vol 31, no. 30 April 20, 2016 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com BLAZING TRAILS

Cross-country hiker Jarett Wilkins. Photo by Matt Simonette Cross-country hiker raises awareness for foster youth by Matt Simonette Protective Services] worker was visiting them only when they got maimed, ended up in the hospital or were dying.” Jarett Wilkins, on April 15, arrived at the Santa Monica Pier. The first leg, which Wilkins kicked off in August 2015, took He had made it halfway through a 6,000-mile trek across the him from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Santa Monica, Califor- United States and back. nia. The second leg will extend from San Diego back to New Wilkins, who is gay, undertook the hike to raise awareness York City. The mileage is cumulative—he’s had to interrupt about children who are in the foster care system. He started the hike with trips for speaking engagements and personal a non-profit organization, the Forever Family Walk, and is in- business. His stopping points have been determined sim- terviewing stakeholders in children’s organizations and state ply by where he could find people willing to talk. He hiked agencies, among others, along the way. through in October, then returned to in March LEAVE IT TO DIVA “It started because I kept realizing that the at-risk children in order to help out a friend. Vanessa Williams talks gay fans, ‘.’ only got attention whenever they were in the newspaper,” Wilkins, who lives in New York, previously worked in e-com- PR photo Wilkins said during a recent visit to Chicago. “I would read merce and fashion, so he knew how to use the internet and these articles and see how they were watched and cared for mobile-marketing to build followers for a project. He was first 22 when they got into the system. … It seemed that a [Child and Turn to page 13

nightspots EVERLASTING LOVE GAY POET Couple David Sanderson and Lee Brady Touche’s David Boyer celebrates 40 years Local writer Ralph Hamilton has released on Candypants, five decades together. ‘behind bars.’ his first book of poems. Photo courtesy of the couple, circa 1969 16 Photo of Boyer, Dean Ogren and Lori Cannon by Kirk Williamson 26 PR photo 24

@windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 2 April 20, 2016

Actual Size (15.4 mm x 7.3 mm)

One small pill contains rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and New Odefsey® tenofovir alafenamide (TAF).

is now available Ask your healthcare provider if ODEFSEY is right for you.

To learn more visit ODEFSEY.com

Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages.

ODEC0006_OdefseyJrnlAd-C_Spread_10x13-5_WindyCityTimes.indd 1-2 3/30/16 11:04 AM WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 3

Actual Size (15.4 mm x 7.3 mm)

One small pill contains rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and New Odefsey® tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). is now available Ask your healthcare provider if ODEFSEY is right for you.

To learn more visit ODEFSEY.com

Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages.

ODEC0006_OdefseyJrnlAd-C_Spread_10x13-5_WindyCityTimes.indd 1-2 3/30/16 11:04 AM 4 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES

Brief Summary of Patient Information What is ODEFSEY? Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women who take HIV-1 • Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away about ODEFSEY medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information if you have any of the following symptoms: ODEFSEY is a prescription medicine that is used to treat HIV-1 about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about – feel sad or hopeless ODEFSEY (oh-DEF-see) in people 12 years of age and older: how you can take part in this registry. ( – feel anxious or restless emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets • who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past and have an amount of • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take ODEFSEY. Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines HIV-1 in their blood (“viral load”) that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL, or – have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself – You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk that should not be taken with ODEFSEY. • to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have been on the same • Change in liver enzymes. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus of passing HIV-1 to your baby. There may be new information about ODEFSEY. This information is only a summary HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months, have a viral load that is less than 50 infection or who have certain liver enzyme changes may have an increased risk – At least one of the medicines in ODEFSEY can pass to your baby in your and does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your copies/mL, and have never failed past HIV-1 treatment. of developing new or worsening liver problems during treatment with ODEFSEY. medical condition or treatment. breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in ODEFSEY can pass into Liver problems can also happen during treatment with ODEFSEY in people without It is not known if ODEFSEY is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age your breast milk. a history of liver disease. Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check What is the most important information or who weigh less than 77 lb (35 kg). – Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. your liver enzymes before and during treatment with ODEFSEY. I should know about ODEFSEY? When used to treat HIV-1 infection, ODEFSEY may help: Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. • Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”. ODEFSEY can cause serious side effects, including: prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and • Increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help fi ght off • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis Some medicines may interact with ODEFSEY. Keep a list of your medicines neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). other infections. may happen in some people who take ODEFSEY or similar medicines. Lactic and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood a new medicine. and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like • You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right interact with ODEFSEY. happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get (opportunistic infections). stronger and begin to fi ght infections that have been hidden in your body for a away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of • Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your You must keep taking HIV-1 long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new lactic acidosis: ODEFSEY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take ODEFSEY with other medicines. – feel very weak or tired medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. How should I take ODEFSEY? – have unusual (not normal) muscle pain Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare HIV-1 to others. Do not share or re-use needles, injection equipment, or personal provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you – have trouble breathing • Take ODEFSEY exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. ODEFSEY items that can have blood or body fl uids on them. Do not have sex without start and while you are taking ODEFSEY. Your healthcare provider may tell you is taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection. – have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to to stop taking ODEFSEY if you develop new or worse kidney problems. – feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • Take ODEFSEY 1 time each day with a meal. lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take ODEFSEY. Bone – feel dizzy or lightheaded • Do not change your dose or stop taking ODEFSEY without fi rst talking with problems may include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to Who should not take ODEFSEY? your healthcare provider. Stay under a healthcare provider’s care when – have a fast or irregular heartbeat fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. taking ODEFSEY. • Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems may happen in people who Do not take ODEFSEY if you also take a medicine that contains: The most common side effects of rilpivirine, one of the medicines in ODEFSEY, • Do not miss a dose of ODEFSEY. take ODEFSEY. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your • carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®) are depression, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and headache. • If you take too much ODEFSEY, call your healthcare provider or go to the liver may become large and you may develop fat in your liver. Call your • dexamethasone (Ozurdex®, Maxidex®, Decadron®, BaycadronTM) The most common side effect of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, nearest hospital emergency room right away. healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following • dexlansoprazole (Dexilant®) two of the medicines in ODEFSEY, is nausea. symptoms of liver problems: • When your ODEFSEY supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare • esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo®) Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you – your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in ® or that does not go away. • lansoprazole (Prevacid ) your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. – dark “tea-colored” urine • These are not all the possible side effects of ODEFSEY. For more information, • omeprazole (Prilosec®, Zegerid®) The virus may develop resistance to ODEFSEY and become harder to treat. – light-colored bowel movements (stools) ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. • oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) – loss of appetite What are the possible side effects of ODEFSEY? • Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side • pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®) – nausea effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. • phenobarbital (Luminal®) ODEFSEY may cause serious side effects, including: – pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about ODEFSEY. ® ® ® • See “What is the most important information I should know • phenytoin (Dilantin , Dilantin-125 , Phenytek ) If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if about ODEFSEY?” • rabeprazole (Aciphex®) your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ODEFSEY that you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking ODEFSEY • Severe skin rash and allergic reactions. Skin rash is a common side effect • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) is written for health professionals. or a similar medicine for a long time. of ODEFSEY. Rash can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away ® For more information, call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.ODEFSEY.com. • Worsening of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. ODEFSEY is not approved • rifapentine (Priftin ) if you get a rash. In some cases, rash and allergic reaction may need to be to treat HBV. If you have HBV and take ODEFSEY, your HBV may get worse • the herb St. John’s wort or a product that contains St. John’s wort treated in a hospital. If you get a rash with any of the following symptoms, Keep ODEFSEY and all medicines out of reach of children. (fl are-up) if you stop taking ODEFSEY. A “fl are-up” is when your HBV infection Issued: March 2016 What should I tell my healthcare provider stop taking ODEFSEY and call your healthcare provider right away: suddenly returns in a worse way than before. before taking ODEFSEY? – fever – Do not run out of ODEFSEY. Refi ll your prescription or talk to your healthcare – skin blisters provider before your ODEFSEY is all gone. Before taking ODEFSEY, tell your healthcare provider if you: – mouth sores – Do not stop taking ODEFSEY without fi rst talking to your healthcare • have liver problems including hepatitis B or C virus infection – redness or swelling of the eyes (conjunctivitis) provider. • have kidney and bone problems – swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat – If you stop taking ODEFSEY, your healthcare provider will need to check • have had depression or suicidal thoughts ODEFSEY, the ODEFSEY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and GSI are trademarks your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check – trouble breathing or swallowing • have any other medical conditions of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other trademarks referenced your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual – pain on the right side of the stomach (abdominal) area • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ODEFSEY can herein are the property of their respective owners. symptoms you may have after you stop taking ODEFSEY. – dark “tea-colored” urine harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. ODEC0006 03/16 while taking ODEFSEY.

ODEC0006_OdefseyJrnlAd-C_Spread_10x13-5_WindyCityTimes.indd 3-4 3/30/16 11:04 AM WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 5

Brief Summary of Patient Information What is ODEFSEY? Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women who take HIV-1 • Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away about ODEFSEY medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information if you have any of the following symptoms: ODEFSEY is a prescription medicine that is used to treat HIV-1 about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about – feel sad or hopeless ODEFSEY (oh-DEF-see) in people 12 years of age and older: how you can take part in this registry. ( – feel anxious or restless emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets • who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past and have an amount of • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take ODEFSEY. Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines HIV-1 in their blood (“viral load”) that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL, or – have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself – You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk that should not be taken with ODEFSEY. • to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have been on the same • Change in liver enzymes. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus of passing HIV-1 to your baby. There may be new information about ODEFSEY. This information is only a summary HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months, have a viral load that is less than 50 infection or who have certain liver enzyme changes may have an increased risk – At least one of the medicines in ODEFSEY can pass to your baby in your and does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your copies/mL, and have never failed past HIV-1 treatment. of developing new or worsening liver problems during treatment with ODEFSEY. medical condition or treatment. breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in ODEFSEY can pass into Liver problems can also happen during treatment with ODEFSEY in people without It is not known if ODEFSEY is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age your breast milk. a history of liver disease. Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check What is the most important information or who weigh less than 77 lb (35 kg). – Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. your liver enzymes before and during treatment with ODEFSEY. I should know about ODEFSEY? When used to treat HIV-1 infection, ODEFSEY may help: Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. • Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”. ODEFSEY can cause serious side effects, including: prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and • Increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help fi ght off • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis Some medicines may interact with ODEFSEY. Keep a list of your medicines neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). other infections. may happen in some people who take ODEFSEY or similar medicines. Lactic and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood a new medicine. and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like • You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right interact with ODEFSEY. happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get (opportunistic infections). stronger and begin to fi ght infections that have been hidden in your body for a away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of • Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your You must keep taking HIV-1 long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new lactic acidosis: ODEFSEY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take ODEFSEY with other medicines. – feel very weak or tired medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. How should I take ODEFSEY? – have unusual (not normal) muscle pain Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare HIV-1 to others. Do not share or re-use needles, injection equipment, or personal provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you – have trouble breathing • Take ODEFSEY exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. ODEFSEY items that can have blood or body fl uids on them. Do not have sex without start and while you are taking ODEFSEY. Your healthcare provider may tell you is taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection. – have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to to stop taking ODEFSEY if you develop new or worse kidney problems. – feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • Take ODEFSEY 1 time each day with a meal. lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take ODEFSEY. Bone – feel dizzy or lightheaded • Do not change your dose or stop taking ODEFSEY without fi rst talking with problems may include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to Who should not take ODEFSEY? your healthcare provider. Stay under a healthcare provider’s care when – have a fast or irregular heartbeat fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. taking ODEFSEY. • Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems may happen in people who Do not take ODEFSEY if you also take a medicine that contains: The most common side effects of rilpivirine, one of the medicines in ODEFSEY, • Do not miss a dose of ODEFSEY. take ODEFSEY. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your • carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®) are depression, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and headache. • If you take too much ODEFSEY, call your healthcare provider or go to the liver may become large and you may develop fat in your liver. Call your • dexamethasone (Ozurdex®, Maxidex®, Decadron®, BaycadronTM) The most common side effect of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, nearest hospital emergency room right away. healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following • dexlansoprazole (Dexilant®) two of the medicines in ODEFSEY, is nausea. symptoms of liver problems: • When your ODEFSEY supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare • esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo®) Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you – your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in ® or that does not go away. • lansoprazole (Prevacid ) your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. – dark “tea-colored” urine • These are not all the possible side effects of ODEFSEY. For more information, • omeprazole (Prilosec®, Zegerid®) The virus may develop resistance to ODEFSEY and become harder to treat. – light-colored bowel movements (stools) ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. • oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) – loss of appetite What are the possible side effects of ODEFSEY? • Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side • pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®) – nausea effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. • phenobarbital (Luminal®) ODEFSEY may cause serious side effects, including: – pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about ODEFSEY. ® ® ® • See “What is the most important information I should know • phenytoin (Dilantin , Dilantin-125 , Phenytek ) If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if about ODEFSEY?” • rabeprazole (Aciphex®) your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ODEFSEY that you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking ODEFSEY • Severe skin rash and allergic reactions. Skin rash is a common side effect • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) is written for health professionals. or a similar medicine for a long time. of ODEFSEY. Rash can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away ® For more information, call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.ODEFSEY.com. • Worsening of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. ODEFSEY is not approved • rifapentine (Priftin ) if you get a rash. In some cases, rash and allergic reaction may need to be to treat HBV. If you have HBV and take ODEFSEY, your HBV may get worse • the herb St. John’s wort or a product that contains St. John’s wort treated in a hospital. If you get a rash with any of the following symptoms, Keep ODEFSEY and all medicines out of reach of children. (fl are-up) if you stop taking ODEFSEY. A “fl are-up” is when your HBV infection Issued: March 2016 What should I tell my healthcare provider stop taking ODEFSEY and call your healthcare provider right away: suddenly returns in a worse way than before. before taking ODEFSEY? – fever – Do not run out of ODEFSEY. Refi ll your prescription or talk to your healthcare – skin blisters provider before your ODEFSEY is all gone. Before taking ODEFSEY, tell your healthcare provider if you: – mouth sores – Do not stop taking ODEFSEY without fi rst talking to your healthcare • have liver problems including hepatitis B or C virus infection – redness or swelling of the eyes (conjunctivitis) provider. • have kidney and bone problems – swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat – If you stop taking ODEFSEY, your healthcare provider will need to check • have had depression or suicidal thoughts ODEFSEY, the ODEFSEY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and GSI are trademarks your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check – trouble breathing or swallowing • have any other medical conditions of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other trademarks referenced your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual – pain on the right side of the stomach (abdominal) area • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ODEFSEY can herein are the property of their respective owners. symptoms you may have after you stop taking ODEFSEY. – dark “tea-colored” urine harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. ODEC0006 03/16 while taking ODEFSEY.

ODEC0006_OdefseyJrnlAd-C_Spread_10x13-5_WindyCityTimes.indd 3-4 3/30/16 11:04 AM 6 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 7 WINDY CITY TIMES INDEX

NEWS N.C. order criticized; column 8 download Task force’s scathing CPD report 10 this issue LGBT minority health report 11 and browse the archives at Day of Silence/Night of Noise observed 12 Hiker does part for human rights 13 www.WindyCitytimes.com Gender JUST collaborative 14 Couple talks Candypants, long relationship 16 ‘E Pluribus Unum’ chat at Center 17 Views: Nathaniel Frank; letters 18 ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Theater: From Berlin to Hollywood 19 vol 31, no. 30 April 20, 2016 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com OUT Vanessa Williams interview 22 Chicago’s LGBTQ Out local poet Ralph Hamilton 24 BLAZING Leather archivist Gayle Rubin 25 TRAILS

Cross-country hiker Jarrett Wilkins. NIGHTSPOTS 26 Photo by Matt Simonette Cross-country hiker raises awareness for youths by Matt SiMonette Protective Services] worker was visiting them only when they got maimed, ended up in the hospital or were dying.” TRAVEL GUIDE OUTLINES Jarrett Wilkins, on April 15, arrived at the Santa Monica Pier. The first leg, which Wilkins kicked off in August 2015, took He had made it halfway through a 6,000-mile trek across the him from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Santa Monica, Califor- United States and back. nia. The second leg will extend from San Diego back to New Calendar Q 29 Wilkins, who is gay, undertook the hike to raise awareness York City. The mileage is cumulative—he’s had to interrupt about children who are in the foster care system. He started the hike with trips for speaking engagements and personal a non-profit organization, the Forever Family Walk, and is in- business. His stopping points have been determined sim- A pRoDuCT oF terviewing stakeholders in children’s organizations and state ply by where he could find people willing to talk. He hiked LEAVE IT TO DIVA agencies, among others, along the way. through Illinois in October, then returned to Chicago in March Classifieds 30 “It started because I kept realizing that the at-risk children in order to help out a friend. Vanessa Williams talks gay fans, ‘Ugly betty.’ only got attention whenever they were in the newspaper,” Wilkins, who lives in New York, previously worked in e-com- PR photo Wilkins said during a recent visit to Chicago. “I would read merce and fashion, so he knew how to use the internet and these articles and see how they were watched and cared for mobile-marketing to build followers for a project. He was first 22 when they got into the system. … It seemed that a [Child and Turn to page 13

nightspots EVERLASTING LOVE GAY POET Couple David Sanderson and Lee brady touche’s David boyer celebrates 40 years Local writer Ralph Hamilton has released on Candypants, five decades together. ‘behind bars.’ his first book of poems. Photo courtesy of the couple, circa 1969 16 Photo of Boyer, Dean Ogren and Lori Cannon by Kirk Williamson 26 PR photo 24

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

eli, eli—oh of LGBTQ Chicago for Bent Nights spotlights Eli “Paperboy” Reed and the duo Chairlift . tourists and travelers Photo of Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek by Vern Hester from around the world

