Jim Parsons Lessons learned from 'Boys' - by Chris Azzopardi, Page 14 - Dallas Voice
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Jim Parsons Lessons learned from ‘Boys’ by Chris Azzopardi, Page 14
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate
MJ Hegar
★ MJ Hegar
U.S. Rep. District 3
U.S. Rep.
Lulu District 3
Seikaly
★ Lulu Seikaly
U.S. Rep. District 5
U.S. Rep. District
Carolyn Salter5
★ Carolyn Salter
U.S. Rep. District 24
U.S.
Candace Rep. Valenzuela
District 24
★ Candace Valenzuela
U.S. Rep. District 26
U.S. Rep.
Carol H.District
Iannuzzi 26
★ Carol H. Iannuzzi
U.S. Rep. District 30
U.S. Rep. District
Eddie Bernice 30
Johnson
★ Eddie Bernice Johnson
U.S. Rep. District 32 Stonewall Democrats of Dallas
2020 Endorsements
U.S. Rep. District
Colin Allred 32
★ Colin Allred
U.S. Rep. District 33
U.S. Rep.Veasey
Marc District 33
★ Marc Veasey President/Vice President
..........
.......... Joe Biden & Kamala Harris
Railroad Commissioner
ChrystaCommissioner
Railroad Castañeda TX House District 103 TX House District 113 416th Judicial District, Civil Ct
★ Chrysta Castañeda Rafael M. Anchía Rhetta Andrews Bowers Theresa Bui Creevy
TX Supreme Ct, Chief Justice
TXAmy
Supreme
Clark Ct,Meachum
Chief Justice TX House District 114 Criminal District Ct, Pl 2
TX House District 104
★ Amy Clark Meachum John Turner Nancy Kennedy
TX Supreme Ct, Pl 6 Jessica Gonzalez
TXKathy
Supreme Cheng Ct, Pl 6 TX House District 115 Criminal District Ct, Pl 3
TX House District 105
★ Kathy Cheng Julie Johnson Audra Riley
TX Supreme Ct, Pl 7 Terry Meza
TXStaci
Supreme Ct, Pl 7
Williams 5th Ct of Appeals, Place 3 Criminal District Ct, Pl 4
TX House District 107
★ Staci Williams Bonnie Lee Goldstein Dominique Collins
TX Supreme Ct, Pl 8 Victoria Neave
TX Supreme
Gisela Ct, Pl 8
D. Triana 5th Ct of Appeals, Pl 6 ..........
TX House District 108
★ Gisela D. Triana Craig Smith
TX Ct of Criminal Appeals, Pl 3 Joanna Cattanach Sheriff
TX Elizabeth
Ct of Criminal DavisAppeals,
FrizellPl 3 5th Ct of Appeals, Pl 8 Marian Brown
TX House District 109
★ Elizabeth Davis Frizell Dennise Garcia
TX Ct of Criminal Appeals, Pl 4 Carl Sherman, Sr. Tax Assessor-Collector
TX Ct of Tina
Criminal
ClintonAppeals, Pl 4 14th Judicial District, Civil Ct John R. Ames
TX House District 110
★ Tina Clinton Eric V. Moyé
TX Ct of Criminal Appeals, Pl 9 Toni Rose County Commissioner, Dist. 1
TX Brandon
Ct of Criminal Appeals, Pl 9
Birmingham 95th Judicial District, Civil Ct Theresa Daniel
TX House District 111
★ Brandon Birmingham Monica Purdy
.......... Yvonne Davis County Commissioner, Dist. 3
.......... 162nd Judicial District, Civil Ct John Wiley Price
TX House District 66 TX House District 112
TXSharon
House District Maricela Moore
Hirsch66 Brandy K. Chambers DISD District 2
★ Sharon Hirsch 254th Judicial District, Civil Ct Nancy Rodriguez
TX House District 67
TX House Sanchez
District 67 Kim Brown
Lorenzo
★ Lorenzo Sanchez
TX House District 100
TX House District
Jasmine Crockett 100
★ Jasmine Crockett
TX House District 102
TX House District
Ana-Maria 102
Ramos
★ Ana-Maria Ramos StonewallDemocratsofDallas.org
Ad paid for by Stonewall Democrats of Dallas. Brandon Vance, Treasurer
2 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.20
Welcoming Jonathan C. Vogel, DDS
toc
to the practice!
10.23.20 | Volume 37 | Issue 25
6 headlines
█
TEXAS NEWS
6 Madi Eden: Most qualified candidate
7 November blues for Mitch
11 A ghoulish good time
█
LIFE+STYLE
14 A different side of Jim Parsons
7 16 Looking back at a plague
█
ON THE COVER
Jim
Parsons as Michael in ‘The Boys CAROLE ANN BOYD, DDS, PC
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10.23.20 █ dallasvoice 3
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instanTEA DallasVoice.com/Instant-Tea
Highlights from the Dallas Voice Website
AP Inc hosting food drive,
get out the vote rally
Abounding Prosperity Inc. is hosting a food
drive and get out the vote rally Saturday, Oct.
24, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the AP Inc. clinic
at 1705 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in South
Dallas.
The rally featuring speeches from local
officials, will begin at 12:30 p.m., and at about
1 p.m., AP Inc. officials will lead a caravan to
the polls at the MLK Jr. Center gym at 2901
Pennsylvania Ave.
Speakers will include state Rep. Lorraine
Birabil from District 100, state Rep.-elect Jas-
mine Crockett from District 100, Dallas Mayor
Pro Tem Adam Medrano and AP Inc. CEO Kirk
Myers. Ahmad Goree, AP Inc.’s public affairs
director, will be master of ceremonies.
AP Inc. will also be accepting applications
for its rental and utility assistance program,
offered in partnership with the city of Dallas’ Of-
fice of Community Care, during the event. For
more information visit AboundingProsperity.org.
— Tammye Nash
Redfield Tavern caught up in up … And I see it in the people that we are
hiring. I see it ... and it is very concerning.”
