago.org; Tickets: http://www.siam- This month features FANTASTISHAK with Taverna 750, 750 W. Cornelia Ave., http:// sublime comedy, this all-male company of gmail.com or by phone; 5:30pm-7:30pm, noodleandrice.com songs from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and today. www.taverna750.com professional dancers is certain to delight 312-399-1902, 551 W. Stratford Pl. CD4 presents Win, Lose or Draw! That As always, host Manny Capozzi features Urban Village Church Spiritual worship is and impress even the most knowledge- Mini University Chicago’s hottest new col- ‘80s-est of game shows comes back for queer and queer-friendly performers, about coming together as community to able dance lovers. $45-$75. 7:30pm, Har- lege night, loaded with THE hottest bar- one night only at CD4s January party. songwriter, comedians. DJ Mel Ruder. $5 make space for God to move in us. It’s a ris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. tenders, barbacks and boys! 9pm, Minibar, Free grub, $2 domestic beers, $3 imports. cover. 9:30pm, Mary’s Attic, 5400 N Clark place to receive God’s grace and love and Randolph Dr., http://www.harristheater- 3341 N Halsted St., http://www.minibar- A poz/poz-friendly social networking St., http://www.hamburgermarys.com/ to give of ourselves, as well. 10:15am- chicago.org chicago.com party. 7pm-10pm, Jackhammer, 6406 N. chicago Clark St., http://www.facebook.com/cd4- danc(e)volve A selection of pieces devel- 11:30am, Urban Village Church, Spertus chicago oped by Hubbard Street dancers. Tickets: Institute, 610 S. Michigan, http://www. Wed., Jan. 25 Thursday, Jan. 19 James Hormel The out former ambassador Chicago in Leather: Program and iPhone $35 for non-members, $28 for MCA mem- urbanvillagechurch.org. Reading: Windy City Queer Kathie to Luxembourg signs his memoir, Fit to App Launch Party Panel topic: Impor- bers, $10 for students through hubbard- Urban Village Church: Andersonville ser- Bergquist and contributors Aldo Alvarez, Serve. The Book Cellar prefers customers tance of gay men’s leather motorcycle and streetdance.com; 7:30pm-9pm, 312-850- vice Andersonville is a neighborhood full Deb R. Lewis, Karen Lee Osborne, Gerard to purchase the book from their store, but backpatch clubs, bars, women’s groups 9744, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 of passion, art, diversity, and eclectic en- Wozek and Emma Vosicky read poetry it is not required for autographs. 7pm, The and spaces, how large events like Inter- East Chicago Ave., http://www.hubbard- ergy, all which makes Urban Village Church and prose from the new literary anthol- Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln Ave., http:// national Mr. Leather have helped shape streetdance.com thrilled to be joining the community! ogy, Windy City Queer: LGBTQ Dispatches www.bookcellarinc.com Chicago’s leather subculture, how gender, 10:30am-11:45am, 1602 W. Ainslie (at from the Third Coast. Wine, cheese, hot Neighborhood Night Every Wednesday eve- sexual orientation, collaboration, and sep- Friday, Jan. 20 Ashland), http://www.newchicagochurch. cocoa and cookies will be provided. Free. ning is Palette Bistro’s local neighborhood aratism have co-existed throughout the POP Goes the Gio 6th Anniversary Cel- com 7pm, Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Gran- night. Anyone with a 60614 or 60657 zip past five decades. Cost: $12, $10 members ebrate 6 years of Boystown’s favorite pop SIN Sundays Sundays are heating up at Hy- ville Ave. code gets 15 percent off the bill; 6pm- and students. Cocktails 5:30pm; programs cabaret and Gio’s 21st (or so) birthday. drate with SIN Sundays! Just because the Asians and Friends Chicago January Din- 11:30pm, Palette Bistro, 2834 N. South- 6:30pm In collaboration with the Leather Raffles, great drinks and more. Special weekend is over doesn’t mean the party port Ave. guests Jackie Rada, Jonathan Shaw, Jer- is! Join some of your favorite service in- Fireside chat with Jim Flint Chicago leg- emy, Cristina Sanchez and many more. dustry staff members from all over the city end Jim Flint of the Baton Show Lounge 9:30pm, 3160, 3160 N. Clark Street, Chi- partying it up at Hydrate! 9pm, Hydrate, interviewed live on stage by Chicago cago, http://www.chicago3160.com 3458 N. Halsted St., http://www.hydrat- leatherman Douglas O’Keeffe. This inter- Late Night: DJ Greg Drescher Nationally echicago.com view, the first in a series of four O’Keeffe recognized DJ Greg Drescher will be spin- will conduct at the Center in 2012, coin- ning late night at Hydrate until 5:00am! Monday, Jan. 23 cides with the Owen Keehnen and Tracy His blend of East and West Coast style of Salsa lessons Join the Velvet Rope for open Baim biography about Jim Flint released music will keep the energy going on the Salsa Lessons with Anna Marie every Mon- in December 2011, Jim Flint: The Boy dance floor all night long! 10pm, Hydrate, day. Stick around for open salsa dancing. From Peoria. Following the formal inter- 3458 N. Halsted St., http://www.hydrat- Bring your partner or come alone; 7pm- view the floor will open for audience ques- echicago.com/home/ 11:30pm, 708-358-8840, Velvet Rope, tions. 