Noel Spain as Captain Bisexual in the Pride Parade. Photo courtesy of Friends of Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago. See feature on BQAC inside this issue. VOL 32, NO. 3 OCT. 12, 2016 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com BISEXUAL BATTLES DAWN OF A NEW DAY MAP report shows shocking Dawn Valenti—a Chicago survivor’s story. Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond disparities in the bisexual community 18 BY GRETCHEN RACHEL HAMMOND seeking asylum or navigating the immigration process, life- long mental health and physical issues including relationship On Sept. 27, the national, independent LGBTQ think tank The problems and isolation, an inordinately high level of risk be- Movement Advancement Project (MAP), in partnership with havior such as drug and tobacco use, suicide attempts, weight 10 U.S. advocacy organizations, released a major new report management problems, higher rates of breast cancer, HIV and BREAST CANCER on the disparities faced by one group within the LGBTQ um- other sexually transmitted diseases, cardiovascular disease, brella. problems receiving adequate healthcare as well as a horrify- AWARENESS MONTH The report detailed inequalities the group (representing 52 ing level of violence whether through intimate partner and percent of the LGB population) faces including a lack of sup- domestic abuse, rape or sexual assault. SPECIAL COVERAGE port from family members and friends, harassment and some- MAP cited a student in a 2014 Human Rights Campaign PAGE 34 times violent bullying in school, disproportionately high rates of workplace discrimination, chronic homelessness, difficulty Turn to page 8 ‘THE NUTCRACKER’ TRANS VIGIL SYLVIA RIVERA Christopher Wheeldon puts a spin on the classic. Chicago trans woman T.T. Saffore remembered. Iconic trans-rights idol is profiled. Photo by Todd Rosenberg 21 Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond 6 Image courtesy of The Legacy Project 30 @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 2 Oct. 12, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES HURRY, MUST CLOSE OCTOBER 23! (OUT OF 4) “THE FUNNIEST SHOW MARY ZIMMERMAN EVER HAS DIRECTED AMONG HER HUGE BODY OF WORK IN CHICAGO” –Chicago Tribune “SHOW-STOPPING” “[THE] 18-PIECE ORCHESTRA TEARS INTO BERNSTEIN’S SCORE WITH STAMPEDING GUSTO” “REALLY FUNNY...PERPETUALLY FRESH... AS POIGNANT AS IT IS CLEVER...IRRESISTIBLY ADORABLE...” “YOU’LL HATE YOURSELF FOR MISSING [IT]” –The Wall Street Journal LYRICS BY MUSIC BY BOOK BY BETTY COMDEN LEONARD BERNSTEIN JOSEPH A. FIELDS AND ADOLPH GREEN AND JEROME CHODOROV DIRECTED BY MARY ZIMMERMAN TICKETS START AT $25 312.443.3800 | GoodmanTheatre.org Major Production Major Corporate Sponsor Major Production Support GROUPS OF 8+ ONLY: 312.443.3820 Sponsor WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 12, 2016 3 WINDY CITY TIMES INDEX NEWS Park Foundation study on LGBTQs 4 DOWNLOAD Vigil for slain Chicago trans woman 6 THIS ISSUE Features on bisexuality 8 AND BROWSE THE ARCHIVES at Berwyn gay aldermanic candidate 10 ELECTION CHARTS 12 WWW.WINDYCITYTIMES.COM Health symposium roundup 16 Activist Dawn Valenti 18 Noel Spain as Captain Bisexual in the Pride Parade. VIEWS: Endorsement, Clinton 20 Photo courtesy of Friends of Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago. See feature on BQAC inside this issue. ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Dancin’ Feats: The Nutcracker 21 KRZYSZTOF PASTOR’S Knight: LGBTQ films at CIFF 28 VOL 32, NO. 3 OCT. 12, 2016 & JULIET ROMEO www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Strike a Pose documentary: interview 30 A look at trans activist Sylvia Rivera 32 Offering hope to breast-cancer fighters 34 BISEXUAL NIGHTSPOTS 36 BATTLES DAWN OF A NEW DAY MAP report shows shocking Dawn Valenti—a Chicago survivor’s story. Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond disparities in the bisexual community 18 BY GRETCHEN RACHEL HAMMOND seeking asylum or navigating the immigration process, life- long mental health and physical issues including relationship On Sept. 27, the national, independent LGBTQ think tank The problems and isolation, an inordinately high level of risk be- Movement Advancement Project (MAP), in partnership with havior such as drug and tobacco use, suicide attempts, weight OUTLINES 10 U.S. advocacy organizations, released a major new report management problems, higher rates of breast cancer, HIV and BREAST CANCER on the disparities faced by one group within the LGBTQ um- other sexually transmitted diseases, cardiovascular disease, brella. problems receiving adequate healthcare as well as a horrify- AWARENESS MONTH The report detailed inequalities the group (representing 52 ing level of violence whether through intimate partner and Calendar Q 38 percent of the LGB population) faces including a lack of sup- domestic abuse, rape or sexual assault. SPECIAL COVERAGE port from family