Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association
Since its inception in 1989, OPALGA has become one of the largest community based, multipurpose lesbian and gay membership organizations in Illinois.
OPALGA Annual Meeting Set for November 18
Do you feel like getting together with some friends and talking over the election results? Looking for some low-cost (that is, free) food and refreshments instead of cooking dinner? Want to explore a great piece of Oak Park architecture? Well, OPALGA can allow you to become the ultimate multitasker and do all of these things at once. Join us on Tuesday, November 18, at Unity Temple (875 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301) for our Annual Meeting.
Starting at 7:00 p.m., this free meeting is always a great way to keep up with what is going on in our organization. In addition to telling you some of the things that we have been up to, we will share some plans for the future. And, our election results will be announced, so you will see the individuals who will be working on your behalf in the coming twelve months.
Mark your calendars now and plan to join us on November 18 for a great evening of food, drink, and conversation. Did we tell you that it’s free? Just call Jan at The OPALGA Center at 708-848-0273 to RSVP as soon as possible so that we know how many people will be there. We hope to see you on the 18th.
YYAAC Convened!
OPALGA’s youth committee has now been reinvigorated. We have tried to match the name to the groups we serve, so we are now known as the Youth and Young Adult Advisory Committee (YYAAC). The committee includes some OPALGA old-timers, some current active members, and some youth representatives. Our task is to provide ideas, suggestions, and help in planning very important programs for youth and young adults. We are excited about current plans to sustain the program, add HIV counseling and testing at different venues, and develop various education approaches.
If you are interested in participating, drop an e-mail to Nathan Linsk (nathanlinsk@yahoo.com) or to Jim Aull (jim@chicagoyouthcenters.org).
Message from the Co-Chairs
Elsewhere in this issue, you will have noticed an article discussing OPALGA’s upcoming Annual Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, November 18, at Oak Park’s Unity Temple. This meeting, which is provided for in our bylaws, has as its purpose “to review and evaluate the past year’s activities, to formulate ideas for the coming year, to announce the results of elections, and to set organizational priorities and goals.” We want to extend an invitation to all members to attend this meeting and find out what is going on at OPALGA. The event is free to our members, and hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. In addition, the Annual Meeting gives you a great opportunity to see some friends and have a great time. This year, we will have the added enjoyment of discussing the just-completed presidential election, which promises some stimulating discussion. Give yourself a midweek break, call a friend, and make plans to join us on the 18th for a most enjoyable evening. We hope to see you there.
One of the stated purposes of this meeting is to announce the results of our annual elections. As usual, there has been a committee working behind the scenes to make all of this possible. From drafting all of the documents to actually calling up prospective candidates and urging them to run, their job is often thankless, but it is one of the most important things we do all year. Please join us in giving a huge thank-you to this year’s Nominating Committee, which is composed of Susan Anderson, Kim Hefner, Jim Kelly, Dan Salotti, and Davida Williams. They have done an absolutely fantastic job, and we are all grateful for their time and effort.
Last month in Empower, we published an outline form of the 2008–2010 Strategic Plan, which is currently being used by the Board of Directors as a guide for the future. As with any strategic plan, it is only a guideline, and then the Board makes its decisions as to specific action steps it wants to take in order to implement the plan. As you might have noticed, the plan is divided into four main thematic areas: Membership, Programming, Structure, and Finance. Each of these areas is a major concentration for the Board, and we are currently looking at different aspects of all four as we strive to keep OPALGA moving to the next level. For example,
• In Membership, we want to make your membership one of value and relevance, and we are examining all aspects of how this can be improved;
• Within the area of Programming, we constantly plan and evaluate different programs so that we can make certain they are diverse, well-attended, and innovative;
• Our focus in Structure is that of making certain that our organization is both effective and efficient, and currently we are moving toward hiring our first Executive Director, which will have a dramatic impact on all areas of OPALGA; and,
• Finally, the Finance area needs attention so that we take all steps necessary to assure the financial viability and growth of OPALGA.
One of the first tasks of the newly elected Officers and Directors will be to schedule a Board Retreat so that we can take a close look at this plan together and map out our direction for the coming year. Our purpose in publishing the outline form of the plan was to give you, our members, a close look at the document so that you might understand what we are planning in the future. As always, we welcome your input and invite you to submit any questions, ideas, or other suggestions to our attention at The Center.
