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3700 N. Halsted St. #2-S Chicago, IL 60613 773.975.0264 Editorial: boieditorial@aol.com Advertising: boiads@aol.com EDITORIAL Mike Macharello: Production Rick Karlin: Editor layout & design Titanium Graphics, Inc. advertising Freddie: freddie@boiMAGazineChicago.com Dave: dave@boiMAGazineChicago.com National, Rivendell Media: sales@rivendellmedia.com photographerS Oliver Aguilar Eamonn Sexton Ken Brown, KAB Photography COVER Steve & John, Just Married editorial contributors Gregg Shapiro, Ace Magyar, Sue Deaunym, Anita Taylor, Ilye Costalis boiMAG ONLINE
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Going To The Chapel GETTING MARRIED IN THE U.S.
By Rick Karlin
Illinois has joined the number of states allowing same-sex marriage, which doubled from 9 in 2012 to 18 (including the District of Columbia) in 2013. Pennsylvania is poised to do the same. Recently judges struck down same-sex marriage bans in Oklahoma and Utah (although as of this writing, Utah’s ban has been reinstated pending appeal). If those two rulings are ultimately upheld, more than 50% of the U.S. population would live in places that allow same-sex marriage or civil unions. The following states are poised to tip the scales ever further. Nevada has passed a bill to repeal the state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and legalize same-sex marriage. However, the bill will need to pass again in 2015 to go on the ballot in 2016. In Oklahoma a federal judge struck down the ban on samesex marriage, although the decision was stayed by the governor pending an appeal. Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County Register of Wills began issuing same-sex marriage licenses, although the state is suing the county. The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against Utah to force the state to continue recognizing the marriages of more than 1,000 same-sex couples who were legally married in the weeks after a federal court struck down Utah’s bans on allowing same-sex couples to marry and the U.S. Attorney General has officially joined a lawsuit challenging the state’s 2006 ban on gay marriage and will honor the marriages performed in Utah during that time. Utah’s Attorney General has appealed the ban and all marriages in Utah are on hold until the hearing in March. In addition to wanting to pledge their love for each other, many couples are getting married for tax, immigration and federal employee benefits. Even if you end up living in a state where same-sex marriages aren’t legal, in the eyes of the federal government you are married and entitled to the same protections and benefits as any other married couple. If you can’t wait until June (what, is one of you pregnant?), or you prefer a destination wedding, you have abundant choices for where to tie the knot. With so many choices, to fit any wedding budget, it can be mind boggling. Here’s a state by state list of same sex wedding destinations. For a list of international destinations, see the sidebar on page 13.
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California
Whether you opt for the northern end of the state and one of the gay-friendliest cities in the world, San Francisco, or head south to glitzy L.A., Palm Springs or San Diego, there’s no shortage of opportunities for the wedding day you’ve dreamed of. Sites such as visitpalmspringsweddings.com, sanfrancisco. travel/weddings, visitwesthollywood.com/ weddings, and sonomacounty.com are eager to help you get hitched in style.
District of Columbia
About the only data related to same sex marriage on D.C.’s official web site, washington.org, is a list of officiants.
Hawaii
While the state’s official tourism site, isn’t geared up for same sex wedding info yet, GayHawaiiWedding.com, a gay Hawaiian owned and operated wedding company licensed in Hawaii since 1994, has the most extensive network of vendors and site contacts.
Maryland
Baltimore is so welcoming to same sex weddings that it even has an official gay wedding web site, baltimore.org/lgbtweddings.
Massachusetts
Whether you dream of a beach wedding in Provincetown or a swanky affair in Boston, you’ll find plenty of wedding planners, florists, caterers and other vendors ready to help you create your dream wedding. While the state’s official tourism web site doesn’t list gay weddings specifically, there is plenty of information at massvacation.com/explore/ weddings.
New York
New York City, if it was good enough for Liza, it’s good enough for you (and hopefully your marriage is more inexpensive and successful than hers). For chic and sophisticated, you can’t beat the city that doesn’t sleep. Its web site nycgo.com/nycido has everything you’ll need to know.
Rhode Island
A history of being a welcoming and progressive state respecting individual rights and Rhode Island’s 400 miles of beach front make it the perfect spot for a late summer wedding. Check it out at visitrhodeisland.com.