‘No more gays’ controversy
Redfield’s Tavern, located on Butler Street
The men go on to suggest that customers
have been complaining because Redfield’s
OBITUARY
in The Medical District, had become a popular
had too many gay men on staff. They also tell Joel K. North Texas in Denton in 1984.
hangout for LGBTQ folks looking for some-
Lindsey to stop hiring men and to instead hire Haralson Joel was a former member of the Classic
where to go after COVID-19 shut down The
more women. Lindsey tells them she only hired passed away Chassis Car Club and a long-time weekend
Strip. But the bar and grill quickly became the
applicants based on their qualifications and suddenly on resident of Rainbow Ranch Campground.
target of LGBTQ fury on Wednesday, Oct. 21,
that she is “not trying to make the staff gay,” Friday, Sept. He was preceded in death by his partner of
after word began to spread on Facebook that
one of the men replies, “Yes you are.” In anoth- 18, at the 17 years, Gary McGill; his father, Jess Haral-
Redfield’s owners were caught on tape saying
er place in the conversation, one of the men Baylor Medi- son, and his grandparents, J.C. and Floy
their establishment is not a gay bar and they
says, “If we hire someone and they don’t fit our cal Center in Haralson and Roy and Jessie Landers.
didn’t want any more gay people hired.
image, either they won’t be on the schedule or Carrollton. Joel is survived by his husband of 12 years,
While a Redfield’s representative claimed via
we will fire them.” He was born Scott McGee of Dallas; his mother, Paula
comments on several Facebook posts about
Dallas Voice is currently arranging to have March 26, Haralson; his brother and sister-in-law Jay
the controversy claiming the restaurant’s own-
sound engineers try to clear up the recording 1961, in and Kim Haralson of Nocona; his nephew
ers and management were “really at a loss as
to provide a more complete and concise tran- Wichita Falls to Jess and Paula (Landers) Jonathon Haralson and wife Holly of Carbon;
to where this is coming from,” because “We’ve
script of the conversation. To hear the audio for Haralson. He graduated from Nocona High his nephew Jordan Haralson and wife Haylee
been nothing but grateful for our gay clientele,”
yourself, visit DallasVoice.com. School in 1979 before earning his bachelor’s of Olney; and his great-nieces and -neph-
audio tape of a conversation between two men
— Tammye Nash degree in marketing from the University of ews, Callie, Jack, Jace and Hadlie.
identified as being owners of the establishment
and a woman identified as the at-that-time
general manager confirms that the owners did Services set for Monica Roberts
say they did not want Redfield’s to be a gay
bar and instructing the general manager to
Services for Transgriot publisher Monica
Roberts have been set for Oct. 23-25 in Hous-
█
pet of the week / CHICO
stop hiring gay men. ton. Roberts died Oct. 6 of natural causes.
Dallas Voice messaged Redfield’s via The weekend begins with a wake on Friday, He’s spent some time in the staff offices, and he was such a happy
Facebook on Wednesday night when the Oct. 23, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at dog. He liked playing with toys, meeting new people and getting
controversy broke asking for comment about St. Peter United Church of Christ, 9022 Long lots of love and cuddles. If you want a snuggle pup, he’s your guy.
the rumors. We received no reply, and within Point Road in Houston. Homegoing services He would love a house with a backyard, but he’d be okay with a
30 minutes, the Redfield’s Facebook page was on Saturday, Oct. 24, will begin with viewing low traffic apartment where he doesn’t have to walk by too many
taken offline. from 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m. The funeral service other dogs. They make him nervous, so he’ll need to be the only
The person who sent the tape to Dallas takes place from 1-3 p.m. at University of pup in the home. He’s a friendly, fun-loving guy who will be sure
Voice identified the two men, on the tape as Houston, Cullen Performance Hall, followed by to put a smile on your face and be the best buddy ever. Cinco is
“two of the owners, Joe and Scott,” and the interment at Houston Memorial Gardens, 2426 waiting to meet you at the SPCA of Texas’ Jan-Rees Jones Animal
Cullen Parkway in Pearland. Care Center in Dallas.
woman as “Lindsey, the former GM, who left in
protest.” A virtual funeral takes place on Saturday
from 10 a.m.-noon on Transgriot Weekly at In an effort to reduce the potential for spreading COVID-19, the
The audio tape, recorded by “Lindsey” during
facebook.com/transgriotweekly. SPCA of Texas’ shelters, clinics, mobile adoption events and mobile
a conversation with the two men appears to
wellness events remain closed to the public until further notice.
have taken place on an outdoor patio and has On Sunday, friends will honor Monica with a
Adoptions are available by appointment only. Adopters will
lots of background noises, and the two men’s Get Out the Vote Rally from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at
need to submit an adoption inquiry form in order to begin the
voices are frequently nearly drowned out by Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston. Her
tele-adoption process and schedule an appointment to complete
the background noise. However, one man can last Facebook post read, “I can’t wait until Oct. Meet Cinco, a 3-year-old, American pit Bull terrier mix. He came
the adoption. Browse our available animals at spca.org/findapet
clearly be heard telling Lindsey, “We are not go- 13,” which was the first day of early voting. to the SPCA of Texas as a stray in July, so the staff doesn’t know
and visit spca.org/dogadopt to inquire about a dog or spca.org/
ing to try to be a gay bar to keep our business — David Taffet much about his history, just that he’s a handsome, sweet boy.
catadopt to inquire about a cat.
4 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.20
THE
GAY
at 11:30 a.m. for people to join and chat. socially distanced drive-in celebration • Oct. 24: Drive-In Film Festival
Email THRIVE@myresourcecenter.org of democracy. Concerts held behind Dallas Film presents the film The
to request the link. KDT’s new compound at 7:30 p.m. Rookie. Gates open at 6 p.m. Showtime
at 4774 Algiers St. $30 per car plus 7:15 p.m. No reservations. Four Corners
• Biweekly: Hope Cottage Foster $15 for each additional passenger. Brewery, 1311 S. Ervay St.
Parent Information Meeting Kitchendogtheater.org.
Hope Cottage holds information • Oct. 24: ‘Felt Sense’ and ‘Coalescense’
AGENDA
meetings for those interested in • Oct. 24: TITAS Does Drag Opening reception for Felt Sense, works
becoming foster parents. The meetings TITAS/Dance Unbound, in association by Nicole Havekost, and for Bumin
are held alternately on Saturdays at with the AT&T Performing Arts Center Kim’s Coalescense. Both run through
10 a.m. and Thursdays at 6 p.m. For presents a new initiative, “TITAS/ Nov. 28 at Ro2 Art The Cedars, 1501
Have an event coming up? Email your information email Clyde Hemminger at Unfitltered,” and the first event is S. Ervay. Noon-5 p.m. Free tickets via
information to Managing Editor Tammye chemminger@hopecottage.org. “TITAS Does Drag: The Rose Room on EventBrite.
