Time Running out for ENDA by Lisa Keen Keen News Service

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 May 19, 2010 • vol 25 no 33 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com page 9 Gays: Time running out for ENDA By Lisa Keen Keen News Service

Janine Supporters of the Employment Non-Discrimina- tion Act (ENDA) say they have the votes to pass Feeling Denomme Dies the bill and they are just waiting for the Dem- ocratic leadership to call the bill to the floor. But the leadership has grown quiet—no more regular expressions of optimism and predictions for when Congress will take up the bill, and the Hot, Hot, waiting game is wearing on nerves. “The community and the movement have done everything we’ve been asked to do,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the Nation- Hot Elena Kagan news, page 4

Olympian al Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), last week. NCTE is one of the key groups lobbying Comes Out page 26 for the bill this session, taking the lead on the page 10 additional language that seeks to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, as well as sexual orientation. “We’ve worked and worked and gotten suffi- cient votes to make sure gender identity stays in the bill,” said Keisling, “but the bill is not being A fire dancer (above) was just one of the entertainers at Lesbian Community Care Project’s annual prioritized.” “Garden of Eve” gala, which took place at Christy Webber Landscapes. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald Turn to page 4 (MysticImagesPhotography.com), with many more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Illinois native fights for LGBT-immigrant rights By SAMUEL WORLEY Welcome As Congress prepares to take up the contentious issue of immigration reform, to Miami page 23 leaders of LGBT organizations are working to make sure that their constituents aren’t left out of the debate. Gay-rights activists scored a significant victory last month when a legislative framework for comprehensive immigration reform— introduced by Sens. Charles Schumer and Robert Menendez as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, all Democrats—included a highly sought provision: It would allow for LGBT citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor their foreign national partners for U.S. residency. A prominent voice in the immigration debate belongs to 16 year-old Immigra- tion Equality, a New York- and Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that works on behalf of LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants. And a prominent voice within Im- pick it up migration Equality belongs to Illinois native Julie Kruse, the organization’s policy take it home Read interviews with Human First 2010 guests director. Kruse recently talked with Windy City Times about her background— Lily Tomlin and Hal Sparks which includes a significant amount of time spent organizing in Chicago—and the work that Immigration Equality has done on the federal-policy level. inside on page 20. Turn to page 8

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Bush, to Kagan’s friends not make marriage equality a significant issue, same-sex marriage according to MetroWeekly.com. insist she Former First Lady Laura Bush has come out Several pro-LGBT organizations have praised in favor of marriage equality. According to the Laura Bush for what she said on King’s show. is not gay San Francisco Chronicle, Bush said on the Larry Faith in America has taken it one step further, By Lisa Keen King Show that “Well, I think that we ought to not only lauding Bush but also urging her to Keen News Service definitely look at it and debate it. I think there criticize former religious acquaintances who are are a lot of people who have trouble coming to anti-gay. The number of results from a Google search of terms with that because they see marriage as However, others stated that they wished she “Elena Kagan” plus the word “gay” more than traditionally between a man and a woman. But had made these statements years ago. In a doubled from 722,000 May 10—when President I also know that when couples are committed to Washington Post article, openly gay wrote Jona- Barack Obama nominated her to the U.S. Supreme each other and love each other that they ought than Capehart that his enthusiasm over Bush’s Court—to 1,950,000 May 18, when Politico.com to have the same sort of rights that everyone remarks was tempered after he spoke with friend reported two friends said she is not gay. has.” She also said that she thought same-sex Charles Francis, a Bush family friend. Francis Many of the results are articles and blogs marriage would happen because of a “genera- told Capehart, “As a longtime family friend, who discussing whether Kagan supported gay civil tional shift” in opinion. respects Laura greatly, “I can only say, ‘Where rights to the detriment of the military—a dis- Bush—who was on the show to promote her were you when we needed you?’ For me and cussion that will clearly be a matter of intense new memoir, Spoken from the Heart—also ex- other gay friends and original gay and lesbian focus during her confirmation hearing. pressed her support of abortion rights. However, supporters who put it out there for President Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the ranking Repub- in the book, she wrote that, in 2004, she asked Bush, this comment comes painfully late.” lican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, put that at the top of his list Monday in reacting to ENDA from cover the nomination. And efforts to complain about Elena Kagan. her lack of experience as a judge are running up Rea Carey, executive director of the National against an embarrassing reality—former Chief Elena Kagan as hostile to the U.S. military. Quite Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said, “We have Justice William Rehnquist never served as a the opposite is true.” heard that the official whip is completed and judge prior to joining the Supreme Court; Chief Meanwhile, Politico.com has the first sourced that there are enough votes to pass ENDA in Justice John Roberts served only two years; and information purporting some knowledge of Ka- committee and in the House, which tells us Justice Clarence Thomas served barely one. gan’s sexual orientation. that our vigorous lobbying and grassroots en- But the White House has taken an aggressive In a column posted late Tuesday night, Polit- gagement efforts are being effective.” posture against efforts to thwart Kagan’s nomi- ico writer Ben Smith quotes Kagan’s former law “Leadership needs to do the right thing, nation by painting her as some kind of pro-gay, school roommate, Sarah Walzer, as saying, “I’ve right now,” said Carey, “and schedule a markup anti-military radical. known her for most of her adult life and I know and pass an inclusive ENDA.” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs she’s straight.” One of those leaders is Rep. Barney Frank, acknowledged during Tuesday’s routine press Walzer does not indicate that she’s speaking D-Mass., the most veteran of Congress’ three briefing that the White House submitted a com- at Kagan’s request or on her behalf, but she of- openly gay representatives, chairman of the mentary for publication in Tuesday’s Wall Street fers, as evidence, that Kagan “dated men when House’s influential Finance Committee, and Journal to publicize the facts surrounding Ka- we were in law school, we talked about men— sponsor of the bill. Through a spokesman, gan’s actions, as dean of Harvard Law School, who in our class was cute, who she would like to Frank had no new information this week about with regard to military recruiters. date, all of those things.” when a vote will happen. “We sent this out… because there’s people Smith said Walzer agreed to be interviewed Frank introduced the bill, H.R. 3017, in that either don’t know or are unwilling to un- “after Kagan’s supporters decided they should June of last year and the House Committee on derstand the facts,” said Gibbs. “The military tactfully put an end to the rumor” that Kagan is Education and Labor held a hearing on it last had, through a student organization, access to gay. September. But a long-sought hate crimes bill Harvard Law School students. And the semester Barney Frank. Photo courtesy of Harry Gu- That rumor, which is fairly common about got the nod last year; Democratic leadership in which they did not have access to the Office ral many people in public life, gained some traction attached it to the annual bill authorize spend- of Career Services actually saw an increase in with Kagan because she is 50 and unmarried and ing by the Department of Defense. And an “They can’t sit there with a full beard and the number of Harvard Law School students that because the CBS News website posted a blog last enormously contentious and time-consuming a dress,” Frank told Roll Call. But NCTE said joined the military.” month claiming that, if confirmed, Kagan would debate over health care reform kept most ev- Frank’s comment was simply reiterating the The essay in the Wall Street Journal did not be the “first openly gay justice.” The White erything else off the table until March of this current state of the law. make that latter point, but it did paint a picture House quickly informed CBS the report was inac- year. “Barney was not really saying anything new,” of Kagan’s efforts to defend Harvard’s non-dis- curate, CBS took the post down, and the conser- After the health reform legislation passed said NCTE legal counsel Harper Jean Tobin. “It crimination policy against the military’s “Don’t vative blogger who wrote it apologized. and was signed into law in late March, Frank was troubling to a lot of transpeople, but peo- Ask Don’t Tell” policy as a more passive one than The Politico story also quoted another Kagan said the way was now cleared for the House to ple forget that ENDA puts rules on employers, news reports have painted previously. friend—the notorious former New York Gov. Eliot take up ENDA. He predicted then that a vote not employees. And most employers don’t have The commentary, written by Robert Clark who Spitzer—as saying he, too, knew Kagan dated would likely come as soon as Congress returned gender-based dress codes.” dean of Harvard Law just prior to Kagan, said Ka- men at Princeton. from a spring recess—in early April. It is now So, if the votes are there and a vote has been gan merely “followed” a policy that was “already Kagan herself has made no public identifica- mid-May. On May 10, Roll Call newspaper, spe- promised, why hasn’t a vote happened yet? in place” since 1979. That policy, he said, barred tion of her sexual orientation. Some LGBT activ- cializing in coverage of Congressional legisla- People on the Hill who are close to the ac- employers from recruiting on campus unless they ists reportedly expressed dismay that many news tion, reported that “senior Democratic aides tion offer several explanations, though none signed a statement agreeing not to discriminate reports Tuesday ran a photo of Kagan playing and lawmakers” believe ENDA could be on the would do so with their name attached. One based on various factors, including sexual ori- baseball. The 1993 photograph, from the Univer- House floor this month. said Democratic leaders worry about a repeat entation. Although the military refused to sign sity of Chicago Law School, shows Kagan at the One such aide told this reporter that Demo- of last week’s debacle on a bill to encourage such a statement, said Clark, Harvard Law did plate, holding a well-informed batting stance. cratic leaders would likely be discussing timing homeowners to adopt energy-saving measures. allow military recruiters some limited access to John Wright, news editor of the Dallas Voice, next week and there should be “more clarity” The bill passed the House 246 to 161 but not recruit through the Harvard Law School Veterans a gay newspaper, criticized the Wall Street Jour- on timing “by the end of this month.” before Republicans attached provisions that Association. nal’s use of the photo. As he explained to Po- Meanwhile, the remaining days in which the could prevent it from being successful. One In 1996, Congress passed the so-called Solo- litico, “I think the newspaper, which happens to House can vote on anything are ticking away— amendment requires that it cannot go into ef- mon Amendment to withhold federal funding have the largest circulation of any in the U.S., House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s legislative fect unless supporters can prove that it will not from any university that barred military recruit- might as well have gone with a headline that calendar shows a total of 48 full days for vot- add to the deficit. Another amendment requires ers. Clark said Harvard Law relented so as not to said, ‘Lesbian or switch-hitter?’” ing and 14 part days before adjournment and that contractors participating in the program jeopardize that funding for the entire university The photo got more than a little notice and mid-term elections. ensure that they do not have any sexual preda- but that the school issued a statement each year use by a number of news outlets Tuesday, includ- Roll Call ran two articles in late April sug- tors among their employees. expressing its disapproval of the military’s dis- ing MLB.com. The website of major league base- gesting support for ENDA has been suffering Conservative Republicans are almost certain criminatory policy. ball, asked several professional baseball players because some supporters of the legislation in to try similar amendments on ENDA, as well as When Kagan became dean in 2003, he said, to assess Kagan’s batting stance from looking at 2007 are suddenly getting cold feet over the an effort to recommit the bill to committee, as she continued that policy of allowing military the picture. New York Mets outfielder Jeff Fran- inclusion of gender identity protection in the a way of thwarting it. recruiters but expressing disapproval of “Don’t coeur said he thinks “she’s choked way too far bill this year. But Frank told Roll Call this week But Keisling said these types of efforts are Ask Don’t Tell.” up” on the bat, but most players asked said they the provision will stay in the bill and that he’s simply part of the game in Congress and that “Military recruiters used [campus recruiting] thought she had a pretty decent stance. Some still optimistic for passage. she’s “extremely confident” the support is there services,” wrote Clark, “but at the beginning of noted that it’s important to see a batter in ac- Some LGBT activists expressed upset over to pass ENDA. each interviewing season, [Kagan] wrote a pub- tion to get a full assessment. Frank’s comments to Roll Call that the bill, in “It’s just a question of getting prioritization” lic memorandum explaining the exception to the “Batting stance looks OK,” said Ivan Rodri- addressing the gender identity issue, does give from Democratic leaders, said Keisling. “I know school’s nondiscrimination policy, stating her guez, a catcher for the Washington Nationals, employers the right to expect that employees they’re busy—I get it. But apparently we’re not objection to ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ and expressing “but I don’t know the swing.” have a “consistent gender presentation” before being prioritized. …The clock is running out.” her strong view that military service is a noble ©2010 by Keen News Service they can sue claiming gender identity discrimi- ©2010 Keen News Service and socially valuable career path that should be nation. encouraged and open to all of our graduates.” Clark said “it would be very wrong to portray

May 19, 2010 5

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8JME1VH ® 6 May 19, 2010 The Episcopal Church had established a ban on Jefferson-Jackson Day is the name given to ONLINE AT gay clergy after Robinson was ordained in 2004; several annual fundraisers held by Democratic however, the ban was lifted in 2009. Party organizations throughout the United WINDYCITYMEDIAGROUP.COM —Andrew Davis States. NATIONAL NEWS Bayh stuns LOCAL NEWS with AIDS joke Lakeview site At the 2010 Indiana Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner in Indianapolis May 14, U.S. Sen. Evan for LGBT housing? BY ANDREW DAVIS Bayh, D-Ind., shocked attendees when he made a joke about AIDS during his speech, according The City of Chicago’s department of community to Advocate.com. —Ted Haggard development has issued a request for proposal Bayh subsequently apologized for the joke, starts new church (RFP) for the purchase and development of saying that he was misunderstood and stating 3600-3616 N. Halsted, a site that currently in- that he has continuously voted in favor of AIDS —Courage Campaign cludes the landmark Town Hall police station. Mary Glasspool. Photo from the L.A. diocese funding. Members of the Indiana Stonewall Dem- brings in Cheyenne The development goal, according to the execu- website ocrats reportedly left the venue because they Jackson (left), others tive summary, is to create “a mixed-use develop- were offended. ment containing 60 to 90 affordable senior rent- According to a transcript posted on Bilerico. —25th annual Episcopal Church’s al housing units targeting, but not limited to, com, the punchline of Bayh’s joke involved him AIDS Walk New York the senior lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender first lesbian bishop confusing someone asking “Do you have aides?” raises $5.7 million (LGBT) population. Senior housing is defined as Mary Glasspool is now the first out lesbian with “Do you have AIDS?” housing developed for people age fifty-five and bishop ordained by the Episcopal Church. The Huffington Post reported that Indiana’s above.” Advocate.com reported that Glasspool was or- State Central Committee has selected Brad Ells- Because the 23rd District police station (con- of that amount) would be needed. dained May 15 in a Long Beach, Calif., ceremony worth—a conservative with an anti-gay voting structed in 1907) has been landmarked, the Lakeview Action Coalition’s Bob Zuley ap- in front of 3,000 people. Glasspool now joins the record—to replace Bayh, who is retiring, at the building would have to stay and be rehabili- plauded the move, telling Windy City Times that Right Rev. Gene Robinson as the only openly gay end of his term. bishops in the church. tated as part of the development project, in ac- it “is a major achievement for the city to recog- Glasspool said, “I think they’ve grown as a cordance with landmark guidelines. nize the needs of LGBT seniors. [It’s] a terrific church. And I’m not saying that everyone out The Center on Halsted—considered by many to first step on the housing front in Chicago—and there is going to march in the next gay pride pa- be the hub of the LGBT community—is located certainly another demonstration of the mayor’s rade—including myself. But I think what we’re just north, at 3656 N. Halsted. According to the commitment to our community.” fighting for is to have our own integrity, to not summary, “the location was selected because of Tunney told Windy City Times that he has been have one particular aspect of our personality the large and growing population of LGBT seniors advocating for this type of housing since he “be- preclude the totality of who we are as individu- and the proximity to LGBT activities and social came alderman, if not before. We’re really excit- als.” services located at the [Center]. The beneficial ed about the RFP process and, hopefully, we will The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire told location nets an expectation that services and come up with some really innovative ideas for Windy City Times May 17 that Robinson had not activities will be integrated into any develop- our community. And what better place is there yet issued a statement regarding Glasspool’s or- ment.” to have it than next to the Center on Halsted?” dination. The target price is $4.13 million. The summary The response due date is July 6. Interested According to the L.A. diocese’s website, states that said price is not a minimum bid but parties can contact project manager Oneida Glasspool has been with her life partner, Becki applicants are advised that the purchase price Pate at [email protected] or is “an important consideration in [the depart- Sander, since 1988. Sander recently earned her U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh. 312-744-7471. Ph.D. in social work. ment’s] evalution of responses to the RFP.” A OrbitzAd_WindyCT_10.25x6.625.pdf 1 3/4/10 6:03 PM good-faith deposit of $413,000 (or 10 percent