Vermont
Picturesque settings and again, the cost of living is lower, so the costs of weddings is lower. The Essex Resort & Spa, an early supporter of same-sex weddings and civil unions, can handle everything from housing guests to finding an officiant. Check out vermontgaytourism.com/gaymarriage for more information.
Washington
Another relative newcomer to the same sex marriage roster and whether you opt for Seattle or one of the state parks, there are plenty of options. Seattle is also the starting or ending point for many cruises which makes leaving for your honeymoon a snap. Check out Washington’s official website at experiencewa.com/articles/get-hitched.
Maine, Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey and the District of Columbia
Some of these locations are new to the samesex marriage party and don’t have much of an infrastructure yet, others just seem behind the times. Web searches for these states offered no hits when searching for gay marriage. However, the various GLBT wedding sites (see pg. 12) do have sources in all these states. Wherever you choose to seal the deal, remember to check on the requirements for a marriage license. Most will require you both to have your birth certificate and a copy of divorce papers if you were ever previously married. Some states require a waiting period between issuing the license and the date of the actual marriage. It is usually a day or two at most.
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Wedding Websites
There’s a big difference between the legal ceremony of a marriage and the celebration of a wedding. If you’re looking for a little extra help planning the big day, especially if planning an out of town event, check out some of the following sites which can help from the logistics of the ceremony to arranging the party, whether large or small. www.engaygedweddings.com
This on-line wedding directory has been helping same-sex couples find wedding vendors since 2009. It has links for all 50 states and Washington D.C. and every vendor on its site is personally interviewed by the owners. The site also sponsors a GLBT wedding planning community forum for couples to share photos and wedding planning ideas.
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www.equallywed.com
Equally Wed is a digital magazine offering not just a list of resources, but also news, blogs and a suite of wedding planning tools, including a guest list manager, a budget manager and an extensive interactive to-do list. Its list of local resources is a marketplace of gay-friendly wedding vendors personally interviewed by the web site’s directors.
www.purpleunions.com
Purple Unions is from the same people who created Purple Roofs, a directory of gay, lesbian, and gay friendly bed and breakfasts. They started Purple Unions in 2003, a gay friendly directory where gay and lesbian couples could plan their own wedding day with the help of supportive wedding vendors of all types. It offers connections not only in the U.S., but internationally, as well.
www.TheKnot.com
The Internet’s mosttrafficked one-stop wedding planning solution was founded in 1996 and quickly became America’s leading wedding brand. A number of years ago it established an entire section devoted to same sex weddings.
www.gayweddings.com
In 1999 Gretchen Hamm, in planning her lesbian daughter’s wedding discovered a dearth of resources, so she started TwoBrides. com and its twin site TwoGrooms. com, which she dubbed “Motherapproved shopping sites for same sex weddings,” in 2000. Since then the site has grown, affiliating with WeddingWire.com and finally taking over and adopting the name of GayWeddings.com and now features more than 20,000 vendors.
International (Wedding) Dateline At this point there are 14 countries that recognize same sex marriages, allowing you to choose from locales that run the gamut from the familiar to the exotic for your ceremony and, of course, the reception. What, you were going to travel half-way around the world and not have a party? Countries with nationwide laws allowing same sex couples to marry include; Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, The Netherlands (including the island of Saba, a Dutch territory in the Caribbean), Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden and Uruguay. The United Kingdom will join this list by the end of March. In Mexico, Brazil and New Zealand, same sex marriage is legal in some areas. Same sex marriage is on the brink of being passed in Israel, Australia, Colombia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Nepal. Requirements for a marriage license vary from country to country. Most will require you both to have your birth certificate and a copy of divorce papers if you were ever previously married. In many countries it is common to require all couples to get married at a government building (such as city hall), with private ceremonies conducted at a later date. Some good places to check the requirements for same sex marriages in a foreign country are www.freedomtomarry.org and www.immigrationequality.org. boiMAG 13
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Getting Married In Illinois Frequently Asked Questions When will same-sex couples be able to get married in Illinois? Marriage licenses will be available from county clerks beginning June 1. Marriage licenses are valid from the calendar day after they are issued, for a period of 60 days. For example, if you get your marriage license on June 1, you can get married on June 2. Are there any exceptions for couples who wish to marry sooner? The only exception is for couples facing life-threatening illness. Issuance of a marriage license is dependent on submitting a completed physician’s certification at the time of application. Who is eligible to get a marriage license?
