Using direct action and strong rhetoric to put the LGBT-rights movement back on track
by Kevin Sparrow

Throughout history, different pieces of evolution, society and even thought have become outmoded and re-adapted. The tailbone remains as a reminder that we came from tail-carrying species; aristocracies crumbled because the larger population had needs that were not being addressed; the Earth is no longer seen as the center of the universe or solar system because scholars could prove that it revolves around the sun. One major area that seems slow to learn from the lessons of the past is politics. Civil rights movements from women’s suffrage to African-American equality have required a dedication to their cause by grassroots groups, but these have also become subdued over time–women still consistently earn lower than men and economic disparity effects large portions of the Black community–because the sound of the movement dies down.

The same is happening with LGBT rights today: great strides of visibility that were achieved in the 1970s and ’80s coupled with greater hate crime and protection legislation in the ’90s was due to the work of small groups and organizations, like the Gay Liberation Front, ACT UP and Queer Nation,  who knew that the road to equality was paved with raised voices and confrontation. We are now looking at a movement that tries to lobby political leaders on Washington Hill with mouthpieces such as the Human Rights Campaign and to ameliorate tensions between queer and straight people through media with GLAAD. Working within those systems, both have contributed to a movement that often falters because it does not want to be seen as overbearing or assaultive, so it asks the entire community to be more considerate and patient when no progress on legislation for LGBTs is made and to avoid using strong and even inflammatory rhetoric that our anti-gay counterparts use.

Well, fuck it. The only way to progress toward rights is to not be docile about it; we have to confront the organizations that oppose us directly, whether they be NOM, AFTAH or ultra-bigoted Westboro Baptist Church, by walking right up to them and telling them why their hate is harmful and not being willing to understand a position that discriminates against so many people. Whether or not it changes the minds of those we directly address, it has the indirect effect of influencing others who may become motivated to join an LGBT-rights cause, to fight for particular legislation to end DADT or start ENDA or even make a conversation easier between a parent and a queer child. If silence persists, everyone is left to believe that the issue is solved and LGBT people are complacent with remaining in discrimination. Which we are not.

One upcoming outlet to try this line of direct action is at the Gay Liberation Network protest against the AFTAH academy being promoted in Arlington Heights. Peter LaBarbera’s Americans for the Truth About Homosexuality is launching a series of lectures aimed at youth (around age 14 and up) that details and attempts to indoctrinate them in a discriminatory view that homosexuality is immoral and that, because of its immorality, LGBT people should not be granted equal rights. The protest will begin at 7:30 PM outside the Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights (502 W. Euclid Ave). If you are coming from Chicago, you can meet up with GLN outside Ogilvie Transportation Center (5oo W. Madison) at 6 PM and take the Metra to the suburbs. And once you get there, don’t stop till your voice gives out.

Though rife with potatoes, potato bugs and Latter-Day Saints, Idaho isn’t just a state anymore. For the last five years, it has also been an acronym for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (hopefully, we will soon see an IDAHOT). Monday’s Chicago demonstration took place in Millenium Park at Monroe and Michigan and was a combined effort between the Gay Liberation Network, Courage Nigeria and the Coalition for Justice and Respect. Nigerian gay activist John Adewoye spoke while supporters marched with rainbow flags and passed out literature about the troubling laws and conditions facing many African LGBT people.

IDAHO is a kick-off to the Harvey Milk Week of Action which supports the gay icon’s legacy by mobilizing a politically oriented queer community. The week is sponsored by GLN, CJR, Join the Impact, LGBT Change and Columbia College’s LGBT resource Common Ground. Other events to celebrate this week include a Flashmob at Federal Plaza (230 S. Dearborn) on Thursday at noon and a Queer Noise open mic at New Wave Coffee (2557 N. Milwaukee Blvd.) on Friday at 8pm. The week ends with a Saturday march and rally in honor of Harvey Milk Day, beginning at Michigan and Congress at 1pm. Get your gay feet moving and make strides against homophobia this week.

