12.15 Pride Parade

3700 N. Halsted St. #2-S Chicago, IL 60613 773.975.0264 Editorial: boieditorial@aol.com Advertising: boiads@aol.com

EDITORIAL Mike Macharello: Publisher Rick Karlin: Editor

layout & design Titanium Graphics, Inc.

advertising Freddie: freddie@boiMAG.com Dave: dave@boiMAG.com National, Rivendell Media: sales@rivendellmedia.com

photographerS Eamonn Sexton Ken Brown, KAB Photography

COVER Photographer: Mauricio Zapata Model: Tumas Zarskus Stylist: Raul Redaggio

editorial contributors Gregg Shapiro, Parker Carr Sue Deaunym, Anita Taylor, Michael Elder

VIEW boiMAGazine ONLINE AT: www.boiMAG.com BOI Magazine, Inc. Š 2000−2015 All rights reserved

Letter to the

Publisher

Dear boiMAG, Just a concern and reminder to the community, especially with Pride and all the various street festivals, to play smart and maybe sober. Pride month is reportedly the most risky for all of us in the community.

Not just in how we play, but who and what we play with.

Make sure you know your status, get tested and be careful with how, who, and what you play with. I was the victim of a date-rape as I allowed myself to become intoxicated over IML weekend and get drugged and robbed.

I wish I would of found maybe a notice prior to IML in your publication, but I’m an adult and should of been more responsible in my own actions.

I’ve disclosed this information to a few people and it seems I’m not the only one to have been in this situation that weekend, either in the hotel or out at the sex clubs. It’s been difficult dealing with the shame and depression of this violent act.

After all, it’s not fun if we can’t be at the next festival or party, because we have to get a shot for infection or discover that we are HIV positive over what’s supposed to be fun.

I hope to find a notice in your magazine with the upcoming summer events or at least an article about the potential of date rape and gay men.

My own personal pain has become my purpose and if I can spare one other from this then I’ve succeeded.

Sincerely, (name withheld by publisher) Please read the following information>>

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Guess What: Drinking Too Much Isn’t Good For You “320,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 29 die from alcohol-related causes each year.”

It’s not unusual for friends to want to have a few drinks to celebrate or enjoy social occasions. But drinking to excess is another story. The harmful use of alcohol results in 2.5 million deaths each year. And 320,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 29 die from alcohol-related causes each year, about 9 percent of all deaths in that age group.

Men’s Health • Men who binge drink are more likely to have unprotected sex and multiple sex partners, increasing the risks of unintended pregnancy and STDs. How to prevent more than hangovers. (go to www.controltonight.com) • Men consistently have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women.

• Among drivers in fatal motor-vehicle traffic crashes, men are almost twice as likely as women to have been intoxicated.

How to get their keys without a fight. (go to www.controltonight.com) • Men are more likely than women to commit suicide, and more likely to have been drinking prior to committing suicide. How to talk to a friend who may be drinking too much. (go to www. controltonight.com) • Excessive alcohol use can result in impotence, infertility and reduction of male secondary sex characteristics such as facial and chest hair.

• Alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon in men.

Women’s Health • Women who binge drink are more likely to have unprotected sex and multiple sex partners, increasing the risks of unintended pregnancy and STDs.

Mixing Alcohol with Marijuana and Other Illegal Drugs

• Excessive drinking may disrupt menstrual cycling and increase the risk of infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and premature delivery.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and lead to birth defects.

Marijuana:

• The risk of cirrhosis and other alcohol-related liver diseases is higher for women than men.

• Excessive drinking may result in memory loss and shrinkage of the brain. Research suggests that women are more vulnerable than men to the brain damaging effects of excessive alcohol use, and the damage tends to appear with shorter periods of excessive drinking for women than for men.

• Studies have shown that women who drink excessively are at increased risk for damage to the heart muscle than men.

• Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon. The risk of breast cancer also increases as alcohol use increases.

Mixing Alcohol and Medications Mixing alcohol with certain medications can be dangerous, causing nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting or loss of coordination. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems and difficulties in breathing. In some cases, alcohol can make a medication less effective, or even toxic to your body. Combining alcohol with another central nervous system depressant (such as painkillers) can slow your heartbeat and breathing and may lead to death.

