BUILDING BERWYN VOL 32, NO. 2 OCT. 5, 2016 LGBT candidates on Feb. election slate www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com From left: Jeanine Reardon, Joe Johnston, Marge Paul and Jose Ramirez. CHICAGO GAY Photo by Julia Mcaleer-Forte BY MATT SIMONETTE over the years, made an aggressive push to get people to PIONEER DIES move there, and has also made outreach in LGBT communi- Author, archivist and activist Marie J. Kuda was a According to businessman Jose Ramirez, who is running to be ties elsewhere. Ramirez has in fact helped staff a booth at Berwyn’s 2nd Ward alderman, having four openly LGBT candi- Northalsted Market Days to do just that. critical part of Chicago’s LGBT movement for 50 years. dates on their ticket in the city’s primary election next Febru- Ramirez said, “When you tell younger people to move to Photo by Tee Corinne ary is “a big deal because it’s not a big deal.” 6 Berwyn has a large number of LGBT residents. The city has, Turn to page 10 VITO RUSSO AIDS RUN & WALK JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS Bruce Vilanch, Cleve Jones discuss Thousands participate in annual event. Out journalist on #EMERGINGUS and the future. activist and The Celluloid Closet. Photo by Tracy Baim Photo by Gerry Salva Cruz Photo courtesy of Victor Salvo 20 14 11 @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com “AN EMOTIONAL POWERHOUSE.” –Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune NOVEMBER 2–13 800-775- 2000 Tickets available at all Broadway In Chicago box offices and Ticketmaster retail locations. Groups 10+ call 312.977.1710 2 Oct. 5, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES WINDY CITY TIMES Oct. 5, 2016 3 WINDY CITY TIMES INDEX NEWS 2016/17 season LGBT candidates on ballot; Munar column DOWNLOAD 4 THIS ISSUE Activist/writer Marie Kuda passes away 6 AND BROWSE THE ARCHIVES at Chat on bisexuality 7 Israelis speak about LGBTs 8 WWW.WINDYCITYTIMES.COM Out Berwyn candidates 10 Jose Antonio Vargas 11 AIDS Run & Walk 14 VIEWS: Kelly; letters 16 BUILDING ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS BERWYN VOL 32, NO. 2 OCT. 5, 2016 LGBT candidates on Feb. election slate Scottish Play Scott 17 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Movies: Vilanch, Jones discuss Vito Russo 20 Project Elevate hosts premiere 23 NIGHTSPOTS 26 From left: Jeanine Reardon, Joe Johnston, Marge Paul and Jose Ramirez. CHICAGO GAY Photo by Julia Mcaleer-Forte OUTLINES BY MATT SIMONETTE has, over the years, made an aggressive push to get people to PIONEER DIES move there, and has also made outreach to the LGBT commu- Author, archivist and activist Marie J. Kuda was a According to businessman Jose Ramirez, who is running to be nity. Ramirez has in fact helped staff a booth at Northalsted Berwyn’s 2nd Ward alderman, having four openly LGBT candi- Market Days to do just that. Rody-Sollors wedding 28 critical part of Chicago’s LGBT movement for 50 years. dates on the slate in the city’s primary election next February Ramirez said, “When you tell younger people to move to Photo by Tee Corinne 6 is “a big deal because it’s not a big deal.” Classifieds 28 Berwyn has a large number of same-sex residents. The city Turn to page 10 Calendar Q 30 VITO RUSSO AIDS RUN & WALK JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS Bruce Vilanch, Cleve Jones discuss Thousands participate in annual event. Out journalist on #EMERGINGUS and the future. activist and The Celluloid Closet. Photo by Tracy Baim Photo by Gerry Salva Cruz Photo courtesy of Victor Salvo 20 14 11 @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com “AN EMOTIONAL POWERHOUSE.” –Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune NOVEMBER 2–13 800-775- 2000 Tickets available at all Broadway In Chicago box offices and Ticketmaster retail locations. Groups 10+ call 312.977.1710 online exclusives at www.WindyCityTimes.com WHATEVR IT TAKES Bent Nights reviews shows by Yoko and the Oh No’s as well as Atta Boi (led by Jolene Whatevr, pictured, left). Photo by Vern Hester STOPPING FOR A ‘VISIT’ A modern tale of civic responsibility and the gun epidemic in America, inspired by the enduring Greek tragedy Antigone. By Caitlin Parrish WCT reviews the production Visiting Edna. Photo by Michael Brosilow Directed by Erica Weiss all hands on ‘deck’ Nico Scholly makes waves on the Bravo show Below Deck. LIN, GENIUS Public Performances $ October 8, 15, 22 at 3pm EXPRESS LANE 15 October 8, 14, 22 at 7:30pm Nothing Without a Company and The Living Canvas hosted The Express TICKETS Yourself Gala and Fashion Show. ALL PUBLIC steppenwolf.org PERFORMANCES 312-335-1650 THAT’S SHOW BIZ use code: WTC Find out the latest about John Varvatos, Michelle Rodriguez and the show Finding Prince Charming. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda plus visited Hubbard Street Dance Center while DAILY BREAKING NEWS his musical launched in Chicago. Photo by Todd Rosenberg 4 Oct. 5, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES LGBT candidates Open To Thinking on the ballot BY NICK PATRICCA BY LISA KEEN KEEN NEWS SERVICE Republican supporters of a Congressional can- Dickie V. and Me: Sexual didate dubbed a “mini-Trump” in Minnesota used a family photo of his Democratic lesbian Identity in 1950s America opponent to draw attention to “her female marriage partner and their 4 teenage sons.” Dickie V. wanted to see me. I received I was 15 years old. I tried to make Democratic opponents of a gay Republican this message from my mother who had sense of it all. I suggested he appeal to candidate for sheriff in Arizona ran an ad that received it from Dickie’s mother. I hardly the bishop. He said he had. I suggested claimed “we can’t trust him with our kids.” knew Dickie. His family lived on the rich he try another diocese. He would not. I In Oregon, threats and taunts against in- side of the tracks; my family on the poor asked Dickie if his nervous breakdown cumbent Gov. Kate Brown, a bisexual, have side. was caused by this rejection. He only escalated in recent months over her calls for I crossed the Larimer Avenue Bridge cried. tighter gun controls, prompting an increase in which separated us poor folk on Larimer Then, he said, “They think I’m homo- Avenue in East Liberty, Pittsburgh, Penn- sexual, they think I’m not a man.” her security detail. sylvania, from the rich folk on Stanton One week later Dickie V. committed And a story in the conservative Des Moines Avenue in Highland Park. I was in my suicide. He was 14. He jumped from the Register characterized Iowa’s openly gay Re- second year at Central Catholic HS; Dickie low WPA Art-Deco railing of the Larimer publican candidate for the state senate as a Openly gay Arizona candidate Daniel in his first. Avenue Bridge onto the road far below in 50-year-old man “living with his mom” and de- Hernandez (above), who once saved the life Dickie’s mother welcomed me into her the ‘holler’. scribed his Democratic opponent as having a of U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords. fancy home, decorated in Italianesque My mother told me Dickie had com- “muscular campaign organization.” Photo courtesy of Hernandez Baroque furniture and replica art works. mitted suicide. In the 1950s, newspa- But while anti-LGBT sentiments and tactics pers did not publish might still be in evidence these days, there is ting there. Her race is polling as a “toss-up,” such deaths, which much to be appreciated for how matter-of-fact- were spoken of by according to RealClearPolitics.com. ly the sexual orientation of most LGBT candi- adults in whispers Craig, a vice president of global human re- “I was 15 years old. I tried to make dates is being regarded. Many LGBT incumbents over coffee and sources for a medical devices manufacturer face no opposition to reelection. And in the sense of it all. I suggested he appeal cigarettes. I didn’t in St. Paul, left that position to run for Min- San Francisco Bay Area, there are two races in to the bishop. He said he had. I know what to say. which the competition is between two openly nesota’s 2nd District seat in the U.S. House. She added, “I found LGBT candidates. Craig’s website bio features a photo of her, her suggested he try another diocese. pictures of naked Even in the South, in conservative and sol- wife and their four boys. She’s the Democratic men under your idly red Kentucky, openly gay Democratic can- Farmer Labor party candidate for a seat opened He would not. I asked Dickie if his under wear.” I told didate Jim Gray told the Washington Post his up by retiring Republican John Kline, and she’s nervous breakdown was caused by her they were phy- being gay hasn’t been a problem on the cam- running against a former talk-show host, Jason sique magazines for paign trail. Lewis, whose provocative statements prompted this rejection. He only cried.” people who wanted Gray is the only openly gay person running The Atlantic magazine to dub him “Minnesota’s to make muscles for a U.S. Senate seat, but there is a record mini-Trump.” and that the men number of LGBT people running for seats in the Among other things, Lewis has characterized weren’t naked, they The chairs and couches were covered in were in posing straps. She said, “I think U.S. House this year: 12. Six are incumbents the “vast majority of young single women” as plastic—typical of 1950s aspiring Ital- Dickie was a homosexual.” I said I had expected to easily win re-election; six are new caring about only “abortion and gay marriage” ians.