All fun-loving queers have probably heard of Berlin nightclub. You know, that place under the Belmont red line where people go to dance late at night, generally regarded as the after-after-party? Not anymore; since hosts Adam Guerino and The Puterbaugh Sisterz took over every last Friday of the month, it’s now the party-party. Nightcaps is a variety show that showcases stand-up comedy, burlesque, live music and some of Chicago’s finest emerging talent. The price tag for all these queerific times is only $5, making it one of 2010′s more affordable luxuries. Following the show is a dance/costume party sure to keep your fun-buzz.

The event is hosted by Adam Guerino (The Sarcastic Squad, Art Haus), The Puterbaugh Sisterz (Lincoln Lodge, Entertaining Julia), and DJ Greg Haus (Cosmix, Atomic Sketch.)

Nightcaps begins at 11 PM this Friday, February 26, and every last Friday of the month. Admission is $5 and includes Cosmix after-party. Berlin is located at 954 W Belmont and is easily accessible from Red, Brown and Purple line trains as well as Belmont, Clark and Halsted buses.

Live dating show Single Mingle gives queer Chicagoans an entertaining Valentine’s weekend

by Kevin Sparrow

Dimmed lighting; dark, oblong ottomans and booth-like sofas; the sounds of Lady Gaga and Beyoncé pounding over subdued conversation: you may think you’ve just walked into a gay man’s basement, and you would be close. Chicago’s weekly live dating show, Single Mingle, held their first Big Gay Valentine’s Day event this past Saturday, February 13 at Spybar. Although the first queer-oriented evening, this is Single Mingle’s third show since opening on January 23, and they have been winning over admirers since. “It’s fun, it’s classy, and I like that there’s good people here… it’s a good idea because sometimes it’s hard to meet people,” says audience member Karen.

The innovative program not only has fans who are voyeurs; the participants feel that the event is helping breathe some new life into the queer community. “I think Chicago could really own itself more in its queerness,” says contestant Jessica. “I used to live in Boystown, but there was something almost desperately adolescent about it… I’m really excited for Chicago to mature in its queer scene.” Not only does Single Mingle allow a reprieve from typical nightspots of the Chicago LGBT community, it also helps those who are entering that community for the first time, as contestant Keith relates with his motivations for signing up. “I just moved to the city. I don’t know anyone up here yet, so it’s a good way to meet people.”

The show is split into two sessions, this night featuring a group of lesbians followed by a group of gay men engaging in a humorous mixture of meet-cute and ribaldry. Single Mingle’s main bachelor or bachelorette learns more about the three people on the other side of an expertly placed screen through a brief Q&A, friend testimonials, and some assistance from audience applause during a blind-folded couple’s dance with each contestant. “I think it’s definitely good to break it up,” says audience member Gwen of the dance portion of the program. “You can’t just ask a lot of questions, people get flustered.” Their tied tongues were loosened by loquacious hosts Tana McFarlane and Mitchel Migliore as well as special guest host JaJa Galliano, who helped by combing the audience for friends of the contestants to provide crucial personal information.

Interspersed with the main show were an interstitial performance of “Plastic Barbie” by JaJa, a raffle for champagne and opportunities for current singles to sign up as future contestants. The final couples were provided a $75 gift certificate to Rosebud Trattoria for a romantic first date, and audience members were supplied free condoms, gift cards to SEE eyewear and a memorable show.

Split Pillow’s third annual fundraiser is a spooky affair

by Kevin Sparrow

You couldn’t ask for a gloomier night to enter a haunted house than this past Thursday. After weathering bracing winds and a deluge that had been ongoing all day, we rode to the top of 400 East Randolph to be greeted with the ominous message, “You’ll have to go through the haunted house first to get to the party.” Passing through an opaque fog, glimpsing a sink full of blood, being offered organs by a mad surgeon, and observing Abe Lincoln in a screening room rather than the Ford Theater were just a sample of the tableaux we witnessed. The haunted house tour ended with a meet-and-greet with Dr. Spalanzani and his son, Olympio, characters from non-profit production company Split Pillow‘s upcoming feature Eye of the Sandman. For $50-$60 a ticket to benefit the organization’s new season, guests were treated to a wonderful spectacle of spookiness, previews of Split Pillow’s films and programs, a silent auction, and some very interesting yet tasty hors d’ouvres:

Founded by Jason Stephens, Split Pillow has been a Chicago staple for eight years, growing from a production company promoting collaborative projects with local filmmakers to working with the community to perpetuate media literacy. Board president Andrea de Fraga explains, “This organization tries to get new filmmakers’… messages across, [so] a lot of other voices can be heard.” This commitment to diversity is evident in the films produced. “The fifth feature we did was with all-gay filmmakers in 2007,” creative director Jeff McHale says of the film soulMaid. “It’s hard because you don’t want to be a ‘gay’ organization, but… there are a lot of straight people who… are getting exposed to something they aren’t aware of.”

The feature presentations Split Pillow develops are typically collaborations between various directors and depict people from a wide range of backgrounds. The same is true of the innovative Chicago360 documentary project, now preparing for production on its fifth volume, Aliens in the City. When it comes to showcasing diversity, “[w]ith Chicago360, it’s great because you’re already getting a great mix of people… Chicago is a character front and center,” says McHale. The city’s own cultural diversity is pivotal in the individual short docs that are chosen for presentation in Chicago360, combining into a rich feature-length mosaic.

Additionally, Split Pillow works with the local community to promote media literacy and keep Chicago a vibrant locale for filmmaking. Marketing director Brooke Blocki describes her outreach in spreading the word of MediaStart!, SP’s educational program: “I contact folks in the non-profit industry, and some people I know in Chicago schools. I go to connections I know, trying help other non-profits.” “After School Matters hosted [a program] at Center on Halsted,” says McHale. “We went… and worked with youth there on a daily basis for six weeks. We were able to develop kids’ skills much better than in other programs. We’re trying to cultivate youth, and [then] with Chicago360, seeing what they turn into as adults. ”

Split Pillow is currently preparing for the screening of Eye of the Sandman at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Friday, November 20. Tickets are $10; a second screening will be held on Monday, November 23. The documentary feature Life as Lincoln is another project about which Blocki is especially excited. “It’s dear to my heart because, growing up in Illinois, I knew a lot of Lincoln impersonators. We can go to a lot of educational organizations–[such as] the Chicago History Museum. We’re celebrating Lincoln’s bicentennial.” Life as Lincoln will premiere on President’s Day 2010. If you are interested in learning more about Split Pillow or purchasing DVDs of their films, check out their contact information here.

In three days, the same date as National Coming Out Day, the National Equality March will head through DC, and many are anticipating the outcome of this mass action. Will it help expedite pro-LGBT legislation and hold the government responsible for not taken swifter action on our issues, or will it be an empty gesture? The goal of the march is to effect change in the American public’s mind that our community’s issues are issues of equal protection under the law as granted by the 14th Amendment.

However, much of the march is not being targeted at our leaders. Chicago’s LGBT Liberation Network is combining efforts with Queer Liberaction of Dallas to have a preliminary march and protest outside of a $250-a-ticket HRC dinner being held Saturday, the night before the march. President Obama will be speaking at this event, but has made no plans to directly address those attending the march on Sunday, showing a position influenced more by prosperity than a respect for dignity.

If you’re unable to fly or ride out to DC, a concurrent action will be held in Chicago on Sunday around 1 pm Central time. Join LGBT Change at Daley Plaza (Washington & Dearborn) to show solidarity for the future of LGBT rights and the hope that we can make actual progress in this country.

Beginning on August 26, Cul de sac Magazine will be featuring a Creative Writing Wednesdays series that will put short stories, excerpts from longer works and poetry at the forefront. You don’t have to be queer to submit; we just ask that your work relates to the LGBT experience. All subject matter and genres are given equal consideration.

