inTervie W WiTh Mayoral bob fioreTTi CandidaTe TIMESJan 07, 2015 · #1134 • Dec. 24, 2014 2014 a...

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WINDY CITYTIMES Jan. 7, 2015

vol 30, no. 15

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

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forMer sTaTe rep. roseMary MulliGan diespage 9

WhiTe house aids Czar douGlas brooks parT of 2014 naTional neWspage 10

CoMedian judy fabjanCe TaCkles CanCer, on sTaGe and offpage 17

inTervieWWiTh

MayoralCandidaTe

bob fioreTTi

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Trans teen’s deathsparks movement

‘MaTCh’ GaMe

Windy City Times profiles lesbian artist Sam Kirk, who has studios in Chicago and New York City. Photo from Kirk

Leelah Alcorn. Facebook photo

arT To arT

Sir Patrick Stewart talks about his gay role in the movie Match—and weighs in on other characters he’s portrayed. Image courtesy of IFC Films

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BY RoSS FoRMAN The death of a 17-year-old transgender Ohio woman has been called a “Matthew Shepard moment” in the fight for transgender equality. While Shepard was killed by others, and Leelah Alcorn took her own life Dec. 28, she first issued a call to action to make her life have meaning for the transgender community. The community, and mainstream media, have responded with calls to action.

Alcorn stepped in traffic and was killed by a passing semitrailer on southbound Interstate 71 in Union Township.

She left a gripping, emotional suicide note on her blog at Tumblr, detailing a troubled life, dominated by fundamentalist Christian parents who rejected their transgender child.

Her death has led to an international discussion/debate on transgender issues, especially around transgender youth.

Alcorn’s suicide note was deleted from her Tumblr page a week after her death, after her parents demanded it. The blog was removed, including a further post after her death telling parents Carla and Don Alcorn: ‘Mom and Dad: F*** you. You can’t just control other people like that. That’s messed up.’

A Tumblr spokesman confirmed to London-based MailOnline that they made the posts inaccessible because they were told to by the Alcorns, who have referred to Leelah as their “son” and used his birth name, Joshua.

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Jan. 7, 2015 WINDY CITY TIMES2

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#1134 • Dec. 24, 2014

2014a best-of jam

‘BED’ TIMEThe book A Cup of Water Under My Bed is reviewed.

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WINDY CITY

TIMES JAN. 7, 2015

VOL 30, NO. 15

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN,

BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985


FORMER STATE

REP. ROSEMARY

MULLIGAN DIES

PAGE 9

WHITE HOUSE AIDS

CZAR DOUGLAS

BROOKS PART OF

2014 NATIONAL

NEWSPAGE 10

COMEDIAN JUDY

FABJANCE TACKLES

CANCER, ON STAGE

AND OFF

PAGE 17

INTERVIEWWITH

MAYORAL

CANDIDATE

BOB FIORETTI

PAGE 6

Trans teen’s death

sparks movement

‘MATCH’ GAME

Windy City Times profiles lesbian artist Sam Kirk, who has studios in Chicago

and New York City. Photo from Kirk

Leelah Alcorn. Facebook photo ART TO ART

Sir Patrick Stewart talks about his gay role in the movie

Match—and weighs in on other characters he’s portrayed.

Image courtesy of IFC Films

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SEE IT IN CHICAGO FIRST TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL BROADWAY IN CHICAGO BOX OFFICES AND TICKETMASTER RETAIL LOCATIONS. GROUPS 10+ : 312- 977-1710

February 17–March 29 • • 800-775-2000 •

PRE -BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE

BY ROSS FORMAN

The death of a 17-year-old transgender Ohio woman has been called a “Matthew Shepard

moment” in the fight for transgender equality. While Shepard was killed by others, and

Leelah Alcorn took her own life Dec. 28, she first issued a call to action to make her life

have meaning for the transgender community. The community, and mainstream media, have

responded with calls to action.

Alcorn stepped in traffic and was killed by a passing semitrailer on southbound Interstate

71 in Union Township.

She left a gripping, emotional suicide note on her blog at Tumblr, detailing a troubled

life, dominated by fundamentalist Christian parents who rejected their transgender child.

Her death has led to an international discussion/debate on transgender issues, especially

around transgender youth.

Alcorn’s suicide note was deleted from her Tumblr page a week after her death, after her

parents demanded it. The blog was removed, including a further post after her death telling

parents Carla and Don Alcorn: ‘Mom and Dad: F*** you. You can’t just control other people

like that. That’s messed up.’

A Tumblr spokesman confirmed to London-based MailOnline that they made the posts

inaccessible because they were told to by the Alcorns, who have referred to Leelah as their

“son” and used his birth name, Joshua.

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NEWSFeminist nun; column 4Mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti 5Trans teen’s death stirs nation 6Dance world mourns Eatherly 8Obits: Mulligan; Benz 9National news of 2014 10Cuomo dies; LGBT disparities 11 National passages 11Viewpoints: Monroe; letters 12


DENIS THE MENACEOut gay actor Denis O’Hare (left) talks about being on American Horror Story.Photo by Frank Micelotta

this week in

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Scottish Play Scott 13Theater actress Rifai 16Comedians tackle cancer 17Sir Patrick Stewart in ‘Match’ 18Dish: Little Bad Wolf 20Artist Sam Kirk 22

OUTLINESClassifieds 19Calendar 20

online exclusives at

WCT profiles local electronic hard-rock band Pound of Flesh.Photo from Darrell James

SETTING SAIL

The Love Boat actress Jill Whelan talks. about Debbie Allen and doing a cabaret show on a gay cruise.PR photos

ANNIE, GET your fuNAnnie Clark (aka St. Vincent) was the subject of a public interview at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

THAT’S ENTErTAINMENTFind out the latest about Kid Rock, Ricky Martin, RuPaul and Olivia Newton-John.

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WINDY CITY TIMES

Images on cover (left, from top): Photo of Bob Fioretti by Matt Simonette; headshot of Rosemary Mulligan; photo of Douglas Brooks by Chuck Colbert; photo of Judy Fabjance by Mel Ferrand

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fLESH LIGHT

TRANS

MOPOLITA

N: transgender

resilience

TRANSMOPOLITAN: TRANSGENDER RESILIENCETrans activist Precious Davis presents a multimedia project on Chicago’s transgender history and will moderate a multigenerational panel discussion with members of the trans community featuring Andre Perez, Gloria Allen, Owen Daniel McCarter, Mimi Marks and Angelica Ross.

PURCHASE TICKETSGeneral Admission | $20Members & Students | $15

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The Chicago History Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.

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BY MeLISSA WASSeRMAN

The Vatican’s investigation of U.S. nuns ended in Rome Dec. 16, 2014. The apostolic visita-tion, as it is called, commenced under Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

Initially, the investigation created fear, an-ger and mistrust among women in religious communities and convents across the United States while prompting protests from outraged Catholics. The conclusion was a largely positive report that acknowledged the achievements and challenges American nuns’ experience.

“I think this inquisition has to have an apol-ogy to all women and then they also have to turn around and give women full membership,” said Chicago’s Sister Donna Quinn on the mat-ter. “You will never find a group as dedicated, gifted, and willing to work as you do women in the church. I do believe this report, this inter-rogation, investigation was one more sign of their abuse that they continue in this church.”

Quinn is one of the voices still outraged by the questioning report. Quinn is a feminist ac-tivist and coordinator of the National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN), a member organiza-tion of Women-Church Convergence.

NCAN was founded in Chicago in 1969 and has stood for social and structural change in-side and outside the Catholic Church and is fo-cused on the idea women should be fully wel-comed into the church.

Quinn’s work is geared toward LGBT and women’s rights, full autonomy for women and abolishing gender abuse.

“The issue that I have come to see is repro-ductive rights or justice for women,” Quinn stated. “If a woman does not have full repro-ductive autonomy, she will never have full au-tonomy.”

Quinn was brought up in a Catholic parish and in a home that embraced serving others. She credits learning her justice work from her parents. Both had a large hand in aiding the poor. Her interest in women’s advocacy came from the affirmation from her family and watching the civil rights movement in the ‘60s along with the women who worked for the right to vote.

“I really believe the spirit calls each one of us to something special with our lives,” Quinn said, with some emotion. “We’re given gifts by the spirit and we’re asked to use them to make this earth better for those who come after us. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Vatican scrutiny continues with a separate review of the Leadership Conference of Reli-gious Women, an umbrella group representing about 80 percent of American nuns.

“My community is the feminist movement,” she said, explaining women want full member-ship in the Catholic Church. “It’s more my com-munity than any other community. We’re trying to do away with discrimination of any kind and the only reason I continue working the Catho-lic tradition is I believe it is still influential around the globe. It’s one of those structures, along with government and other religions that put women down.”

The Vatican usually orders an apostolic visi-tation in the case of a serious problem or scan-dal, however there was no clear event or cause in this situation. The investigation is said to be spurred after some Vatican officials and U.S. bishops expressed concern that some Ameri-can nuns had adopted a secular mentality and been infiltrated by what one official at the time called “radical feminism.”

The report draws on interviews and ques-tionnaires regarding various aspects of Ameri-can nuns’ lives such as numbers and mission, prayer schedules, living arrangements, financial assets and property. It was also found there are about 50,000 nuns in the United States, which is lower than in the peak during the mid-‘60s.

The investigation reached about 350 reli-gious women’s communities. All of the reli-gious communities in the U.S. responded in some way to the investigation, even if they declined to participate.

“It shows they’re not in touch with what’s going on in the world because they wondered why we’re not increasing vocations and why we’re not chanting choir and living in convents and wearing full garb,” Quinn listed. “It shows not only a disrespect of what we’ve decided for our lives, but it also shows they’re not in touch with what’s going on in their own church from women and what’s going on in the world.”

Quinn refused to partake in the investiga-tion, saying she would have no part in answer-ing questions about her life, work and personal decisions. She has not suffered any repercus-sions for this refusal.

“I think so many of the women who did participate spoke out loud and clear that this should not have happened,” Quinn added. “This can only be seen as a vicious attack on a group of women who, we as women, have done ALL the work of the church.”

The report concluded by citing Pope Francis’ call “to create still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the church.”

“I can’t understand any woman in the church giving a docile applause for ending this inves-tigation,” Quinn said. “We don’t have full mem-bership in this church.”

india elects firstthird-gender mayor A third-gender candidate made history by winning the mayoral elections in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh Municipal Corporation by defeating the nearest rival from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to the Huffington Post India. Madhu Kinnar, who contested as an Inde-pendent candidate, won the election by 4,537 votes against BJP’s Mahaveer Guruji. Kinnar, 35, belonged to the Dalit community, and is the first person from the third gender to get elected to the post. Kinnar isn’t India’s first transgender mayor, as two other successful candidates before her were disqualified by courts because those posts were reserved for women. In 2014, India’s top court recognized the country’s transgender community as a third gender in a landmark judgment. The original article is at http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/01/05/madhu-kinnar_n_6415540.html.

feminist nun sharesopinion on vatican report

neWs from cover

Sister Donna Quinn. Photo by Betsy Neely Sikma

The grand jury ‘no bill’ decisions in the cases of the death of Eric Garner (Staten Island, New York, July 17, 2014) and the death of Michael Brown (Ferguson, Mis-souri, Aug. 9, 2014) through police ac-tions—two unarmed Black men killed by white police officers—have renewed calls to either eliminate or reform the grand jury as a procedure in our USA legal sys-tem. Our grand jury system has been under attack for many decades. This criticism has exceptional urgency because it is es-sentially part of an emerging civil-rights protest movement that echoes those of the 1960s, which led to the passage of our landmark civil-rights legislation. On Dec. 11 2014, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., introduced The Grand Jury Reform Act H.R. 5830 into the U.S. House of Rep-resentatives. This act stipulates that a special prosecutor must be appointed in all cases “when reasonable grounds exist to believe that criminal charges should be considered (a crime was committed) by the officer/s involved.” The bill man-dates that probable cause hearings be-fore a judge be open to the public and that federal funds to state and local po-lice authorities be denied to those juris-

dictions that fail to comply. [Rep. Hank Johnson website Dec. 12, 2014.] Distinguished civil-rights attorney and law professor James C. Harrington has called for the total abolishment of the grand jury system in the U.S. Harrington writes: “The United States has had to dis-card anachronistic institutions through-out its history, and it is now time to bury another—the grand jury . this unwork-able relic of the past.” [The Monitor, Dec. 10, 2014] The grand jury (grand because it has more jurors than the average trial jury) has two primary powers: the power to in-dict and the power to investigate. It does not judge guilt. It decides whether there is sufficient evidence to indict (true bill) or not to indict (no bill). Sections 7 and 8 of Article One of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the State of Illinois require, with some ex-ceptions, grand jury indictments for serious criminal charges. Illinois citi-zens concerned about grand jury reform should read the Grand Juror Handbook of the State of Illinois (it is short and well

written): http://www.state.il.us/court/CircuitCourt/Jury/GrandJuror.asp . The grand jury enjoys considerable power and latitude. Under its general mandate to make inquiry into crime and corruption within its jurisdiction, the grand jury has the legal authority to sub-poena witnesses and documents and to initiate its own investigations indepen-dently of the court or the prosecutor. These legal rights, though rarely ex-ercised, are potentially the key to the effective functioning of grand juries, es-pecially in cases involving the suspected misuse of police power causing signifi-cant injury or death to citizens. Those who object to grand juries as such assert that: they are the passive in-struments of the prosecutors; the jurors are not capable of understanding the le-gal complexities presented to them; and the grand jury system itself adds another layer of inefficiency to a legal system al-ready hobbled by costly and time-wasting procedures. The grand jury was enshrined in Magna Carta (reluctantly accepted by King John in 1215) precisely to stand between the power of the state and the individual citi-zen. The grand juror is not meant to be a

legal expert. The grand jurors are expected to apply common sense and sound judgment to the matters presented to them. Most impor-tantly, the grand jury has the power to inves-tigate the prosecutor and the court itself if the jurors judge those state agents to be complicit in crime or corruption or the abuse of power. By statute (Haw.

Rev. Stat. § 612-51), the State of Hawaii requires the appointment of at least one independent grand jury counsel to each grand jury. I would like to recommend this reform strategy to those who seek to abolish the grand jury system. With the assistance of the independent counsel, the grand jury might better un-derstand and employ its powers to inves-tigate, might more readily withstand in-timidation by the prosecutor should that occur, might become more active in the process of determining the nature of ‘suf-ficient evidence’ in a given case. Rather than abolish the grand jury or set up alternative juries, why not make the grand jury what it was meant to be—the defender of our civil liberties against the police powers of the state. Make sure the grand juries understand their writs and their rights. Give this historic ‘relic’ of our liberty—the grand jury—the tools necessary to do the job.

© [email protected]

Nick Patricca is professor emeritus at Loyola University Chicago, president of Chicago Network and playwright emeritus at Victory Gardens Theater.© [email protected]

open To ThinkingBY NICK PATRICCA

The Grand jury and Civil rights

“These legal rights, though rarely exercised, are potentially the key to the effective functioning of grand juries, especially in cases involving the suspected misuse of police power causing significant injury or death to citizens.”


BY MATT SIMoNeTTe

Representing the city’s second ward on the City Council since 2007, Ald. Robert “Bob” Fioretti lost his ward in a city redistricting and will not be returning to his seat on the council starting in the new term.

But Fioretti, a member of the council’s pro-gressive caucus that has frequently been criti-cal of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and their fellow council members, hopes he’ll be heading for the fifth floor of City Hall anyway. He’s running for mayor against Emanuel next month, on a platform he says will be more progressive and equitable for Chicagoans.

Windy City Times sat down with Fioretti to discuss his campaign and the issues at the forefront of the election. Answers have been edited for clarity and length. A full video of the interview is at http://bit.ly/14nITyV.

Windy City Times: Beyond what happened with the ward redistricting, what prompted you to throw your hat in the ring and run?

Robert Fioretti: First of all, the ward redis-tricting was not the ultimate reason that I ran for mayor. But it’s unfortunate what I saw with the redistricting—that aldermen and the mayor … were all the same. It was his remap. Alder-men did not see the remap until the time that they voted on it, minutes before they voted on it. Then they looked at where their wards were after they voted on it. It just shows that they were more concerned with their own pensions, their own pocketbooks, rather than the people they represent.

I’m running for mayor because I love this city. I was born in this city. I grew up up in this city. It gave me values for who I am. My first job was bussing tables at a restaurant, then washing trucks. I’m a product of its schools and its parks, and I just love this city.

I considered running four years ago and I had a serious bout with tonsil cancer, a very rare one. I’m a cancer survivor now. But a lot of the things that I heard then have been amplified tenfold under four years of this administration. Wherever I go people say, “We need somebody who’s going to fight for us. Somebody who will lead us. Somebody who will represent us.” At the same same time they say that, they say, “You’re the person. You’ve stood up in our City Council for the right reasons, and we want you to be mayor.” I’ve considered those encourage-ments along the way. Each and every one of them had a valid concern. … I said, “Maybe it’s time to go again.” … I looked at what this mayor has done, and he’s failed us on the most important issues … on crime, economic devel-opment, our educational system is in disarray, and all that is what has led me to to a decision to run for mayor of our city.

WCT: Going back to your time on the City Council, how do you think that will influ-ence how you would govern. You’re part of a progressive caucus and have butted heads with the mayor and other council members.

RF: I want to see a very proactive City Council, not a City Council where you hit their heads and they say, “Yes, Mr. Mayor.” One that’s in their neighborhoods, one that represents neighbor-hoods. I am very concerned about what’s hap-pened on the City Council, but the quality of what’s happened in our neighborhoods—peo-ple have presided over their neighborhoods for so many years, and they’ve just gone downhill. They’ve never raised a peep about some of the infrastructure issues. They’ve never raised an issue about how the banks have really taken advantage of our communities, and led to all the foreclosures. About the growing income inequality that has happened in our neighbor-hoods. It’s time that we are a very progressive, responsible type of a City Council that repre-sents our neighborhoods.

WCT: Were you to win, you’d be contending

with one of the city’s greatest financial chal-lenges, when the mandated contributions to the firefighters and police funds jump. What steps would the mayor need to take to pro-tect the city’s balance sheet?

RF: First of all, we need a very comprehensive audit. Two or three of us who sit on City Coun-cil have been calling for that. We need to look at what types of contracts we have, and how money has been going out to the wrong sourc-es. How we may have to pull a lot of things back in and do a lot of items in-house. I think we need to find new sources of revenue. I’ve talked about a commuter tax [and] a LaSalle Street financial transaction tax. There are ways in which we can balance this budget, and bring it in line, and pay for the commitments that we made to our firefighters and police without stripping their benefits or pensions that we have promised them.