Nash at nash@dallasvoice.com or Senior Tour.” The special performance event
Staff Writer David Taffet at taffet@ OCTOBER features the cast of The Rose Room, with • Oct. 27: LGBT Grief Group
dallasvoice.com by Wednesday at 5 p.m. for Cassie Nova as emcee along with Blu Grief group for those who have lost
that week’s issue. • Oct. 23: Vote by mail Valentine, Chanel LaMasters, Fantasha, a same-sex partner currently meeting
applications due Jenna Skyy, Kelexis Davenport, Krystal virtually at 6:45 p.m. Contact Ray at
The Gay Agenda is now color-coded: Red Summers, Layla LaRue and Sasha raymond.sablack@gmail.com for Zoom
for community events; blue for arts and • Oct. 23: Movie Night Andrews. All COVID safety restrictions room access.
entertainment; purple for sports; green for Movie night in Strauss Square: The will be in place, including masks and
nightlife and orange for civic events and Addams Family at 7 p.m. and IT at socially-distanced seating. Tickets start • Oct. 29-Nov. 4 ‘1984’ at Circle Theatre
holidays. 9:30 p.m. Strauss Square, 2389 Flora St. at $39; for tickets and information visit Circle Theatre presents a digitally-
Tickets at ATTPAC.org. Tickets.ATTPAC.org. recorded performance of George
• Through Oct. 30: Orwell’s 1984, adapted for the stage
Early voting continues • Oct. 23: Drive-In Film Festival • Oct. 24: Art Walk West by Michael Gene Sullivan, available
Dallas Film presents the film Friday Art Walk West celebrates the creative through Vimeo at 8 p.m. Oct. 29-Nov.
• Every Monday: THRIVE Night Lights. Gates open at 6 p.m. culture of West Dallas and winds 4. Tickets are free, but you must reserve
Resource Center’s THRIVE Support Showtime 7:15 p.m. No reservations. through Trinity Groves and the your ticket at CircleTheatre.com/1984
Group for people 50 and older meets Four Corners Brewery, 1311 S. Ervay St. emerging Tin District. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (use code “1984” at checkout). After you
virtually from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. led by Free. WestDallasChamber.org. reserve your ticket, you will receive a
a SMU Intern from their counseling • Oct. 24: Get Up Stand Up! link to the video recording via email the
program. A secure Zoom Room opens Kitchen Dog Theater presents a day before the performance.
10.23.20 █ dallasvoice 5
Most ry but said she entered the race mostly
as a learning experience. State office is
rural counties. She said she’s not run-
ning on identity politics but has made
qualified candidate
where she felt she could make the most a point of supporting equal rights for
difference. everyone. Eden said she is comfortable
“The importance of 2020 can’t be with herself and doesn’t worry about
overstated,” Eden said, referencing re- what others say about her.
Eden would be the first
transgender member of the
Texas legislature
DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com
GBT Victory Fund
CEO Annise Parker
has called Madi Eden
one of the most qual-
ified people running
for office in Texas. If
she wins her race to
represent District 17
in the Texas House of Representatives,
she will be the first transgender person
elected to the House, and a large part of
her victory would be credited to the vot-
er registration effort and tools she, her-
self, developed.
Eden co-founded Register2Vote.org
and built tools which have helped reg-
ister millions of voters across the coun- Republican John Cyrier who’s been in districting, which occurs every 10 years This race is going to be a referendum
try. Especially during a pandemic when office five years, has talked about fixing in the legislative session following a on Trump and COVID-19, Eden said,
deputy registrars aren’t out at events the poor internet service common in the census. State house and senate districts, adding that she believes the pandemic
registering new voters, her website has district so near tech-savvy Austin. as well as federal congressional bound- has affected a lot more people than even
become an effective tool in registering When urban school districts sent ary lines, will be drawn by the 2021 Tex- the high numbers that are being report-
new voters and updating voter registra- their students home, most were able to as Legislature. ed. Each county is reporting figures in-
tion information. connect virtually. Others quickly put But Eden was also talking about han- dividually, she said, which may be re-
Through the tools she built, Eden ex- hotspots in place for those in under- dling of the COVID-19 pandemic and sulting in a severe undercount of cases
plained, “We got big data using not ex- served areas. But Eden’s area presented the erratic leadership Gov. Greg Abbott and deaths across the state.
tremely advanced technology.” a problem because of widespread lack has provided. From what she’s hearing from voters
And through that technology, com- of internet. Because of the pandemic, Eden has in her district, Eden said, they’re not
munity work and pandemic-style cam- And now students are falling even not able to stage a traditional campaign, happy with how the pandemic is being
paigning, she has a good chance of flip- farther behind in Bastrop County, where so she’s doing literature drops at doors managed at either a state or federal lev-
ping the Texas House seat she’s running she lives, and in the four additional rather than door-knocking. She’s rely- el. And from information she’s gleaned
for in Bastrop County, just east of Austin. counties that make up her district com- ing on volunteers to get yard signs out from the online tools she’s developed,
If elected, she not only will be the first pared to students in neighboring Travis across her county, which accounts for the 3 million people who’ve moved to
transgender member of the Texas legisla- and Hays counties and other counties well over half of District 17, and making Texas since the last election aren’t happy
ture, but also only the third transgender along the I-35 corridor. headway in the other counties where with how Texas state government is run.
person elected to a state house anywhere When it comes to healthcare, the in- possible. Eden takes a practical approach. Her
in the U.S. cumbent has helped block Medicaid While sexual orientation isn’t as website talks frankly about the issues
But Eden is running on a lot more than expansion even during the pandemic. much of an issue anymore in a number that matter: “Have you ever lost sleep at
transgender issues like bathroom bills. Eden said up to 20 percent of her dis- of races — three of the five lesbian and night because we weren’t locking up oc-
“Sure, it’s important to have a bath- trict is without medical coverage, and bi Texas House incumbents running for casional pot smokers and unregistered
room to use,” she said. “But let’s make the numbers have increased over the re-election are unopposed — how is voters? Neither has Madi,” she wrote.
sure people have the internet. In a pan- past four years. gender identity playing in Eden’s race? And from the response she’s gotten,
demic it’s a big deal. Healthcare. Let’s fix Eden said she decided to run in 2018. “They like to make a point of it,” Eden she said she believes she has a good
our economy after the pandemic.” She began her political career running in said of her opponent, although not as chance of winning her district and mak-
Eden said her opponent, incumbent a congressional race. She lost the prima- much in Bastrop County as in the more ing that bit of Texas trans history. █
6 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.20
November blues
for Mitch?