members and friends, harassment and some- MAP cited a student in a 2014 Human Rights Campaign PAGE 34 times violent bullying in school, disproportionately high rates of workplace discrimination, chronic homelessness, difficulty Turn to page 8 Classifieds 39 ‘THE NUTCRACKER’ TRANS VIGIL SYLVIA RIVERA Christopher Wheeldon puts a spin on the classic. Chicago trans woman T.T. Saffore remembered. Iconic trans-rights idol is profiled. Photo by Todd Rosenberg 21 Photo by Gretchen Rachel Hammond 6 Image courtesy of The Legacy Project 30 @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com online exclusives at www.WindyCityTimes.com ‘NOBODY’ knowS Singer Rachael Yamagata (left) talks about everything from her video for “Nobody” to her lesbian fan base. Photo by Laura Crosta A HUNT AND A HAUNT “ A masterful achievement on every level.” Lori Gum is a co-founder of the Queer — Chicago Sun-Times Ghosthunters group at Stonewall SPAT’S ENTERTAINMENT Columbus. Local Finding Prince Charming Photo courtesy of Stu Maddux contestant Sam Provenzano talks about the controversial end to his run on the show. THE KANE EVENT PRESENTING SPONSOR OCTOBER 13–23 FALLS WELL THAT Margot and Josef Lakonishok TICKETS START AT $34 ENDS WELL WCT visited western New York CORPORATE SPONSOR JOFFREY.ORG/ROMEO state, taking in Niagara Falls and a revitalized Buffalo. 312.386.8905 GROUPS OF 10+ CALL 312.423.6612 THAT’S SHOW BIZ Find out the latest about author Gloria Naylor, actor John Barrowman OFFICIAL PROVIDER PERFORMS AT: and the show American Horror Story. 2016–2017 SEASON SPONSORS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY National Runaway Safeline board member Troy McDonald Kane talks about the 50 East Congress Parkway, organization and the upcoming “Spirit of Chicago plus Youth” festival. Joffrey Dancers: Christine Rocas & Rory Hohenstein | Photo by Cheryl Mann DAILY BREAKING NEWS Photo from the Safeline 4 Oct. 12, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES by two or more subject-matter experts,” Sprin- gate said. “They received a draft of each chap- First LGBTQ history ter, and provided comments and feedback to myself and to authors regarding the strengths of each chapter, and where more information, clarification, or other improvements could be study released on made. Part of their charge was to ensure diver- sity within the chapters, including geographic and cultural diversity, so that the theme study National Coming Out Day did not reflect just one narrative of LGBTQ his- tory.” BY SARAH TOCE queens of the Stonewall Uprising, from private “For far too long, the struggles and contribu- residences, hotels, bars, and government agen- tions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and “We exist” and “the importance of being seen” cies to hospitals, parks, and community cen- queer-identified Americans have been ignored are vetted concepts taking root in the nation’s ters. Intertwined in the retelling of America’s in the traditional narratives of our nation’s his- first national study on LGBTQ history. LGBTQ history are stories of the nation’s first tory,” said Jewell. “This theme study is the first The study, sponsored by the National Park female astronaut in space, Sally Ride, and of its kind by any national government to iden- Foundation, the National Park Service and sup- a mass “die-in” on the lawn on the National tify this part of our shared history, and it will ported by the Gill Foundation, sheds light on Institutes of Health during ACT UP’s May 21, result in an important step forward in reversing places and events associated with the history 1990, “Storm the NIH” demonstration. the current underrepresentation of stories and of LGBTQ-identified Americans. The release of Currently there are 10 places recognized by places associated to the LGBTQ community in the theme study coincides with National Com- National Park Service programs; some are in- the complex and diverse story of America.” ing Out Day Oct. 11, a commemoration first cluded in multiple programs because of their “A common saying is that a rising tide lifts celebrated in 1988 on the anniversary of the historic significance. all boats; yet although same-sex marriage is first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Those recognized are: Stonewall, New York legal across the country and gay and transgen- Rights. City: NR, NHL, NM; the Henry Gerber House, Megan Springate. der people can serve openly in our military, and The new National Park Service Theme report Chicago: NHL; Kameny House, Washington, DC: Photo from Department of the Interior that generally there is more acceptance, not all “LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, NR; Cherry Grove Community House and The- boats are lifted at the same time,” Springate Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History” atre, Cherry Grove, NY: NR; James Merrill House, history and culture.” shared. “Transgender people face often vio-