WCT: How would a commuter tax work? The idea has come up in the past and hasn’t seemed to go far. What are your ideas on how that should work?

RF: A small tax on those that are commut-ers that live in suburbs—wherever that suburb may be, whether it’s Evanston or Gary, Indi-ana, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin—there’s about 660,000 people that work in the city that live elsewhere, they do not live in the city. A one-percent tax, which they can take off from their own federal income tax, would probably gener-ate about $350 million, and collectively those people who work here but live elsewhere make about $30 billion a year. When they come to the city, what do they want? They want safe streets. They want clean streets. If they have a medical emergency, they want immediate attention and help. It’s a small ask of people who come here and benefit from the economic structure and spend their money elsewhere.

WCT: We spoke with Amara enyia before she dropped out of the race. She has en-dorsed you. one of her ideas was a public bank. Is that an idea that you’ve enter-tained?

RF: I’m looking at that. We can model it af-ter the other state that does have that—we should take a look at that and what we need to do. We need to then invest our monies into our community. I’m very concerned with some of the structures that we have set up here and how we pay off our municipal deposits anyway. They are enormous—we have over a billion dollars in our TIF program right now that can fund any type of a banking structure. Then we have to use it to micro-target our neighbor-hoods. Help our neighborhoods. Re-invest in them and have them grow.

WCT: Are you able to speak about any kinds of service cuts?

RF: I’m always in favor of streamlining. I’ve talked about streamlining our city government from day one—since I’ve been in there. There are areas that we could still keep doing that. We have to take a look at that. I know we have created pockets of patronage, [for example] up at the airports, otherwise, are there ways we can deal with this and where we can do it? Again, a comprehensive overall audit will re-veal that.

WCT: Speak a little bit about your position on minimum wage. Was the increase that just went through enough for Chicagoans?

RF: I’ve been in the “fight for fifteen” since it came around. I’ve been a strong proponent of $15 an hour, especially companies that are making over $50 million in revenue. … McDon-ald’s—a billion dollars in profits. Wal-Mart—$4 billion in profits, and they can’t pay a sustain-able living wage for their employees. Some-thing’s wrong. They’re more concerned with profits than the people that they have. Who ends up paying for it? … We, the taxpayers. They would have to go to County [Hospital] or

otherwise. It’s incumbent on us government to help forge the right kind of life for all of our citizens, where they live, even dealing with the amount of minimum wage paid here in the city.

WCT: Along those same lines, what can a mayor do to stimulate job growth in the city?

RF: There’s a tremendous amount of areas that we can do. Especially when the city gives tax breaks, TIF funds, zoning changes. All those should require community benefit agree-ments. I’ve been a proponent. When Rush Hos-pital came in, it was even before I was sworn in and after I was elected in ’07. There was a lot of community opposition to it. The alderman I replaced, and the alderman in the 27th Ward, who is still there, was against Rush Hospital. I said, “We should have jobs and economic growth. We had 500 jobs for our community

created. People went to a six-week training at Dawson, and then they were employed by Rush at a livable wage. When I brought in Target, when we brought in Costco, all of the groups had local hiring requirements. That’s what we need to push.

WCT: What are your thoughts on income disparities in Chicago?

RF: Until we realize that the problems of crime, and the problems of our schools, are poverty, then we’re lost. We need to realize that that is a major concern. Eighteen thou-sand, minimum, homeless kids in our system. Poverty ranks as No. 1. So he have to redirect our resources, so we can have wraparound and health services for our kids and schools, mak-ing sure that they have proper meals and good

robert ‘bob’ fiorettiseeks mayor’s seat

Bob Fioretti in 2013. Photo by Hal Baim

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after-school programs, whether they’re learn-ing, library, sports, all of those are necessary.

I found that to be true in 2008 when Ruben Ivy was killed. He was a young man at Crane High School. Shortly thereafter there was a big drop in attendance, following his death. What we did was, we got parents, police and pastors together. I personally knocked on 162 doors talking to parents and telling them that we needed their kid back in school. What I saw then was people wanting to do the right thing, but they didn’t know how to do the right thing. When we created Operation Safe Passage, it was people who did it for passion, [for] their children, not their pocketbooks, which I see so often out there now. There are a lot of different ways we can address the issues.

WCT: You said that you support the idea of an elected school board. Why do you think that is important?

RF: I think that we need a school board that doesn’t represent the limited economic inter-ests of our mayor. We need a school board that reflects the diversity of this city. I’m looking at it very closely. I’ve been in a couple meet-ings recently. I’ve been listening to the con-cerns of parents, educators, community leaders and regular citizens, on making sure that we have a comprehensive, diverse elected school board. I say this because I’ve been in favor of it since Day One, when I first took office in ’07, I thought it was important that we get behind it. … I’m not worried about the flow of money into an election, because if we do it the right way, people understand. … We need one. It would be good for our city, and we’re the only school board in the state that doesn’t have one, so we’ll put together the right kind of measures to make it a model for the country, for how we get an elected school board.

WCT: What were your thoughts of Presi-dent obama’s executive order on immigra-tion?

RF: I’m glad that he did it, and hope that we overcome any legal challenges here. It’s an important first step. We’ve done a lot of things in the state of Illinois and in the city to move toward that, so hopefully—I say it with some hesitancy, because the forces against it have already filed a lawsuit and other lawsuits, so we’re going to have to see what they need as this comes about. I hope they get resolved shortly, the legal challenges, because of the impact of where we go as a country [is sig-nificant].

My dad came here from Italy; he was 7 years old. It was at a time when we embraced immi-gration. … Why was it he and his family came here? Because Chicago was a city of hope. A city of opportunity. We should be embracing people of all cultures. As I travel the city, Chi-cago is a melting pot, a mosaic. Each commu-nity is different. Each community has a differ-ent flavor of who and what we are. We should embrace all cultures to make this a global city.

WCT: What’s your relationship been with the LGBT community in the past? How have you reached out to them for the campaign, and how would you do so when you became mayor?

RF: First of all, I’ve dealt and been in con-tact with most of the groups. For a number of years, I lived at Addison and Lake Shore Drive. You don’t have to be active in a community to support it. I was one of the first aldermen to come out for marriage equality, even before the other aldermen in the City Council are from the community up there. I’ve always been a strong supporter of civil unions and marriage equality. It goes back to friends I had in high school. It’s how we promote against equality across the board. Nobody should be discrimi-nated against, period. [The community is] all over the city. … Friends from high school and college have strong relationships with their partners. I’m proud to know them and I’m proud to be at their ceremonies, whether civil [union] or marriage. Across the board, I think my support for the community has been there from Day One.

WCT: Have you done any work with or had any action with the transgender community?

RF: I have had some. Have I introduced any ordinances on it or anything along those lines? My answer is no. [But] It’s a community that needs assistance, help and recognition here, and I think sometimes it’s very troubling for [transgender youth] and so we need help in encouraging them across the board too.

WCT: Illinois and the city have strong anti-discrimination laws on the books, but actual enforcement of those laws can be difficult, what can the mayor do to see that those are adequately enforced?

RF: I would hope that the mayor would be a frontrunner on that. I’ve said before, I want to be a different kind of mayor. I want to be out there listening to the community so I am going to have “ward nights” in the communities, and listen to the communities, and try to resolve issues. If there are concerns out there, then we need to deal with them.We should deal with them immediately. As mayor, I’d be proactive on resolving issues the people of the city have.

WCT: You mentioned before, the issue of homelessness among young people, and you said 18,000 CPS students are homeless. A disproportionate number of homeless youth are LGBT. How can the city address their needs?

RF: We need to look at what we’ve done in terms of the closures of our schools and how we can assist those [students]. … Not only do they need some safe place to lay their head [they also need someplace safe] to learn … to help educate them, to train them for jobs and entries into the job market, and for them not to be worried or afraid about who they are or what they are. Or, [due to] the fact that they think at a young age that they might be a little bit different, we need to encourage them across the board.

WCT: What does the city need to do to curtail new HIV infection and see to it that those currently living with HIV/AIDS receive adequate support?

RF: A lot. We need a hardcore educational program. We need a constant and consistent message getting into our community that says “We’ve got to control this,” and, to those who are infected, “We will help you across the board today.”

WCT: Mayor emanuel has an enormous warchest to draw from and he just got a big infusion of cash. How are you ready to mount an effective campaign against him?

RF: We’re raising money. We’re raising the right kind of money. You said “enormous.” I think it’s “obscene. It’s absolutely obscene. He’s going to keep right on raising money. He may hit $20 million before you know it. But he could use $2 million out of that campaign fund and reopen our mental health clinics that closed … and help those folks that need men-tal health [resources] in our city. He can help our police officers use it in their campaign to raise $4 million—he can give that, for their vests, for all the police officers. He should be running on his record, not on his money.

Visit BobFioretti.com.


More than 270,000 people have already signed an online petition asking President Obama to enact a law protecting transgender youth from conversion therapy. The petition on Change.org is called “Enact Leelah’s Law to Ban Transgender Conversion Therapy,” and is addressed to Obama, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

In addition, there is a separate online pe-tition that about 90,000 people have signed, urging the family to use her chosen female name (as opposed to her birth name) on her tombstone.

The funeral was moved and held privately after threats against the family, reported NBC News. Tim Tripp, the family minister at North-east Church of Christ in Cincinnati, told NBC News that the funeral had been moved to a private location because “the times and dates had been publicized, and the family’s received threats.” Tripp would not specify what threats surrounded the funeral, other than to say the family had heard there would be “disruptions.” Mourners arriving at the church Jan. 2 found a sign on the door announcing the service’s post-ponement. Jeff Hartmann, of Hodapp Funeral Home, told NBC News that the private service was held, and that Alcorn’s body was to be cre-mated.

In Alcorn’s suicide note, she wrote, “Please don’t be sad, it’s for the better. The life I would’ve lived isn’t worth living in … because I’m transgender. To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy’s body, and I’ve felt that way ever since I was 4. I never knew there was a word for that feeling, nor was it possible for a boy to become a girl, so I never told anyone and I just continued to do traditionally ‘boyish’ things to try to fit in.”

Alcorn wrote that she learned what transgen-der meant at age 14 “and cried of happiness.” But when she told her mom, “she reacted ex-tremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that I am wrong,” she wrote.

Carla Alcorn told CNN, “We don’t support [be-ing transgender], religiously, but we told him that we loved him unconditionally. We loved him no matter what. I loved my son. People need to know that I loved him. He was a good kid, a good boy.”

Gay-rights advocate Dan Savage has been extremely vocal in support of Leelah—and just as vocal against her parents. Savage tweeted, “If [gay college student] Tyler Clementi’s room-mate could be prosecuted—and he was—then the parents of #LeelahAlcorn can & should be.”

Savage added, “#LeelahAlcorn’s parents threw her in front of that truck. They should be ashamed—but 1st they need to be shamed. Charges should be brought.”

When asked on Twitter what charges they should face, Savage replied: “Child abuse. Ne-glect. Reckless endangerment. Manslaughter.”

Savage tweeted, “It risks incentivizing sui-cide—take revenge on hateful parents by kill-ing yourself—but an example needs 2 be made of #LeelahAlcorn’s parents.

“We know that parental hostility & rejection doubles a queer kid’s already quadrupled risk of suicide—rejecting your queer kid is abuse.”

In the 964-word suicide note, Alcorn said that she wanted 100 percent “of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money (plus my money in the bank) to be given to trans civil-rights movements and support groups.”

Alcorn ended the note stating, “The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgen-der people aren’t treated the way I was, [but rather], they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of trans-gender people who commit suicide this year.”

Alcorn closed the note saying “Goodbye,” and signed the letter (Leelah) Josh Alcorn—and drew a line through her birth name.

Alcorn’s death sparked a social media frenzy, and it certainly hit hard in the LGBT commu-nity.

“The story is absolutely heartbreaking,” said Anthony Nicodemo, an out gay high school basketball coach in New York. “All of our youth need to know they have [a] place to turn and people who will support them. The larger issues are consistently the adults. Education is truly needed on all levels. Hopefully this will prevent tragic stories like this in the future.”

Christina Kahrl, a transgender sportswriter based in Chicago, said Alcorn’s death was a “tragic situation [that] reflects so many fail-ures. The virtues of faith and family usually provide love that most children take for grant-ed. This was avoidable; transness shouldn’t handicap anyone’s capacity for empathy.”

Brielle Harrison, a transgender female soft-ware engineer for Facebook, based in North-ern California, was one of many who voiced her thoughts on Facebook. She wrote, “Please don’t let bigotry, pride, lack of understanding and/or religion drive you to shun your trans-gender children to suicide or torment. This is something they are born with. It isn’t a fad or a form of rebellion. They need your love and support.”

Harrison added, “Neither God nor any camp or therapist will ‘fix’ this. If you want to believe that God put them there for a reason, then be-lieve they are here to further civil rights and possibly to broaden your horizons.”

Mara Keisling, executive director for the Na-tional Center for Transgender Equality, said she had a “heartbroken, not-again feeling” after hearing about Alcorn’s death.

“What Leelah has given us is, a real way to individualize this crisis that we are having with transgender people, especially transgen-der youth [who are] being so marginalized, so alienated,” Keisling said. “We know this hap-pens so frequently. Sometimes the kids survive. Too often, they don’t.”

In late 2010, the National Center for Trans-gender Equality and the National Gay and Les-bian Task Force released a survey that revealed 41 percent of transgender people in the United States have attempted suicide.

“It is a huge epidemic that is so absolutely horribly outrageous,” Keisling said.

Shannan Wilber, Esq.—the youth policy di-rector for the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco—said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by Leelah’s tragic death.”

Wilber added, “Like countless LGBT youth across this country, Leelah struggled with the anguish and isolation of navigating a world in which her core identity was erased and reject-ed. Despite the gains we have achieved in se-curing the equal rights of LGBT people in many arenas, too many of our children continue to suffer the ravages of intolerance and bigotry. They are rejected at home, bullied at school and condemned at church. They are subjected to discredited and dangerous interventions de-signed to change their core identities. They are abandoned by the institutions charged with ensuring their safety and well-being. It is im-possible to make sense of the senseless loss of a child. But this tragedy strengthens our resolve to create a world in which all children are cherished and supported to become their authentic selves.”

Masen Davis, executive director of the Cal-ifornia-based Transgender Law Center, said in a statement that “[o]ur hearts weigh heavily from news of three recent suicides by trans youth in the Midwest. While others are cele-brating the New Year, our thoughts and prayers are with youth across the country who are struggling for acceptance and wellbeing. Fam-ily and community support can make the world of difference in a transgender person’s life.

“For those struggling, please know you’re not alone and reach out for help—go to a support group, talk to a friend, or call a helpline like the Trevor Project Lifeline (866-488-7386). If you are a parent of a child who may be trans-gender, please let your child know you love and accept them—even if you may not yet under-stand them.”

Bob Fioretti. Photo by Matt Simonette

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BY LAUReN WARNeCKe

The news of Eric Eatherly’s passing spread quickly through Chicago’s close-knit arts com-munity. Eatherly was killed in a car accident Dec. 29 during a family visit in Tennessee. Eric graduated from Northwestern University in 2001 with degrees in dance and sociology. Billy Siegenfeld—founder and artistic di-rector of the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, and professor of dance at Northwestern University since 1993—said, “Eric was my student first. His moving body had no knowledge of the information the class was giving. And yet in every class he remained open-hearted and hun-gry, in that lovely un-noisy way of his. Grate-ful just to be partaking of movement, his un-judging ways invited his classmates to feast as defenselessly. They all loved him for his very real sweetness. Some years later his very smart, equally generous mind became a public gift when he started seeing dance and writing about it. “He was the first to write about the inside thing we’re after at Jump Rhythm, in such clear and unpretentious words. The sweetest of men, Eric isn’t here now to continue being that cru-cial, gentle reminder he was to us, just by his being, to feel everyday that we’re very lucky that those of us who do and teach art get to live life more creatively and more awake. We’ll be continually blessed by having had him with us for as long as we did.” Immediately after college, Eatherly started performing with Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre (SPDW) and Hedwig Dances. In a phone interview with SPDW Artistic Director Joanna Rosenthal Read, she said Eric was “al-ways positive… he was so sweet and gener-ous, and always smiling. He was a weird, goofy, mover with amazing facility, and that was so appealing to us. There were only five of us in the company at that time, and Eric was ground-ing. We were all fire; he was the earth.” Eatherly was injured two days before SPDW’s 10th-anniversary concert in 2007. It was an injury that would shift his entire career, but he remained incredibly supportive of the com-pany, serving as its board president since 2012. Eric also worked with Mordine & Company and Thodos Dance Chicago during his performance career, and served on the board for Jump Rhythm Jazz Project for four years. Shirley Mordine—founder and artistic direc-tor, of the Mordine & Company Dance Theater—commented that “Eric was a most gracious and competent colleague and friend. I worked with Eric as a dancer and as a representative of the Silverman Group. In every situation, every en-

counter with Eric, I was always moved by his gentleness and his willingness to give gener-ously to any project or service to be met. I’m sure many will agree with me that his death is a loss to the arts community of Chicago.” Eatherly developed an interest in writing while he was still dancing, stretching his writ-ing wings with Hedwig Dances. After his injury, he became the dance columnist at Windy City Times for a year before landing a job at The Silverman Group, one of Chicago’s leading pub-licity firms for the arts. Eatherly rose to vice president of The Silver-man Group, with The Joffrey Ballet as one of his main accounts. “Eric’s personal and profes-sional commitment to dance made the City of Chicago a more vital place,” said Joffrey Execu-tive Director Greg Cameron. “He used the media to support the creative process he loved. We will miss his bright smile and enthusiasm.” As a publicist, members of the press revered him for his friendly demeanor and attention to detail. As a man, he was a true gentleman and a champion for the performing arts in Chicago, particularly dance. Zachary Whittenburg, manager of communi-cation at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, said, “I had the pleasure of working with Eric, both on and offstage, for nearly a decade. He was the one who encouraged me to adopt his col-umn for the Windy City Times, starting my writ-ing career and opening a whole new world. We rehearsed, performed and attended countless

performances together and, in recent years, re-mained in close touch as we both transitioned into public relations. “Eric was that rare person who could be warm, easygoing and a consummate profes-sional all at once. He met everyone as a friend. This news comes as a shock to Chicago’s dance community and a terrible loss—I offer my deepest condolences to his family, his wonder-ful partner Jay, and his many clients and col-leagues throughout the city.” “On behalf of Hedwig Dances, I extend my condolences to his family and loved ones. Eric worked with Hedwig Dances for six years—first as an apprentice (2001-2002) and later as a company member (2002 to 2007)—dancing in about a dozen works,” stated Jan Bartoszek, founder and artistic director of Hedwig Dances. “He was passionate about dance in its many forms—modern, ballet, jazz, rhythm. During his tenure with Hedwig Dances, he developed an interest in writing about dance and wrote copy for Hedwig Dances’ marketing materials. He also choreographed two works that dealt with body image, The Ugly Appetite (2003) and Mirror, Mirror (2004). Eric was always kind, positive and generous. He looked for the sil-ver lining in every situation. His gentle humor could lift the room. I will miss him immense-ly.” Vicki Crain—founder/editor of Rogue Balle-

rina, and a marketing associate with the Jof-frey—commented that “Eric recommended me for the dance columnist job at Windy City Times and was always a huge supporter of Rogue Bal-lerina, which meant the world to me. I was thrilled to continue working with him in my current position with the Joffrey. His profes-sionalism and warm personality made him the best at his job and his love of dance was infec-tious. The loss of his kind soul will be felt by the dance community for a long time to come.” “Words fall short when it comes to describing Eric,” added Catherine L. Tully, dance writer and founder of 4dancers.org. “As a professional, he was a true joy to work with. He had so much warmth and grace, and I have always consid-ered him a friend as well as a colleague. His long-standing presence in the Chicago dance community will be missed terribly. “ Eatherly and his partner of 11 years, Jay Lei-bovitz, were to be married Jan. 16. Close friends and family will conduct a private service; a public gathering celebrating Eric’s life will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph St. At the request of his partner and family, in lieu of flowers please consider making a dona-tion in Eatherly’s memory to one of his favorite causes: the Human Rights Campaign (www.hrc.org) or The Joffrey Ballet’s Academy of Dance (www.Joffrey.org/support).