With all of the problems going on around us, and particularly with the economy, it is often easy to lose sight of all that we do have. On behalf of the Board of Directors, please accept our best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. May you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday.
HIV Testing—A Personal View
The availability of HIV testing through OPALGA began in April of this year. Since that time, we have tested 48 people. Of those, three have tested HIV+. Although providing HIV tests is new to OPALGA, it is not to me. Prior to my work at OPALGA, I was an HIV counselor at Children’s Memorial Medical Center, where I worked with women and children. Although working at OPALGA and providing much-needed HIV prevention education is a crucial service in our community, I had forgotten how much I enjoy HIV counseling and testing.
Through this program, we are being given the opportunity to provide targeted risk reduction counseling and to work on a prevention plan that is individually tailored to each client we serve. When we give positive test results to a client, it is certainly a challenge, but we also know that we have given information that may save lives. Hector Salgado and I have been able to connect with people in the community to bring them a service to which they may otherwise not have access. HIV testing is free and anonymous, and results are received in 20 minutes.
According to a report from the Cook County Department of Public Health, from 2001–2005, 99 Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) were diagnosed HIV+ in West Suburban Cook County, which includes the Oak Park area. Of these men, 30 were Caucasian, 27 were Hispanic, 39 were African American, 1 was Asian, 1 was Native American, and 1 was unknown.
Knowledge is power in the fight against HIV.
OPALGA tests in the community, at bars, and at The OPALGA Center. If you have an event or group who would like testing, you can contact us to set up an appointment. If you would like an individual test, we can schedule an appointment at The Center. We are also available to talk about whether or not you need a test. For more information, please call us at 708-386-3463.
November Coffeehouse to Feature OUTspoken
The November coffeehouse will feature OUTspoken, OPALGA’s creative group for young adults from the ages of 18–25. The group focuses on individual creativity, using creative writing, poetry, acting, original art, and other forms of expression, all in an accepting environment that encourages group members to express themselves, grow, and have fun.
The coffeehouse will be held on Friday, November 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the Barrie Center, 1011 S. Lombard Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304. Join us for the always-popular OUTspoken and watch these creative minds at work! As always, the coffeehouse is free of charge and open to the public thanks to the support of the Oak Park Area Arts Council.
Recipe Corner
Several years ago, OPALGA talked about putting together a cookbook containing our members’ favorite recipes. Now, in anticipation of our organization’s 20th anniversary, we have decided that the time is right for this tasty project!
Talk to your family, your friends, and your neighbors to find those recipes that you really enjoy and want to share with other OPALGA members. Please feel free to submit any of your favorite recipes, and be sure to give a credit for the originator of the recipe, if applicable.
All recipes should be submitted to jeziebarth@comcast.net. Please include the word “RECIPE” in your subject line, and be sure to attach your recipe to the e-mail as a Microsoft Word document. Thank you!
In the meantime, we plan to publish a few of the recipes that we have already received in upcoming issues of Empower. Bon appétit!
Italian African Sausage
Submitted by Jim Boushay and Rickey Sain
2 lbs. hot Italian sausage
½ c. light brown sugar, loosely packed
4 tbsp. tarragon vinegar
3 tbsp. honey
4 tbsp. Dijon mustard
4 tbsp. soy sauce
splash of water
cayenne pepper to taste (optional)
Sauté sausage until lightly browned. Place in baking pan.
Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour over sausage.
Bake uncovered in a preheated 350-degree oven for one hour.
Madonna Rocks the United Center
Even the warnings about the high winds hitting Chicago on Sunday, October 26, were no match for the high-octane energy that was supplied by Madonna at the first of her two shows at the United Center. Although she turned 50 in August, and recently filed for divorce from her husband Guy Ritchie, one would never know that anything was amiss from her latest Chicago performance. The LGBT community turned out in droves for the show, and it is a safe bet to say that none of them left disappointed.
For the uninitiated, a Madonna show is much more than just a concert—she mixes her songs with amazing dancing, striking visual imagery, extensive use of the latest video technology, and dazzling theatrical staging. Beginning with her “Drowned World” tour in 2001, she has divided her shows into four separate arcs, usually with an overriding theme to each. For this year’s “Sticky and Sweet” tour, she chose the themes of Pimp, Old School (80’s New York), Gypsy, and Rave. Proving once again why she is a one-word phenomenon, she turned each of these arcs into a separate mini-concert.