Under Illinois law, two people are eligible to marry if they are: 18 years of age or older., not blood relatives (with minor exceptions) and not already legally married to someone else or each other. Where do we get our marriage license?
Couples planning to marry in Cook County can apply for a marriage license at any of the Cook County Clerk’s six locations. Can we apply for our marriage license online or by mail? Couples must appear together in person to apply for a marriage license and must present valid identification with proof of age and pay any applicable fees. The marriage license will be issued while you wait.
How much does a marriage license cost? A marriage license costs $60. Couples already in civil unions will have the fee waived until May 2015. What paperwork do we need to get our marriage license?
Each applicant must provide one form of ID if submitting one of the following: state driver’s license or I.D. card, U.S. passport or U.S. Armed Forces I.D. card. If those forms of identification are not available, any combination of two of the following forms of ID are acceptable: certified copy of birth certificate (English translations required for foreign certificates, which must be notarized), U.S. naturalization certificate, U.S. resident alien card, life insurance policy (at least 1 year old), foreign passport, baptismal record (date of birth must appear) or consulate identification card (matricula.) (continued on page 20) boiMAG 17
Getting Married FAQs Continued . . . If a previous marriage or civil union was dissolved by divorce, what information must I provide? Applicants who have divorced from a marriage or civil union must provide the date the divorce was finalized upon applying for a marriage license. Applicants who have divorced within the last six months must also provide a certified copy of their divorce decree. What happens if I had a civil union? Civil unions will continue to be offered to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples in Illinois. You can either keep your civil union or convert it to a marriage. Civil unions will not automatically dissolve because of the new law nor do you need to take any action prior to applying for a marriage license, if you choose to do so. How do we convert our civil union to a marriage? Couples who wish to convert their civil unions to marriages have two options. From June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015, a couple can convert their civil union into a marriage. That marriage will be effective from the date of their original civil union. The couple must apply for a marriage license and request to use the date of their civil union as their date of marriage. In this instance, the couple will immediately sign the license, without needing a ceremony. There is no fee within the first year of the new law. Alternatively, a couple may also apply for a marriage license and have a marriage ceremony within 60 days of application. The fee will be waived. We had our civil union in a different county but plan to get married in Cook County. Will the fee still be waived? Yes, the fee is waived no matter where in Illinois you got your civil union license. We’re happy with our civil union. Do we have to switch it to a marriage or can we keep our civil union? No. Same-sex or opposite-sex couples in a civil union will not be required to convert it to a marriage. Your civil union is still legal and valid.
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We were already married in another state that allows same-sex marriage, do we need to get another license in Illinois or have a ceremony in Illinois? No. Out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples will now be recognized as a marriage in Illinois. When can we get a copy of our marriage certificate? Marriage certificates are not automatically sent to couples. If you have a marriage ceremony, your officiant completes and signs the marriage license and returns it to the Clerk’s office. The Clerk’s office then records your marriage and can issue a certified copy of your marriage certificate. The turnaround typically takes about a week. If you convert your civil union to a marriage, marriage certificates should be available immediately.
What types of marriage certificates are available? There are three types of marriage certificates. A standard marriage certificate costs $15 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy. A set of two walletsized certificates are $15. Wallet-sized certificates are certified legal copies. Commemorative art-quality certificates are printed on canvas and available in nine designs for $65, including a certified legal copy. Who can officiate a marriage? An officiant can be a judge, a religious leader, or any individual who is ordained by a nondenominational organization. What do we need to do to get married by a judge? Judges will officiate same-sex marriages in Marriage Court at City Hall, 119 W. Randolph St., Lower Level, Chicago. The hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to Noon and 2 to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to Noon. No appointment is required. There is a $10 fee. Judges at the suburban Cook County courthouses also perform marriages, but procedures vary by location. Please contact the specific courthouse. Can we get married in a church, synagogue or other house of worship? According to the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness law, places of worship and any facility operated by a religious group or denomination have the discretion on whether or not to solemnize same-sex marriages.