U.S. Senate races worth careful Not every LGBTQ person or group
attention as November nears has given up on the Republican Party.
Charles T. Moran, managing director
LISA KEEN | Keen News Service of the national Log Cabin Republicans
lisakeen@mac.com group, signed on to a letter supporting
the nomination of Judge Amy Coney
ontrol of the U.S. Barrett to become a U.S. Supreme Court
Senate is almost justice, even as every other national
as important to LGBTQ group opposed her confirma-
LGBTQ people tion.
this year as is con- Log Cabin Republicans has not en-
trol of the White dorsed any U.S. Senate candidates this MJ Hegar
House. Under Re- year, but its chapter in Illinois has en-
publican control, dorsed the Republican challenger to Republican challenger John James with then, and he has it now, and he and spe-
the Senate has ignored bills to make incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick a 1.4 percent lead and only 2.5 percent cial election Senate candidate Raphael
schools safer for LGBTQ students and Durbin. Log Cabin national also con- of voters undecided. But an average of Warnock (see below) have both earned
bills to stop discrimination against siders U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, polls, calculated by RealClearPolitics, gay presidential contender Pete Butt-
LGBTQ youth seeking child welfare ser- a strong ally, even while the Human gives Peters a 4.9 percent edge. igieg’s endorsement. Ossoff is hoping
vices. While the Equality Act — which Rights Campaign and Equality Maine Assuming Jones and Peters lose, the to unseat Republican incumbent David
would prohibit discrimination based on have turned against her. Democrats would be down to 45 seats Perdue who has a 0 score from HRC.
sexual orientation and gender identity But on an even more practical level, and would need to flip six Republican RealClearPolitics’ average of polls
in employment, housing and federal- having Democrats control the Senate seats to take the Senate. FiveThirtyE- shows Perdue ahead by only one point
ly funded programs — has passed the and the House would create a line of ight.com, the website founded by gay as of Oct. 12.
House, it has languished in the Senate defense against any number of schemes statistics guru Nate Silver, calculated • Georgia: Democrat Raphael War-
Judiciary Committee without even a President Trump might employ to de- last week that Democrats have a 73 per- nock is the personal pastor of openly
hearing, much less a vote. clare himself the winner of the pres- cent chance of winning the Senate. lesbian Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon,
And, under Republican control, the idential race. It would also provide Here are the races where U.S. Senate who has endorsed him as has HRC.
Senate has “rubber stamped” confirma- Congress with a realistic means of hold- seats have the best chance to change While having “evolved” on issues such
tions, at every level of the federal court ing Trump accountable for any crimes from Republican to Democrat: as marriage for same-sex couples, War-
system, for nominees who have records he might commit, or has committed, • Arizona: Democrat Mark Kelly, nock has welcomed LGBTQ people and
of hostility to LGBTQ people. against the nation. And it would im- husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabby promised leaders to passionately argue
“In nomination after nomination, prove the chances that any upcoming Gifford, is running to replace first-term against anyone trying to use religion to
[President Trump’s] picks for federal U.S. Supreme Court vacancy could be Republican Martha McSally. The Hu- discriminate. The Republican incum-
courts are hostile to civil rights in gen- filled by nominees who have a commit- man Rights Campaign endorsed Kelly, bent, Kelly Loeffler, has not been in the
eral and specifically hostile to LGBTQ ment to equal rights for LGBTQ people. saying he has been a “steadfast ally.” Senate long enough to obtain a score
rights,” said a spokesperson for Lamb- So, what are the numbers? And which McSally’s score from HRC on LGBTQ from HRC, but she recently introduced
da Legal. Twenty-four judicial nomi- are the states that could decide who issues stands at 0. An average of recent legislation to limit Title IX protection in
nees have already been confirmed for controls the U.S. Senate next session? polls, calculated by RealClearPolitics. educational sports to sex discrimination
appointment to the federal appeals There are 35 U.S. Senate seats up for com, shows Kelly with a 8.3 percent “based solely on a person’s reproduc-
courts, and, by month’s end, the Senate election Nov. 3, but only 10 of them are lead, as of Oct. 16. tive biology and genetics at birth.” Real-
is expected to confirm Trump’s third contestable enough to warrant attention • Colorado: Democrat John Hicken- ClearPolitics calculation show Warnock
pick for the U.S. Supreme Court. and funding by supporters of either par- looper, the former governor, is leading leads by 7.7 points as of Oct. 12.
It also warrants particular notice that ty. Nine of those 10 are currently held incumbent Republican Sen. Cory Gard- • Montana: Democrat Steve Bullock,
the Senate, under Republican Majority by Republicans seeking re-election; one ner. The only recent poll there, conduct- former governor of the state, has seen a
Leader Mitch McConnell, openly flout- — in Michigan — is a Democrat. ed in early October, showed Hicken- recent surge in support, from 9 points
ed the majority’s own rules governing If Trump retains the White House, looper up by 9 points. Gardner merits down on Oct. 7 to a tie on Oct. 10. As
SCOTUS nominations to deprive Dem- Democrats would need 51 seats in or- a 0 on HRC’s Congressional scorecard; governor, Bullock signed an execu-
ocratic President Obama of his choice of der to take control of the Senate. They Hickenlooper has won HRC’s endorse- tive order prohibiting discrimination
a nominee during the 2016 election year currently have 47, but polling indicates ment. One-Colorado calls Hickenlooper against LGBTQ state employees and
but is insisting that Republican Presi- they will lose one of those seats — the a “pro-equality champion.” supported the U.S. Supreme Court deci-
dent Trump get to replace Justice Ruth one held by Alabama Sen. Doug Jones. • Georgia: Democrat Jon Ossoff, a sion to strike state bans on marriage for
Bader Ginsburg not just in an election Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Sen. media owner and journalist, almost same-sex couples. HRC has endorsed
year but during the actual 2020 election Gary Peters is also in a tough race for won a U.S. House seat in Georgia two Bullock, and scored the Republican in-
season. re-election. The latest poll there shows years ago. He had HRC’s endorsement BLUES, Next Page
10.23.20 █ dallasvoice 7
tyEight.com reported last week that Leader Mitch McConnell has rendered
Cunningham appears to have survived. Collins’ re-election “simply untenable,”
BLUES, From Previous Page A recent New York Times polling shows said HRC President Alphonso David.
