LESBIAN BOXER TAKES ON CHALLENGES WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 MARCH 14, 2012 PAGE 51 VOL 27, NO. 23 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES Library finds new site, questions remain SLDN HOLDS BY KATE SOSIN fulfillment of Gerber/Hart’s mission as a library, an ar- membership as well as minutes from meetings. We seek a NATIONAL chives and a cultural center. The space will offer a sitting renewed openness in changing and revitalizing the gover- DINNER The Gerber/Hart Library, Chicago’s LGBT library and ar- area and a meeting room that also will serve as an exhibit nance and leadership vacuum of the organization as well pagE 5 chives, has announced that it will move to Rogers Park at gallery. Two rooms are being designed and constructed as an explanation as to why community involvement has the end of April. to protect and preserve the library’s archives and special reached its current state. We wish the board to address in The library announced the move via email to its listserv. collections.” detail those efforts being made to bring more interested The new location is in Clark Point Plaza, 6500 N. Clark St. However, the announcement does not satisfy all. A individuals into leadership positions. We demand that in “In 1998 we moved to the Granville location knowing group calling itself “Friends of Gerber/Hart”—which pre- accordance with the mission statement of the archives.” that we would eventually outgrow the space,” said Board viously sent a letter to Sendziak, asking her to delay the Windy City Times has reported that questions remain as President Karen Sendziak, in a statement. “Our needs move and open up the board of directors—said the new whether or not Sendziak’s term as president has exceeded have changed and the library board feels that the time building does not answer its concerns about the library. limits set by the bylaws, the last known copy of which has come to move.” “I think the ‘For rent’ sign was maybe more of a trigger,” dates back to 2000. The announcement came after more than a month of said Owen Keehnen, a member of the group and former Such information is not available as the library has not silence on the fate of the library, after Windy City Times Gerber/Hart board member. “The building looks great, but responded to questions from WCT sent the last week of first reported that its current location was for rent. WCT our issues aren’t really with the venue.” January. Included in those questions is a request for the has reported that questions remain about why the library Asked to clarify what “Friends of Gerber/Hart” was seek- library’s current bylaws and an answer about why the li- decided to move and whether or not it is complying with ing, the group released a statement: brary has decided to move. its bylaws. “We, The Friends of Gerber/Hart, call for the leadership According to the organization’s mailing sent March 6, of Gerber/Hart to be transparent in its position as a not- Turn to page 22 “the new space is being constructed to ensure the utmost for-profit organization, providing full access to board TRANSGENDER ACTRESS Living in LAVERNE COX page 43 ‘America’ Before coming to Chicago March 27 for an AIDS Foundation of Chicago event, playwright Tony Kushner talked with Windy City Times about, among other things, AIDS and his groundbreaking work, Angels in America. Photo by Joan Marcus page 13 page 32 taking IN Natural election With primary election day right around the corner (March 20), Windy toronto City Times has charts for all state candidates, plus interviews with page 46 figures such as out lesbian Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore (above), who’s running for re-election. All the political fun starts on page 13. 2 March 14, 2012 WINDY CITY TIMES A MESSAGE TO WINDY CITY TIMES READERS FROM BILL KELLEY As someone who has been active in the fight for equality since before Stonewall, I want to tell you about a pioneer in the gay rights movement who is running for judge. Former State Representative Ellis Levin was one of the first Illinois politicians we could count on as a reliable ally for Chicago’s LGBTQ communities. Besides being an early sponsor of Illinois’ first bills to outlaw discrimination because of sexual orientation, Ellis sponsored hate crimes legislation to force law enforcement to take attacks on our communities seriously. When the AIDS crisis hit in the 1980s, Ellis was again our point person. He sponsored the AIDS Confidentiality Act; he supported funds for treatment and public awareness; and he backed laws ensuring long-term care for people with AIDS. Bill Kelley and Ellis Levin In 1977, Ellis became the state’s first elected official to march with us in the Pride Parade. For these and many