THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 July 29, 2009 • vol 24 no 43 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Agencies feel IL budget pinch Death of BY SAMUEL WORLEY a Writer page 8 As indicators point to the beginning of the end of the economic recession, local agencies that offer social services to the LGBT community con- Looking tinue to struggle with funding. Although the state of the national economy has dominated headlines over the past year, many in the Chicago nonprofit community say For A that constant struggle over funding and bud- getary issues is nothing new. Most have expe- rienced a slowdown in private fundraising and New donations from foundations since the beginning of the recession—but political intransigence on the part of the crisis-laden state government did Love? The Outgames not begin with the recession, and in some im- page 22 portant ways occurs quite independently of it. Begin What’s different from the seemingly routine state government crises of years past, said John Peller, Director of Government Relations for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), is the size of the deficit—$9 billion. “One-third of the state’s budget has simply evaporated,” he said. Peller and the AFC led a fight last month aimed at averting massive social service cuts threatened by Governor Pat Quinn. Though the crisis some feared was averted with Quinn’s signing of a new state budget, lawmakers continue to seek strategies that will Jody Watley (here at Indonesia’s Java Jazz Fest last year) is one of the musicians sched- enable the state to pay its bills—some of which uled to perform at this weekend’s Northalsted Market Days. Read an interview with this Sam accomplished star on page 16. Turn to page 6 Bezanis Dies page 8 HIV report sheds light on race BY SAMUEL WORLEY vey at places where MSM congregate; the 57 The report, Brown told Windy City Times, locations, dispersed geographically throughout “shows that the epidemic in Chicago continues A new report from the Chicago Public Health the city of Chicago, included gay bars and clubs; to grow and spread.” And MSM continue to have July 22, 2009 Department (CDPH) reveals—not for the first bathhouses and other public-sex venues; and so- infection rates higher than other at-risk groups. #993 nightspots time—stark disparities in HIV-infection rates cial organizations such as athletic leagues. In similar surveys over the past several years, n between different racial and ethnic groups. The Survey participants—who, in the results, were CDPH found that HIV prevalence among injec- pick it up Poke Her Face? You know you wanna. Aurora Sexton does the hell out of Lady Gaga at Club 4. report finds much higher rates of infection in broken down primarily into demographics of tion-drug users was 8-10%; rates among hetero- page 21 take it home inSIDE All your Market Sexy and shirtless on Days bars events. Saturday at Hydrate. page 34-35 page 8 communities of Black men who have sex with race and age—were tested for HIV antibodies sexual men and women from at-risk neighbor- men (MSM) than in communities of white and and asked questions about their sexual prac- hoods was 1.8%. Latino MSM—though Black MSM do not appear tices. According to Christopher Brown, Assistant By contrast, the prevalence rate among MSM to engage in significantly riskier sexual prac- Commissioner in CDPH’s STI/HIV/AIDS Division, was 17.4%, or 91 positives among 524 men test- tices. similar surveys occur regularly, for MSM as well ed. The rate of HIV prevalence among Black sur- Co-authored by CDPH epidemiologists Nikhil as other high-risk demographics such as injec- vey participants was nearly three times higher Prachand and Britt Skaathun Livak, the report is tion drug users. Though past surveys have been than that of white participants, and two and a the result of a survey conducted last fall among limited to questions about sexual behavior and half times higher than Latino participants. www.WindyCityQueercast.com various communities of men who have sex with HIV status, this is the first in which participants men. Men were asked to participate in the sur- were actually tested for HIV. Turn to page 7 AUTOSINSURANCEDENTISTSHAIRSALONS FLOORINGINSURANCEBANKINGGETTRAVEL IT ALL LEGALSERVICESBOOKSTORESELECTRICIANS PHOTOGRAPHERSRESTAURANTSCONTRACTORSonline nnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfd 2 July 29, 2009 July 29, 2009 3 index NEWS Race to equality 4 National roundup 4 New 26th Ward alderman 5 Jazz ‘n July pics 5 IML nixes barebacking 6 Pageant scuffle 6 Agencies and budget cuts 6 Making the case for the Midwest. HIV report and race 7 E. Lynn Harris dies 8 Making the case for equality. Passages: Biggerstaff, Bezanis 8 World roundup 9 Quotelines 9 View by Granderson; letter 10 Food and fashion were both on the menu at Vital Bridges’ Chefs and the City event at the Peninsula Hotel, 108 E. Superior. ENTERTAINMENT See page 