him with a 1 point lead, but RealClear- On the other side of the aisle, Log Cabin
Politics’ average of polls shows him with Republicans announced its endorsement
a 4.3 point lead. HRC and Buttigieg have of Collins this week. RealClearPolitics’
both endorsed Cunningham. averaging of polls shows Gideon up by
• Iowa: Democrat Theresa Greenfield, 4.2 points in early October.
a real estate executive, has been consis- • Texas: While Texas has long been
tently polling 3 to 5 points ahead of in- considered a reliably red state by the
cumbent Republican Joni Ernst in recent GOP, there has seemingly been a blue
weeks, but the “undecided” votes are surge of late, with Beto O’Rourke’s chal-
running about 10 percent. Greenfield’s lenge to Republican incumbent Sen. Ted
got the support of HRC and Buttigieg, Cruz ended up being the closest Senate
and Ernst’s HRC score is a 0. Two early race here in 40 years. O’Rourke came up
October polls showed Greenfield up by 4 just 220,000 votes short, out of 8.3 mil-
points but with a margin of error of 3.5. lion votes total cast. But this year, anoth-
• Maine: Democrat Sara Gideon, er Democratic challenger has an eye on
Speaker of the Maine House, might once the Senate, and incumbent Republican
have been considered a long-shot to Sen. John Cornyn finds himself in an
unseat long-time Maine incumbent Re- even closer race. Both Texas senators —
publican Susan Collins. Collins was seen Cornyn and Cruz — have consistently
by many in the LGBTQ community as been scored at 0 by HRC. As of Tues-
among the very few allies on the Repub- day morning, Oct. 20, Cornyn was just
lican side. But then she voted for Trump 3 points ahead, according to poll tracker
Mark Kelly
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kava- FiveThirtyEight, of Iraq War veteran and
naugh, whom HRC characterized as a Purple Heart recipient MJ Hegar. Those
cumbent at 0. cumbent Republican Thom Tillis. Then “dangerous, unqualified nominee.” Col- numbers, Hegar pointed out to CNN’s
• North Carolina: Democrat Cal Cun- news broke that he had been engaging lins’ impassioned floor speech and vote Don Lemon, put her within the margin
ningham appeared to be running away sexting with a woman other than his for Kavanaugh and repeated willingness of error, meaning the race is essentially a
with the election in his bid to unseat in- wife, and his polls slipped. But FiveThir- to stay in lock-step with Senate Majority toss-up. █
8 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.20
10.23.20 █ dallasvoice 9
10 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.20
ghoulish
Be Seen by the
A Premier HIV/Infectious
Disease Doctors in Dallas
good time
‘Ghoul’s Night Out’ virtual
Halloween party to stream
Oct. 30
t’s that time of year
again, when all the
ghosties and goblins
and other spooky crea-
tures come crawling
out of hiding to frolic
through the gaybor-
hood, all dressed up
in their best costumes. This year Telehealt
h
Appointm
there will be far fewer costumed
ents
partiers making the rounds,
thanks to that evil troll called Jenna Skyy in “face” for the 2018 Dallas Voice
Now Ava
ilable
Halloween issue.(Tammye Nash/Dallas Voice)
COVID-19. But don’t worry, Dal- STI testing & treatment at our
las Voice has just the thing to keep Room before the remodel and glimpses location on the Baylor campus
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We call it “Ghoul’s Night Out,” and Whitney Page, anyone?). PrEP Services provided with
it’s a virtual party featuring some of the “As a media company, it is important specialty pharmacy on-site
best entertainers around. to stay relevant and engaged with your Financial & medication
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assistance available
nity, Halloween is the ‘Gay Christmas,’ to seek out alternative revenue sources
and we also knew some time ago that and different ways to reach your com- Prep & HIV Clinical Trials
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to happen this year,” noted Chad Man- Cusimano said. “With the success of the
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Gender affirmation
and producer of “Ghoul’s Night Out.” we decided to explore other opportu- hormone therapy
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experience for our readers. And we hope Block Party on Cedar Springs was can-
that this show will not only entertain, but celed due to the pandemic, it opened up
We accept most
also keep those Halloween spirits alive!” a can of worms. insurance plans!
The show, which will stream online “We decided to take a bite, and
MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT AT
at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, is direct- Ghoul’s Night Out emerged,” Cusimano
ed by Israel Luna and hosted by “The continued. “This will be a thriller and an 214.823.2533
Queen of Halloween,” Jenna Skyy. The opportunity to have a virtual Halloween 3409 Worth St. Suite 710
party will feature performances by Ra- house party — staying safe, of course.” Dallas, TX
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Drew G. UCzLKquBnVnmwE8LBYSQTK3w/
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Keep an eye out for the ghosts of Hal- featured?view_as=subscriber) and will or ntidc.org
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from Halloween on the Strip in the Dallas Voice Facebook page.