To open the show, Madonna chose the Pimp arc to let the crowd know that this was going to be a night where they were on their feet the entire time. She chose the title track from her latest CD “Candy Shop” as the opening number and followed this with “The Beat Goes On,” another high-energy dance tune. Part of her stage set was a runway out into the middle of the arena, which she used at least once an arc, and often with multiple numbers. It was out here that she did a modern version of her hit “Human Nature” (including the talked-about Britney video that ended with “It’s Britney, bitch”
, which she followed with yet another different version of “Vogue.” Part of what is so incredible about Madonna’s show is that a song as huge as “Vogue” would simply be another number in the show, while so many other artists would have to rely on that as a signature closing number. That is what happens with so many No. 1 hits!
Madonna has always been about dancing, and so she returned to her roots in Old School (80’s New York) for her next segment. She used the video screens so concertgoers could see a version of “Die Another Day” and then kicked it up a notch or two. Taking the stage to a gigantic Keith Haring backdrop and twelve dancers, she performed “Into the Groove” and “Heartbeat” to roars from the crowd. To anyone who wonders how she stays in the shape she is in, he or she only has to attend a concert to find out. In addition to all of her constant dancing and prancing around, she jumped rope (including some double Dutch!) as part of this section. After doing a punk rock version of “Borderline,” she then segued into “She’s Not Me” and “Music.” Again, it is incredible that a song as big as “Music” is just another number to her.
The sellout crowd had been roaring all evening, but it only got louder as she moved into her Gypsy arc. Using a video segment to introduce it, she urged people to vote and save the planet. She of course had McCain’s picture in with the “bad guys,” while making sure her “good guys” section included our own Oprah and ended with Barack. Unfortunately, she didn’t treat the Chicago crowd to one of her anti-Sarah Palin rants! This section began on the runway with “Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You” and moved into an incredible “Spanish Lesson” that featured eight of her dancers as monks dressed in hooded black robes. After a moving “Miles Away” that left no doubt as to whom she wrote this song about, she performed a flamenco-type version of “La Isla Bonita” that also featured a sampling of “Lela Pala Tele.” To the utter delight of everyone, she then wrapped up the arc with “You Must Love Me,” where she toned down the instrumentation and let everyone hear why Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the song especially for her for the film Evita.
Madonna wrapped up the show with Rave, and while the younger generation might have expected the noun, one has to use the verb to describe this arc. After a video opening of “Get Stupid,” she delivered (with the help of Justin Timberlake on video screens) a full-throttle version of her recent megahit “4 Minutes.” Although there was no need, she exhorted “Chi-town” to jump, and one would have thought that the United Center might not survive the pounding it was taking from 20,000 people jumping up and down. After going into “Like a Prayer” and “Ray of Light,” she then did a few lines of “Beautiful Stranger” before moving into “Hung Up.” Again, the rapid succession of these huge hits was almost mind-boggling, but there was no time to reflect yet as she closed her show with “Give It to Me.” As the giant video screens then proclaimed “GAME OVER,” the crowd left the arena to a prerecorded “Holiday” playing in the background.
Yes, another Madonna concert had come and gone, but the recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame proved again why she belongs there. One of the hardest-working entertainers gave the crowd all she had, and those two hours of memories would hold them over until her next tour.
Chicago Lesbian & Gay Film Fest to Hold Two Events in Oak Park
Reeling 2008: The Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival begins this month. As the second-oldest LGBT film festival in the world, Reeling continues to push boundaries and keep its programming fresh by presenting work from multiglobal perspectives and in genres ranging from insightful experimental to romantic comedy. Reeling 2008 will screen approximately 70 independent films over 11 days, from November 6–16, 2008.
This year, there will be two events in Oak Park. Both events will take place at the Velvet Rope, 728 W. Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301.
C’mon Get Happy Party
Saturday, November 8, 11:00 p.m.
