THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Jan. 7, 2009 • vol 24 no 15 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Gays tackle Burris pick BY YASMIN NAIR This latest news may well turn out to be the supportive of LGBT-defined issues. most negative in Burris’s career, one that has (On Jan. 6, Senate authorities denied Burris Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently announced that seen a steady climb upwards, from being the the opportunity to be sworn in with the new- he was appointing Roland Burris to the Sen- first African American elected to statewide office est group of senators. Burris was slated to meet ate seat previously occupied by President-elect in Illinois, first as comptroller (1979-1981) and with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Jan. 7 in Barack Obama. The move has generated contro- then as attorney general (1991-1995). Burris is the latter’s office.) Amber versy, censure and ridicule. The governor is be- well-liked and respected in political circles. Mi- Rick Garcia, political director of LGBT-rights ing decried for equal parts hubris and arrogance, chael O’Connor, former legislative aide to State group Equality Illinois, praised Burris, saying Hollibaugh page 8 while Burris has been criticized for participating Rep. Connie Howard, said that Roland Burris is that Burris has been supportive of gay rights in what many claim is an unethical move. “eminently qualified.” Burris has been broadly Turn to page 6 LaBelles of the Patricia Ball Racette page 11 page 18 After a 32-year layoff, the music trio LaBelle (consisting of, from left, Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle and Sarah Dash) are back with a new album Michael and tour. Read an interview with Dash on page 18. Photo by Kwaku Alston Rosenbaum page 20 Four arrested in Calif. gang rape January 7, 2009 #977 Four males—including two teens—have been tim back into her car and took her to a burned- arrested on suspicion of gang-raping a woman out apartment building. She was then sexually in Richmond, Calif., in December while allegedly attacked again inside and outside the vehicle. nightspots taunting her for being a lesbian, according to Salvador “had the most involvement and gave n the San Francisco Chronicle. orders and directions to the other individuals,” In With The New pick it up Police have arrested Humberto Hernandez Sal- Richmond Police Lt. Gagan said. “But they’re all In a flash, the pulsating Circuit crowd ushers in 2009. inSIDE page 16 Actor/model Marcus The art of the Cocktail. Patrick in Nightspots page 16 MAFIA. take it home vador, 31, as well as two teens, ages 16 and 15. responsible for the crimes that were committed page 21 Josue Gonzalez, 21, turned himself in. Authori- against the victim.” ties said that the foursome attacked the victim, All four are being held on gang rape, kidnap- 28, Dec. 13 after she got out of her car, which ping and carjacking charges. had a rainbow gay-pride sticker. More than 200 people attended a vigil for the Authorities said that one man allegedly or- victim held in Richmond this past weekend, ac- dered her to disrobe, and sexually assaulted her cording to the Bay Area Reporter. A benefit and with the help of the others, according to the raffle are planned for Jan. 9 at the Oakland les- Josue Gonzalez. Photo courtesy of the www.WindyCityQueercast.com New York Daily News. When the group saw a po- bian nightspot Velvet, the Bay Times reported. Richmond (Calif.) Police Department tential witness approaching, they forced the vic- Å<95J9BCBK<99@GÆ Ä H\YBYkMcf_H]aYg 69;=BG>5BI5FM%* '%&-$&!%($$ 8fifm@UbYH\YUhfYKUhYfHckYfD`UWY ;fcidg&$WU``'%&-++!%+%$ "Wca 2 Jan. 7, 2009 You’re their Rock. Let us be yours. Life insurance is a vital part of planning to protect your loved ones. At Prudential, we understand the challenges gay and lesbian couples face when it comes to passing on your assets. That’s why every life insurance policy from the Prudential companies offers Rock Solid® benefits that include: • Legal wealth transfer to your partner or child, not subject to probate Life Insurance • You choose your beneficiary, under a legally binding contract from The Rock® • Helps replace assets lost to the federal unlimited marital deduction • Accelerated death benefits for terminal illness or nursing home costs* And, Prudential agents receive ongoing training to better serve your needs. Visit prudential.com to learn more, or contact a local office. Let us be your Rock. The Prudential Insurance Company of America Chicagoland Agency Greater Fox Valley Agency 847-627-3950 ext. 7100 630-904-9229 ext. 7104 ©2008 Life Insurance issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ and its affiliates. Our policies