‘REAL HOUSEWIFE OF ATLANTA’ KIM ZOLCIAK WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 PAGE 29 DEC. 14, 2011 VOL 27, NO. 10 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES Brennon speaks about Santiago, stage collapse BY KATE SOSIN Windy City Times: So you are back at work for the WCT: You are looking to challenge Indiana’s lack of first time this week? same-sex partner recognition, yes? WRITER PAUL In August, Alisha Brennon, became instantly famous Alisha Brennon: I was back at work a couple of days AB: Right. And for any other couples who have a civil VARNELL DIES among Chicagoans for the worst possible reason. before, but this is the first. I’m finally saying I’m done; union for crossing state lines, period. Yes, this one is Her wife, Christina Santiago, died in the Aug. 13 con- I need to go back to work every full day. just for Indiana, but hopefully it will get further than PAGE12 cert stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair while Bren- WCT: Your story is important to a lot of people. Is that, too, and it will open other states’ eyes. non suffered multiple facial fractures from the incident. there anything readers can do to support you right WCT: If you win money from this suit, you have Santiago was a well-known LGBT and women’s advocate now? said, you want to use that money for LGBT activism. in Chicago. AB: Not really. Eventually, once this goes to court, What issues do you want to take on? Following the collapse, Brennon filed suit against a we’re going to need a lot of support. Besides that, no. AB: Equality, in general. Anything that I can do for host of companies responsible for the concert. Accord- Everything is taken care of. our community or our community can do to help change ing to her attorneys, the case is intended as a challenge WCT: Why did you decide you wanted to go through things so that equality is in the forefront of everyone’s to lack of same-sex partner recognition in the state. with the lawsuit? mind because right now it just seems like every time Now, four months after the disaster, Brennon talked AB: It’s an important part of my life just like it’s an something happens, it’s just thrown to the back burner. with Windy City Times about her memories of the stage important part of [Christina’s] life. If anything like this collapse and how she is fighting to carry on Santiago’s were to happen in the future, people need to be given Turn to page 14 legacy. the right to do what they need to do to take action. BOYSTOWN HUD holds DEVELOPMENT ON HOLD housing summit PAGE 7 for LGBT elders BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS Service providers from across the country at- tended the first-ever federal summit on housing for LGBT elders at the U.S. Department of Hous- ing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washing- ton, D.C., Dec. 7. Representatives from the Center on Halsted; Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders; the National Center for Transgender Equality; Lambda Legal; the Na- tional Black Justice Coalition; Affirmations in Ferndale, Mich.; and the National Senior Citizen Law Center were among those who attended the Winter forum. HUD Assistant Secretary for Policy Devel- CIVIL UNIONS opment and Research Raphael Bostic opened the REACH SIX- gathering, while HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair MONTH MARK Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña Music and Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee PAGE 9 also addressed the summit. Please don’t stop the music! “Senior citizens and older adults have chal- Rihanna, Graffiti6, Lalah Hathaway lenges already,” Bostic told Windy City Times and Joan Jett are among some of after he opened the summit. “LGBT seniors have the acts profiled and interviewed a particular set of challenges that make them in this issue. The musical fun unique and more vulnerable.” starts on page 31. Panelists discussed and debated support ser- vices for affordable housing, discrimination and legal barriers to long-term care, financial chal- lenges that LGBT-friendly housing developments continue to confront and overall policy recom- page 31 mendations. A SAGE affiliate, the Center on Halsted offers a variety of social and cultural activities to adults over 55. The organization serves hot lunches to SHERLOCK approximately 200 seniors on Tuesdays and Sat- HOLMES REVIEW urdays, and a boxed meal once a week. Trained volunteers commit to weekly visits with home- PAGE 30 Turn to page 4 2 Dec. 14, 2011 WINDY CITY TIMES Yobeloung here At Elmhurst, you’ll find an exceptionally welcoming campus community. We embrace individual expression. We see our differences as sources of strength. And we clearly, openly, emphatically want you