Chicago’s dance worldmourns loss oferic eatherly

eric eatherly. Photo courtesy of The Silverman Group

or Chadash congregant shure passes awayBY GReTCHeN RACHeL HAMMoND

Joseph Shure—a member of the LGBT-affirm-ing Congregation Or Chadash in Chicago for more than three decades and a veteran of World War II—passed away Dec. 30, 2014, at the age of 89.

“He was very much involved with the arts,” Or Chadash Rabbi Emeritus Laurence L. Ed-wards, Ph.D., told Windy City Times. “He was an art collector and a music, opera and the-ater enthusiast.”

Edwards added that Shure donated a sig-nificant portion of his collection to the Uni-versity of Chicago’s Smart Museum, where he was a volunteer docent. In creating Shore’s eulogy, Edwards reached out to a number of Or Chadash members for their memories of a man who—according to member Harve Tucker—was “so much a part of our lives” both within and outside of the congregation.

“He was one of the most gracious persons I have met,” member Carol Goldbaum told

Edwards. “He reminded me of some of the gentlemen from earlier generations who were kind and attentive and curious.”

“[His] art collection was stunning,” mem-ber Roger Pines added. “For all the years he worked, he collected—carefully and lov-ingly—modern prints, signed by the artists. It was, to me, a moving example of how a person of modest means can, over many years, gradually put together a significant collection.”

Edwards noted that Shure was a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps serving in Eu-rope during World War II. “He had a win-ning smile,” Edwards said. “He was a loving brother and uncle.”

Shure is survived by sisters Helaine Wo-loshin and Beverly Sherman as well as neph-ews David Woloshin and Alan Sherman and nieces Diane Woloshin, Janet Sherman and Nancy Sherman.

Funeral services was held Jan. 2 at West-lawn Cemetery 7801 West Montrose Ave., Norridge.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Congregation Or Chadash 5959 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660.


fundraising goal set for veterans monument With a fundraising goal of $20,000, the Chicago Chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) is moving forward with an LGBT-themed monument now under construction for installation in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in May. The monument will consist of a black granite centerblock holding a pink granite triangle, centered in a pink granite wall displaying, in bronze, the service seals of the the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. It will be inscribed with the words, “Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have served honorably and admirably in America’s armed forces. In their memory and appreciation of their selfless service and sacrifice, this monument was dedicated by Chicago Chapter American Veterans for Equal Rights ‘AVER’ ( … with liberty and justice for all).” Donations will be ac-cepted through Feb. 13 at https://www.indiegogo.com/proj-ects/lgbt-american-veterans-for-equal-rights-monument or through March via check payable to: to American Veterans for Equal Rights, P.O. Box 29317, Chicago, IL 60629. AVER is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. AVeR monument. Rendering by Tod Tatsui


BY MATT SIMoNeTTe

Former state Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, a Repub-lican who represented the state’s 65th district, died Dec. 30, according to Personal PAC CEO and President Terry Cosgrove, a close friend. She was 73. Mulligan was in office 1993-2013, and was a supporter of LGBT rights at a time when it was an especially risky stance in her party. She came into office after defeating former state Rep. Penny Pullen in 1992. Mulligan had lost the previous election to Pullen by just a few votes. “I think it was time for a change, and people were stunned that I would beat her [in 1992],” Mulligan told Windy City Times in 2008. “When I first ran, it was a lot of issues—she wasn’t good on education and other issues—but choice was the one that was highlighted. But a little while into it, gay rights came up. … [Pullen] said that gay and lesbian people don’t impact our community and don’t live here. That isn’t true. There are a lot of gay people who live in the suburbs, and there are a lot of parents that live here. “I think there are a lot of people who came to my campaign because of issues I didn’t realize in the beginning were here, but turned out to be,” Mulligan added. Following redistricting, when Mulligan’s district was renumbered from 55th to 65th, she did not have enough qualifying petitions to run in November 2012. State Rep. Martin Moylan now represents the area. Mulligan remained active politically even af-ter she left the legislature. She continued as Republican Committeeman of Maine Township until March 2014, drawing the ire of local Re-publicans in 2012 when she endorsed Moylan, a Democrat. She also served on the Des Plaines Library Board of Trustees, to which she had re-cently been reappointed. Mulligan was a firm pro-choice advocate who worked closely with Cosgrove. “[She] was a real trailblazer and made it so much easier as a moderate Republican for Springfield to discuss and act on abortion rights and LGBT rights,” he said. “… She un-derstood more than most that the only pur-pose of anti-abortion restrictions was to stop as many women as possible from getting an abortion, which lead to her vocal opposition to mandatory ‘parental notice of abortion’ and restrictions on funding for poor women seeking an abortion.” Cosgrove added that Mulligan’s advocacy of LGBT rights paved the way for other state legis-lators to comfortably vote for issues such non-discrimination legislation, civil unions and marriage equality. “Rosemary Mulligan was afraid of no one and the people of Illinois are the ultimate benefi-ciaries of her fearless defense of equality and

fairness,” he said. Art Johnston, co-founder of Equality Illinois, said, “The general notion in Springfield was that anti-choice and anti-gay forces were in control. Penny Pullen seemed like she could not be defeated. It was remarkable how Rose-mary Mulligan seemed to come out of nowhere and decided to take her on. People were ask-ing, ‘Who is this crazy woman?’ “It took a number of elections, but it opened the doors,” Johnston added. “There’s no way you can give her too much credit. She was ab-solutely adamant about about abortion rights and refused to listen to Republican leadership. In that respect, she was somewhat of a lonely legislator.” Activist Rick Garcia called Mulligan’s death a “devastating loss.” He noted, “She was an old-time, big tent Republican at a time when that was no longer in fashion. Penny Pullen was an active opponent to LGBT rights, and when Rosemary beat her, it was phenomenal—it showed that a strong advocate for LGBT rights could win election as a Republican.” State Rep. Greg Harris added, “She saw the future coming, and knew what was right. She was always a beacon of fairness, and a moder-ate, at a time when a lot of her colleagues were not. She never backed down and was a fighter.” State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz recalled her time working with Mulligan, when Mulligan was Mi-nority Spokesperson on the Human Services Appropriations Committee, which Feigenholtz chaired. “She had a tremendous wealth of knowledge about state issues,” she added. “We had a very collaborative relationship, and I learned a lot about the budget from her. I’m appreciative of the sacrifices she made, and that her family made, so that she could serve in office—she was a workhorse, not a show horse, like many politicians. …We have lost part of the tapestry of gay rights.” A public visitation will be held Wed., Jan. 7, 4-9 p.m., at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St., Des Plaines.

BY RoSS FoRMAN Laurie Benz, an out lesbian and feminist sing-er-songwriter, among other roles in the music industry, passed away peacefully in the Chica-go area on Jan. 4 after a long struggle from a debilitating stroke. She was 57.

“Laurie was truly unique, and Lesbian Nation now must say goodbye to one of its sparkliest lights,” said activist/publisher Toni Armstrong Jr. “She was a big presence in the lesbian-fem-inist cultural world, certainly in Chicago, and within the music festival subculture.”

Benz years ago worked with HOT WIRE maga-zine as a photographer and volunteer, and regularly “hobnobbed with famous lesbian performers and writers,” Armstrong said. “She was a ‘frequent flyer’ at Mountain Moving Cof-feehouse for Womyn & Children and at Women & Children First Bookstore.”

Armstrong said Benz was notorious for doing tequila slammers around Halloween and other parties, “and she made sure we had the photos to prove it.”

“Laurie herself took hundreds of photos doc-umenting lesbian performers and events, from concerts to Pride marches to GLSEN conferenc-es,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said Benz “was a one-woman con-sciousness-raising machine when it came to the issue of lesbian/gay little people. She de-manded visibility and equality. Laurie certainly tired of the endless questions, but nonetheless made herself available to curious people, par-ticularly when she would busk at the Lincoln Park Zoo and in other public spots.

“For many lesbians, Laurie was the first or only little person they’d ever met. Her insis-tence on respect cut in all directions, too. She also took the lead with Little People of America (LPA) and other groups to be sure lesbians and gays were openly recognized. To my knowledge, she was the first to do networking and informa-tive workshops on LGBT little people.”

Armstrong added, “Laurie was so present, so genuinely brave, and so much fun. I’ve met thousands of women, but never anyone else like Laurie Benz – and I expect I never will. Truly, one of the greats has passed.”

Benz was born May 12, 1957, and was the first little person to come out in the Little People of America (LPA) organization, and a lifetime LPA member. “She fought to have LGBTQ gatherings at the national conferences and they became a big success—growing to in-clude those who were straight, but supported the community whole-heartedly,” said actress/theater director Tekki Lomnicki, of Chicago.

Benz developed a workshop called “Differ-ences Within Difference” for people who didn’t feel like they fit into LPA, said Lomnicki, “which included LGBTQ members as well as those who had average size partners or spouses, those who were shorter or taller than most, those of color or non-traditional faiths.”

Lomnicki, 58, also a little person, took over Benz’s workshop and gatherings after her stroke and though she identifies as straight, Lomnicki continued to fight for LGBTQ rights in LPA. “Now a whole flock of young people have taken up the torch, which Laurie was very proud of,” Lomnicki said.

Benz befriended Lomnicki in the early 1980s as both were artists—Benz a singer/songwrit-er; Lomnicki a playwright and actor.

“Laurie was often outspoken and often rubbed people the wrong way, but she had a kind heart and was a very loyal friend,” said Lomnicki, who cherishes a rainbow pin that says “Straight but not narrow”—a gift from Benz.

“Laurie was an animal lover and was pas-sionate about her two shelties, Cimmaron and Nikki, and her cat Sizzle,” Lomnicki said.

A Laurie Benz remembrance party with music, memories and more will be held Sunday, March 22. Further details will be forthcoming on a Facebook page called Friends of Laurie Benz.

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Rosemary Mulligan.Laurie Benz (left) with musician Alix Dobkin. Photo by Toni Armstrong Jr.

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CoMPILeD BY ANDReW DAVIS

—With this ring: Marriage equality had to be the biggest news for the LGBT community in 2014, with a slew of states (including those on the West Coast and in the Deep South) allow-ing same-sex couples to legally wed—although some only permitted it after federal courts or-dered it. As for early December, same-sex mar-riage is legal in 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

—Blood ties: The U.S. Food and Drug Ad-ministration announced recommendations to change the longtime ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men Dec. 23. However, many LGBT-rights activists were not happy with it, as the new recommended policy, issued to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, would change the blood donor deferral period for men who have sex with men from indefinite deferral to one year since the last sexual contact.

—”orange” you glad?: Laverne Cox, who plays Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black, received her first Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series—marking the first time a transgender actor has received such an honor. Cox also became the first transgender person on the cover of Time magazine, and was named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year.

—Lily weds: Iconic actress/comedienne Lily Tomlin married writer Jane Wagner, her partner of 42 years, in a private ceremony in Los Ange-les (on New Year’s Eve).

—Freedom: In Minnesota, transgender woman CeCe McDonald was released from pris-on Jan. 13. McDonald pled guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the death of Dean Schmitz in June 2011 in Minneapolis, and was sentenced to 41 months. McDonald said she acted in self-defense after being verbally and physically assaulted while walking to a 24-hour grocery store late at night.

—Christie blocks: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed 12 bills into law and vetoed 10 others—including a bill that would allow transgender individuals to amend their birth certificates. In a statement, Christie said, “Un-der the proposal before me, however, the spon-sors seek to alter the amended birth certifi-cate application process without maintaining appropriate safeguards. Consequently, further consideration is necessary to determine wheth-er to make such significant changes to State law concerning the issuance of vital records.”

—Family ties: U.S. Customs and Border Pro-tection sent a final rule to the Federal Register designed to broaden the definition of “mem-bers of a family residing in one household” to more accurately reflect relationships for U.S. citizens, residents and international visitors who are traveling together as a family. The ex-pansion of the term included long-term same-sex couples and other domestic relationships; the change in regulation will create less pa-perwork for people who are traveling together as a family.

—Where there’s smoke: CenterLink’s Net-work for LGBT Health Equity released informa-tion about 50 years of impact of smoking on the LGBT community. Among the revelations was that LGBTs spent 65 times more on smok-ing than on all funding to community-related issues.

—With this ring, part two: Lesbian Hous-ton Mayor Annise Parker married her longtime partner, Kathy Hubbard, on their 23rd anniver-sary in Palm Springs, California. The Rev. Paul Fromberg administered the vows. He is a friend of the couple and partner of Parker’s longtime political consultant Grant Martin, formerly of Houston.

—Southern hospitality: In Mississippi, the Starkville City Council passed a resolution sup-porting diversity in all forms, including sexual orientation. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said it was the first time any mu-

nicipality in Mississippi has recognized the dignity of its LGBT residents.

—Storyteller: Barneys New York became the first major retailer to launch a campaign exclu-sively featuring the lives and stories of diverse transgender models and their family members. “Brothers, Sisters, Sons & Daughters” was shot by renowned fashion photographer/filmmaker Bruce Weber, and each model was interviewed by journalist Patricia Bosworth.

—Sam I am: It was a very up-and-down year for out athlete Michael Sam. He revealed his sexuality and then was selected by the NFL team the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of draft. Then the Rams cut him, but he then made the practice squad of the Dallas Cow-boys—who later waived Sam. However, he was also named one of GQ’s Men of the Year.

—Page against the machine: Actress Ellen Page came out as lesbian in a speech to the Human Rights Campaign in Las Vegas on Valen-tine’s Day. “I’m here today because I am gay,” the 26-year-old star of Juno and Hard Candy told the audience. “Maybe I can help others to have an easier time. I am tired of hiding.”

—The ball’s in his court: History was made Feb. 23 when seven-foot Brooklyn Nets player Jason Collins walked onto the court at the Sta-ples Center in Los Angeles—making him the first the first active gay athlete in one of the big four male team sports in North America. Collins retired later in the year.

—Losing my religion: After much specu-lation, Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a religious bias bill. Many, including former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, had urged Brewer to do so. The bill would have allowed people to discriminate based on self-claimed religious beliefs.

—Med reckoning: Truvada came into the fore in 2014. The drug (known as PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis) has been touted as a po-tent line of defense of HIV, reducing infection risk by as much as 92 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Pre-vention. However, some critics have said some Truvada is basically a “party drug” that is not as consistent as advertised.

—What does the Fox say?: The openly gay speaker of the Rhode Island House of Repre-sentatives, Gordon Fox, abruptly resigned his leadership position following a police raid on his home for a criminal investigation. Reports circulated that investigators were searching for his campaign-finance records, although that has yet to be confirmed.

—Call it a comeback: Rivendell Media re-vealed in its annual Gay Press Report that spending in the “gay press” for 2013 is at a record high of $381.4 million, up 18.2 percent from 2012. Spending and circulation in LGBT print media increased 2013, with circulation and readership up 15.1 percent.

—Phil me in: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, saying it will protect “Mississippians of all faiths from government interference.” Sup-porters claim the measure is similar to a fed-eral law passed in 1993 that requires proof of a “compelling interest” in any government measure that imposes a “substantial burden” on religious practices. However, critics say its real aim is to allow discrimination against gay people.

—Shocking report: The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) released a report titled “Trans Populations and HIV: Time to End the Neglect,” which details the high rate of HIV infection among transgender men and women along with the failings of the HIV-focused medical community. Among other things, the report estimates that trans women are 49 times more likely to be living with HIV than members of the general population—with rates even higher among trans women of color.

—one for the ages: Anthony Sullivan, a gay immigrant widower, asked the Los Angeles Field Office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigra-

tion Services (USCIS) to reopen his marriage-based green-card petition that this same office denied four decades ago. In a letter dated Nov. 24, 1975, and addressed to Sullivan’s spouse, Richard Adams, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) wrote an explosive one-sentence response: “You have failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two faggots.” However, Sul-livan had actually received a marriage certifi-cate in 1975.

—on court: College basketball had a first for the history books, with University of Massa-chusetts’ Derrick Gordon playing his first game while openly gay. Gordon, who came out April 9, is the first openly gay man to play a game of Division I men’s basketball—and he scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a recent 95-87 UMass win over Siena.

—Stamp of approval: Civil-rights hero Har-vey Milk, who in 1977 became the first openly gay person elected to public office in Califor-nia, is now on a stamp. On May 22, in honor of Harvey Milk Day, the late San Francisco super-visor and gay-rights activist became the first openly gay elected official featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

—I choose Yu: King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu was appointed to the Washing-ton state Supreme Court—becoming the first openly gay justice, as well as the first Asian-American, to serve on the state’s high court. Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Yu, one of 19 ap-plicants for the seat being vacated by Justice James Johnson.

—Clay of reckoning: Former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken came up short in his bid to represent North Carolina in Congress, al-though he scored a four-hour docuseries on Esquire. The political journey was especially eventful, as Keith Crisco—Aiken’s foe in the primary—died suddenly.