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Mr. Chicago Leather Extreme cold and snow failed to deter a huge turnout in Chicago for the 2014 Mr. Chicago Leather Contest at Touché last month. The contest featured six men going for the title of Mr.. Chicago Leather 2014, with Miguel Torres selected as the winner. Joining Miguel at the contest’s end was first runner-up, Jonathan Saidler and second runnerup, Clint Sabin. Miguel will represent Chicago’s leather community during the next year and compete at International Mr. Leather 2014 in May. Mr. Torres, originally from Venezuela, has lived in Chicago for 14 years. He is involved in fund raising for local charities and this past summer participated in the Ride for AIDS, benefit for Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN). Judges for Mr. Chicago Leather 2014 were; International Mr. Leather 2013 Andy Cross, Mr. Midwest Leather 2012 Matt Hengle, Mr. Midwest Rubber 2013 Jesse Driscoll; Mr. Chicago Leather 2013 Nick Zuko, and Christina Court, videographer and editor for the Leather Archive and Museum (LA&M) Leather Preservation and Conservation Project. Returning from London for his 11th year as contest emcee was John Pendal, International Mr. Leather 2003. The weekend activities began with a welcome party on Friday evening. The Imperial Windy City Court of the Prairie State presented the LA&M with a donation from their charity campaign, followed by a roast of the past Mr. Chicago Leather, Nick Zuko, hosted by Thib Guicherd-Callin, Mr. Santa Clara County Leather 2012.
Miguel Torres
On Saturday of that weekend, Touché hosted a fetish flea market and LA&M and Gerber/ Hart, Chicago’s GLBT library and archives, hosted events during the afternoon. In the evening Touché hosted the competition with contestants being judged on their leather image, public speaking abilities and the crowd’s favorite category, jockstrap modeling. The announcement of the winner met with roaring approval by those packed in the bar. During the proceedings, Touché bar manager, David Boyer, presented the Chuck Windemuth Leather Mentorship Award to Jeff Willoughby, Mr. Chicago Leather 2005 for his years of coaching those new to the leather lifestyle. On Sunday, a Victory Party capped off the weekend. For more information and photographs visit the bar’s web site, www.ToucheChicago.com. boiMAG 31
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Rick Karlin s
EAT YOUR HEART OUT
Valentine’s Day is one of the restaurant industry’s biggest days. If you plan to take your honey out for dinner at one of these places, make certain that you have reservations. Restaurants around town are offering special meals and package deals. Also, since the holiday falls on a Friday, many places are offering specials throughout the weekend. Here’s a sampling of some options. Deleece’s Southport location is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a three course prix fixe dinner menu, $100 per couple or $130 per couple with wine pairings. The Drawing Room offers a four course prix fixe dinner for $49 per person. Tavern on Rush has a four-course dinner for $70 per person, which includes a glass of champagne. On Friday, Nia Mediterranean offers a $39 eight-course tasting menu. Wine pairings are an additional $15-$25. Saturday’s offering includes screenings of romantic movies such as “Dirty Dancing” and “To Catch a Thief.” La Madia’s four course prix fixe menu, served family-style, features the choice of appetizer, seasonal salad, and Neapolitan-inspired pizza, as well as a flute of Prosecco to start and housemade chocolate truffles to finish for $39 per person. Big Jones will offer a $69 per couple “Southern Valentine” tasting menu which includes fried artichokes, oysters, sea bass and dessert.