Don’t think the danger only applies to prescription medications, it can be equally dangerous to combine alcohol with many overthe-counter medications and even some herbal remedies. Many cough and cold medicines that don’t need a prescription can cause heart problems and trouble breathing if combined with alcohol.

As dangerous as it is to abuse illegal substances, combining them with alcohol increases the danger even more, and in some cases can be life-threatening:

Mixing marijuana with alcohol will result in much greater impairment than either drug used alone — meaning you are more liable to get injured or make bad decisions. Marijuana's tendency to reduce nausea and suppress the gag reflex can also make it difficult for someone with a toxic blood alcohol level to vomit, thus increasing the risk of alcohol poisoning.

Cocaine:

When people consume cocaine and alcohol together, they compound the danger of each drug and unknowingly perform a complex chemical experiment within their bodies.

Researchers have found that the human liver combines cocaine and alcohol to produce a third substance, cocaethylene, which increases the risk of sudden death15.

Sedatives:

Mixing alcohol with other barbiturates can be a lethal combination. An ordinary sedative dose of a barbiturate may combine with an ordinary intoxicating amount of liquor to leave behind a lethal dose of nerve-depressant alcohol.

Opiates:

Combining alcohol with opiates like heroin, opium, morphine, codeine or methadone enhances the sedative effects of both drugs and increases the risk of overdose.

Information provide by:

www.CONTROLTONIGHT.com boiMAG 11

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Flag

By Rick Karlin

You'll see it everywhere this weekend, but how did the rainbow flag come to be such an icon for the LGBT community?

The rainbow flag was popularized as a symbol of gay pride and diversity by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. It was originally created with eight colors, but pink and turquoise were removed for production purposes. The different colors not only symbolized the diversity in the gay community, each also holds its own significance (see the chart above).

“The rainbow is a part of nature and you have to be in the right place to see it,” Baker explains. “It’s beautiful, all of the colors, even the colors you can’t see. That really fit us as a people because we are all of the colors. Our sexuality is all of the colors.

We are all the genders, races and ages. It completely astounded me that people just got it, in an instant like a bolt of lightning – that this was their flag. It belonged to all of us. It was the most thrilling moment of my life. I knew right then that this was the most important thing I would ever do – that my whole life was going to be about the Rainbow Flag.”

Since then sub-sections of the LGBT community have adopted their own versions of the Pride flag.

The Leather Pride flag was created by artist Tony DeBlase and first displayed at the International Mr. Leather contest in 1989. The original prototype flag is now on display at the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago.

A few of Baker’s handmade Rainbow Flags were flown in the 1978 “Gay Freedom Day” Parade in San Francisco. Afterwards, Baker approached the Paramount Flag Company to mass produce the flags. Fuchsia flag fabric was not readily available, but Paramount began selling a seven-striped version, eliminating fuchsia and turquoise and inserting indigo.

The colors of the Bear Pride flag, created by Chris Byrnes, are meant to include the colors of the furs of animal bears throughout the world. Byrnes designed the flag as project for his undergraduate program in psychology. Unlike the other Pride flags, it is trademarked.

After the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and openly gay politician Harvey Milk, the flags were displayed on light poles along both sides of Market Street for the 1979 Gay Freedom Day Parade. The decision was made to split the colors onto two flags, flying each of the three-striped flags on alternate sides of the street. The indigo stripe was eliminated to make an even six colors, and flag production began. That six-striped rainbow flag was soon proudly flown outside many San Francisco homes and businesses.

The Transgender Pride flag features pale pink, white and baby blue stripes. Monica Helms, a trans activist living in Arizona, designed the flag several years ago. The Transsexual Pride flag consists of alternating pink and pale blue stripes, supposedly standing for both sexes, separated by thin white stripes. In the upper left corner the symbols for male and female are intertwined.

For more information about Pride flags, go to http://clarebayley.com/2013/06/a-fieldguide-to-pride-flags/. boiMAG 13

Ty Herndon Pride Parade Grand Marshal

By Gregg Shapiro

Country singer Ty Herndon, Grand Marshal for Chicago’s Pride Parade, began topping the country music charts nearly 20 years ago. Herndon's hits include "What Matters Most," "Living In A Moment," "It Must Be Love" and "Loved Too Much," to mention a few. He came out publicly as a gay man a week before Thanksgiving 2014. Now an out and proud gay man, with a partner of five years named Matty, Herndon is one of the LGBT artists in Nashville working to make the country music capital a safe and productive place for queer musicians and fans. I spoke with Ty about coming out, his career and more in late November 2014.