‘med’ about you

Chicago Med actress S. Epatha Merkerson talks diabetes, diversity and local shows. PR photo DEADLINE: FRI., MAY 6 dance fever The Joffrey Ballet recently skin is in announced the artistic team for an all-new version of The Nutcracker. Contact us BEER WITH ME In dining news: Autre Monde marks today for five years and Jake Melnick’s offers beer cocktails. FEATURING rates and info! 773-871-7610, ext. 101 THAT’S SHOW BIZ THE BEST Find out the latest about actor Sir advertising@ Elton John, Cirque du Soleil and OF LGBTQ Victoria Beckham. windycitymediagroup.com CHICAGO! Christopher Wayne and Mike Tyler perform plus The Naked Magic Show. PR photo DAILY BREAKING NEWS 8 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES Pro-LGBT organizations criticize N.C. order Life After signing an anti-LGBT rights bill, House by Breezy CONNOR Bill 2, that drew nationwide condemnation, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, on April 12, issued an executive order that he claimed You, Me, and A.D. “expanded” the state’s employment policy to include sexual orientation and gender iden- One might want to know what A.D. stands A lot of people are not even purchasing for. It does not stand for After Death. I homes any more. According to the They Say tity—but which maintains the bill’s provisions believe that is used in biblical terms. I Say handbook, “A recent study showed that force transgender people to use the wrong When talking about A.D. I am referring a decrease in home ownership from 69% restroom while prohibiting workplace discrimi- to the “American Dream.” The American in 2005 to about 66.5% in 2010, and nation based on sexual orientation and gender Dream is a dream not only about wealth an increase in renter households of 1.1 identity for state employees. but is about everyone getting a chance to million.” ACLU of North Carolina Acting Executive Di- do their best no matter what their family My guess to why this happened is rector Sarah Preston said, “Gov. McCrory’s ac- or financial background. The question that because of non-affordable housing. I know tions today are a poor effort to save face after has been asked in many different ways is, there are hundreds of housing programs his sweeping attacks on the LGBT community, do you think the American Dream is alive out there. These programs are supposed to and they fall far short of correcting the dam- and available to everyone? The American accommodate people who cannot live in Dream is only available to some and not market-rent homes and apartments. Here age done when he signed the harmful House others because not everyone can afford it is the problem with these programs: If you Bill 2 into law which stigmatizes and mandates and others are not treated fairly. do not fall into a certain group, population, discrimination against gay and transgender According to Brandon King, in The or category it is hard to get accepted into people. With this executive order, LGBT indi- American Dream Dead, Alive, or on Hold?, these programs. Also if you are lucky to get viduals still lack legal protections from dis- many liberal economists and activists say into some of these housing opportunities crimination, and transgender people are still that the American Dream is dead, “but I the expectations are extremely high. These explicitly targeted by being forced to use the say that it`s more alive and important than places require you to follow stupid rules wrong restroom. and do a billion things “An impressive and growing number of busi- just to maintain your nesses, faith leaders and public figures have spot in the program. One National Center of Transgender Equality of these obscene rules come out to condemn House Bill 2 as an un- “Homeless people are another (NCTE) Executive Director Mara Keisling. would be, no overnight necessary and dangerous measure that unfairly Photo from NCTE example of why the American dream quests. If you are not a targets gay and transgender people. Regardless is not available to everyone. There person that likes to be of political affiliation, more and more political unconstitutional because it violates the Equal alone this could be an leaders also understand that discrimination is Protection and Due Process clauses of the Four- are a number of reasons why there uncomfortable situation. bad for business and politically toxic. The pub- teenth Amendment by discriminating on the It is impossible to live lic believes in equality and fairness and House basis of sex and sexual orientation and invad- are still homeless people in America. the American Dream when Bill 2 and measures like it are out of step with ing the privacy of transgender people. The law Affordable housing is the most people are constantly breathing down your neck the values of most Americans. also violates Title IX by discriminating against common reason.” “Efforts to divide the LGBT community by students and school employees on the basis of about rules. I have witnessed a extending limited protections but leaving sex. lot of mentally ill people in place the rules mandating discrimination The Obama administration is presently con- not living the American against the transgender community will only sidering whether North Carolina’s House Bill 2 ever.” He most likely feels that everyone can Dream. A bunch of these people cannot strengthen our resolve to fight back against makes the state ineligible for billions of dol- attain the American Dream. I do not agree afford their medications. Medication is way this discriminatory and misguided legislative lars in federal aid for schools, highways, and with his statement. Most people might think too expensive. People end up in mental action. We call on Gov. McCrory and the North housing. North Carolina receives more than that the A.D., but I believe the American hospitals and sometimes dead because they Carolina legislature to repeal House Bill 2 and $4.5 billion in federal funding for secondary Dream is dead. If the A.D. was alive why are are no longer on their medicine. “Mentally replace it with full non-discrimination protec- and post-secondary schools, all of which re- there still individuals who are struggling? ill people would be able to afford their tions for all LGBT people.” mains at jeopardy given the state’s policy of I find it ironic how blind people are medications if the income gap was closed. Staff Attorney Kyle Palazzolo, systemically violating Title IX, which prohibits to what is really going on with a certain This would possibly lead them to more ethnic group or culture. For example one productive lives and on their way to living in a separate statement, said, “The devastating sex discrimination, including discrimination might assume that “Immigrants remind us their A.D. blow of HB 2 will not be fixed by the band-aid against transgender students. that the American Dream is still possible.” The next group of people I feel the A.D. of an executive order. While this is an improve- People think that if some immigrants come is not available for are veterans. Brandon ment for the state employees it impacts, HB 2’s to America and find okay jobs, the American King thinks that “People do not want to reach goes far beyond what the executive order Dream is still possible. This is so not true. live lavish lives, they just want to live addresses and that’s why we are challenging Oldham sentenced Immigrants are one of the groups of people average, save money, and have a secure this extreme and discriminatory measure—in to six months in jail that are struggling to acquire the American job.” He probably thinks that living lavish order to ensure that everyone who lives in and By Matt Simonette Dream. Most immigrants come to America to has become so farfetched in people’s minds try and achieve the American Dream. Some that they settle for average living. I am visits North Carolina is protected under the law. “HB 2 is an attack on fairness in employ- of them do reach it but there is still a huge not disagreeing with that. Sad part about Frank Oldham Jr., the former executive di- chunk of them that do not. They have to go that is not everyone will be able to live an ment, education, and local governance that rector of the National Association of Peo- through so much just to live in America. If average lifestyle either. This is really hard encourages discrimination against thousands ple with AIDS (NAPWA), was sentenced to you do not have the right kind of paperwork for veterans to accomplish as well. I feel of LGBT people who call North Carolina home, six months in jail after pleading guilty to you cannot be in this country. They have they get the worst treatment out of everyone and it particularly targets transgender people.” embezzlement, according to the Washing- to constantly renew green cards in order to when trying to achieve their American National Center of Transgender Equality Ex- ton Blade. stay here. Some of them are only allowed Dream. They fought for our country and can ecutive Director Mara Keisling weighed in, say- A Montgomery County, Maryland, circuit in America if they are working or going to barely get any needs met. There are billions ing, “It’s obvious that Gov. McCrory is trying to court judge sentenced Oldham April 4 for school. The overall goal for them coming to of veterans who suffer from post-traumatic save his reputation with this desperate move. the incidents, which allegedly took place America was to make a better life for their stress disorder, homelessness and addiction. family and or themselves. How is kicking These three things make it impossible to His executive order says that transgender state in 2012. Oldham was active in a number employees are protected from discrimination, someone out of America for not having maintain employment. In my opinion they of organizations and agencies across the proper paperwork helping them achieve should be the first in line to receive any but they still can’t use the restroom at work. country, including stints in Chicago as ex- their American Dream? No one should be help, job or housing opportunities. They go It doesn’t make sense. In fact, the order does ecutive director of Horizons Community forced to stay in a country they do not want fight for us so we can obtain the American nothing to change the government-mandated Services (which later became Center on to. Unless some immigrant’s version of the Dream only to come back from combat and discrimination against all trans people in pub- Halsted) and assistant commissioner at the American Dream is to come here and get basically be treated like dirt. lic buildings across the state. And it doesn’t Chicago Department of Public Health. kicked out, then the American Dream is not The final group of people I would like change the fact that most LGBT people in the In September 2015, Oldham was the sub- available to them. to touch base on are poor trans people of state still have zero protections against dis- ject of a six-count indictment for stealing Homeless people are another example of color. I am not just referring to African crimination. If Gov. McCrory thinks anyone is between $10,000-$100,000 from NAPWA, why the American dream is not available Americans. I am referring to anyone who to everyone. There are a number of reasons is not Caucasian. One would like to believe going to fall for this, he has completely un- which later filed chapter 7 bankruptcy. derestimated North Carolinians—and the rest why there are still homeless people in historian James Truslow Adams when said Oldham admitted to charging $11,238 on America. Affordable housing is the most the American Dream was “that dream of of the nation.” a misappropriated NAPWA credit card, but common reason. It practically cost an arm Lambda Legal, the ACLU and the ACLU of did not admit guilt in any other allega- and leg just to live in a studio apartment. Turn to page 30 North Carolina recently filed a lawsuit chal- tions. lenging House Bill 2. The lawsuit argues that Judge Steven G. Salant sentenced Old- through HB 2, North Carolina sends a purpose- ham to five years in jail, but suspended all Breezy Connor is a homeless youth activist who helped coordinate the Windy ful message that LGBT people are second-class but six months. City Times’ LGBTQ Homeless Youth Summit. This is part of a series of columns citizens who are undeserving of the privacy, The Washington Blade article is at Breezi is contributing to Windy City Times. respect, and protections afforded others in http://bit.ly/1Yld3sa. the state. The complaint argues that HB 2 is WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 9 NBA ($195 million), ESPN ($50 million), High Point Market ($143.4 million), Charlotte hotel Report: N.C. law could revenue from potential relocated events ($15.3 million) and 16 events in Raleigh at risk of be- ing canceled ($24 million). cost state $567M These totals do not include several entities The Center for American Progress has distrib- Deutsche Bank ($21.4 million), an unnamed that have announced that they will not do uted an analysis of the potential economic cost tech company expansion in Buncombe County business in North Carolina but do not currently of North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law HB2. ($14.3 million), film company Lionsgate ($3 have events or work planned in the state, in- Based on publicly available estimates of the million), a Bruce Springsteen concert ($0.7 cluding Google Ventures, Fox, A+E Studios and economic impact of lost or at-risk business ac- million), Charlotte hotel revenue lost from Turner Broadcasting. tivity or events, the state’s economy could po- canceled or relocated events ($2.2 million) and The article is at https://www. tentially lose out on more than $567.5 million five canceled, relocated or scaled-back events americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/ in private-sector economic activity through in Raleigh ($0.7 million). news/2016/04/13/135391/north-carolinas- The revenue North Carolina has lost 2018. At-risk businesses/activities include Brae- discriminatory-h-b-2-threatens-more-than- includes profits from a concert by Bruce Among those businesses/activities lost pend- burn Pharmaceuticals ($27.6 million), Red half-billion-dollars-in-economic-activity/. Springsteen (above). ing the law’s repeal are PayPal ($44 million), Ventures ($15.9 million), NCAA ($10 million), Twitter photo

adding that “a growing chorus of voices” was as well. would limit use the use of public bathrooms by Cook County board seeking to boycott North Carolina and Missis- Schneider said that the bills would unfairly LGBT individuals to that of their birth gender. sippi for their oppressive legislation. “I ask penalize North Carolina businesses and resi- In part, he said, “if you are a guy and you go votes to boycott this body to join in this collective voice that is dents who may not have supported the legis- into bathroom with my wife, I’m gonna make N.C., Miss. growing across the country.” lation. Goslin said that a boycott would be a the news. I know there’s three cameras rolling. By Matt Simonette James Bennett, Midwest regional director “bad idea.” I’m gonna whip your tail if you go in there with of Lambda Legal, added, “Pressure, like the The bills are applicable “to the extent prac- my wife while she’s trying to use the bathroom, The Cook County Board of Commissioners, on resolution you’re considering today, is begin- ticable, and in instances where there is no or my granddaughter. That is bologna.” April 13, passed bills boycotting North Carolina ning to work. …We are fortunate to live in a significant additional cost to the County nor Pro-LGBT groups criticized Wright. National and Mississippi for non-vital city business. state where we protect all our citizens. As a conflict with law.” Center for Transgender Equality Executive Di- The bills, sponsored by Commissioner Luis Chicagoan, and a native Illinoisan, I ask that rector Mara Keisling said, “I am shocked that Arroyo Jr., come in response to virulently anti- we extend our values of fairness and justice by Sheriff Wright would threaten police brutality LGBT legislation that was recently passed in supporting these resolutions.” S.C. sheriff makes against South Carolinians for doing something those states. As such, Cook County will not en- Both resolutions passed with relatively little anti-trans speech everyone has to do every day. Transgender ter into new contracts with North Carolina- or comment. All the commissioners who were Conservative podcast Dimsdale Debate people have been using public restrooms that Mississippi-headquartered businesses, nor will present asked to be co-sponsors of the mea- posted a video of Sheriff Chuck Wright talk- match who the gender they live as every day county employees attend conventions or con- sures, except for Republican Commissioners ing about South Carolina’s so-called bathroom across South Carolina without hurting anyone, ferences there. Gregg Goslin and Tim Schneider, who were also bill at the Greenville-Spartanburg Republican and this man is threatening them with physi- Jacob Meister, of The Civil Rights Agenda, the solitary “no” votes; the other two Republi- Women’s meeting at the Pelham-Batesville Fire cal harm.” testified in support of the bills. “We in Illi- can Commissioners were not present. Commis- Department, according to WYFF4.com. The article is at http://www.wyff4.com/ nois enjoy some of the most broad protections sioners John Fritchey and Joan Patricia Murphy, A bill proposed in South Carolina, S. 1203, news/sheriff-wright-bathroom-bill-is-bologna- in the country for LGBT folks,” Meister said, also not present, asked to become co-sponsors only-chicks-should-wear-dresses/38985606.

@windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com

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state Senate President John Cullerton. Gov. Bruce Rauner, on April 13, met with advo- “At a time when legislators and governors Kurt Jones, principal of Lincoln School in cates from and AIDS Founda- across the country are attacking LGBT people Urban Initiatives Englewood and a longtime participant in Urban tion of Chicago to advance a pro-LGBT equality through mean-spirited and hateful policies, it Initiatives programs, talked about the organi- agenda, especially with regards to two current holds fundraiser is imperative that transgender individuals be zation’s commitment to the community. “Part pieces of transgender-related legislation. heard and represented at the state Capitol,” of my job is to deal with nonprofits and filter Advocates encouraged Rauner to sign HB at Sidetrack said Michael Ziri, director of public policy at By Liz Baudler out who’s just there for a picture. Urban Initia- 6073, legislation state Rep. Greg Harris spon- Equality Illinois. “The conversation with the tives is in it for the right reasons,” he said. sored that eases the process by which trans- governor regarding HB 6073 and HB 4474 was Urban Initiatives, a nonprofit that works on Jones said he and his partner met their foster gender Illinoisans can change the gender mark- encouraging.” connecting underserved children to sports and son through Urban Initiatives, and mentioned ers on their birth certificates, according to an “Equality Illinois and our partners are work- healthy lifestyles, held a fundraiser at Side- that the gay sports world could be an impor- April 15 statement. They further encouraged ing hard to share information with our legisla- track, 3349 N. Halsted St., on April 14. Be- tant connection for mentoring kids. “If you the governor to oppose a second transgender- tors about the harm caused by anti-LGBT bills tween networking, donations and appetizers have the heart to mentor a kid, putting your related bill, HB 4474, which state Rep. Thomas such as HB 4474. We are also asking them to from Limelight Catering, friends and members time and value into it, it matters,” he said. Morrison sponsored, that dictates the use of pass the birth certificate bill because having of the organization had plenty to say about its “Urban Initiatives is about coming together restrooms and changing facilities by transgen- updated identification documents is important impact in the Chicago area. as a city, ” said Patrick Croke, from Sidley Aus- der students. to transgender Illinoisans who may face em- In a video put together by the organization, tin LLP. “I dare any one of you to go out and On April 5, HB 6073 was passed to the Il- barrassment, discrimination, and harassment if Executive Director Jim Dower said that Urban not fall in love with these kids.” linois House floor with a vote from the House their core documents do not reflect their au- Initiatives looks to support the whole child. Jordan Lantz, Urban Initiatives’ development Human Services Committee. HB 4474 was, on thentic gender identity,” added Patty Medairy, “When people ask me who our biggest competi- coordinator for individual giving, expressed the the same day, referred without discussion to director of field operations at Equality Illinois. tors are, it’s not the 10,000 other nonprofits. organization’s desire to reach out to the LGBT the Human Services Facilities Subcommittee, It’s the 75,000 gang members in Cook County, community. “Something we very much care which, in turn, re-referred the bill back to the ” said Dower. about is cross community connection,” Lantz House Rules Committee April 8. Leslie Henry, an Urban Initiatives donor, said. “We believe in diversity, and putting Organizational advocates were joined on explained how the organization operates— people from different backgrounds in front of April 13 by numerous citizen advocates tak- Ethiopian Israeli participation in sports is tied to school per- our kids. Having openly gay role models might ing part in meetings for Equality Illinois’ activists to formance—and extolled the benefits of giving make some of them feel safe.” 2016 LGBT Advocacy Day. Community partners kids a supportive community. “Sports helped Lantz, who is new to his role, said he deeply for the day included UP Center of Champaign speak April 25 me be the leader I am today,” said Henry. “It enjoys his role at Urban Initiatives. “I would County, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Rainbow Leaders from KALA—the Hebrew abbre- helped me talk to people and not be shy. It never be able to ask some for money if I didn’t Cafe, Coalition of Rainbow Coalitions (CORAL) viation of Kehila Lahatavit Ethiopit, which helped me realize I might not always win but believe in what the cause was,” he said. and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. translates as “LGBT Ethiopian communi- that I would have to keep going.” Finn DeLima, a transgender student at South- ty”—will speak at a gathering hosted by Jeff Grinspoon and Jon Foley at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 25. The gathering is spon- sored by the organization A Wider Bridge. Israeli LGBT leaders Sarah, Yaniv and Lielshare will discuss their personal stories Family. Friends. as well as the need for KALA. “KALA’s advocacy and fellowship for Is- raeli LGBTQ Ethiopians helps community Community. members manage the duality, and some- times conflicting challenge, of being both LGBTQ and Ethiopian in Israel,” said a statement from A Wider Bridge. “Because Linda Kuczka, Agent We’re all in this together. of the significant cultural sensitivity that 954 W Webster ® exists in the Israeli Ethiopian community, Chicago, IL 60614 State Farm has a long tradition of being there. a part of KALA’s community is still defined Bus: 773-975-9111 That’s one reason why I’m proud to support as confidential in order to safeguard those [email protected] the LGBT community. who have yet to reveal their sexual orienta- Get to a better State®. tion or gender identity.” Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP to awiderbridge.eventbrite.com. The event location (in Lincoln Park) will be Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner. provided with RSVP. 1211007 State Farm, Bloomington, IL Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 11 Communication is key to minority LGBT health, research says By Matt Simonette with open-ended questions, getting people to tell me their story, for example, and [explain] New research highlights the need for LGBT what’s important in their lives,” Chin noted. patients—particularly those with intersecting “Oftentimes, you just follow their lead.” minority identities—to be collaborative with Chin said that the provider’s institution their health providers in making medical deci- can contribute to the process by a number of sions. means, such as ensuring privacy by providing LGBT patients experience numerous health enough space between intake and waiting ar- disparities, and are frequently more reticent eas, and training intake personnel in cultural to access care, due to a lack of understanding competency on LGBT individuals as well as of LGBT issues among health providers, among persons of color. Having records or paperwork other issues. That problem is frequently com- include prompts reminding personnel to ask pounded when the patient is of one or more about potential conditions or treatments was minority identities, according to the research, another example. which was published March 17 in the Journal of “A patient should have an empowered mind- Dr. Marshall Chin with (left) and Magda Houlberg. General Internal Medicine. set,” he added. “Though when someone is sick Photo from Morten “A critical part of improving care for LGBT is when they often feel the least powerful. But people of color is improving communication increasingly, clinicians are being trained that back and forth between patients and providers, there is a value in shared decision-making and Crossroads Fund H. Dyett High School for its efforts to chal- so the papers provide a framework that both patient-empowerment, so we are encouraging lenge the privatization of public education sides bring to the patient encounter,” said co- people to speak up. A clinician knows that they engaged students, parents, educators and honors organizations community residents. Ultimately, the group’s author Marshall Chin, MD, associate chief and can’t take care of a patient unless they have The annual Crossroads Fund Seeds of direct actions successfully pressured Chicago director of research in general medicine at Uni- all the information they need for tailored, in- Change benefit honored three groups with Public Schools and Mayor Rahm Emanuel to versity of Chicago Medicine. “…The whole crux dividualized care that best suits their needs, awards this year: Invisible Institute, Co- reopen the doors of Dyett as a public, open- of the project is to improve decision-making purposes and values.” alition to Revitalize Walter H. Dyatt High enrollment neighborhood high school. between patients and clinicians. Since values School and Black Youth Project 100. The The Lynda J. Tipton Memorial Award for So- and preferences are elicited and respected, op- awards were distributed April 8,at the Chi- cial Justice went to Black Youth Project 100, tions are given to patients, and decisions are cago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. which speaks to the core of what so many made jointly. It becomes crucial to understand Personal PAC The Ron Sable Award for Activism went to youth of color in Chicago and around the each patient’s values and where they are com- Invisible Institute, a journalistic production ing from.” panel April 28 country are experiencing. Through its work, The organization Personal PAC will hold company on the South Side of Chicago, which Chin explained a number of cultural barriers the organization centers a Black, queer, fem- the free panel discussion “Reproductive aims to hold public institutions accountable that might impede communication between inist analysis and stands in solidarity with Rights: The Politics of Race, Class, and makes them a critical asset for movements. LGBT patients with intersecting identities and other local struggles, such as the Dyett Hun- Gender” on Thursday, April 28, 5:30-7 The Donald F. Erickson Synapses Award their providers. ger Strike. p.m., at Weinberg/Newton Gallery, 300 W. went to the Coalition to Revitalize Walter “What’s shared is a general sense that LGBTQ See http://www.crossroadsfund.org/. Superior St., Room 203. folks are ‘different,’” he said. “But other issues The panelists will include Camilla B. can include—in the Asian-American commu- Taylor, counsel for Lambda Legal and Na- nity, for example—the concept of filial piety, tional Marriage Project director from 2010 the duty of the son or daughter to the parents through 2015; state Sen. Toi Hutchinson; or the wider family, and having children and and Ramon Gardenhire, the vice president the continuation of bloodlines. That brings ad- of policy for the AIDS Foundation of Chi- ditional elements of guilt to an LGBT person. cago. Personal PAC President/CEO Terry Another example in Asian-American or Hispan- Cosgrove will moderate. ic communities, is undocumented status—that The panel is part of “Your body is a bat- provides an additional pressure on the ability tleground,” an art exhibition. All of the art to have open communication.” is available for auction to benefit Personal Becoming aware of additional pressures such PAC at paddle8.com/auction/personalpac as these make providers more inclined to cre- until 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 9. ate safe spaces in which patients feel safe to fully disclose their issues. “I like to start