Waterleaf, overlooking a scenic lake, features a beautiful fireplace, making it a romantic dining option, and as an added incentive, the adjacent Inn at Water’s Edge, offers couples booking an overnight stay in February a bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and Continental breakfast the next morning for $150 per night. At City Dough diners can enjoy specials such as complimentary dessert and half-priced bottles of wine and bottomless mimosas and half- priced bottles of wine on Saturday and Sunday. Singles don’t have to feel left out either. Ay Chiwowa! In River North is calling all singles to celebrate with a 90s-themed dance party, featuring a $35 party-sized (56 ounce) margaritas and heart shaped flan. In addition to the various Valentine’s Day offerings, a couple of area restaurants have announced changes. If you haven’t read about it yet, The Hearty Boys have paired up with James Beard Award winning pastry chef Gale Gand to create SpritzBurger. Burgers, will join a selection of some of Hearty Restaurant’s greatest hits on the menu and, of course, with Gand on board, you can expect some incredible desserts. Chef Cristiano Bassani, owner of the popular Bapi Ristorante in Arlington Heights, just opened Big Chef Burgers, a new gourmet burger and pizza restaurant at 1602 E. Algonquin Rd. in Schaumburg. Bow & Stern Oyster Bar has added weekend brunch. boiMAG 35
MARK HUNTER INTERVIEW
By Gregg Shapiro
Nightlife impresario Mark Hunter, a native of Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs, owned and operated the original Hunters in Elk Grove Village, Illinois for more than 30 years before selling the business. He previously had opened a Hunters in Palm Springs and just last month made a foray into the booming Wilton Manors scene. Hunters Wilton Manors spot is located on Wilton Drive, already home to more than a dozen bars and club. I spoke with Hunter, a Wilton Manors resident, about his newest venture in January 2014. Gregg Shapiro: Mark, how long have you been in the bar business? Mark Hunter: I’ve been in the bar business a little over 31 years. We opened in Elk Grove Village in 1982. We just recently sold it in September 2013. How did you get started in the bar business? I was a professional ballroom dancer, competitor at one time. I really loved doing it, but I really wasn’t loving it. I decided one night after being at (the bar) Charlie’s Angels (in the Chicago suburb of Niles), “I’m going to open a gay bar! [laughs].” Charlie’s Angels would occasionally do a cabaret night. Did you do something similar at the original Hunters or was it strictly a dance club? Hunters was basically a dance club. We did do cabaret from time to time. We did have a piano player during happy hour. Amy Armstrong came out and did a couple of shows. Honey West would come out and do shows.
What do you like best about being in that line of work? That’s a hard question. I really don’t know. I just loved it all. For instance, are you a night person and it works well with your schedule? Absolutely! When I was ballroom dancing, when I was teaching, I was working from two in the afternoon to 10 at night; which were perfect hours to go out and party all night long. I didn’t have to get to work until two in the afternoon [laughs]. In what year did you open Hunters in Palm Springs and why did you decide to open a bar there? We opened in 1998. I was enjoying the bar business so much that I really wanted to open another one. I wanted to make sure that it was in a warm location; a warmer than Chicago location. We scouted out several cities. We scouted out Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego; some of the warmer areas. There was the most potential in Palm Springs at the time. What was involved in the recent decision to sell the Hunters location in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village? It was just time. I’ve been living here (in Wilton Manors) for eight years and my commute to work was killing me [laughs]. continued on next page >> boiMAG 37
HUNTERS CONTINUED . . . . . .
What made you want to open a Hunters location in Wilton Manors? I love the dynamics of Wilton Drive. I love how it has so much to offer. I was hoping that we can offer something new and different. Add to the experience on the drive. Wilton Manors is a popular spot with people from Chicago, for both vacation and relocation. Since you have been in Wilton Manors, have you run into any old friends and/or customers from the Hunters location up north? Absolutely! Just this last weekend we had four of Hunters Chicago’s very good customers down here all the same time [laughs].
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Did they all plan to be there at the same time or did they come separately? They were here separately. They know each other. The week before there was another one, a very good customer that was in from Chicago. With locations in Palm Springs and Wilton Manors, how did you decide to make Wilton Manors you home? I love Palm Springs very much but I just feel at home here in South Florida. Do you think it’s because, having grown up in Chicago with its lake front and beaches, that that was the draw? Yes, there is water here and I’m a Pisces. I’ve got to have the water nearby. Do you have plans to open more Hunters locations in other cities? [Laughs] You just never know.
By: Victor Barreiro
Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez is what you’d find her listed as on her birth certificate, but music lovers around the globe know her as Ivy Queen. This multi Latin Grammy nominee is responsible for such chart-topping songs as “Quiero Bailar, Te He Querido”, “Te He Llorado” and “La Vida Es Asi” and those are just to name a few. Ivy will soon grace the stage as she travels across the United States for her first ever gay tour. The Queen of Reggaeton tells us about the upcoming tour and what the gay community really means to her.
