THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Oct. 14, 2009 • vOl 25 nO 2 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com 200,000 march on Washington, D.C. Tens of thousands of people—such as these members of Equality Across America—took part in Sunday’s National Equality March. Read more about the event on page 4, and see many more photos inside and online Chicago at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. Photo by Joe Tresh Rally page 6 Howard Brown Gala page 21 Grassroots, Netroots, Stonewall 2.0 activists media reports pegged the turnout at “tens of “The younger generation, my generation, we demand equality, formalize split with thousands.” But, as Towle noted, “There were are the ones coming up in the world, and we activist establishment 10 times as many people still on Pennsylvania must continue to push this movement forward by REX WOCKNER Avenue when the area in front of the stage had and close the gap. We must demand full equality filled,” an assertion that is backed up by video for all. They say that this country is free and WASHINGTON—The Stonewall 2.0 generation Towle posted on his site. they say that this country is equal, but it is not descended on the nation’s capital Oct. 11 to de- The 2.3-mile march ended at the Capitol with equal if it’s (only) sometimes (equal).” mand “equal protection in all matters governed hours of speeches, including by pop-music sen- “Obama, I know that you’re listening. ARE by civil law in all 50 states.” sation Lady Gaga. YOU LISTENING?! We will continue to push you National Equality March lead organizer Cleve “I have seen and witnessed so many things and your administration to bring your words of Jones estimated the turnout at 200,000 to over the past two years and I can say with such promise to a reality. We need change now. We 250,000. Towleroad.com’s Andy Towle said certainty that this is the single most important Turn to page 4 JD Samson: police gave him the same figure. Mainstream moment of my career,” Gaga said. Decibelle page 15 Obama speaks at HRC gala BY CHUCK COLBERT AND Lisa KEEN at the Washington Convention Center Saturday speech live on CSPAN Saturday night, suggest night was, at times, deafening—just as it was the community likes what it hears but still longs October 14, 2009 KEEN NEWS SERVICE #1003 in June, when Obama greeted gay leaders at the to see some action. WASHINGTON, D.C.—The content of President White House. From his opening quip—saying, “It is a privi- Barack Obama’s speech to an audience of LGBT The 3,000 people gathered for the Human lege to be here tonight, to open for Lady Gaga” nightspots supporters on the eve of the 2009 March on Rights Campaign’s (HRC’s) annual $250-a-plate —to his campaign-like rousing finish, Obama n Washington offered nothing new. He reiterated National Dinner interrupted the president’s delivered a message that was warmly received. pick it up From the Ashes his promises to the community, said he was speech 35 times with loud and sustained ap- That message, said Obama, was “simple: “I’m ...rises Scarlet! See photos from opening night. page 21 take it home inSIDE A special garbage-picking Actor Alec Mapa in “with” the community “in the fight” for equal- plause, including several standing ovations. But here with you in that fight” for equality. Devil In the Details. Nightspots MAFIA. page 29 page 28 ity, and offered no timetable. And the roar of comments from attendees following the speech, approval from the standing-room-only audience as well as from many people who watched the Turn to page 7 Brought to you by the combined efforts of page 18 2 Oct. 14, 2009 controlling the climate Easier said than done? Not at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where plant conservation scientists are using new environmental growth chambers to conduct experiments with temperature, light, and carbon dioxide to test how plants will respond to environmental changes. is research will help plants survive in a changing climate. e opening of the new Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center confirms the Garden’s role as a world leader in plant conservation science. A 38,000-square-foot laboratory building designed to earn a gold LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, the Plant Science Center offers expanded research facilities, dynamic exhibitions, a 16,000-square-foot green roof garden, and public accessibility. savetheplants.org One of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Oct. 14, 2009 3 index NEWS Thousands march on D.C. 4 Pictures of march 5 Chicago Oct. 11 rally 6 Obama speaks at gala 7 Cop caught on video? 