OH MY, GEORGE! George Takei gets VOL 32, NO. 51 SEPT. 6, 2017 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com political, talks future plans George Takei. PAGE 23 PR photo DANNI SMITH Actress plays Alison Bechdel in Fun Home. Photo by Joe Mazza/Brave Lux 19 SISTER SINGERS POWERHOUSE CHURCH LGBT-inclusive sanctuary expands to Chicago. Photo of Pastor Keith McQueen from church 15 Artemis Singers has PAGE 24 BETTY THOMAS deep roots in Chicago’s ‘Hill Street Blues’ alum chats ahead of Artemis Singers in 2015. Chicago roast. 22 Photo by Courtney Gray PR photo lesbian community @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 2 Sept. 6, 2017 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 6, 2017 3 NEWS Biss announces gay running mate; column 4 Advocate discuss legislative session 6 Producer, AIDS activist die; Jamaican murdered 7 Obit: Charles “Chip” Allman-Burgard 8 Danny Sotomayor remembered 8 Legal expert Angelica D’Souza 10 Local news 11 Powerhouse Church profile 15 Job fair, Hall of Fame approaching 16 In the Life: Brock Mettz 17 Viewpoints: Zimmerman; letter 18 INDEX ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Scottish Play Scott: Embodying butch/femme 19 DOWNLOAD THIS ISSUE AND BROWSE THE ARCHIVES AT www.WindyCityTimes.com Theater reviews 20 OH MY, GEORGE! George Takei gets VOL 32, NO. 51 SEPT. 6, 2017 Talking with actress/director Betty Thomas 22 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com political, talks future plans George Takei interview 23 George Takei. PAGE 23 PR photo DANNI SMITH Spotlight on Artemis Singers 24 Actress plays Alison Bechdel in Fun Home. Photo by Joe Mazza/Brave Lux 19 SISTER SINGERS NIGHTSPOTS 28 Classifieds; calendar 30 POWERHOUSE CHURCH LGBT-inclusive sanctuary expands to Chicago. Photo of Pastor Keith McQueen from church 15 ABOVE: Windy City Times reviews A Funny Thing Happened... Artemis Singers has PAGE 24 BETTY THOMAS deep roots in Chicago’s ‘Hill Street Blues’ alum chats ahead of Artemis Singers in 2015. Photo by Brandon Dahlquist Chicago roast. 22 Photo by Courtney Gray PR photo lesbian community @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com online exclusives at www.WindyCityTimes.com HEART AND SOL Singer Sol Patches (left) was part of the Black & Brown Festival. Photo by Vern Hester A LA MODE TRIPPING OUT Bill Malcolm talks about the merits of visiting Saugatuck. THAT’S SHOW BIZ Find out the latest about Reese Witherspoon, Tyra Sanchez and Aaron Rodgers. Depeche Mode wowed fans in Chicagoland recently. plus Photo of Dave Gahan by Jerry Nunn DAILY BREAKING NEWS *MRED MLS, 1/1/16-12/31/16, Chicago, all property types, ranked by total closed volume. 4 Sept. 6, 2017 WINDY CITY TIMES ELECTIONS 2018: GOVERNOR Biss names gay GUEST COLUMN alderman as BY JOHNNY WELSH What can happen when a state goes to pot? running mate In recent years, many states, including Colo- resorts promoted cannabis vacations. rado, have legalized marijuana for medical By the end of the first year of legalization, purposes without much fanfare or controversy. Colorado had an estimated 1,700 medical and BY Matt SIMONETTE However, when the citizens of Colorado voted recreational marijuana dispensaries. They cre- to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreation- ated over 18,000 new jobs and added $44 mil- State Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), on Aug. 31, al use beginning in 2014, a new industry was lion to Colorado’s tax revenues. The state had announced that he had selected Chicago Ald. created that changed the economy, the culture, the lowest unemployment rate in the union, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) as his running and the population of the state. and the increase in sales and ancillary busi- mate in the 2018 gubernatorial contest to unseat Anticipating an outcry of opposition, the nesses increased the state’s economy by $2.4 incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. legislature enacted strict laws and regula- billion. Last year Colorado collected $200 mil- Ramirez-Rosa, who is gay, has been on the Chi- tions: 1) Sellers and growers are required to lion in taxes and fees, $138 million going to cago City Council since 2015, and he is a member buy licenses; 2) Buyers have to be 21, and are education. of both the LGBT and Progressive caucuses. For- allowed to possess only one ounce; 3) Out-of- The excitement and economic advantages merly a community organizer and congressional state visitors are limited to one-quarter ounce; have been tempered by the apprehensions of caseworker to U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-4), he 4) Possessing 12 or more ounces is a felony. people who were opposed to legalization. They is also the youngest member in the council’s his- So is giving marijuana to anyone under 21; 5) were afraid that more people would be irre- tory. All purchases have to be in cash; 6) Consump- sponsibly stoned more often, it