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K May 19, 2010 7 Nonetheless, Giannoulias still has Obama in transgender community to conduct a series of his court and he continues to receive support breast health promotion and education activi- from many other influential political players, es- ties. The project is intended to increase aware- pecially within the LGBT community. ness of cancer risks and screening options, par- “Alexi Giannoulias has proven himself to be ticularly among sexual minority women who are a man of his word. It is absolutely crystal clear low-income and lack access to ongoing medical that his commitment to real equality for LGBT care. people is sincere. He is the only senate candidate in Illinois who will really do the job for our Trust announces community,” said Arthur Johnston, co-founder of Equality Illinois. LGBT fund For more information on Giannoulias’ positions The Chicago Community Trust has announced on LGBT issues go to www.alexiforillinois.com/ the establishment of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, issues/lgbt-rights and www.equalitycantwait. Transgender Community Fund. The new fund com. has been created with grants of $500,000 from the trust and a $200,000 challenge and operat- ing grant from The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Howard Brown Trust. Alexi Giannoulias talks at the Center on Halsted while backed by (from left) state Rep. Greg gets $75K grant This endowed fund will address a broad range Harris, Equality Illinois’ Art Johnston and state Rep. Deb Mell. Photo by John Fenoglio The Chicagoland affiliate of Susan G. Komen of needs through strategic philanthropy and for the Cure® has awarded a $75,000 grant to grant making to Chicago’s LGBT community and noulias is running on a platform of ethics reform Howard Brown Health Center to support its the nonprofit agencies that serve it. The fund is Giannoulias in Illinois politics, which has already come un- Breast Health Awareness Peer Educator Project, the first of its kind established by a community der fire from Congressman Kirk and other GOP a peer-driven outreach program designed to en- foundation in a major metropolitan area in the announces members. This is as a result of Giannoulias’ fam- courage breast health conversation and educa- United States. ily-owned and operated Broadway Bank, which tion among sexual minority women of color over An official announcement will take place Wed., federal regulators have since shut down. Kirk 40. May 26, at the Joffrey Ballet, 10 E. Randolph. LGBT agenda has tried to paint his Democratic opponent as a The project will target African-American and by John Fenoglio “reckless” failed businessman. Latino women from the lesbian, bisexual and

Illinois Treasurer and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias presented his campaign’s agenda regarding LGBT issues as well as his LGBT steering committee at the Center on Halsted on May 16. With a handful of elected officials and community leaders at his side, Giannoulias said, “I promise you that I will lead the fight for equality; for marriage equality, for an end to the De- fense of Marriage Act (DOMA), for employment non-discrimination, and for immigration reform that treats same-sex couples fairly.” The event was also a call-to-action, as Gian- noulias announced his plans to put more pressure on Congress to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. “I rarely disagree with my friend and our Presi- dent Barack Obama, but as many of you know, I have called on him to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ immediately. We don’t need another study. We need to listen to our commanders and allow + 1KVK :O\PY\WKXMO 3XUFKDVH\RXU all brave men and women to serve our country 0OK^_\SXQ 6SVc >YWVSX KXN 9VO^K +NKW] WLFNHWVRQOLQH proudly,” Giannoulias said. He added, “That is WRGD\ why today I am launching a national petition =K^_\NKc 7Kc drive to demand that our elected representatives +DUULV7KHDWHUIRU0XVLFDQG'DQFHDW0LOOHQQLXP3DUN put our national security and shared commit- (DVW5DQGROSK&KLFDJR 7LFNHWSULFHV ment to equality ahead of politics. I’m urging everyone to visit EqualityCantWait.com and join 30/HDGHU5HFHSWLRQ me in demanding that the House and the Senate pass repeal legislation this summer.” ([FOXVLYHFRFNWDLODQGKRUVGpRHXYUHVUHFHSWLRQ Giannoulias’ charge to repeal DADT comes at 30+XPDQ)LUVW$ZDUGVDQG*DOD3HUIRUPDQFH a critical time for America’s armed forces. With U.S. troops embattled in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, DADT is the only federal law that +XPDQ)LUVW+RQRUHHV requires the military to fire openly gay people. +XPDQ)LUVW$ZDUG And, since 1994, over 13,000 service members 0DUWLQ*DSVKLV&RPPXQLW\DQG&LYLF/HDGHU have been discharged as a result of the law. Moreover, in addition to losing valuable military &RPPXQLW\6SLULW$ZDUG personnel, the implementation of the law—and &KLFDJR)RXQGDWLRQIRU:RPHQ the investigations, prosecutions and discharges :DOJUHHQV (of soldiers for being gay or lesbian) associated with it—has cost taxpayers more than $360 mil- &HQWHURQ+DOVWHG1+DOVWHG__ZZZFHQWHURQKDOVWHGRUJ lion by last count, according to a 2006 Blue Rib- bon Commission Report. The press conference was not without political =:98=9<= $62) posturing and a few jabs directed at Giannoulias’ opponent, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk. 5REHUW.RKO “My opponent, Mark Kirk, isn’t a leader on &ODUN3HOOHWW GLBT issues,” Giannoulias said. “He’s a guy who says one thing and does another. He said he didn’t think Sarah Palin would make a good VP, later he begged for her endorsement. He’s fine with DADT the way it is. And, he doesn’t support marriage equality. My point is that this race progress logo 4/26/04 2:43 PM Page 1 is about character and conviction. It’s not right that my fiancée and I can get married without delay and gay people cannot. I’ve stood up for PROGRESS PRINTING CORP. 3324 South Halsted Street Chicago, Illinois 60608 gay rights, for equality, and I’ll continue to do tel: 773/927-0123 fax: 773/927-5804 so as a U.S. senator. In addition to his pro-equality position, Gian- 8 May 19, 2010 ven was truly beginning his life only to have it 2010 activities as well as meet new fellow vol- Mercado suspect ended because of his gender expression and or unteers. The event is free. For more information, sexual orientation. It is Steven’s family, friends see “Volunteer Kick-Off Party & Happy Hour at pleads guilty; and community who will always suffer the loss Sidetrack” on Facebook. of such a young shining star. locals react “Let us hope that the 99-year sentence will By ANDREW DAVIS send a message to anyone who might consider Center hosting doing such a crime that such hateful behavior HIV talk May 20 In Puerto Rico, Juan José Martínez Matos has will never be tolerated in any community.” Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, is host- pled guilty for the brutal murder of gay teen- The Chicago City Council adopted a resolu- ing a dinner and discussion featuring physicians ager Jorge Steven López Mercado that occurred tion Dec. 2 regarding Mercado. The resolution, from Rush University Medical Center who will last November, EDGE Boston reported. Matos— signed by Aldermen Manny Flores and Tom Tun- talk about the future of HIV research, sexual who had been charged with stabbing Mercado ney, called for, among other things, the coun- health and related topics. The event will take to death before decapitating, dismembering and cil’s Committee on Human Relations to conduct place Thursday, May 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. burning his body—had been scheduled to go on a study of homophobic and transphobic hate Drs. Kimberly Smith and Beverly Sha will trial May 17. crimes in Chicago. speak. Smith is an HIV expert who has spoken at Judge Miriam Camila Jusino immediately sen- numerous events and has appeared on The Oprah tenced Matos to 99 years in prison. Winfrey Show. Sha has been named one of Chi- Mercado’s father, Jorge López, tearfully said, Lambda Legal cago’s top doctors by Chicago Magazine, and is a “I want to send a message to Juan (Casper) and sign-up May 20 specialist regarding HIV and women’s health. tell him there is hope in Christ. The lord has for- Lambda Legal is hosting a volunteer sign-up The program is free. RSVP by calling 312-942- giveness for him, Irregardless of what has hap- A memorial to Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado at party Thursday, May 20, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. 1964 or e-mailing [email protected]. pened. God has a plan for him if he opens his last November’s Chicago rally. Photo by Hal Halsted, 6-8 p.m. heart to Christ. God will forgive him also.” Baim Attendees will be able to sign up to volun- Across the United States, thousands of people teer for some of Lambda Legal’s summer and fall held marches and vigils during the days after murderer was never charged with a hate crime, Mercado’s death. In Chicago, a vigil was held even when he himself told the police ‘he hated Nov. 22; Representatives from Amigas Latinas, homosexuals.’ RIGHTS from cover UNID@S, Young Women’s Empowerment Project, “Not only does Puerto Rico have a hate crimes La Casa Norte, Orgullo en Accion, Vida/SIDA, Bo- law that was enacted in 2002, but President ricua PRIDE and the Association of Latino Men for Kruse—who, as policy director, devotes much Obama just signed into law the Matthew Shepard Action (ALMA) were at the event, among others. of her time to congressional lobbying—was and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. In addition, politicians such as state Rep. Greg hired by Immigration Equality in 2008 to open This tells me that we still have a ton of work Harris and Cook County State’s Attorney LGBTQ an office in Washington, D.C., after the orga- ahead us.” Liaison Vernita Gray spoke. (The main organizers nization “decided that we really needed to in- Harris said, “It has to be a relief to [Mercado’s] were Juan Calderon of VIDA/SIDA; Jorge Felix of crease our presence in Washington,” she said. family, the LGBT community and even the Puerto Boricua PRIDE; Ruben D. Feliciano of ALMA and The D.C. office now employs four full-time staff Rican community in Chicago that the perpetra- Boricua PRIDE; and Ed Negron of Orgullo en Ac- members, with plans to hire a fifth. In addition tor has been caught and will not be free to prey cion.) to advocacy, Immigration Equality does case on anyone else again.” In an e-mail to Windy City Times, Negron work: Among other things, the organization Gray e-mailed, “It does not matter whether stated that the confession/sentencing “was a maintains a pro bono asylum project for LGBT the perpetrator of that horrendous crime gets 99 bittersweet victory. On the one hand it’s good and HIV-positive asylum-seekers, and provides or 999 years. Nothing can bring that child back to see that there was some justice served in the technical assistance to attorneys working on to his mother’s arms. Every year on his birthday brutal murder of Jorge Steven and his family was related issues. his mother will have to look at a picture and able to find some peace. On the other hand, the Kruse came to the organization with a long remember her child. At the young age of 19, Ste- background in activism behind her. After ob- taining a master’s degree in education from Julie Kruse. Photo by Judy Rolfe Northwestern University, she was involved with Chicago-based social-justice groups, including, she said, community organizations in for same-sex partners to be able to sponsor Humboldt Park and Pilsen, Chicago Women in one another for U.S. citizenship, an option There’s Power Trades and the Center for Economic Progress, currently available only married opposite-sex where she was Director of Advocacy and Stra- couples. The centerpiece of this legislative tegic Partnerships. Kruse also served on the Il- push has been the Uniting American Families linois Governor’s Commission on the Status of Act (UAFA), provisions of which were recently in Our Pride. Women. included in the immigration reform framework “I really do feel my work here connects with set forth by the Sens. Schumer, Menendez, and Please participate in the largest my work back there,” Kruse said. “I learned ev- Reid. Gay & Lesbian Community Survey erything I’ve learned in Chicago.” Though she Kruse noted that U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D- Ill., has also been a vocal supporter of LGBT- in history, and help demonstrate lives in Washington, D.C., Kruse said, she visits Chicago often: it’s where her partner lives. inclusive immigration reform. the growing Power in Our Pride. Prior to joining Immigration Equality, Kruse Windy City Times last reported on this issue in December 2009, when U.S. Representative Our 2009 survey had over 30,000 participants from 25+ countries! did a stint as Interim Director of Legislative Affairs at Servicemembers Legal Defense Net- Luis Gutierrez, who represents Illinois’ 4th Everyone who completes the survey by June 30, 2010 will work, which works to end the Don’t Ask, Don’t Congressional District, introduced an immigra- be entered into a drawing to win one of 20 Amazon.com Tell policy. At SLDN, Kruse said, “I just got tion-reform bill that did not include provisions credits for $25, or the Grand Prize of a $500 Visa gift card! really excited about federal lobbying and the for same sex couples, as many immigration and LGBT activists had hoped. According to a re- Please take the survey between May 15 and June 30, 2010, and tell your friends! impact that could have.” Throughout the course of her political edu- cent press release by Immigration Equality, an cation, Kruse said, she became convinced of estimated 36,000 same-sex binational couples www.LGBTsurvey.com the importance of political lobbying. “You face “imminent separation or exile” because of can’t create any social change without policy current immigration law. About the Gay & Lesbian Community SurveyTM: Tremendous strides toward full equality have been achieved by change,” she said. While Kruse said that she was “disappointed” our communities over the past decade. There’s Power in Our Pride. Power to make a difference! with that bill, she called the new Senate frame- • Gay and lesbian survey studies have opened doors (and minds) in leading corporations and organizations, which in turn have Ongoing lobbying efforts by Immigration recognized the value of their LGBT employees through the establishment of equal hiring policies and domestic partner Equality, as well as other LGBT organizations, work a “huge victory,” particularly because it benefits. This has been a catalyst, leading to sweeping changes in political and social inclusivity. bears the imprimatur of the Senate Democratic • Demographic reports also influence marketing investment. Virtually absent until recently, we now see a growing variety of were apparent earlier this year when one of products and services represented in gay media, celebrating our diversity. Ads keep LGBT publications and websites the organization’s major political goals was leadership. in business, serving their communities with independent news and information. • Beyond simply advertising, though, these companies support us in many ways, including sponsoring community events achieved: After two decades, a ban on immi- “It’s extremely exciting that for the first and funding community-based charities in order to earn our loyalty. time ever, our community has been included • Taking an annual pulse on market trends through surveys helps demonstrate the LGBT community’s growing power, and gration to the United States by HIV-positive influences positive change. people was lifted. Though the initial decision in a comprehensive immigration-reform bill,” to change the rule had been signaled two years Kruse said. “It’s a complete game-changer. We respect your privacy. All personal survey data is held securely by Community Marketing, Inc., a gay-owned and operated, earlier by then-President George W. Bush, the We’ve gone from [being] supplicants to being independent market research and communications firm based in San Francisco, and will not be sold to third parties or included.” used for marketing purposes. CMI was founded in 1992 and is proudly NGLCC-Certified. Thank you! full repeal of the ban depended on regulatory changes finally enacted by President Barack Kruse said that Immigration Equality’s goal Obama. has shifted from working to ensure inclusion With partner organizations, Immigration in the bill to working to ensure that LGBT ® 2010 Community Marketing, Inc., 584 Castro St. #834, San Francisco CA 94114 USA www.CommunityMarketingInc.com people aren’t, again, stripped out of it. “Now Gay & Lesbian Community Survey and Gay & Lesbian Consumer Index are trademarks of Community Marketing, Inc. Equality has also lobbied for the inclusion of same-sex binational couples in any comprehen- that we’ve succeeded in getting over that first sive immigration reform package considered by hump,” she said, “we’ve got to defend that vic- Congress. LGBT groups want to see provisions tory.” May 19, 2010 9 A visitation will be held 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, and one brother, Bill, both of Las Vegas, Nev. May 21, with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. at Drake He will be missed by many family members and AIDS mural to & Sons Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western. Funeral friends. be shown May 22 Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 22, Services are private. Artists, residents and entrepreneurs are unit- First United Methodist Church, 516 Church, Ev- In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in ing to work on an 15’ x 30’ AIDS-awareness anston. The interment will be private. In lieu of his name to Howard Brown Health Center; see mural, “Austin Is Doing Something (A.I.D.S.).” flowers, donations may be made to: Girls in the www.howardbrown.org. The mural is scheduled to be unveiled during a Game, 1501 W. Randolph, Chicago, Ill., 60607 ceremony Saturday, May 22, at Mayfield and Chi- or Roman Catholic Womenpriests, USA, P.O. Box cago, 12-4 p.m. 833, Anaka, Minn., 55303. “Austin” was inspired by With Me Comes A See www.chicagogayhistory.org for an inter- Cure, an awareness campaign by the AIDS Foun- view with Denomme and Katz; it is directly dation of Chicago designed primarily to address linked at www.chicagogayhistory.com/biogra- the growing HIV epidemic among African Ameri- phy.html?id=721. cans and stress the importance of developing an AIDS vaccine. PASSAGES Tom Moss Andersonville Tom Moss, a hard-working union glassworker and longtime employee of Torstenson’s Glass receives honor Janine Denomme. Photo by Hal Baim Company, passed away May 5 after a long battle The United States Department of the Interior with multiple myeloma. He was 45. has named the commercial district of Chicago’s A lifelong Chicagoan and Southwest Sider Andersonville neighborhood to the National Ordained by birth, Moss was known by many around the Register of Historic Places. North Side neighborhoods as a gentle soul with The Andersonville Commercial Historic District priest Janine a kindly grin. is located between 4900 and 5800 N. Clark, ad- He was a huge nature lover and enjoyed noth- jacent side streets and certain buildings on Ash- land. Denomme dies ing better than the secluded woods or a quiet Tom Moss. Janine Denomme, a committed Catholic who sunny spot at the lakefront. put her faith on the line at the end of her life Moss is survived by his mother, Janet Moss, by challenging the Church’s ban on ordaining women, died May 17 at her home in Edgewater. The cause was cancer, according to her partner, ROOSEVELT CELEBRATES JUNE PRIDE MONTH Hon. Judge Nancy Katz. Denomme, 45, was director of youth programs for the Center on Halsted and an active Catho- lic who served as a lay preacher, church musician, parish council member, spiritual director and religion teacher. In 2007, she learned about Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP) which, despite the official ban, has ordained over 100 women worldwide. She was ordained in April of this year. While she was preparing for ordination, De- nomme was diagnosed with cancer. Her blog SAN FRANCISCO about her experience at CaringBridge.org has attracted hundreds of readers moved by its pro- found spirituality, honesty and humor in the face IN THE 1970s of struggle and pain. “My ministry now is writing my cancer journey blog,” she said near the end photographs by JERRY PRITIKIN of her life, “asking questions and maybe leading readers to ask them too: how are we supposed to live faith-filled lives in the midst of sorrow? It’s Harvey Milk the invitation of Good Friday: face the suffering Orange Tuesday March and death at the heart of salvation.” June 7, 1977 Because the Church excommunicates women who pursue ordination, the Archdiocese has refused to allow her to be buried at her Catholic parish. Born in Detroit, Denomme grew up in a large family that was very involved with the church. “She always wanted to be a priest,” said her mother, Mary Joan, recalling times that she and her brothers played at saying Mass. Denomme majored in religious studies at college and did her PhD in American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, writing about the role of church women in the civil rights movement. She came to Chicago through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and stayed here to work as a teacher at St. Scho- lastica High School and later at DePaul Univer- sity. Denomme was active in the church throughout her life. Over the years her family and friends June 3 – August 13, 2010 watched her struggle between her belief that she was called to ministry and the Catholic Church’s ARTIST’S RECEPTION - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC refusal to open ordination to women. Deciding Thursday, June 3, 5 - 8 p.m. to accept ordination through RCWP brought her peace, says her brother Mark: “For the first time, she felt she could fulfill her vocation in ministry Gage Gallery, 18 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago and not abandon the faith, the rituals, the liturgy she loved.” Although her decision took courage, her FOR MORE INFORMATION: friends and family recall Denomme as a gentle (312) 341-6458 or www.roosevelt.edu/gagegallery spirit who preached love, compassion and rec- onciliation. “She was a wonderful partner,” adds Sponsored by the Ofﬁce of the President and the College of Arts and Sciences Katz. Other survivors include her grandfather, Earl facebook.com/GageGallery twitter.com/gagegallery VanWassenhove; father, Robert; and brothers Jo- seph and David. 10 May 19, 2010 ‘Garden’ delights The mood was green, glam and gay May 15 as more than 600 guests packed the eco award-winning, post- industrial chic Rancho Verde to support the Lesbian Community Care Program of Howard Brown Health Center. The venue, which provided plenty of space for cruising and schmoozing, was donated for the evening by Christy Webber Landscapes and honorary co-chairs Christy Webber and Jennifer Rule. The generous size and unusual layout of the facility allowed for multiple staging areas for live and DJ musical entertainment and an easy-to-navigate area for the silent auction as well as several performances that lent an air of carnival to the evening. The main event, however, was the food: sumptuous tastings donated by more than two dozen restaurateurs, boasting a wonderful variety of cuisines and libations. Careful planning and a very successful sponsorship effort by event co-chairs Tamara Allen, Kat Fitzgerald, Dalila Fridi and Melissa Mansfield means that 100 percent of the revenue from ticket sales goes to support LCCP’s health and wellness programs for LBTQI women—including the free breast/chest exams, pap tests and mammograms available to uninsured and underinsured women. Text by Micki Leventhal; photos by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com), with many more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com