18. Scottish Play Scott 11 Photo by Andrew Davis Theater reviews 12 Lambda Legal’s Help Desk staff responds to people seeking assistance and information about discrimination based on Cavalia thru kids’ eyes 14 assistance and information about discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV status. Awakening’s Gabrielle Garza 14 Entertainment news 14 Contact our Midwest Regional Office Help Desk at Knight at the Movies 15 312-663-4413 or visit www.lambdalegal.org/help. Market Days’ line-up 16 Jody Watley interview 16 Chefs and the City 18 Billy Masters 20 Chickago Social pics 21 OUTLINES Sports: Gay Games 17 Calendar 18 The Cousins Grimm is one of the theatrical Real estate; classifieds 19 MIDWEST REGIONAL OFFICE productions being reviewed this week. Sports: Red Stars, Outgames 22 11 East Adams, Suite 1008 See page 12. Chicago, IL 60603-6303 Cover photos and credits (from top): E. Lynn Harris photo tel 312-663-4413 Photo courtesy of Bailiwick Repertory taken by unknown photographer; photo from the 2009 www.lambdalegal.org Outgames by Ross Forman; photo of Sam Bezanis by Hal Baim 8^\eZ`\j]\\c @CYl[^\kg`eZ_Cffb`e^ =fi8 ;\Xk_f] E\n XNi`k\i ;FNECF8;K?@J Cfm\6 \j K_\Flk^Xd 9\^`e >fkfnnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfdkf[fnecfX[Zfdgc\k\`jjl\jf] JXd 9\qXe`j;`\j ?@Mi\gfikj_\[jc`^_kfeiXZ\ N`e[p:`kpK`d\jXe[E`^_kjgfkj% Margo M. Jacquot n HAIRSALONS TRAVEL K_\eZc`ZbfeXepX[Xe[Y\kXb\e[`i\Zkcpkfk_\X[m\ik`j\iËjN\Yj`k\ INSURANCEDENTISTSBANKINGGET IT ALL AUTOS online FLOORINGINSURANCEBOOKSTORESELECTRICIANSCONTRACTORS LEGALSERVICES Psy.D., CSADC, BCETS PHOTOGRAPHERSRESTAURANTS www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Helping the LGBTQ nightspotsn ONLINE INDEX communities create THE BRIAN’S SONG better, more fullling MARKET Among the scheduled lives and relationships DAYS performers at this year’s July 22, 2009 ISSUE! #993 Market Days is Brian Kent; read an interview Poke Her Face? You know you wanna. Aurora Sexton does the hell out of Lady Gaga at Club 4. with him. Also, find out page 21 inSIDE All your Market Sexy and shirtless on Days bars events. Saturday at Hydrate. page 34-35 page 8 about John Legend’s (right) show at Ravinia. Photo by Jerry Nunn DISC AND THAT WELCOMES MISS CLEO Find out about some TO THE QUEERCAST recent and upcoming FAMILY! DVD releases, including Dollhouse: Season One, Improving intimacy Repairing relationships www.WindyCity Finding Me and Gods of Queercast.com Football (left). Healing from abuse, trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, uncertainty about sexuality, loss of a relationship SERVIN’ IT UP TVN Some top LGBT tennis North and Northwest Suburbs QueerTVNetwork.com players will be in Chicago July 31-Aug. 2 for the Second City Check OUT OUR Tennis Tournament. video CHANNEL for Read more online. new videos weekly www.junipercenterchicago.com Photo of the ‘06 Second City tourney www.QueerTV by Mel Ferrand 847-759-9110, ext.1 Network.com 4 July 29, 2009 Republican or Democratic issue, not a liberal or eral lawsuit; however, though hardly a dark one. matter into a federal issue. In fact, some may conservative issue, but an issue of enforcing our Should voters in California have the opportunity argue DOMA has exacerbated a disparity among Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and and impetus to overturn Proposition 8 at the the states on how to treat same-sex marriage. due process to all citizens.” ballot box, Olson acknowledges the Perry lawsuit And that disparity is just the sort of issue that The part that captured the imagination of many will become moot—out of the race. attracts Supreme Court attention. people in and out of the LGBT community was ©2009 Keen News Service Olson’s very strong ties to conservative politics. Has the race has been run? He helped found the ultraconservative Federalist Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, doe not Society and held high positions in the adminis- think the federal courts are ready to honor the NATIONAL trations of some of the most anti-gay presidents constitutional rights of gay couples; he thinks in history. Suddenly, for the first time, he was the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled on talking publicly about “gay men and lesbians” same-sex marriage and created a precedent that ROUNDUP BY ANDREW DAVIS as “our neighbors, co-workers, teachers, friends is binding. and family.” During the confirmation hearing for Supreme Thio Li-ann, a law professor from Singapore Olson’s involvement was such a surprise, it Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor July 15, Grass- and a foe of gay rights, has canceled plans prompted some bloggers to speculate he was ley asked questions about Sotomayor’s commit- to teach at the New York University School trying to sabotage momentum for same-sex ment to precedents—previous rulings of the Judge Sonia Sotomayor at her confirmation of Law this fall, Chronicle.com reported.