7:30pm-9pm, Center on Halsted, Spin Shower Contest Join super-cute Vic- 728 West Lake Street, Oak Park, http:// 3656 N. Halsted St. tor at Midnight for Spin’s outrageous and velvetropeultralounge.com Hydrag Revue’s 10th Anniversary Show infamous contest! Get there by 11:30pm Recovery Over the Rainbow New Narcotics Come watch some of the old and new cast to enter, and you could win first prize of Anonymous sponsored/governed meeting, members of the Hydrag Revue put on a $150 or second prize of $50. 9pm, Spin geared toward GLBTs and open to the pub- show like you have never seen before. Nightclub, 800 W. Belmont Ave., http:// lic. Questions to Anthony Oltean; 8pm- Hosted cocktail hour with pictures and spin-nightclub.com 9pm, Haymarket Health Education, 20 N. conversation from 9-10, featuring Skyy Bi-Polar Fridays at @mosphere Bar Every Sangamon St. Vodka. Show at 11pm sharp featuring Au- Friday the ONLY place to be is @mosphere rora Sexton, Kelly Lauren, Monica Munro, Bar in Andersonville for Bi-Polar Friday’s. Tuesday, Jan. 24 DiDa Ritz, Naysha Lopez, Sorraya Dash and Hosted by Regina Upright; 10pm, 773- Pow Wow Tuesdays Bring your poetry every Mercedes Andrews. Hosted by the two an 784-1100, @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark St., Tuesday. $5 cover, food at 7:30pm, open only Tajma Hall. Please make your table http://atmospherebar.com mic at 8:30pm. 7:30pm, Jeffery Pub, 7041 S Jeffery Blvd, Chicago reservation at brad@hydratechicago. Saturday, Jan. 21 Bottoms Up Bingo! Join Miss Tajma Hall ev- com. VIP reservations include $100 bot- tle of Skyy Vodka, mixers and front row Transgender Community Social Come in ery Tuesday as she hosts Bottoms Up Bin- seats! 8pm, Hydrate, 3458 N. Halsted St., from the cold and join Equality Illinois for go! The balls start rolling at 9:30 weekly. http://www.hydratechicago.com an afternoon of socializing with friends 9:30pm-11:30pm, 708-358-8840, Velvet Beach Party Sidetrack sizzles, island style. old and new, noshing on delightful bites, Rope, 728 W. Lake Str., Oak Park, http:// A beach party with Bacardi, Cointreau and and sipping cocktails. 1pm-4pm, 773- velvetropeultralounge.com Herradura specials and no cover. Come out 477-7173, Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Queer Comedy @ Zanies: Season 2 Pre- and play with the Sidetrack beach boys. Ave., http://www.eqil.org miere OutLoud Chicago and The Qu pres- 5pm-10pm, Sidetrack, 3349 N Halsted St, Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock Chi- ent the 2nd season premiere, featuring FLINT CONDITION http://www.sidetrackchicago.com cago Foundation for Women and Women headliner Chip Pope (Comedy Central’s Wed., Jan. 25 and Girls Lead present a film about a com- Premium Blend, Beavis and Butthead, The plex, unconventional, and largely forgot- Rosie Show), host Adam Guerino (Laugh ten heroine of the civil-rights movement Track at Sidetrack, Gay Chicago TV) Mere- Baton Show Lounge owner Jim Flint will hold a fireside chat at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. Get : WindyCityMediaGroup.com online ChicagoPride.com WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 41

BILLY MASTERS wweeddnneessddaayy,, stage! Oh, it was a tense moment as the whole “I want to report a rape. My body of work has pageant took an ugly turn ... and I LOVED it. jjaannuuaarryy 2255 been violated by ‘The Artist’. This film took the As for the contestants, there were some Love Theme music from ‘Vertigo’ and used the doozies. While Miss Texas played the piano (bad- emotions it engenders as its own.”—Kim Novak ly, I should add), the onscreen graphic stated SSiiddeettrraacckkSSiizzzzlleess.... complains about recycling music for the new that she can play the piano AND hula-hoop at come out & play with ..IIssllaannddSSttyyllee!! movie. People who work in rape-crisis centers the same time—a missed opportunity if ever come out & play with have chastised Novak, saying that she’s dimin- there was one. We also learned that one of the the Sidetrack ishing actual rape victims. Since we share a contestants is afraid of windmills—which means beach boys birthday, I feel qualified to say that maybe Kim Miss Illinois won’t be going to Holland any time was just looking for a little attention. soon. I probably don’t need to remind you that I Then there was Miss South Carolina, who lost respect very few people. But when I see folks more than 100 pounds to enter the contest. making a living by doing something they’re pas- After her elimination, Brooke Burke innocently sionate about ... well, that’s pretty special. And asked what she’d do next. Miss South Carolina I’m not only talking about artists—I dated an was already on the phone—probably placing accountant who got an erection when his debit an order with Domino’s! Personally, I think and credit columns balanced out! This week, I someone should look into the obvious judicial went to see one of my favorite bands, Sister bias against midgets with implants. And while Hazel. Let me first say that these guys are fan- they’re at it, they may want to explain why Kris tastic musicians. But I don’t think any of them Jenner is booked to judge ... well, anything. are millionaires, and they’ll probably never be I zipped back to Beverly Hills for the Gold- superstars. However, they appear to be making en Globes. Everyone was wondering how Ricky a good living by doing something they love for Gervais would fare as host. In the end, there Like a people around the country. wasn’t anything too scandalous. He referenced no cover The capacity crowd at the House of Blues in Jodie Foster’s beaver, annoyed Elton John and vacation Hollywood treated them like rock royalty—sing- took an easy pot shot against Madonna (which ing along with even obscure songs. These guys she foolishly attempted to respond to). On top earned my respect—especially since, days ear- of all that, there was Peter Dinklage’s tribute lier, I was at an event featuring the song styl- to dwarf-tossing victim Martin Henderson. You ings of some little bitch who I won’t name since don’t get that at every awards show! I know almost nothing about her. But I did hope The HBO after-party was the usual glitz-fest. she’d cut herself onstage—at least that would It got off to a ubiquitous started with Mrs. Jeff have been interesting. Garlin trying to cut the line. (Judy Gold was IItt’’ss ggeettttiinn’’ Leslie Jordan has a brand new one-man having none of that—although I’m the one who Sidetrack...The Video Bar show—“Fruit Fly.” Any time I walk into a the- spoke up.) The party itself was populated with hhoott iinn hheerree.. 3349 N. Halsted atre with Carole Cook, I know I’m gonna have a some intriguing combinations of people. You’d WCMG Night Spots Full Page.pdf 1/5/2012 3:09:18 PM SidetrackChicago.com good time. (I love a good “Limpet” story.) Les- have the boys from True Blood alongside my buddies Brad Goreski and Gary Janetti from It’s a Brad, Brad World. Across the room would be the cast of Modern Family next to Prince Frederic ... sans Zsa Zsa. Then you’d see Kathy Griffin breeze Brad by Puff Daddy. It was simply odd and, yet, fan- Goreski No matter which way you swing, you’re gonna tastic. All in all, it was a great way to kick off (left) the awards season. hung out love the way we play ball! When Bravo launches Million Dollar Listing: with some New York, a familiar face will likely be part of “Blood” the show. The name of New York-based Swedish brothers real estate broker Fredrik Eklund may not ring a recently. bell with you, but you might know his work as gay porn star Tag Erikkson. His casting on the show was cemented once he helped broker a NYC Saturday , March 3 penthouse sale for over $17 million. Between Park West lie’s natural charm and effervescent personality the high-profile deal and his porn past, Bravo 322 W. Armitage always sparkles, and this new show is no excep- smelled a hit. tion. In Fruit Fly, he explores the relationship I got a whiff of something else when I was Chicago, IL of gay men and their mothers by recounting his emailed a nude photo of the delicious Trace own colorful childhood. I absolutely loved it— Lehnhoff, formerly on Bravo’s Flipping Out. (Jeff and so did Carole, by the way. The show runs fired Trace for allegedly designing closets for at the Celebration Theatre in West Hollywood customers on the side—which may have includ- through Feb. 18 and I definitely recommend it. ed someone sitting behind me at Miss America— You can get more information and tix at Celebra- celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean.) While this isn’t tionTheatre.com. If you don’t live here, have no the first time we’ve featured Trace’s physical as- fear—like all of Leslie’s shows, it will likely soon sets on our website, this will mark the debut come to a city near you. of his appendage—which is mighty impressive. I also attended the People’s Choice Awards for Lehnhoff told some friends that things are not the first time, and it drove home an important exactly as they appear in this photo. Frankly, I point to me. The American people should not think he should keep his mouth shut. You’ll be have the right to vote. And I mean this across inclined to do the exact opposite after going to the board—from American Idol to the U.S. pres- BillyMasters.com. ident. I think our track record has proven that When I can mention Chaz Dean and not use we’re simply incapable of