would be easier Biss made the announcement at a rally in the to for kids to access pot, Logan Square neighborhood, which Ramirez-Rosa and that accidents would represents. He said that he’d chosen the alder- increase. man mainly for his organizing background as well Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. “By the end of the first year of Some of these concerns as his commitment to holding government ac- Photo by Matt Simonette and others have material- countable and fostering a progressive vision for legalization, Colorado had an estimated ized, but there have been immigrants, Biss was active in opposing the Iraq the future. no comprehensive studies war. 1,700 medical and recreational marijuana Since he launched his campaign, Biss has that reflect the extent of “In so many ways, my story is Daniel’s story,” characterized his run as a grassroots movement dispensaries. They created over 18,000 the damage. So far, the he added. against wealthy special-interests in both parties. predicted consequences Further pledging to work for “the accountable new jobs and added $44 million to “We had find ourselves in a completely unique have not been severe, al- and transparent state government we deserve,” moment,” he said. Are we going to have a primary Colorado’s tax revenues.” though some people have Ramirez-Rosa added, “I have never felt more election or are we going to have an auction?” been hospitalized for hopeful for our future as I look out at this audi- Ramirez-Rosa made commitments to fight for eating brownies cookies, ence tonight.” immigrant and LGBT rights, single-payer health- chocolate bars and other State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) opened care and a $15-per-hour minimum wage, among tion is not allowed in public places; 7) Driv- edibles without knowing how much cannabis the rally with an endorsement for Biss. Attorney other issues. He spoke of feeling a kinship with ing under the influence is illegal. So is taking they contained. Jamie Brown introduced the senator. Biss in their passion for organizing; just as marijuana out of the state; 7) Start-up busi- The most apparent downside is a growing Ramirez-Rosa was active in fighting on behalf of nesses are at risk, since the sale and purchase number of newcomers and transients who are of marijuana continues to be illegal at the fed- crowded into the cities and towns. Housing The DoJ recommended reforms needed to ad- eral level. costs have increased, rents have escalated, and Madigan sues city dress these problems, specifically calling for a Rules didn’t prevent thousands of people the number of homeless in Colorado is high. court-enforceable consent decree with an inde- from taking advantage of the opportunity to Many came to Colorado seeking jobs, but were for police reform pendent monitor to assess the progress of reform profit from the new industry. The “Green Rush” not qualified for the work available. Also, cer- Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined Chicago and the oversight of a federal judge. began and local entrepreneurs and hordes of tain positions require a prospective employee Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent people from around the country and other na- to be a citizen of Colorado for one year before Eddie Johnson to announce a lawsuit to seek an tions clamored to join the fun. They opened being hired in the cannabis industry. enforceable consent decree to implement the nu- Pritzker, Stratton dispensaries and pot farms. In addition to new Several other states are considering legal- merous reforms outlined by the U.S. Department head shops, retailers of all sorts sold T-shirts, ization of marijuana, and are watching what of Justice (DoJ) in its investigation of the Chi- travel around state stickers, vaporizers, pipes, cookbooks with is happening in Colorado and the eight other cago Police Department (CPD). Starting Aug. 30, Democratic governor candi- marijuana recipes, and a wide range of related states that have decriminalized cannabis. In light of the new DoJ administration’s prefer- date J.B. Pritzker and running mate state Rep. paraphernalia. Tourism exploded, and several ence not to seek a consent decree in Chicago, Ma- Juliana Stratton launched a six-day, 22-stop bus digan will seek reforms that provide the support tour across Illinois, The Chicago Tribune reported. Johnny Welsh is the author of Weedgalized in Colorado: True Tales From the High Country. He police officers need to implement safe and con- The trip was called the “Think Big” bus tour, has been a popular professional bartender for 20 years in Frisco, Colorado and he has been stitutional policing practices as well as rebuild and included opening new campaign field offices a boots-on-the-ground witness to the historical marijuana movement that has captured the trust between community residents and police. in Peoria, Belleville and Chicago. imagination of the entire country.