—Natural election: Midterm elections had mixed results for LGBT candidates. Lesbian at-torney Maura Healey made history, winning election as Massachusetts attorney general and becoming the first openly gay person to be elected as attorney general of any state. Also in Massachusetts, Seth Moulton—an Iraq war veteran and first-time candidate—won the Sixth Congressional District Nov. 4 as he de-feated gay Republican Richard Tisei. In Califor-nia, just days the Nov. 4 election in the tight race for San Diego’s 52nd Congressional District seat, a second former staffer for gay Repub-lican candidate Carl DeMaio accused him of sexual harassment; he ultimately lost by a very narrow margin. Also, on a very important note, Republicans regained control of both houses of the U.S. Congress, alarming some LGBT-rights activists.

—Recognition: To recognize military spous-es’ service and sacrifice, First Lady Michelle

Obama invited a group of military wives and family members to the annual Mother’s Day Tea at the White House. At the event, Obama rec-ognized military spouses’ sacrifice by noting a couple of mothers in the audience—including Judith Chedville, who originally left the service in 2004 because she couldn’t serve in good conscience under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Ched-ville (in attendance with spouse Alicia Butler and their 1-year-old daughter, Jordan) re-en-listed after “my husband repealed the policy in 2011,” Obama said.

—A new leader: President Obama announced the appointment of Douglas M. Brooks, M.S.W., as the director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) in March. Brooks is a leading HIV/AIDS policy expert and the first African-American, openly gay, HIV-positive man to lead ONAP.

—eNDA the line: Citing a religious exemp-tion in the act she deemed too broad, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Ex-ecutive Director Rea Carey said the organiza-tion pulled its support of the current version of ENDA. The American Civil Liberties Union, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Transgender Law Center jointly signed a statement detailing their withdrawal of sup-port from ENDA as well.

—Cook comes out: Apple CEO Tim Cook pub-licly confirmed he is gay in an opinion piece published Oct. 30, making him the highest-profile chief executive to come out. In an op-ed in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Cook wrote, “While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”

—That’s an order: President Obama signed an executive order prohibiting contractors who do business with the federal government from discriminating based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and adding to existing protec-tion (which includes sexual orientation) for federal employees a prohibition of discrimina-tion based on gender identity.

—I’m sorry: Chad Griffin, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, offered an apol-ogy to the transgender community at the same time he said the group would take a lead in advocating fully comprehensive federal LGBT civil-rights legislation. Griffin’s speech also de-cried violence against transgender people, call-ing it a “national crisis.” Former Congressman Barney Frank criticized Griffin for apologizing to trans groups, claiming trans people are only excluded from rights legislation because they wouldn’t help lobby for it.

Windy City Times’ full list of national news items of 2014 can be found at www.Windy-CityMediaGroup.com.

Left: Jason Collins. Photo by Ross Forman Right: Mary Yu. Photo by Steph Brusig

national news of 2014


CoMPILeD BY ANDReW DAVIS

—Father Robert Nugent: Nugent, SDS—a co-founder of New Ways Ministry, an organi-zation that cares for gay and lesbian Catho-lics—passed away Jan. 1 in Milwaukee. Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry’s executive director, said of Nugent, “During a time of in-tense homophobia in both church and society, he exhibited uncommon courage and foresight in welcoming and affirming the goodness of God’s lesbian and gay children.”

—Phillip Seymour Hoffman: Hoffman, one of the most versatile and talented actors of his generation, died of a drug overdose at age 46. He won the Academy Award and numerous oth-er honors for his portrayal of gay writer Truman Capote in the 2005 film Capote. He received Oscar nominations for best supporting actor for three films: Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt and The Master.

—Roy Simmons: Simmons, a former New York Giants offensive lineman who later be-came the second former player in NFL history to come out as gay, died in his New York home at 57. Simmons, the only player in NFL his-tory to acknowledge that he was HIV-positive, was known for his nice demeanor—but was also tortured by his sexuality and struggled for years with substance abuse.

—elaine Stritch: Legendary Broadway and screen actress Stritch died at 89. Stritch, whose stage career began in the 1940s, is perhaps known for her association with Broadway com-poser Stephen Sondheim. She won an Emmy for her role as Alec Baldwin’s pushy mother on the NBC show 30 Rock. Most recently, Stritch was the subject of a documentary, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me.

—The Rev. Fred Phelps: Phelps—the leader of a small Baptist church in Westboro, Kansas, who made a name for himself by traveling the country to hoist up “God Hates Fags” plac-ards—died of natural causes. Phelps managed to secure some historic notoriety for himself in 2011, when the church escaped millions of dollars in liability for picketing outside the fu-neral of a straight soldier killed in Afghanistan. Although certainly appalled by Phelps’ tactics and tenacity, the LGBT community came to ig-nore the man and his family that referred to themselves as a church.

—Frankie Knuckles: House-music pioneer Knuckles passed away at 59. The openly gay producer, who was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1996, mixed work by artists such as Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson and Depeche Mode.

—Storme DeLaverie: DeLaverie passed away at age 93. A 2010 Huffington Post item said that DeLaverie “probably threw the first punch in the Stonewall Riot that sparked gay rights,” although that has been disputed. She was also part of the Jewel Box Revue—arguably the country’s first gay community—which was a traveling troupe of impersonators that origi-nally formed in 1939.

—Dr. Maya Angelou: Award-winning author, renowned poet and civil-rights activist Ange-lou has died at 86 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She received more than 50 honorary degrees, and was Reynolds Professor of Ameri-can Studies at Wake Forest University. Angelou wrote the poem “On the Pulse of Morning”—one of her most famous works; she recited it at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993.

—Zoraida Reyes: Transgender activist Reyes, 28, died in California under circumstances au-thorities described as “suspicious.” Reyes was involved with several Orange County immigrant and LGBT advocacy groups. She was at a protest May 27 calling on Santa Ana to end its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

—Nancy Garden: Garden, a lesbian award-winning author of fiction for children and

young adults, died at age 76. Her books includ-ed the lesbian teen novel Annie on My Mind.

—Robin Williams: Groundbreaking comic Williams, 63, was found dead of a suicide. Williams was a star of standup, stage, TV and movies, and he was unafraid to take on a wide range of characters, including performing as a gay man in 1996’s The Birdcage, opposite Nathan Lane. He also played a cross-dressing nanny in 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire—a role that won him a Golden Globe.

—Leelah Alcorn: Alcorn, a transgender teen-ager, committed suicide in Ohio Dec. 28, step-ping in front of a moving tractor-trailer truck. The passing semitrailer killed Leelah Alcorn on southbound Interstate 71 in Union Town-ship. Alcorn made national news after leaving a gripping, emotional suicide note on her blog at Tumblr, detailing a troubled life that was dominated by Christian parents who reportedly rejected their transgender child.

—Leslie Feinberg: Feinberg, who identified as an anti-racist white, working-class, secular Jewish, transgender, lesbian, female, revo-lutionary communist, died Nov. 15. She suc-cumbed to complications from multiple tick-borne co-infections, including Lyme disease, babeisiosis, and protomyxzoa rheumatica, after decades of illness.

—Carl Strickland: Point Foundation co-founder Strickland, 40, has died in a boating accident at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Strickland and his partner of 17 years, Bruce Lindstrom, cre-ated the Point Foundation in 2001 to provide scholarship funds to LGBT students. Since its inception, Point has provided more than $15 million in the education and support of its scholars.

—Joan Rivers: Rivers—a witty, sometimes-controversial comic, actor, TV host, author and producer—suddenly died at age 81 as a result of a medical procedure. Rivers had a big follow-ing in the LGBT community, and she was among the first celebrities to help raise money to fight the AIDS crisis, in the mid-1980s—including in 1984 for AIDS Project Los Angeles, Aid for AIDS and the Shanti Project. She willed that her daughter, Melissa, be made executor, and also directed amounts to go to several chari-ties, such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, God’s Love We Deliver, Jewish Guild Healthcare and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Windy City Times’ full list of passages is at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com.

looking back:national passages

Dr. Maya Angelou. Photo by Dwight Carter

LGBT individuals face greater social and eco-nomic disparities in the Southern, Midwest and mountain states, according to a new Williams Institute report that Credit Suisse sponsored, a press release. The report reviews social climate, demo-graphic, economic and health indicators, and highlights disparities between the 21 states that currently have non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and the 29 states without such laws. The average household income for couples in the Midwest was $87,869 (same-sex) vs. $85,671 (different-sex), for a difference of $2,198. The average household income for cou-ples raising children under 18, however, was $71,601 (same-sex) vs. $91,527 (opposite-sex), a difference of -$19,926—the widest in the country. Regarding Illinois, its social-climate score was 67. (By comparison, Washington, D.C., scored 92 and Louisiana rated 45.) Social cli-

mate was measured through (a) a generation of state-level estimates on four indicators of public attitudes about lesbians, gay men and bisexuals; and (b) a combined score of “LGB Social and Political Climate” by state based on these estimates. Among some of the other Illinois-related fig-ures, same-sex couples earned an average of $111,582 while different-sex married couples made $96,964. (In most states, same-sex couples outearned opposite-sex pairs.) How-ever, the average household income for Illinois couples raising children under 18 was $83,573 (same-sex) vs. $101,870 (opposite-sex). As for the percentage of individuals with household income below $24,000, the number in the study was 31 percent for Illinois LGBTs vs. 23 percent for non-LGBTs. The report is at http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/LGBT-divide-Dec-2014.pdf.

lGbTs: Greater disparitiesin south, Midwest

nominations openfor 2015 Trans 100BY GReTCHeN RACHeL HAMMoND

According to the Trans 100 website, nomina-tions for inclusion on the 2015 list are open until Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. The Trans 100 was started in 2012 by Chicago activist and writer Jen Richards and Antonia E. D’orsay, executive director of This is H.O.W. in Phoenix, Arizona. In a 2014 interview with Windy City Times, Richards stressed that the Trans 100 is not a competition. “It’s not a top 100 list, it’s not a best-of list or a popularity contest,” she said. “It’s a sampling of the kind of work we’ve done in our community. It’s meant to give you a sense of the diversity and range of the people in our community and the kind of projects they’ve undertaken.” The website notes that all nominees must self-identify as trans, be actively working to improve the lives of trans people, live in the United States and not previously have ap-peared on the Trans 100. Organizers are en-couraging the nomination of individuals who are doing work that is unsung and/or unseen, working in areas of multiple intersections of power and privilege and living outside of major population centers. “The Trans 100 places special consideration on those working in the areas of ostracism elimination, stigma reduction, poverty reduc-tion, furthering the social and economic devel-opment of the trans community, and building infrastructure within the trans community,” the website states. In 2014, the list included photographer Amos Mac, entrepreneur and artist Angelica Ross, comedienne Bailey Jay, advocate Brynn Tan-nehill, model Carmen Carrera, attorney Chase Strangio, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion Fallon Fox, activist Jamison Green, athlete and advocate Kye Allums, filmmaker Lana Wachows-ki, musician Laura Jane Grace, Minister Louis Mitchell, advocate Precious Davis, healthcare consultant and advocate Riley Johnson, GLAAD Senior Media Strategist Tiq Milan and advocate Z Jae Williams, among others. The 2015 list will be released to coincide with the International Trans Day of Visibility on March 31. The Trans 100 nomination form can be found at http://thetrans100.com/nominations/. Those with questions about the nomination form are encouraged to contact 2015 Trans 100 Co-Director Rebecca Kling at [email protected]. Prior lists can be downloaded at http://thet-rans100.com/download/. Windy City Times coverage of the 2014 Trans 100 can be found at http://www.windycity-mediagroup.com/lgbt/2014-Trans-100-list-un-veiled-to-celebration/46806.html.

former n.y. guvMario Cuomo dies at 82

Mario Cuomo—a three-term New York gover-nor (1983-94) and father of the state’s current governor, Andrew Cuomo—died New Year’s Day at 82.

Mario’s death came the same day as Andrew was inaugurated for a second term, USA Today noted.

George Pataki overcame Mario’s bid for a fourth gubernatorial term.

Mario decided against a run for president in 1991, leaving the door open for Bill Clinton to win the party’s nomination and the presidency a year later.

Liberal views were his hallmark. For example, he opposed the death penalty. He also opposed abortion, but was pro-choice because he be-lieved it wasn’t a state’s right to prohibit it.

One of Mario’s more notable fights during his three decades in politics was with former New York City Mayor Ed Koch during the Demo-cratic Party’s nomination in the 1977 mayoral race, Towleroad noted. During the campaign, signs appeared on city streets saying “Vote for Cuomo, not the homo” in reference to Koch’s rumored sexuality. Mario denied responsibility for the signs, but Koch reportedly maintained a grudge against Cuomo and Andrew.

Among those surviving Mario are five chil-dren, including Andrew and journalist Chris Cuomo, currently at CNN.

The Towleroad article is at http://www.towl-eroad.com/2015/01/former-new-york-gover-nor-mario-cuomo-dies-at-82.html.

The USA today article is at http://www.usa-today.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/01/former-new-york-governor-mario-cuomo-dead-82/21170217/.

Trans marchin philadelphia Holding candles and chanting “Trans lives matter,” about 60 advocates for Nizah Morris marched through Center City in Philadelphia, according to Philadelphia Gay News. The Dec. 22 event marked the 12th anniver-sary of a Center City “courtesy ride” Philadel-phia police gave to Morris. Twelve years ago, onlookers helped an intoxicated Morris inside a police car; instead, the transwoman was trans-ported to the area of 16th and Walnut streets, where passing motorists found her lying in the street with blunt-force head trauma. She died two days later, on Dec. 24, 2002—and her ho-micide remains unsolved.


VoL. 30, No. 15, Jan. 7, 2015 The combined forces of Windy City Times,

founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, founded May 1987.

PUBLISHeR & eXeCUTIVe eDIToRTracy Baim

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WINDY CITYTIMES

VIEWPoINTS

The day afterChristmasGarbage pick-up on my block is every Thursday. But with Christmas falling on that day of the week, this year garbage pick-up rolled over to Friday.

The running joke among us residents on the block is that we all sometimes, unfortunately, get unpleasant sights and smells of each oth-ers’ garbage because of the way our gaggle of sanitation workers barrel from house-to-house, leaving unsightly reminders of our trash.

One neighbor a couple of houses from mine in our cul-de-sac calls the sanitation workers’ garbage pick-up performance “anti-trash day” as she cleans up behind them. When the sani-tation truck rolls away, the area is strewn not only with our trash but with our trashcans and recycle bins now littering the block, too. And each neighbor must retrieve his or her recep-tacles from a mountain of trash cans.

On that Friday, the day after Christmas, when the sanitation truck drove away, another neighbor of mine went to retrieve her recep-tacles expecting nothing out of the ordinary. As my neighbor was rolling her bins back into her yard, she couldn’t believe what she saw scrawled on one of its sides—the N-word!

Shocked by the sight of the epithet, she took a picture of the racial slur and hurried to re-move it. But the stubbornness of the wax oil crayon left an indelible imprint, reminding her how hatred can so suddenly and unexpectedly visit upon you.

Cambridge, Massachusetts—proudly dubbed

as “The People’s Republic of Cambridge”—is ranked as one of the most liberal cities in the United States. And with two of the country’s premier institutions of higher learning—Har-vard and Massachusetts Institute of Technol-ogy—that draw students and scholars from around the world, Cambridge’s showcase of di-versity and multiculturalism rivals that of the United Nations.

Cambridge is also proudly known for a lot of firsts in this country. For example, it was the first city in Massachusetts to issue a legal ap-plication for same-sex marriage. It’s the first major city in the country to elect an African-American openly gay mayor—Ken Reeves. And Cambridge elected its first African-American openly lesbian mayor in the country in 2008 with E. Denise Simmons.

Cambridge is, no doubt, a progressive city. With racial and police tensions nothing like that of Ferguson or New York City, people of color in Cambridge can feel somewhat removed from nagging reminders of intolerance and in-sensitivity.

However, when you scratch below Cam-bridge’s surface, there is intolerance and in-sensitivity. And like Southern intolerance that sees only race and tries to keep people in their place, Cambridge maintains its racial and class boundaries not by designated “colored” water fountains, toilets or restaurants, but rather by its zip codes—like 02138 known as a tony enclave; major street intersections known as squares, like the renown Harvard Square; and residential border areas that are designated numbers, like the notorious Area 4—a predom-inately Black, poor and working-class enclave.

Cambridge, sadly, isn’t as multicultural as it purports to be.

Fewer than five families of color reside on the block. My neighbor is Southeast Asian and the family has lived on the block for 20-plus years, with two children who’ve graduated from The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School as well as BB&N (Buckingham Browne & Nichols), and one now in attendance at Harvard.

My neighbors invited me to go with them to the police station to lodge their complaint. They wanted to make certain that the police not only have a record of the incident but they also wanted to ascertain if other residents of color anywhere in Cambridge have had similar experiences.

While Cambridge Police is nothing like they were when they arrested renown African-Amer-ican Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates in 2009 as a suspected house burglar, the police officer was politely dismissive of my neighbors as they nervously struggled explaining the in-cident while showing the photo.

Our culture’s present-day cavalier use of the N-word speaks how we as Americans—of all races—have become anesthetized to the dam-aging and destructive use of this epithet.

The N-word is firmly embedded in the lexicon of racist language that was and still is used to disparage people of color.

In 2003, the NAACP convinced Merriam-Web-ster lexicographers to change the definition of the word N-word in the dictionary to no longer mean African-Americans but instead a racial slur. And while the battle to change the N-word in the American lexicon was a long and arduous one, it is even harder to purge the sting of the word from the American psyche.

As quiet, law-abiding and upstanding resi-dents of Cambridge, my neighbors wonder who could have possibly written such hatred and direct it toward them.

The answer is that it really doesn’t matter.What does matter is that, as Americans, we

cannot become unconscious and numb to the use and abuse of the power and currency this racial epithet still has in our society.

Why?Because it thwarts the daily struggle many of

us Americans work hard at in trying to amelio-rate race relations.

And what also matters is that no person of color should ever have to experience what my neighbors did that day after Christmas, espe-cially in Cambridge.