making an educated the word “spooky,” it’s definitely time for me decision. Come on: Lea Michele—Favorite TV to end yet another column. Actually, I think he Comedy Actress? Yeah, she’s the next Lucy! Pu- looks less spooky in person—or maybe I just leeze! need a nap. While I’m trying to recover from all Then I scurried off to Las Vegas for the Miss these festivities, I’ll still be updating www.Billy- America Pageant in Las Vegas. I had such fun Masters.com, the site that’s anything but tired. For tickets, visit last year, I couldn’t stay away. But nothing If you have a question, just write me at Billy@ chicagotakesoff.org prepared me for this year’s twist. After the 15 BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to semifinalists were cut down to 12, one of the you before I hit an all you can eat buffet with or call Billy Surber at remaining three was also put through by having Miss South Carolina! So, until next time, remem- 773-989-9400 ext.235 the cast-offs line up behind their favorite on ber, one man’s filth is another man’s bible. 42 Jan. 18, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES land off of the coast of Greece sent me an email to tell me how she waited six weeks for my book WNBA superfan to arrive,” Chambers said. “The fact that my story is being read not only across the U.S., but around the world, still surprises me.” writes book on Chambers is planning a book-signing tour for the summer after the 2012 Summer Olympics and to coincide with the WNBA season, with game journey tentative stops planned for Chicago, Indianapo- lis, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., New York and Connecticut. By Ross Forman The book is available at Amazon.com (pa- Chambers said the Indiana chapter was one of perback and Kindle). Plus, Chambers of- Alex Chambers was not planning to write a book his favorites. After all, “I had quite an adventure fered a discount at https://www.createspace. about his 2009 adventure traveling to a WNBA just getting to the game,” he said. com/3598614; enter discount code “S8S4R- game in all 13 cities, appropriately dubbed, “13 He met with one of the Indiana Fever’s stars, 5TY” at checkout. Teams, 1 Journey.” Although writing was a pas- Tamika Catchings, who attended Stevenson High sion of his, Chambers mostly had written short School in Lincolnshire, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. stories and theatrical plays—nothing even close She gave Chambers a team shirt and he cher- to a book. ished their time together, as well as moments SkiBudz’s Midwest However, a fellow Phoenix Mercury fan en- with fellow Fever stars Katie Douglas, Briann couraged him to write a book about his WNBA January and Tully Bevilaqua. Gay Ski Weekend travels. “She actually had to nag me for quite Chambers said the response to his book, in a while before I began the process,” admitted the short time since published, has mostly been Feb. 3-5 SkiBudz, Chicago’s gay ski and snow- Chambers, who is openly gay and lives in Tuc- positive. “One piece of feedback I have gotten board club, will travel to the 2012 Granite son, Ariz. “I’m very grateful that she did what has been that I should have talked more about Peak/Midwest Gay Ski Weekend Feb. 3-5, she did because WNBA fans now can share in a the games,” that I attended, Chambers said. “I 2012, in Wausau, Wis. very detailed experience of my journey. Not to [understand] where this is coming from, and I This is the Midwest’s largest gay ski and mention that the story, at least I hope so, will am sure WNBA fans would have loved to have snowboard event. There will be a great be around for years to come.” read more about the game play I witnessed. journey—at Game 5 of the 2009 WNBA Finals. weekend of skiing/boarding, dinners, Chambers, 37, a graduate assistant at the However, when I got into writing the book, I You just can’t write a better ending than com- apres-ski activities and much more. Last University of Arizona, published 13 Teams: One had to choose a direction, and I chose to focus ing home to witness your team take the crown. year, 125 people from throughout the Mid- Man’s Journey with the WNBA in 2011. more on the interactions I had with players and Also, there were some interactions after that fi- west attended this event. “The main reason I wrote this story was for my experiences on the road. Since I wrote the nal game [that stand out.] Special discount rates are available at the fans,” Chambers said. “When I completed my book for the fans, I figured many of them had “It was probably one of the most emotional the Jefferson Street Inn, the host hotel journey in 2009, I had so many people send me already seen many games, so I thought I would experiences I had during my journey, and be- in downtown Wausau. Visit http://www. emails and Facebook messages, asking me what share the behind-the-scenes experiences