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Family owned and operated. Serving the Chicagoland area for 45 years. 12 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES 20th Day of Silence has thousands of students taking action By Gretchen Rachel Hammond pathy for homosexuality which is wrong. They claim that homosexuals have been routinely si- On April 15, 1996, Maria Pulzetti organized lenced and victimized and don’t have a voice.” 150 of her fellow University of Virginia stu- While Harvey continues to fulminate in uni- dents to take a stand against bullying and form compliance of pharisaic interpretations harassment in a statement against those who of Biblical precepts, GLSEN silently offers facts wished to marginalize LGBTQ individuals and so interspersed with pictures of students each mute their growing chorus of demands to be expressing their unique and wholly individual recognized in a society who wished them to freedom to defy Harvey’s hatred of them. silently disappear. “Four out of five LGBT students were bullied, For Pulzetti and her classmates, the day ren- harassed or assaulted last year,” GLSEN notes. dered society’s desire powerless through visible “80 percent of transgender students don’t feel solidarity around a brilliantly simple plan that safe at school. Many LGBT students say, when used silence as an emphatic voice. they report bullying or assault, nothing is Twenty years later and according to The done.” Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network The effects of such bullying are as indelible (GLSEN)—since 2001, the official organiza- as they are devastating. tional sponsor of the Day of Silence—a world- In a Harris Poll released April 14, more than wide alliance of students from middle school half (52 percent) of all LGBT adults recalled be- to college numbering in the hundreds of thou- ing bullied at school. sands take part in a pledge to “be silent to “Strikingly, by nearly two to one, 37 percent bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bul- of LGBT adults say they encountered cyber bul- lying and harassment in schools.” lying, when compared with 20 percent of all Organizations like the American Civil Liber- adults,” the poll noted. “LGBT adults who have ties Union (ACLU) and Lambda Legal offer their experienced bullying also report higher than notable support to students who want to take average incidents of physical bullying. Three- part. quarters (75 percent) say they have experi- The ACLU sends a letter to the principals and enced physical harm when compared with 68 superintendents of schools and school dis- percent of all respondents. tricts across the nation alerting them to one In Illinois, organizations like the Illinois of the “largest annual student-led actions in Safe Schools Alliance have been fighting to Princess Tiona (right) and friend at The Center of Halsted’s Night of Noise. the country.” make sure something is done even if it is one Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond It offers advice on how a participating stu- school district at a time. Alliance staff mem- dent who hands out “speaking cards” with bers spent April 15 fanned out across the city the reasons for their silence written on them distributing Day of Silence kits put together by President/CEO David can still “meet their academic responsibilities the organization’s youth committee for school More Chicago Munar said, “This is a very important call to without speaking.” Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs). action right now, in the spring, as we head “As evidenced by recent tragedies, awareness The youth committee also developed a cur- meningitis into a very busy summer season, where Chi- of and attention to this issue is needed now riculum designed to spark ongoing discussions cagoans turn out for festivals. There are more than ever,” the ACLU writes. “Because “about bullying, harassment and the silencing cases reported By Matt Simonette many events where individuals are going to students who are targeted for anti-gay or anti- of our various identities.” be in close proximity, including Pride and transgender bullying often do not identify as In Chicago, the Center on Halsted collabo- Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) other summer festivals.” LGBT, the Day of Silence represents a peaceful rated with organizations like the Alliance in officials announced, on April 12, that two Low- and no-cost vaccination locations protest of a problem that affects all students order to conclude the Day of Silence with a tra- more cases of meningococcal meningitis are listed on CDPH’s website at http://bit. no matter their sexual orientation or gender ditional Night of Noise. They opened up third- have been identified in the Chicago area, ly/1Jr8C9M. identity.” floor lobby and Hoover-Leppen Theatre for an and are asking that gay and bisexual men get In case such appeals are met with disdain, evening of art, food, selfie opportunities and vaccinated against the infection. the ACLU goes on to note that “student speech an open mic. free-for-all of poetry, song and The two infected individuals were linked to HIV-to-HIV organ that promotes the fair and equal treatment of declarations of individual empowerment. the same serogroup that infected seven oth- LGBT people is constitutionally protected po- Jezibel is a sophomore—part of a group of transplants er people between May and July of last year. litical speech.” students from Lake View High School who were One of those seven individuals died from the Meanwhile Lambda Legal is on hand to in- setting their artistic creativity towards a Day performed infection. In all nine cases, the patients were In what some have called a groundbreak- form students about their right to participate of Silence poster. men who have sex with men (MSM). The 2015 ing development, Johns Hopkins University in the Day of Silence and the remedies avail- “I know a lot of people who have been af- episodes sparked an aggressive push from surgeons performed liver and kidney trans- able to them if they meet with opposition from fected negatively by not being able to talk out CDPH to get Chicago gay and bisexual men plants from an HIV-positive donor to HIV- teachers or principals. about their sexuality and how they feel espe- vaccinated. positive recipients. “If a public school wants to restrict student cially to their families,” Jezibel told Windy City African-Americans, MSM and HIV-positive The HIV Organ Policy Equity Act—which expression because it fears disruption, school Times. “So I have a personal connection with MSM are most disproportionately affected President Obama signed into law in 2013— officials have to show facts that reasonably the Day of Silence. It’s a very important day by this current outbreak, said CDPH Commis- allows HIV-positive donors to donate organs lead them to believe that the speech will cause because were supporting everyone who can’t sioner Julie Morita, MD, in a press confer- to patients infected with the AIDS-causing a substantial disruption to the school,” Lamb- talk out about it.” ence. virus, Dr. Dorry Segev said. Segev—a profes- da Legal notes. “A school can’t just assume Princess Tiona was among the adults who had “All gay and bisexual men in Chicago sor of surgery and director of the epidemi- that the Day of Silence, or speech related to it, come to express solidarity with the students. should get vaccinated if they have not re- ology research group in organ transplanta- will disrupt the school.” “I care a great deal about children so I think ceived a vaccine in the past five years,” she tion—added that until the law was changed, While Lambda Legal and the ACLU offer both that it’s good that we’re trying to figure out added. MSM with HIV should get two doses, thousands of HIV-positive patients risked legal rationale and remedies, GLSEN provides what we can do to better them,” Tiona said. “It spaced about eight weeks apart, in order for death by waiting for donated organs. the emotional cause. seems like they single the LGBT community out the vaccine to work most effectively. HIV-positive patients can opt to accept an Its 2016 video Whose Side Are You On opens for the most violent attacks. It just isn’t right.” “In general, this infection can affect peo- organ from a non-HIV-infected donor, poten- with a statement from vitriolic anti-LGBT radio “This is a celebration of breaking the silence ple of any type, not just gay and bisexual tially cutting their waiting time for a trans- talk show host Linda Harvey. Her organization and being proud and here as who you are,” Cen- men,” Morita said. “[But] this particular out- plant, said Dr. Christine Durand, an assistant Mission America has been designated by the ter Youth Program Clinician Kim Vachon stated. break is affecting disproportionately African- professor of medicine and oncology at Hop- Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a hate “The protest is important but the celebration American, gay and bisexual men, and [MSM] kins. Durand also said that organ transplants group. aspect is as well. It’s so poignant at this mo- with HIV. This disease is transmitted through involving seropositive individuals carries There is a reason for that. ment to be visible so the world can feel that saliva, so sharing glasses, cigarettes, kiss- risks such as the possibility that the donor “The Day of Silence has become a central statement that we are not hiding, ashamed or ing—those types of interactions increase the has drug-resistant HIV. showpiece in this homosexual agenda in our silent.” opportunity for spreading it.” schools,” Harvey states. “It encourages sym-

@windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 13 TRAILS from cover Family] was doing a witch hunt on the LGBT He’s been transcribing his findings from the When the second leg of his journey is com- community. They had removed a two-month- notebook along the way. “I want to get a data pleted, Wilkins said, he wants to keep going, inspired by an acquaintance who was walking old baby from a lesbian home and placed the team on board, because I know a bunch of perhaps through northern states he has missed. across the country in anticipation of climbing child in the home of a [Topeka] city council them from mobile-marketing, and then try to “I’m not going to lie, I’d like to keep travel- Mount Everest. member, who had 16 kids in the house who put these numbers together. …That’s why it’s ing,” he added. “I’d like to keep going around “I researched people who had walked across were biological, adopted and fostered. His wife so important to pick the right organizations to and visiting these places, and try to figure out the country before,” he said. “One kid was 12 was pregnant again at the time. They both were talk to. I’ve been able to connect directors of a place that would allow me to keep doing it.” when he did it in 2009, and used social media arrested and jailed for child abuse, so all those programs with each other, just by the inter- Wilkins’ fundraising site is at https://www. to talk about programs that helped homeless kids went back into foster care. That baby for- views and hearing them talk. That’s one good gofundme.com/x3a2kc3k. youth. So I kind of piggy-backed off his plat- tunately went back to the lesbian couple. It’s a thing that’s going to be able to come out of form and decided that the best way for me to privatized state.” this.” bring awareness to what I was finding out— that there was no clear line of regulations ‘Engendering Change’ across the country for these youth—would be to contact organizations in every state that confab April 23 had successful programs or a relevant voice.” The University of Illinois at Chicago Wilkins has been interviewing officials (UIC) is hosting the Engendering Change from the programs and highlighting his find- conference on Saturday, April 23, at 750 ings through various social media platforms. S. Halsted St. He keeps a handwritten notebook filled with Engendering Change is a graduate stu- his findings. “I’m a bad writer,” he admitted, dent conference for students working in laughing. “But I’m a good interviewer, and I gender and sexuality, this year with a focus know how to pick the right people.” on racial and gender justice. Rod Ferguson He carries all his belongings in his backpack, is the keynote and will be speaking on which weighs about 40 pounds and which he’s “Street Transvestite Action Revolutionar- nicknamed “Wilson,” after Tom Hanks’ volley- ies and the Intersectional History of Gay ball in the film Castaway. Most nights he sleeps Liberation.” in a small tent, which he usually posts behind For more information, see Engender- a large sign or someplace else where he can ingChange2016.wordpress.com. remain conspicuous. When the weather is really bad, he’ll spring for a cheap motel. ‘Garden of Eve’ Stories of LGBT youth and LGBT families are unsurprisingly common in Wilkins’ interviews, April 29 at Ignite Howard Brown Health will hold its annual he said. In the first interview he did, a Virginia From Chicago House’s 2015 Spring Brunch. “Garden of Eve” party on Friday, April 29, official told him there was no data available Photo by Ed Negron on LGBT youth in that state’s system. That 6-10 p.m., at Ignite Glass Studios, 401 N. omission had serious repercussions, since LGBT Armour St. youths would sometimes be removed from or Partygoers will enjoy cocktails and heavy Chicago House’s annual spring brunch May 1 kicked out of a home by intolerant parents, appetizers, a silent auction and avant- Chicago House’s 2016 spring brunch and fashion show will take place Sunday, May 1, at then end up in a home with equally intolerant garden themed decor by Kehoe Designs. In Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N. Morgan St. foster parents. addition to the Early 2 Bed pop-up shop, Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., with the brunch/fashion show commencing at 11:45 a.m. Wilkins’ interview questions vary from state attendees will also be treated to a night of This year’s event takes on a special meaning, as it will also serve as a farewell to Executive to state. Some states are harder on youths than dance music courtesy of Slo ‘Mo. Director the Rev. Stan Sloan. others, he said. Tickets are $75-$200 each; see Howard- Tickets are $200-$300 each, with admission covering pre-brunch cocktails, art and flower “When I got to Kansas, it was pretty bad,” Brown.org. markets, and complimentary valet parking. See ChicagoHouse.org. he recalled. “Their [Department of Children and

Friday, April 29 Ignite Glass Studios

get your tickets WWW.EVE.GESTURE.COM Dance • party • support 14 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES “Are you related? Do they live in your neigh- “When thinking about youth, or any part of borhood? Do you encounter them in your work? our communities that justice requires a very Do you share an ethnic or racial identity? Are different set of resources than a majority, they U.S. Citizens? Are they your age?” Hendrix imagination becomes very important,” Hendrix asked. “When you think of queer youth, who concluded. “We must imagine more broadly are you thinking of?” about other options that are available.” Hendrix added that each of the organizations For more information on Gender JUST, he presented “presume certain answers to these visit http://genderjust.wix.com/genderjust. questions and the capacity for which these or- For more information on The Chicago Free- ganizations are foundationally prepared to pro- dom School, visit http://chicagofreedom- vide intersectional support depends upon who school.org. they envision themselves serving.”