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Clark 10-6 Saturday & Sunday [email protected] 773.281.0890 630-238-6675 www.womenandchildrenfirst.com State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Parking Available (not in NJ) www.interiorexpressoutlet.com State Farm Indemnity Company (NJ) Wheelchair Accessible Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois May 19, 2010 11 Gender JUST protests CPS again by Yasmin Nair said, “I don’t mean to minimize the issues; how- YOU DON’T SAY! ever, we have a number of pressing issues [like] COMPILED by ANDREW DAVIS Gender JUST carried out its third direct action the budget and the state deficit. [Huberman’s] attention has been somewhat distracted.” She against CPS May 13. The local grassroots organi- “This bold declaration that all of Ha- ton had claimed that singer John Mayer had told referred to the ongoing matter of teacher layoffs zation has been waging a campaign for a griev- waii’s families should be treated equally him that Mayer had oral sex with a man; Hilton and school closures. Bond insisted that the issue ance process that would allow LGBTQ students under the law is commendable and long overdue. offered to take a lie-detector test, and In Touch of violence was not being ignored but that she in Chicago public schools (CPS) to record the We thank all those who have worked long and took him up on his offer. could not commit to a timeline regarding the harassment they suffer and for greater aware- hard in this struggle for equality and urge Gov- institution of the grievance process. ness facing these students overall. According to ernor Lingle to immediately sign this bill into “That cute little voice of his. It’s okay, Asked to respond to Bond’s description of the the group, it has been unsuccessfully attempt- law.” — Alan Spector, legislative affairs co-chair 50 Cent. Feel free to call me anytime. My boy- protests and the issue, Finkelstein said “[CPS ing for nearly a year to get Ron Huberman, chief for Equality Hawaii, in an April 30 statement friend and I are experts. You can come over for continues] to use the budget as an excuse for executive officer of CPS, to agree to the institu- commenting on the Hawaii state House passing dinner. And maybe dessert.” — Singer Rufus not dealing with the issue of school violence.” tion of this process. Finally, feeling that it was a civil-unions bill that same day. Wainwright, commenting on what makes him cer- being stalled and that talks had broken down, He said he was “not surprised that they think tain that rapper 50 Cent is gay, in the May issue it’s unreasonable to protest and tell the truth” the group has, in recent weeks, been engaging “Unfortunately, harmful attitudes of Details magazine. and that the group was drawing on a long tradi- in direct action protests against CPS and Huber- like those of Setoodeh are used to pressure tion of direct action that went back to the AIDS man. actors to stay in the clos- protests of the 1980s and further back to the In last week’s action, the group targeted Hu- et. Our work is clearly not civil rights era when “significant gains were only berman’s appearance at a fundraiser hosted by done and we will continue secured through direct action when people were the Peace and Education Coalition at the U.S. to fight to end fear within pushed against the wall. The only power at our Cellular Field Stadium Club. Windy City Times the acting community that disposal is that of direct action. We are going I should’ve spoke to members Sam Finkelstein and Emily being open about who you to continue to put pressure on them through Manes after the fact, and also contacted Mo- are means the end of your known better. any means possible until they follow through.” nique Bond, CPS communications officer. [Dis- career. I’m an actor; it’s not —Figure skater/Dancing closure: This reporter is a member of Gender He also said, “After nine meetings, they failed who I am but what I can with the Stars contestant JUST.] to live up to any of the commitments that they play that counts.” — Jason Evan Lysacek, on saying made. The youth decided the only way to move According to Finkelstein, the group went up Stuart, chair of the Screen bureaucracy is by building momentum, getting negative comments to Huberman as he attempted to enter the club, Actors Guild’s National LGBT allies and forcing them to respond through di- about skater Johnny Weir and kept chanting slogans as they delivered a set Actors Committee, in a May rect action.” of grievances recorded by LGBTQ students. Asked 13 statement that was is- Emily Manes, a Gender JUST member and stu- why they chose this particular event, Finkelstein sued in response to an April dent teacher in CPS, said that she felt that the said, “the school-going youth in Gender JUST 26 Newsweek article by Ramin Setoodeh. In the “It’s a terrible thing I had to deal action was successful in showing Huberman felt that the award was undeserved; they were article, entitled “Straight Jacket,” Setoodeh con- with for a long time. But it sort of saved my that they were serious. According to her, suc- experiencing the opposite of peace and the per- tended that audiences do not accept openly gay life, too. I needed a smack upside the head, and cess was indicated by the fact that “the very son who has the power to do something about actors playing straight roles, using Sean Hayes after the assault I didn’t have sex for about 10 next day, Drew Berris [special assistant to the it is doing nothing. [Huberman] is really part of in the Broadway play Promises, Promises as an years. It really straightened out my loose behav- CEO] e-mailed us, saying that he wants a for- the problem.” According to him, Arne Duncan, example. ior.” — Singer Rufus Wainwright, on being sexu- the previous CEO, had also been offered a simi- mal request for the grievance process in writ- ally assaulted at 14, in the May issue of Details ing.” Asked about the issue of dialogue, Manes lar award but had turned it down, saying that “i have a network and show riding on my magazine. said that “the protests might not be conducive he could not accept it in good conscience when shoulders. I would say a big difference between to dialogue, but they are conducive to getting CPS students were facing high rates of violence. my character and me is that I can be too trust- “I find that a bit cynical. ... It’s true, things done.” Finkelstein said that recent research by GLSEN ing. ... I definitely have a thing or two to learn it’s tougher careerwise if you come out, but this Manes gave an example of her own experience showed that 80 percent of LGBTQ students expe- from the con artists.” — Matt Bomer, star of the is a human-rights issue, and it’s important to in CPS to illustrate the need to address hetero- rienced some form of violence, whether physical hit USA TV series White Collar, on speculation that keep putting dents in it. It’s about two teenag- sexism and homophobia in schools. She spoke or verbal. he’s gay, in the January/February 2010 issue of ers being beheaded for holding hands in Saudi of how one male student in the second grade Asked about the protest, Bond said, “What I Details magazine. Arabia. It’s bigger than someone’s music career.” do know about our attempts to dialogue with had come up to her and complained that an- — Singer Rufus Wainwright, after being asked if other male student “likes me in a nasty kind of the students and the group is that they have “Since the Olympics, I’ve dealt with he agreed with musician Stephin Merritt’s advice way.” Afterwards, the boy referred to by the first been a bit unreasonable. Their approach has Johnny’s questioning my integrity and that gay aspiring musicians stay closeted, in the student came crying to her saying that he had been one of protest. We hear their concerns and sexuality, and I’ve never spoken out on my own May issue of Details magazine. been treating him badly. Manes said, “Kids are have every desire to talk to the students; we behalf no matter how hurtful those things may learning that kind of homophobia even at that are not ignoring them.” Asked about what CPS have been. I should have known better.” — “At its core it’s a very beautiful love young age.” might do to institute a grievance process, she Olympic figure skater and Dancing with the Stars story. Even if there’s no such thing as a ‘gay contestant Evan Lysacek, on why he commented play’ 50 years from now—even if every piece of negatively about fellow skater Johnny Weir, as legislation that you and I want to pass as far posted on USMagazine.com April 30. He added as gay rights goes has passed—it will still be ‘50 Faggots’ at the Center that he thinks Weir is “accomplished and talent- extremely relevant.” — Actor Patrick Heusinger ed.” about the Broadway play Next Fall, in the April issue of OUT magazine. In the play, the straight “I think the world is getting more gay- Heusinger plays Luke, a gay fundamentalist Chris- friendly, so hip-hop is, too. But it’s harder tian. to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced. People view gay men as having no “Surprise us occasionally: Just once re- street credibility. But I think we’ll see one in my port that you slept with someone on the sec- lifetime.” — Openly bisexual rapper Nicki Minaj, ond date.” — Veteran actress Valerie Harper in in the May issue of Details magazine. the “Girlfriend” section of the April issue of OUT magazine. “We tested him several times, on the same questions, and he passed multiple times.” — Polygraph expert John Grogan in the March 1 issue of In Touch Magazine on Perez Hilton. Hil-

Randall Jenson (in the photo at right with Dr. Melissa Bradshaw) premiered his new web- Brothas Saving Brothas cast documentary series, 50 Faggots, to a sold-out audience at Center on Halsted’s Hoover- Leppen Theater May 14. Be Part of a Bonding The series explores the myths of masculinity and femininity within the gay male com- Experience Where You Will munity; tackling the issue of internalized homophobia and lack of representation of ef- feminate men as role models in the LGBT community. With the exception of Darrell Jones ʈ Receive great incentives for time spent! the entire cast—some from Washington D.C., and New York—attended the premiere and participated in a talk moderated by Bradshaw, a professor at DePaul University. ʈ Experience a free, everlasting retreat with At the end of the event Jenson presented Bradshaw with an Outstanding Professor Award other men of color. for her role as a mentor to LGBT students. For more information on future episodes of 50 Faggots, visit www.50Faggots.com. Photos and text by Emmanuel Garcia For information, contact BEHIV at 773.293.4740 ext. 29 Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) www.behiv.org 12 May 19, 2010

VIEWPOINT VOL. 25, No. 33, May 19, 2010 The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, irate Newsweek readers, commenting on this re- timents disguised as armchair pop philosophy. founded May 1987. mark, pointed out the splendidly obvious: that Promises, Promises costar Kristin Chenowith re- JORJET since time immemorial, gay folk have success- sponded to the Newsweek article eloquently and PUBLISHER & EXECUTIVE EDITOR fully been playing straight in a once-popular at length, calling Setoodeh’s remarks “horribly Tracy Baim HARPER vaudeville act called “The Closet.” No Emmys or homophobic” and small-minded. “No one needs ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky Oscars there, but no rotten tomatoes or angry to see a bigoted, factually inaccurate article MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Davis mobs either. that tells people who deviate from heterosexual BUSINESS MANAGER Meghan Streit Setoodeh waffled his way between the plau- norms that they can’t be open about who they DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA Jean Albright sible idea that audiences may perceive actors are and still achieve their dreams,” said Che- ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson ACCOUNT MANAGERS: Terri Klinsky, Amy Matheny, LESBOMANIA differently when they know they’re gay, and the nowith. You go, girl! Kirk Williamson rubbish idea that gay actors are simply uncon- Setoodeh responded to Chenowith and the PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT Cynthia Holmes Pride and prejudice vincing as straight people. As evidence of the groundswell of criticism by playing the innocent. NIGHTSPOTS MANAGING EDITOR Kirk Williamson latter, Setoodeh stopped beating up on Hayes “I was hoping to start a dialogue that would be NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 and media zombies SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, Marie and moved on to besmirch the young, gay, su- thoughtful,” he said. Sure. Because “Why can’t J. Kuda, David Byrne, Tony Peregrin, Lisa Keen, pertalented Jonathan Groff, who is currently gay actors ever play straight roles convincing- Yasmin Nair, Emmanuel Garcia Have you been following the brouhaha over guest starring on the TV show Glee. Setoodeh ly?” is a question perfectly crafted to spark a THEATER EDITOR Scott C. Morgan Newsweek’s recent article “Straight Jacket?” If didn’t buy Groff as straight in Glee either. Never thoughtful dialogue. Then Setoodeh played his CINEMA WRITER Richard Knight, Jr. not, you can get an inkling of what people are BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair mind Groff’s previous sensational run as leading trump card: He can’t be anti-gay because he’s so pissed off about from its gay-baiting subtitle: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS man in Spring Awakening and his pitch-perfect gay himself. And how naively hilarious is that? Mary Shen Barnidge, Jim Edminster, Steve Warren, “Heterosexual actors play gay all the time. Why portrayal of straight hippie icon Michael Lang Considering the number of right-wing gay-hat- Lawrence Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Catey Sullivan, doesn’t it ever work in reverse?” in Ong Lee’s charming movie Taking Woodstock. ing clergymen and “conversion therapists” who Zachary Whittenburg, Jonathan Abarbanel Shame on you, Newsweek. Click your heels COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: Yvonne Zipter, Susie Setoodeh snarked: “In half [of Groff’s] scenes [in have likely been trolling Rentboy.com for “travel three times and say “Raymond Burr.” Day, Jorjet Harper, Lee Lynch, Steve Starr, Lisa Glee], he scowls—is that a substitute for being companions,” Setoodeh really needs to rethink Keen, Charlsie Dewey, Michael Knipp, Mark Corece, The writer of this faux think piece, Ramin straight? When he smiles or giggles, he seems his argument. Sabine Neidhardt, Sam Worley, Billy Masters, John Setoodeh, began it reasonably enough by diss- more like your average theater queen.” Among Setoodeh claimed he’d been earnestly explor- Fenoglio, Chuck Colbert, Micki Leventhal, Sarah ing Sean Hayes’ performance in the Broadway Toce, Rachel Pepper the flood of angry responses to these remarks, ing “why, as a society, it’s often hard for us to revival of Promises, Promises. Setoodeh claimed PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Mel Ferrand, Hal many Glee fans mentioned that they were not at accept an openly gay actor playing a straight Baim, Steve Starr, Emmanuel Garcia that gay actor Hayes (famous for his TV portray- all aware that Groff was gay until they read it in character.” His article might have been worth CIRCULATION al of gay character Jack in Will & Grace) failed to Setoodeh’s article. reading if that’s what it had actually been CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright believably play a straight man in love onstage. In a remarkably off-base attempt to construct about. Finally, Setoodeh asks, “If an actor of the DISTRIBUTION: Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Renee, I haven’t seen Promises, Promises, so I might Sue and Victor a historical parallel, Setoodeh said that this stature of George Clooney came out of the closet have been willing to take Setoodeh’s word on gays-can’t-act-straight phenomenon he’s uncov- tomorrow, would we still accept him as a het- this, but then he coughed up his first wad of ered is “not, in fact, a uniquely gay problem. erosexual leading man?” The answer depends, disingenuous sputum: “It’s weird seeing Hayes Copyright 2010 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media In the 1950s, the idea of ‘color-blind casting’ of course, on who the “we” is. Most people I play straight,” he says. “He comes off as wooden Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back became a reality, and the result is that today know would say Yes. Maybe there will always be issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). and insincere, like he’s trying to hide something, there’s nothing to stop Denzel Washington from some homophobes who are going to perceive Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, which of course he is.” And right there we can and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and playing the Walter Matthau role in the remake gay actors as gay no matter how well they act. no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. all hear the sound of the deck being stacked. Be- of The Taking of the [sic] Pelham 1-2-3.” WTF? Setoodeh doesn’t seem to realize that that’s ex- All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy cause actually Hayes—however good or bad his City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned I don’t even have the space here to tackle all actly what he’s been doing himself—and that a for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing acting in this show—is not trying to hide any- that’s wrong with these musings from a parallel more honest subtitle for this Newsweek article and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, thing. One might just as well say that when Jake cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own universe. But how such crazytalk ended up in would have been “A case study in internalized Gyllenhaal plays a gay cowboy, he’s “hiding” the and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City Newsweek is something they may be investigat- homophobia.” Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of fact that he’s not gay and not a cowboy. a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy ing now as they ponder their stack of cancelled Jorjet Harper is the author of Lesbomania Then his shit really hit the propeller: Setoodeh City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the subscriptions. and Tales From the Dyke Side, and a senior sexual orientation of such person or organization. While implied that gay actors in general cannot cred- we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make Here in the real world, not only can talented editor and contributor to Out and Proud in ibly play straight roles. “It’s rare,” he opined, this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept gay actors believably play straight roles, but Chicago. responsibility for advertising claims. for gay actors “to pull off the trick.” Justifiably straight actresses can recognize anti-gay sen- (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 e-mail: [email protected]