I had, cause of them, those memories are often promi- skibudz.org for more trip information. it was like. I figured this was the best way to which most fans aren’t privy to.” nent in my mind. Contact [email protected] if you share it with everyone. Also, the WNBA doesn’t Chambers has attended more than 100 WNBA “With everything on my journey happening so have any questions about this event. get enough coverage in the mainstream media, games in his life and is a season-ticket holder in fast, there were two things I felt that I missed and in other types of publications, including Phoenix. out on and would’ve loved to have included in books. This was a way for me to not only share “To choose one [favorite WNBA memory] the book. One was spending more time with the ‘Strike Out Hunger’ my story, but to give WNBA fans something to would be tough,” Chambers said. “However, if fans. My story as a fan is just that, one single take in when they weren’t at a game—and hope- I had to choose one, it would be the end of my story. It would have been great to include more March 31 at fully reach out to some new fans as well.” fan stories like mine, but quite often I was so River Rand ADVERTISEMENT exhausted, or just busy with things at the games Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care and that it was hard to break away. The other regret the 9-12 Bowling League will hold the 15th When experience counts... I have is that I really didn’t take enough candid Annual “Strike Out Hunger” bowling fund- In service to the community for over 30 years. pictures. I wish I had handed my camera to the raiser at River Rand Bowl, Des Plaines. staff and players to take pictures of me and my The event will take place Saturday, March The Law Offices of interactions with the fans and players I met. I 31, 7-10 p.m. Roger V. McCaffrey-Boss & Associates was so focused on getting video footage, so get- The cost is $35 per bowler, and $180 ting still pictures kind of slipped my mind.” per team (up to six bowlers). Visit http:// Chambers said the book has been purchased www.vitalbridges.org to RSVP. PROTECT YOUR LOVER BY MAKING YOUR WILL by WNBA fans in Italy, Greece, Russia, Spain and England, among other countries. “One young Q. My lover passed away last month from cancer. We were together for over 30 years, WNBA fan from a tiny town located on a tiny is- unfortunately, neither of us had a will nor did we have a civil union. What are my legal rights? A. Unfortunately, because you and your partner never made wills nor entered into a civil union you will have an uphill legal battle to acquire the property that was in your partner’s name alone, if at all. And you may have to produce receipts and documentation to prove that the furniture and household items in the house were either bought jointly or by you alone. The law states that no one is ever without an estate plan, even if they don’t have a will. From the moment of birth, every individual has an estate plan that was written by the state in which he or she resides. State intestacy statutes provide an estate plan for everyone who does not make a will. Illinois has established a line of distribution for the property of some one who dies without a will. Illinois Intestacy Will I, an Illinois Resident, make this will. FIRST. All claims against my estate shall be paid in full. SECOND. If I am married with no children, my entire estate to my spouse. If I have a spouse and at least one child, one-half to my spouse and one-half to all of my children. If I have no spouse, then all to my children in equal shares. If I do not have a spouse or children, then I give my entire estate to my parents, brothers and sisters in equal shares, allowing my surviving parent to have two shares if one parent is dead, and to each descendant of a deceased brother or sister of mine such share shall be distributed equally to the descendants. If I have no spouse, child, parent, sister, brother or descendant of a brother or sister, then my estate shall go to my grandparents or their descendants or if none exist then to my great grandparents and their descendants, of whom I may not know or have ever met. If no relative can be found then to the State of Illinois and to the County in which I resided. THIRD. I leave nothing to my partner, lover, life companion or any friends or charity. FOURTH. I appoint no one as executor of this will and prefer that a family member be appointed by the Probate Court.

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312-263-8800 [email protected] Alex Chambers with WNBA players Diana Taurasi (left) and Sylvia Fowles. Photo courtesy of We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code. Chambers WINDY CITY TIMES Jan. 18, 2012 43 CONNE IONS X MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS i l o

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