What can we expect when you kick off your gay club tour? This is something that I’ve been wanting to do for so long. I want to do something for the gay community. They always support me. All of my best friends are gay. This is a tribute for the love that they have shown me. I am going to make sure that the guys have fun and that they sing along with me. I am trying to incorporate different drag queens from the U.S. I am a huge fan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and basically I want to have a drag queen at every city that I will be visiting. You’ve performed at Gay Pride in Los Angeles and Long beach. What is it about the gay community that strikes a chord with you? They feel free…that freedom that allows you to say what you feel, even though if it hurts somebody, you’re telling the truth. Another thing is that they are so brilliant. They are so talented. I know a lot of makeup artists, painters, stylists that are so creative. I have friends that do clothing. They are happy and are celebrating life. That is what I love about them. That is what I love about them, the freedom of being who you are. That is why I love them so much. What would you like to say to your gay fans?
iMUSIC
The Soul of February
By Gregg Shapiro
For someone with a track record as a sexual predator, you’d think R. Kelly would find something else to sing about on his new album Black Panties. But, as you might conjecture from the title, the sexually obsessed R&B legend seems to have only one thing on his mind. Black Panties is so explicit, a parental advisory simply isn’t sufficient, it ought to come with an Oraquick home HIV testing kit, a Gardisil patch and a cum rag. As obvious as a boner in silk boxers, Kelly doesn’t mince words, but he’s so busy pushing the erotic envelope that he forgot to write memorable and distinctive melodies to accompany the lascivious lyrics. There are a couple exceptions, including “Crazy Sex” (a showcase for Kelly’s sense of humor) and the bragging broadcast of “My Story” (featuring 2Chainz). On The Song Is You Tony-winning original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday’s first secular album in 20 years, she shies away from the commercial pop of her previous major-label releases in favor of a jazz-oriented approach. It’s an admirable move on her part. On the whole, the disc feels like a tribute to idols and icons, beginning with “Love Dance,” dedicated to Nancy Wilson. She shows respectful restraint on “The Look of Love” (dedicated to Dusty Springfield), but rightfully roars on “At Last” (“in loving memory of the late Miss Etta James”). Her interpretation of the title tune will make some listeners long for an entire album of Holliday singing vintage Broadway standards. “Love Me By Name” (co-written by out singer/ songwriter Lesley Gore), dedicated to Barbra Streisand (whom Holliday refers to as “The Voice”), is followed shortly thereafter by “Nobody Does It Better” (“in loving memory” of “one singular
sensation” Marvin Hamlisch), on which Holliday sounds like she’s having the most fun on the whole disc. Holliday’s cover of the late Phyllis Hyman’s “It’s Not About You” is also a treat. Young soul rebel V.V. Brown made an impression with her 2009 debut disc Traveling Like Light. But it’s been a long wait for the follow-up. It’s actually a good thing because this allows listeners to put some distance between her first record’s retro style and the distinctly modern sound of the new one Samson & Delilah. A dramatically futuristic set of songs, it not only reinforces Brown’s song writing skills, but also her gifts as a performer, making it a strong comeback effort. Folks of a certain generation will remember Sandra St. Victor as the lead vocalist of The Family Stand. The trio had a hit with the song “Ghetto Heaven.” As a solo artist, St. Victor has only released a few albums, the latest being Oya’s Daughter. Alternately grounded (“Stuff Mama Used to Say,” “Sugarfoot Is Dead”) and ethereal (“Spirit Talk,” “Eternal”), it’s a pleasure to hear St. Victor having her say again. Amsterdam native Giovanca has done her homework. On Satellite Love, she sounds like she could be a contemporary of Erykah Badu, especially on “How Does It Feel,” “Bad Wishes” and “Come Around.” But she really soars when she’s working her retro mojo on tracks such at the vintage disco of “Lockdown” and “No More,” the Latin heat of “Uphill” and the light pop of “I Will Wait.” It wouldn’t be a Black History Month celebration without some Duke Ellington. The CD reissue of The Ellington Suites: The Queen’s Suite/The Goutelas Suite/The Uwis Suite features orchestration and compositions by Ellington’s longtime gay collaborator Billy Strayhorn. boiMAG 41
THEATER SCENE By Rick Karlin
Another Opening, Another Show
The Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern presents “Cabaret” running Feb. 14 through March 2… Profiles Theatre continues its season with the Midwest premiere of “Cock”, running Feb. 14 through April 6. The play explores one man’s choices about which path of love to pursue. When John takes a break from his longtime boyfriend, the last thing he expects is to fall in love with a woman... BoHo Theatre continues its 10th season with “Amadeus”, opening Feb. 14 and running through March 16 at Stage 773… The Joffrey Ballet brings much-needed heat to winter with “Contemporary Choreographers,” a program of three works that runs Feb. 12-23 at the Auditorium Theatre... “Love Story, the musical”, inspired by Erich Segal’s best-selling novel and one of the most romantic films of all time, will open, appropriately enough on Valentine’s Day and will run through March 1 at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in Cicero… The Second City’s Incomplete Guide to Everything” begins Feb. 13, at the UP Comedy Club in Piper’s Alley… Lookingglass Theatre Company announced a second extension of “The Little Prince.” It will now through Sunday, March 16… Profiles Theatre continues its 25th anniversary season with the Midwest premiere of “Gidion’s Knot.” The production runs through March 9… Provision Theater Company continues its 10th Anniversary Season with William Shakespeare’s comedy “The Taming of the Shrew” set in Chicago’s Little Italy… Mary-Arrchie Theatre opens its season Dostoyevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” playing Feb.
