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FREE | September 2019 | Vol. 4; Issue 1 | Workplace Equality
GoGuide Magaizne Life | Culture | Scene
GoGuide Election Guide: Senator Amy Klobuchar Page 16
Workplace Equality
Highlighting some of the best places to work in Iowa and the reasons why
Proudly covering the LGBTQ community, friends, and allies since 2016
2
Sept. 2019
features
On the Cover A look at downtown Iowa City as we take a look at LGBTQ workplace equality across the state. Cover photo by Gregory Cameron.
table of contents LIFE
Visionaries P-6 Workplace Equality P-8
GoGuide turns 4
Election Guide P-16
Visionaries-Meet Sid Karasek Meet Emma Welch - Coordinator, Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement at the University of Iowa’s Pride Alliance Center - Page 6
CRPrideFest Open Letter P-21
Workplace Equality How does Iowa stack up against other states? - Page 8
Inside Corridor Theater P-22
Guide to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses Meet Senator Amy Klobuchar - Page 16
Page 25
Q-Music P-24 Iowa City Book Festival P-23 GoGuide Arts & Entertainment News Briefs P-26
Inside Corridor Theater by Matthew Brewbaker Page 22 Q-Music By Gregg Shapiro
CULTURE
The 20th-anniversary performance of Rent will be at Hancher, October 4-6th.
Book Review sponsored by Prairie Lights Book Store & Cafe P-28
SCENE
Iowa City Book Festival run October 1-6, Page 23
Travel - NYC Roof tops P-29
Studio 13 at night P-31
GoGuide Magazine & GoGuideMagazine.com are published by GoGuide Media. Contact us at info@goguidemagazine.com Advertising infomation is available at www.ROMLLC.us.
Note from the publisher...
Iowa City | Cedar Rapids | Des Moines
It’s hard to believe our September issue marks the start of our fourth year of publishing. The road has been long and filled with many potholes. Some of those potholes we were able to miss and some we hit straight on. But somehow we made it. I have to say it’s been an enjoyable ride if not a bumpy ride. I would also be remiss if I did not thank our wonderful readers, advertisers, and staff that have been with us over these past years. It’s this group that deserves all the credit GoGuide may have achieved over the past three years.
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Finally, GoGuide Magazine is sponsoring the 2019 Iowa City Book Festival. The festival runs October 1-6. More information is available on page 23. Be sure to check it out.
GoGuide Magaizne Life | Culture | Scene
Also included here is a screenshot of our first issue of GoGuide. I still believe it’s our best cover. - Tim
Vol. 4; Issue 1 September 2019 GoGuideMagazine.com Facebook.com/GoGuideMagazine Publisher, Iowa City metro, Des Moines Metro, and political editor Tim Nedoba Cedar Rapids-Linn County Editor Julia Freeman
Contributors Barry Joy (aka asianmapleleaf) Gregg Shapiro Terri Schlichenmeyer
Cover photo Dowtown Iowa City: by Gregory Cameron Cover Design by GoGuide Media
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National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day September 27
Visionaries GoGuide’s September Visionary Profile Meet Emma Welch - Coordinator, Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement at the University of Iowa’s Pride Alliance Center The second installment of an ongoing series by Julia Freeman
After more than a decade of existence, the
Pride Alliance Center (PAC) on thecampus of the University of Iowa undertook a new name change earlier this year. It helped to clarify the purpose of PAC and what it entailed from the previous designation of the LGBTQ Resource Center. The most impressive part, according to coordinator Emma Welch, is that the initiative for change was student-led. However, the mission of PAC remains a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students to develop, learn, Photo courtesy UI enjoy, and relax so they can be seen and be themselves. It’s housed on the East side of the University’s campus, which can be a geographic barrier of sorts for many students. Welch began her work in the LGBTQ community directly during her time at the University of Northern Iowa as a team member of the Gender and Sexuality Studies center. She admired the visibility of having space in the campus’ center within the confines of the school’s student union. These built the foundation for her reasoning for joining the University of Iowa and why PAC is still needed today. Welch strives to support students and help create spaces to authentically exist and express themselves while also serving as a safe haven home away from home as students discover their own community. Despite primarily only working traditional nine to five weekday hours and PAC being most populated historically in the evenings, she loves seeing the passion and hearing student voices in their own development and experience to enhance the future as well. The best part of her role as a coordinator is to witness students supporting Page 6 Sept. 2019