tice Delayed,” in the non-daily Best Editorial Writing category. Winners of the awards will be announced later this spring. Emanuel, CDPH unveil health plan Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago De- partment of Public Health (CDPH) announced a new four-year plan that aims to improve the health and well-being of Chicagoans. Healthy Chicago 2.0 is composed of strat- egies for CDPH and its partners to address health disparities facing some neighborhoods and communities. Building on 2011’s Healthy Julian Hendrix of Gender JUST. Chicago plan, the new strategies outlined in Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond the plan address traditional health issues as well as systemic issues associated with poor health, including housing, education and transportation. Gender JUST collaborative CDPH will also hold a series of town hall Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia meetings during May (including at Lake Garza. View’s Center on Halsted on Wed., May 4) examines radical solutions Courtesy of the Chicago Humanities Festival to engage residents in the implementation of the plan. Residents will be able to learn to transgender issues NCLR to honor Black about the plan and ways they can become more involved in improving the health of Lives Matter their neighborhoods. By Gretchen Rachel Hammond Rights Campaign for instance—literally thrown More information is at http://www.cityof- under the bus,” Nair said. “But now trans is a co-founders chicago.org/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/ On the cusp of celebrating a decade’s worth big deal because that’s a big funding category.” The National Center for Lesbian Rights healthychicago/news/2016/march/mayor- of work creating “new generations of critical “It’s a great opportunity,” Nair added. “It’s (NCLR) will honor the co-founders of Black emanuel-announces-comprehensive-four- and independent thinking young people who a great moment in time that finally people are Lives Matter, an 8-year-old transgender boy year-plan-to-improve-.html. use their unique experiences and power to cre- accepting that trans issues are important and and a lesbian mother at its 2016 anniver- ate a just world,” The Chicago Freedom School, need to be funded, but we’ve also had very sary celebration on Saturday, May 7, in San located in Chicago’s South Loop, served as a specific experiences with the nonprofit indus- Francisco. Rutherford in tailor-made donated venue for members of the trial complex, especially in Chicago, that we Black Lives Matter co-founders Alicia Gar- grassroots multiracial, multigenerational col- know interest in trans issues is very cynical and za, Patrisse Kahn-Cullors and Opal Tometi travel business lective Gender JUST to hold an April 16 open determined not so much in terms of actually will receive the Justice Award. Garza has Former Illinois Treasurer, state Rep. and forum. The event focused on ideas regarding working with trans people in the trans com- called Black Lives Matter “an ideological and state Sen. Dan Rutherford is in a different access of trans youth to the restrooms with munity, but with organizations who are taking political intervention in a world where Black business altogether these days: travel. which they identify while also exploring a a slice of the pie.” lives are systematically and intentionally Rutherford heads the Pontiac, Illinois- starting point for radical solutions to LGBTQ Recalling the recent legal fight waged in the targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of based Global Relations Travel Club. He has youth homelessness. suburb of Palatine’s Township School District Black folks’ contributions to this society, our traveled to all seven continents and many According to their literature, the members of 211 between the District’s Board and a high humanity, and our resilience in the face of countries, including Tibet, Kenya and Brazil. Gender JUST encompass an extensive range of school student who wanted to use the chang- deadly oppression.” He is also a master scuba diver. “gender and sexual identities, skills, cultures, ing room matching her authentic gender, Gran- NCLR worked closely with Ryland Whit- Global Relations will head to Cuba May abilities, citizenship status educational back- berry listed some of the questions that emerged tington, an 8-year-old transgender boy who 21-28. Only club members may go on trips; grounds and income levels.” from what became one of the first public and won the hearts of millions when his parents, membership is $29/year. Founded in 2007, the collective seeks not media-saturated battles over the rights of trans Jeff and Hillary, shared his journey through a See http://www.globalrelations.us/home. only to smash capitalism but, among other individuals to perform a basic human function YouTube video. Ryland will receive the Cour- html or email DanRutherford@GlobalRela- metamorphic goals, to “transform queer com- in a society that wants to set them apart and age Award. tions.US. munities by abolishing hierarchies” and “sup- criminalize them. Lastly, Tiara Yates and her family will re- port a multi-dimensional and powerful move- “How do we envision frameworks for trans ceive the Courage Award. Yates (with wife ment and promote community-based solutions liberation beyond legal frameworks?” Granberry Sheena) went through the court system to that are accountable to those most vulnerable wondered. “Focusing on community resources be legally recognized as one of her children’s to institutional violence and harm.” and social institutional responses to these second parent. Three Gender JUST members—Yasmin Nair, populations is where a more radical strategy More information about the Anniver- Julian Hendrix and Kendall Granberry—led the exists.” sary Celebration is at www.NCLRights. “Are The Kids Alright?” discussion attended by However, as illustrated by Gender JUST, not org/2016Anniversary. a group of students, activists and community all institutions in the nonprofit arena are ap- representatives from a full spectrum of ages, proaching the issue and that of youth home- gender identities and racial backgrounds. lessness from a passionate sense of social WCT receives two There were no divisions to be found among justice. The bottom line in an organization’s Lisagor Award nods any of them as the afternoon progressed and mission sometimes comes down to the size of The annual Chicago Headline Club journal- suggestions were raised in keeping with the its wallet and how to increase or justify the ism nominations have been announced, and collective’s goal, which Nair stated, to “be a budget needed to fill it. Windy City Times newspaper has received two cognitive movement that becomes a place Hendrix examined the queer youth homeless- nominations for the group’s annual Peter Lis- where LGBTQ people can think about what radi- ness work of three Chicago-based nonprofits— agor Awards. cal alternatives are to what’s going on in the The Howard Brown Health Center (HBDC) and Gretchen Rachel Hammond is nominated community.” its Broadway Youth Center (BYC) program, The in the non-daily category for Best In-Depth To that end, Nair noted how trans issues have Puerto Rican Cultural Center project El Rescate Reporting in a Community Newspaper, for her suddenly been thrust center-stage—both for and Project Fierce. article, “Transgender woman release from jail good and for ill, she noted. Hendrix took an in-depth look at each or- after nearly 4 years without trial,” about the “A lot of that is sincere, especially on the ganization’s history, funding and services and Eisha Love case. part of the trans community, which has needed how they have answered some fundamental Hammond and Tracy Baim are also up for a Dan Rutherford. resources for a very long time and which has, questions that include the shared identities of jointly written editorial about the case, “Jus- Archival campaign photo in the past, been marginalized by the Human queer, gender nonconforming and trans youth. WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 15 Tiny Home Summit responds to homelessness

A full-scale model of the tiny home design that won a recent contest for housing for youth experiencing homelessness in Chicago was on display in advance of the April 18-19 Tiny Homes for the Homeless Summit at UIC. Architects Marty Sandberg, Lon Stousland and Terry Howell designed the winning model, selected among almost 300 entries in a compe- tition. Price Construction built the model. The competition was organized by AIA Chica- go, the AIA Chicago Foundation, Landon Bone Baker Architects, Windy City Times, and Pride Action Tank. Funding for the competition was provided by the Alphawood Foundation. The Pride Action Tank, a project of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and the Windy City Times, along with lead sponsor Polk Bros. Foundation, joined by UIC’s Gender and Sexu- ality Center and Alphawood Foundation, are summit hosts. Tracy Baim, publisher of Windy City Times and co-chair of the Pride Action Tank, is chairperson of the summit. Above: The winning tiny home design. Below: Price Construction, the father-daughter team of Mallory Price (left) and her father David Price For summit info, see visit ChicagoTinyHomes. (center) with the architects of the winning tiny home design: Marty Sandberg, Lon Stousland and Terry Howell. org. Photos by Hal Baim and Tracy Baim

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The 2016 Dick Uyvari Memorial Celebrity Bowl is sponsored by Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, 3712 N. Broadway, #637, Chicago, IL, 60613-4235; www.GLHallofFame.org. Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) Illinois not-for-profit corporation. SPONSORS: Sam Coady, Phil Hannema, Michael Leppen, Richard Pfeiffer and Timothy K. Frye, Bill Pry, Richard Turner Proudly LGBT-owned and -operated A pioneer in LGBT research, founded in 1992 Your information is confidential, used for research purposes only. You will not be contacted for marketing purposes. NGLCC-Certified LGBT Owned Business Enterprise Celebrating 15 Years

2001-2016 Morten Group Sponsors list still in formation 16 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES Gay former Chicago couple reflect on Candypants, five-decade relationship By Carrie Maxwell eled to San Francisco to participate in the Summer of Love, took part in the late 1960s During the Chicago blizzard of 1967, David protests, including the Chicago Riots and as- Sanderson and Lee Brady met each other at a sisted the Black Panthers in their work, both house party and shortly after that Sanderson financially and on the ground. They also cre- began wooing Lee, who wasn’t fully out at the ated a children’s theater touring company that time. They’ll celebrate their 50th anniversary they named The Puck Players and performed at as a couple next year. Chicago Public Elementary Schools across the The couple’s claim to fame is Candypants ed- city, including in low-income areas. ible underwear. They also forged a friendship In 1975, the couple invented Candypants and with the late David Bowie during the 1980s and formed the company Cosmorotics, Inc. to sell participated in a variety of social justice and the product. They’ve since sold the company. political causes over the years. “We never realized we were in the process of Sanderson (68 years of age) was born in Or- creating something that came from my older egon, Illinois, while Brady (72) was born in La- brother saying to me ‘eat my shorts’ as an al- Salle, Illinois. Prior to moving to Miami Beach ternative to swearing,” said Sanderson. “Years in 1991 and then Wilton Manors, Florida, the later the two of us, along with some friends, couple lived in Chicago for more than 25 years. were talking about various colloquiums includ- They were married last year in Florida. ing eat my shorts and that’s how we came up David Sanderson (left) and Lee Brady in 2015. When Sanderson came out as a teenager his with edible underwear. Photo courtesy of the couple parents disowned and disinherited him and “We met Tokyo Rose when she owned Toguri threw him out of the house. Al Capone’s neph- J Mercantile Co, on Belmont. She introduced ew, Jimmy Capone, whom Sanderson had been us to edible rice paper and that allowed us to said Brady. “We appealed the decision and won with Aretha Franklin’s son Teddy White, John dating, assisted Sanderson after he was kicked make the pants entirely edible as well as func- the second time around.” Waite and Julian Lennon.” out of his parent’s house. Sanderson’s parents tional to wear.” Candypants was featured in two U.S. Supreme “We got involved with the whole rock ‘n’ roll eventually accepted him and his relationship The first person to buy their product was a Court cases over First Amendment rights: Screw world,” said Sanderson. “We’re still very close with Brady. female student at the University of Indiana and magazine and the public access cable TV show with Carlos and his wife Robin Clark. Robin had It took Brady becoming friends with his the school’s newspaper wrote a story about it. Midnight Blue in New York City. a connection with Luther Vandross whom we neighbors, who happened to be gay, for him to Twenty-four hours after the story was pub- “When we won the first Supreme Court case, became close friends with until his death.” embrace his sexuality. lished, it was picked up by the wire services Christie Hefner called us to congratulate us,” When asked why they don’t have any pictures “We lived next door to Pearl Hart and her and went around the world. said Brady. “We were already friends and at the of themselves with Bowie, Brady noted that girlfriend Valerie Taylor on Pine Grove for a From that point on, Candypants orders came time she was battling the morality police over they didn’t want to be like fans and ask to take time and talked to them as neighbors,” said in from all corners of the world and they were Playboy and was happy that we won our case.” pictures with him. Sanderson. “We also lived on North Crilly Court, featured in newspapers and on TV news pro- One of the ads they created for Candypants Both Brady and Sanderson remember Bowie which also happens to be the street where grams. is in the Museum of Sex and Design in Manhat- as a kind man who brought a London and Man- lived when he created the Society “We submitted our name to the U.S. Patent tan. The ad will be used by a branding com- hattan sensibility to Chicago. for Human Rights. He’d already died before we and Trade Office to trademark the name and at pany, Base Designs, for a 20-foot-by-20-foot “He gave people the courage to express moved there.” first they refused to approve it because the two billboard. themselves, was very fluid himself and often Shortly after becoming a couple; they trav- words were mutually exclusive in their minds,” A documentary is also in production about kissed us affectionately,” said Sanderson. the couple—Candypants: The Film—directed “When we first met him it was like a cosmic by Francis Gasparini and produced by Gasparini wind blew through me. He wasn’t aloof or con- and Austin Wilkin. It will be released in 2017. ceited. He appreciated Chicago’s music scene “They came down and did five days of in- with its blues and gospel roots. Unfortunately terviews with us about five months ago,” said our friendship with him waned as he stopped Brady. “They’re both straight men and hap- touring and visiting Chicago. Robin and Carlos pened to hear a radio show we did for an NPR kept us up to speed on what Bowie was doing station in Los Angeles, KCRW, on Valentine’s when they visited us in Florida.” Day in 2015 where we talked about Candypants They did learn that Bowie had remembered for their ‘good food’ episode.” their friendship through mutual friends who Throughout the 1970s, the couple attended went backstage after one of his concerts in the all of David Bowie’s Chicago area concerts and United Kingdom. were, as they call it, “his fanboys.” “I’ll remember David for his perseverance and Carlos Alomar, one of Bowie’s band members the fact that he was open and aware of every- who knew the photographer for the initial ad thing around him,” said Sanderson. “He took campaign for Candypants, asked if he could little bits from everything he saw, heard and bring Bowie over to the couple’s Lincoln Park read and put them together like a puzzle. David West penthouse after one of his concerts. A was a nice, kind man.” number of friends were also present including “David was extremely well read and his mind Christina Ranallo and her husband. This was was constantly moving,” said Brady. “His lyrics the first time the couple met Bowie and after were always socially relevant.” that they became friends with him. They’re also among the many people included “We had meals with him, went backstage at in the Chicago Gay History archives project, his concerts and were invited to his recording created by Windy City Times publisher Tracy sessions here in Chicago,” said Sanderson. Baim. “It was fascinating to watch him record in “We feel really blessed to have been a part of the booth and then come out to the mixing this project,” said Brady. board and produce the song right on the spot,” “I wish more people knew about it though,” said Brady. “When he would come over we’d sit said Sanderson. on the balcony and he’d remark at how magnif- When asked how they would describe them- icent Chicago was, especially its architecture. selves, Sanderson said he has a lot of imagi- We’d have long, long conversations. He had a nation and creativity while Brady said he’s an wonderful sense of humor. adventure seeker. “Our friendship with him lasted for about a As for the current state of LGBT life, both decade. When we moved to Florida, David had politically and in entertainment, Brady noted stopped touring and was getting into produc- that things have changed for the better due to ing, so our friendship waned. We’re still friends shows like Will & Grace, while Sanderson said David Sanderson (sitting) and Lee Brady (with head in David’s lap) in 1967. with his band members who also toured with there will be a day when being LGBT is a non- Photo courtesy of the couple other people so that’s how we became friends issue—but maybe not in his lifetime. WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 17 without shutting people down.” Kaplan-Perkins said there are nuances be- Chat focuses on volunteerism, tween being an ally, advocate and activist. She also noted that giving money to causes international activism is important. In terms of the LGBTQ community, “how you By Carrie Maxwell “The goal of the two series is to help audi- are seen is how out you are [as an LGBTQ per- ences feel more closely connected to the mov- son],” said Kaplan-Perkins. “At this point in my “E Pluribus Unum” “(“Out of many, one”) was ers and shakers of the LGBTQ community,” said life, I lead with being a lesbian, so any work the latest in a series of monthly chats with Fortman. I do as advocate/activist is as an out lesbian. local LGBTQ and allied leaders the Center on When Fortman asked how they came to do … Our last names showing up together as a Halsted (the Center) has held since February. the work they do, Kaplan-Perkins replied that lesbian couple is a really powerful statement The April 13 chat focused on international ac- she arrived at her current position accidental- [to the wider world].” tivism and volunteerism as an LGBTQ person, ly. She said after graduating from college she As for whether leading with a queer identity specifically in places where LGBTQ people fear started volunteering at a peace museum and it has affected the work they do, both Kaplan- overt and lawful discrimination. was there that she met Marianne Philbin, the Perkins and Bluemling said it hasn’t. Travis Bluemling (Central Region diversity soon-to-be executive director of the Chicago Kaplan-Perkins said she first came out to recruiter for Peace Corps) and Jackie Kaplan- Foundation for Women (CFW). Kaplan-Perkins Schakowsky when she was working for her, not- Perkins (Human Rights Watch director) were was hired by Philbin as a special-events plan- ing she couldn’t have asked for a better experi- the featured speakers while Andrew Fortman ner, and she stayed there for six years. From left: Travis Bluemling, Jackie Kaplan- ence. (the Center’s community and cultural programs During her time at CFW, Kaplan-Perkins met Perkins and Andrew Fortman. Bluemling explained that each Peace Corps director) moderated. Schakowsky and that meeting led to her job Photo by Carrie Maxwell applicant approaches being of the Bluemling was a Peace Corps volunteer from with her campaign. While working on the cam- closet differently. He said there are more re- 2010-2012 teaching English as a foreign lan- paign, Kaplan-Perkins said she was also active lish from 2010-2012. sources now including diversity training and guage at a rural high school in East Java, Indo- with Horizons Community Services and that’s “Joining the Peace Corps was the best deci- an LGBTQ employee resource group, Spectrum, nesia. While in service, he also helped fundraise where she met her wife—Ann Perkins (now sion I ever made,” said Bluemling. within the Peace Corps. He also noted that he and build a two-in-one sports facility for both Ann Kaplan-Perkins). Kaplan-Perkins explained Fortman asked what activism means to them only recently came out to his host brother, who soccer and basketball and two sand volleyball that working for American Jewish World Service in general and on an international level. was very supportive. courts. Bluemling later joined the staff of the (AJWS), which focuses on the disenfranchise- Bluemling explained that he had to stay When asked what things impact the work Peace Corps as diversity recruiter in Dec. 2014. ment of women and LGBTQ people outside of closeted while in service, since Indonesia has a they do on an international level the most, Prior to becoming director of Human Rights the United States, got her thinking about in- large Muslim population and isn’t LGBT-friend- both Bluemling and Kaplan-Perkins noted the Watch—Chicago and the Midwest in February ternational human-rights issues. It was through ly—adding that he felt safe the entire time he cultural difference and language barriers. 2015, Kaplan-Perkins worked for among other her AJWS work that she was approached by the was in the country. In terms of the LGBTQ movement post-na- places the Chicago Foundation for Women and Human Rights Watch. “It was interesting because I had a chance to tionwide marriage equality, Kaplan-Perkins said as campaign finance director for U.S. Rep. Jan “There was nothing about that 22-year-old be an advocate for my students without com- that fight took a lot of resources away from Schakowsky’s congressional campaign. She also that ever thought about any of these issues,” ing out myself,” said Bluemling. “I wouldn’t other LGBTQ issues, including stuff happening served on the board of Horizons Community said Kaplan-Perkins. say I’m an activist.” both domestically and internationally. Services, now known as the Center. Bluemling explained that his youth was very Bluemling also noted that, while he didn’t “The largest donors to our [Human Rights Ahead of introducing both panelists, Fort- sports-focused and, like many people in this come out to his students or the community Watch] LGBTQ work come from outside the man noted the previous chats which focused country, he lived in a suburban bubble until where he lived, he did come out to Peace Corps U.S.,” she said. on Black identities and the LGBTQ experience he moved to New York City after graduating staff in Jakarta a few months after arriving in Bluemling noted that the Peace Corps has in Feb. and the lack of spaces for queer women college. Teach for America didn’t work out but the country. been supportive of same-sex couples serving in March as well as the Center’s performance- Bluemling did get an interview with the Peace “It was my proudest moment,” said Bluem- together prior to the marriage equality ruling based Limelight series. He also explained that Corps recruiter. Bluemling said, at first, he was ling. “They were supportive but had a lot of The event ended with Fortman asking both April is National Volunteer Month and the ways slated to go to Sierra Leone but his assignment questions, like, ‘How do you know?’ It’s impor- panelists a series of lighthearted, rapid-fire one can participate as a global volunteer. was moved to Indonesia, where he taught Eng- tant to be able to respond to these questions questions.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s hit Broadway musical OPENS APRIL 29 is coming to the iconic Civic Opera House!