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4 through March 16... The Den Theatre launches its 2014 season with the world premiere of the crime caper The Roper” playing March 3 through Apr. 13 on The Den Theatre Mainstage... Quest Theatre Ensemble presents its original sequel to “Peter Pan” with “The People’s Return of Neverland”, opening Feb. 21... Steppenwolf has announced the line-up for Late Night @ Garage Rep, a series of cross-genre performances on Thursday nights, starting March 6. The line-up includes; Salonathon, on March 6, “Duo: 1 Is 1, 2 Is Math” follows a couple from their first meeting through their marriage and the ups and downs of their relationship as they move through their life together. It plays on March 13. “’Go Live: A New School Variety Show” on March 20 is a production that has grown from Young Chicago Authors, series of workshops and in-school residencies. “Wiggerlover [whiteboy+blackdad=greyareas],” on March 27, is based on the true story of one boy’s life in an interracial family in Chicago in 1979. On Apr. 3, “Bring Me The Head Of James Franco, That I May Prepare a Savory Goulash In The Narrow and Misshapen Pot Of His Skull” is a one-man show featuring Ian Belknap.
Stage Notes
Second City is offering actors of color a unique eight week mentoring and development opportunity as part of the Bob Curry Fellowship, funded by The Second City’s Outreach & Diversity program and named for Second City alumnus, Bob Curry. It includes training in improv, sketch comedy writing and acting. Auditions for qualified actors of color will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25, by appointment only. Head shots can be submitted by e-mailing outreach@ secondcity.com.
in the know ... ON THE GO!
By Sue Deaunym
Blue Balls Or colder than a witch’s tit. I don’t care how you describe this winter, but I have had enough… Meanwhile CircuitMom and company are celebrating the Polar Vortex (there’s a phrase you never learned in school) with “The Arctic” a Revolution” event on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the House of Blues. They’re bringing in Israeli DJ, Aron Abikzer. Tickets are $40 at Cram Fashion and wantickets.com… Northalsted also celebrates the season with WinterFest on Sunday, Feb. 16, so expect to see the street lined with ice sculptures (if the drunks don’t pee them into a puddle). There’ll also be a “soup walk” featuring popular Halsted restaurants. More info at www.northalsted. com… Wear a pair of long-johns under your tuxedo and head over to the Hilton for Equality Illinois’ gala, hosted by Colonel Jennifer Pritzker, on Saturday, Feb. 8, where transgender Chicago filmmaker Lana Wachowski will be presented with the 2014 Equality Illinois Freedom Award. For more information, go to www.eqil.org. Old School Back in the day you could dance at Coconuts or Bananas and take the Red Line to Paris. We’re talking long gone, but not forgotten bars. On Friday, Feb 7, the Chicago Foundation for Women LGBT Giving Council will host an “Old School Dance Party” celebrating the golden days of disco music at Sunset Café in Rogers Park… Speaking of old school, a couple of old schoolgirls, Miss Foozie and Paula Sinclaire (How old, you ask? Let’s just say that they didn’t carry books home from school, they carried stone tablets) are hosting Disco Bingo on Wednesday nights at Circuit Night Club… Patrick Cowley composed music for porn soundtracks in the ‘70s. The Bijou, America’s oldest running gay theater and sex club, will be transformed through
multimedia art installations, live music, and adult performance in homage to Patrick Cowley and the newly released CD of his music. Now that’s an old-school way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!… On Sunday, Feb. 9, Chicago Her HRC presents “Va ~ Va ~ Vaudeville!” The extravaganza features comedy and burlesque beauties. Tix are just $20, $35 for VIP (which includes early entry, premium floor seating, and a 50/50 raffle ticket.) New School The Mohr Student Center at Lake Forest College will present a drag show featuring RuPaul’s Drag race alum, Detox and The Princess on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The event is a benefit for PFLAG… You are planning on going to “On the Red Carpet” the Center on Halsted’s annual Oscar event fundraiser, right? It is the place to be on Oscar night (at least in Chicago, it is). For tix visit www. centeronhalsted.org… On Saturday, March 8, Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble presents “A Champagne Toast to Jazz Royalty” with a focus on the music of the great Billy Strayhorn, one of the first and few openly gay composers of his time… Alegria’s Chicago “Freedom” party on Sunday, Feb. 16 features Ralphi Rosario and ABEL spinning at Castle... Gearheads unite! The Chicago Auto Show runs through Monday, Feb. 17at McCormick Place. Tribute A new memorial commemorating the thousands of GLBT victims of the Holocaust was unveiled this month in Tel Aviv’s Meir Park. The memorial is shaped in the form of a pink triangle, signifying the emblem that gays and lesbians were required to attach to their clothes while being held in concentration camps; the pink triangle has since been adopted as the symbol of the international GLBT rights movement. The monument also features short texts in Hebrew, English and German. boiMAG 45
ASK ACE
by Ace Magyar
Birthday Boy
My boyfriend and I have been together for six years and have agreed to be monogamous. He travels often for business and after a particularly long trip to Asia, we had a great session of lovemaking when he returned on my birthday. However, a few days later I discovered that I had crabs! Now I’m heartbroken knowing that he cheated on me while he was on his trip. He swears he wasn’t with anyone else, but how else would he have gotten crabs?
Dear BB,
Your boyfriend may be telling the truth. Lice can live off the human body for up to 24 hours, so he may have gotten them from the sheets or towels in his hotel room, if they weren’t changed or laundered after the previous guest. He could also have gotten crabs if he tried on clothing at a store after someone else who had lice. If you have no other reason to question his fidelity, give him the benefit of doubt. In the meantime, crabs are easily dealt with using over the counter remedies. Wash and dry any clothing, bedding or towels used during the two to three days before treatment using very hot water and the hottest dryer cycle. For items that cannot be laundered, store them in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks before dry-cleaning.
Bitterly Divorced
I found out that my husband of 10 years was having an affair. I left him. I am happy to be out of the situation. However, I just found out that the man he is involved with is also in a long-term relationship. I think I should contact the boyfriend of the man with whom he had the affair and tell
him. I want the man who stole my husband to suffer as much as I did. I also think his boyfriend has a right to know.
Dear BD,
As my mother used to say, “MYOB.” You don’t know what kind of arrangement the other couple has. While you expected a monogamous relationship, other couples allow for all sorts of permutations. Also, if it did end their relationship, you wouldn’t just be hurting the man who stole your husband, but his spouse as well. You said that you are happy to be out of the situation, if you truly are, telling the other man about this would only draw you back into the drama. Pick up the pieces of your life and use them to build a new one.
Baby Vs. Dog
My wife and I have been together for five years. She is 30 and I am 41. Last night she said that she wants to have a baby before infertility becomes a problem. She even mentioned that she has asked a couple of male friends if they would be willing to be the donor. I suggested that we buy a dog instead. She said that she doesn’t want a dog, and I think it’s to punish me for not agreeing to have a baby.
Dear BVD,
It seems that you don’t respect or trust each other, that’s no environment for a baby or a dog. There are deeper issues at work here. The fact that she went and discussed this with others before consulting you and the fact that you think a dog is a viable substitute for a child indicates that you both need to work on issues. Not to mention the fact that you think of a dog as a commodity that you can buy, like a can of peaches. Adopting a dog is commitment, granted not as massive as deciding to have a baby, but it appears that the two of you need to explore how much responsibility you’re willing to take on as a couple, before you bring another living entity into the relationship. . Neither a dog nor child will work if you aren’t both on the same page
Ace Magyar has a BA in communications, a MA in sex therapy and a PHD in zoology. He is a registered couple’s counselor specializing in the GLBT community. Send your questions to ASK ACE at boieditorial@aol.com
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