A whole lotta fun is what we’ll be bringing—all you have to bring is yourself and your friends! Mark Payne, world-renowned female impersonator and make-up artist, will be performing at the Velvet Rope, a chic ultra lounge in Oak Park. We will also be screening Payne’s colorful, coming-of-age musical short, Get Happy. Enjoy the entertainment, watch music videos, and eat appetizers while drinking Blue Moon Beer and Three Olives Vodka cocktails with your two-drink tickets.
Steamy Friends & Lovers After-Party
Friday, November 14, 11:00 p.m.
Join us for a steamy after-party with the directors (and maybe some surprise stars!) of Steam and Friends & Lovers and indulge in tasty appetizers at the posh club, the Velvet Rope. Thirsty? No sweat! With two-drink tickets good for Blue Moon Beer and Three Olives Vodka cocktails, plus live music, karaoke, and Rock Reeling music videos on the screen, you’re sure to be in high spirits.
For more information about the film festival and to buy tickets, visit http://www.reelingfilmfestival.org For more information about the Velvet Rope, visit http://www.velvetropeoakpark.com.
Book Club Announces New Selections
At the October meeting of the OPALGA book club, the group decided on their selections for the next several months.
Note that the book club will not meet in December because of the holidays.
We encourage anyone who loves to read to join us for the upcoming meetings of the book club. The discussions are informal and enjoyable, and we always have a lot of laughs. So, if you want to find out what you’ve been missing, check out the OPALGA book club!
Following are our upcoming selections:
November 16 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
A young Indian on a reservation wants to become a comic author.
December 21 No meeting because of the holidays.
January 18, 2009 J.D. Salinger Duo!
The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
The influential and widely acclaimed story details the two days in the life of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield after he has been expelled from prep school. Confused and disillusioned, he searches for truth and rails against the “phoniness” of the adult world.
and
Franny and Zooey (1961)
Franny is an intellectually precocious late adolescent who tries to attain spiritual purification by obsessively reiterating the “Jesus prayer” as an antidote to the perceived superficiality and corruptness of life. Her older brother, Zooey, attempts to heal Franny by pointing out that her constant repetition of the “Jesus prayer” is as self-involved and egotistical as the egotism against which she rails.
February 15, 2009 The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
A young social worker and survivor of a near-rape stumbles across photographs taken by a formerly homeless client and tries to understand how a man who had taken snapshots of celebrities might have wound up on the streets.
Out and Proud Book Tour Stops by Oak Park
On Saturday, October 11, we had a very enjoyable National Coming Out Day at Borders in Oak Park. The reason for the gathering was to celebrate the recent publication of the first full-length history of the LGBT community in Chicago, Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City’s Gay Community. Published as a companion piece to the WTTW public television documentary aired earlier this year, and to the Web site http://www.ChicagoGayHistory.org, Out and Proud in Chicago spans our LGBT history from the prairie settlement to the present.
Participating in the panel discussion were:
• Tracy Baim, publisher and executive editor of the Windy City Media Group
• Marie Kuda, prominent local LGBT historian and writer
• Mel Wilson, a cofounder of OPALGA and longtime Oak Park activist and writer
• Ron Dorfman, a founder of the pioneering Chicago Journalism Review and veteran writer and editor
Also in the audience was John Cepek, National President of PFLAG. John spoke about the PFLAG National project Straight for Equality, which is an initiative to help the straight community find ways to support their LGBT friends and colleagues in everyday, easy ways.
Tracy, editor of the book, spoke about its genesis and the unbelievable speed (about six weeks) with which it was put together. If you look at this book, as I have been doing, you will be amazed at the wealth of information that Tracy and her team of contributors were able to produce in such a short amount of time. Tracy also reminded us that 10 years have passed since the brutal torture and subsequent death of Matthew Shepard.
Marie talked about what National Coming Out Day means to her, and Mel, who had a very different kind of coming out story, talked about the early days of activism in Oak Park, “Not,” he said, “to build a separate community, but to empower the community.” Finally, Ron read his piece on the 1911 Chicago Vice Commission, whose job was to eradicate “sex perversion” and “sodomy, or other crimes against nature.”
It was truly an interesting and informative discussion, and our thanks to Tracy, Marie, Mel, Ron, and John for “bringing the show on the road.” Signed copies of the book are available at Borders, and Marie has donated a copy to The OPALGA Center library.