GS: How has the experience been so far?

TH: (Ty Herndon) I feel so incredibly blessed.

I have struggled with being gay my entire career and life. Of course, I've had so much support from my friends and close family that supported me, that knew I was gay. But it's been so freeing for the fans to know; the fans in country music, especially. They have really been supportive and awesome, 99% of the feedback from the fans and in Nashville has been incredibly supportive. I feel extremely happy. And I feel extremely excited about the future because, really, at the end of the day I just want to be authentic and continue to make great music.

GS: Prior to going public, did you consult with other out country artists, such as Brandy Clark or Chely Wright, before making your decision to come out?

TH: Chely and I have been friends for many years. Our paths are so similar in country music. We went to great lengths to hide the fact that we were gay. Five or so years ago when Chely came out, I was so incredibly blown away by her bravery and courage.

About six months later, we started talking about it. I didn't want her to be alone out there. It took a while for me to get my courage

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up, just to wrap my brain around it. I was really fearful about being able to continue working and doing my job, working 200 tour dates a year. That was my main fear. If I don't get to continue to do my job that I love, my passion, I don't know what I'd do.

GS: Shortly after coming out, Chely was invited to be the Grand Marshall at the Chicago Gay Pride Parade. What does it mean to you to be the Grand Marshal?

TH: I am so incredibly honored. Just to know that my LGBTQ brothers and sisters would welcome me.

GS: Do you see this as a potential domino effect or more of an anomaly in country music and Nashville?

TH: I think country music's growing up.

Nashville, in general, is growing up a lot now.

I credit Nashville a lot now. They're moving forward at a great pace.

GS: Finally, Ty, as same-gender marriage continues to make strides across the country, if you and your boyfriend Matty were to marry, to what song would you like to walk down the aisle?

TH: That's an easy question for me. There's a Rascal Flatts song "God Bless The Broken Road That Has Led Me Straight To You." That would be our wedding song. And if I had my wish, I would have my friend LeAnn Rimes come and sing it.

STONEWALL: ORIGINS of Gay Pride

By Rick Karlin On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, one of the most popular gay bars in NYC’s Greenwich Village. The Stonewall was a dive, owned and operated, as many gay bars were at the time, by the Mafia. Raids such as this one were not unusual in the late 1960s. At that time homosexuality was illegal in every state under sodomy laws (except Illinois which in 1961 became the first state to decriminalize sodomy and behavior by “consenting adults in private.).

Previous raids of the Stonewall Inn had resolved peacefully. Typically, after police made some arrests, the bar shut down, reopening for business just a few hours later. On that night however, patrons at the Stonewall resisted arrest and the police quickly lost control of the situation.

A crowd gathered on the street outside the Stonewall, forcing police to barricade themselves in the bar. Riot officers wearing helmets and armed with nightsticks descended on the scene. Protests and demonstrations lasted for the next six days.

The Stonewall Riots, as they came to be known, marked a major turning point in the modern gay civil rights movement in the United States and around the world.

In the late 1960s, homosexuality was still the classified by the American Psychiatric Association as a mental disorder. Gay men and lesbians were condemned by mainstream religions. The act of homosexual sex, even in private homes, was punishable by a light fine, imprisonment or commitment to a mental institution.

New York City was a city that aggressively enforced anti-sodomy laws. In the early 1960s, in an attempt to clean up the city for the upcoming World’s Fair, New York City’s Mayor Robert Wagner created police vice squads to raid gay bars and baths, and

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began using decoys to solicit and entrap gays.

"It was a nightmare for the lesbian or gay man who was arrested and caught up in the juggernaut but it was also a nightmare for the lesbians or gay men who lived in the closet, this produced an enormous amount of anger within the lesbian and gay community in New York City. Eventually something was bound to blow," said Yale Law School professor William Eskridge.

News coverage of the riots spread around the world and united the community that had seen what the advances civil rights protests of the early 1960s had achieved for the black community. Following in the path of the anti-war movement the gay community adopted a more “in your face” approach to fighting for equal rights. The following year, 1970, the first Gay Liberation Day March was held in New York City and a Gay Pride protest march was held in New York. Other cities also organized events, including Chicago.

