THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 May 5, 2010 • vol 25 no 31 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com AFC, Amigas mark anniversaries Chely page 19 Wright Comes Out page 15 page 16 Chicago House Fashion Show page 19 AIDS Foundation of Chicago marked its 25th anniversary with a gala at the Amigas Latinas celebrated its quinceañera (15th year) with its own party Hilton Chicago. The event featured everything from legendary band The at Center on Halsted. Several individuals—including an undocumented Bangles to ... boxers. Photo of (from left) former executive director Marcia student—received awards, and guests enjoyed dancing and feasting on Litpetz, current executive director Mark Ishaug, and Illinois Attorney fusion appetizers. Photo of Rosa Yadira Ortiz (left) and Evette Cardona by General Lisa Madigan by Kat Fitzgerald (www.MysticImagesPhotography. Emmanuel Garcia; see more on page 19 and www.WindyCityMediaGroup. com); see more on page 19 and online at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com com LGBTs protest Ariz. immigration law Deb Mell BY REX WOCKNER Long live love. Long live peace.” “Arizona’s new immigration law is draconian Lambda Legal took aim at the law in an April and inhumane,” said Executive Director Rea Engaged page 7 LGBT groups and public figures are speaking out 30 statement. Carey. “It has no place on the books anywhere. against the draconian immigration law enacted “As we pursue our lawsuit against the state The potential for racial profiling, infringement in Arizona on April 23. of Arizona for its elimination of health insur- of civil liberties, and violence and harassment The statute requires police to check an indi- ance benefits for the partners of its lesbian and against individuals and their families just go- vidual’s immigration status whenever an officer gay employees, we condemn the state govern- ing about their daily lives is enormous. Compre- suspects an individual may be in the U.S. illegal- ment’s further manifestation of bias in its new hensive immigration reform is critically needed, ly. The law has been dubbed, “Papers, please.” immigration law,” said Executive Director Kevin but targeting and demonizing people is not the Newly out singer Ricky Martin denounced Cathcart. answer; stripping people of fundamental rights the law April 29 at the Billboard Latin Music He added: “LGBT undocumented immigrants and common humanity is not the answer. Our Awards. are among the most invisible of the invisible. political leaders must work toward reform that is “This is not in the script,” Martin said. “I want Many inhabit a double closet, afraid of dis- fair and humane. This law is neither. It is a cruel, to send a warm greeting to all our Latin Ameri- closing their sexual orientation and/or gender quick fix that demeans our country’s values of can friends who live in the state of Arizona. The identity and afraid of disclosing that they are freedom, justice and equality.” Sweet SB 1070 is a law that doesn’t make sense. You undocumented.” In San Francisco, gay supervisors David Cam- Tea are not alone. We are with you. Stop discrimi- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force also page 12 nation. Stop hate. Stop racism. Enough already. denounced the law. Turn to page 4 WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP presents SOFO THURSDAY, MAY 13 2 May 5, 2010 Saturday | May 15 | 2010 Garden of EVE supports women’s services and programs of the Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP) at Howard Brown Health Center. Join hundreds of women in our community for delectable food and dessert tastings from more than two dozen Chicago-area chefs and restaurants, open bar, silent auction, entertainment, and dancing - at Christy Webber Landscapes' beautiful Rancho Verde. To purchase tickets online, visit howardbrown.org/EVE Sponsors Media Sponsor windy 0505 brothersister:Layout 1 4/29/10 2:41 PM Page 1 May 5, 2010 3 index NEWS FINAL 3 WEEKS! DADT push in D.C. 4 LGBTs protest Arizona law 4 Gender JUST takes over CPS 5 Chicago Free Press closes 5 Ogletree memorial 6 Hate-crimes hearing 6 the brother/ Deb Mell and fiancee 7 Howard Brown’s new leaders 8 Angela Davis at Columbia 8 LGBT police confab in June 9 sister plays Quotelines 9 View by Rudolph; letters 10 written by ensemble member ENTERTAINMENT An international LGBT law-enforcement Tarell Alvin McCraney Measure for Measure 11 conference will take place in June. WCT directed by ensemble member Tina Landau Theater reviews 12 talks with LGPA/GOAL Executive Director Jackson and ‘Sweet Tea’ 12 Jamie Richardson (above) on page 9. Three interconnected plays in two programs by out playwright Kaki King; Chely Wright 15 Photo courtesy of Jamie Richardson Tarell Alvin McCraney, a brilliant new American voice and the Knight: Mother/daughter films 16 newest member of the Steppenwolf ensemble. Grand in scope Chicago House fashion show 16 yet intimate and heartfelt, McCraney’s delightful coming out and AFC & Amigas Latinas galas 19 Billy Masters 21 coming-of-age stories will leave you touched and inspired. OUTLINES Real estate; classifieds 18 Calendar Q 20 Sports: Force win 22 steppenwolf Sports: Spirit Brigade 22 Sports: Cubs Care 22 Photos on left side of cover (from top): PR photo of Chely For tickets and special events information, Wright; photo of, from left, Jeremy Hilborn, Cyon Flare and Read a profile of the Chicago Spirit the Rev. Stan Sloan by John Fenoglio; Image of Christin Brigade on page 22. call 312-335-1650 or visit steppenwolf.org. Baker (left) and Bell courtesy of the couple; Photo of E. Patrick Johnson courtesy of Jane Beachy Photo by Ross Forman 8=:#8d`^XjdXib Xee`m\ijXi`\j :_\cp Ni`^_k ;FNECF8;K?