THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Sept. 10, 2008 • vol 23 no 52 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Mulligan’s challenges BY AMY WOOTEN Over the past 16 years, Republican State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan has shown that she isn’t afraid of going against the grain. In 1992, Mulligan first made waves when she defeated Penny Pullen, an ultraconservative, Susan anti-gay Republican incumbent of the 65th Dis- trict, which covers the Northwest suburbs such page 17 Sarandon as Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Back then, Mulli- gan challenged her own party, and has been ad- vocating for change within her party ever since. Mulligan, an LGBT ally and supporter of a wom- an’s right to choose, doesn’t fit the Republican stereotype. She was one of the first Republican sponsors of former Rep. Larry McKeon’s amend- ment to the Illinois Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity. She also helped double the state’s AIDS budget back in 1995. Rome In November, Mulligan faces a Democratic Turn to page 6 Sweet Illinois State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan. Rome page 11 There was wild applause for the appearances Democrat Sen. Barack Obama will be another REP. NAT’L CONVENTION of family values and jeers against activist judg- very close contest. The latest polls—conducted es. But all the while the GOP was emphasizing Sept. 2-4—show Obama up by only two to four The GOP its intention to hoist a social conservative flag points, with a margin of error of two points. over its march to the White House, it was set- “John McCain will lose this election unless he ting into motion a madcap mixture of tactics—a gets enough independent votes,” said Sammon, and gays nominee who is willing to be identified in his in- explaining why he believes the McCain campaign was willing to send its national political direc- BY LISA KEEN, KEEN NEWS SERVICE troductory convention video as a “mama’s boy;” the party’s first-ever female vice presidential tor, Mike DuHaime, to speak at an LCR event The Republican National Convention this week nominee; and a willingness, albeit quiet, to seek Sept. 2, and send senior advisor Steve Schmidt relied heavily on the American people’s inabil- the support of gay voters and independents who to deliver its “respects” Sept. 4. ity to hear co-optations and see incongruences. prefer a more politically moderate pitch. DuHaime, “on behalf of Senator McCain and Amigas Speaker after speaker, including nominee Sen. Patrick Sammon, president of the national the campaign,” thanked an audience of about gay Republican group Log Cabin Republicans 200 for the LCR endorsement. He added that the page 20 John McCain, used words and phrases that stood Latinas out during the Democratic National Convention (LCR), said he has no doubt that two top Mc- Turn to page 4 the previous week in Denver. The nominee wants Cain campaign leaders visited the group during “change,” and the opponent doesn’t “get it.” the convention because they know the race with September 10, 2008 #961 A tale of nightspots two conventions n BY AMY WOOTEN Artsy Fartsy pick it up Sometimes all you need for a good cover is a picture from Hydrate and some Photoshoppin’ skillz. inSIDE Overall, the local lesbians and gays who were out Meet the new Miss It’s 2 a.m. Where the hell Continental. are you? page 20 page 23 take it home on the convention floor as delegates during the four-day Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver called it inspirational because of its inclusion and diversity, and a stark contrast to the Republican National Convention (RNC). Openly gay Illinois delegate Mark Demich told Turn to page 5 www.WindyCityQueercast.com U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and lesbian delegate Jackie Kaplan at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Photo courtesy of Kaplan WINNER! 2008 DRAMA DESK AWARD OM NEW YORK AND DIRECT FR Dec 3 thru Jan 4 - Special Holiday Edition! STRICTLY LIMITED ENGAGEMENT 8 WEEKS ONLY! OCT. 2 - NOV. 30 ROYAL GEORGE CABARET THEATREÊÊUÊÊ£È{£Ê Ê>ÃÌi`ÊÊUÊÊ "\ÊΣӰnn°äääÊÊUÊÊ/ViÌ>ÃÌiÀ°VÊÊUÊÊÀÕ«Ê/ i>ÌiÀÊ/Ý\ÊΣӰ{ÓΰÈÈ£Ó 2 Sept. 10, 2008 <HECJ>;MH?J;HIE< @;HI;O8EOIJECCOJKD; J>?II;7IEDÊIIJ7H#IJK::;:" HEC7DJ?9CKI?97B9EC;:O$ @;<<:7D?;BIH79>;BOEHA 8OC7HI>7BB8H?9AC7D7D:H?9A;B?9;r:?H;9J;:8OJECCOJKD; M>;DJ>;9BE9A IJH?A;IC?:D?