8 Gay judges on slate 8 Lessons begin October 29 Gay candidate’s reception 8 $ Nat’l: Gay ambassador nod 9 Starting at 105, you get four lessons DADT event 9 over four weeks taught by top pros. Quotelines 9 You’ll also enjoy two parties, our Views: Mahany, Monroe 10 practice lanes and fitness center. ENTERTAINMENT Judge Sebastian Patti (above) is one of two openly gay judicial candidates on the Don’t have a racquet? Dancin’ Feats 11 Cook County Democratic Party slate. See We’ll lend you one. Theater reviews 12 page 8. Busy schedule? Artist Gary Marr 14 Photo courtesy of Frances Jackson Decibelle: Emilie Simon 14 We’ve got tons of times Pop Making Sense 15 to choose from. Decibelle: JD Samson 15 Knight at the Movies 16 Midtown membership More pictures of march 17 not required. Billy Masters 20 Space is limited. Howard Brown gala 21 Kathy Griffin appearance 21 773.235.2300 OUTLINES Calendar Q 18 Real estate; classifieds 19 Sports: Erica Jones 22 Sports: WNBA superfan 22 Sports: Hunters, Freeze 22 Roller-derby athlete Erica Jones (above) 2020 West Fullerton Avenue is profiled on page 22. Chicago, IL 60647 Photo courtesy of Erica Jones Cover photos and credits (from top): Attendee at Sun- midtown.com day’s rally at Daley Plaza by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImag- esPhotography.com); Joe Hollendoner at the Howard Brown by Emmanuel Garcia; JD Samson publicity photo )''#'''dXiZ_ feNXj_`e^kfe#;%:% :_`ZX^f IXccp ;FNECF8;K?@J >fkfnnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfdkf[fnecfX[Zfdgc\k\`jjl\jf] ?fnXi[ 9ifne>XcX N`e[p:`kpK`d\jXe[E`^_kjgfkj% 2009 FALL ANTIQUES A;JXdjfe1 ;\Z`Y\cc\ FYXdXjg\XbjXk?I:^XcX n K_\eZc`ZbfeXepX[Xe[Y\kXb\e[`i\Zkcpkfk_\X[m\ik`j\iËjN\Yj`k\ SHOW & SALE www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com nightspotsn ONLINE INDEX 2XGTFGCNGTUHTQO CETQUUVJG86CPF October 14, 2009 SCARLET #1003 NEWS YOU CAN USE &CPCFCRTGUGPVKPI RISES Plenty has happened SWCNKV[CPVKSWGUCPF FROM THE recently nationally and EQNNGEVKDNGUKPUKFGVJG ASHES even globally, including TCEGVTCEMENWDJQWUG Photo by a pro-gay move by Anthony Meade From the Ashes ...rises Scarlet! See photos from opening night. page 21 Morehouse College inSIDE A special garbage-picking Actor Alec Mapa in Devil In the Details. Nightspots MAFIA. page 28 page 29 President Robert Franklin (right). Photo courtesy of Julie Pinkney Tongue 2&72%(5 ACTRESS pAM I AM ELIZABETH Pamela Anderson and )TKFC[ 6CVWTFC[w6WPFC[ kEENER designer Richie Rich SHOW# 331 (left) added some heat $TNKPIVQP3CTM5CEGVTCEM :GUV (WENKF$XGCV 5QWVG to Horseshoe Casino, $TNKPIVQP+GKIJVU,/ www.WindyCity along with Dennis !! Queercast.com Rodman. See pics online. :GGMGPF$FOKUUKQP " #$ Photo by Kathleen Ulm % & " awn )QTCFXCPEGKPHQTOCVKQPECNN ' astings( " roductions )*$+ !!*, ( ( - )$.*+ $*!*.* QTHQTKPHQFWTKPIUJQY running cold 32%QZ6VCWPVQP,/ TVN Runner/WCT contributing QueerTVNetwork.com writer Ross Forman (right) www.arlingtonparkantiques.com recounts taking on the Chicago Marathon—cold, &52.4)52%s3),6%2s*%7%,29s0/2#%,!).s#2934!,s0!).4).'3s0/34%23 Check OUT OUR but ultimately rewarding. 4%84),%3s#%2!-)#3s7!4#(%3s$/,,3s0/44%29s!-%2)#!.!s!$6%24)3).' video CHANNEL for 0%74%2s-).)!452%3s/2)%.4!,)!s4/93s&/,+!24s15),43s25'3s"2/.:%3 new videos WEEkly www.QueerTv Photo courtesy of Ross Forman Network.com 4 Oct. 14, 2009 LGBTs march Lt. Daniel Choi—dis- on Washington missed under “Don’t by CHUCK COLBERT Ask, Don’t Tell—joined KEEN NEWS SERVICE thousands of attendees at Sunday’s march. Pho- The day after President Barack Obama delivered tos by Chuck Colbert a rousing speech to more 3,000 LGBT support- ers at the Human Rights Campaign dinner, gay- rights activists took to the streets of Washing- ton, D.C. with another message: “Equality Across America.” The message emblazoned on blue and white banners that stretched as wide as the city streets, were followed by youthful marchers chanting, “L. G. B. T. We demand equality,” “Hey hey. Ho, ho. Homophobia has got to go,” and all turnout of the march, arguably smaller by lustrates the more active role played by straight the right to serve in the military were the key “Hey Obama, let mama marry mama.” Crowd es- comparison across the five total marches the allies.” And he suggested that, unlike in 2000, goals that speakers hammered throughout the timates were between 100,000-200,000 people. movement has thus far staged, as an indica- when HRC’s yellow equal sign was prominent, rally. Under nearly clear blue, sunny skies, with tor that the demonstration was not successful,” the dominant symbol at this year’s march was Lt. Dan Choi, an Iraqi war veteran and Arabic temperatures in the high 60s, those who gath- said Amin Ghaziani, a postdoctoral fellow and the rainbow flag—a symbol, he said, of a more linguist who is fighting his discharge from the ered at the Capitol to rally heard a diversity of lecturer at Princeton University and author of a community-based drive.