Two performances A cast featuring Broadway’s on Mother’s Day! brightest will delight with (1:30pm & 6:30pm) one familiar song after another: Shall We Dance? Getting to Know You Something Wonderful Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I Music by RICHARD RODGERS Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II ...and more! Based on “Anna and the King of Siam” by Margaret Landon Original Orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett Original Dance Arrangements by Trude Rittmann Original Choreography by Jerome Robbins

The King and I production created by the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, on June 13, 2014. General Director: Jeanluc Choplin. Photo: Todd Rosenberg The King and i pRoduction SponSoRS 312.827.5600 the negaunee two anonyMouS RobeRt S. and SuSan e. Foundation donoRS MoRRiSon LYRICOPERA.ORG 18 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES viewpoints “legitimate fears that people have about their Again, none of this was true, as a wealth of WINDY safety.” Yet hundreds of similar nondiscrimi- research before and after “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” nation measures are in place across America, concluded. (Some of it was buried by those op- and law enforcement officials have reported no posed to change.} CITY surge in bathroom victimization as a result. A 2003 Palm Center study found that the ex- Nathaniel Sprigg and company borrowed their playbook perience of military and paramilitary organiza- FRANK from a successful effort in Houston last year. tions that lifted their gay bans showed that With a ballot measure, voters there repealed a “cohesion, morale, recruitment, retention and TIMES nondiscrimination ordinance after a campaign privacy will be preserved or even enhanced” by VOL. 31, No. 30, April 20, 2016 How to stamp that included an ominous television ad show- ending policies that required gay people to lie The combined forces of Windy City Times, ing a man in a dress following a little girl into about their identities or stay out of uniform. founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, out the transgender a bathroom stall. Other scholars noted that, all across the globe, founded May 1987. As the New York Times reported, the ballot people in various contexts that might seem ‘bathroom panic’ measure fight was turned “from one about erotic (especially when social conservatives PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR equal rights to one about protecting women insisted on eroticizing them) in fact developed Tracy Baim This article originally appeared in The Los and girls from sexual predators.” The anti-dis- an “etiquette of disregard.” In doctor’s offices, Angeles Times. crimination ordinance lost, 61 percent to 39 in military barracks, in locker rooms and rest- ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis percent. rooms, most people simply finished their busi- ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matt Simonette Social conservatives in North Carolina used a Fear-mongering against gay and transgender ness and ignored those around them. Those BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine familiar playbook when they helped pass a dra- people is a time-tested strategy, despite plenty who had predicted disaster were spectacularly DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright conian law restricting which restrooms trans- of evidence that there is nothing to fear but wrong. ART DIRECTOR/NIGHTSPOTS EDITOR Kirk Williamson gender people can use. The tactic was fear: SENIOR REPORTER Gretchen Rachel Hammond fear itself. But no amount of evidence seems capable of Senior Account Executives Terri Klinsky, Kirk They whipped up anxieties about modesty and Such fear mongering against gays and trans- stopping the fear strategy. The Rand Corp. has Williamson, Amy Matheny, Chris Cheuvront, Gretchen vulnerability in public restrooms until they gender people is a time-tested strategy, de- completed a new study on transgender military Rachel Hammond, Scott Duff, Freddie Bain created full-fledged “bathroom panic” over spite plenty of evidence that there is nothing service concluding, unsurprisingly, that end- NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 victimization by sexual predators. This week, SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Tony Peregrin, Lisa to fear but fear itself. In the battle for mar- ing discrimination against transgender troops Keen, Yasmin Nair with banks, businesses and Bruce Springsteen riage equality, the nation was told time and will not harm military readiness. The Pentagon THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan announcing boycotts to protest the discrimina- again that marriage itself, along with the has neither released the study nor met its own CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight Jr. tory law, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory an- American family, would be imperiled if same- deadline for reviewing the policy. Sen. James SPORTS WRITER Ross Forman nounced half-measures to try to dampen the ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS sex couples were allowed to marry. “Freedom M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), who wrongly predicted Mary Shen Barnidge, Lawrence Ferber, Mel Ferrand, backlash, but he did nothing to alter the de- will be taken away,” said one infamous 2009 that openly gay military service would “com- Jerry Nunn, Jonathan Abarbanel ception inherent in bathroom panic. ad titled “Gathering Storm.” Religion would be plicate things” and “make it very difficult for COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Jorjet Harper, The North Carolina law, House Bill 2, took aim destroyed because the clergy would be forced us to take care of the troops,” is now opposing Charlsie Dewey, Carrie Maxwell, Billy Masters, Sarah at an ordinance that was about to go into effect Toce, Dana Rudolph, Melissa Wasserman, Joe Franco, to conduct same-sex weddings, no matter their service by transgender troops because—guess Nick Patricca, Liz Baudler, Rex Wockner, Marie J. in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte City convictions. Yet none of these doomsday sce- what—he can’t understand which bathrooms Kuda, Angelique Smith, Meghan Streit Council had voted to prohibit discrimination narios has come to pass. they would use. And Elaine Donnelly, presi- SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Mel Ferrand, Hal Baim, Tim against gay and transgender people in public The particular terrors that fueled the cam- dent of the Center for Military Readiness, who Carroll, Ed Negron WEBSITE LISTINGS VOLUNTEER Gene Naden accommodations and by government contrac- paigns in Houston and North Carolina have had earlier wrongly predicted that openly gay tors, expanding an existing law that protected an even longer history. In the debate over troops would drive away one-quarter of the other minorities. In response, the state legis- military, is now predicting that transgender CIRCULATION “don’t ask, don’t tell,” opponents of openly CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright lature invalidated the ordinance and seized the gay service spent decades fanning the flames service will increase sexual assaults. DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Sue and opportunity to target transgender people using of anxiety about straight recruits sharing quar- Voters should see these kinds of fear-based Victor the crudest—and most baseless—of fears: “No ters—sharing showers!—with known gays and charges for what they are—a cynical, angry WEB HOSTING: LoveYourWebsite.com (lead men in women’s bathrooms.” . At one point, senators held congres- and wildly inaccurate response to LGBT people programmer: Martie Marro) When McCrory signed HB2 into law, he sional hearings in the bowels of a nuclear sub- gaining equal rights. In the barracks and at the Copyright 2016 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media claimed he was protecting the “basic expec- marine to infuse the news cycle with fright- marriage altar and in the bathroom, equality Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). tation of privacy in the most personal of set- ening images of the compromised privacy of for sexual minorities does not cause harm to Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, tings” and acting to stop a “radical breach of military life. The message was clear: In such others. and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. trust and security.” Peter Sprigg of the con- conditions, gay people were not to be trusted, Nathaniel Frank is the director of the What All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy servative Family Research Council defended unit cohesion could not be maintained and an We Know Project at Columbia Law School. He City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned the need to force transgender people into rest- for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing inclusive policy would be a clear and present is completing a book on the history of the and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, rooms aligned with their birth gender by citing danger to the United States. marriage-equality fight. cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City 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 [email protected] Sending a message cases, enacted) is simply unacceptable. ties—all of which our communities depend on Recently, North Carolina went further than for sustainability. Finally, it undermines the www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com podcast: WindyCityQueercast.com Art Director’s Guild, CAA, National Association any state has gone by passing a bill that was core values of the companies we represent and immediately signed by the state’s governor, re- those of a majority of this nation’s most suc- of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), Netf- WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, lix, SAG-AFTRA, Univision and Viacom all under- voking important protections for LGBT people cessful and profitable businesses. 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL, 60640 U.S.A signed the below open letter from GLAAD that previously secured at the local level. This new Let us be clear. Entertainment is not just one (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) sends a message to governors and state legisla- legislation asserts that state law overrides all of our nation’s most powerful economic drivers; local ordinances addressing employment, wag- it’s also one of our greatest cultural exports to Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. tors that anti-LGBT legislation is not congruent Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. with their values. The letter appeared in Variety. es or public accommodations. the rest of the world. As leaders charged with OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE Meanwhile, more than 100 other bills target- making a difference in your cities, towns, and www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com www.WindyCityQueercast.com As representatives of our nation’s entertain- ing LGBT people have been introduced in states states, we implore you to stand with us and ment and media industry, we wish to express and cities across the country. It’s important to reject any and all efforts to legalize discrimina- note that these attacks don’t just put LGBT tion. Send a strong and clear message to the “Windy City Media Group generated enormous our profound disappointment in the prolifera- interest among their readers in this year’s LGBT tion of anti-LGBT legislation being considered Americans in the crosshairs; they also put the rest of the world that America—and your com- Consumer Index Survey. Out of approximately 100 across this great country. By standing togeth- basic rights of other religious and ethnic mi- munities—remain places where all people are print and online media partners who participated in the survey, Windy City was the best performing er—and alongside so many others who are norities in jeopardy. respected, welcomed and treated equally. The results of such laws taking effect across regional media in the U.S. Only survey partners speaking out from the corporate and business with a nationwide footprint were able to generate communities at the national, state, and local the nation makes it difficult to attract and re- Matt Goodman a greater number of responses.” ­­—David Marshall, levels—we hope to demonstrate that the kind tain workers, grow local and state economies, Associate Director of Research Director, Community Marketing, Inc. of discrimination being proposed (and, in some and bring top talent to schools and universi- Communications, GLAAD FOUNDING MEMBER

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FOUNDING MEMBER WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 19 WINDY CITY TIMES DIVERSIONS THEATER • FILM • ENTERTAINMENT • SPORTS

‘Trash’ talk 21 28 26 Windy City Times reviews Trash. Photo by Paul Clark Earls Kitchen + Bar. Wonka Ball: Dragstrip.

ing,” Lhota recollected, “our plan was to write Lang and the German Expressionists of the sort of a collection of women’s roles during 1920s and early 1930s, as models for Ruth’s wartime, at different times in different parts own aesthetic, while the scenes of off-camera From Berlin of the world, with some kind of object, or in- banter utilize comedy similar to that found in vention, or art work that gets lost and then The Thin Man, or My Man Godfrey, or even Duck resurfaces again and again, so the idea was Soup (“and we steal shamelessly from Cinema always there of an archeological puzzle lead- Paradiso” Lhota adds mischievously). ing to a journey through the past to learn the In popular fiction, the Hollywood of the early to Tinseltown truth. Margaret also talked extensively about and mid-20th century relied solely on queers my screwball comedy, The Double. She was very and commies for their talent, while every Ber- Barbara Lhota and M.E.H. Lewis their role in the events. Gradually, truths come keen on us writing something set in 1930s- lin resident between the wars was openly and to light, even as others remain buried forever. 1940s Hollywood.” flamboyantly gay. With so much hindsight vi- deliver a thriller of Nazis, Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia may have inaugurated It’s inevitable that a play about the film in- sion—however much grounded in literary ste- Hollywood and forbidden love in the time-travel saga as stage drama, in which dustry during a specified time should emerge reotype—can audiences in 2016 be expected modern scholars attempt to examine history looking like a product of that era. For example, to understand the choices made by Ruth and ‘180 Degree Rule’ and end up drawing all the wrong conclusions, a narrative structured around the search ini- Margot in their relationship? BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE but when Lewis and Lhota first began to con- tiated by a character’s death brings to mind “Margaret and I talked at great length about ceive their play in 2012, their goal was quite Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. Lhota cites Arzner’s that.” affirms Lhota, “When Ruth and Margot “Three-named people are like three-legged different. movies—in particular, such protofeminist mile- are in Berlin, I don’t think either one of them dogs—stubborn and scrappy!” an Englishman “When Margaret and I first began brainstorm- stones as Dance, Lady, Dance—along with Fritz fully realizes that they are lesbians. Ruth might declares upon meeting Ruth Alice Bennett. have had previous same-sex affairs, but many His assessment is correct. After the young women don’t really come out until their mid- photographer’s proper Yankee family and fiance Lisa Herceg (left) and 30s. Then, when they are in Hollywood, the disapprove of her nude self-portraits—this is Amy E. Harmon in 180 decision whether to remain closeted is a major 1930, by the way—her quest for a freer en- Degree Rule. source of conflict. vironment takes her to the international art- Photo by Steven “It all goes back to Dorothy Arzner, who ists’ colony centered in Berlin. There she earns Townshend pushed the boundaries of what was socially ac- acclaim for her films, and falls in love. Three ceptable. Ruth refuses to compromise her own years later, under growing pressure from Nazi beliefs, no matter how much damage it threat- censors, she and her fellow collaborators— ens to stir up. Margot is more practical—she German actress Margot Faber, British actor knows that taking a stand could ruin her career. Gilbert Bailey and French film editor Hedwige There’s a line in the play where they speak of Sourire—accept an offer to work in the United Cary Grant and Randolph Scott appearing “very States, only to discover Hollywood to be as sti- cozy” together in Photoplay magazine without fling and unforgiving as the oppressors they any public outcry. That really happened, but if left behind. you were a big star like Cary Grant, you could Sounds like the plot of a movie, doesn’t it? get away with a lot.” Perhaps a movie helmed by real-life filmmaker The source of the play’s title is a cinemato- Dorothy Arzner, one of the few women direc- graphic term, isn’t it? “The position of the tors whose career remained unobstructed by actors in a scene provides the focal point for the studio bosses and the press from 1922 a hemisphere extending 90 degrees in each to her retirement in 1943, despite the coded direction to make 180 degrees total—and the lesbian themes evident in her screenplays and camera operators are told to shoot only that rumors of liaisons with such well-known “sew- area, so that for the viewers, left and right re- ing circle” celebrities as Alla Nazimova, Mar- main constant. At first, the events of the play lene Dietrich and Tallulah Bankhead. It isn’t are shown from a single perspective, but as the some long-forgotten noiresque adaptation of a characters look back on what they remember novel by Vicky Baum, though, but the Babes and hear each others’ accounts, they—and we, With Blades Theatre Company’s world-premiere the audience—begin to see it over a wider play 180 Degree Rule, co-authored by Barbara range, where things may be the complete re- Lhota and the late M.E.H. Lewis—described in verse of what we thought previously.” its publicity as a “love story wrapped in a mys- “Ultimately, it’s a story of thwarted lovers tery,” featuring period-replica cinema footage born in the wrong time and place, but it’s also almost indistinguishable from the real thing. about how much there is that we don’t see in The story opens in 1967, 31 years after Ruth others—especially our loved ones—and that Alice Bennett perished in a fire of unknown we really NEED to see. That’s as true today as it origin while editing newsreels and looking for- ever was.” ward to her next project. Katie Dunham, a film the Babes With Blades Theatre Company’s teacher at a small college, questions the known world premiere production of The 180 De- circumstances of Bennett’s death, and pro- gree Rule opens Sunday, April 25 at City Lit ceeds to launch a personal investigation into Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Tickets the facts of that fatal night. Her queries will are $10-$22; phone 773-904-0391 or visit lead her to interview surviving acquaintances www.babeswithblades.org for more informa- of the deceased celebrity—some eager to share tion. their memories, some reluctant to relive trou- bled times and others no longer able to recall 20 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES THEATER REVIEW Mitera. Mitera Photo by Austin D. Oie Playwright: Maria Burnham At: Strangeloop Theatre, Berger Park North Mansion, 6219 N. Sheridan Rd. Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/2502445; $18 Runs through: May 14

BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL

Playwrights have been fascinated with unmar- ried sisters for 2,500 years. Consider: The Sup- pliants (Aeschylus), Three Sisters (Chekhov), The House of Bernarda Alba (Garcia Lorca) and Nunsense (just kidding). Maria Burnham fol- lows the thread in Mitera (Greek for “mother”), her world premiere about three Greek-heritage sisters living in present-day small-town Mis- sissippi. The locale and ethnicity match Burn- ham’s own upbringing, but only are window dressing for Mitera, which might just as readily concern sisters of any heritage, anywhere in the United States. In ascending order of age, sisters Dimitra ample reserves of bitterness and resentment. and earlier indiscretions; counter-blackmail by tion in Act II, and makes its point well before (Lilly Apostolou), Nitsa (Holly Robinson) and Olga now reveals she’s gay, and the siblings the girls’ supportive godmother, Sharon (Patri- it concludes. Nitsa needs an expository scene Olga (shout-out to Three Sisters) range from weigh the merits of an arranged hetero mar- cia Tinsley); and a tender heart-to-heart be- as well. mid-20s to mid-30s. Their Greek-born mother riage vs. marrying for love ... if the Supreme tween Olga and Dimitra. Sexist cousin Dimitris It’s a nice production, as directed by Leti- has just died (American dad is long gone), Court clears the way in Mississippi. The court is sent packing fairly easily, as Mitera con- tia Guillaud in the extremely cozy living room leaving them considerable property in Missis- does, and Act II is Dimitra and Megan’s wed- cludes with the sisters standing in solidarity. of Berger Park’s Gunderson Mansion, which we sippi as well as family lands in Greece. But ding day upon which contingency heir Dimi- It’s an appealing play that would be much share with the actors in fly-on-the-wall intima- there’s a catch: Mom’s will says Dimitra must tris (Michael Wagman) arrives from Greece to better if Burnham fully committed herself to cy. However, this close environment also sup- marry or the sisters lose everything to a male threaten the marriage and seize the U.S. prop- the comedy inherent in its plot, having more presses the comedic impulse, as humor—funny cousin back in Greece. Why Dimitra has to erty. He’s in cahoots with Nitsa—up ‘til now, fun with Greek stereotypes, sisterly rivalries, lines and business—cannot be exaggerated or marry and not either older sister isn’t really seemingly supportive of Olga—although the the smarmy artificial villain, the wily godmoth- even pointed up very much. A production that made clear, except that Olga (Allison McCorkle) exact logistics of their plan aren’t quite clear. er, etc. She could shorten that heart-to-heart allows Mitera to be bigger might also allow it long ago resigned herself to being caretaker for There’s blackmail involving Dimitra’s cellphone scene, too, as it stops the play’s forward mo- to be funnier. mom and housekeeper for all, leaving her with

THEATER REVIEW that is not afraid to tackle this tough terrain able places throughout the performance. The and deals with many racial issues that have actors played right along, though, and kept Carlyle carried over from the past until today. James Earl things moving. Playwright: Thomas Bradshaw The show is presented in the Goodman’s Jones II in James Earl Jones II, as Meyers, leads a At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Owen Theatre, which is utilized in exactly the Carlyle. strong cast from prep school to the GOP. He Tickets: 773-443-3800; right way. Entrances and exits are sometimes in Photo by Liz keeps the character likeable even while stating www.GoodmanTheatre.org/Carlyle; $10-$40 the aisles with minimal set pieces keeping the Lauren some daring ideas. Costume pieces are dropped Runs through: May 1 focus on the characters. center stage hilariously at times. The sparse- There are off-color jokes that tackle contro- ness doesn’t distract from the action until the BY JERRY NUNN versial subjects, including sex and abortion, world’s biggest flag arrives. with one character exclaiming “Only Gays get Theater is a reflection of our society, and this Main character Carlyle Meyers goes from Demo- AIDS.” Setting the show in the ‘80s and ‘90s satire has plenty to keep our minds stirring. cratic to Republican beliefs and we, as an audi- allows plenty of ignorance to be spotlighted, We have political shows now hitting the Windy ence, are along for the bumpy ride in the world and Carlyle does not shy away from that. City—like Hillary and Clinton last week and premiere of Carlyle. From bullying to gun con- House lights are brought up at one point now Carlyle—to make us wonder what comes trol, nothing is off limits in a story where being while planted actors ask questions to the per- premiere night when a Republican lady in the next. How about a play with a gay Republican’s a Republican trumps being Black. This is a play formers on the stage. This backfired a bit on audience spoke up and clapped at uncomfort- life story?