Our guidelines are:
–under 1,000 words for prose, with consideration given for serializing longer pieces.
–2-3 poetry submissions at a time.
–use the Contact Us button at the top of the screen to send an inquiry; we will respond from the email address to send your submissions.

At this time, we cannot offer compensation, but we do provide a forum for your work that reaches over 500 readers a month. It is important to our mission to provide as many unique voices as possible that can touch the lives of queer folk all across the spectrum. We welcome your words and your talent and look forward to sharing them with our readers.

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In is coming! In response to recent detention of queer couples for kissing in generally public places in cites like Salt Lake City, San Antonio and El Paso, bloggers David Badash and David Mailloux have organized a national event to be held on Saturday, August 15 for everyone who believes in equal protection under the law. Much like the sit-ins of the 1960s, kiss-ins by loving couples both gay and straight are being organized in public spaces–parks, thoroughfares, etc.–in cities all across the country.

For local residents, the Oak Park/Chicago kiss-ins will take place at the corner of Oak Park Ave. and Lake St. in Scoville Park of Oak Park and at Millenium Park (by the bean!) in Chicago. Arrive by 1:00 PM and claim a spot, then get busy kissing. If you want to become part of organizing efforts to create banners, signs or strategically plan, leave a comment here at Cul de sac or click on the above link to go to the Facebook event page and join in.

Located far from the reaches of major labels on the East and West coasts, Chicago relies on independent artists to thrive in providing live performance to its citizens. The yearly Pitchfork Music Festival, held this year from July 17 to July 19, exposes many low-profile Chicago artists to a wider audience by joining them with more recognizable artists. And of course, many of them have a queer pedigree. Cul de sac Magazine will be traveling to the stages between Ashland and Randolph for part of the festival, but make sure to check out some of the artists we’ll really be digging.

Yo La Tengo (Friday, 6:10 PM) – Yo La Tengo’s 24-year history has led to a compelling array of sonic greatness, and their contribution as composer to the soundtrack for the 2006 film Shortbus is indelible.

Final Fantasy (Saturday, 4:15 PM) – The solo work of openly gay arranger and composer Owen Pallett, who has worked with The Arcade Fire, Beirut (who will also be at Pitchfork on Saturday) and many more artists, is masterful. If his win for Canada’s inaugural Polaris Prize and honorary degree for composition that he received in 2002 for composing since the age of 13 are any indication, Pallet is definitely someone to check out.

Ponytail (Saturday, 4:30 PM) – Baltimore group Ponytail have got a lot of verve, much of it coming through queer frontwoman Molly Siegel. The powerful vocals and charged performances will definitely have you dancing.

The National (Saturday, 8:40 PM) – This New York band was part of the Dark Was the Night compilation released last year for HIV/AIDS fundraising organization Red Hot. Two of the band members were producers of that album, which also featured a duet between Feist and Ben Gibbard and original recordings by Antony of Antony and the Johnsons, Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens and Yo La Teng

Grizzly Bear (Sunday, 7:25 PM) – The beautiful folk rock of Grizzly Bear will help close out the festival (right before The Flaming Lips rock it out). Led by openly gay Ed Droste, the band’s unique lyricism and understated melodies are essential listening.

by Jonathan Mathias

This past Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and the special day marking 40 years of activism for LGBT rights just happened to fall on the day of Chicago’s Pride Parade. Halsted Street was its usual calamitous self, chock full of drag queens, galavanting twinks in only underwear and seemingly more allies than ever. Stonewall’s anniversary combined with the past year’s surge of LGBT awareness and the perfect weather brought together all of the elements for one of the biggest and longest Pride Parades ever. Over 450,000 people lined the streets from Belmont and Halsted to Diversey and Sheridan, many cheering on the participants and administering whacks with wooden paddles provided by The Pleasure Chest. The parade showcased the diversity and breadth our community with 250 organizations marching, including Cul de sac Magazine, to a timeless soundtrack of the recently passed Michael Jackson’s hits.

Check out Jonathan’s full Pride photo essay on Flickr.