1990s, complete with a trip to the Rose — Tammye Nash
10.23.20 █ dallasvoice 11Phone 214-754-8710 Fax 844-313-2282
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Leo Cusimano Publisher 114
editorial
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Opening the door to discrimination
Tammye Nash Managing Editor 113 █ Gov. Abbott’s social worker rule us — and workers often take the lead in creating
David Taffet Senior Staff Writer 125
change threatens our lives those liv- positive social change, which is why
█
Philip Burton Proofreader
ing with Texas social workers worked togeth-
Contributors: Chris Azzopardi, Gary Bellomy, Jenny Block,
a disabili- er to define their code of conduct and
L
J. Denton Bricker, Joey Cassiano, Jesus Chairez, Alicia Chang,
D’Anne Witowski, Lawrence Ferber, Hardy Haberman, GBTQ Texans, those living with ty — with standards of practice specifically to in-
Scott Huffman, Lisa Keen, Mark Lowry, Steven Monacelli, a disability and those living critical clude sexual orientation, gender iden-
Cassie Nova, Josh Robbins, Mikey Rox, Howard Lewis Russell, at the intersections of LGBTQ mental tity and gender expression. Removing
James Russell, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Leslie McMurray,
Mathew Shaw, Brandi Amara Skyy, Mark Stokes, Jef Tingley,
identity and living with disability are health a prohibition on discrimination on
Casey Williams outraged, and rightfully so. Texas Gov. and social the basis of sexual orientation, gender
Greg Abbott has once again cast our services. identity, gender expression and disabil-
advertising communities aside by singling us out To put ity from the Code of Conduct for Social
Chad Mantooth Advertising Director 131 █
Stephen Mobley MarketPlace Sales 123 █ for exclusion and differential treatment. this in Workers, a change that occurred with-
National Advertising Representative To make matters worse, Gov. Abbott context, as out opportunity for public comment,
Rivendell Media Inc. 908-232-2021 has done this at the height of a public of March is egregious and places social workers
art health crisis when we are more vulner-
able and the services upon which we
2019, 4.1 percent of our state’s popu-
lation identified as LGBT, or approxi-
in Texas out of step with the Code of
Ethics of the National Association of
Kevin Thomas Art Director █
119
rely for our daily needs are all the more mately 893,350 Texans. Of those Texans, Social Workers, which explicitly states,
multimedia precarious. 768,000 identify as LGB, and .66 percent “Social workers should not practice,
Stephen Mobley Social Media Director █
123
Brian Kennedy Video Producer Simply put, there is no doubt that this of our population, or approximately condone, facilitate or collaborate with
Israel Luna Video Producer/DVtv host unfair and unequal treatment threatens 125,350 people, identify as transgender. any form of discrimination on the basis
Brad Pritchett DVtv Host our very lives. Prior to COVID-19, 8 percent of of … sexual orientation, gender identi-
Brandi Amara Skyy DVtv Host On Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, the Tex- LGBT Texans were unemployed; fully ty, gender expression … and mental or
Regina Lyn DVtv Host
as Behavioral Health Executive Coun- 26 percent had no health insurance; 27 physical ability.”
circulation cil and the Texas State Board of Social percent were food insecure, and 26 per- This is an attack on our community,
Linda Depriter Circulation Director 120 █
Worker Examiners voted unanimously cent made less than $24,000 a year. and Lambda Legal is fighting back with
founders to remove the terms “sexual orienta- Approximately 41 percent of LGBT its partners in the All in for Equality
Robert Moore Don Ritz
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tion,” “gender identity,” “gender expres- seniors have a disability. Coalition to take a stand and say that
affiliations/memberships sion” and “disability” from the nondis- For transgender Texans and trans- no Texan should be afraid to access
Associated Press - Associate Member crimination rule contained in the Social gender Texans of color, who are often necessary care and services because of
National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Workers’ Code of Conduct. This is the by far the most discriminated against a fear of discrimination.
Certified LGBT Business Enterprise rule intended to prohibit social workers and marginalized of all Texans, the sit- Here is what you can do to help
Founding Member - North Texas LGBT Chamber
Founding Member - National LGBT Media Association
from discriminating against their clients uation is far worse. Fully 17 percent of Lambda Legal and our partner orga-
on the basis of these identities. transgender Texans are unemployed; nizations fight back: To protect your
The rule change was a last-minute re- 34 percent are living in poverty, and life, the lives of those you love and
quest that came from Gov. Abbott’s of- 77 percent do not have identity docu- the lives of those in our communi-
fice, contained in an email to the board ments that match their gender. ties, join the All in for Equality Coali-
and council sent the Friday before the In the last five years, more transgen- tion by visiting our website (https://
Monday meeting. Council Executive der people have been killed in our state secure.everyaction.com/-rSvT-
Director Darrell Spinks explained that than in any other state. And again in clhMk2SlOKaKu-t_A2?emci=f-
the purpose of the rule change was to 2019, Texas led the nation in the num- 990b7c0-1e13-eb11-96f5-00155d03aff-
make the rule align with Texas law, ber of transgender people murdered, c&emdi=cf2d5f9d-3013-eb11-96f5-0015
© 2020 Voice Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reprint rights are available only by written consent of the
which contains a similar nondiscrimi- with more than half of such deaths oc- 5d03affc&ceid=7436708) and sending a
publisher or managing editor. nation provision but does not include curring in Dallas. This year the number message to Gov. Abbott that the social
Dallas Voice is published every Friday. Additional copies
may be purchased for $1 each, payable in advance at the terms sexual orientation, gender of transgender deaths across the coun- workers know what is right for them
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only by Dallas Voice authorized independent contractors identity and expression or disability. try now stands at 33. and their profession and that he should
or distributors. No person may, without prior written
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Subscriptions via First Class Mail are available: Three
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$130. Contact Dallas Voice at 214-754-8710 x123. change. sential resources, support and care. cause of who they are. Our very lives
Paid advertising copy represents the claim(s) of the Now the change is the law: Social Social workers are on the forefront of depend on it. █
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send a request by email to editor@dallasvoice.com.
12 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.2010.23.20 █ dallasvoice 13
LIFE+STYLE
screen
break the wrong way and he’s cracked.
What’s interesting about both characters is
that Henry in Hollywood was based on
a real man, Henry Wilson, the man who
invented Rock Hudson, and so I had this
beautiful book by Robert Hofler that is
Henry’s biography. Robert had done so
much research about who he was and
when he was young and when he got
old, and we focus on one specific part of
A different side of Jim Parsons
Henry — and invented so much around it,
too; it wasn’t all pure truth — so to have
all that information gave me a humane
quality to Henry that I understood.