That same year in Chicago protestors gathered at Bughouse Square, at Oak and Clark, on Saturday, June 27, 1970. The area had a history of free speech protests, but was also a cruising spot late at night. The plan was to march from the park to the Water Tower a few blocks away. Many of the participants extemporaneously marched on to the Civic Center (now Richard J. Daley) Plaza. .

Chicago Pride Month Calendar The calendar includes June Pride Month events, provided to the Pride Committee from representatives of the listed groups and organizations.

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"Pride Classic Ice Hockey Tournament" Chicago Gay Hockey Association at McFetridge Sports Center. www.chicagogayhockey.org Lakefront 5K run/walk and postparty benefit for Center on Halsted Senior Housing Center. www.iloveruns.com/pride-5k "12th Annual Back Lot Bash" women's festival (continues 26, 27 & 28). www.backlotbashchicago.com

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"Pride & Joy Reception" by Center on Halsted/Friends of the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame. www.glhalloffame. “LGBTQ Jewish Pride BBQ & Beach Service", Congregation Or Chadash, www.orchadash.org Chicago Dyke March, go to Chicago Dyke March's Facebook page for more information.

34th annual "Proud to Run" 10K run & 5K run/walk www.proudtorun.org "Annual Pride Liturgy" by Dignity/Chicago at Broadway United Methodist Church

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46th Annual Pride Parade www.ChicagoPrideCalendar.org

"Welcoming You Home" 15th Anniversary of Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches at Lakeview Presbyterian Church, www.lakeviewpresbyterian.org

Black Pride celebration, for a complete listing, see "In The Know, On The Go" on pg. 61 or www.windycityblackpride.info

"Pride North� on Glenwood Avenue between Lunt and Farwell in Rogers Park

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"Salute to LGBT Veterans" by the American Veterans for Equal Rights at Daley Plaza www.averchicago.org

On-going

"Late Nite Catechism" runs at

Royal George Theatre, use code

word, "PRIDE" for half-priced

tickets. www.nuns4fun.

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Be A Spectator, Not a Spectacle!

Tips For A Safe & Happy PRIDE

Due to complaints by both area residents and those attending the parade, the Chicago Police Department is going to strictly enforce the ban on drinking alcoholic beverages on the street. Keep your cool, respect your neighbors and everybody will have a good time. The Pride Parade committee has issues the following tips for parade spectators.

1. Alcohol consumption should NOT take place along the parade route. Open containers containing alcoholic beverages are illegal on the streets and sidewalks. You will be subject to receiving a costly ticket ($1,000) from the Chicago Police Department. The ordinance was updated this year with higher fines and penalties. Instead, bring plenty of bottled water and sun screen and dress lightly!

2. Public urination is also grounds to receive a ticket. Portable rest rooms are placed along parade route.

3. Starting time: The parade steps off at 12 Noon. Arrive early to find a good spot.

4. Parking in the area is limited, so walk, take public transportation, or if you must drive, then car pool. For CTA/PACE/Metra transit information, www. transitchicago.com or www. metrarail.com. Spectators are advised to consider making use of Red line el stations including Sheridan Road, Wilson Avenue or Addison Street (the Belmont stop becomes extremely over crowded on parade day).

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5. The parade route will be lined with iron barricades. Spectators will be required to stand behind the barricades, not in the street.

6. The streets where pedestrians may cross from one side of the parade route to the other side include: Montrose, Irving Park, Addison, Grace, Roscoe and Wellington.

7. Since the number of spectators has increased dramatically in recent years on Halsted Street, spectators are being advised to try other sections of the parade route to view the parade (on Broadway north of Irving Park).

8. Spectators must wait until parade participants come to the sidelines to hand out items. Parade participants are not allowed to hand out items to spectators who are standing on sidewalks in the assembly area. No high powered water rifles are allowed.

9. Keep the neighborhood clean by using trash barrels provided along the route.

10. Physically challenged/wheelchair accessible and senior area is provided.

For more information, go to: wwwchicagopridecalendar.org.

END YOUR NIGHT RIGHT, NOT PASSED OUT AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF!