LETTErSPolitics of religion

I am writing this letter hoping for of begin-ning a discussion on the ethics of politics, or is there such a thing. Can ethics have any place in our political discussion, or is that just wish-ful thinking? Wishful thinking or not, I believe such a discussion is worthwhile because of the Chicago aldermanic elections that are on the horizon. In my opinion, we can always raise the political benchmark. The two aldermanic races I wish to look at Feb. 24 involve two white gay men: Ald. James Cappleman of the 46th Ward, and Ald. Tom Tun-ney of the 44th Ward. While Tunney appears to be a shoo-in, Cappleman’s race is much tighter. Both aldermen are Roman Catholic. Both seem to be fair-weather Catholics, in my opin-ion. Both remained silent while Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel shepherded a city award to Car-dinal Francis George. As for Tunney’s actions during the whole minimum-wage debate, he acts if the there is no such thing as the work-ing poor when it comes to the LGBT commu-nity. During the statewide debate on same-sex marriage, both acted like the Catholic Church was a friend and ally of Chicago’s LGBT commu-nity, as exmeplified by Tunney’s secret meeting with the Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to change the Pride Parade route, and the silence when it came to making public statements

about George’s homophobic attacks on our community. When George compared the gay-rights move-ment to the behavior of the Ku Klux Klan, nei-ther could be heard speaking up for justice for the LGBT community. There appears to be a mindset developed by these two separate alderman that advocating for a minority community is alright as long it is not the LGBT Community, both seem to be sensitive to publicly aligning themselves with advocacy for the LGBT Community in their pub-lic comments. Walking the talk is always difficult when it comes to justice in various minority commu-nities. While I recognize that living out eth-ics and justice is at times difficult, both men claim to be people of faith, based on that call both are called to live out the Sermon on the Mount. Even Pope Francis has been proclaiming the Church of the poor, and I am sure he would also support the minimum wage bill that Tun-ney opposed. I understand both aldermen have responsibil-ities to support all the voters of their respec-tive wards, but such support should not come by shutting out the LGBT community, and their concerns. I believe the question that voters in both wards have to face is if can they do better in selecting their alderman based on ethics—or if that’s a concept so far removed from the politi-cal geography of the 44th and 46th wards when

it comes to voting that it is useless to even attempt a course correction. Clearly, both alderman have challenges living out our understandings of moral and ethical behavior when it comes to creating a critical political edge. That is the singular reason why I think this conversation is so germane to cur-rent political environment. As a Roman Catholic and a voter, I think these are valid questions—and they’re not un-reasonable ask of both Tunney and Cappleman, because both of have been known to play the religious card when needed.

Joe MurrayChicago

rEV.IrENE

MoNroE

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MediaGroup.com. Letters may be

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GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Among the theatrical productions reviewed this week is The Mikado (above). See page 14.

COMEDYIn the swim of things.

Page 14Photo from Penny the F*ckable Dolphin by

Shannon Jenkins, Flaming City Photography

Fry anxiety.Page 20

Fries at Little Bad WolfFacebook photo

Fighting cancer.Page 17

Photo of Judy Fabjanceby Mel Ferrand

THEATER DISH

HOOP DREAMS

Photo byEvan Hanover

BY SCoTT C. MoRGAN

January wouldn’t seem to be the best time to stage major theater festivals in Chicago, what with the frigid cold weather. But there are three prominent Chicago theater festivals brav-ing the snowy conditions this month, with two featuring LGBTQ components.

The newcomer on the block is the first of what is hoped to be a biennial Chicago Inter-national Puppet Theatre Festival. It runs at various Windy City locations Wed., Jan. 14, through Sunday, Jan. 25. Visit www.chica-gopuppetfest.org for more information.

But if you’re looking for more established and intimate theater festivals, you can’t go wrong with the 18-year-old Fillet of Solo Fes-tival sponsored by Lifeline Theatre from Jan. 7-25, and the 10-year-old Chicago Sketch Com-edy Festival (aka Chicago Sketchfest) at Stage 773 from Jan. 8-18.

The Fillet of Solo Festival focuses on sto-rytelling and living literature, and traces its roots to the now-defunct Live Bait Theater (Lifeline assumed co-sponsorship of the festi-val in 2010). This year’s festival features 16 storytelling collectives including Chicago’s old-est LGBTQ sketch comedy troupe GayCo (which also recently celebrated its 18th anniversary) and one of the newest ones, OUTspoken! LGBTQ Storytelling which launched this past August at the bar Sidetrack.

“There’s great value in people hearing other people’s stories—especially since a number of the stories have a historical significance,” said David Fink, the curator and co-host of OUTspo-

ken! “We try to have as much diversity in terms of age, proclivity, gender and ethnicity.”

Fink was excited to be approached by Fillet of Solo to join the festival this year, especially considering the newness of OUTspoken! Fink hopes that the festival participation will ex-pose OUTspoken! to a broader audience who might not normally be found at a Boystown bar.

For the Fillet of Solo performances, Fink has chosen some of the more memorable storytell-ers from the past few months of OUTspoken! For instance, Sidetrack co-owner Art Johnson speaks about his pioneering work in getting non-discrimination ordinances passed at the first two Fillet of Solo OUTspoken! performanc-es, while former GayCo ensemble member Jim Bennett of Lambda Legal is featured at the second one.

As for GayCo itself at Fillet of Solo, ensemble member Jamie Newland says that the storytell-ing themes will be “mating, dating and break-ing up.” Newland also says there’s a strong improvisational aspect to the GayCo perfor-mances, so that audiences will see a different GayCo show each time out.

“The Fillet of Solo crowd is very different from our normal crowd,” Newland said. “It’s more of an outreach to the community up in Rogers Park who may not necessarily be ex-pecting to hear gay stories.”

Where GayCo sticks more to their written roots is at the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, where they will be performing a 40-minute cut-down version of their most recent show, Bearly Legal.

“GayCo has been doing Sketchfest since its inception,” Newland said. “Originally we were the one gay group, but there have been many others since and there are many troupes that are not gay-specific but may have gay mem-bers. One of the things about Sketchfest is it’s really a community thing where performers get to see each other—especially people from out of town. So GayCo really brings in other gay performers.”

Although Newland says that GayCo wants to present its best foot forward in terms of im-pressing the many visiting troupes, he also stresses that the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festi-val isn’t meant to be competitive. When asked why GayCo only has one performance slot in Sketchfest, Newland said that hometown Chi-cago groups often only have a single perfor-mance to allow visiting troupes more perfor-mance opportunities largely because they had to travel further distances to be a part of it.

“It’s super-welcoming and everyone is there to see what everyone else is doing,” said New-land about Sketchfest. “There’s a lot of joy and fun in it.”

OUTspoken! LGBTQ Storytelling participates in Fillet of Solo at 4 p.m. Sundays Jan. 11, 18 and 25, at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glen-

wood Ave. GayCo performs as part of Fillet of Solo at 7 p.m. Fridays Jan. 9, 16 and 23 at the Heartland Studio Theatre, 7016 N. Glen-wood Ave. Fillet of Solo kicks off with a free opening night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave., and then runs through Sunday, Jan. 25, at Lifeline and the Heartland Studio Theatre. Tickets are $10 for each performance and festival passes are available for $50. Call 773-761-4477 or visit www.lifelinetheatre.com for tickets and a full schedule of performances.

GayCo performs as part of the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival runs from Thursday, Jan. 8, through Sunday, Jan. 18, in all four spaces of Stage 773. To find out more infor-mation about the other 167 international, na-tional and local troupes performing in 188 dif-ferent shows, call 773-327-5252 or visit www.chicagosketchfest.com.

For more information on GayCo, visit www.gayco.com. Visit www.outspokenchicago.com more information on oUTspoken! Chi-cago’s Monthly LGBTQ Storytelling event and its regular first-Tuesday-of-the-month per-formances at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St.

SCOTTISH PLAY SCOTT

Telling tales and getting sketchy

The cast of Bearly Legal. Photo courtesy of GayCo


The Pirates of Penzance. Photo by evan Hanover

DOUBLE REVIEW

The Pirates of Penzance; The Mikado Libretto: W.S. Gilbert; Score: Arthur Sullivan; Adaptation: Sean GraneyAt: Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave.Tickets: www.the-hypocrites.com; $36-$50Runs through Feb. 7

BY SCoTT C. MoRGAN

The late Canadian-British comedian Anna Rus-sell (1911-2006) was famous for spoofing the conventions of classical music, with “How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera” as one of her best sketches. In it she insightfully skewered how very similar all of the famous 19th-century Gilbert and Sullivan comic oper-ettas were in relation to each other. Now that The Hypocrites has revived its hit productions of The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado to play alongside its new take on H.M.S. Pinafore, the similarities that Russell joked about are very apparent—especially if you see all three productions in close succes-sion. But those similarities also help to make all three strong repertory choices for The Hypo-crites to heat up the winter season with sunny silliness and fun. The same cast of extremely talented 10 actor/musicians amaze by taking on many roles and playing multiple instru-ments themselves to tell the strange stories of these comic operettas that themselves spoofed the conventions of 19th century grand opera and melodrama. The big change now is that The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado are both now play-ing the much larger new main-floor space of The Den Theatre versus the more cramped base-ment of the Chopin Theatre where they first premiered (and before they moved onto many impressive U.S. regional productions). So for those who previously saw Pirates and Mikado at the Chopin, some of the intimacy is lost, especially with more seating areas for audiences who choose not to be poked and prodded to move around in the creative prom-enade staging by co-directors Sean Graney and Thrisa Hodits. Also, some of the theatrical surprises might not feel so fresh you watch a band of roving musicians perform The Pirates of Penzance as a beach party or The Mikado as a balloon-filled circus spectacle. But for those who previously missed both Pirates and Mikado, both production still work their wacky magic thanks to the playful

and colorful atmospheres dreamed up by set designer Michael Smallwood and lighting de-signer Heather Gilbert. Kudos are also called for costumer Alison Siple and sound designer Kevin O’Donnell for helping to clearly delineate what and where each performer is portraying and saying. The performances are very fun, especially when you consider the gender-bending work in The Mikado with Shawn Pfautsch playing both the hero Nanki Poo and the villainess Katisha and Emily Casey playing both the heroine Yum Yum and the title emperor. So even if these returning Gilbert and Sul-livan repertory pieces come off as remarkably similar, The Hypocrites still bring out the fun via their anarchic adaptations. And having these shows back for victory lap revivals is cer-tainly warm and welcome for this chilly season.

THEATER REVIEW

Penny the F*ckable Dolphin: A Love StoryBook, music and lyrics: Kristina FelskeAt: Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave.Tickets: 773-697-9693 or www.theannoyance.com; $15-$20Runs through Feb. 11

BY SCoTT C. MoRGAN

Every now and then you see a comically shocking stage title that piques your pru-rient curiosity. Take for instance Penny the F*ckable Dolphin: A Love Story now playing at the Annoyance Theatre. It’s billed as be-ing based on the novel Wet Goddess, which was supposedly inspired a true story of a teenage guy who falls in love with a dolphin!

But since this musical is at the Annoyance, bizarre and envelope-pushing shows are ex-pected. Whether they amount to anything theatrically beyond their eyebrow-raising titles is another matter.

What really caught my eye with this show was the participation of Megan Johns as di-rector. I’ve been very impressed with Johns acting work since I first spied her in the 2007 Annoyance show Love is Dead: A Nec-Romantic Musical Comedy and through most of her subsequent work for The New Colony in hit shows like Frat and 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche.

Alas, Penny the F*ckable Dolphin isn’t in

the same league as those aforementioned shows. Playwright/composer/actor Kristina Felske started with an interesting and out-rageous idea, but her execution of the ma-terial just meanders with too many under-developed characters and numerous scenes that lack and urgency in their dramatic focus (though the surf-rock inspired score is often fun).

Penny the F*ckable Dolphin focuses on the 18-year-old Zack (Andy Junk) who gets a summer job at a rundown tourist attraction called Aqua Funland. Goaded by his weird boss Buck (Charles Pettitt), Zack develops a relationship with Penny, especially when she starts visiting his dreams and professing her love for him—despite the other bullying dol-phins who want to destroy the relationship and damage Zack’s manhood.

Based upon seeing the final preview perfor-mance of Penny the F*ckable Dolphin, Johns’ direction doesn’t help matters because of the exhaustive (and arguably unnecessary) scene changes which just slowed the momentum of the show down to a crawl. Johns also wasn’t able to strike the right wacky tone for the show, with some performers clearly “get-ting it” (like Susan Glynn as a not-so-bright dolphin) while others were struggling to get laughs out of their lines.

But Johns doesn’t deserve too much of the blame, since the writing for Penny the F*ckable Dolphin just feels like a rough draft. Many more revisions and excisions would help to make the show into the slick and silly comedy it aims to be. For now it’s got that way-out-there title and premise, but that’s pretty much it.

THEATER REVIEW

Cupid Has a Heart OnPlaywright: Cupid PlayersAt: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.Tickets: 773-327-5252; www.stage773.com; $22Runs through: open run

BY MARY SHeN BARNIDGe

There’s no shortage of you’re-all-losers sketch comedy, but from its inception in 2000 (under the title Cupid Misfires His Eros), the mission of “Chicago’s longest-running musical comedy” has been to declare us all losers. Instead of ex-tolling giddy infatuation or resigned content-ment, Brian Posen and his ensemble have made it their goal to assure us that we are not alone in our insecurities or imperfections. Take the gentle candlelit anthem where the players describe their individual reproductive apparati and exhort us to “Celebrate your pri-vates/ there’s no shame/We’re all the same,” for example, or the whispery toccata on the uni-versal topic of accidental farting. How about a full-cast proclamation affirming that our par-ents having “dirty sex” is “what made you and me.” Other bodily functions are addressed as well—like a devout Jewish lad’s secret craving for bacon (pronounced “BAH-cccchone”) and a young woman who finds universal solace in sweet pastries. Even more impressive than the sheer anar-chy generated by the unabashedly bawdy lyr-

ics is the acuity with which musical styles are paired with topics. A history teacher’s confes-sion of erotic fantasies centering on our lesser presidents is accompanied by an Appalachian string band, complete with washboard, spoons and clog dancing. A wistful lament titled “She Likes You, But She Doesn’t Like You Like You” is crooned in impeccable barber-shop chorale harmony, and a boy band dressed in nothing but guitars and speedos warble, “(That’s How I Say) I Love You.” What also distinguishes this swiftly paced 90-minute revue is the verbal agility that comes with rehearsed material: the conclusion of intermission is signaled by a patter song de-livered at a speed that ultimately overwhelms the spectator hubbub until the room is “si-lent as a monastery.” This being Chicago, the evening includes a few improvised audience-participation interludes—one involving a date with a female psychopath and the other, assist-ing a disabled cast member. Oh, and let’s not forget the “O Fa Cue” sing-along. Humor reveling in the fast, the loud and the hormonal demands more than mere audacity to be rendered almost wholesome in its curiously squirmless innocence. It also requires a genu-ine compassion for its subject and a willing-ness to embrace it in all its manifestations—as one song asserts, “Sex doesn’t discriminate/even the president masturbates.” If risqué isn’t your cup of aphrodisiac, you can always ignore the lyrics and enjoy the experience of witness-ing seasoned performers at the top of their game (as long as you don’t ask the piano man what he’s thinking).

CRITICS’ PICKSApes of Wrath, The Second City e.t.c.,

an open run. Deep existential despair and sci-fi matters make for great comic gold in this hilarious sketch comedy revue that Jen Ellison directs. The writer-performers are all unashamedly brainy and funny at the same time. SCM

edith Can Shoot at Things and Hit Them, First Floor Theater at Flatiron Building, opens Jan. 11. A. Rey Pamat-mat’s play about three children—two of them gay—left to fend for themselves fi-nally gets a full production after missing top honors at the 2010 Ignition Festival. MSB

H.M.S. Pinafore, The Hypocrites at Den Theatre, through Feb. 7. Gilbert and Sul-livan’s 1878 operetta gets re-imagined as a band camp slumber party in this fun promenade production with actor/musicians that builds upon director Sean Graney’s previous hit adaptations. SCM

Hellcab, Profiles Theatre, through Jan 11. Christmas doesn’t always arrive with reindeer-drawn sleighs and apparitions bearing epiphanies. Sometimes the an-nunciation can be visited on a humble Chicago taxicab driver by a late-night passenger who just might be an incognito angel. MSB

—By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan

Sweat Girls part ofFillet of Solo Festival

Running as part of Lifeline Theatre’s 18th Annual Fillet of Solo Festival, The Sweat Girls Are: Tribal Elders will take place on consecu-tive Saturdays (Jan. 10, 17 and 24) at Life-line Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave.

It will run at 4 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 17, and 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 24.

Caroline Andres, Cindy Hanson, Dorothy Milne, Clare Nolan, Martie Sanders and Pame-la Webster are the co-writers and performers.

The Fillet of Solo Festival will run Jan. 9-25, and will feature 16 storytelling collec-tives and numerous solo performers.

Tickets to “Tribal Elders” are $10 each, while $50 allows admission to all of the fes-tival’s performances; call 773-761-4477 or visit http://www.lifelinetheatre.com/.


THEATER REVIEW

Panic on Cloud 9Playwright: written and performed by the ensembleAt: Second City at Pipers Alley, 1616 N. Wells St.Tickets: 312-337-3992; www.secondcity.com; $23Runs through: open run

BY MARY SHeN BARNIDGe

Unlike such niche-market troupes as Annoy-ance, the Public House, the Cornservatory, Go-rilla Tango and the Cupid Players, Second City’s international status attracts patrons of all demographics, reflecting cultural backgrounds ranging from urban neighborhoods and nearby suburbs to faraway countries. Faced with the task of finding comedy appealing to such a di-verse audience, it’s as easy to err on the side of dumb as on the side of smart in selecting material. This 103rd revue bravely risks the latter, with a sharp-witted sketch proposing two adver-tising execs in search of a sales pitch for a feminine hygiene product, finally deciding on a campaign based in its origins as surgical equip-ment for treating battlefield injuries. (Look up ”tampon” in the dictionary, folks.) Cerebral speculation also characterizes the scenario in-troducing a pair of cattle drivers who pass the time on a starry frontier night in imagining the exotic lifestyles of strangers, their wistful mus-ings invoking the existential solemnity of U.S. literature’s classic heroes.

It’s not all Stoppardian head-scratching, however. The opening-night roster offered the expected ridicule of the usual suspects: clue-less parents, ultra-hip teenagers (readily sup-portive of their gay, bi and trans peers, but less accepting of an—ewww—overweight comrade) and a nervous airline passenger whose Arabic-speaking seatmate can’t resist having some fun at his expense. A situation beginning in a standard-issue premise, though, may suddenly take a surprising turn: One half of a squabbling married couple is gradually revealed to be hos-pitalized in a vegetative coma, for example, or a school principal forced to discipline a bully discovers that the culprit is deaf. Other highlights include a prenatal-care class invaded by a chorus from Les Miserables—I’m not giving away the punch line, but I promise you’ll laugh—and a topical barb delivered by a mother whose five young children are attrib-uted to her employers’ insurance plan. We even get a demonstration of the cast’s improvisation techniques, with the assistance of a spectator pulled from the audience. (On the night I at-tended, it was an investment consultant from DiMeo Schneider, who showed himself to be a good sport, sitting in a barber’s chair serviced by a scissor-wielding Daniel Strauss.) A trademark of Second City humor is its time-liness, with many of the sketches giving way to others later in the run. What’s guaranteed is that the newly rehabbed interior of the Pipers Alley club makes for a more physically comfort-able experience than in days past, rendering enjoyable the wait for the moment that strikes your funnybone in just the right spot.