Michael was a little different. Even though
‘Boys in the Band’ actor talks it does about them. Playing more challenging characters such I consciously knew that he was a rough
as these, when do you know, “OK, I stand-in for the writer, Mart Crowley, I
about reviving the gay classic, In the remake, Parsons reprises his
think I’ve got it”? I feel like that specific didn’t want to presume how much, nor did
role alongside the original — and
his personal takeaway and entirely openly gay — cast of the 2018
feeling comes in little spots through the I want to put that responsibility on myself.
process, where you just feel good about At the time, both for the play and the
playing bitchy queens Broadway revival: Zachary Quinto, something. But in general, everything I do, movie, Mart was alive, and I just thought,
Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie by the time it’s all done and the months “Don’t even think about it.” But it kind of
A
lot has happened this year, and Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchi- go by until it’s released, suddenly I start couldn’t help creeping in, and the more
that’s aside from Jim Parsons son, Michael Benjamin Washington and having trouble remembering any of the chances I had to be around Mart and talk
dancing around in a bra. That Tuc Watkins. Parsons’s out Hollywood good moments and I’m like, “Oh god, oh to Mart and exchange emails with Mart,
bit, of course, graced screens across the co-star Joe Mantello, who directed the god. It’s coming.” one thing after another began to click,
world thanks to Netflix’s Hollywood, Broadway revival, once again directs. and I was like, “The character of Michael
When I worked on Hollywood on the charac-
The Big Bang Theory actor shedding his On Zoom recently, Parsons talked is a writer, just like Mart is.” From this dis-
ter Henry, that was a longer process than
well-established onscreen TV persona about the revealing conversations he tance, now that we’ve had this put to bed
the film because it was episodes, and it
to play a sleazy Hollywood agent in the shared with Crowley about The Boys in for so long, although it’s just now being
went on for about six months. We were
released, I see a version of it where this is
flashy revisionist drama. the Band before his death in March, and about midway through the process when
partly the story of Mart before he was able
The Ryan Murphy series garnered how working on the project led to a I actually wrote Ryan Murphy an email
to write Boys in the Band.
him an Emmy nomination, but — best deeper understanding and questioning just telling him how appreciative I was of
of all — it wouldn’t be the only time in of his own self-worth. the experience, and it was because I had For me, the main magical thing about Boys
2020 that Parsons, who was on the cover — Chris Azzopardi crossed some bridge about working on in the Band comes from the fact that Mart
that character. It had really clicked in me was finally able to reveal himself and his
of OUT North Texas in 2015, would be Dallas Voice: Being the bitchy queen
what a special opportunity this was, this situation and the people that he knew
taking on the role of a bitchy queen. doesn’t seem like something that
character, that I just hadn’t seen as clearly and loved with so much brutal honesty. I
In Netflix’s The Boys in the Band, comes naturally to you. Jim Parsons:
when I first started. think that’s why it connected with so many
again produced by Murphy, Parsons is Apparently I have an affinity with it, or
people. I think that’s why it stood the test
a standout among standouts in the re- an interest in it. Or Ryan Murphy has an With Michael, the reasons for his ruthless
of time. I think that’s why, as a piece of
make of the pioneering 1970 gay-centric interest in forcing me to do it! I’m not sure disdain really reveal themselves at the
literature, it has stayed bubbling in our
which. end of the film. When you’re playing
drama, directed by William Friedkin. consciousness this long and, lo and be-
characters as vicious as Michael and
Initially staged as an Off-Broadway play What has that experience been like for hold, has expanded to become something
Henry, what’s your process for expos-
in 1968, the film is based on Mart Crow- you? It’s been heaven. As an actor, I’ll be that’s not just about gay men.
ing the layers of humanity beneath the
ley’s screenplay, written about a group honest with you: Both of these men are
surface of these characters’ rough It’s become something that’s about all people
of gay friends and frenemies living in complicated characters, and the two roles
edges? In the case of Michael, I think suffering under oppression and shame.
New York City. An awkward birthday this year in Hollywood and in Boys in the
that’s a big part of what you carry with you And that’s the way the world went, but ...
party for their friend Harold, a self-pro- Band were very different in many ways,
going into the beginning of the rehearsal you can’t create something that impact-
but they had a similar feeling to me. Going
claimed “ugly, pockmarked Jew fairy,” process, knowing that you’re dealing with ful and be that honest until you accept
into the projects, there was a mystery and
becomes the breeding ground for savage a character who is compensating as much yourself for everything that you are. That’s
an unknown quality about the challenge
takedowns, as they tear into each other, as he can. I always had this phrase in my where we leave Michael, with Harold telling
that lied ahead. I felt confident that I would
exposing the kind of self-hatred familiar head every time I was working with the him, “You will always be a homosexual.
be able to get there with both of them, but
character: He’s just dancing as fast as he There’s nothing you can do to change it.”
to gay men trying to survive the oppres- it was exciting to know it wasn’t a done
can in order to keep things afloat. And we don’t see Michael transition into a
sive state of pre-Stonewall America. deal. I was going to work to get there, and
healthier, self-loving person, but the more
Parsons plays seething party host I was going to have to, most importantly, But it’s so superficial because there’s this
I think about it, the more I think that if he’s
Michael, a semi-lapsed Catholic whose get on set and start doing these scenes elemental part of himself that he is com-
truly a stand-in for Mart, then that’s where
aggressively nasty observations about for both these characters and see what pletely unhappy with, and so, as happens
Michael goes. Maybe he goes off to write
his friends reveal more about him than happened, and that was exciting. in this, just the right amount of things
his Boys in the Band.