THEATER REVIEW Mary Page gering regrets. c Marlowe. Shapiro keeps the proceedings intense and Mary Page Marlowe Photo by interesting as the times skip around locales in Playwright: Tracy Letts Michael Ohio and Kentucky. Projection designer Sven CRITICS’ At: Steppenwolf Theatre, Brosilow Ortel’s subtle work is a great assist to all the 1650 N. Halsted St. spot-on historical period work done by cos- PICKS Tickets: 312-335-1650 or tume designer Linda Roethke and set designer Jerusalem, Profiles Theatre at the Main www.steppenwolf.org; $20-$89 Todd Rosenthal. Stage, extended through May 22. British anti- Runs through: May 29 There really isn’t anything to fault in the establishment playwright Jez Butterworth is ensemble performances, though a few get at it again and nobody does amoral unshaven BY SCOTT C. MORGAN more chances to shine. Rebecca Spence as the dropout better than Darrell W. Cox making with Mary Page Marlowe is, in fact, epic. middle-aged Mary Page Marlowe gets a par- the acting chops at full throttle. MSB Tracy Letts’ world-premiere drama Mary Page The play’s casting features six different ac- ticularly intense acting work out as she spars The Life of Galileo, Remy Bumppo Theatre Marlowe for Steppenwolf Theatre Company tresses at different ages depicting the title with her upset daughter (Madeline Weinstein, Company at the Greenhouse, through May 1. will likely divide audiences. character (there were seven, but director as the wonderfully confrontational Windy Gil- Was the father of modern science a sellout Those expecting a sprawling three-hour epic Anna D. Shapiro opted to not use actual in- bert). who paved the way for nuclear weapons or was in the vein of Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning fants in the bitter argument scene leading to Tony Award-winning actress Blair Brown he just playing the authorities until he could family drama August: Osage County might be the marriage breakdown between Marlowe’s (Copenhagen) is also very moving as the late- hatch a plan to foil them? MSB disappointed by this compact one-act focus- parents just after World War II). It is luxury life Mary Page Marlowe—particularly when Rent, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre at the ing on the title character’s “ordinary” life. casting all around, especially with many stel- she gets a piece of good news from her third No Exit Cafe, through May 15. This cozy Rog- And some will question why Letts chose a lar actors from the large ensemble appearing husband, Andy (affably played by Alan Wild- ers Park hidaway was such a perfect site for a time-shifting structure to show snapshots of in only one or a few scenes. er), and when she looks back on the difficult musical about brave young artists finding their Mary Page Marlowe’s major life-turning points And when you consider that Mary Page course of her life. way in a hostile world that the production’s or moments of self-realization—particularly Marlowe faces down parental abandonment, So though Mary Page Marlowe might not live been extended. MSB when the play’s abrupt ending catches so adultery, divorce, alcoholism and prison, it is up to expectations based upon Letts’ previous United Flight 232, The House Theatre of many people off guard. hardly an “ordinary” life. Sure, it may not all work, the play still gives audiences plenty to Chicago at Chopin Theatre, through May 21. But perhaps Letts just wanted to explore add up to an overarching symbolic statement ponder about for personal reflection. Hope- Vanessa Stalling’s theatrical adaptation of Lau- the significant events in a regular woman’s that some audiences may wish for, but Letts’ fully, anyone between the seven different age rence Gonzales’ book Flight 232 detailing the life—particularly when she had control taken depiction of Mary Page Marlowe’s existence ranges of Mary Page Marlowe will be able to 1989 DC-10 crash-landing in Sioux City, Iowa, away from her due to actions both within and touchingly veers from so much potential and relate. is disquieting and deeply moving. SCM beyond her control. Yet one can argue that hope to debilitating upset for losses and lin- —By Barnidge and Morgan WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 21

Donica Lynn in Dreamgirls. Photo by Kelsey Jorissen e SPOTLIGHT If you missed the recent acclaimed touring revival of Roundabout The- atre Company’s landmark 1998 re- vival of Cabaret, you can at least see Kander and Ebb’s show itself in a suburban community theater production courtesy of Big Noise Theatre. Cabaret plays through Sunday, May 8, at the Prairie Lake Theater, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. Performances are at 8 p.m. DOUBLE REVIEW premiere of the camp-drag comedy Trash. Fridays and Saturdays with 2 p.m. Both shows have great potential to attract matinees Saturdays, Sundays and Dreamgirls audiences identifying as gay or queer. But it’s on Wednesday, May 4. Tickets are Book and Lyrics: Tom Eyen; Dreamgirls that largely impresses throughout $30 and $25 for seniors; call 847- Score: Henry Krieger while Trash disappoints on multiple levels. 604-0275 or visit BigNoiseTheatre. At: Porchlight Music Theatre at A smash hit since its 1981 Broadway debut, org. Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Dreamgirls has taken on even more pop cultural Photo by Riah Dunton Tickets: 773-327-5252 or currency thanks to director Bill Condon’s ac- PorchlightMusicTheatre.org; $35-$51 claimed 2006 film adaptation. Fans of the mu- Runs through: May 22 sical will forever be debating the starry vocals (such as Jennifer Holliday vs. Jennifer Hudson singing “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”) Trash as they all played women in a fictionalized girl the musical’s many locations. ductions, but they would have had the good Playwright: Johnny Drago group modeled on The Supremes in the 1960s The leading Dreamgirls trio of Candace C. Ed- sense to reject it due to Drago’s weak script At: New American Folks Theatre at and ’70s. wards, Katherine Thomas and Donica Lynn all that revels in Southern stereotypes before it Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. When held up to these Broadway and Hol- give hard-working performances, particularly veers unconvincingly into Greek tragedy. Tickets: NewAmericanFolktheatre.org; $20 lywood greats, the Porchlight cast can’t com- Lynn as the Florence Ballard-inspired character The shriek-filled performances, under direc- Runs through: May 15 pete even with all of their impressive vocal of Effie White. And Dreamgirls also allows for tor Derek Van Barham, are also marred by poor gymnastics. Nonetheless, director/choreogra- many great male performers to shine, which is comic timing—particularly Anthony Whitaker BY SCOTT C. MORGAN pher Brenda Didier’s ambitiously scrappy and the case with Evan Tyrone Martin as the manip- in drag as the overweight former Hollywood smooth production for Porchlight shows that ulative manager Curtis Taylor, Jr., Gilbet Dom- starlet Jinx Malibu, who rose to fame via a se- The pursuit of fame and celebrity can be nas- a big musical like Dreamgirls can still wow on ally as the songwriter C.C. White and especially ries of exploitative “Pussy Rocket” sci-fi flesh ty and heartbreaking. That’s apparent in two an intimate scale (especially in Henry Krieger Eric Lewis who sings and dances up a storm films. current Chicago shows: Porchlight Music The- and Tom Eyen’s original stage version). Most of as the hard-driving soul singer James Thunder Just what Trash is trying to say in terms of atre skillfully crams the R&B/pop epic Dream- the budget looks to have been lavished on Bill Early. mocking washed-up celebrities and their clue- girls into Stage 773’s thrust space, while New Morey’s sparkly period costumes and Kevin Bar- Very few good things can be said about less families is baffling. Alas, Trash is a fitting American Folk Theatre is making a pigsty of an thel’s numerous wig designs—especially since Johnny Drago’s Trash. It’s the kind of campy title for the show in more ways than one. upstairs Den Theatre studio with the Midwest audiences can fill in the scenic blanks for all show you’d expect from Hell in a Handbag Pro-

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SATURDAY / APR. 30 / 7:30PM Serenade choreography by George Balanchine, music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Heatscape choreography by Justin Peck, music by Bohuslav Martinů Bourrée Fantasque choreography by George Balanchine, music by Emmanuel Chabrier

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The Harris Family The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Foundation, The Northern Trust through the Imagine Campaign, Caryn and King Harris Company, Resident Company Collaboration Dance Residency Fund, Lead Corporate Sponsor Season Sponsor Official Airline of the Sponsor Presenting Sponsor Harris Theater Season Hotel Partner 22 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES NUNN ON ONE Vanessa Williams talks gay classmates, fashion, ‘Ugly Betty’ by Jerry Nunn school were fabulous men. I loved them deeply. WCT: You have been a big supporter for gay Vanessa L. Williams, not to be confused with marriage in the past. the actress Vanessa A. Williams, is more than VW: Yes—cheers! just a triple threat. The actress, singer, and WCT: Do you want to do more Broadway? dancer is now branching into fashion with V. by VW: Yes. I have been doing a lot of benefits. Vanessa Williams. She also adds writer to the I did a 50th anniversary show for Roundabout list with a book teaming her up with mother Theatre. I sang with Norm Lewis. I saw Barbara Helen Williams. Cook. She gave me her new memoir called Then Williams is a Grammy nominated singer for and Now. I have an exclusive because it doesn’t hits like “The Right Stuff,” “Save the Best for come out for a few months from now. I just Last,” and “Colors of the Wind.” Her awards finished reading it on the way here. I will be continue with Tony nominations, Emmy nomi- doing my notes in the back of the book. nations, seven NAACP Image Awards, and four It boggles the mind when you major in mu- Satellite Awards. sical theater—studying Sondheim and all of Her television shows include Ugly Betty, Des- these classical pieces with Barbara being in perate Housewives and The Good Wife, among the original cast of Music Man—and then they others. She returns next year with a Star Jones call and invite you over to their homes. They vehicle called Satan’s Sisters, based on The recognize you and suddenly you are part of the View. In addition, the former Miss America has “in crowd.” It still flabbergasts me. Every time Vanessa Williams. starred in multiple theater roles in Kiss of the I walk into Stephen Sondheim’s house I think, PR photo Spider Woman and Into the Woods. Movies in “Is this really happening?” her vast career include Soul Food, Dance With WCT: I want to see that house! Your neph- Me and My Brother. ew was just performing in Aurora at the Par- tate toward. At my age, 53, you go through VW: Did you see his show? I saw it three At a recent UNICEF fundraiser event at The amount Theater and I saw on social media being the young ingenue to playing a mom to times. Geragthy we caught up with her on the blue you came out to support him. now playing a character. You are seen differ- WCT: His one-man show was great. Are you carpet. VW: Yes; he is playing Tony [in West Side ently and don’t have to worry about being the doing anything fun while in town? young attractive thing and can lose yourself to VW: I just went to the Ralph Lauren restau- Windy City Times: Hi, Vanessa. How are Story]. Will did a phenomenal job and has a what is on the page. rant for the first time. I’m getting some deep- you doing? gorgeous voice. I am married to his uncle Jim, Vanessa Williams: Pretty good. My plane was who has been on Broadway, so the fact that he WCT: I heard you are reuniting with the dish pizza delivered to me tonight after I am delayed but no major snow to keep me away. I is a musical-theater guy is a great combina- Ugly Betty cast. performing tonight, from Giordano’s. That is it was here last week for snow and I see the snow tion. VW: We will be in Austin the second week of for this trip! is still on the ground. It is springtime but I am WCT: Your new fashion line is debuting June. America [Ferrara, who played Betty] got Visit vanessawilliams.com to keep up with glad to be here in Chicago. this year? the request and, of course, did a mass email. the diva. Everyone was in! We keep in touch and see WCT: How did you become involved with VW: Yeah, I did it last month and sold out. each other—not a lot, but we love each other. UNICEF? We are doing really well. I am going back to VW: They called me up. I happened to be Minnesota to add more pieces to the line. It is WCT: Michael Urie told me about that. available. I am a mother of four. My children sold on Evine, a home network. have always been my priority. I travel a lot. WCT: You are returning to TV with Satan’s I extensively tend to meet people and I am Sisters? Comedian Tig Notaro drawn to children. I have a worldwide scope, VW: Yes, we start filming in August in At- both physically and historically. lanta. I have only seen the , which is what at BookCon in WCT: When did you realize you had a gay I agreed to do but they are getting the writer’s room together, and starting to cast. I am in Chicago May 14 following? Stand-up comedian Tig Notaro is taking VW: Probably in middle school [laughs] when contact with Star Jones on a weekly basis. We the stage May 14 in Chicago at BookCon, the I started doing theater! I danced my whole life are trying to figure out what studio we will be annual celebration of books, to discuss her but when I started acting then I noticed all my at and setting up shop. upcoming memoir I’m Just a Person. friends were fantastic, well-read and gave me WCT: How do you pick a script? During an “in conversation” panel, Notaro great advice—then, I knew. We are talking the VW: I like to do what is fun on the page. I will take fans on a journey through the dark- ‘70s, so not a lot of people were out. When I read a script, and things that excite me or get est year of her life—the year she was diag- looked back, all of my guy friends from high a laugh out loud is something I tend to gravi- nosed with cancer. Notaro will discuss how she channeled her grief and vulnerability into her work, leading her to break comedic ground with a Grammy-nominated stand-up set. CULTURECULTURE CLUBCLUB Notaro writes, produces and stars in the semiautobiographical series One Mississippi

WRI for Amazon Studios, where she can also be seen in her recurring role on the critically Tig Notaro. acclaimed series Transparent. In 2015, her Photo by Kevin Winter HBO stand-up special premiered along with Tig, the Netflix original documentary about Con’s line-up of best-selling authors and her life. Notaro remains a favorite on Conan Hollywood heavyweights including Samantha Bee, Chris O’Dowd, The Property , Sa- WRITERS THEATRE WITH THE SECOND CITY PRESENTS and This American Life, tours internationally and enjoys bird-watching with her partner at baa Tahir, Veronica Roth and Meg Cabot with their home in Los Angeles. many others to be announced in the coming According to Bookcon organizers, her weeks. memoir I’m Just a Person delivers a “darkly An original consumer extension of Book- funny, wryly observed and emotionally raw Expo America, North America’s largest gath- account of Notaro’s year of death, cancer ering of book industry professionals from and epiphany. In the span of four months around the globe, BookCon is the ultimate in 2012, Notaro was hospitalized for a de- fan event where storytelling and pop culture bilitating intestinal disease called C.Diff; her collide. mother unexpectedly died; she went through Tickets for BookCon are available at The- TH a breakup and was diagnosed with bilateral BookCon.com/Tickets/. Additional details BEGINS APRIL 27 breast cancer.” about BookCon Exhibitors, guests and spon- WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG | 847-242-6000 Notaro is just the latest addition to Book- sors will be revealed soon. PICTURED: MICHAEL PEREZ, KAREN JANES WODITSCH, JENNIFER ENGSTROM, JOHN HOOGENAKKER AND MARC GRAPEY. PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA. WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 23

Gayby.