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WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, Invitation to Pentecost est as Cardinal George promoting the idea that ent of Howard Brown nor do I know anyone that 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640 USA archdiocesan outreach ministry to gay and les- works or volunteers within the organization. I (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) On Pentecost Sunday, May 23, members and sup- bian Catholics who attend mass at Our Lady of would imagine the staff is there not because of Mt Carmel are celibate. I was taught that one of the stellar salary and the person who gives of Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. porters of the Rainbow Sash Movement (RSM) Nightspots Deadline Wednesday prior to street date. will be entering Holy Name Cathedral and at- the key attributes of God is truth. their time to sort through donated clothing is Identity (BLACKlines and En La Vida): Now tending the 11 a.m. liturgy. As is our tradition, It is our firm belief that justice, not homopho- doing it not for the recognition and the glory online only we will put rainbow sashes on when the liturgy bia, must flow from the sacred liturgy. but rather for a belief and a challenge. As a com- Deadline The 10th of month prior. Pentecost is the birthday of the Universal munity, we should not lose sight of the mission OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE begins. The rainbow sash identifies us LGBT peo- www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com ple and our allies. Church; it is a time to celebrate our diversity as these individuals undertake on a daily basis. Participation does not require membership in a people of faith with honesty. All are welcome Nonetheless, Howard Brown, as an agency, the Rainbow Sash Movement or that you need to to join us at the 11 a.m. mass on Pentecost is not without fault. Once all the appropriate www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Sunday, May 23, whether you’re Catholic or non- “housecleaning” has taken place, we don’t need www.WindyCityQueercast.com be of the Catholic faith. www.QueerTVNetwork.com Some in the church attribute the wearing of Catholic, gay or straight. a press release issued by a public-relations firm If you are interested in joining us and wish to tell us that all is well again. We don’t need an the sash as a form of religious polemic. RSM be- “Windy City Media Group generated to reserve a Rainbow Sash please call 312-266- apology. We need the board to have its PR firm lieves there is a deeper meaning to the wearing enormous interest among their readers 0182, or e-mail us at Contact@RainbowSash- draft a board member application targeted to of the rainbow sash beyond confrontation. In- in this year’s LGBT Consumer Index Movement.Com, or visit our web page at www. community members who would serve the board stead, it is a direct attempt to have RSM and the Survey. Out of approximately 100 bishops face each other and attempt to clarify rainbowsashmovement.com. as advocates,and consumers. (And this doesn’t print and online media partners who a misunderstanding based on homophobic no- mean the appointment of a “token” community participated in the survey, Windy tions. Clarification, not confrontation, is at Joe Murray board member who gets paraded with the poodle City was the best performing regional issue when RSM members wear sashes at Holy Chicago at the annual black tie event.) Too many junior media in the U.S. Only survey partners Name Cathedral. This is done in the absence of execs and law partners answering to the mirror with a nationwide footprint were any structures for quiet, peaceful discussions Targeting the board doesn’t do much for community ownership able to generate a greater number of with ecclesiastical authorities. What else are we I recently received an invite to attend a How- responses.” —David Marshall, Research to do—remain invisible? The manner in which Howard Brown has handled ard Brown function. I was tempted to call MY Director, Community Marketing, Inc. We can no longer bury our heads and remain the recent fiasco of its alleged malfeasance is an public-relations firm (actually, an ad agency) to silent on this matter, nor can we promote the insult to our community. The arrogance of the respond in a manner both “transparently” and ideal that, somehow, our own spiritual comfort agency board is unacceptable and should be ad- “ cautiously.” Instead, I reluctantly responded. is more important than civil rights of the LGBT dressed in greater detail by community activists We have to keep sight of the staff, the clients community. Nor will we remain invisible in order in the very near future. However, my concern is and the volunteers—but the boardroom is open to receive communion. Is “passing”—or working with the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly game. on the assumption that others will assume I am to make the agency a viable and productive en- straight—grounded in fear or love? tity, both in terms of the needs that are being Gregory J. Lindeman I think this kind of camouflage in the church met and the heritage that has been created. As Chicago is fundamentally dishonest. It’s just as dishon- a disclaimer, I am not (and have not been) a cli- May 19, 2010 13 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Photo courtesy of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors MIAMI HEAT Bureau Windy City Times profiles Miami in all its scenic glory. See page 23. MOVIES THEATER SPORTS Cause and ‘Effect.’ ‘Sweet’ dreams. Show of Force. Page 17. Page 16. Page 26.

Photo by Jonx Pillemer Photo by Michael Brosilow Photo courtesy of the Chicago Force

snubbed after a rash of negative reviews (still, the show is a box office hit so far). It scored Scottish only two nominations for Andrew Lippa’s score and Kevin Chamberlin’s turn as Uncle Fester. Play Scott Reaping a Best Musical nomination was Million Dollar Quartet, which is still playing locally with BY SCOTT C. MORGAN a Chicago company at the Apollo Theatre. The rock and roll musical also scored nominations for Many local theater fans were shocked to learn its script by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux and of the death of Chicago actor Guy Adkins on for Levi Kreis’ performance as Jerry Lee Lewis. Wednesday, May 12. Though Adkins was blog- Cast from The Former Chicago playwright John Logan received ging about his struggle with colon cancer on his Glorious Ones. a Best Play nomination for Red, which is about website at www.guyadkins.com, most theatergo- Photo by the later life of suicidal artist Mark Rothko. Red ers probably didn’t know the 41-year-old actor Brandon premiered in London earlier this season. was ill until reporter Chris Jones reported his Dahlquist In a bit of Tony Award controversy, designer death on the Chicago Tribune’s website. Santo Loquasto’s costumes for the recent re- Adkins is survived by his longtime partner and a 10-time Jeff Award nominee (winning twice hood of Rogers Park carries the biggest boasting vival of Ragtime were stripped of a nomination fellow actor Sean Allan Krill, his parents and for supporting roles in the Goodman Theatre’s rights. Three of its resident companies scored since they were deemed too similar to his Tony- three sisters. Though funeral services are to be Floyd Collins in 1999 and Writers’ Theatre’s Mis- the most nominations. nominated designs for the original production private, a memorial is being planned. alliance in 2002). Lifeline Theatre scored 13 nominations, while in 1998 (Many of those Tony Award-nominated What Adkins leaves behind is a trove of ephem- For Court Theatre, Adkins made critical waves both Bohemian Theatre Ensemble and Theo costumes can be seen in Drury Lane Oak Brook’s eral theatrical memories. A native of Michigan, in 2002 for his Hamlet (bearing all onstage) and Ubique Cabaret Theatre both scored 11 nomina- Ragtime). Adkins found steady work around Chicago since as the young gay poet A.E. Houseman in Tom tions apiece. The latter two companies also had Visit www.TonyAwards.com for a full list of his arrival in the early 1990s, proving his adept- Stoppard’s The Invention of Love. the most-nominated shows, with 8 nods for both nominations and for more information on the ness in major and minor parts in both intimate In recent years, Adkins made a splash in Mar- Bohemian Theatre’s The Glorious Ones and Theo June 13 telecast. plays and grand musicals time and time again. riott Theatre musicals, including major roles in A Ubique’s Chess. Adkins notably appeared in the world-premiere Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum For a full list of nominated shows and informa- Chicago off-Broadway musicals The Visit and The Return of Martin in 2005 and The Producers in 2007. Adkins also tion on the awards banquet on June 7 at Park The Tony Awards only honor Broadway excel- Guerre (both for the Goodman Theatre), and was co-starred alongside film star Molly Ringwald West, visit www.jeffawards.org lence, which is a shame because two acclaimed and reality TV star Paige Davis of Trading Spaces Over in New York, the Tony Awards didn’t com- Chicago plays are debuting off-Broadway this in the recent national tour of Sweet Charity. Ac- pletely forget Chicago-born shows with its 2009- week. cording to Adkins’ website, he is set to appear 10 nominations, though some heavy hitters are Profiles Theatre’s Graceland was a long-running in the forthcoming independent film The David missing. hit, and now Ellen Fairey’s drama (set in and Dance, which is in post production. Former Chicago playwright Keith Huff scored around Graceland Cemetery) is running at the It’s sad to think of the many roles that Adkins a box office bonanza when his acclaimed Chi- Duke on 42nd Street via LCT3, a developmental had yet to play before his life was cut short. But cago Dramatists play A Steady Rain attracted initiative of Lincoln Center Theater. It runs until the breadth of Adkins’ artistic career and con- film stars Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman for a May 29. tributions to Chicago theater is one that won’t limited Broadway run. Oddly the show was shut Also making a big noise is Kristoffer Diaz’s pro- be long forgotten by his friends, colleagues and out of awards contention. wrestling drama (and Pulitzer finalist) The Elab- theater fans alike. And Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts, which trans- orate Entrance of Chad Deity for Second Stage ferred virtually intact from Steppenwolf, was Theatre. The play, which had its debut at Victory Nominations, nominations largely forgotten except for Jon Michael Hill’s Gardens Theater, runs until June 20. Awards season is in full swing locally (and New well-deserved nomination in the featured actor Please send theater-related news and other York, too). category. tidbits to [email protected] and Guy Adkins. The Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations were The Addams Family, which tried out in Chicago [email protected]. announced recently, and the Chicago neighbor- and features many local producers, was largely 14 May 19, 2010 THEATER REVIEW Aftermath Playwright: Ronan Marra At: Signal Ensemble at the Raven Complex, 6157 N. Clark Phone: 773-347-1350; $20 Runs through: June 6

BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE

Whether you know who Brian Jones is depends on how old you were during the British Inva- sion of the 1960s, when the Rolling Stones (second only to the Beatles in popularity) were comprised of the smoldering-sensual Mick Jag- ger, the menacing-intense Keith Richards, the enigmatic-insular Bill Wyman, the silent saurian Charlie Watts and the pale, patrician, and after 1969, dead, Brian Jones. And now, nearly Joseph Stearns (left) and Nick Vidal in Aftermath. Photo by Johnny Knight half a century later, Signal Ensemble author/ director Ronan Marra explores the mysterious decline and still-unresolved—suicide? murder? dramas. The action mostly occurs in the studio THEATER REVIEW transmigration?—of this shadowy pioneer in a or backstage, far from the hoards of shrieking saga defining the rock-and-roll lifestyle to this fans, where a scruffy band of brothers tenta- The Good Negro day. tively essay their first steps in a 40-years-and- Playwright: Tracey Scott Wilson Ironically, the legendary combo’s first casu- counting career for the survivors. But neither At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn alty was its creator. It was Jones who, in 1962, does Marra’s snapshot gallery mimic VH1’s “Be- Phone: 312-443-3800; $25-$71 scoured London for sidemen versed in American hind the Music” series. First-person narration by Runs through: June 6 Rhythm-and-Blues, who championed exotic mu- our deceased hero alternates with scenes depict- sical styles (a phenomenon nowadays known ing significant moments in his progress toward BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE as “world music”), and whose delicate features destruction, along with re-enactments of the placed him in the foreground of publicity pho- songs marking chronological signposts. At one point in Tracey Scott Wilson’s fictional- tos. It was also Jones who was gradually edged Like any project proposing to offer analytic ized docudrama, on one side of the stage, an out of the spotlight by the professional manager insight into pop-culture dynamics, Aftermath activist minister addresses his congregation, hired for their first U.S. tour, Jones whose moods could have easily degenerated into a nostalgic while, on the other, a racist infiltrator stands Demetrios Troy in The Good Negro. Photo by grew increasingly volatile following experiments tribute-band weepfest. But much care has gone before the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, Eric Y. Exit with hallucinogenics and other then-unfamiliar into this production, from Elise Kauzlaric’s spot- both simultaneously imploring their brethren— substances, and Jones who was discovered one on dialects to the surprisingly period-authentic with the same words, verbatim—to “help us their lives, ethics—indeed, their very souls— night at the bottom of his swimming pool, pre- musical equipment. The performance skills of keep the South strong.” in pursuit of their mission. Wilson’s parable sumably drowned. the cast led by Aaron Snook as our posthumous And in this moment is encapsulated the co- might wear its symposial structure overtly, but The play sharing its title with the album re- protagonist (almost eclipsed, now as then, by nundrum proposed by Wilson’s intellectually it still presents us with blood-stirring oratory, leased just after Jones’ untimely end is not a Nick Vidal’s fuller-bodied vocals as a feline Jag- provocative diagram of a civil rights protest poignantly intimate emotions and considerable road-to-success pageant on the order of The ger) likewise invoke the spirit, if not always the in Birmingham circa 1963: the necessity for battlefield humor—this last chiefly at the ex- Buddy Holly Story or the Black Ensemble docu- letter, of their personae to deliver an experience both the good and the bad guys to employ the rewarding for audiences of, literally, all ages. same tactics, stratagems and rhetoric in order pense of Mick Weber and John Hoogenakker’s to achieve their goals, with dissension within seen-it-all FBI agents and Dan Waller’s dim-bulb the ranks common to both factions, and the hu- cracker, whose setbacks were heartily applauded Sharon Gless at man weaknesses of the agitators—whether it be by the audience at the performance I attended. the inability to keep their mouths shut, or their Billy Eugene Jones, Teagle F. Bougere, Dem- pants zipped—ruthlessly exploited to escalate etrios Troy and Karen Aldridge act up a storm the damage to innocent bystanders. History to lend empathy to personalities written as in- DVD and book party might be written by the victors, but sooner or tellectual constructs, while Nambi E. Kelley and later, even the armies holding the moral ground Tory O. Davis deftly sidestep the temptation to in Chicago find themselves confronting the cost of making sentimentalize the humble citizens suddenly sausages or omelettes. thrust into media scrutiny. And if the result- 0WNVKCYCTFYKPPKPICEVTGUU6JCTQP*NGUU %WTP1QVKEG It’s no secret in a free society that ideologi- ing ambiguity—even the Feds lose their morale 4WGGT$U )QNM &CIPG[ /CEG[ YKNN DG KP &JKECIQ HQT cal crusades are often conducted like wars—no eventually—prove too brain-wearying, you can VYQ GXGPVU 6CVWTFC[ -WPG 3TKFG:GGMGPF 6JG YKNN other paradigm yet existing. But if we are to amuse yourself picking out the analogies to the DG JQPQTGF D[ KPVGTPCVKQPCN /*%7 NCY GPHQTEGOGPV appreciate the dramatic stakes, we must com- career of the late Martin Luther King—but then OGODGTU CPF CVVGPF C URGEKCN &JKECIQ '9' TGNGCUG you’ll be missing the whole point of the play. RCTV[HQT+CPPCJ)TGG prehend the passion fueling those willing to risk +CPPCJ)TGGCPCYCTFYKPPKPIHGCVWTGHKNOUVCTTKPI*NGUU YCURTQFWEGFKP&JKECIQ7JGUVQT[QHCPKPFGRGPFGPV URKTKVCPFVJGYQOCPUJGECNNUJQOG+CPPCJ)TGGJCU Saturday, RNC[GFKPOQTGVJCPEKVKGUCTQWPFVJGYQTNFCPFYKNN DGTGNGCUGFD[:QNHG9KFGQKPVJG86CPF&CPCFC June 26 +CPPCJ )TGG YCU YTKVVGP D[ &NCWFKC $NNGP CPF DCUGF SPOTLIGHT 1QQPRO QPJGTUVCIGRNC[,VYCUFKTGEVGFD[:GPF[-Q&CTNVQP CPFCNUQUVCTU0CWTGGP*CNNCIJGT$PP+CIGOCPP.GNNK 3CNOGT+QWUG+KNVQP 6VTKEMNCPF7C[NQT0KNNGTCPF-CESWK-CEMUQP (0QPTQG&JKECIQ 7JG /GUDKCP CPF *C[ 3QNKEG $UUQEKCVKQP*C[ 2HHKEGTU $EVKQP /GCIWG QH &JKECIQ YKNN RTGUGPV *NGUU YKVJ VJGKT Tickets: $50 ³%TKFIG VQ 8PKV[´ $YCTF QP 6CVWTFC[ -WPG CNUQ Welcome back former Chicago actor Scott Par- KPENWFGUCEQR[QHVJG'9' CV VJG 3CNOGT +QWUG +KNVQP CU RCTV QH VJG VJ$PPWCN kinson when he makes up one-fourth of cast in RNWUCEQR[QHVJGPGYDQQM ,PVGTPCVKQPCN /*%7 &QPHGTGPEG HQT /CY (PHQTEGOGPV the national tour of the hit London and Broad- +CPPCJ)TGGD[&NCWFKC$NNGP &TKOKPCN -WUVKEG 3TQHGUUKQPCNU JQUVGF VJKU [GCT KP &JKECIQ D[ /*3$*2$/ &JKECIQ 6GG JVVRYYY way comedy that cleverly re-imagines a classic 3WTEJCUGQPNKPGCVYYYJCPPCJHTGG IQCNEJKECIQKPHQ 1935 film spy caper on stage. Alfred Hitchcock’s EQOWPFGTVJGVKEMGVUDWVVQP The 39 Steps plays May 19-30 at the Bank of See www.HannahFree.com or email [email protected]. America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and Montreal Image+Nation LesGaiCineMad - Madrid’s Austin Gay & Lesbian on May 23 (8 p.m. on May 19), 8 p.m. Fridays LGBT Film Festival International LG Film Festival International Film Festival and Saturdays and May 20 and 26. Tickets are Best Actress, Sharon Gless Best Narrative Feature Audience Award $20-$75. 800-775-2000 or visit www.broadway- inchicago.com. Photo of Scott Parkinson, Eric 5 NOMINATIONS Philadelphia Q-Fest QFEST ST. Louis Out Music Awards Audience Award - Audience Choice - Hissom and Ted Deasy by Craig Schwartz Best Feature Film Narrative Feature

Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Midwest Independent Audience Award - Film Festival Best Feature Best Editor Award May 19, 2010 15

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* Windy City Media Group includes Windy City Times, Nightspots and WindyCityQueercast.com 16 May 19, 2010 THEATER REVIEWS uncomfortable hoot), People We Know will probably frustrate more than it will enlighten—and People We Know that’s even with the lack of a “did he do it or Playwright: Robert Tenges didn’t he?” certainty to Paul’s actions. Instead, At: The Side Project, 1439 W. Jarvis Tenges seems more content to just sow seeds Phone: 773-973-2150; $12-$18 of doubt, whether it’s in cryptic flashbacks with Runs through June 6 Paul, or self-aware monologues the characters share with the audience (but not with their partners). Lady X Now for the unabashed (and frequently raun- Playwright: David Cerda with Derek chy) comedy: Hell in a Handbag Productions’ Czaplewski, Cheryl Snodgrass Lady X continues the company’s tradition of ex- and Adrienne Smith alting and eviscerating old silver screen conven- At: Hell in a Handbag Productions tions and their glamorous stars (played by both at Mary’s Attic, 5400 N. Clark men and women). Phone: 800-838-3006; $15-$20 Playwright/star David Cerda plays newly in- Runs through June 19 stalled mob boss Scarlett Fontanelli, who rules her coop of dance hall hostesses with a Joan BY SCOTT C. MORGAN Crawford-like iron fist. When murders start oc- curring under Scarlett’s watch, her employees Mysteries lie at the hearts of both People We (led by Annie Gloyn’s hilariously hard-boiled Know and Lady X, two wildly different world pre- Mary Dwight) debate whether or not to talk to mieres currently playing in Chicago. D.A. Frank Graham (Megan Keach). While Lady X is a campy spoof of 1930s and Kirsten D’Aurelio (left) and Amy Johnson in People We Know. Photo by Marni Keenan In addition to Gloyn, great stylistic perfor- ’40s films populated with by tough-talking mances come from Hell in a Handbag regulars dames caught up in a mob-related melee, People Michael S. Miller, Elizabeth Lesinski and, espe- is mostly secure in her belief that her teacher ing downer. Marriages problems between lawyer We Know is a contemplative examination that cially, Ed Jones as the aging prostitute Estelle husband, Paul (C. Sean Piereman), was wrong- Maddy (Kirsten D’Aurelio) and college music questions whether one truly knows the person Porter. fully convicted of pedophilia. conductor Eric (Robert Koon) and career woman you choose to spend your life with. Lady X most certainly could benefit from some Dianne’s married friends don’t know how to react Hannah (Elizabeth Bagby) and loving father The serious stuff first at The Side Project: Rob- judicious cutting and tightening of the plot. But to her. Tenges mines some great dark humor out Joshua (Andy Hager) both boil over past a ert Tenges’ People We Know aims to give people overall, it’s no mystery that Lady X is a campy of this difficult get-together situation, setting a breaking point. pause about the state of their relationships. comedy confection from start to finish—as you comic tone for the play that unfortunately gets Despite some very good performances that di- The play initially focuses on the emotionally would only expect from Hell in a Handbag. dropped for the duration. rector Adam Webster draws from his cast (the distraught Dianne (Amy Johnson), a wife who The rest of People We Know is an overwhelm- “lovemaking” between Koon and D’Aurelio is an

THEATER REVIEW hood memories and continuing through coming of out and proud men that accentuates wit and out, church, family, sex, HIV/AIDS, love/rela- lessons learned over disappointments or anger. Sweet Tea tionships, etc. Not every figure speaks in each As one of them puts it, “If you don’t like my Playwright: E. Patrick Johnson chapter, but that’s OK because what Johnson is packages but you want my gifts, you shall be At: About Face Theatre at out to achieve is a collective portrait—a com- granted neither.” The Viaduct, 3111 N. Western munity rather than a series of parallel but sepa- Grant Sabin’s scenic design creates an almost Tickets: 773-296-6024; rate histories. spiritual ambience for Johnson’s presentation, www.aboutfacetheatre.com; $25 Johnson himself is unprepossessing, neither lit with muted elegance by Kathy A. Perkins, and Runs through: May 29 young nor yet old, shaved head and doughboy- including red, green and yellow bottle lamps ish around the middle. He doesn’t look graceful, dangling from the tree branches. (Props designer BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL so when he cuts some dance moves or inhabits a Joel William Lambie and master electrician Jill younger man’s persona, it takes you by surprise. Norris no doubt helped in this, too.) If you like A vast, thick-trunked live oak tree dominates His charisma is that of the storyteller rather your tea dark and strong and sweet, this is a the low stage, its massive moss-draped branches than the actor as he engages the audience in show for you. swooping towards the audience while fram- a playful way that lets everyone know he’s in ing Greek-Revival peristyle of some plantation charge of the evening. house. You know you’re in the South even before Of course, it’s the men Johnson channels CRITICS’ PICKS E. Patrick Johnson speaks a word. When he does, that compel. Aided by director Daniel Alexan- Johnson begins with a chanted invocation that E. Patrick Johnson in Sweet Tea. Photo by Mi- der Jones, Johnson portrays individuals rang- The Farnsworth Invention, TimeLine invites the audience to meet a baker’s dozen of chael Brosilow ing from gentle to hostile to fierce (in the Theatre, through July 24. Philo Farnsworth fascinating individuals, all Black gay men of the popular sense that originated within the Black Tea: Black Gay Men of the South. They range invented TV but RCA mogul David Sarnoff South: “They’re my fathers’ stories when I rise, community), yet even at their most fierce they from a gay New Orleans patriarch of 92 years exploited it. In this sharp play and crack- circle must be unbroken! They’re my brothers’ are soft-spoken and disarming. The material is known as “The Countess” to a Unitarian minister ling production they are visionaries, com- stories when I rise, circle must be unbroken!” mostly free of “isms,” such as racism or ageism, to twentysomethings to Johnson himself, who petitors, enemies and American archetypes. Writer/performer Johnson draws his fellow 12 perhaps because Johnson, as anthropologist, is shares his own experiences. The play’s two acts JA from a much wider cross-section of men he in- from and of the communities of his subjects. are divided into chapters beginning with boy- The Drowsy Chaperone, Marriott The- terviewed for his 2008 oral history book, Sweet Johnson has created a positive group portrait ater, through June 27. The brainlessness of 1920s musicals gets an affectionate ribbing in this hilarious 2006 Broadway musical, CULTURE CLUB spiffily performed in the round under director/choreographer Marc Robin’s tap-happy tutelage. SCM Killer Joe, Profiles Theatre at Royal George Theatre, through June 6. The Royal George cabaret room is bigger than Pro- files’ Uptown storefront, but the humor in this Jeff-recommended revival of Pulitzer- winner Tracy Letts’ inaugural play is still as cruel as the violence is savage. MSB. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spell- ing Bee, Noble Fool Theatricals, St. Charles, through June 13. Director/choreographer Kevin Bellie does justice to this 2005 quirky musical comedy that cleverly incorporates improv to build suspense and inspire a load of laughs. SCM

A world premiere adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s —By Abarbanel, Barnidge, NEVERWHERE Morgan and Sullivan Thursday–Sunday through June 20, 2010 Call 773-761-4477 or visit www.lifelinetheatre.com May 19, 2010 17 skeletons that beg the question: How can these lion are on the ARVs that are provided by a no Rupert Everett) and the soundtrack crammed people be alive? We see each of the individuals number of organizations and cost as little as 40 with the usual mixture of ‘70s/’80s classics and at the moment they begin their daily regimen cents a day, nearly 30,000 million people living modern-day wannabes. KNIGHT of ARV medications. We then follow Mudenda on in Sub-Sahara Africa are living with HIV/AIDS The plot is basically a variation on It’s a Won- her rounds as the film tracks the progress of the without them. See www.hbo.com/documenta- derful Life with Shrek the ogre—fed up with be- AT three. By the conclusion—about three months ries/the-lazarus-effect. ing Mr. Nice Guy and his everyday responsibili- THE later—stunningly, they all have resumed their ties as husband to Fiona the princess and father normal lives, their health restored. Had the It’s been three years since Shrek the Third, the to three adorable but noisy kids—wishing he’d MOVIES drugs arrived sooner, Mudenda reflects, perhaps last installment in the hip, animated fairytale never saved Fiona in the first place. Rumpel- one of her daughters, who apparently suffered series about the giant green ogre, his sidekicks stiltskin (who sounds like he’s voiced by Jack horribly, might have lived. and true love, Princess Fiona. The last time we Black but is actually Walt Dohrn), a miniature The astonishing recovery of the three indi- visited Far, Far Away in 2007 I found the snarky, con artist, quickly gives Shrek his wish—but, viduals speaks to the urgency for an immedi- self-referential series enjoyable in the moment naturally, it comes with a price and it will be 90 ate infusion of further ARVs into the country so but decidedly on the thin side. Shrek Forever minutes or so before things are back together in more lives can be saved. Little Bwalya, espe- After, the fourth go-round in the series, isn’t Fairytaleville. cially, whose life was so close to being snuffed really a step up but the cleverness is still there I had a great time because like all the Shrek out and who has just wanted to return to the (along with the snark). Like all the Shrek pic- pictures, I reaped a maximum of enjoyment from classroom and her friends and get back to her tures, there’s still enough of the smart verbal a minimum of input. It’s a supreme example of The Lazarus favorite subject—math—is like a poster child and sight gags parodying our modern-day pop movie junk food. Like many things in the cul- for the healing ability of ARVs. culture transplanted to the fairytale kingdom, ture it’s parodying, Shrek Forever After is meant Effect; Shrek Spare in its filmmaking economy (Bangs along with enormous visual panache, to save to be ravenously consumed and just as quickly doesn’t waste shots and doesn’t provide a narra- the day. disposed of and forgotten. I am happy to report Forever After tion—the visuals and the horrific statistics seen Kids and adults will like it in kind—with per- that I did both those things in short order as the By Richard Knight, Jr. on screen say it all), emotionally honest and haps the scale tilted toward mom and dad— credits rolled. compelling, The Lazarus Effect packs more of a what with the usual assortment of identifiable Check out my archived reviews at www. The statistics are not just sobering—they’re hor- wallop in its short running time than countless “hip” celebrity voices (Jane Lynch, Jon Hamm, windycitytimes.com or www.knightatthemov- rifying: though preventable, more than 20 mil- other documentaries on the scourge of AIDS that Ryan Seacrest, Kathy Griffin et al.) joining the ies.com. Readers can leave feedback at the lion people have died in Africa from AIDS. How I’ve seen. familiar regulars (Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, latter Web site. many could have been saved if ARVs (antiret- One more sobering statistic: Although 3 mil- Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas, Jr.—but roviral drugs) had arrived before 2003 when a group of concerned global health organizations (including Bono’s “RED” campaign) stepped in and got the drugs to those desperately in need? ILLINOIS CAUCUS FOR ADOLESCENT HEALTH’S Before 2003 only 50,000 people in Africa had access and could afford the expensive ARV medications (approximately $10,000 a year), after LET’S TALK ABOUT the ARVs became available for a nominal fee or 5TH ANNUAL EVENT for free and more readily available, 3 million and counting. Just how important are the ARVs to the health of those impacted with the HIV virus in AIDS swept southern Africa? The startling answer is SEX the literal meaning of The Lazarus Effect, a documentary by filmmaker Lance Bangs that is having its world premiere Monday, May 24, on HBO. HONORING In just approximately 30 minutes, this searing, inspirational documentary provides shocking evidence of the miraculous change that ARVs are having on millions of Africans daily taking the drug cocktail. Set in sub-Saharan Africa, Bangs follows a group of individuals struggling with DAN HIV/AIDS and demonstrates how the ARVs are literally saving their lives. The men, women and children portrayed vividly get not just makeovers SAVAGE with regard to their appearance and health but what is tantamount to life makeovers. At long AND YOUTH LEADERS last, after decades of hopelessness in this area where AIDS has gone literally unchecked, there is finally a beacon of hope. Our tour guide through this eye-opening journey through the heart of AIDS country is Constance Mudenda, who runs three clinics simultaneously and has helped break down the TUE. JUNE 15 terrible stigma that has helped the disease run unchecked for years. Now, with the arrival of the ARVs and their spectacular success, a new CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER openness about a positive HIV diagnosis is the order of the day. She reads to us the passage 78 E. WASHINGTON ST. from the Bible in which Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus and, later, when we see the transformation in the individuals we have fol- 6-9 P.M. lowed, the phrase takes on a literal meaning. We see Mudenda passionately urging villagers to TICKETS: get tested, counseling patients, offering encour- $100 FOR FULL PROGRAM agement to mothers of tiny children, shrunken and malnourished by the disease, leading a discussion group, and speaking directly of her $150 FOR FULL PROGRAM PLUS VIP RECEPTION experience. Mudenda herself was saved by ARVs WITH DAN SAVAGE 5-6 P.M. though in one of the film’s most heart wrench- SPONSORED BY RUZICKA AND ASSOCIATES, LTD. ing moments we learn that none of her three children survived. Near the beginning of the documentary Bangs shows us Paul, a young married man with a son, TO PURCHASE TICKETS AND FOR MORE INFORMATION the last survivor of his immediate family, Concil- lia, a young mother with a daughter who is HIV free, and Bwalya, an 11-year old orphan weigh- ing just 24 pounds who is being raised by her www.icah.org aunt. All look like Holocaust victims—human 18 May 19, 2010 CLUBS: TEMPTATIONS open the club and expect people to come just because we were open again. We want them to understand that we make the effort to give them Get ready to something special like our Black Light Party, our Naughty/Nice Night, or Patron Pajama Party as be tempted a thank you for their efforts in supporting us. by Charlsie Dewey Saturdays we have brought in Julie Mosier, a very prominent event coordinator/promoter in Temptations Nightclub had a long history in Chicago, to promote events on Saturday night. the Chicago LGBT community, but for the past May 1 she held her first, very successful, event three years the club has gone through multiple called So You Think You’re a Rock Star with a transitions, first becoming a fantasy-sports bar packed house. and then as a rental location for private par- Temptations. WCT: How will Temptations stand out and ties. One such party helped bring the nightclub Photo compete with other venues and parties being back to the community, and on Saturday, May courtesy of thrown at other LGBT clubs? 22, the Franklin Park club will re-open as an Raven GG: Temps doesn’t fit in with what’s already LGBT hotspot. The Windy City Times interviewed Rodriguez going on in the LGBT club scene. We do not dedi- cate one or two nights to the lesbians like most George Grivas, owner of Temptations, to find out We want customers that used to patronize the space is a lot more aesthetically pleasing. One places are doing now with the glaring absence more about the clubs resurgence into the LGBT club to get a look at our remodeled facility and of the things we hear all the time is how much of other full time lesbian bars that have shut community. also introduce the club to the younger people nicer it is. We have also moved the DJ booth down over the years. We provide a safe, welcom- Windy City Times: Temptations was a les- who have not been here before. What people can down from the upper level to floor level to give ing environment for anyone who patronizes the bian club and then it became a sports bar of expect is a big “thank you” from us. This party is our patrons a better sense of interaction. We’ve club and have fun doing it. sorts. Tell me more about the decision to re- for them, for the people who have supported us, upgraded our sound system and lighting. WCT: George, how do you see yourself as turn the club to being an LGBT venue, and for their patronage throughout the years back Temptations has gone through a few changes part of the overall community? how the Pulsation concert contributed to that then, and now. since it was last open. We have new carpeting, GG: I had been serving the gay community for decision. WCT: What special things do you have seven large flat-screens and a new VIP section. many years before, and I’m doing it again … George Grivas: Temptations was a gay club for planned for the evening? The place looks a lot more upscale so we de- with bells on! 20-plus years, but for the last couple of years, GG: We have a few things up our sleeve for scribe it as a suburban club with a downtown WCT: Will you be doing anything special to yes, it was under different management. But I the grand opening like live entertainment and feel. The difference is we have unlimited free celebrate Pride Weekend? decided to take the club over again and return it a complimentary buffet. We are still finalizing parking right outside the club and our drink spe- GG: Pride weekend we plan on having a float to the community. It was time. a few details for this night but trust that it will cials are unbeatable. in the parade and are looking into getting buses The night we had Pulsation Band performing be a fun and exciting night for everyone in at- WCT: What can visitors expect on different to [take] people from the club to the parade and at the club, I had tried to pick the best thing tendance. There will not be a cover for this night nights of the week at the club? then back here for the after-party—no cover, that came to mind for everyone to enjoy that because it’s about us saying thank you to our GG: We already have our weekdays in place. free buffet and really great drink specials. Still evening at Temps. To see the community come clientele and giving them a night to enjoy the POPular has replaced what was our Stud Puppy ironing out the details. out, and to hear the women telling me how they space, the entertainment, the music, food and Tuesdays. It’s a night for the boys with DJ Dan- WCT: Is there anything that you would like missed the place and how they wanted to help, atmosphere. iel Borrero and host Cyon Flare. Wednesdays and to add? it was touching. WCT: How is the club going to be different Thursdays are our Dollar Drink Days. ... We have GG: I would like to personally say … many WCT: Tell me about the re-opening. What from what people who attended previously Fired UP Fridays, which is the night we incor- hugs, many kisses and many thank yous to all can people expect, and what will the experi- might have experienced? What is the atmo- porate Latin music for those who enjoy listen- the wonderful people who have made it possible ence be like? sphere like now? ing and dancing to Latin music. We have also to reopen. I hope you meant it when you said GG: Temptations has been open for a few GG: What’s different about Temps from what had themes for these nights because we want you wanted to see this place open again be- months now, but we are planning a huge grand people have experienced before is that the our patrons to understand that we didn’t just opening party scheduled for Saturday, May 22. cause I brought it back for all of you.