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PARADE FACT SHEET

By Rick Karlin

Chicago's Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade takes place on Sunday, June 28 and starts at Broadway & Montrose at noon

Parade line up

Broadway (both the east and the west curb lanes, from Montrose to Wilson); Montrose (both the north and south curb lanes from Broadway to Clark) and Sunnyside from Broadway to Sheridan.

Route

The parade steps off from the Broadway/Montrose corner, proceeds south on Broadway; then south on Halsted; east on Belmont; south on Broadway; east on Diversey to Lincoln.

Contingents

The parade will feature 200 registered entries including floats, decorated vehicles, performance groups, a marching band and walking contingents.

Spectators

Spectators will be required to remain behind the barricades. Police officers and parade marshals will be stationed at various points on the street in front of the barricades along the parade route.

Bring plenty of bottled water, sunscreen and a hat or other head covering, and dress lightly because parade day is usually hot and sunny. NO PUBLIC ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION: penalties include, but are not limited to, $1000 fine.

Street Closures/ Parking Restrictions Both the Assembly Area and Parade Route (listed above) will be posted with temporary signs indicating “NO PARKING ON SUNDAY JUNE 28, 2015, FROM 5:00 AM TO 8:00 PM. - Both sides of the street.�

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The following streets, including the parade staging area and will be closed.

Montrose - Greenview to Hazel Broadway - Leland to Grace Sunnyside - Broadway to Sheridan Halsted - Grace to Belmont Belmont - Sheffield to Broadway Broadway - Belmont to Diversey Diversey - Broadway to Sheridan Cannon - Diversey to Fullerton Addison - 736 W. Addison to Sheffield Waveland - Halsted to Broadway Grace - Halsted to Fremont Clifton from Montrose to Sunnyside Cross streets will close as the parade travels south down the route. After stepping off at noon the parade will take approximately two and one-half hours to finish crossing the Broadway & Montrose corner. After this time, the floats will still be winding their way to the end of the parade route at Diversey & Sheridan. This year there will NOT be a buffer zone on Halsted after the parade ends. Police will work to re-open the streets to vehicular traffic as soon as cleaning crews are finished. Cooling Buses will be located on; Halsted, south of Belmont, Irving Park between Clark and Broadway, Addison, west of Halsted and Belmont, east of Broadway.

Additional Parking Restrictions

There will be additional parking restrictions on Sunnyside between Broadway and Sheridan.

Towing begins at 5 a.m. Due to the volume of vehicles involved; the issuing of parking violation citations and towing will start at 5 a.m. promptly.

For more information go to www.ChicagoPrideCalendar.org.

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QMUSIC The Sound of Solo

By Gregg Shapiro

The Brian Wilson biopic "Love & Mercy", featuring an Oscar-worthy performance

by Paul Dano as the younger Wilson,is in theaters and that’s what makes the release of No Pier Pressure, Wilson’s first new studio album of original material since 2008’s The Lucky Old Sun, so interesting. As with almost every one of Wilson’s solo discs, for the most part No Pier Pressure sounds great, if somewhat dated/out-of touch.

Wilson remains a studio master, which makes the weakness of the lyrics so frustrating. Opening track “This Beautiful Day” comes in like a gentle wave, but “Runaway Dancer” (featuring Sebu) sounds like an outtake from Paul McCartney’s disco experiments. Guest collaborations, such as She & Him (“On The Island,” Mark Isham (the instrumental “Half Moon Bay”) and “Saturday Night” featuring fun.’s Nate Ruess, are definite sunny spots.

On his latest solo effort, Carry The Fire, Dustin Kensrue, of the screamo outfit Thrice, continues to put some distance between himself and his post-hardcore roots. In fact, he doesn’t come close to rocking out until the aptly titled “Death Or Glory.” “What Beautiful Things” is also suitably named and “Of Crows and Crowns” is similarly stunning.

Fans of ska-punk act Dance Hall Crashers will surely recognize the name and voice of Karina Deniké. Under Glass, Deniké’s solo disc is a wonderful surprise on which the singer gets the chance to show off her amazing vocal abilities. Exercising her diva muscles, and incorporating an array of musical influences, Deniké shines on song such as “Anchors Away,” “Musée Mécanique”

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(from which the disc gets its title), “Boxing Glove,” “Havin’ a Go,” and the a cappella “You’re So Quiet.”