Hannah Free cast and crew at re-release celebration. ‘Gayby’ screenings Photo by Hal Baim Gless part of ‘Hannah Free’ April 30 in Chicago re-release celebration “Our Families: A Conversation,” a special issues with rarely heard voices that work to Sharon Gless—star of the feature film Hannah Free, shot in Chicago in 2008—was in town for screening of the film Gayby Baby followed by a cut-through the saturation of political rheto- a special re-release party and screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center April 16. discussion, will happen in two showings Satur- ric—the voices of the kids. Several of the stars of the film, directed by Wendy Jo Carlton and written by , day, April 30, in Chicago. Entry for the first screening is at 12 p.m., were at the event. Pictured front are Gless (Cagney & Lacey, Burn Notice, Queer As Folk) and The goal of the event is to create a communi- with a panel discussion to follow at 3 p.m.; Claudia Allen. Back row, from left: Taylor Miller, Meg Thalken, Maureen Gallagher, Pat Kane, Ann ty-building opportunity and discussion for LG- entry for second screening and discussion pan- Hagemann and Elita Ernsteen, who played one of the young girls in the film. BTQ+ families who often do not see themselves el will open at 2:20 p.m. (Second-screening Also at the screening were many of the film’s crew, producers, extras and investors. reflected in the world around them, and some- guests will hear the 3 p.m. panel discussion The film will be available as a DVD and for streaming soon on Amazon.com. See HannahFree. times feel their voices are silent in schools and first and then view the film 4:45 p.m.) com. public places. See gaybybabychicago.splashthat.com for Photo by Hal Baim The film is a springboard for the conversa- tickets and location. tion and a means to empower children of LG- The panelists are: Kara Ingelhart of Lambda BTQ+ parents to embrace their diversity and Legal; Katie Slivivsky, exhibit development di- celebrate their families. Aside from the panel rector at the Chicago Children’s Museum; au- experts, the audience will hear stories from thor Jerome Pohlen (Gay & Lesbian History for the perspective of children and young people Kids); Julie Toole is the mother of two children living in diverse families. The film’s director, and teaches art to Grades 1-8 at Baker Dem- Maya Newell, and family advocate Zach Wahls onstration School where she advocates for in- will also be sharing a special recorded message clusion of gender expansive students; and Kim with the audience. L. Hunt is the mother of two and is executive Gayby Baby is an Australian feature docu- director of the Pride Action Tank. Moderators mentary in which four kids take viewers into will be Theresa Volpe, a children’s book author, their homes and share what it’s like growing LGBTQ+ family advocate and mother of three; up with same-sex parents. The film takes an in- and Erin Flynn is a mother, children’s musician, timate, character-driven approach to issues at teacher, and the Wiggleworms and Kids’ Music the heart of modern social politics: family, gen- Program Manager at the Old Town School of der, sexuality, parenting and youth; skewering Folk Music. some of the most hotly debated contemporary

Black Playwrights PFP holding film Festival April 24-27 festival April 25 Black Ensemble Theater has announced its Pride Films and Plays announces five short 11th annual Black Playwrights Festival, to films receiving their Chicago premieres dur- be held April 24-27 as part of the company’s ing Queer Bits AltReels Film Festival at the Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI). Public House Theatre, 3914 N. Clark St., on The festival will take place at the Black En- Monday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. semble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark The program includes a documentary about St. the toll of an illness on a long-term relation- The 2016 BPI Black Playwrights Festival ship; a thriller about a quiet man whose drag- opens on Sunday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m., queen alter ego starts to take over his life; with opening ceremonies honoring director, a pop musical about heartbreak and hope; playwright and MPAACT Artistic Director Carla a comedy about a brother and sister saving Stillwell and playwright Reginald Edmund. their video store; and a fairy tale about two The evening will also feature three BPI men who give each other newfound purpose “Shorties” (10-minute plays) by BPI mem- in life. bers Audery Naomi Smith, Jill Ross and Viola Some of the shorts contain adult themes Irvin, along with selections from work by the and strong language. FRIDAY, JULY 22 honorees. The festival’s full-length plays in- Tickets are $15 each, with student and se- clude works on April 25-27 by Wendell Ether- nior admission going for $10; call 800-737- ly, Ervin Gardner and Leonard Maceo Ferris. 0984 or visit PrideFilmsAndPlays.com. ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 22 AT 11AM Tickets are $15 per evening or $40 for a festival pass. Items are available at the box WWW.THECHICAGOTHEATRE.COM The Chicago Theatre provides disabled accommodations and sells tickets to disabled individuals through our Disabled Services department, which may office, online at BlackEnsemble.org or at be reached at 888-609-7599 any weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ticketmaster orders are subject to service charges. 773-769-4451. 24 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES Out local poet on his first book, awards and Jimmy Carter BY TERRI-LYNNE WALDRON WCT: Why did you stop? RH: Life. I got a job working in the Jimmy Poet Ralph Hamilton recently released his first Carter administration as special assistant to book of poems, entitled Teaching a Man to Un- Carter’s appointment secretary. I volunteered stick His Tail. The book addresses the spectrum in his campaign and suddenly I found myself of love and its coupling with pain, and Hamil- working in the White House at the age of 21. ton tackles issues of love and loss and opens From there I went back and forth between up about the people that have touched his life. public policy, foundations and academia for 28 The Evanston resident talked with Windy City years. Times about who inspired his work, his break WCT: What made you want to get back into from writing and the Lucian Freud painting it? that became the book cover. RH: I had been reading poetry again and Windy City Times: Where did your love of began writing again and I decided that I was poetry come from? ready to commit to it full-time. I went back Ralph Hamilton: It started early and I put it and got another MFA in poetry from Benning- aside for many years—then, it recaptured me. ton [his first master’s was in religion and liter- I was always a dreamy child and spent more ature from Harvard] and got involved in RHINO time with animals in trees than with people. [an independent poetry journal] and became [Laughs] the editor. WCT: Were there certain poets whose work WCT: Your first book of poems, Teaching you read and who you looked up to? a Man to Unstick His Tail, was released last RH: When I was a boy, I loved [Rudyard] year. How many years worth of poems did Kipling. Partially I was raised in the Bahamas, you draw from to complete this book? which was then still colonial Britain’s empire. RH: Most of the poems were written in the Poet Ralph Hamilton. I went to a British school there so that’s what last five years. Through several years I was Photo by Chris Walker we read. The poem’s and stories appealed to a writing fairly consistently on issues of loss and boy’s imagination. the difficulty of love. Looking back, I realized WCT: As a young boy, was it easy for you to that there were a group of what turned out to decipher the meaning behind poems? be 100 or more poems that seemed in different RH: Poets often work at many different levels ways to be linked. It’s about the fundamental and there’s a way in which all poems are songs. role of human connection. In a several-year One may not understand it but still be en- period my mother passed away, my brother died and my relationship of more than 20 years came apart. WCT: The book cover shows a man and a dog lying down, with the man’s arm wrapped around the dog. Why did you choose that Lu- cian Freud painting as the cover? RH: I had admired Lucian Freud for years. He [was] Sigmund Freud’s grandson. Mostly set in hermetic domestic interiors, the book’s portraits of loss strip away protection. The po- ems probe and expose the messy, stained vital- ity of mortal flesh/consciousness beneath the shield of personality and persona that often obscures reality. While suggesting no equiva- lence, Freud’s paintings have often been said to approach their subject’s similarly. Further, the nudity, the presence of both human and dog, the classical and sexual res- Theresa Volpe, advisor to CCM’s LGBTQ Inclusion Committee, with wife Mercedes Santos onance of the drapery/sheets, and the pulpy and their three children. physicality of the paint itself reflect images, Photo by Hal Baim tensions and evocative inversions explicit in 1-June 30, during museum hours: Share ideas many of the poems, including the title. Children’s museum about what makes a family on the 20-foot- WCT: Is it important to refer to yourself as long community chalkboard; and a “gay poet?” celebrating diversity —Collect a Color, Thursday, June 23, 6:30- Navy Pier’s Chicago Children’s Museum cel- RH: I am not sure of the distinction that 7:30 p.m.: Answer questions about color and, ebrates International Family Equality Day on chanted by a kind of lingering music in the works for me. I am gay and I do write poet- in the process, collect colored beads to make Sunday, May 1, and will kick off two months language. And the second reading may draw ry and those are both true and I’m proud of a rainbow bracelet or keychain. of programming honoring the diversity of you in, in a different way. Some poets write both. But I don’t usually make one of them See http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum. what constitutes family. in a style that is immediately accessible and an adjective for the other as in, “I’m a poetic org/index.php/about/accessibility-inclu- On that day, activities will include events some don’t. gay.” [Laughs] There’s no doubt that some of sion. WCT: When did you write your first poem the poems have what someone may call a gay at the International Family Equality Day Hos- and what was it about? sensibility. particularly the ones using humor. I pitality and Resource Room (10:30 a.m.-4:30 RH: I wrote poems as a child all the time but love it when a poem breaks your heart and then p.m.), as well as “Family Flags” (12:30-2 Mary Lambert I can’t remember what any of them were about. makes you laugh. p.m.) and “Rainbow Parachute” (2:15 p.m.). Throughout May and June, events will in- [Laughs] I was a newspaper editor in college, WCT: Your book has been nominated for at NU April 26 clude: Grammy nominee Mary Lambert—possibly and when we were putting the paper together the Lambda Literary Awards—an award cer- —LGBTQ Resources, Thursday, June 23, best known for singing with Macklemore and we had to print the columns out on a sort of emony that elevates the profile of LGBT lit- 5-7:30 p.m.: Resource tables for information Ryan Lewis on the song “Same Love”—will teletype printer machine, then cut it out and erature—in the category of gay poetry. How relevant to gender expansive children and discuss the art of songwriting (along with a glue it to a piece of paper. Often we would re- does it feel being nominated? the LGBTQ parenting community, including special performance). alize that there was eight inches of blank space RH: It is delightful. As a writer more than family-friendly book suggestions and teacher The free event will take place Tuesday, April we had to fill. I would run in the other room anything, one hopes to be heard. When one is resources; 26, 7-8:30 p.m., on the Evanston campus of and dash off a poem, type it up and it would a finalist for an award, it is particularly a pro- —Rainbow Staircase, May 1-June 30, dur- at Lutkin Hall, 700 go in that slot. found validation when it’s been heard. ing museum hours: Transform the three-story University Pl. Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot WCT: Did you maintain your interest in po- Teaching a Man to Unstick His Tail is avail- staircase into a giant rainbow by adding col- will be the moderators. etry writing after college? able at SiblingRivalryPress.com or Amazon. orful ribbons on each visit; See http://www.northwestern.edu/writing- RH: For almost 30 years after that, I stopped com. Find out more about Hamilton at Ral- —What Makes a Family? Chalk Wall, May arts/. writing; when I was about 49, I started again. phHamiltonPoetry.com/. WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 25 of young gay people were under the impression vist and anthropologist on Saturday, April 23, they were the first individuals on the planet to in Chicago at the Leather Archives & Museum, Archivist talks ever have these feelings or to try to articulate 6418 N. Greenview Ave. and express them, because the histories had Rubin said she will talk about the challenges not been adequately preserved.” early scholars faced in locating and assembling documenting leather, By preserving the histories of the LGBTQ source materials related to LGBTQ history as community and its many subcultures over time, well as about her specific collection of leather, Rubin said, “We could situate ourselves bet- S&M and fetishism, which she has accumulated S&M and fetishism history ter historically, intellectually and socially, and through her projects. have some understanding of who we were and The presentation, “Archival Fetishism: by Charlsie Dewey “Any kind of documentary material that is where we were in the world.” Decades of Documenting Leather History,” produced in almost any situation on this planet That knowledge also provides a source of will begin at 3 p.m. n Saturday, April 23, For more than four decades, Gayle Rubin has only survives partly by accident and partly be- power for present-day movements. at the Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. been uncovering documents and artifacts per- cause there are resources available to preserve “Knowledge is a form of power and without Greenview Ave. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. taining to leather, S&M and fetishism culture, it,” Rubin said. it, one is lacking some really key tools for func- Member admission is free; general admis- ensuring this important piece of history isn’t “Even where materials are durable or there is tioning in the world and certainly for certain sion is $10. Tickets will be available at the lost to time. an institution to take care of them, there are social and political and moral agendas,” Rubin door or at http://www.leatherarchives.org/ Rubin—who is an archivist and associate the problems of wars and fires. The library of said. adminticket.html. professor of anthropology and women’s studies Alexandria burned and a lot of material is lost Rubin will share her knowledge as an archi-

Queer Bollywood dance party April 22 Trikone Chicago is hosting its bimonthly Bollywood dance party Friday, April 22, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., at , 5024 N. Sheridan Rd. This event, which features South Asian dance music and performances, is open to all; attendees are encouraged to invite friends and family. The venue will have all-gender restrooms and nametags for pronouns. A suggested $5 donation will go toward helping Trikone raise funds to support pro- grams for the South Asian LGBTQI community in Chicago. See TrikoneChicago.org. JD Glass concert in Glenview April 21 A concert by JD Glass will take place Thurs- day, April 21, 7:30-9:30 p.m., at Rock House Glenview, 1742 Glenview Rd. Glass—a musician and author who lives in New York—is the lead singer and plays gui- Sheryl Swoopes. tar in The Charm Alarm, according to Lesbian Photo by Ross Forman Reading Room. She has also written books such as Red Light, Punk and Zen, and Punk Loyola’s Swoopes Like Me. See “ JD at Rockhouse Glenview!” on Face- under investigation book. Chicago’s Loyola University is launching an internal investigation into the conduct of women’s basketball coach Sheryl Swoopes New Tegan and Gayle Rubin. after 10 of the team’s 12 returning players Photo by Michael Rosen have transferred or requested releases from Sara songs out, their scholarships. Loyola hired Swoopes, a Hall of Famer, in album soon at the —didn’t set out every time there is a war.” In anticipation of their forthcoming album 2013. to become one of the country’s top archivists Rubin said when it comes to sexual histories Love You to Death, Tegan and Sara have In 2005, Swoopes came out as lesbian. of these materials. Instead, her work led her or other stigmatized histories there are addi- launched their album pre-order and released However, in 2011, Outsports.com revealed down that path. tional challenges that come into play as well. debut single “Boyfriend.” that Swoopes was engaged to a man. She In 1978, while working on her dissertation “A lot of people didn’t save material because “Boyfriend” and brand-new track “U-turn” is currently married to that man, ESPN has on gay male leather subculture in San Francis- they thought it wasn’t important or they were are available for sale and streaming now, and noted. co she found the source material necessary for embarrassed by it,” she said. Love You to Death is available for pre-order her work substantially lacking. She also noted the impact of the AIDS epi- via all digital service providers. Fans who “The research institutions that normally demic in the early 1980s on material preserva- ‘Mudderella’ June 4 pre-order Love You to Death in advance of would collect archival materials on which tion. Mudderella, the five-mile-plus obstacle its June 3 release will instantly receive “Boy- scholars could base their research just didn’t “A lot of the people who were dying were course challenge designed for women by friend” and “U-turn.” collect this material,” Rubin said. too young to have thought about making a will women, will make its third return to Chicago Love You to Death—the follow-up to Tegan She noted that was the case for most LGBTQ or appointing someone to have legal authority on Saturday, June 4. and Sara’s 2013 album Heartthrob—was re- materials. to manage their estate,” Rubin said. “A lot of Mudderella events are non-competitive corded in Los Angeles with producer Greg “I got involved doing research first on lesbian families came in and either didn’t know what challenges designed to empower women to Kurstin (Adele, Sia, Beck) and features 10 history in the early 1970s, then on gay history the stuff was or were embarrassed by it, so a work together while overcoming obstacles new tracks. Among the songs are “BWU,” more generally, and then on leather history to- lot of it got thrown away. and having fun. Each course includes 12-15 “That Girl,” “Stop Desire” and “White Knuck- ward the late 1970s, and at that time, there “One organization with which I was involved signature Mudderella obstacles designed to les.” were very few collections of primary source ma- at the time was called the San Francisco Les- test balance, agility, strength and teamwork terial in any of these areas,” she said. bian and Gay History Project. We were out do- in a fun and social setting. “When I first went to San Francisco to do re- ing salvage operations, trying to save what we More than 5,000 participants took part ‘The Piano Men’ search there, the major research libraries in the could from this wave of loss and destruction in the 2015 Chicago event, and this year’s Bay Area didn’t even have copies of the major that was happening, not just to the individu- April at Davenport’s event is expected to be one of the biggest Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael is present- gay newspapers. They just didn’t collect those als, but to the histories of the communities in yet. Mudderella is a partner of Futures With- types of materials.” which they’d been a part.” ing “The Piano Men”—paying tribute to out Violence, and its mission to prevent and Barry Manilow, Michael Feinstein and Billy As a result, Rubin and others doing similar Rubin said it is particularly important for mi- put an end to domestic violence by develop- work began accumulating source materials nority communities to preserve their histories. Joel—every Saturday in April at Davenport’s, ing educational programs and resources on 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave., at 8 p.m. themselves. “If you don’t have that ability to produce, domestic-violence awareness. Rubin said that accumulation proved chal- preserve and make accessible the documentary Call 773-278-1830 or visit DavenportsPi- See http://mudderella.com/events/chi- anoBar.com. Also, see BeckieMenzie.com and lenging. and artifactual remains of any human project, cago-2016/. First, she noted, as with any attempt to it tends to vanish very quickly and then people TomMichael.net. document history, many of the documents and don’t know it ever happened. artifacts were naturally lost to time. “With gay history, a lot has been lost. A lot 26 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES nightspots weekly nightlife section in

/nightspots @nightspotschicago @nightspotschicago

Wonka Ball hardly a ‘Drag’

About Face Theatre celebrated a 20th anniver- sary with a community fundraiser on April 15 on the corner of Irving Park and Ravenswood. This annual event has grown out of being Boyer celebrates 40 inspired by Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Fac- tory to a variety of themes such as a circus inspiration in the past to, now, the art of drag years ‘behind bars’ (“Dragstrip”). The spacious Ravenswood Event Center was taken over by wigs and wheels and was the Members of the leather/fetish and bar communities gathered perfect spot, with high-end sportscars in ev- Friday, April 15, at Touche to honor manager David Boyer on his ery corner. A 2016 Mini Cooper was brought for four decades in Chicago’s bar scene. The party, appropriately photo ops, and a photo booth was present as titled “1976: Celebrating David Boyer’s 40 Years Behind Bars,” well. featured a special DJ set featuring disco, ‘70s rock and more A special VIP Winners Circle reception opened from DJ Freddie Bain. early where guests were able to sample tacos The bar’s walls were decorated with blowups of press clip- from Cantina 1910 and whiskey cocktails from pings from Chicago’s gay press in 1976, including Gay Life and Templeton Rye. The food continued thanks to . The hallway to the Club Room was plastered with Hamburger Mary’s sliders, Wow Bao’s dumplings copies of ads from bars of that era. and Riques Cocina Mexicana’s citrus salad. Des- In celebration of Boyer’s stints at several different bars over sert was provided by Do-Rite Donuts and Up- the years, the Touche space was transformed into a bar com- town Brownie. plex, with each section paying homage to certain locations from his career. It featured a dance floor a la Bistro days, as well as elements from Gold Coast, Cheeks and more. A highlight of the night was the surprise presentation to Boyer of the 2016 Jon-Henri Damski Award, in recognition of his activism work. The presentation was preceded by a stirring tribute reading by Heartland Health Outreach founder Lori Can- non. Cannon then presented the award to Boyer with help from previous Jon-Henri Damski Award honoree Dean Ogren. “Long before LGBT rights legislation and AIDS, David was there,” recalled Cannon. “While many of us went to march on Washington in 1987, David attended the first DC march for gay and lesbian rights in ’79 with a small group of would-be activ- ists to show the world their pride in being gay, leather men. By then, his brand of activism had taken front and center, and he never looked back.” text and photos by Kirk Williamson