@J :fd\jFlk >fkfnnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfdkf[fnecfX[Zfdgc\k\`jjl\jf] :_`ZX^f?flj\n =Xj_`feJ_f C>9Kjgifk\jk8i`q%`dd`^iXk`fecXn N`e[p:`kpK`d\jXe[E`^_kjgfkj% ;\YD\cc <e^X^\[ Jn\\k K\X SOFO K_\eZc`ZbfeXepX[Xe[Y\kXb\e[`i\Zkcpkfk_\X[m\ik`j\iËjN\Yj`k\ www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Kind of in drag nightspots at Club tApril 28, 2010 Krave. n nightspots page 29 ONLINE INDEX TO YOUR HEALTH In advance of a May 10 ALL THAT GLITTERS AT benefit for the Chicago LE pASSAGE Women’s Health Center at Roscoe’s, WCT Glitter It Posing with the glitterati at Le Passage’s Glitter, Thu., April 15. page 16 talked with director Ali Bianca of Homer Marrs’ CocoRosie. Fag Libs. page 14 page 18-19 McDonald (right) and musician/client Elaine Dame. Photo by Micki Leventhal OpERA COMpOSER FRENCH TWIST JAkE HEGGIE In food news, Amuse Bouche welcomes a new SHOW #364 writer; and WCT takes a look at Boystown’s Paris in Chicago, run by Jean- Claude Baldassari (left). www.WindyCityQueercast.com Photo by Andrew Davis Up AND ‘GOWN’ TVN Read and see images for QueerTVNetwork.com various recent events, in- cluding a PrideIndex.com fundraiser and Howard Check OUT OUR Brown’s Gown Elephant Corporate Production Sponsor Foundation Production Sponsor Hotel Partner video CHANNEL for (right). new videos WEEkly www.QueerTv Photo by Kat Fitzgerald Network.com (MysticImagesPhotography.com) 4 May 5, 2010 kled among others activists, think-tank experts, ONLINE AT gay members of Congress and LGBT veterans dis- DADT push charged under the current law. WINDYCITYMEDIAGROUP.COM Openly gay Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of NATIONAL NEWS continues Wisconsin, for example, voiced disappointment in the president. “He has the most powerful bul- in D.C. ly pulpit in the world,” she told the Advocate. “I BY CHUCK COLBERT hope he uses it to advance equality.” Christopher Neff, deputy executive director For the third time in recent weeks, activists op- of the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Palm center, posed to the military’s ban on openly gay ser- Defense offered his assessment. Gates’ letter, he said, vice handcuffed themselves to the wrought iron Sec. “represents a public effort by the Obama Admin- —Mississippi teen fence surrounding the White House. But this Robert istration to put a stop to congressional repeal (left) to be NYC time it was not gay veterans who took their case Gates. of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ in 2010.” Scolded Neff, Pride grand to the president. Rather, these protestors were “Clearly the Defense Department is not its own marshal six plain-clothed civilians from GetEQUAL, a new branch of government,” he said. “The Secretary grassroots Internet-based group. afternoon to mainstream media, a letter from of Defense serves the president.” —Seton Hall Univ. Like they handled previous and similar White Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Missouri U. S. Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Service- to teach House protests before, U.S. Park Police arrested Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed members Legal Defense Network, also chided marriage equality the six people, identified as Ann Tischer, Nora Services Committee. Gates’ letter was a reply the president for doing the “wrong thing” and Camp, Alan Bounville, Natasha Dillon, Eiona Di- to Skelton, who wanted the military’s view of charged Gates with delivering “a devastating —D.C. mayor Bona and Mark Reed. congressional repeal legislation taken before blow to getting repeal done this year,” he said, apologizes for Meanwhile, across the street at Lafayette Park, completion of the Pentagon’s review. adding, “Their joint decision showed a lack of ex-gay’s award former Democratic presidential candidate How- For some time now, gay-rights activists have respect for our LGBT service members … on the ard Dean, a former Vermont governor and former been pressing the president to include repeal frontlines every day risking their lives for our chairman of the Democratic National Committee, language in the 2011 Defense Authorization safety.” An Army veteran, Sarvis delivered his Alexander Nicholson, executive director of addressed a protest rally attended by more than Act and to issue a “stop/loss” order to effect remarks at the Lafayette Park rally.