14 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.20It’s interesting to think that the film, when and so many people solely, but it’s not
it was released in 1970 — before the for the same reasons, in my opinion, that
lexicon of LGBTQ identities expand- it would’ve been in the late ’60s, early
ed — resonated with an especially ’70s, where it was like, “Truly, we have
niche group of people. And that was to stick together.” That’s wonderful. But
specifically gay men. Now that specific what I realized working with these guys is
demographic seems almost antiquated there’s a language spoken. I don’t know if
because identity is far less restrictive. it’s all gay men all over the planet, all gay
Stonewall happened shortly after Boys in people. I don’t know if it’s strictly specific
the Band. It was a moment that created to a gay American male. I will say it’s the
a real backlash from the gay communi- only time I’ve gone to curtain call and
ty against Boys in the Band, and for all repeatedly — and I don’t even know why
the complaints, the main one was, “We because I hate saying this, but I’m like,
don’t want to be represented like this, “Hey heney!” I mean, I never talk like that.
as unhappy, self-hating, have-to-hide at- Ha! But every once in a while, I would
home [people].” And I totally understand grab Zach Quinto’s hand on stage before
that. Especially in that infantile time, that the bow and I’d go, “Hi heney!”
embryo of this independence starting to
Ryan Murphy has said we need more
form, you need all the nutrition you can
stories about the history of LGBTQ
get, ha!
people. Aside from starring in Boys in
But because of the efforts of so many, we the Band this year, you are producing
have come far enough that we are more the LGBTQ docudrama Equal for HBO
than OK to look at an honest portrayal of Max. What are some other LGBTQ
a real side of what it was to be gay. And stories you would like to see revived
even though it’s not as intense in this way, for new generations of LGBTQ people
[there are] residual [issues]. to experience? That’s hard to say. You
know what’s funny to me, and I don’t
One of the things I discovered going through
know what this says about me, exactly —
this and having the luxury to spend so
well, it says that I’m a child of privilege,
much time with this part, both in the play
that I’m a gay man of privilege living in
and in the movie, was how much of those
the world that I’ve grown up in — but I’ve
feelings that I thought I didn’t really have
been so fortunate that the people that
because of my age and the acceptance
I’ve worked with have called on me to
in the world. Bullshit. I do. I do. It’s not as
be a part of these things, whether it was
intense. It’s a different world. But it’s not
Normal Heart or Boys in the Band. Even
gone completely.
Equal was something that was being cre-
And there is still a part of me that, as a gay ated and thought of, and they included
person, I see more clearly having played me in on it. So I have been blessed with
Michael for so long. [I’m] still dealing with this story lesson since I was, again, just
— and it’s truly OK, consciously I know too privileged and going about my own
this — that little voice inside sometimes daily business in order to go research on
that still goes, “Am I enough? Am I OK?” my own.
I recognize that there’s a language that But I guess my answer is twofold: I don’t
we speak with each other that’s tart- know what the next story is that should
tongued and lovingly bitchy. I’m won- be revived, and the second thing is that I
dering if the way these gay men talk to do realize the importance because of the
each other on-screen translated off- impact that it’s had on me being exposed
screen since you worked with a cast to these stories, and a strength and a
of all gay men. You know what? I don’t well-roundness that I feel as a gay man
know if it was because of who we are or by understanding more specifically the
because of the time we’re living — ha! historical context within which I walk as
— or because we were actually working a gay man in 2020 now. It’s crucial for
together. It was certainly not as biting; it’s making me the person I am.
a lot kinder, although Charlie, sweet thing,
And I get sweaty palms at the thought of,
may disagree. He takes a beating from
were it not for the sliding-door moments
us! But you know what? That’s youth, and
of these people asking me to do this, I
that’s what you get. Ha!
might miss it or not understand it or feel
But no, definitely, it was one of the most it the way that I do now. So I hope that
profound things about going through this these projects go out to people and give
process, and I’m not even speaking about a similar level of that. I don’t want to say
whether or not this is reflected in the final education because it’s entertainment,
product on film. I’m really talking about and I want people to watch it, for Christ’s
my own personal experience of working sake. Ha! But I hope that we’ve portrayed
on this. I feel we have the luxury now of it in a way that is realistic and humanizing
not needing for safety and for personal enough that you can’t help but get the
comfort to be surrounded by your tribe of point.
gay men.
Chris Azzopardi is editor of Q Syndicate.
Many people have plenty of gay friends, Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.
10.23.20 █ dallasvoice 15L+S books
Looking back
risk for AIDS, though he’d been minis- Art, whose illness forced Slotten to
tering to AIDS patients for several years take an AIDS test … .
at a plague
by then. He knew the risks, of course, Though you may not notice it at first,
and had taken precautions. But Art was there’s one thing in Plague Years that will
in his far past. eventually sneak up on you, tap you on
There was a time when Slotten the shoulder and crush you: So. Many.
thought he was straight, had dated girls, Names.
Doctor’s memoir of the early had imagined life as a husband and Before you learn any of them, though,
years of AIDS brings back the father. That changed in college. And you need the tone-setting biography
heart-breaking reality though he was desperate for love then, and background here, and you need to
he was careful with his heart. claw your way past the harrowing parts
He fell for Art, and believed he was in which author Ross Slotten battles the
Plague Years: A Doctor’s Journey in love. But Art slept around with idea that he might’ve gotten AIDS from
through the AIDS Crisis by Ross A. countless men, and, one night, he broke a man he once loved. You’ll be well and
Slotten, MD (University of Chicago Slotten’s heart for good. firmly invested in this book once you
Press, 2020) $20; 214 pages. That was at the beginning of the get through that — and exhausted, as
AIDS crisis. It was a lifetime ago, back though you just finished watching a
C
over your nose and mouth. when Ronald Reagan all but ignored the Kubrick movie with a dream sequence
Wash your hands with soap and disease, before treatment was available set in a full morgue, and there’s more
water. Stay six feet away from — before Art was dying. story left.
strangers and those you think might be In med school, Slotten hadn’t intend- This is a devastating book, made more
infected; better yet, stay at home. And ed to specialize in AIDS medicine, but to-mouth resuscitation on a dying AIDS so by Slotten’s viewpoint as both gay
that’s how you squash a pandemic — as a gay man, how could he ignore those patient? man and doctor, and by casual remind-
more or less — although, as in the new who came to him after he’d opened On his rounds, there were times that ers of the things we didn’t know then
book Plague Years by Ross A. Slotten his Chicago practice? How could he the best Slotten could do was to give and the things we know now. Plague
MD, sometimes it’s not that easy. turn his back on them, as did the nurse comfort or a hug or keep vigil. He tried Years is profane and blunt and nail-bit-
It wasn’t until Slotten saw his former who placed a gauze pad between her to be truthful, always, but denial was a ing and heartbreaking and hopeful. And
lover, Art, that the reality hit him. He fingertips and a pulse, or the co-worker real thing — including denial for Art, that pretty much covers it.
hadn’t even considered that he’d be at who felt relief at having avoided mouth- who slept with the wrong man or men. — Terri Schlichenmeyer
16 dallasvoice.com █ 10.23.20You can also read