A punch-out prize wall and silent and live auctions all raised money for the organization. Live-auction items included a Broadway get- away and Beyonce concert tickets; this group definitely knows its LGBT donors. The event also featured drag makeovers as well as live singing performances and other forms of entertainment throughout the night. The wigged-out crowd also danced, thanks to DJ Circuitmom spinning until 11 p.m. In this drag race, everyone was a winner. The 20th-anniversary celebration for the the- ater company who celebrates gender identity continues with songs and scenes at Center on Halsted on Friday, June 17. Visit AboutFace- Theatre.com for more information. text and photos by Jerry Nunn WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 27 Billy Masters

“Dame Norton barged past me in Starbucks or- dering a grande latte with soy—one never for- gets.”—An anonymous poster online talks about his encounter with Graham Norton. Having written this weekly column for two decades, I’ve developed quite a following. But since I’m primarily in print, I’m rarely recognized outside of the occasional gay bar, film festival or ABC journalist Gio Benitez (left) has made sex club. Last week was an exception. it official with Tommy DiDario. At the Pasadena Playhouse, a lovely man told Instagram photo me he was a big fan. OK, so we were at a Harvey Fierstein play—I’m bound to run into a fan or referred to Barbra’s age: “It’s Barbra Streisand two. A few days earlier, I made a 3 a.m. dash doing one more, if not the last, movie musical of to my Beverly Hills-adjacent supermarket—I fig- her career.” Something tells me nobody ran that ured I could get in and out fast. While the store quote by Babs! was fairly deserted, I did find myself negotiating Speaking of movie musicals, rumor has it that around some boxes (from restocking) and an at- Beyonce has all but killed plans for the latest tractive man (not wearing stockings). I pushed remake of A Star is Born. The oft-recycled prop- the boxes out of the way and said “Excuse me” erty was originally supposed to be directed by as I inched by the guy. “No problem,” he said. Clint Eastwood. Potential leading men were Tom “By the way, I’m a fan ... and a subscriber.” I Cruise, Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio and, wondered if my pill was kicking in—was this a eventually, Bradley Cooper. Then Beyonce was dream? I suppose if anyone has fans who are attached and Clint was out. Then Bradley said grocery shopping near Beverly Hills at 3 a.m., he wanted to act and direct. Just when it looked it would be me. “I’m really glad I said ‘Excuse like all the pieces were coming together, Queen me’, ‘cause you never know when you’ll be rec- B reportedly wanted too much money, and the ognized!” And just to make sure he didn’t trash studio (Warner Bros) balked. Stay tuned... me online later, I had sex with him in the frozen Lots of performers have come out against food aisle. Anything for a fan...and a subscriber! these so-called anti-LGBT bills. Sharon Stone You never know where you’ll run into some- nixed filming a movie in Mississippi, forcing pro- one. I was flipping through photos from Jeffrey ducers to find another location.B ryan Adams Sanker’s White Party in Palm Springs and there, cancelled a concert in Mississippi. Ringo Starr amongst the plethora of hot men, was profes- cancelled his North Carolina concert. Cirque du sional ice skater Joel Mangs. You probably know Soleil has cancelled all of its shows in North him under his gay-porn moniker, Brad Patton. Carolina. Duran Duran decided not to cancel a Last I heard, the sexy stud hooked up with fel- North Carolina show, but use it as a platform to low “actor” Brian Hansen and retired. He later speak out against “plain old-fashioned preju- resurfaced on Dancing on Ice in the Netherlands, dice, fear and oppression.” where he lives. (He was born in Australia but Cyndi Lauper, too, is going ahead with her raised in Sweden.) From what I can see, he’s still N.C. show, feeling that “the best way I know how in enviable shape ... and nary a Hansen in sight. to make a difference is what I have strived to do (Rrumor has it that Hansen is now dating Ste- my whole life and that is show up for my family, fano Gabbana—of “Dolce &.”) friends, and fans in the LGBT community.” She’s Someone else made a quick cameo at the also donating all profits to Equality North Caro- White Party. During the Sunday Tea Dance, R.I.P. Barry lina’s efforts to repeal HB2. Like Cyndi, come- Manilow was spotted walking around with man- dian Joel McHale didn’t cancel his show in North ager/husband Garry Kief. We came across a photo Carolina. Instead, he donated “every single dime of him with financial guruDavid Rae, who is no Joey Kissling I make tonight” to the Durham LGBT Center. slouch in the looks department. We’ll run these Our “Ask Billy” question comes from Joe in photos on BillyMasters.com. NYC: “Did you see Modern Family [last week]? Congratulations to ABC News’ Gio Benitez, (DJ Boxxxcutter) Who was the hot Christian rocker with the long who got married last weekend to model Tommy hair? Looks like he has an amazing body. You DiDario. The intimate ceremony took place in must have some photos of him.” Miami and was officiated by DiDario’s sister. Also He caught my eye as well. His name is Andy attending the wedding were fellow newsman Fischer-Price—yes, his last name is Fischer- Thomas Roberts and his husband, Patrick Abner. Price. He’s a 28-year-old musician/actor who has They posed for some photos with a cock or two. done some other things that I’ve never heard Damn Autocorrect! That was supposed to be a of—until I noticed his credit in Gregg Araki’s cockatoo. film Kaboom. In that film, he wrestles in his un- The long-gestating big-screen remake of Gypsy derwear with a similarly clad Chris Zylka, and starring Barbra Streisand is on, again. The proj- has sex with Thomas Dekker. We’ll post the perti- ect, which was stalled at Universal, has resur- nent sections on BillyMasters.com. faced at STX Entertainment. Babs brought with When a Modern Family co-star is a “c” away her the script by Downton Abbey scribe Richard from being a kid’s toy, it’s definitely time for me LaGravenese (based on Arthur Laurents’ original to end yet another column. Just when I thought book). Barry Levinson is slated to direct, and I had outgrown playing with toys. Of course, you we hear rumors that the film could starLady can play with yourself while checking out www. Gaga as Gypsy and John Travolta as Herbie ... BillyMasters.com, the site that’s endlessly enter- or Mazeppa! Of course, by the time they actually taining. If you have a question, send it along start shooting, Streisand could be playing Grand- to [email protected], and I promise to ma Rose and using a walker. But, eh, if we could get back to you before Travolta bumps it with suspend our disbelief that Rosalind Russell could a trumpet. So, until next time, remember: One sing the score, anything’s possible. In making man’s filth is another man’s bible. the announcement, producer Joel Silver kinda Photos by Kirk Williamson and Anthony Meade for Nightspots X

28 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES nightspots the big TO-DO OUR WEEKLY PICKS TO PLAN YOUR NIGHTLIFE CALENDAR

Pop Smash BIG CHICKS Have a big bowl of Stewpendous Trivia every Wednesday at Big Chicks. Photos by Kirk Williamson

And mentioning the kitchen (which is meticu- lously organized, by the way) brings us to the food, which both Memme and Bilick described as Thu., April 21, 10 pm a “global skillet.” (Bilick pointed out that every- Mary’s Attic, the DISH thing is made in-house at Earls.) The burgers have Weekly Dining Guide in 5400 N. Clark St. earned universal raves (and I plan on trying those A pop music revue that covers artists WINDY CITY TIMES in the future), but the offerings I sampled were from Cher and Madonna, all the way to pretty impressive as well. The Thai tomato coconut Britney Spears. Featuring the vocals of soup had crispy chickpeas for added texture, while Eric Briggs and Tyler R. Hall. Live guitar SAVOR the bibimbap was a solid dish. My faves had to be by Kevin Florian. Doors open at 10 pm, $5 at the door. the fall-off-the-bone ribs and the chimichurri skirt Earls Kitchen Chef Chris Memme (above) and Thai tomato steak (served with baby potatoes and pan-roasted coconut soup (below) at Earls Kitchen + Bar. tomatoes). The desserts are also pretty cool, with + Bar Photos by Andrew Davis offerings such as sticky toffee chocolate pudding Jai Ho: Springtime Secrets and coconut cake. BY ANDREW DAVIS By the way, I urge you to partake of the intrigu- ing drink selection at Earls. There are items that Canada has offered many interesting exports to range from craft sodas to unique cocktails—and I this country over the years, ranging from poutine loved the Marilyn Monroe, a tasty melange of Skyy to hockey to Celine Dion and Justin Bieber. (I’ll let vodka, passionfruit puree, vanilla and prosecco. you be the judge of how welcome each is.) Then, there’s the Caesar—Earls’ take on the Bloody However, after visiting Earls Kitchen + Bar Mary, complete with vodka, Clamato and spices. (1538 N. Clybourn Ave.; https://earls.ca/loca- The only potential snag for some may be the Fri., April 22, 10 pm tions/lincoln-park) recently, I’m convinced that price points (e.g., $15 burgers). Answering that Big Chicks, this eatery chain is one of the more welcome im- concern, Bilick emailed, “ Earls believes in using 5024 N. Sheridan Rd. ports from our neighbors to the north. (FYI: Father United States!) is tailored for its host city—and only the best, consciously sourced ingredients. DJ Voxbox spins Bollywood and Bhangra and son Leroy Earl “Bus” Fuller and Stanley Earl the Lincoln Park site is no exception. Chicago Sustainable seafood, approved by Oceanwise and hits and Masala Sapphire puts on a show Fuller —lending their middle names—started the flourishes include menu items such as the Chicken, the Marine Stewardship Association; fresh antibi- featuring Chicago’s freshest queens. A queer dance party featuring South Asian business in the early ‘80s.) Brie + Fig Sandwich and Leroy’s Crispy Ribs. How- otic free chicken and cage-free eggs, and 100-per- Each Earls (and there are 66 in Canada and the music and performances. $5 donation ever, the touches are not just limited to culinary cent all-natural Certified Humane™ beef for our goes toward supporting future Trikone offerings, as there are works of art such as an item burgers and steaks. We even make our own cheese Chicago events. that honors blues musician Muddy Waters; an in- slices for our burger. stallation from a local Banksy-esque artist named “Our food is cooked fresh and from scratch, FRESH; and a piece on one wall of the lounge that there’s no commissary kitchen as many other Bear All w/Scott Free is a stunning take on the local music scene, com- traditional chains have. We strongly believe in plete with trumpets emerging from the wall that practicing conscious-sourcing and providing only are arranged to produce a visual sound wave. quality ingredients for our customers, which can Speaking of the lounge, it’s just one component result in increased prices. We think our guests will of an expansive, airy restaurant that General Man- both taste and appreciate the difference and un- ager Brad Bilick described as “casual premium” at a derstand that it can cost a bit more to eat con- recent media event this writer attended. (When he sciously.” asked what I thought of the space, my first answer Earls is a very welcome addition to Chicago— was “There’s a lot of it.”) There are a three-season even if, for some, visiting may be more of a special Sat., April 23, 10 pm patio, a sports bar area with multiple screens and occasion than an everyday thing. Thanks, Canada! Touche, what I call the more traditional dining area that Note: Earls offers a wine special on Thursdays, 6412 N. Clark St. offers a view into the prep kitchen, which Chef with half off all wines. Sensuous men singing steamy, sweaty Chris Memme oversees. songs. Featuring The Pleasure Centers, Mister E Machine, Ben Walter and Scott Free. Hosted by Bryan Dowling.

The Boys in Briefs

Tue., April 26, 7 pm Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway Featuring Emmy Award-winner Scott Gryder, Jeff Award-winner Donterrio Johnson, and the stars of PFP’s The Boy From Oz, Chris Logan and Luke Meier- SIDETRACK diercks. Sizzling classics from George Gershwin, Kander and Ebb, the Drifters Bow down to Bey, Wed., April 13. and more. Photos by Jed Dulanas WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 29

and 1 musical have emerged as Final- program, accessible arts empowerment got Faber… 30 years too late. Through COMMUNITY ists in Pride Films and Plays’ 2016 for adolescent girls. Early Bird $20 May 21. By Babes With Blades Theatre Great Gay Play and Musical Contest and tickets, $25 at the door. 21+ 6:00pm Co. $22 8:00pm City Lit Theater 1020 will be performed as enhanced staged - 9:30pm The Hideout 1354 W Wa- W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago http://ba- CALENDAR readings! Pay-what-you-can, $10 sug- bansia Ave Chicago http://shecrew.org beswithblades.org gested. Shows throughout weekend. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ 7:00pm - 9:00pm Center on Halsted she-crews-sadie-hawkins-dance-tickets- Tuesday, April 26 Wed., April 20 3656 N Halsted Chicago http://www. 24268610066?aff=eac2 Mary Lambert Discussing the art of song- Outing Queer Fluxus: Geoffrey Hendricks centeronhalsted.org/newevents-details. Matt Damon Improv Remember that time writing (with special performance) with and David Getsy in Conversation cfm?ID=11962 when Matt Damon* got caught saying moderators Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot Hendricks is a prominent member of Jai Ho: Spring Secrets. Trikone Chicago a number of tone-deaf things while from Sound Opinions. Free and open to the Fluxus movement and a legendary presents Springtime Secrets - A Queer mansplaining what diversity is to Ef- the public. Sponsored by Center for the organizer of ‘60s era Happenings. His Bollywood Dance Party with South fie Brown, the Black Woman who pro- Writing Arts and Northwestern Women’s work communicates a fascination with Asian dance music and performances. duced the movies “Dear White People” Center 7:30pm Northwestern Univer- nature, collaborative rituals, and the $5 10:00pm - 2:00am Big Chicks and “But I’m a Cheerleader”? “Matt Da- sity Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place, performance of gender and sexuality 5024 N Sheridan Rd., Chicago; http:// mon” is an improv comedy show based Evanston campus http://www.north- in public life. In conversation with trikonechicago.org around racial and social tensions within western.edu/writing-arts/ David Getsy, author of Abstract Bodies, the world around us. Last three Sundays Sixties Sculpture in the Expanded Saturday, April 23 in April. $12. 9:00pm Under the Gun Wed., April 27 Field of Gender (2015) and the editor Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance Theater, 956 W Newport Ave., Chicago Why should your company be LGBTQ- of the anthology Queer (2016). Free strike up the bon (LGBTQ) Support meeting to talk about http://www.undertheguntheater.com certified? MB Financial 7:00pm Block Museum 40 Arts Circle illnesses, symptoms, treatment, doc- Bank’s LGBTQ Business Resource Group Drive Evanston, IL 60208 http://www. Thursday, April 21 tors, and personal issues such as dating, Monday, April 25 in partnership with the LGBT Chamber blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/ Lambda Legal’s annual Bon relationships and work. Every Saturday. A Wider Bridge: U.S. Tour of LGBTQ of Commerce of Illinois, StartOut Chi- Thursday, April 21 Foster event will take place 11:00am - 12:30pm Center on Halsted Ethiopian Israeli Leaders Introduc- cago, Northalsted Business Alliance and 3656 N Halsted St., http://dbsa-glbt- ing KALA (Hebrew abbreviation of Ke- Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce in Lambda Legal’s Bon Foster Lambda Le- at Morgan Manufacturing. chicago.com hila Lahatavit Ethiopit translated to a panel discussion on LGBTQ company gal’s premier Chicago event honors the Photo from 2015 by Gretchen Engendering Change Conference Gradu- ‘LGBT Ethiopian Community’) to North certification. Discussion will include: memory of Robert Bonvoulior “Bon” Rachel Hammond ate student conference for students America to facilitate collaboration be- Requirements and steps for LGBTQ cer- Foster the late civil rights activist and working in gender and sexuality, this tween diverse communities in the areas tification, Testimonials from LGBTQ cer- attorney who was an outspoken oppo- year with a focus on racial and gender of advocacy, human rights and cultural tified companies, Update on corporate nent of injustice and challenged oth- The 30 Year Gap The world isn’t the same justice. Rod Ferguson is the keynote exchange. Israeli LGBT leaders Sarah, and legislative initiatives to increase ers to demand the best for themselves. place that it was in 1978. For George, speaker and will be speaking on “Street Yaniv and Lielshare share their personal opportunities for LGBTQ certified com- Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres. 6:00pm - who lived his life in the closet, and his Transvestite Action Revolutionaries and stories and the critical need for KALA. panies. Seats are limited. Please register 9:30pm Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N. nephew, Chris, who is free and open with the Intersectional History of Gay Libera- Hosted by Jeff Grinspoon and Jon Foley. by Friday, April 15. 4:00pm - 7:00pm Morgan St., Chicago http://www.lamb- his sexuality, their Chicago’s are vastly tion.” 9:00am - 5:15pm UIC Student Wine & hors d’oeuvres. Donations sup- Fulton Market Kitchen 2nd Floor Studio, dalegal.org/bonfoster Tickets: https:// different. In a play that moves between Center East, 3rd Floor Conference Cen- port A Wider Bridge and KALA. 6:00pm 311 N. Sangamon St., Chicago Tick- secure3.convio.net/lambda/site/Ticket 1978 and 2008, George and Chris must ter, 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago http:// Lincoln Park address provided with RSVP ets: http://links.mail1.spopessentials1. ing;jsessionid=C17E689E9E9840623AF7 learn from each other what it means to be honest. Also April 28. $10. 8:00pm engenderingchange2016.wordpress.com Tickets: http://awiderbridge.eventbrite. com/servlet/MailView?ms=MTI4MDU0Nz A14D8F5877AE.app30103a?view=Ticket com kS1&r=Nzg0NDg2ODc2ODUS1&j=NzAzNz s&id=105703 Public House Theatre Bar, 3914 N. Clark Sunday, April 24 St., Chicago 800-650-6449 http:// 180 Degree Rule Play about professor Y0Mjg2S0&mt=1&rt=0 New Town Writers Workshop Participants {she crew} Sadie Hawkins Dance Danc- pubhousetheatre.com/the-30-year-gap/ Katie Dunham’s obsession with long- are asked to bring copies of their work ing, delicious bites from Luellas South- dead film director Ruth Alice Bennett, to share with other writers and listen- Friday, April 22 ern Kitchen and Pork Shoppe, perfor- shunned by studio heads for her lesbian ers. 7:00pm - 9:00pm Gerber Hart mances from She’s Crafty, smashing Pride Films and Plays: Gay Play Week- proclivities, and the struggle to unpack Library and Archives 6500 N Clark St the patriarchy (Pinata), and supporting end A slate of four new LGBTQ+ plays the truth behind the doomed romance Chicago http://www.gerberhart.org {she crew}. Benefits the {she crew} between Bennett and leading lady Mar-

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