Martin Gore of Depeche Mode goes

by MG for his new Mute Records album of experimental electronic music. Don’t approach this expecting Avicii or Guetta or Skrillex. This is ambient electronic where the opportunities for dancing are few and far between. However, when the beats do fall into place, as on “Brink” and “Crowly,” you might not be able to sit still.

Chris Stamey has spent more time as a solo artist than as the member of a band. But when he was in a band, what a band it was. The db’s were pioneers in the college rock realm, releasing essential jangle pop albums and classic singles such as “Amplifier.” As a record producer, Stamey has worked with queer acts such as Le Tigre, Kaia, Tami Hart, The Butchies and Michael Stipe.

Stamey’s new album Euphoria draws on all of his strengths and includes appealing songs such as “Invisible,” “Where Does The Time Go?,” the East Indian-influenced “Awake In The World,” the beautiful “You Are Beautiful,” and the bonus track cover of Tommy James and The Shondells’ “Draggin’ The Line.”

While everyone else in this column has stepped out on their own, Graham Parker, who has been a solo act throughout most of the 1980s to the present day, has reunited with his core band The Rumour on Mystery Glue.

Parker may no longer be the angry young pub/punk rocker that he was almost 40 years ago, but that doesn’t mean that he’s lost his edge. He’s still venting on songs such as “Swing State,” “Slow News Day” and “My Life In Movieland.” What’s especially notable here is the way Parker incorporates all the various musical styles he’s dabbled in over the course of his lengthy career, including R&B (“Wall of Grace,” “I’ve Done Bad Things”), country (“Going There,” “Transit of Venus”) and new wave (“Swing State”).

Motor Mouth Pride Rides

By Parker Carr

as a kid to see my first Pride Parade, was the float for Gay Chicago Magazine.

At that time Gay Chicago was the only pocket-sized entertainment guide and their float was a choo-choo train much liked you’d see at a children’s amusement park. The banner on the train said “The Little Magazine That Could”. The fact that it broke down and never finished the parade didn’t bother me, it just meant I got to watch them try to fix it.

I think it might have been the start of my fixation on vehicles (and men dancing in their underwear). I also loved the giant Jewel shopping cart that was in the parade for a few years.

Fiat was the lead sponsor for the Motor City Pride Parade on June 7. Thenew 2016 Fiat 500X, with a rainbow wrapping, served as the grand marshal of the Motor City Pride parade leading many of Michigan’s 300 same-sex couples, who married on March 22, 2014. The driving force behind the company’s sponsorship was its LGBT Employee Resource Group: the Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA).

Fiat put out a statement that it was doing so to celebrate its longstanding commitment to LGBT employees, communities, customers and issues for its fourth consecutive year. Fiat was among the first auto manufacturer to offer domestic partnership benefits, has scored 100% on the HRC Corporate Equality Index nine times (the only automaker to consistently do so).

Seeing this in the news made me think of some of my favorite vehicles in Chicago’s Pride Parade. One of my favorites, when my “guncle” took me

Here are a few Pride Parade staples and a couple of vehicles I wish would make an appearance in the Pride Parade.

My Favorite Pride Parade Vehicles 1.

Vintage Convertibles – you can’t have a parade without vintage convertibles, it doesn’t matter the make, model or year, they still set this gearhead’s heart a’flutter, especially if there’s a sexy man in it.

2.

Dykes on Bikes –they’re loud, they’re proud and it wouldn’t be a Pride Parade without them.

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>> Continued from previous page

A

7.

3.

Chicago Police Car Decorated for Pride – if Miami and Toronto can do it, so can we.

Hot, Sweaty, Naked Men on a Float – it doesn’t matter what they’re representing, I’m just happy to see them.

8.

Anything Covered in a Rainbow'cause it brings out my inner tween girl.

4.

Barbie's Jeep – I know you shouldn’t drink and drive, but I just love the idea of grown men driving Barbie’s toy jeep, if I can’t get that I’ll take a full sized one.

And now, for some vehicles I’d like to see in Chicago’s Pride Parade: 9.

5.

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile - c’mon the parade is one big sausagefest, why not make it official?

6.

High HeelMobile – FiFi DePrave makes the front page of the papers every year, so she deserves a vehicle fit for a queen.

