VOL 31, NO. 30 APRIL 20, 2016 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com BLAZING TRAILS Cross-country hiker Jarett Wilkins. Photo by Matt Simonette Cross-country hiker raises awareness for foster youth BY MATT SIMONETTE Protective Services] worker was visiting them only when they got maimed, ended up in the hospital or were dying.” Jarett Wilkins, on April 15, arrived at the Santa Monica Pier. The first leg, which Wilkins kicked off in August 2015, took He had made it halfway through a 6,000-mile trek across the him from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Santa Monica, Califor- United States and back. nia. The second leg will extend from San Diego back to New Wilkins, who is gay, undertook the hike to raise awareness York City. The mileage is cumulative—he’s had to interrupt about children who are in the foster care system. He started the hike with trips for speaking engagements and personal a non-profit organization, the Forever Family Walk, and is in- business. His stopping points have been determined sim- terviewing stakeholders in children’s organizations and state ply by where he could find people willing to talk. He hiked agencies, among others, along the way. through Illinois in October, then returned to Chicago in March LEAVE IT TO DIVA “It started because I kept realizing that the at-risk children in order to help out a friend. Vanessa Williams talks gay fans, ‘Ugly Betty.’ only got attention whenever they were in the newspaper,” Wilkins, who lives in New York, previously worked in e-com- PR photo Wilkins said during a recent visit to Chicago. “I would read merce and fashion, so he knew how to use the internet and these articles and see how they were watched and cared for mobile-marketing to build followers for a project. He was first 22 when they got into the system. … It seemed that a [Child and Turn to page 13 nightspots EVERLASTING LOVE GAY POET Couple David Sanderson and Lee Brady Touche’s David Boyer celebrates 40 years Local writer Ralph Hamilton has released on Candypants, five decades together. ‘behind bars.’ his first book of poems. Photo courtesy of the couple, circa 1969 16 Photo of Boyer, Dean Ogren and Lori Cannon by Kirk Williamson 26 PR photo 24 @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 2 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES Actual Size (15.4 mm x 7.3 mm) One small pill contains rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and New Odefsey® tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). is now available Ask your healthcare provider if ODEFSEY is right for you. To learn more visit ODEFSEY.com Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages. ODEC0006_OdefseyJrnlAd-C_Spread_10x13-5_WindyCityTimes.indd 1-2 3/30/16 11:04 AM WINDY CITY TIMES April 20, 2016 3 Actual Size (15.4 mm x 7.3 mm) One small pill contains rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and New Odefsey® tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). is now available Ask your healthcare provider if ODEFSEY is right for you. To learn more visit ODEFSEY.com Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages. ODEC0006_OdefseyJrnlAd-C_Spread_10x13-5_WindyCityTimes.indd 1-2 3/30/16 11:04 AM 4 April 20, 2016 WINDY CITY TIMES Brief Summary of Patient Information What is ODEFSEY? Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women who take HIV-1 • Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away about ODEFSEY medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information if you have any of the following symptoms: ODEFSEY is a prescription medicine that is used to treat HIV-1 about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about – feel sad or hopeless ODEFSEY (oh-DEF-see) in people 12 years of age and older: how you can take part in this registry. ( – feel anxious or restless emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets • who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past and have an amount of • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take ODEFSEY. Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines HIV-1 in their blood (“viral load”) that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL, or – have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself – You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk that should not be taken with ODEFSEY. • to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have been on the same • Change in liver enzymes. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus of passing HIV-1 to your baby. There may be new information about ODEFSEY. This information is only a summary HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months, have a viral load that is less than 50 infection or who have certain liver enzyme changes may have an increased risk – At least one of the medicines in ODEFSEY can pass to your baby in your and does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your copies/mL, and have never failed past HIV-1 treatment. of developing new or worsening liver problems during treatment with ODEFSEY. medical condition or treatment. breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in ODEFSEY can pass into Liver problems can also happen during treatment with ODEFSEY in people without It is not known if ODEFSEY is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age your breast milk. a history of liver disease. Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check What is the most important information or who weigh less than 77 lb (35 kg). – Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. your liver enzymes before and during treatment with ODEFSEY. I should know about ODEFSEY? When used to treat HIV-1 infection, ODEFSEY may help: Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. • Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”. ODEFSEY can cause serious side effects, including: prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and • Increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help fi ght off • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis Some medicines may interact with ODEFSEY. Keep a list of your medicines neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). other infections. may happen in some people who take ODEFSEY or similar medicines. Lactic and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood a new medicine. and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like • You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right interact with ODEFSEY. happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get (opportunistic infections). stronger and begin to fi ght infections that have been hidden in your body for a away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of • Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your You must keep taking HIV-1 long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new lactic acidosis: ODEFSEY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take ODEFSEY with other medicines. – feel very weak or tired medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. How should I take ODEFSEY? – have unusual (not normal) muscle pain Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare HIV-1 to others. Do not share or re-use needles, injection equipment, or personal provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you – have trouble breathing • Take ODEFSEY exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. ODEFSEY items that can have blood or body fl uids on them. Do not have sex without start and while you are taking ODEFSEY. Your healthcare provider may tell you is taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection. – have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to to stop taking ODEFSEY if you develop new or worse kidney problems. – feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • Take ODEFSEY 1 time each day with a meal. lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take ODEFSEY. Bone – feel dizzy or lightheaded • Do not change your dose or stop taking ODEFSEY without fi rst talking with problems may include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to Who should not take ODEFSEY? your healthcare provider.