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I feel I her act to the Center on Halsted gala May 22, am similar to your character. Do you feel like and spoke to Windy City Times about recent it pigeonholed your career? projects. HS: Nope. That is my responsibility. If I get Windy City Times: Hi, Lily. How have you typecast, that’s my fault. If you have seen my been? We haven’t talked since last year. standup or seen me in person, you would know Lily Tomlin: Yeah, I have been fine, thank Michael is another human being. If he was you. standing here then you wouldn’t even think we WCT: You have busy with your show in Las were related. Vegas, Not Playing with a Full Deck, since WCT: That’s a good point. then. HS: I created him as a sole human being on LT: Yes, a little bit. I performed three times his own so he could live and die on his own. there and just finished. People could see him as a human being instead WCT: How is that different that other shows of that is Hal Spark’s acting. You have to be Hal Sparks. that you have done? involved completely as Michael as character or LT: It is not radically different. I just use more else it waters it down. film, effects and things, because I am in there WCT: We will see you at the gala. Good luck Lily Tomlin. NUNN ON ONE for a week. with your show tonight. WCT: When I met you backstage after your HS: Thank you and see you then! show in Aurora, your fans were everywhere LT: It is hilarious. I love the physical stage- Hal Sparks Hal Sparks will emcee Center on Halsted’s bringing you memorabilia to sign. craft that they use to make effects in the show. Human First 2010 gala, to be held Saturday, LT: Yes, all those items from years ago, right. It is low tech and they do this funny bicycle and recreation May 22, at the Harris Theater for Music and by JERRY NUNN That’s true; they bring all that old history. thing. Anyway, you will see it and enjoy it. Well, Dance, 205 E. Randolph, at 7:30 p.m. See WCT: Let’s talk about the F/X series Dam- you will enjoy it or you will tell me why. [Both www.centeronhalsted.org/humanfirst2010. Hal Sparks charmed his way into our hearts as ages. laugh.] So Beepo is being developed for a series html. Michael Novotny on Showtime’s Queer as Folk. LT: Was I doing Damages back when we talked at HBO, we hope. Find yet another interview with Hal Sparks— Windy City Times spoke to him face to face after before? where he talks about his upcoming special, WCT: Good luck with that project. a live webcast at the Center on Halsted May 8. WCT: You were just about to film it. How LT: I hope it happens. I think it would really Charmageddon—online at www.WindyCityMe- Windy City Times: Hi, Hal. So you are host- was it working with Glenn Close? be fun. It is so different from today. It is about diaGroup.com. ing an upcoming gala in town for the Center. LT: I love the show and I am a huge fan of it. repression and people were so fearful and clos- Hal Sparks: Yes, and I am doing all the emcee I have known Glenn for a long time, so all that eted. work that goes with it. was great. I, of course, know Martin Short, too. I WCT: Well, the series Mad Men works very WCT: Have you met Lily Tomlin before? Kroell to bare had never met Campbell Scott but I was friendly well that way. HS: I have. Apparently she is a big fan of the with his mother, Colleen. I loved the part and LT: Oh, right. This would be the flip side of the all in Playgirl Stephanie Miller show, which I do really regu- had a great time. It was shot in New York so I L Word. Ronnie Kroell—an alumnus of the reality- larly. had to go back and forth many times. That was WCT: You are always working on something. TV show Make Me a Supermodel and a former WCT: Tell me about it. okay, too. LT: I am also working on developing more Windy City Times 30 Under 30 awardee—will HS: Every Wednesday I do the Stephanie Miller WCT: Do you like doing serious roles to with the Desperate Housewives character about bare all in the June issue of Playgirl. show. They call it Hump Days With Hal. It started change things up? the two sisters that get into mischief but, on a In an interview with the Washington Blade, off with me calling in to promote something but LT: Oh, yeah I do. wider canvas, such a series. Kroell talked about moving from Chicago to we got into a long conversation and it became WCT: You are producing Leslie Jordan’s New York City to pursue “the dream;” par- WCT: People can keep up with your work at a regular thing. Now it’s on every week. I get to show, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. ticipating during Fashion Week; being part of lilytomlin.com. air my political side. I get to be funny and also LT: Yes, I am. Jane Wagner and I are among LT: If we keep it up to date. It is so hard. The various charities, such as Naomi Campbell’s try to pick and chose my battles and have an the producers. I just took him on The View. I more things are invented to keep in contact the Relief for Haiti; attending the GLAAD Media honest conversation. Thanks to Stephanie I am have known since I did 12 Miles of Bad Road harder it is. I had to shut down one my e-mail Awards; and, of course, posing nude for the able to do that. with him. I became friendly with him and he addresses. magazine. WCT: What brought you into town from was writing Pink Carpet then. He would make WCT: I know, I just started my Nunn on the In his 30 Under 30 profile, run in 2008, L.A? us crack up every morning in the makeup chair Kroell, a political science major at the Uni- Run website to put my interviews on for ex- HS: I am in Chicago a lot. I am doing a comedy with everything he had written the night before. versity of Illinois at Chicago, said that he ample the time we talked in the past. improv this weekend. I am working the gala in a He is so outrageous. We have the Gay & Lesbian LT: Luckily, we made that Lily Tomlin website has extraordinary dreams and believes that couple of weeks. I am doing an event for WCPT Center in L.A., Jane and I are partly involved in years ago, like 12 years ago or more. It was fun anything is possible (including his dream of in August to promote the station here in the because a very large donation was made in our at the time because it was a new expression and being president of the U.S.). city. I will do a show around that. We are doing names, where Leslie was working on the show in media form. We crammed everything on there at an event here at the Center in line with it. their theater section of the building. One thing the time. You can go on there for days and days MUSIC WCT: You went to high school here. led to another and we became producers for if you are motivated. To keep up that level of HS: Yeah, I went to New Trier High School him. production other than blogging or writing some- Aguilera’s Bionic in Winnetka, Ill. Chicago is my favorite city in WCT: He is really funny. I have chatted with thing is hard. North America hands down, borderline my favor- out June 8 him before. WCT: At our gala for Center on Halsted, are ite city in the world. Superstar singer Christina Aguilera will be LT: He is funny. I just hated for 12 Miles to you doing stand-up? WCT: What do you think of Talk Soup now? out with her fourth album, Bionic—courtesy end. Mary Kay Place and I were sisters and he LT: Yes, basically a performance with my char- HS: Well, it is once a week so it is a different of RCA Records—June 8. was our cousin, Kenny. [Laughs] Every Southern acters. show now. The Soup is not Talk Soup. It is much The first single from Bionic is the anthem family has a Cousin Kenny. WCT: We appreciate you doing things for our more pedestrian and there are a lot of knockoffs. “Not Myself Tonight,” produced by Polow Da WCT: I know, being from Tennessee. community, such as this event. I think Web Soup is arguably better. I like Chris Don. LT: Then you know. Where are you from in Ten- LT: I understand of course. I am hoping I can Hardwick; he is a really funny guy. nessee? tour the Center because I have been reading WCT: What made you want to stream online WCT: Close to Nashville. about it and they say the building is really at- Rihanna in at halsparks.com? LT: Oh, my brother lives in Nashville. tractive in how it is laid out. Our center here HS: I wanted a very distinct way to get in touch Chicago Aug. 25 WCT: This week I talked to Harriet Newman may have been the first one in the country so it with fans and friends. Meeting so many people Rihanna—who is enjoying the success of Leve. She said you are producing something is much older than that one. after my shows I didn’t want to lose touch with her most recent album, Rated R; a smash #1 with her and Jane. WCT: Everyone is looking forward to seeing those folks. If I can have any way of motivating single with “Rude Boy;” and an upcoming in- LT: Oh, yeah. We did the Beebo Brinker Chron- you. them to do stuff then I try to take advantage of ternational tour—has confirmed dates for her icles, which were great old ‘50s pulp gay novels. LT: Thanks a million. it. If they are inspired by something I do that 2010 North American tour, Last Girl On Earth. They were primarily lesbian books from the late Hal Sparks will emcee Center on Halsted’s cannot be lost in the world. I started it as a She will perform locally Wed., Aug. 25, at the ‘50s, early ‘60s. There were about five or six of Human First 2010 gala, to be held Saturday, lark. I answered some questions on Twitter once United Center. those books and very popular. How do you know May 22, at the Harris Theater for Music and and there were so many questions that I couldn’t For tickets, visit www.LiveNation.com. Harriet? Dance, 205 E. Randolph, at 7:30 p.m. See get them all. I looked at other ways to address WCT: She produced 39 Steps and I am going www.centeronhalsted.org/humanfirst2010. them. Live TV seemed the best way to make that to see that next week. html. happen. May 19, 2010 21

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Two more potential Gay Idols—Marvin and Mark—from Sofo will advance to the semi-finals at Sidetrack REAL ESTATE on Sat., June 5. Photos by Kirk Williamson

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Prairie style landmark home built by John S Van Bergen, FLOORING & WINDOW COVERING Frank Lloyd Wright FLOOR & WINDOW COVERINGS FOR ALL BUDGETS. understudy. 4 bedrooms, 2 Tile, Hardwood, Bamboo, Carpet, Laminate, Vinyl, baths, and 1 office. Fully and Window Coverings. Specializing in Helping with updated 2200 sq ft home with Material Selections for your Budget. Professionally high ceilings, original hard- Installed. Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings, We woods throughout, stainless Bring the Showroom to You! Call or email for a free steel appliances on a wide lot consultation and estimate. Charles 773-935-8700, with lush English garden. email [email protected] www.nfwchicago. Very close to Metra and Lake. com (9/29/10-26) Offered at $455,000. OPEN HOUSE HEALTHCARE Saturday, May 22, 1-4pm. NEW YOU COSTA RICA. We offer USA quality Medical & Private appts also welcome. Dental in Costa Rica for a lot less (lipo anyone?). Please request a free quote today: www.NewYouCostaRica. Call Dan at Dreamtown com 1-888-660-8060 or info@NewYouCostaRica. Realty: 773-332-3822 com (2/11/11-52) May 19, 2010 23 TRAVEL Bower, activist George Neary, Miami Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Steve Adkins, commissioners and, of course, Miami heat Aller were on hand. BY ANDREW DAVIS After the celebration, we had dinner at The Villa by Barton G. (1116 Ocean; 305-576-8888; It’s a cliche but, oh, so true: Words fail to ex- www.TheVillaByBartong.com), a boutique hotel press the beauty that is omnipresent in Miami that was one the home of the late fashion de- Beach, Fla. Yes, there are azure waters and signer Gianni Versace. The Villa has 10 custom sugar-white sands—and there was the blinding suites—each with its own personal butler, Ver- beauty of the people, which was possibly ampli- Vizcaya sace fabrics, Frette linens and even Bose music fied by the fact that Miami Beach held its Gay Museum & systems and Amazon Kindles. The restaurant has Pride Day April 17. Gardens. only 30 seats (adding to its air of exclusivity) I was part of an international contingent of Photo by and has dishes such as lobster with lobster- writers for LGBT publications that took part in Andrew Davis stuffed tortellini, and Dover sole. a media fam trip to the Florida city to sample The suites range from $2,100 to $5,200 a its hotels, restaurants and erotic-arts museum. a Peruvian restaurant with a chef, Juan Chipoco, and national historic landmark includes a house night. (By the way, there’s no chance of stum- (There’ll be more on that last one later.) who’s certainly easy on the eyes. Even better, filled with stunning art and furnishings. In ad- bling or sneaking into this place, which has a his cuisine is easy on the palate, although the dition to the main house, there are outbuildings velvet rope and locked gate.) A tour of the Villa An Epic occasion names of the some of the items (seafood orgy and gardens, with their architectural elements Suite, which was once Versace’s bedroom, con- Upon arriving in Miami, I was whisked to Epic and virgin-sliced fish among them) may make and statues. tains a nine-foot double king-size bed. Accord- Hotel (270 Biscayne; 305-424-5226; www.Epi- wonder what’s really on the menu. However, The writers had a chance to witness a historic ing to the tour guide, one resident complained cHotel.com), a luxury boutique hotel along the there was not a bad item to be had. event when we attended the grand opening of because he had to roll five times before getting Miami River in the city’s financial district. Later during the day, we were taken on a the LGBT Visitor Center (1130 Washington), out of bed! Epic is known for Exhale, a 12,000-square-foot tour of the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens (3251 which included the official dedication of the Find out much more about Miami—including facility located on the 15th and 16th floors. The S. Miami; 305-250-9133; www.VizcayaMuseum. Michael Aller LGBT Community Conference Room the World Erotic Art Museum and, of course, space contains (among other things) a mind/ org). Agricultural industrialist James Deer- within the new space. (Aller is often called “Mr. the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade—online at body gym; a yoga studio with incredible views of ing, who wintered on the property during the Miami Beach” for his many years supporting www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. the river; a hammam detox chamber; and beauty years 1916-25, built Vizcaya; today, the estate LGBT issues.) Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera bar for nails, waxing and other treatments. Of course, an array of massages is available (including fusion, deep tissue and deep flow and craniosacral therapy, which removes blockages within the brain). After experiencing Exhale, you may not want to leave the hotel. And, I have to say, this hotel has the best-looking staff NOW ON SALE! I’ve ever seen. However, there is so much outside the hotel to explore—and one of the treats is SugarCane Raw Bar & Grill (3250 NE 1st; 786-369-0353; www.SugarCaneRawBarGrill.com), located in midtown Miami. The eatery offers tapas such as crispy sweetbreads, duck egg, veal meat- balls, golden beets and even crispy laughing bird shrimp. Items from the robata grill range from skirt steak to Japanese eggplant, and the substantial raw bar contains such delicacies as young amberjack sashimi, conch salad and yel- lowtail jalapeno sushi rolls. I didn’t like dates before this trip, but I quickly converted after having those items wrapped in bacon.