here. Scholarships for LGBT students Our Enrichment Scholarship specifically benefits academically qualified students from minority groups—including LGBT students. The scholarship covers one-third of tuition. More than that, it underscores our commitment to affirming the identities and advancing the dreams of each individual student. A wealth of programs and resources We support our LGBT students through a variety of cam- pus organizations and events. The student group EQUAL “People at Elmhurst are (Elmhurst Queers and Allies) promotes awareness through accepting and supportive, events and advocacy. SAFE (Staff, Administrators and from the faculty and staff to Faculty for Equality) offers a support network for the my friends and fraternity LGBT community. An annual guestship and other special brothers. My experience events focus on issues of concern to the LGBT commu- here has helped me embrace nity. Our faculty is adding courses in LGBT studies. my sexuality and become the person I am today.” A step ahead of the rest Joey Carrillo “In a small but meaningful step, Elmhurst College is now officially telling applicants that gay students are welcome on campus. The private liberal arts college is the first college in the U.S. to ask potential students about their sexual orientation or “Elmhurst College does a gender identity on its application....The question is meant to great job of nurturing and increase diversity at the school, which is affiliated with the supporting LGBT students. United Church of Christ, and to direct incoming students Coming out was hard for toward services that might ease their transition into college life. me, but I’ve been blessed to It’s also a strong signal that the school will embrace LGBT have an accepting commu- students and will do its best to support them.” nity to come out to.” —Chicago Sun-Times, August 26, 2011 Felicia Diaz Hear our students’stories: www.elmhurst.edu/lgbt Contact us: (630) 617-3400 • [email protected] • www.elmhurst.edu/admission • 190 Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois facebook.com/ElmCol twitter.com/ElmhurstCollege WINDY CITY TIMES this week in Dec. 14, 2011 NEWS WINDY CITY TIMES Barney Frank: Still in the fight Report on LGBTs and the economy Prop 8 arguments wrap up ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Development on hold 4 Scottish Play Scott Gay Indiana soldier re-enlists 5 Kim Zolciak of ‘Real Housewives’ Hillary Clinton’s historic speech 6 Knight: Sherlock Holmes, Tinker 3 The life of Paul Varnell 7 Winter music: Graffiti6 21 Gay in the Life: Mike Hines 8 Pop Making Sense; Joan Jett 29 AIDS @ 30 10 Lalah Hathaway; Alabaster 30 Viewpoints: Besen, Webb 12 Dish: New Year’s Eve spots 31 15 32 Pets Photos on cover (left, from top): Photo of 16 Billy Masters 34 Kim Zolciak courtesy of Bravo; photo of Paul20 36 Varnell by Rex Wockner; pic of Ald. James 37 OUTLINES 41 Cappleman from subject; image of Martha Real estate; classifieds Fourt’s and Patricia Benjamin’s from the Calendar Q couple; poster of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Sports: World Series, NBA Shadows 38 Photo collage on cover (clockwise, from top):40 ‘REAL HOUSEWIFE OF ATLANTA’ 42 KIM ZOLCIAK WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Graffiti6 by Marina Chavez; Joan Jett by PAGE 29 DEC. 14, 2011 VOL 27, NO. 10 www.WTIMESindyCityMediaGroup.com Brennon speaks about Santiago, stage collapse Suzanne Kraus; PR photo of Rihanna; Lalah BY KATE SOSIN Windy City Times: So you are back at work for the WCT: You are looking to challenge Indiana’s lack of first time this week? same-sex partner recognition, yes? WRITER PAUL In August, Alisha Brennon, became instantly famous Alisha Brennon: I was back at work a couple of days AB: Right. And for any other couples who have a civil VARNELL DIES among Chicagoans for the worst possible reason. before, but this is the first. I’m finally saying I’m done; union for crossing state lines, period. Yes, this one is Her wife, Christina Santiago, died in the Aug. 13 con- I need to go back to work every full day. just for Indiana, but hopefully it will get further than PAGE12 cert stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair while Bren- WCT: Your story is important to a lot of people. Is that, too, and it will open other states’ eyes. non suffered multiple facial fractures from the incident. there anything readers can do to support you right WCT: If you win money from this suit, you have Santiago was a well-known LGBT and women’s advocate now? said, you want to use that money for LGBT activism. in Chicago. AB: Not really. Eventually, once this goes to court, What issues do you want to take on? Following the collapse, Brennon filed us it against a we’re going to need a lot of support.