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James Hormel Former Ambassador Reflects on Life, Activism and Philanthropy

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James Hormel Former Ambassador Reflects on Life, Activism and Philanthropy HAL SPARKS TALKS WITH WCT WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 JAN. 4, 2012 VOL 27, NO. 13 PAGE 22 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES James Hormel Former ambassador reflects on life, activism and philanthropy BY TRACY BAIM — coming out (to his wife and daughters); — moving to San Francisco in time for the anti- James Hormel, born in 1933 in the heart of the Depression, was gay Briggs Initiative, Harvey Milk’s his- carDINAL mostly sheltered from the economic crisis facing the United toric campaign for supervisor, and the GEOrgE/PRIDE States. However, despite being brought up with wealth and privi- start of the AIDS crisis; paraDE lege in Austin, Minn., Hormel eventually found his way to progres- — co-founding of the Human Rights sive activism and he has been a strong force for gay rights. Campaign; CONTROVERSY Hormel, an heir to the Hormel Foods fortune (Spam and other — friendship with Gay Games PAGE 6 processed meat products), is perhaps best known as President founder Dr. Tom Waddell; Clinton’s choice for ambassador to Luxembourg. The title of his — working with the United Na- new autobiography, Fit to Serve, reflects his long battle to become tions delegation from the U.S. to the nation’s first openly gay person to win Senate approval as a the Human Rights Commission, presidential appointee. Despite intense lobbying, and subjecting and much more. himself to public scrutiny and lies, Hormel never was approved by When reading the book, at the Senate. Instead, Clinton made him a recess appointment in times I wanted to compare 1999. He served until 2001. Hormel to Forrest Gump, be- Hormel’s book, co-written with Erin Martin, is a tightly written cause he always seemed to tale of his life, and includes his: be in the thick of the most — boyhood in Minnesota; important things happening. — teenage years learning about racism in the south (acciden- But that would be unfair to tally using a “colored” water fountain); Hormel; while he was perhaps — time in Illinois attending and working at the University of unintentionally in the middle Chicago; of these events, he also helped — participating in both Republican and Democratic politics (in- shaped them. He was not a mere REVIEW OF cluding protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in observer Photoshopped into the ‘pariah,’ talk Chicago); movement; rather, he was, and is, WITH star — working on behalf of third-party presidential candidate Dick an important participant. I found Hormel’s Chicago years PAGE 20 Gregory in 1968; — living in New York City during the years before and after the 1969 Stonewall rebellion; Turn to page 8 — traveling to Cambodia just as war was breaking out; Gone too soon The year starts on a sad note locally as Windy City Times covers the deaths of (from left) legendary rami kashOU female impersonator OF ‘PROJEct Sasha Valentino, HIV/AIDS RUNwaY: activist Fernando Blasco and community ally Merry Mary. ALL stars’ Pic of Blasco by Emmanuel PAGE 24 Garcia; photo of Merry Mary by Israel Wright page 11 page 11 page 10 “CulT supersTars” –Chicago magazine les balleTs TroCkadero de monTe Carlo 312.334.7777 january 24 at 7:30 p.m. / TiCkeTs $45+ HarrisTheaterChicago.org 2 Jan. 4, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES Old School Adler School Open House Tuesday, January 10th One-on-one dialogue is a start, but it’s not enough to tackle society’s most complex problems. That’s why the Adler School is 10:30am – 12:30pm preparing socially responsible practitioners to bring more voices to the conversation. Our graduates focus on pluralism and RSVP 312-662-4100 inclusion while working with diverse groups in the community. Apply today—and empower others to speak up. adler.edu Leading Social Change INQUIRE17 TODAYNORTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602 17 NORTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602 Mothers of LGBT individuals will be the focus of a new photo essay book from Windy City Times. We are soliciting submissions from LGBTs in the Chicago area, or those formerly from Chicago, for this new project. Just in time for the holidays, people can submit photos with their moms via email, Facebook or Twitter through Jan. 15, 2012. Windy City Times is looking for diversity in families. Once the winners are MOM selected, a professional photo shoot will be done by Kat Fitzgerald of Mystic Images Photography (of the winning mothers with their child or children), so winners must be available in the Chicago area, although ibute some additional photos may be used. Winners will also be asked to Tr t submit a 200-word essay about what their mother has meant to them. o A Depending on the reception for this project, other books may be done