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Leather Daddies in a Pink Convertible – just because.

10.

Big Gay Ice Cream Truck – it’s an actual truck in NYC, it should be the last one in the parade so we can all run up and get a Popsicle after the parade.

FIT TIPS

POsterior Love

The TRX Reverse Fly

By Michael Elder

Far too often I see people in the gym putting most of their focus on the anterior side of their body: pecs, abs, biceps, etc. There is nothing wrong with training these muscle groups unless, of course, it comes at the expense of training the posterior side of the body. I find this to be especially true when it comes to shoulder training.

Of the three main deltoid muscles, the rear deltoid tends to be by far the most neglected.

In order to achieve a body that is fully strengthened, it is extremely important to balance out the front with the back. Doing so will help to prevent faulty posture as well as muscular imbalances.

The TRX Reverse Fly is an excellent exercise for training the posterior deltoid as well as the muscles of the upper back.

These are typically the muscles that become weakened by faulty posture, which is makes this exercise even more valuable.

If you are looking to shake up your workout, give this one a try- you’ll like it! And remember, it’s not just about what’s going in front. Show some love to the posterior side as well.

To perform the exercise: •

Face the TRX. With a slight angle towards the ground, start out holding the TRX handles with your arms extended.

•

Slowly pull the handles away from your body on both sides while keeping your arms straight, so that the top of the repetition, your arms form a “Y” or a “T”.

•

The steeper the angle of your body to the ground, the harder this exercise becomes. This is a tough exercise, so you don’t need to create much of an angle. Your body can be nearly upright when you start the exercise.

As always with the TRX, your abs and glutes should be contracted with your belly button drawn inward toward your spine. This will ensure that you are getting a core workout at the same time.

Michael Elder has been working as a fitness professional in Chicago for the last fifteen years. He comes from a background in gymnastics and is certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He can be contacted directly through his website, www.MichaelElder.com. boiMAG 57

Eat With Boys

By Gregg Shapiro

In "Eat With Me", Emma is in a dead end marriage to Ray. Ray is thoughtless, a loud snorer, and when he uses a wire cutter to cut off his too-tight wedding band, Emma has had enough. She packs a suitcase and shows up at the restaurant where her and Ray’s hot gay son Elliot is the cook and boss. The restaurant, serving average Chinese food, was left to Elliot by his late uncle and he feels obligated to keep it going, in spite of being six months behind on the mortgage.

Elliot makes room for Emma in his L.A. condo, but they have an oil and water relationship. Elliot claims to have a system to the clutter in his house, but neat-freak Emma can’t help but straighten it up. Elliot cooks all day at the restaurant and prefers to dine out, at food trucks, for example, when he’s hungry. Emma likes the tacos they have at one such food truck, but can’t resist cooking him an incredible breakfast.

One taste of Emma’s cooking reminds Elliot of her culinary acumen. But their relationship is still strained due to Emma’s inability to come to terms with Elliot being gay. Elliot’s busybody neighbor Maureen attempts to help Emma be a better and more accepting mother.

Meanwhile, Elliot, who has trouble maintaining a long-term relationship, meets musician Ian. There is potential and spark, but Elliot’s insistence on proceeding with caution could jeopardize everything. Writer/direction David Au adds enough of his own ingredients (Emma’s accidental acid trip, words of wisdom from George Takei) to a fairly predictable recipe, making

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Eat With Me easy to digest. DVD bonus features include outtakes, a behind-thescenes featurette and more.

Talk about a nightmare scenario. In "Eastern Boys", Ukrainian hustlers peddle their wares in the vicinity of Paris’ Gare du Nord train station.

Positioning themselves for optimal viewing, one, Marek, catches the eye of well-to-do businessman Daniel and an assignation is arranged for €50.

Daniel is unaware that it is a set-up and his home, full of expensive computer equipment and art is pillaged by a band of thieves, headed by cruel Russian ringleader/pimp Boss. As erotic as it is agonizing, the sequence, which includes dancing (!), goes on for almost 20 minutes. The next morning, with his flat basically emptied of his possessions, Daniel attempts to proceed normally, even leaving money and a note for his housekeeper, who is left to clean up the mess.

Marek, whose real name is Rouslan, turns out to be a hooker with a heart of gold. He comes to see Daniel alone.