The brutal murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard in 1998 led to many reflective works of art, ranging from documentary theater pieces like The Laramie Project and its follow-up 10 years lat-er, to out author Lesléa Newman’s book of poetry titled october Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard. Now, North Central College theater di-rector Carin Silkaitis has adapted October Mourn-ing with student actors to explore the events of that troubling day and the national response with music and poetry. October Mourning plays six per-formances from Jan. 8-11 at the Madden Theatre at North Central College’s Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 to 10, at 2 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11, and 6 p.m. Jan. 11. Tickets are $10 and $8 for students and seniors; for more information, call 630-637-7469 or visit northcentralcollege.edu/show. Photo courtesy of North Central College

SPOTLIGHT

By Lisa D’amour DirecteD By Joe manteLLo

t i c k ets start at $20 steppenwolf.org | 312-335-1650

Corporate Production Sponsor

Going to Broadway in Spring of 2015, see it here first!

“Filled with wit and humanity and plenty of energy stemming nonstop from an ensemble

that doesn’t have a weak link” – Variety

“A hugely ambitious play, streaked with much humor and

heartfelt talk” – Chicago Sun-Times

“Fascinating… very few playwrights have the acute sense of American place you find in D’Amour’s beautiful writing” – Chicago Tribune

CULTURE CLUB

http://www.steppenwolf.org

http://www.lifelinetheatre.com

BY JeRRY NUNN

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Stephen Karam is presenting a holiday family drama show with American Theatre Company (ATC) this season. The Humans depicts a family fac-ing modern problems from health to unhappi-ness.

ATC company member Sadieh Rifai plays the older daughter Aimee, a newly single lesbian stuck with a dysfunctional family at Thanks-giving.

Rifai has performed as an understudy in Step-penwolf’s August: Osage County and Silk Road Theatre’s Merchant of Venice. Her ATC credits include It’s a Wonderful Life, Columbinus, and The Amish Project among others. She’s ap-peared in the movie Wise Kids that won awards at Out Fest and the NYC LGBT Film Festival.

Windy City met with her after a performance one night.

Windy City Times: Hi, Sadieh. Where are you from?

Sadieh Rifai: I am from all over. I consider Il-linois home but we moved all over the place—about 13 times when I was younger. I went to Illinois State University first, so I was in Bloomington. That is where I studied theater. I have been in the city for nine years.

WCT: What is your nationality?SR: My father is Palestinian and my mom is

Swedish—Swedish-Arab rockin’ the house. You probably don’t meet many Swedish-Arabs!

WCT: Not every day. How did you become a part of The Humans?

SR: I am an ensemble member here. I’ve worked on Stephen Karam’s plays before. I have done two other ones. I’ve worked with PJ Pa-parelli, the ATC artistic director, a ton. When PJ approached me I hadn’t seen a script but said, “Absolutely.”

WCT: Is this your first lesbian role?SR: I have actually played a lot of lesbians.

It is usually frumpy lesbians but this one is sick. I think I have a masculine side to me so that bodes well for me when they are casting not necessarily a lesbian but a more masculine female. I think I have that energy sometimes so for some reason that has taken me into les-bian roles.

WCT: I recently interviewed a lesbian ac-tress that can’t get cast lesbian roles.

SR: It is the exact opposite for me but I love the characters that I have played. I never play the ingenue perfect type woman. I’m always playing a woman conflicted with something or in some sort of turmoil.

WCT: Watching this play as a gay person it made me think about coming home for the holidays and how difficult that can be. People don’t know what to say to a LGBT member of the household sometimes.

SR: Yes, and we decided that this family is religious and they accept their daughter. We thought about how the coming out process happened. It’s not perfect but they deal with it. Carol, who plays my ex, was someone they loved and who was part of the family, whatever feelings they have on gay marriage, they tried

hard with their daughter’s lesbian relationship. They wanted to incorporate this storyline so that it wasn’t some stereotypical family who doesn’t want to know about Carol. When you have been in a relationship forever, after it ends, it effects the family. That it is how it trickled down into the family. She was impor-tant.

WCT: The mother of the family makes an effort by sending emails...

SR: She wants me to know that it is really sad when these kids kill themselves because

they don’t have the support that I have in my family.

WCT: It made me think of the movie Home for the Holidays.

SR: You are right! It is set up making the audience curious about things. What are the family secrets?

WCT: Where does the title come from?SR: It is one of those things where they are

different interpretations after seeing it. Lance Baker’s character talks about the monsters in the comic books. I think it is a play on all of that.

WCT: How was performing in Hedwig and the Angry Inch?

SR: Oh, my God—that is one of my all-time favorite shows. I would give a million dollars right now to go and see John Cameron Mitchell come back for the role on Broadway. I was ob-sessed with the movie and the music so when PJ, who also directed that, asked me to cut off my hair and wear a beard, I was willing to do it. I did not make an attractive man, whatso-ever.

My mom was in the audience and because Yitzhak was moving things around onstage she thought I was a really unfortunate stage hand. It wasn’t until I started singing that she knew it was me. She thought I was hideous as a man.

That was one of my favorite things I have done in Chicago. That was about six years ago. I was new to the company and it was a dream role. That music and story is so special. It is not for everybody. If you try to explain the “Angry Inch” song to anyone, it is not easy.

WCT: I interviewed Lena Hall one time. [She] had a small role in Kinky Boots, then went on to win the Tony for Hedwig.

SR: I remember her. She transformed from the glam winner of the Tony to that part. That is amazing! I am so glad the show has come back in a big way.

WCT: You went to the School at Steppen-wolf?

SR: Yes, back in 2006. That was again one of the first things I did in the city. It is the best training I could ever ask for.

WCT: The Humans has a Steppenwolf feel to it.

SR: Yes, it is very ensemble-based. Kelly O’ Sullivan, who played my sister, and I both did the school. To any youth who is in our ensem-

ble I suggest applying to that school. It is the best training I could have ever had. I came into the city trying to find my place and came out of it a new person and actor.

WCT: I have seen Keith Kupferer, who plays your father, in other shows.

SR: He was just in Steppenwolf’s The Qualms. He’s done so much. He’s a really good actor, but don’t tell him because he will get a big head! [Laughs]

WCT: The Humans will be going on to New York?

SR: The show was already commissioned for Roundabout Theatre so they let us have this premiere in Chicago. They already have a cast set up in New York.

WCT: I heard Joe Mantello, from The Nor-mal Heart, is directing it there.

SR: Yes, it is going to be incredible. There are Tony Award-winning people in it.

WCT: You have to go to New York and see it.

SR: I will, but it will be a little bit sad to be in the audience. I am happy for them but I want to be in it. I want to see how it is dif-ferent though.

WCT: Congrats on an extended run.SR: Thank you. We didn’t expect it. We knew

it was an awesome play and we were having a lot of fun but it has really hit home with people. It is one of those plays like August: Osage County that transcends religion, ethnic-ity, and speaks to every family. When the au-dience hears the Weight Watchers line about points there is a huge group that always laughs hysterically!

WCT: I related to the losing a job part.SR: Oh, no. Well, at least you don’t have ul-

cerated colotis like I do in the play.WCT: That could be next—Merry Christmas

to me! What are your plans after the run of this show?

SR: I am not sure. Maybe we can be unem-ployed, watch Hedwig on video, and eat ice cream in our pajamas!

The Humans closes Feb. 1, so run over to see this Jeff-recommended play at 1909 W. Byron St., with double shows on the week-ends. Visit www.atcweb.org or call 773-409-4125 for tickets and details.

For more on Rifai check out sadiehrifai.com.

NUNN ON ONE: THEATER

Sadieh Rifai’s‘Human’ nature

Sadieh Rifai.

Sadieh Rifai (left) and Kelly o’Donnell in The Humans. Photo by Michael Brosilow


‘The Rose Tattoo’ atTheater Wit Jan. 15

Shattered Globe Theatre is presenting Ten-nessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo Jan. 15-Feb. 28 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.

Greg Vinkler, the artistic director of Penin-sula Players, will direct.

Set on the Louisiana Gulf Coast in a Si-cilian-American village, Williams delves into the world of Serafina Delle Rose, an overpro-tective widow who spirals into despair after the loss of her husband. As her daughter, Rosa, tries to break free from her mother’s grasp, Serafina is suddenly faced with a sec-ond chance at life and love.

Purchase tickets at https://www.the-aterwit.org/tickets/productions/214/performances#top.

Eclipse announces McNally as featured playwright Chicago’s Eclipse Theatre Company, which focuses on a single playwright each season, will feature the works of award-winning American playwright Terrence McNally for its 2015 season. Eclipse will explore the range of McNally’s output with three full productions, plus read-ings and public events about the playwright. The productions will be Lips Together, Teeth Apart (April 16-May 24); A Perfect Ganesh (July 16-Aug. 23); and The Lisbon Traviata (Nov. 5-Dec. 13).

McNally’s most recent play, Mothers and Sons, opened on Broadway in March 2014 at the John Golden Theater and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. Other recent plays include Golden Age, And Away We Go, and Unusual Acts of Devotion. He has won four Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class as well as his musical books for Kiss of the Spider Woman (Kander & Ebb) and Ragtime. All performances will be held at Chicago’s Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Terrence McNally. Photo by Jeffrey Hornstein

BY LIZ BAUDLeR

“I think cancer touches everybody in some way shape or form,” said Chicago comedienne Judy Fabjance. She should know. A performer with GayCo and instructor at Second City, Fabjance was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, inspiring her to create a solo show, “Are You There Judy? It’s Me, Cancer.” While her cancer was in remission for three years, it recently re-turned, spreading to her bones and brain. This has slowed Fabjance down slightly—but given her and her partner, Kelly Beeman, more mate-rial.

Fabjance said her sketch comedy background was “the only outlet I knew” for dealing with the diagnosis. “At first it was just for me to get it out, I had so much to say. Even when I was in remission, I had somebody say, “oh, you’re still thinking about the cancer?” And I said, “of course I am, I had a mastectomy, I had my lymph nodes removed, I had my ova-ries removed.” Of course you’re still thinking about it. When I get dressed every day, it’s a reminder.”

The response to her solo show, “Are You There Judy? It’s Me, Cancer” was amazing, said Fab-jance. “I was selling out houses. There were doctors there, nurses there, survivors, caregiv-ers, and people would come up to be after the show and be sobbing, thanking me for shar-ing my story, telling me about their story, and laughing too, saying, ‘I really like the part about this, I can relate to it, and yeah, doctors do say this all the time.’ It then became about other people. I’m doing this for those who are not around to do this, who might not have the energy to do this.”

Fabjance said occasionally prospective audi-ences don’t think a show about cancer could be funny. “I’ve had friends say, ‘“I almost didn’t come to the show because I thought it’d be such a downer,’” she said. “But my thing is that I promise that it’s educating, that it’s enter-taining, it’s enlightening, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel, you’ll think.”

According to Fabjance, Tales of A Stage Four Cancer finds her and Beeman injecting absur-dity into cancer by dressing up as ovaries and cancer tumors, and trying to ignite that loving spark with a little help from the Golden Girls,

Fabjance cannot credit Beeman, also her partner of six years, enough. “She’s been around since the first diagnosis, and she is just a great caregiver,” she said. “Everything from when I had surgery to sponge baths to

making meals to my seven and a half year old daughter—she just really has taken the reins and been there for me.”

The show thrives with Beeman’s participa-tion, Fabjance said. “I love having a partner on stage, especially since my background is sketch comedy. I was always so nervous during, ‘Are You There Judy? It’s Me, Cancer’, because you had nobody to fall back on. If you forgot your line, you were like ‘oops, that’s it.’ This time, we ad-lib together and that’s really fun.”

She complimented Beeman’s writing and per-formance skills. “In this show I just think she shines because she’s being truthful and writ-ing about her own experiences. That’s one of the strengths in our relationship, writing and performing. We really compliment each other.” Fabjance claimed to be “more realistic and more on the serious side”, while Beeman makes the pairs costumes, and appears onstage as a reverend trying to get people’s taste buds back. (Fabjance lost hers because of chemo.)

Wanting to tell a universal story, Fabjance said she was “a little paranoid” at first about her material outing herself. “Not that I hit it over the head, but that’s who I am. Of course I’m going to do a tango with a female blow-up doll, because that’s my girlfriend at the time. My story is not about me and a man.”

I think that feeling went away quickly for me,” Fabjance continued, “because it’s just my story, it’s just part of who I am. I wanted to make sure that they still got the message about my cancer journey, and that’s just one piece in my journey.”

Despite the ongoing health concerns—Fab-jance was using a walker until recently—she wants “Tales of a Stage Four Cancer” to have another Chicago run or even a national tour. Perhaps there will even be a third cancer show—Fabjance said she and Beeman certainly have enough material.

“I thought 18 years ago when we started Gayco, that’s what I want to do, gay and les-bian sketch comedy.” Fabjance said. “But then when I got cancer, and started going through my first show, I thought ‘nope, this is what I was put on this earth to do. This is my pas-sion.’”

Fabjance and Beeman will star in Tales of a Stage Four Cancer on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 8 p.m. during the Chicago Sketch Comedy Fes-tival, held at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased at the box office or at www.chicagosketch-fest.com.

Comedians presentcancer show at Sketchfest


Kelly Beeman (left) and Judy Fabjance. Photo courtesy of FabjanceBOOK REVIEW

Best-Kept Boyin the WorldBy Arthur Vanderbilt$19.99; Magnus Books; 189 pagesBY ANGeLIQUe SMITH Before the ease of sites like RentBoy.com, male hustlers relied on word of mouth. But legend-ary “un homme fatal” Louis Denham (Denny) Fouts managed to command a worldwide pres-ence before there was even a World Wide Web.

If you haven’t heard of him, know that pretty much everyone wanted to drink his bathwa-ter, from tycoons to the prince (later king) of Greece. With few pictures out there as a refer-ence to his indescribable magnetism, Denny’s famous and rich admirers were aplenty.

Born in 1914 in Jacksonville, Flordia, to a conservative family, Fouts moved to Manhat-tan to work as a stock boy after getting ex-pelled from school. Fast realizing the power of his looks, he enlisted gay novelist Glenway Wescott to mentor him on how to “get kept.” Before long, Foutswas traveling through Eu-rope with a German baron, yachting with a Greek shipping magnate and ending his first nomadic stint with a British lord, hitchhiking and stealing along the way.

One of his most consistent benefactors was Peter Watson, whose father made a fortune dur-ing WWI by inventing margarine. Watson set him up in an apartment in France, surrounded by the original works of Picasso and Klee, and soon Fouts became accustomed to handmade suits by the same tailor as the Duke of Windsor, Faberge cigarette cases, luggage decorated by Salvador Dali—and as much coke, heroin and opium as he desired.

Best-Kept Boy is full of grandiose descrip-tions of times of excess, elegance and the prerequisite questionable behavior of the late ‘20s to the ‘40s. Denny’s story is mostly told through the words of his admirers. But with all of the descriptions included—“enchanting,” “beyond being good-looking” and with “the most delicious body odor”—Denham Fouts himself remains elusive.

It is known that he was the muse of many literary giants, including Gore Vidal and Truman Capote, forever immortalized in their minds and on their pages. Capote is even quoted as saying, “Had Denham Fouts yielded to Hitler’s advances there would have been no World War Two.” It’s a wonder any of them had time to write anything else, what with the amount they wrote about Denny in their journals, memoirs, fictional works and letters to each other. Au-thor Vanderbilt seems to have dug up every bit of it. But even they, masters of the writ-ten word, had a hard time identifying what it was that kept them so enthralled. Drug addict Denny is often described as sour, temperamen-

tal, lewd, paranoid, and confrontational with a penchant for young boys between the ages of 14 and 16. By his own admission, he lost his virginity to his brother: “Under the stars. That’s where I screwed my beautiful brother. Oh boy! Was he beautiful.” He walked through the world merely tolerating, if not outright an-tagonizing, his companions while they utterly adored him.

However, there are always people with “it,” whatever “it” is. You might be left shaking your head and wondering how you got there, but at least you had a good time. Although Denny’s “it” can’t be pinpointed, Best-Kept Boy makes it obvious that he mastered playing on the sav-ior complexes of others, spinning fantasies and being whatever his current benefactor needed him to be—Denny lived celibate as a yogi with one of them, when he wasn’t going to school to be a psychiatrist, serving time at forestry camp or composing a novel.

Crafted as yet another, more comprehensive love story to this enigmatic character, if Best-Kept Boy looked to answer the question of who Denham Fouts was, it need only look at a blank page.

Richard Blanco, August Wilson part of poetry series

Openly gay poet Richard Blanco and the late playwright August Wilson will be among those featured during Poetry Foundation’s winter/spring 2015 events season.

On Thursday, Jan. 8, “Las Chavas: Poetry and Film from Honduras” will feature Blanco, the fifth inaugural poet of the United States; Brad Coley, director of the forthcoming documentary Las Chavas; and Cheryl Chapman, executive director of Our Little Roses, the only all-girl orphanage in Honduras.

“August Wilson: From Poet to Playwright” will take place Wed., March 25, at 7 p.m. As part of Goodman Theatre’s celebration of Wil-son’s life and career, the Poetry Foundation will co-present a special program of his poetic writings.

Among some of the other upcoming events are “Love, What Language Do You Speak?” on Valentine’s Day; “From Senegal to Seeger” (Thursday, Feb. 26), which features the musical and written works of Pete Seeger, Carl Sand-burg, Woody Guthrie, Walt Whitman, Johann Sebastian Bach, Mark Twain and others; and one at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., that will feature poet, critic and librettist Dana Gioia on Saturday, April 25.

The events are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and will mostly take place at the Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior St. Visit poetryfoundation.org/programs/events.

Richard Blanco. Image courtesy of The Poetry Foundation


BY LAWReNCe FeRBeR In the new indie film Match, which becomes available on VOD Jan. 15, Sir Patrick Stewart plays queer Julliard dance instructor Tobias, who meets with a couple, played by Matthew Lillard and Carla Gugino, for an interview. How-ever, the interview proves to be a ruse, and Tobias finds himself ambushed and forced to confront the possibility he fathered a child many decades back during a sexual free-for-all heyday.