Vizcaya and Versace The next day was full of activity, and it started with breakfast at Epic’s Area 31 restaurant (270 Biscayne; 305-424-5234; www.area31restaurant. com), which features sustainable seafood from the restaurant’s namesake, fishing Area 31. Chef John Critchley’s cuisine definitely is a stand- out—but the terrace and pool bars represent another eye-opening aspect of the restaurant. The terrace bar offers breathtaking views of the city’s skyline while the pool bar offers seating around two mosaic infinity pools. It definitely was an amazing way to start the day. Robert Geitner of the Miami Downtown De- velopment Authority took the free metra and eventually stopped in the Brickell neighborhood, where we all went on a walk. While being entranced by everything from the luggage stores (Hey—large cases were $9.99!) to the architec- ture, Geitner filled the tour with many intriguing 4 easy ways to purchase tickets! items, including the fact that Miami was actually founded by a woman—the only major U.S. CALL: 800.775.2000 ONLINE: city with this distinction. Eventually, the group ended up at the Olympia Theater at the Gus- IN PERSON: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, Chicago man Center for the Performing Arts (174 E. GROUPS (15 or more) 312.977.1710 Flagler; 305-374-2444; www.gusmancenter.org). 3 WEEKS ADDED! The venue has a stunning interior, and seats al- Tickets subject to applicable service charges. Performance prices, dates, times and cast are subject to change most 1,600 people. Originally opened in 1926 Due to popularwithout demand, notice. Single-ticket purchases limited to 8 tickets per person. Other restrictions may apply. ©DISNEY as the Olympia Theater, the theater was later now extended rechristened the Gusman Center for the Perform- ing Arts in honor of local entrepreneur Maurice November 27! SEPTEMBER 29–NOVEMBER 27 Gusman, who bought the property in the 1970s as the home of the Miami Philharmonic Orches- tra. We stopped for lunch at CVI.CHE 105 (105 thru lionking.com N.E. 3rd; 305-577-3454; www.ceviche105.com),

CHICAGO / B&K 87374 / HALF PAGE / WINDY CITY TIMES 7.625” X 9” RUN DATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 19 24 May 19, 2010

Sherry Wright, Suzanne Blum-Grundyson, Niki Cutler, and Brenda Schumacher will also give handy Festie First Timer Tips to help you rock your first festival. 1pm, 847-691-2301, REI Lincoln Park, 1466 N. Halsted Street Human First 2010, Gala Performance ben- Brought to you by the combined efforts of efiting Center on Halsted Starring Lily Tomlin and featuring Oleta Adams. Hon- orary Chairman Mayor Richard M. Daley, NERD, BRAINS Chair of the Honorary Committee Patrick Wed., May 26 Sheahan, Gala Co-Chairs Robert Kohl, Gail Morse & Lauren Verdich, and Dori Wilson. The gay-brainiac get- 7:30pm, 773-472-6469, Harris Theater for together known as Nerds Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph, www. Wed., May 19 centeronhalsted.org at Heart will take place Dining Out For Equality Equality Illinois YES, ICON Temptations Grand Re-Opening Tempta- at the Holiday Club, 4000 will host its inaugural Dining Out For Friday, May 21 tions has been open since January, but N. Sheridan. Equality event at restaurants across the now it’s time for the official grand re- city to help raise funds needed for the Michael Holmes will opening and a night of appreciation for fight to win equal rights for LGBT people in all. Complimentary buffet, live DJ, special Photo by Andrew Davis Illinois. Participating Restaurants include: impersonate the iconic Judy surprises and more. No cover all night. Big Jones, Crew Bar & Grill, Francesca’s Garland (right) at Michigan’s 8pm, 847-455-0008 Bryn Mawr, Halsted’s, Hamburger Mary’s, Acorn Theater. Hearty Restaurant, In Fine Spirits, Kit Sunday, May 23 viding quality programming and commu- Kat Lounge, Las Mañanitas, Minibar Ultra Hell in a Handbag Productions presents nity to LBTQ women and their allies in Lounge and Café, Nookies Tree, Wilde, and Lady X A shocking expose´ ripped from the Chicago-land area. If you identify as Yoshi’s Café. 5pm, Minibar Ultra Lounge the headlines of yesteryear! In keeping a woman, then be the change you want and Cafe, 3341 N Halsted, To Be Deter- with Hell in a Handbag’s tradition of camp to see in LBTQ programming at Center on mined, www.diningoutforequality.com and parody, Lady X takes on the black and Halsted! Free. women@centeronhalsted. Love in the Age of Grindr A forum on inti- org; 7pm, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Hal- Health Rush University Medical Center tal health services and the impact on our white crime melodrama films of the ‘30s macy and connectivity, in an era of rapidly sted, http://www.centeronhalsted.com and the Center on Halsted will present a behavior and life choices. 6pm, 312-566- and ‘40s. Staged in the art deco atmo- advancing technologies that are chang- discussion on the future of HIV research, 0285, ext. 12, Charles A. Hayes Family sphere of Mary’s Attic, above Hamburger ing the ways gay and bisexual men re- sexual health and related topics featur- Investment Center, 4859 S. Wabash Ave., Mary’s in Andersonville, Lady X will give Wed., May 26 late. RSVP www.lifelube.org; 6pm, Rehab Nerds At Heart’s Friki Fest Strut your ing world-class experts Beverly Sha, MD, Chicago, www.lovethybrotha.com theater-goers a glimpse into the world Lounge, 3641 N Halsted, www.lifelube.org smarty-pants stuff during a two-day and Kimberly Smith, MD, MPH. Program Spin’s 14th Anniversary Party The fun will of the ‘clip-joint’ from days gone by. $15 POW-WOW Tuesday Honoring the late Lor- celebration of International Geek Pride is FREE and open to the public. 5:30pm, start with a VIP Reception by invitation Thursdays; $20 Fridays, Saturdays. Spe- raine Hansberry on what would have been Day for brainy hetero (Tuesday) and gay 312-942-1964, Center on Halsted, 3656 N from 8-9:30pm on May 20th, at 9:30pm cial added performances. 7:30pm, 800- her 80th birthday. Writers scheduled to (Wednesday) singles. 7pm, 312-265-6085, Halsted, www.centeronhalsted.org/coh/ the doors will open to the public for a spe- 838-3006, Mary’s Attic, 5400 N Clark, www. participate include Carmen Abrego, C.C. Holiday Club, 4000 N. Sheridan Rd., www. calendar/newevents-details.cfm?id=1064 cial $1 Drink Night. At 10pm, Jade (from brownpapertickets.com/event/104390 Carter, Nikki Pattin, and Avery R. Young. nerdsatheart.com Lambda Legal Volunteer Recruitment RuPaul’s Drag Race), Mercedes, Dida Ritz Windy City Gay Idol 2010 Now in its 8th 7pm, Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W Gran- The Windy City Gay Idol 2010 Wild Card Party Lambda Legal would love your vol- and Phoenix O’Hara will perform in a fabu- year searches for the best LGBT singers ville 9pm door opens, 10pm start. Invited unteer support. Learn more and sign up lous Drag Revue! Guests will get a sneak in the Chicago area. 9pm sign up, 10pm LGBT Change Community Organizing guests plus open slots for new singers. to volunteer for some of Lambda Legal’s peak at Spin’s new beer garden! 10pm, [email protected]; 9pm, Meeting Join LGBT Change for their first 9pm, 734-834-0491, Roscoe’s Tavern, exciting summer and fall 2010 activities Spin Nightclub, 800 W. Belmont Berlin, 954 W Belmont community organizing meeting to get in- 3356 N Halsted, www.windycityme- and meet new fellow volunteers. No cost Breast in Show The women of GayCo are out volved in community outreach. Share your diagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/article. to attend. 6pm, 312-663-4413, Sidetrack, Friday, May 21 front in this new original sketch revue. ideas and learn how you can get active. php?aid=25995 3349 N Halsted Michael Holmes presents the Judy Gar- Lesbian couples cope with the only thing 7pm, (312) 863-9632, Munroe Hall (DeP- Hydrag with Hostess Tajma Hall Host- I Ain’t Crazy!- Gay Black Men, Mental land Show The spirit of Judy Garland is worse than a relationship gone horribly aul), 2312 North Clifton Ave, http://www. ess Tajma Hall will keep you laughing all Health, Spirituality and HIV Join the alive and well and celebrates the Great awry, a relationship gone horribly aright. www.lgbtchange.org night long as she shares the stage with Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus for a Standards of the Swing Era with new music Wymyn who love wymyn get defensive in countless stars; 10pm, Hydrate, 3458 N. community forum onissues surrounding and celebrity guests. Holmes imperson- Self-Defense class; and GayCo boldly em- Halsted, www.hydratechicago.com Black Gay Men’s mental, spiritual and ates Judy Garland who, in her 1964 tele- braces lesbian stereotype in their most Thursday, May 20 physical health. Panelists will address why vision variety show, played host to Bette epic Softball scene ever. Six talented co- The Future of HIV Research & Sexual Black Gay Men do (or don’t) access men- Davis, Carol Channing and Mae West – also mediennes take charge in GayCo’s second Thursday, May 27 What’s Queer About Sex Offenders? con- played by Holmes. 8pm, 269-756-3879, Women’s show in 15 years. Runs Saturdays ference The symposium features criminal Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr., Three in May. 10:30pm, Second City 1616 N. justice scholars, feminist and queer theo- Oaks, Michigan., www.thejudyshow.com Well rists, and prison reform activists explor- BoyGirlBoyGirl, The Flesh Market Inspired ing the social history and legal concept of by the salacious pages of Pat Lawrence’s Monday, May 24 the “sex offender.” It will conclude with 1969 not-at-all soft-core book of the Tripple D Saturdays Dinner, Drinks, Danc- a screening of clips from the film “Zoo,” same name, an evening of five hilarious ing! Come out spend the weekend with followed by a discussion with the director, monologues dealing mistaken identity, a great group of people. Bring friends, Robinson Devor. Free. Schedule of events insatiable appetites, Playboy cartoons, come alone, no matter what you will have at www.genderstudies.uchicago.edu/lgsp. bad porn video dialogue, and scrapbook- a great time! 5pm, 708-358-8840, Velvet 10am, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, ing. Starring Rachel Claff, David Kodeski, Rope, 728 West Lake Street, http://velve- www.genderstudies.uchicago.edu/lgsp Diana Slickman, Stephanie Shaw, and Ed- tropeultralounge.com Diana Ross More Today Than Yesterday ward Thomas-Herrera. Through May 22. Moneybottoms’ Revenge: A Comedy Spec- tour. Tickets, $45, $60, $75 and $100 on $15 or pay-what-you-can. Reservations tacular to Benefit Center on Halsted sale on Saturday, March 27 at 11am; 8pm, at [email protected]; 7 pm, Prop Benefits programming offered by Center 800-745-3000 o, Chicago Theater, 175 N. Theater, 3502 N. Elston on Halsted to meet the cultural, emotion- al, social, educational and recreational State St., Chicago, www.ticketmaster.com Saturday, May 22 needs of the LGBT community and friends. Harvey Milk Day of Action Rally and March $15. 7:30 p.m., Center on Halsted, 3656 Saturday, May 29 Chicago Red Stars play vs FC Gold Pride. Join the Chicago Harvey Milk Week of Ac- N Halsted, www.centeronhalsted.org/coh/ $15. 7:15pm, 866-WPS-2009, Toyota Park, tion in solidarity with other cities and calendar/newevents-details.cfm?id=1067 7000 S. Harlem, Bridgeview., www.chicag- thousands of people across the nation on Comedy Cabaret at 3160 Come and cel- oredstars.com Harvey Milk Day of Action with a rally in ebrate the one month anniversary of the Sweet Tea: Two Southern Writers discuss the park at Congress and Michigan Ave- Comedy Cabaret, Chicago’s biggest comedy Gender, Race and Sexuality After the nue. 1pm, The Park at Congress and Michi- secret! Sign up at 8:30pm/performance at evening performance of Sweet Tea, award- gan Avenue, chicagomilkweek.wordpress. 9pm. 8:30pm, 3160, 3160 N. Clark Street winning poet, writer, educator, activist com/schedule/ and Institute Advisory Board member Dor- Michfest REI Camping Workshop and First Tuesday, May 25 othy Allison will be in a conversation with Timer Tips Learn everything you need to Chicago Gay and Lesbian Chamber of writer/performer E. Patrick Johnson. Entry know about camping from REI and Mich- Commerce annual meeting Food and fun, included with ticket purchase. 7:30pm, fest experts during one of REI’s biggest including updates from your GLBT Cham- Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western sales of the year. Only 50 spots available ber of Commerce. Food by Buca di Beppo. URBANO Memorial Day Party URBANO Hip so register soon with ChicagoChava@ Entertainment by the cast of Three Cat Hop Blatino Memorial Day Party with Sexy gmail.com. REI will cover all the gear Production’s “The Stops. Free to all mem- Dancers and DJs Anton & Kenae. 11pm, you may need to comfortably and happily bers. Non-members are welcome to join (773)325-2233, Circuit Night Club, 3641 N ‘FIRST’-RATE camp and frolic in the 650 wooded, rolling with a $20 fee. 6pm, Sidetrack, 3349 N Halsted St, http://urbanochicago.com Saturday, May 22 acres that is home to the Michigan Wom- Halsted St,www.glchamber.org. yn’s Music Festival (Michfest) taking place WAC (Women’s Action Committee) “WAC” Aug. 3-8. Michfest veterans Pat McCombs, is comprised of women dedicated to pro- Center on Halsted’s Human First gala will take place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph. Get : WindyCityMediaGroup.com Photo from 2009 by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com) online ChicagoPride.com May 19, 2010 25