contain exclusions, limitations, reductions in benefits and terms for keeping them in force. Our licensed financial professionals can provide you with costs and complete details. *Subject to terms and conditions of the benefit.When we pay a claim under this rider, the amount you receive is reduced for early payment and a $150 processing fee. Each policy used for the same claim will have an additional processing fee of up to $150. The accelerated benefit received may be taxable and may also affect your eligibility for public assistance programs, so we urge you to seek the advice of a personal tax advisor if you wish to make a claim. The Living Needs Benefit is not available in Minnesota to new purchasers over age 65 until the policy has been in force for one year, and the nursing home option is not available in New York or the District of Columbia. This rider is not available in Massachusetts. IFS-A156710 Ed. 10/2008 Pub: ________ ACCOUNT Prepared by Prudential Advertising, Max Density Chicago Windy City Times ________ WRITING 213 Washington St Newark NJ, BH/AG 12/17/08 (973) 802-7361 Fax (973) 367-6173 adusted to 239 1 Issue Date: 1/17/09 ________ DESIGN Job No: CORL-A3604 Prod: page 4c ________ CREATIVE Job Name: Partners Live size: 10.25 x 13.5 ________ TRAFFIC Gay Local ________ ART RIGHTS ________ PROOFREADING ________ SPELL CHECK DO NOT PRINT Jan. 7, 2009 3 index NEWS Mark Leno talks Prop 8 4 Nat’l roundup 4 Local briefs 5 Roland Burris and LGBTs 6 Gays discuss Arne Duncan 7 H6I>H;68I>DC HBHC’s Amber Hollibaugh 8 World roundup 9 ÄLZVg^c\;g^ZY Quotelines 9 Views: Monroe, Osborne 10 Dc^dcHig^c\h HVjiZYBjh]gddbh ENTERTAINMENT Openly gay California State Sen. Mark Leno (above) talks about Prop 8 with Ä;djcYl]^aZZVi^c\ Patricia Racette talks 11 Windy City Times. Read page 4. Theater reviews 12 ViI]Z8djciZg Land of the Sweets 14 ^cA^cXdacEVg` ‘World’ is more inclusive 15 Knight at the Movies 16 Disc and That 17 Sarah Dash of LaBelle 18 " 5 2'%2 Dish List: Espression 18 4(%#/5.4%2 Nunn on One: Rosenbaum 20 Isis at the Center 20 New Year’s Eve on Halsted 21 OUTLINES ÆDcZd[i]Z7jg\ZghNdj Æ7Zhi7jg\ZgÇ <:I>C=:G:½A>C8DACE6G@ Real estate; classifieds 19 Bjhi:Vi7Z[dgZNdj9^ZÇ ÅDEG6=L>C;G:NH=DL +++LZhi9^kZghZnE`ln8]^XV\d>A+%+&) Calendar 21 Å<FB6<6O>C: ,,(.(*&..*,,(.(*&..,;Vm Sports: Skater Sasha Cohen 22 Katelynn Cusanelli (above) is someone i]ZXdjciZgWjg\Zg#Xdb who’s definitely new to MTV’s The Real '%%-I]Z8djciZg>A%%&"&%%- World. Find out why on page 15. Photo courtesy of Tamika Young ACADEMIC PROGRAM Start here. • Associate of Arts • Associate of Applied Science www. Features include: • Associate of Science Windy —Interior Motives • Associate of Arts in Teaching —A profile of • Associate of Fine Arts City the social- • Advanced Certificates Media networking site • Basic Certificates GayWallet.com with Group Genia Stevens ADULT EDUCATION • English as a Second Language .com Photo courtesy of Genia Stevens (right) • ABE/GED • Spanish GED • Literacy • Citizenship • Workforce Preparation CONTINUING EDUCATION IN WITH THE NEW • Paralegal/Legal Assistant January 7, 2009 Hot New Year’s 2009 #977 • Pharmacy Technician pics from all over the • Certified Nurse Assistant www.WindyCity scene! • Web Design Photo by DJ Res-5 • Real Estate Queercast.com Go anywhere. • Food Service Sanitation In With The New • Mortgage Loan Originator In a flash, the pulsating Circuit crowd ushers in 2009. Truman College delivers high-quality, innovative, inSIDE page 16 Actor/model Marcus The art of the Cocktail. • Graphic Design Patrick in Nightspots page 16 MAFIA. page 21 affordable, and accessible educational opportuni- • TOEFL Preparation ties and services that prepare students for a rapidly • Personal Finance and more ... changing and diverse global economy. For more information, visit our website at ww.trumancollege.edu or call (773) 907-4000. TrumanOne of the City Colleges College of Chicago 1145 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640 4 Jan. 7, 2009 ML: Well, it is a very mixed state, actually— viduals experienced “severe” abuse, which in- and there were many things that went wrong NATIONAL volved violence. with the [anti-Prop 8] campaign. But to put a The Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic at New silver lining on the results of Nov. 4, it should York’s Columbia Law School has secured asylum ROUNDUP for a gay, HIV-positive man from the Ivory not be overlooked that our accomplishment in BY ANDREW DAVIS the “No on 8” campaign was that we picked up Coast who thought he might be persecuted if he was forced to return to his homeland, according 18 percentage points of support that we did not The National Center for Lesbian Rights, the to a press release from the clinic.