Written and directed by Stephen Belber, who adapted his own play of the same name, Match is driven by Stewart’s powerhouse performance, by turns flamboyant, angry, flirtatious, edgy, vulnerable, seductive and profound.

Sitting down in New York City for a one-on-one chat—svelte and charismatic, wear-ing a handsome lavender shirt and dark blue jacket—the knighted thespian best known as Star Trek’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard, X-Men’s Charles Xavier and BFF of frequent co-star Sir Ian McKellen, dished about the film, his past gay roles and whether he’ll appear in the next X-Men movie.

Windy City Times: First of all, I must give you thanks on behalf of bald men every-where for making baldness sexy. Your sta-tus as a bald sex symbol, for both gays and straights alike, helped rid the world of god-awful combovers—and I’m not at all joking.

Patrick Stewart: You shouldn’t thank me; I once had a combover. You should thank George Kushvaldy. He was in drama school with me but [was a] much older Hungarian, and we got on very well. I went to have lunch with him and his wife, and they both went into the kitchen, I thought, to make coffee. All of a sudden my arms were grabbed behind me and the chair I was in was turned around violently. I was like, “What the fuck’s going on?” George had me in an iron grip and his wife appeared with a pair of scissors. I screamed, yelled, shouted, kicked and lashed out and he held me there and his wife cut off my combover. Then, he crouched in front of me and said, “Now, you be yourself! NO! MORE! HIDING!” No more hiding.

WCT: I understand that there is, in fact, a real-life Julliard instructor you took some inspiration from for your performance in Match.

PS: More than a little. Tobi’s life is based on it. He’s a teacher of classical dance at Julliard and I spent quite a lot of time with him talking in his apartment in Inwood. Most importantly, I was allowed into his classroom on three oc-casions just to sit in a corner. That was the foundation on which I began to build Tobi. Watching him work.

WCT: Was he also obsessed with party mix snacks?

PS: I think that idea came from his life, the party mix. Actually I like them. They’re good!

WCT: Have you been offered many gay roles during your career? You famously played Sterling, a gay man whose boyfriend, played by Bryan Batt, is HIV-positive in the AIDS-era 1995 gay rom-com Jeffrey.

PS: Yeah. Jeffrey was the first. It was 1994 and we had just wrapped the seventh and final season of Star Trek and I said to my agent, “Find me a job. I don’t care what it is but let it be as far removed from science fiction and outer space as possible!” And very shortly he rang me and said, “I’ve got itttttt! There’s a movie they’re making called Jeffrey…” I said, “I saw the play!”

I had seen Paul Rudnick’s wonderful play here in New York and I met with the director. I think that was my first time playing an openly gay character and I enjoyed it immensely. Hav-ing led a life in the theater, I had been in the company of homosexual men and women from a teenager. It was familiar and completely nor-mal. When we were prepping for the movie, the production designer said he wanted to have lots of photographs around Sterling’s apart-ment—of them on holiday and with friends and so forth—so how would [I] feel if [I] and Bryan and Steve Weber [who played Jeffrey] go off and walk around the West Village.

It was a Saturday afternoon during a hot summer, so without quite knowing exactly where he was with his camera we spent a cou-ple of hours just hanging out and it was the loveliest experience. Liberating. And intimate. And fun. We went into bars, through the park.

WCT: Did you get recognized a lot?PS: You know, it was the strangest thing, be-

cause I do get recognized a lot. That’s why hats and keeping my mouth shut are most impor-tant. But not that afternoon. Maybe I scared people off.

WCT: or they respected your privacy.PS: They don’t usually! Why that afternoon?

Then I played someone who had a crush on Frasier in the series. It was the last season and tellingly titled “The Doctor is Out.” I played an opera director who begins a relationship with Frasier.

WCT: Will we see you in the next X-Men film, which is titled Apocalypse and will come out in 2016?

PS: I have been told I will not be in it, but Ian is! I don’t quite know how that will work. But there is another X-Men project I think I’m going to be part of. It’s not over; I mean, Jean Grey vaporized me in the third film and I came back in the fourth. How much harm can you do with a vaporizing?

WCT: Since original Trek cast members Shatner and Nimoy are reportedly making cameos in the new film, do you think we should get a Picard cameo, too?

PS: It makes sense in the J.J. Abrams movies that there would be Kirk and Spock. I don’t know how they would incorporate Picard. I think it’s unlikely. I’m not saying I wouldn’t.”

WCT: Getting back to LGBT roles, how much of an effect did Jeffrey have on the roles you were offered afterwards, if any? That was back when actors were still nervous to take on gay parts for fear it could [harm] their careers.

PS: In cases it probably did. Not anymore. Last night I watched, for the second time, Love Is Strange. It is so fucking beautiful. Beauti-ful. I saw it alone in England, and sat there sobbing on my own in my house. And I knew my wife would love it, so last night I said, “To-night’s the night,” and we both sat down. John Lithgow and Alfred Molina give such exquisite performances. I can’t think of performances I have seen for a long time that are so beautiful in their delicacy and subtlety and truthfulness.

WCT: You and Ian McKellen are so close, and famously frolicked in a Twitter photo series last year, that UK newspaper The Guardian incorrectly identified you as gay, too! So, if you open your relationship with Ian, I think you should bring in Alfred Mo-lina for a “throuple.”

PS: You do? [Laughs] Alfred’s too tall!Sir Patrick Stewart in Match. Photo courtesy of IFC Films

Gay film, ‘Homestretch’parts of PBS series

A film about a couple’s decades-long fight for the right to marry and a documentary about homeless Chicago youths are in the line-up of PBS’ Independent Lens’ winter/spring 2015 season.

Limited Partnership, which will air June 15, centers on a gay couple’s 40-year fight for the right to marry in the United States. The Homestretch, which will run April 13, features three ambitious Chicago teens who deal with “frigid winters, high school pres-sures and homelessness as they fight to stay in school, graduate and build a future,” ac-cording to a press release.

Kicking off the 2015 season Jan. 5 was Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo’s Rich Hill, a look at poverty in a small Mid-western town. It will be followed by Darius Clark Monroe’s acclaimed Evolution of a Criminal, in which the filmmaker returns to his Texas hometown to explore what led him to rob a bank as a teenager.

All programs are at 9 p.m. CT. Visit pbs.org/independentlens.

Frida Kahlo exhibit at South Shore through Jan. 25

“The Complete Frida Kahlo: Her Paintings. Her Life. Her Story” is at South Shore Arts Gallery, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, through Jan. 25, 2015.

The exhibit features licensed re-creations of Kahlo’s paintings, costumes and artifacts.

Admission is $2-$5, with South Shore members admitted for free.

‘Love Is Strange’ out on DVD Jan. 13

Academy Award nominee John Lithgow (Best Supporting Actor, Terms of Endear-ment) and Alfred Molina (The Normal Heart) star in the modern-day love story Love Is Strange, available on Digital HD Jan. 6 and debuting on Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 13 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

After nearly four decades together, Ben (Lithgow) and George (Molina) finally tie the knot among family and friends. But when George loses his job soon after, the couple must sell their apartment and temporarily live apart until they can find an affordable new home.

The film also stars Cheyenne Jackson and Oscar winner Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vin-ny).

Bonus features include a 23-minute look behind the scenes in “The Making of Love Is Strange” a commentary with Lithgow, Molina and filmmaker Ira Sachs, as well as a Q&A from the Los Angeles Film Festival with Lith-gow, Molina, Jackson and Sachs.

Frankie Knuckles tribute at Smart Bar Jan. 18 A tribute to late house-music pioneer Frankie Knuckles will take place Sunday, Jan. 18, at Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St., at 9 p.m. Queen!, in association with D/E Entertain-ment, Def Mix and Vega Records, will present “For Frankie! A Celebration Of His Life And Birthday.” Among those slated to appear and/or per-form are David Morales, Louie Vega, Tony Humphries, Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini and Garret David, among others. Tickets are $15 each; visit http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=4425088

SEX(ED) launches Dyke Delicious series Jan. 10 Season 12 of Dyke Delicious at Chicago Filmmakers will launch Saturday, Jan. 10, with SEX(ED): The Movie at 5243 N. Clark St. The social hour will start at 7 p.m., with the screening at 8 p.m. In the 77-minute movie, writer/director Brenda Goodman explores how many people first learned about sex, using clips from sex-education films from 1910 to the present day. An encore screening will take place Satur-day, Jan. 17, at Doc Films at The University of Chicago, 1212 E. 59th St., at 4 p.m. Chicago Filmmakers and Reeling: The Chi-cago LGBT International Film Festival are co-presenting the series. Black Cat Productions is co-sponsoring, and Sharon Zurek is curat-ing. Admission is $10; visit https://www.face-book.com/events/354280431416559/?source=1.

MOVIES

The perfect ‘Match’:Sir Patrick Stewartreflects on gay roles

FrankieKnuckles.


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Wed., Jan. 7 Breaking Down Barriers to Health Care Get

Covered Illinois (GCI), the Official Health Insurance Marketplace for Illinois resi-dents, previews advertising with Chicago-area newlyweds Jake and Allen. Learn how the new law provides access to universal affordable health coverage. RSVP by Mon-day, Jan. 5 to [email protected] or by phone. 10:00am - 11:30am Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago 312-814-2190.

Thursday, Jan. 8Senior Hot Lunch Center on Halsted is a

City of Chicago Golden Diners site, where seniors age 60+ receive a hot lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. The sug-gested donation for lunch is $1.50. No pre - registration required, but we ask that you sign in for lunch before 11:30 to ensure that you receive a lunch ticket. 12:00pm - 1:00pm Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago http://www.centeronhalsted.org/newevents-details.cfm?ID=9271

oUTspoken! at Fillet of Solo Chicago’s monthly LGBTQ storytelling event featur-ing self-identified and out LGBTQ perform-ers appearing at the 2015 solo perfor-mance and storytelling festival. 4:00pm Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N Glenwood Ave., Chicago http://lifelinetheatre.com

Co-ed Volleyball Every Monday and Thurs-day in the gym, compete and practice. All welcome. $7 daily pass or monthly pass $30. Contact Mia Zucker at [email protected], or by phone. 6:00pm - 9:00pm Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago 773-472-6469 ext. 446 http:// Tickets: https://community.cen-teronhalsted.org/Volleyball

Young Playwrights Festival Professional production using professional actors and directors to shine a spotlight on area emerging teen writers. Through Jan. 31 7:30pm Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago 773-878-8864. Tickets: http://www.PegasusTheatreChi-cago.org

october Mourning Play based on the novel of written verse, “October Mourning, A Song for Matthew Shepard,” by Leslea

Newman. Through Jan. 11. 7:30 pm, Jan. 8-10, 2 pm, Jan. 10-11 and at 6 p.m. $8-$10 7:30pm Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville 630-637-7469 Tickets: http://Northcentralcollege.edu/showtix

Friday, Jan. 9Love Me Forever! oh! oh! Oh By gay car-

toonist Jeremy Sorese, a series of illustra-tions, selected from The Best American Comics 2013, exploring the idea of get-ting married. On display in the Congress Corridor through March 8, 2015. 9:00am - 5:00am Harold Washington College 30 E. Lake St. Chicago 312-747-4050

http://tinyurl.com/kwb5mnlAirline Highway A rag-tag collection of

strippers, hustlers and philosophers come together to celebrate the life of an iconic burlesque performer who has requested a funeral before she dies. Through Feb. 8. $86. 7:30pm Steppenwolf 1650 N Halsted Chicago http://www.steppen-wolf.org/Plays-Events/productions/index.aspx?id=623&performanceDate=2014-12-19T19:30:00

Formerly Known As (FKA) Long-running Northside queer dance party moves to second Friday of each month. Welcom-ing space for people of all genders, rep-resentations, expressions, identities and sexualities. 10:00pm Big Chicks 5024 N Sheridan Rd Chicago http://facebook.com/FKADANCE

Pericles In Shakespeare’s most fantasti-cal tale, Pericles embarks on a tempest-tossed quest in search of adventure, wealth and family and is confronted by villains, pirates, goddesses and kings. Dedicated parking on Navy Pier. Through Jan. 18, 2015 7:30pm Chicago Shake-speare Theatre 800 E Grand Ave Chicago http://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/pericles

Gorilla Tango Burlesque< The Rack of Khan: A Star Trek Burlesque Khan’s Gen-esis Device transforms Federation heroes Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock and the entire Enterprise crew into smart, sexy women. $28. 9:00pm , Tickets: http://www.gorillatango.com/rack

Saturday, Jan. 10 Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance,

Chicago-area GLBT Chapter Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance chapter spe-cifically founded for Chicago-area GLBT community with mood disorders or other significant psychological conditions, as well as their friends, partners, and fam-ily members. All are welcome. 11:00am Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago http://www.dbsa-glbt-chicago.com/

Affinity’s Burning Bowl Affirmation ceremo-ny, an Affinity tradition for over 10 years. Theme “Soaring Forward Like a Phoenix.” Speakers, drumming, performing arts, and community building and fellowship. Free event that is open to all. 1:30-3:30 p.m., Butler College Prep, 821 E. 103rd (104th & Corliss Entrance); http://affinity95.org/acscontent/?p=3113

Crys Matthews LIVe -- A Benefit for YePP Matthews is a blend of Americana, folk, funk, blues and jazz. Proceeds benefit Youth Empowerment Performance Project. 6:15 - 7 VIP Dinner, meet & greet w/ Crys Matthews. 7pm doors open. 7:15pm YEPP Performance. 8pm Crys Matthews 6:00pm Unitarian Church of Evanston, 1330 Ridge Ave, Evanston Tickets: http://crysmat-thewsatuce.brownpapertickets.com/

Dyke Delicious at Chicago Filmmakers: SeX(eD): The Movie Writer and Director Brenda Goodman explores how many of us first learned about s.e.x. when we were kids. Second Saturday monthly film and video screenings for lesbians and their friends. $10. 7 pm social hour before the movie 8:00pm Chicago Filmmakers 5243 N Clark St., https://www.facebook.com/events/354280431416559/?source=1

GayCo Productions SKeTCHFeST 2015 Features more than 800 performers, rep-resenting over 100 groups, who perform over 120 shows in two weeks. 7:00pm Stage 773 1225 W Belmont Chicago 773-327-5252 http://stage773.com

The Windy City Rollers Chicago’s all-female flat-track roller derby league 7:00pm UIC Pavilion 525 S. Racine Ave. Chicago Tickets: http://ticketmaster.com

Rhinofest opening Night Celebration Full Moon Vaudeville. $15 at door, $12 online. 8:00pm Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, Chi-cago 773-492-1287 Tickets: http://curi-oustheatrebranch.com

Sweat Girls are Tribal elders In this year’s Fillet of Solo Festival the Sweats are glad to represent the greying edge of Chica-go’s Live Lit. $10 community. 4:00pm Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N Glenwood Ave., Chicago 773-761-4477 http://www.sweatgirls.org Tickets: http://www.Life-linetheatre.com

Sunday, Jan. 11outChicago, LGBT radio Progressive talk

with Scott Duff. Streaming live online 11:00am - 1:00pm WCPT 820 am http://www.chicagosprogressivetalk.com/pages/pages.php?page=451

David Gushee Leading evangelical and pro-LGBTQ Christian ethicist will preach at both morning services as part of Urban Village’s new sermon series, #ChurchFail - When the Church Gets It Wrong. Info: [email protected]. First ser-vice 9:30am 11:15am Urban Village Church, 1543 W Division, Wicker Park http://UrbanVillageChurch.org

oUTspoken! at Fillet of Solo Chicago’s monthly LGBTQ storytelling event featur-ing self-identified and out LGBTQ perform-ers appearing at the 2015 solo perfor-mance and storytelling festival. 4:00pm Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N Glenwood Ave., Chicago http://lifelinetheatre.com

Monday, Jan. 12QueerCast Windy City Queercast with host

Amy Matheny joined weekly by guest hosts Mitchell Fain, Deb Pearce, Stephen Rader, and Colman Domingo 12:00pm http://www.windycityqueercast.com/shows.html

Tuesday, Jan. 13Growing Your Family: A Guide for Prospec-

tive LGBT Adoptive Parents Overview of adoption law, legal and procedural ques-tions. Equality Illinois presentation co-hosted by the Cradle. Participants get the new Equality Illinois adoption guide, with

list of agencies. Registration required. 5:30pm - 7:30pm Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, 222 N LaSalle Street, Suite 300, Chi-cago Tickets: http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35010/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=3316

Wed., Jan. 14A Lesbian Love Triangle at the University

of Chicago: Sophonisba Breckinridge, Marion Talbot, and edith Abbott. /out in the Quadrangles: A History of LGBTQ Life at the University of Chicago Anya Jabour, Professor of History and Co-Direc-tor of the Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Montana examines the relationships of three prominent women. Presented by Closeted/Out in the Quadrangles: A His-tory of LGBTQ Life at the University of Chi-cago 4:30pm - 6:30pm Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, Community Room (105) 5733 South University, Chi-cago http://gendersexuality.uchicago.edu/projects/closeted/

Thursday, Jan. 15From Romantic Friendships to Sexual De-

viance: Analyzing Women’s Same-Sex Relationships in a Transitional era Anya Jabour, Professor of History and Co-Direc-tor of the Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Montana 12:00pm - 1:30pm Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, Community Room (105) 5733 South Uni-versity, Chicago http://gendersexuality.uchicago.edu/projects/closeted/

Benefit for Apartment Adoption Proj-ect Proceeds to 750 Club Apartment Adoption Project for homeless youth in Chicago. Guest bartenders include Zack Stafford. Live band karaoke starts 10pm. Raffle prizes. $40 wrist band, includes all Revolution products. Sponsors: Windy City Times, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Mad River, Edgewater Crossfit. 8:00pm - 11:00pm Mad River Bar and Grille, 2090 N. Sheffield, Chicago 773-935-7500 http://tinyurl.com/apart-mentAdopt

The Book of Merman Pride Films and Plays announces a new musical comedy by Jeff Award-winning playwright Leo Schwartz. When two Mormons ring a doorbell marked E.M. in a small town, they have no idea that a certain Ethel will open the door. Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 5pm through Feb. 15. 7:30pm Mary’s Attic 5400 N Clark St., 800-838-3006 Tickets: http://www.brownpaper-tickets.com/event/867656

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CALENDAR

BOWLED OVER

Affinity’s “Burning Bowl” will take place at Butler College Prep.Photo of Christina M. Smith by Gretchen Rachel Hammond