other reasons, Ellis was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Community. Ellis had the guts to stand up for us when it was not popular. Now we need to stand up for him. Please join me in supporting ELLIS LEVIN for Judge in the 8th Subcircuit (Cole vacancy). Punch 191! Thank you, William B. Kelley Former Chairperson, Cook County Commission on Human Rights* Former Co-Chairperson, Illinois Gay Rights Task Force* P.S. The Chicago Bar Association stated that Ellis is Qualified, stating that “Mr. Levin is highly regarded for his integrity and knowledge of the law.” *For identification only VOTE FOR ELLIS LEVIN ON MARCH 20, 2012 COOK COUNTY JUDGE PUNCH 8TH JUDICIAL SUB-CIRCUIT 191 (COLE VACANCY) WWW.ELLISLEVINLAW.ORG Phone: 773.769.5300 | Email:[email protected] | facebook: EllisLevin twitter: #ellislevin2012 Paid for by Levin for Circuit Court (ellislevinlaw.org) WINDY CITY TIMES this week in March 14, 2012 NEWS WINDY CITY TIMES Priest suspended in communion flap SLDN holds national dinner Congressional run; Judy Shepard ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS ‘Out at CHM’ with curators and Dan 4 Dancin’ Feats: Luna Negra Passages: Martin; bar controversy 5 Woman Made Gallery PRIMARY ELECTION GUIDE 6 Dan and Bill Savage at play 3 Interviews with candidates 7 Knight: I Killed My Mother 37 Guide to the Gays 12 Transgender actress Laverne Cox 40 Domestic abuse; ‘Shadows’ event 13 Bronzeville special 41 T in the Life; new library site 15 Out singer leads Magnetic Fields 42 Gay in the Life 20 Travel: Toronto 43 Political charts 21 Dish: Fulton’s, Riva 44 AIDS @ 30 22 Billy Masters 45 Views: Baim; letters 23 46 24 48 32 OUTLINES 53 Real estate; classifieds; pets 36 Photos on cover (left, from top): Madeline Guzman picSports: from LesbianGuzman; boxer,Thomas NFL Roberts at SLDN national dinner by Tracy Baim; Laverne Cox PR photo;Calendar pic of statue Q in Toronto by Jerry Nunn 50 LESBIAN BOXER TAKES ON CHALLENGES WINDY CITY THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 51 MARCH 14, 2012 PAGE 51 VOL 27, NO. 23 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comTIMES Library finds new site, questions remain 52 SLDN HOLDS BY KATE SOSIN fulfillment of Gerber/Hart’s mission as a library, an ar- membership as well as minutes from meetings. We seek a NATIONAL chives and a cultural center. The space will offer a sitting renewed openness in changing and revitalizing the gover- DINNER The Gerber/Hart Library, Chicago’s LGBT library and ar- area and a meeting room that also will serve as an exhibit nance and leadership vacuum of the organization as well PAGE 5 chives, has announced that it will move to Rogers Park at gallery. Two rooms are being designed and constructed as an explanation as to why community involvement has the end of April. to protect and preserve the library’s archives and special reached its current state. We wish the board to address in The library announced the move via email to its listserv. collections.” detail those efforts being made to bring more interested The new location is in Clark Point Plaza, 6500 N. Clark St. However, the announcement does not satisfy all. A individuals into leadership positions. We demand that in “In 1998 we moved to the Granville location knowing group calling itself “Friends of Gerber/Hart”—which pre- accordance with the mission statement of the archives.” that we would eventually outgrow the space,” said Board viously sent a letter to Sendziak, asking her to delay the Windy City Times has reported that questions remain as President Karen Sendziak, in a statement. “Our needs move and open up the board of directors—said the new whether or not Sendziak’s term as president has exceeded have changed and the library board feels that the time building does not answer its concerns about the library. limits set by the bylaws, the last known copy of which has come to move.” “I think the ‘For rent’ sign was maybe more of a trigger,” dates back to 2000. DOWNLOAD THIS! The announcement came after more than a month of said Owen Keehnen, a member of the group and former Such information is not available as the library has not silence on the fate of the library, after Windy City Times Gerber/Hart board member. “The building looks great, but responded to questions from WCT sent the last week of first reported that its current location was for rent. WCT our issues aren’t really with the venue.” January. Included in those questions is a request for the has reported that questions remain about why the library Asked to clarify what “Friends of Gerber/Hart” was seek- library’s current bylaws and an answer about why the li- decided to move and whether or not it is complying with ing, the group released a statement: brary has decided to move.