=>J"J>; ?CFEII?8B;>7FF;DI$ HURRY, TICKETS GOING FAST! WORLD PREMIERE STARTS SEPTEMBER 19 GoodmanTheatre.org | 312.443.3800 SPECIAL GROUP SAVINGS FOR 10 OR MORE! E-mail [email protected] or call 312.443.3820. Turn of the Century is the recipient AMERICAN AIRLINES, Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. of an Edgerton Foundation New KRAFT, Principal Sponsor of the free Student Subscription Series. American Plays Award PETTERINO’S, Promotional Partner for Turn of the Century. Photo Lead Corporate Sponsor Major Corporate Sponsors by Todd Rosenberg. Image design and direction by Kelly Rickert. Sept. 10, 2008 3 GET YOUR index FRIENDS TOGETHER News MSM and HIV 4 AND CELEBRATE The GOP and gays in 2008 4 Bailiwick is moving 5 THE WOMEN A tale of two conventions 5 Austriaco vs. Mulligan 6 Out & Proud signings 7 Nat’l news 7 D’Emilio: Risky business 8 Columbia College’s Lott Hill 8 Passages/celebrations of life 9 Quotelines 9 The sultry Eva Mendes is one of a group Guest view: Rep. Harris; letters 10 of famous actress taking part in The Women. See what Richard Knight, Jr., thinks of the film on page 16. ENTERTAINMENT Visiting Rome 11 Theater 12 Knight at the Movies 16 ‘True Blood’ interview 16 Susan Sarandon 17 Jessica’s goodbye; W event 19 Amigas Latinas marks 13 20 OUTLINES Real estate; classifieds 18 Pets 20 Calendar 21 Q&B taking a break 21 Sand, skirts and spikes made for an Sports: Spike’d, softball 22 interesting mix at Chicago House’s fundraiser. See page 22. Photo by Ross Forman This week’s online- www. only features Windy include: —World roundup City —Dish List, includ- Media ing a roundup of a chocolate salon Group (right) —Media Watch .com —An interview with The Shondes’ drummer Photo by Andrew Davis www.WindyCityQueercast.com September 10, 2008 Check out photos from Miss #961 Continental 2008 at the Park Soundtrack Available On West, Steamworks’ pajama party at Hydrate and more. Photo by Alexandra Klimczak nightspots IN THEATERS Artsy Fartsy n Sometimes all you need for a good cover is a picture from Hydrate and some Photoshoppin’ skillz. inSIDE Meet the new Miss It’s 2 a.m. Where the hell Continental. are you? page 20 page 23 SEPTEMBER 12 THE WOMEN 4/C 1/2 PAGE NON BLEED: 4.25” X 13” I 4 Sept. 10, 2008 more likely than gay-identified men to be in- ing major problems with their own sexuality,” where are disproportionately affected by the The invisible fected with HIV. Piot said to laughter and applause. “It is totally epidemic; “Make that the given and ask coun- “In India, and I think it is probably true in absurd, but it is also true.” tries to prove otherwise” in their competition worldwide HIV other countries, if you are male identified, you He said, “A gay-rights movement, for lack of a for funding. are not effeminate at all, and you are married better term, is really essential, but we are no- Jeffrey O’Malley, who runs the HIV programs to a woman, you have met societal goals. It where on this in many, many countries. AIDS is for the United Nations Development Program, epidemic: MSM BY BOB ROEHR means that the man can do what he wants. He now creating a small hole in this wall of ho- said the UN family of agencies is assembling feels that I’m not really gay because I’m not like mophobia,” allowing more opportunity for peo- a unified approach to the HIV and MSM, which Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at the these other people; I have sex with a woman ple to express their sexuality. should be in place by the end of the year. heart of the HIV epidemic throughout the world, and I’m married.” “We need to do all that we can to support the “We need to speak up for ourselves and allow yet they remain invisible. It is because of deni- Mayer thinks it likely that prevention messages emerging gay groups and activities…we need to other populations to speak for themselves,” said al, stigma, and violence that permeate societies developed for gay men probably don’t resonate make sure that is not killed. Third, where we are the openly gay O’Malley. “We need to focus on and their governments on every continent. with MSM who do not identify as gay. still in the dark ages, we have to develop strate- sexual minorities, but we have to do it in a way Even in the United States—where the epidem- Wilson pointed to one survey of 10,000 people gies that not only support it, but also not put that governments with concentrated epidemics ic was first identified among gay men more than in Saigon where “not a single person acknowl- our colleagues at risk,” said Piot. don’t use this as an excuse to walk away from 25 years ago and more than half of all infections edged having sex with another man.” It is as David Winters, a manager with the Global Fund AIDS fighting.” are attributed to male/male sexual contact— emblematic of the problem that agencies and for AIDS, TB, and Malaria, said that over the first “We also have to make sure that we avoid the there continues to be a downplaying of that officials face in even understanding patterns of five years of the program, “while there was never backlashes that can put people at real risk of fact.