Saturday, Jan. 10


BY MeGHAN STReIT

I was excited when I heard that the owners of Burger Philosophy were turning the Bryn Mawr Avenue spot into a new bar/restaurant concept in Andersonville. While Burger Phi-losophy served a pretty good burger, the place was desperately lacking in ambiance and didn’t serve alcohol, so it just didn’t seem to have the potential to become a go-to neighborhood hangout. Several coats of deep gray paint, gorgeous reclaimed wood floors, copper bar height tables and a really impressive craft cocktail menu have solved that problem for Little Bad Wolf. It’s definitely the kind of place where you want to gather with friends for a few rounds of drinks and some killer bar food. The food at Little Bad Wolf can only loosely

be classified as bar food, and that is because it is far superior than the grub you get at most taverns. It’s bar food only inasmuch as it is served alongside adult beverages in a casual atmosphere. When I first saw the menu, I was a little concerned because of the disparate offer-ings—there’s everything from fried chicken to pork baos to shrimp tacos. I am always skepti-cal of restaurants that try to be all things to all people because they usually end up with a long list of mediocre dishes, none of which have been perfected or finely crafted. Not the case at Little Bad Wolf—every morsel I tasted was far above average and the wide variety of offerings are exactly what makes the place a perfect gathering spot. There’s a little bit of everything, so everybody in your group can or-der what they want. You can have a full meal or a few rounds of smaller cocktail-friendly nibbles. The jumbo fried shrimp are a crowd-pleasing app to share. The plump shrimp are perfectly fried to a crunchy golden exterior. The ta-cos and baos can all be ordered individually, if you’re in the mood for a light nosh while you imbibe. Choose from among pork, chicken, steak, fish and shrimp fillings for both the baos and the tacos. If you opt for the tacos, order a side of elotes. The crisp corn is expertly fla-

vored with plenty of chili aioli and fresh Mexi-can cheese. It’s a tad on the spicy side, but a beer-battered avocado on top provides some cool relief. If you’re looking for some comfort food (and who isn’t at this time of year?), do yourself a favor and order the mac and cheese. I have a particular weakness for mac and cheese, and have sampled the dish at more restaurants than I’d care to admit, and I can say this is one of the most exquisite versions I’ve tasted. The sharp creamy cheese sauce is delicious on its own, and when swirled with juicy bits of hon-ey-cured bacon and scallions, it is absolutely out of this world. The combination sounds like it could be too rich, but it’s done so well that it heavenly instead of heavy (although the side dish portion is probably enough for most ap-petites). My favorite dish was the fried chicken—an

unexpected standout on a bar-food menu. The chicken itself is exceptionally tender and juicy, and it’s beautifully fried to a crisp finish in a thick batter. When you bite into it, you can taste tangy notes of fresh buttermilk. The scrumptious chicken is served with a generous dollop of creamy mashed potatoes smothered in golden bacon gravy. The guys behind Little Bad Wolf proved that they know how to grill a nice burger during their Burger Philosophy days, and I’d argue that they’ve improved upon an already good thing. A mix of savoring seasonings draw out the flavor of the juicy beef. They are served simply with American cheese, mayo and house-made pickles, which drastically undersells them. In a world where burgers are topped with every imaginable thing (Brie, fried eggs, you name it), this straightforward recipe shines in its simplicity. The burgers are accompanied by a nest of hot, salty French fries served in a miniature fryer basket—a clever and thought-ful addition to a satisfying meal. Little Bad Wolf seems to be off to a great start. The space is small, so be prepared for a wait on weekend nights. Fortunately, you can bide your time with a stiff drink at the bar. Little Bad Wolf is at 1541 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.; call 773-942-6399 or visit http://lbw-chicago.tumblr.com. Do you need more sugar and spice in your life? Follow me on Twitter (@SugarAnd-SpiceMS) for more news and reviews of Chi-cago’s dining scene.

Weekly dininG Guide in theDISH

little bad Wolf Comfort food at Little Bad Wolf.


“I could listen to you and Don Lemon talk sports all night long.”—Kathy Griffin’s quip about Anderson Cooper and Lemon discussing football. Well, Don was discussing football. Coop was talking about his favorite halftime shows.

You might not realize it, but your beloved Billy Masters is a creature of habit ... when it’s convenient. New Year’s Eve is one of those times. I always turn down engagements for personal appearances and spend the night at home with two dear friends watching Lindsay Wagner movies. People never believe that, in the decades of this tradition, we have not yet run out of movies—because Lindsay Wagner is nothing if not prolific and versatile.

That doesn’t mean that I missed the other goings-on as 2014 came to an end. I spent much of New Year’s Day catching up on every-thing from Taylor Swift’s tumble (which she shook off) to Idina Menzel’s off-key screech-ing (which I found not much different than her usual on-key screaming). The best enter-tainment of the night—nay, the year—were the three hours Kathy Griffin spent tormenting poor Anderson Cooper. Thank God he’s finally out, because there would be no other way to explain his constant girlish giggling. At one point Kathy actually said, “OK, dial down the gay!” Along the way, we also learned that Anderson always thought Cher was his sister, that he likes going to Tony Roma’s (which he thinks is owned by Jessica Simpson’s husband) and that he doesn’t know how much a postage stamp costs. And don’t even get him started on a quart of milk.

Meanwhile, across the pond, Queen Elizabeth announced her honorees on New Year’s Day. At long last, Joan Collins made the cut; she must henceforth be refer to as Dame Joan Collins. And this got me thinking—now that Sir Elton John and David Furnish are legally married in the United Kingdom, shouldn’t David now be referred to as Lady Furnish (or, to be precise, Lady John). After all, when someone is a Sir, his wife (if she takes his name) is accorded the courtesy title of Lady. Because the British honors system has not been updated to reflect same-sex marriage, Furnish ends up with noth-ing. And yet, someone did go to the trouble to write what I find to be a very strange codicil: If the Prince of Wales (aka a future King of Eng-land) were to marry a man, his spouse would NOT get the title “queen” or “princess.” Let’s start guessing which prince inspired this bit of legislation.

Did you know that when we see a fire truck in a gay pride parade (or, I suppose, any parade), the firemen riding on that truck don’t choose the assignment? It’s part of their job—they are assigned the shift. I learned this when read-ing about a pair of Rhode Island firefighters who claimed to have suffered “sexual harass-ment” and “sexual propositions and other of-fensive remarks” while riding in the Providence gay pride parade. Let me say, on behalf of my people, I’m sorry (because I have no doubt that drunken gay guys will always proposition hot firemen). Theodore Fabrizio Jr. and Stephen Deninno filed their suit against the fire chief and the mayor, claiming that they had asked to abstain from the assignment because they were Catholics—which sounds to me like a waiter refusing to serve steak ‘cause he’s a vegetarian. What’s even more interesting about this case is that it’s about gay pride 2001—it’s been drag-ging through the courts for a decade! Supreme Court Justice William Robinson said, “Partici-pation in the parade as public servants carrying out a legitimate work assignment was not a deprivation of their constitutional rights.”

In an effort to counteract reports that he slept with someone who at one time had a pe-nis, Michael Phelps posted a photo on Christ-mas night of him in the briefest of briefs along-side someone identified as “girlfriend Nicole

Johnson.” His caption said, “Yep....I forgot my pjs for the pjs party. Oops!” Check it out on BillyMasters.com.

Elsewhere, in the world of sports, there are headlines everywhere quoting David Geffen as saying, “My 20-year-old football player ex-boy-friend is stalking me.” Let’s dissect this. First, when was David Geffen born? Sometime in the Paleozoic Age, I think (but only carbon dating could tell us for sure). And if the tyke at 20 years old is an ex, how old was he when he was dating Geffen? Clues come from the actual story. The boyfriend, Jamie Kuntz, is a former North Dakota State College of Science student. Way back in 2012, he was spotted kissing Gef-fen in the press box at the stadium. When he was asked who the guy was, Kuntz said (and I quote), “He’s my grandfather.” I know you all think I am an ageist pain in the ass, but can I just say one thing? If someone you are dating is able to convince anyone that you are their grandparent, you’re TOO OLD to be dating them! Frankly, I didn’t read any further to see how Grandpa Geffen claims he is being stalked.

And now, a story from the tail end of 2014. There was some excitement at the Christmas Eve matinee performance of The River on Broadway. As I’ve told you, each show ends with Hugh Jackman auctioning off his T-shirt to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. At this performance, the shirt went for $6,000—a bid made by Taylor Swift. It’s all nice and lovely until Swift writes a song about you.

Our first “Ask Billy” question of the year comes from Harry in Florida: “I hear that there is a video circulating of [a very famous heart-throb] getting a blow job. Is it true? Have you seen it?”

Since I don’t want to be named a witness, I can’t say that I’ve seen any such video. Of course, I also can’t say one doesn’t exist. But I can say that some stills purported to be from this video may appear on BillyMasters.com.

When my first blind item of the year is both musical and sudsy, it’s time for me to end yet another. It’s finally here—the day we unveil the new incarnation of www.BillyMasters.com—the site that will drive me to drink. But because we are ironing out all the kinks, I’ve authorized a 25-percent sale on our recurring memberships for the week. So if you’ve been thinking about checking us out, here is the perfect opportu-nity. While you’re online, you can write to me at [email protected] and I promise to get back to you before Anderson is foolish enough to close his eyes around Kathy—again! Until next time, remember one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

BILLY MASTERS

Billy Masters said that Kathy Griffin (above) and Anderson Cooper provided the best entertainment on New Year’s eve.

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BY RoSS FoRMAN

Sam Kirk was always drawn to use her imagina-tion.

As a kid, for instance, she’d ride her Mickey Mouse-themed Big Wheel Racer in Bridgeport, and Kirk’s imagination would soar in different directions, creating scenes out of the big brick buildings that surrounded her.

“Some of my favorite childhood memories in-clude sitting on the edge of our sofa with my twin sister, Jenny, eating cereal and watching early morning cartoons, [such as] Woody Wood Pecker while waiting for the school bus,” Kirk said. “My mind was stimulated with art from the minute I woke up, and I carry that with me even today.

“I drew on everything growing up, [from] napkins [to] the sides of my notebooks, and I found myself continuing to do this during meetings at work. I worked a corporate job, first in insurance for six years and then adver-tising for eight years. Advertising definitely fueled my desire to be an artist and prepared me for the industry. While working in advertis-ing, I continued painting and began exhibit-ing my work with galleries. During this time I recognized a drastic shift in my interests. What was once a hobby became something that I was now using to emote and connect; it was enthralling.”

Now 33, Kirk has homes in her native Chicago and New York City. She works as a multidisci-plinary artist and owns a company called Pro-voke Culture, which sells artistic products that celebrate culture, while giving back to organi-zations that help others. She is an out lesbian, in a relationship.

“I was born attracted to art. My eyes have always been stimulated and my hands have al-

ways had this burning desire to create things,” she said.

So her days now start early, often before the sun comes up. She paints with music blaring. That environment drives her inspiration, she said.

“My strengths [as an artist] are definitely my ability to mix multiple mediums while develop-ing my ideas. I am constantly putting this into my work,” Kirk said. “You can find my work on everything from T-shirts to murals to the con-cept and designs of restaurants. You can also find my work hanging on a wall in a gallery or in a custom construction for one of my ad agency clients. I don’t limit myself and that is

what helps me to stand out. It is what I enjoy most about my work because there isn’t an op-portunity for me to get bored. I am constantly generating new ideas. This process/ability has helped to build up ample clientele and collec-tors that benefit from my aptitude and appreci-ate my style. It is extremely rewarding.

“Art is a form of expression. It has the ability to draw people in, communicate a message in an authentically original way and impact the masses in a way that nothing else does. It is a necessity for my life in that it fills my heart with great energy and my mind with limitless possibilities.”

Kirk’s art roots have ties to this very pub-lication. Well, to Windy City Times publisher Tracy Baim, to be exact. When Kirk was 19, Baim invited Kirk to exhibit her work in a new gallery she was opening called “High Risk” in Boystown. “I was thrilled. I was still figuring out my identity and painted quite a bit of work that explored this search,” Kirk said. “Boys-town was a dream neighborhood to me. As a young mixed girl that grew up on the South Side of Chicago, I didn’t get to go there often, but Tracy gave me that opportunity.

“I remember being honored, yet very worried about the opportunity. My work was so person-al. It was my way of communicating what I was going through. I didn’t want to sell it and was worried that when I spoke with Tracy about this she would take me out of the show, but she didn’t. She coached me through the pricing and as the youngest artist in the room, I was able to really enjoy my first opening without the extra anxiety. I am thankful for her guid-ance. She opened my eyes to a possibility that I may not have explored otherwise. I knew I had talent, but I did not have anyone in my immediate surroundings to help me see this

path.”Kirk still has every piece that she exhibited

at High Risk.“One piece, my most cherished, hangs in my

mother’s house, and the rest are in my studio in Chicago,” she said.

Kirk said the best thing about being an artist is the ability to impact others, create beauty and shed light on a multitude of experiences. “My life is filled with inspiration, non-stop ideas, fascination in small everyday matters and bigger-picture items,” she said. “I am fortunate to create stories through my work, which is influenced by all the above and relate to my audience.”

Kirk’s art can be seen in several public lo-cations in Chicago, such as murals throughout Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Plus, she de-signed the entire concept for the restaurant The Art of Chicken, 2022 N. Western, includ-ing the logo, layout, characters and more. Her work also is on display at Viper Alley in subur-ban Lincolnshire.

Kirk, in late 2014, wrapped up an exhibit in Miami at the Scope International Art Fair. She was one of two artists selected to exhibit work by curators for Red Bull during Art Basel 2014.

Growing up, Chicago style

Kirk was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side—and proud of it. Her family moved often and she noted that her mother “made sure we were engaged with different cultures on a daily basis.” They lived in mostly white neighbor-hoods, but attended schools that were pre-dominately Black or Latino.

“My Chicago upbringing has shaped my work and identity,” she said.

“I lived in specific areas to certain groups, but the locations where we attended school gave us a slice of the many parts of the city. Growing up with kids from South Commons, Robert Taylor Homes, Ickes, Bridgeport, and other South Side neighborhoods provided a mix we would have never received otherwise. Be-

cause of this, we had the things we did in our neighborhood and the things that our friends brought from their neighborhood mixing into our day to day constantly.”

Kirk admitted that, until recently, she shied away from being labeled an out lesbian artist.

“In a good amount of my [early] work, I avoided the subject and rarely spoke about it in discussions or interviews. My family and friends were always accepting, but somewhere between growing up in Chicago and dating women who did not have accepting families caused me to unintentionally hide this part of myself in my work,” she said. “In the last two years that has all begun to change.

“I was in New York working on a project and I started to rediscover myself. [I] tired of see-ing the difficulties that LGBT youth go through and knowing from experience what that felt like, [so] I decided to combine my marketing background with my artwork to help organiza-tions that helped LGBT youth.”

She started a social project with an exhibit that donated funds to the Center on Halsted’s Youth Program and followed with an initiative that directly spoke to the mission and goals of Project Fierce Chicago.

Kirk’s current partner also helped her com-ing-out. “She helped me notice when I was hiding my identity and filtering my actions,” Kirk said. “She walked into my life at a time when I was literally in transition and the amount of emotion and stories I have yet to paint are all currently coming to surface. I’ve celebrated so many cultures, identities, and discussed social issues in my work, except my own, my participation in the LGBT community, and that is all about to change.

“I feel free in a way I haven’t felt since I was a teenager and there is so much to discuss.”

For instance, during her exhibit in Miami, Kirk showcased a piece labeled “Lesbian Goth-ic,” featuring Frida Kahlo and Josephine Baker.

“I’ve worked hard to get to where I am and refuse to not create stories about the love and conflicts that impact me the most,” Kirk said. “The LGBT community has been very good to me. We are a culture that has so many layers within it that need to be explored, celebrated and shared. I am honored to represent the LGBT community as an artist and am eager to see what comes from this build up that I have held inside for so long. I’m excited to be one of many LGBT artists that support our community through the arts and other initiatives that help us to be understood.”

See http://iamsamkirk.com/.

Chicagoan Sam Kirkshines through art

About Face’s ‘A Kid Like Jake’ in Feb.

About Face Theatre will present the Chi-cago premiere of A Kid Like Jake Feb. 6-8 and Feb. 12-March 15 at The Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

It will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday mati-nees at 3 p.m.

The plot is as follows: Alex and Greg’s in-telligent and precocious 4-year-old son is a leading candidate for enrollment in one of Manhattan’s top kindergarten programs. However, when attention turns to his pas-sion for Cinderella and dress-up, his imagi-nation and behavior becomes a lightning rod for all involved.

Tickets are $10-$35; visit http://green-housetheater.org/kid-like-jake/.

Disney on Ice presents ‘Frozen’ in January, February

Feld Entertainment, Inc., is bringing the Oscar-winning animated feature film Dis-ney’s Frozen, to life, in its 34th Disney On Ice spectacular.

Disney on Ice will present “Frozen Present-ed by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt” Jan.

21-26 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Il-linois, and Jan. 28-Feb. 8 at Chicago’s Unit-ed Center.

In the event, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse take the audience through the magi-cal story based in Arendelle, with special ap-pearances by Disney princesses and favorite characters from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story and Finding Nemo and Disney’s The Lion King.

Tickets start at $20 (United Center)-$25 (Allstate); call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Queer Contra Dance Chicago Jan. 17

Queer Contra Dance Chicago will hold its next dance Saturday, Jan. 17, 6-9 p.m., in the community hall at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square, 2649 N. Francisco Ave.

Contra dance is a form of folk dance similar to square dancing, but with lines of dancers rather than squares.

Lessons for newcomers will take place 6-6:30 p.m., with contra dance at 6:30-8:30 p.m., and pot-luck refreshments 8:30-9 p.m.

Admission to Queer Contra is a sliding scale of $0-10; email [email protected] or visit www.facebook.com/ContraChicago.

Sam Kirk. Photo courtesy of Kirk

A Sam Kirk youth homelessness mural in the Pilsen area of Chicago. Photo courtesy of Kirk


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Fleishman-HillardIllinois Health MarketplaceAd # FLPIHM51637_LGBT1Job # P51637Print_Newspaper, Enroll now, 10”w x 13.5”h, 4/C

TeamJ. Stuart, R. Black, C. Vonch, R. Nazal, K. Gannon

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File Name P51637_FLPIHM51637_LGBT_1.indd

The Official Health Marketplace

(866)311-1119Make an appointment

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GCI Open Enrollment EventThursday, January 15th, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.Center on Halsted | 3656 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60613

Talk to one of our FREE in-person specialists about coverage optionsand enroll in a plan that’s right for you.

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