BILLY MASTERS Hold on, here we go! Sidetrack is gearing up for “I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see Memorial Day Weekend! marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman. But I also know that when couples are committed to each other and love each other that they ought to have, I think, the same sort of rights that everyone has.”—Laura Bush tells Larry King her views on gay marriage and how FUNNY BEAR she feels it’s an inevitability. See how smart you WITH SHANN CARR become when you read? THURS. MAY 27 5-8pm The big story this week was what’s been No Cover! Comedy Night termed as a homophobic rant which was written Sponsored by by a homosexual. The piece “Straight Jacket” by Ramin Setoodeh appeared in Newsweek, and JAIL & BAIL was subtitled “Heterosexual actors play gay all FRIDAY, MAY 28 5-8PM the time. Why doesn’t it ever work in reverse?” Sidetrack Bears Softball Team A provocative question. Alas, Ramin’s first ex- Kristin Chenoweth has been praised more for fundraiser $15 incl 3 drink tickets ample was Sean Hayes heading the cast of the taking on Newsweek than her role in Prom- Broadway revival of Promises, Promises—the ises, Promises BEAR BAR CRAWL same week Hayes by-and-large got good reviews SAT, MAY 29 • NOON-4PM and received a Tony nomination. The gauntlet he appears in the Broadway musical Memphis. was taken up by Hayes’ Promises co-star, Kristin “BEAR NATION” Behind the scenes, he organizes all the fund- Chenoweth—who, ironically, has by-and-large SAT, MAY 29 • 2-4PM raising that his cast does for Broadway Cares/ Special showing of the film! gotten bad reviews and was snubbed by the Equity Fights AIDS. He’s personally very hands $5 includes drink ticket Tony committee. Kris wrote a letter saying that on raising money for BC/EFA and GayLifeNYC. thanks to Setoodeh’s article is “horrendously homophobic” org, which helps people living with HIV/AIDS. and that his missive offends her “because I am a He’s also the poster boy for the upcoming human being, a woman and a Christian.” While Broadway Bares benefit, and certainly doesn’t MAN MEET she states that she has seen nothing “wooden” mind showing off his body—which is certainly SAT, MAY 29 • 4-8PM or “weird” in Hayes’ performance, I assume she something to behold. So, of course, everyone also thinks she is perfectly cast—and, on that wants to know if he’s gay. Well, in the pageant THE BEAR BQ 3349 N. Halsted point, there appears to be little question. Oth- MON, MAY 31 FROM 1PM he danced to Barbra Streisand’s The Main Event. Valet Parking Available ers have joined Chenoweth in condemning the sponsored by When asked how he knew the song, he said, SidetrackChicago.com original article—although many of the respons- “Oh, please! It’s Barbra Streisand. What kind of es make it clear that they either didn’t read the gay man would I be if I didn’t know?” Later he article or have limited comprehension skills. added, “I’m still searching and discovering who Setoodeh did himself a grave disservice by I am. I don’t want to limit myself. I’ve been with attacking individual performances that he finds guys and I’ve been with girls.” And he’ll be on lacking. If we go back to the subtitle, the point BillyMasters.com for your viewing pleasure. is that there has yet to be an openly gay man Obviously there have been oodles of rumors who has successfully played a heterosexual ro- about Jesse Metcalfe. Was it gay rumors that got mantic lead—and I’m using “successfully” in a him sacked from playing a romantic lead on a hit financial way rather than a critical one. Let’s show? Or did he brush some people the wrong leave the Brits out of this argument for the way? Or perhaps the brushing stopped. No mat- time being (or check out Rupert Everett’s end- ter the reasons, he may well be on the comeback less whining). And women don’t seem to have trail—with nary a Cherry in sight. He recently this issue because straight men, inexplicably, shot a pilot called Chase and NBC has already all want to sleep with lesbians. In fact, I’ll go picked up the show for the fall. So Jesse’s got a further than Ramin and say this is not a gay or job. That’s the easy part. He gets plenty of jobs. straight issue. It’s bigger than that. The truth is, As Bette Midler says in The Rose, “But keeping the more we know about ANY actor’s private life, ‘em’s the hard part.” the harder it is for them to disappear in a char- Let’s end with a bit more “Desperate” dish. acter. Tell me any of you can look at Tom Cruise It looks like John Barrowman is not necessarily in a movie and not have the words “nut job” leaving at the end of this season. Although that or “wacko” cross your mind. Or Mel Gibson and was the original plan, FOX has extinguished the “Nazi” or “drunk”. Or...well, you get the point. proposed US version of Torchwood, so Johnny’s So, yes, openly gay actors need to be vocal for datebook is remarkably empty. Aside from hit- a myriad of social reasons. But it doesn’t nec- ting Wales for the holiday season to play Alad- essarily help them in their profession. Plus, let din (I kid you not—photos on our site), he’s us not forget, entertainment is about fantasy. got nothing but time, and the network (and Mr. People watch movies or shows to forget about Cherry) would like to keep him around by pos- reality. If they wanted reality, they’d sit home sibly rehabilitating his character. A good start and read this column! might be to calm down on the make-up and Bo- Sometimes straight actors have issues play- tox. My god, it was like Lypsinka was playing ing gay roles. For instance, we now learn that those first scenes with Drea de Matteo! At one Mark Wahlberg turned down a role in Broke- point, I thought he’d have to say, “It may not back Mountain based on the advice of a priest! look it, but I’m angry!” What does he have? A Whatever happened to separation of church and Botox drip? Stop the insanity... cinema? Reverend James Flavin became a close When Botox can be listed as a dependent, it’s friend when Mark was a 15-year-old troubled definitely time to end yet another column. On youth. Ever since, the elder has been an advisor topic, beefy and long ... just the way I like ‘em. on spiritual and professional matters. Father Fla- So I’ll just remind you to check out www.Billy- vin told Mark to take The Departed, to pass on Masters.com because I’m sure some of this bril- Ocean’s Eleven, and nixed Brokeback Mountain. liance will get cut in print due to space. For your But, the padre ain’t always right—he told Mark personal needs, I suggest you send an e-mail to do Max Payne. How many Hail Marys did he to [email protected] and I promise to get have to say to pay penance for that one? back to you before Marky Mark and Father Flavin Last week was the annual Broadway Beauty star in a production of “Doubt”! So, until next Pageant, which was a benefit for the Ali Forney time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s Center for Homeless LGBT youths. The winner was bible. Charlie Williams, termed as “Mr. Memphis” since 26 May 19, 2010 tion [when they learned]; however, I did spend Vancouver a lot of time with my team in the last year and there was the occasional time where my sexuality was the brunt of the joke. The team I trained Olympian with was all European, very liberal, but [had] an attitude that, with them being straight, they comes out were better and stronger than I was. It got old, By Ross Forman and I stood up for myself; they pertained it was just a joke, but it’s jokes like that that drive When speedskater Blake Skjellerup went for the some people further into the closet.” gold at the Vancouver Winter Olympics this past Skjellerup said being gay in Vancouver dur- February, his family, friends, teammates and ing the Olympics was not an issue, and prob- coaches knew he was gay. ably never is in that part of British Columbia. In fact, Skjellerup and his boyfriend, during He repeatedly saw men and holding hands with the limited time they were together during the people of the same sex in Vancouver. Games due to the skater’s intense schedule dur- “Vancouver is a very pro-gay city,” he said. ing that two-week period, walked around Van- So who’s captured Skjellerup’s heart? It turns couver holding hands. out that he is a student-athlete at the Univer- “We had limited time to be together, so we sity of Calgary. “He is finishing up his Bachelor wanted to make it as nice as possible,” Skjel- of Commerce degree and has just recently retired lerup told Windy City Times in his first interview from competitive cross-country skiing,” Skjelle- with any U.S. outlet since officially revealing his rup said. sexuality. Skjellerup said he knew only two other gay So how did the two avoid the media’s intense athletes in Vancouver, although each is in the scrutiny? Well, no one asked. Blake Skjellerup. Photo courtesy of Skjellerup closet. “I have seen countless interviews where the “I am sure there were a good number of gay interviewer asks whether the person is seeing athletes there, but obviously they are not ready he said. “Coming out can be very hard, no thanks to someone. That never happened to me, no one to be out for their own reasons,” he said. “You So what’s next for the speedy Skjellerup? the persona society has placed on being gay, inquired,” said Skjellerup, who was interviewed never know how people can react or what the “I am unsure,” he said. “The International Skat- and if I could share my story to help bridge that more than 20 times during his Olympic experi- ramifications could be from other athletes, ing Union (ISU) has yet to release the schedule gap and help just one person accept themselves, ence. coaches, management etc. And at the biggest for the coming season. I will most likely have a I thought it was very worth while.” Skjellerup, 24, competed for his native New sporting event in your life, the event you have regional competition here in Calgary some time Ironically, Skjellerup’s official coming-out to Zealand at the Vancouver Games. trained so many years for, the last thing you in the fall. the world happened the same day that country “My best result was in the 1000 meters, com- want to have going on is being treated poorly “I am still reassessing my [long-term] skat- music singer Chely Wright did the same thing. ing in 16th,” Skjellerup said. “On paper, it has by anyone because of your sexual orientation. ing goals. The Olympics was a huge mountain “To most people, [my coming out] was not been my strongest event, with six top-15 fin- You have so much to focus on and to have the for me to climb, just to be able to get there. It a surprise. My family and friends were all very ishes and two top-10 finishes. Ironically, I felt extra stress of being discriminated against does was eight years of always doing the right thing. supportive,” he said. “Being in a sports team best in the 1500 meters on the first day of the not make it worthwhile for all the hard work you I had tunnel vision on Vancouver, and now, if you spend so much time together. People get to Games. I struggled to feel comfortable in Van- put in to get there.” through that tunnel, I am unsure which way I know one another very well. So I never had to couver and never really got my groove on.” Skjellerup said he is not certain how formally want to turn.” announce that I was gay as they all were around Still, the experience alone was priceless. coming-out will affect his skating. Hopefully not But soon he will return to the ice—and that when I was experimenting. It was not something “Vancouver was an amazing experience,” said at all. means plenty of calluses on his feet. I announced to the New Zealand Olympic Com- Skjellerup, nicknamed Flake. “It is a sporting “I am still the same person doing the same “I’m from New Zealand and everyone always mittee. I did not feel I had to. A straight person event like nothing else. The best of the best are thing,” he said. “It may affect me on the inter- jokes that we have hobbit feet, because of Lord does not have to announce their relationship there under the eye of the entire world. It was so national circuit, but I guess I will not know that of the Rings, and I literally do, thanks to 15 status or sexuality, so why should I?” many adjectives I do not know where to begin. until competition season comes around. I have years of skating,” he said, laughing. Skjellerup first told a close female friend that The Olympics was everything I expected, and not had any major sponsors in my career, but I Skjellerup’s official coming-out, in early May, he was attracted to guys when he was 17. more. My performance no way indicated what I have had personal sponsors. I have read it was came in the Australian gay magazine DNA. And “I had a lot to deal with before the Games. am capable of. I was very disappointed in how I hard for [Australian] gold medalist Matthew Mit- that actually was delayed a few weeks due to The selection process in New Zealand is quite performed. But you learn from past experiences cham to get a major sponsor after [the] Beijing printing issues. grueling and drawn out,” Skjellerup said. “Along and I hope I can apply what I learned into fu- [Olympics]. “I have been ‘out’ for quite a while. My fam- with training and the pressure of performing, I ture campaigns. Skjellerup went to Pride House in Whistler dur- ily and most of my friends all ready knew. But did not need to add another topic to my Olympic “I was [in Vancouver] for four weeks. I stayed ing the Olympics although he did not get to the it became public and international knowledge campaign. Media commitments were demanding in the Olympic Village for that entire time. There Pride House in Vancouver—primarily because he just this month in the Australian gay magazine as it was and my Olympics lasted from day one [was] a McDonald’s in the food hall and I had to didn’t know there were two different locations. DNA,” Skjellerup said. “I was approached to do right to the end. I had to keep up with train- try avoiding it until I was done competing. It’s “I thought it was a fantastic initiative to give the DNA interview by a friend and I was all for it. ing as well as competing, media commitments, very hard to ignore those golden arches smiling athletes like myself somewhere to go, and just I had nothing to hide; no person should have to seeing family and sleep some where in there for at you during breakfast, lunch and dinner.” be able to talk with other understanding peo- hide who they really are. I did the interview back [those] weeks. It was something I discussed Skjellerup lives in Christchurch, New Zealand; ple,” Skjellerup said. “They were really nice there in February [shortly after visiting] Pride House with my boyfriend before the Games, as I knew however, he is now living and training in Cal- and supportive of me for visiting. I hope it can in Whistler and realized that doing the article the impact it would have, but the situation nev- gary, Alberta, Canada. grow from Games to Games until being homo and was the right thing to do, not just for myself, er arose and my performance needed full atten- “Training facilities, coaching services and heterosexual is on the same level.” but for other athletes out there struggling with tion. training partners are very sparse in New Zealand, Find out more about Blake Skjellerup—in- accepting being gay and still being able to oper- “My coach and teammates did know [before so I have to base myself here in Canada to get cluding his hobbies and favorite U.S. cities— ate in their sport. the Games that I was gay]. There was no reac- the resources I need to be a competitive skater,” online at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com.

goal—getting that championship ring on our field, but that’s why we have ice bags, trainers son Square Garden. Force runs fingers,” Grisafe said. “We are getting better ev- and team doctors. Regarding women’s soccer, the Chicago Red Stars ery day and are ready to take care of the next “We’ll have many former Force players on hand lost 1-0 to the Philadelphia Independence May over Wolves opponent in our way.” to support us as this Saturday is Alumni Day. 15 in Bridgeview. The Red Stars (1-4-1)—who By Ross Forman In the second half, Chicago featured the of- We’ll recognize former players and coaches in have only scored one goal so far this season— fensive debut of rookie running back Dorian a halftime ceremony. We’ll also have a special will face the FC Gold Pride in their next match, Sami Grisafe had her best game of the season Bridges, who carried seven times for 61 yards. performance by the Chicago Spirit Brigade’s a May 29 home game at Toyota Park. See www. May 15, leading the Chicago Force to a 49-0 vic- The Force offense ran for 200 yards, with Bridg- dance team in honor and support of The Kay womensprosoccer.com/chicago/. tory over the Wisconsin Wolves in a game played es, Cat Converse (11 carries, 72 yards, two TDs) Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. In collaboration with in Madison, Wis. and rookie Brandy Hatcher (eight carries, 33 NIKE, the Chicago Force and other IWFL teams Grisafe completed 26 of 37 passes with five yards) doing most of the work. Rookie receiv- will don pink NIKE Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund LAGBAC hosting touchdown passes, helping Chicago move its re- ers Malloy, Vermilye and Jeanette Gray all had wristbands in a league-wide show of support for cord to 6-0. breakout games. the cause.” roller-derby night “This was a great game for us,” said Chicago Veteran wide receiver Harper had six recep- Game time May 22 against Pittsburgh is 3 The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chi- general manager Linda Bache. “Our defense con- tions for 96 yards and two TDs; tight end Kim p.m., at Winnemac Stadium. See www.chicago- cago (LAGBAC) is hosting a night of roller derby tinues to play well and our offense was firing on Marks also had a TD reception. forcefootball.com. Saturday, May 22, when attendees will see Windy all cylinders. Sami and all four receivers (Trish Overall, the Force’s offense had 489 total City Rollers in action. Harper, Taylor Malloy, Dana Vermilye and Jea- yards. Buses will leave from T’s, 5025 N. Clark, around nette Gray) played extremely well. It’s nice to “We need to beat Pittsburgh this Saturday, Sky, Red Stars lose 5:30 p.m. and return to Sofo at approximately build momentum at this point in the season. May 22, in our final regular season home game,” In Women’s National Basketball Association 10 p.m. Hopefully we’ll continue to improve, qualify Bache said. “Pittsburgh is a very good team, but (WNBA) action, the Chicago Sky fell to the Con- Tickets for law students are $10; for members, for the playoffs and hit our peak at the right they’re beatable and I’m confident if we play our necticut Sun 74-61 in its opener May 15 in Un- $20; and non-members and guests, $25. There time.” game we’ll come out of it with a win. It’s going casville, Conn. The Sky also lost May 16, as the are a limited number of tickets; RSVP to Malcolm “We’re now just one step closer to our overall to be very physical; there will be blood on the team fell to the New York Liberty 85-82 at Madi- “Skip” Harsch at [email protected]. May 19, 2010 27 CONNEXIONS MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS T Ray J. Koenig III and Clark Hill PLC CASUAL AND TSAMIS A widely published author and speaker, FLOORING TILE LAW FIRM, P.C Ray is a legal authority on all of his practice areas, which include probate, trusts, Always on your side guardianship, estate planning, and elder law, including the litigation of those areas. “Building He is a longtime advocate for and member of the LGBT Your BETTY TSAMIS community, and is involved in several charitable groups, community associations, and professional organizations. Dreams ATTORNEY Clark Hill is a full-service law firm consisting of a diverse team of attorneys and professionals committed to our With & clients and our communities. 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