with fathers, or queer parents, but the focus of this first book is on mothers. To submit: Send photos of you with your mother to www.facebook.com/windycitymediagroup Twitter: windycitytimes1 or email [email protected] DEADLINE: JAN. 15, 2012 Mothers of LGBTs You can also submit a short essay about why you think your mother should be selected to be photographed with you. Families with multiple LGBT children are welcome to submit as well. Images may also be used in Windy City Times newspaper. WINDY CITY TIMES this week in Jan. 4, 2012 NEWS WINDY CITY TIMES Political drama for 2012 Amer. Historical Assn. confab details Cardinal George’s controversy ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS James Hormel profile 4 Scottish Play Scott Ally Merry Mary dies 5 Knight: Pariah, Angels Crest Valentino, Blasco obits 6 Pariah director, star talk with WCT 3 AIDS @ 30 8 Hal Sparks interview 17 Viewpoints: Sosin; letters 10 Tabatha Coffey takes over 20 Gay bashing at Archie’s; Cocktail 11 Rami Kashou of ‘Project Runway’ 20 12 Books: Lerman and ‘Planet Janet’ 22 16 Dish: Best of 2011, Orange 23 Photos on cover (left, from top): PR photo 27 Billy Masters 24 of Hal Sparks; official head shot of Cardinal 24 Francis George; photo of Pariah star Adepero 26 OUTLINES 29 Oduye courtesy of Focus Features; photo of Real estate; classifieds Rami Kashou courtesy of Kashou Calendar Q LGBT athletes of the year 27 HAL SPARKS TALKS WITH WCT WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 JAN. 4, 2012 28 VOL 27, NO. 13 PAGE 22 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES James Hormel Former ambassador reflects on life, activism and philanthropy 30 BY TRACY BAIM — coming out (to his wife and daughters); — moving to San Francisco in time for the anti- James Hormel, born in 1933 in the heart of the Depression, was gay Briggs Initiative, Harvey Milk’s his- CARDINAL mostly sheltered from the economic crisis facing the United toric campaign for supervisor, and the GEORGE/PRIDE States. However, despite being brought up with wealth and privi- start of the AIDS crisis; PARADE lege in Austin, Minn., Hormel eventually found his way to progres- — co-founding of the Human Rights sive activism and he has been a strong force for gay rights. Campaign; CONTROVERSY Hormel, an heir to the Hormel Foods fortune (Spam and other — friendship with Gay Games PAGE 8 processed meat products), is perhaps best known as President founder Dr. Tom Waddell; Clinton’s choice for ambassador to Luxembourg. The title of his — working with the United Na- new autobiography, Fit to Serve, reflects his long battle to become tions delegation from the U.S. to the nation’s first openly gay person to win Senate approval as a the Human Rights Commission, DOWNLOAD THIS! presidential appointee. Despite intense lobbying, and subjecting and much more. himself to public scrutiny and lies, Hormel never was approved by When reading the book, at the Senate. Instead, Clinton made him a recess appointment in times I wanted to compare 1999. He served until 2001. Hormel to Forrest Gump, be- Hormel’s book, co-written with Erin Martin, is a tightly written cause he always seemed to tale of his life, and includes his: be in the thick of the most — boyhood in Minnesota; important things happening. — teenage years learning about racism in the south (acciden- But that would be unfair to tally using a “colored” water fountain); Hormel; while he was perhaps — time in Illinois attending and working at the University of unintentionally in the middle Chicago; of these events, he also helped — participating in both Republican and Democratic politics (in- shaped them. He was not a mere REVIEW OF cluding protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in observer Photoshopped into the ‘PARIAH,’ TALK Chicago); movement; rather, he was, and is, WITH STAR — working on behalf of third-party presidential candidate Dick an important participant. I found Hormel’s Chicago years PAGE 20 Gregory in 1968; — living in New York City during the years before and after the 1969 Stonewall rebellion; Turn to page 8 Go to www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com — traveling to Cambodia just as war was breaking out; Gone too soon The year starts on a sad note locally as Windy City Times covers the deaths of (from left) legendary RAMI KASHOU female impersonator to download complete issues of Windy City Times and Nightspots. OF ‘PROJECT Sasha Valentino, HIV/AIDS RUNWAY: activist Fernando Blasco and community ally Merry Mary. ALL STARS’ Pic of Blasco by Emmanuel PAGE 24 Garcia; photo of Merry Mary by Israel Wright page 11 page 11 page 10 Visit the museum every Saturday in January to watch “CulT supersTars” –Chicago magazine les balleTs TroCkadero de monTe Carlo 312.334.7777 january 24 at 7:30 p.m. / TiCkeTs $45+ HarrisTheaterChicago.org Then click on any ad and be taken directly to the advertiser’s Web site! films that focus on the LGBT communities.
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