He offers him an apology and then his body, for a price, of course. Thus begins an unexpected, and not entirely unbelievable, relationship between the two men. First, it’s all business and then it slowly morphs into something else. That is, until Boss finds out and proceeds to make Rouslan’s life difficult, leaving it to Daniel to make a safe place for Rouslan to live.

Longer than it needs to be, Eastern Boys is, nevertheless, a welcome addition to the queer film library. In English, French, Russian and Ukrainian with English subtitles, the DVD contains no bonus material.

Chicago's

in the know ... ON THE GO!

By Sue Deaunym

Last Minute Pride Info

Sidetrack is kicking off Pride weekend on Friday by giving away tix to Lollapalooza. Sidetrack is my favorite place to watch the parade on Sidetrack’s live streaming video. Air conditioned, cocktails readily available (and you know the cops are cracking down on outdoor drinks this year) and clean bathrooms. What more could a gal want?... CRAM it! CRAM is hosting a cocktail party reception cum fashion show on June 28…

Dance ‘til you drop at Hydrate as they bring in top DJs for Pride weekend, and top it off on Sunday with a 17-hour dance party with its homeboy DJs...The “Testostérone” party from Montréal comes to Chicago Saturday, June 27 at Jackhammer… Manhole is holding a "beach" party on Friday and celebrating Shane Steel's birthday on Saturday.

Black Pride

This year’s Chicago Black Pride celebration,

taking place 4th of July Weekend, is the biggest ever. It starts on Friday with a special “Urbano” party at Circuit. Then tons of parties explode on Saturday, July 4 including two daytime gigs, at Coup de Tot and the Esteem Awards at Sidetrack from 2-5. That night things really heat up with “Black Party” at Metro with Kenya Moore from “Real Housewives of Atlanta” performing live, a second “Urbano” at Circuit and “White Party” at Joe’s on Weed. Special Black Pride parties are being held on Saturday at Downtown Bar, Conservatory Lofts and Club Escape. The weekend winds up with “Party in the Park” on Sunday at Rainbow Beach. But wait, it’s not over yet, on Monday Hydrate has special guest performers for its drag show.

Just When You Thought This Summer Couldn’t Get Any Hotter

Circuit Mom’s doing it again! Matt and his gang of accomplices are teaming up with Revolution to bring us “Rise of the Villains” at the House of Blues on Aug. 8…. Sunday, July 5 slip on your sexiest boots and head to Kit Kat for a Kinky Boots themed brunch… Touche is going "Red,

White & Bear" for the 4th of July weekend, with a "Full Moon" party on the 2nd...

Neighborhood fests in July include Windy City Ribfest in Uptown on 3-5, Taste of Lincoln Ave. the 11-12 and Southport's Art and Music Fest the 18-19.

It’s Finally Happened

The LG has been dropped from the alphabet soup that is our community. Gerber Hart’s hosting what it calls a “July BTQ Book Discussion Group” focusing on “The Voices of Bisexual Men. For more info and to find out why gays and lesbians aren’t included go to www.gerberhart.org.

Stage Notes

Friday, July 10 Ginger Minj brings “Crossdresser For Christ: The Musical” to Park West. The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” favorite stars in a hilarious off-Broadway musical…

Advice columnist, and now playwright, Dan Savage will be at Mary’s Attic, Thursday, July 9 for a post-show discussion of Hell in A Handbag’s production of his play, “Miracle!”.

BTW, I’ve seen pics from Handbag’s upcoming Bette Midler themed show and it promises to be another great hit. It’s got the Divine Caitlyn Jackson as the Divine Miss M and boys in towels! How can it miss?... The NeoFuturists presents its annual Pride weekend performances of “Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind: 30 Plays in 60 Minutes” that combines queer and gender binary-smashing plays from the past with new work to benefit The Crib at The Night Ministry. The show runs Thursday through Sunday… ”Porcelain”, an examination of a young Asian gay man’s crime of passion, is at the Greenhouse Theater… “The Who and the What” about a Pakistani-American writer is at Victory Gardens Theater… “Bent” is presented by The Other Theatre Company at Strawdog Theatre…

“Queen Amarantha”, a play by Charles Busch, is at City Lit Theatre Company… About Face’s “Abraham Lincoln was a F*gg*t” continues at the Greenhouse Theater.

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