students. “I like students going to bat for issues and take the world by storm,” said Welch. Her wanting to do so much with time and budget constraints have been difficult, so she has learned to be pause and table things and be creative without resources at times. Such is the case for many open to the public events that PAC plays a part in during October in and around campus. This ingenuity comes in part from the roles that her best friend, her mother, her sister, and Dr. Melissa Shivers of the University have played in Welch’s life. “The passion that she has for ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support) in Ames is inspiring,” noted Welch in speaking about her best friend. While striving to have grace with herself and others, her mother, who is among the first woman engineering graduates from Iowa State University works at the Iowa Department of Transportation and is her primary role model. The coordinator ultimately spoke to the influence of social media in getting and remaining connected with PAC and that she did not accomplish this visionary status alone. It was a team effort to design an inclusive and safe space for everyone in humanity. Welch concluded with, “PAC is a testament to the difference we can all make when we all come together for the same goals.” Editors note: This is the second installment in an ongoing series in GoGuide by Julia Freeman. The complete collections of columns will be available at GoGuideMagazine.com.The University of Iowa’s Pride Alliance Center is located at 125 Grand Avenue Court, Iowa City. PAC can be reached by email at Email - pride-alliance-center@ uiowa.edu. A place that feels like home: UI makes long-term investment in LGBTQ, cultural resource centers. A priority of UI’s president Harreld.
Go Guide Magagzine .com & Facebook.com/ GoGuideMagazine Photo courtesy UI
Workplace Equality
How does Iowa stack up against other states? The State of Iowa is one of the best places to live in terms of statewide legal protec-
tions prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Iowa is one of only 21 states and the District of Columbia that fits these criteria. This fact is often overlooked or not believed by those people living on either coast. John A. Lundell Mayor of Coralville recently told GoGuide Magazine “In each of my six years as Mayor of Coralville I have proclaimed June as Pride Month in our city. This celebration began across the country as a collective freedom in expressing gender identities of our LGBTQ+ individuals. I am very proud that our City of Coralville truly welcomes and accepts people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions and celebrates the contributions and culture of these citizens. We love Coralville Pride.� Legend Editors note: GoGuide Magazine has a written agreement with HRC to share HRC proprietary information for this workplace equality issue.
Page 8 Sept. 2019
ICC Fusion
A diversity and inclusion committee comprised of hoteliers, business owners, community leaders and voices from our LGBTQ+ community. By Tim Nedoba, September 2019
Did you know that Iowa City has a committee to help market the local area to members of the LGBTQ+ community? If not, you now know. Of course, this is welcome news. It’s also not a surprise. The Iowa City area is a leader in enacting positive human rights city ordinances and is comprised of many like-minded people. Think Iowa City! or maybe better known as Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau is the local organization that sponsors ICC Fusion. Why is ICC Fusion important to job seekers? It’s vital when looking for a job to not only investigate the business but to also look at the local community to discover if it shares the same “values” you do. In the Iowa City area Think Iowa City! and ICC Fusion are the resources. Dee White, Director of Sales at Think Iowa City! had this to say about the committee, “As the Director of Sales at Think Iowa City, I am tasked with presenting our community as a premier meeting and event destination through cooperative efforts with the local hospitality industry, DMO partners and community members. When accepting this role, I was ecstatic to learn that as an organization, Think Iowa City has identiCedar Rapids/Iowa City fied a need and set a goal to market to and Corridor LGBTQ Workplace bring more diverse groups, conferences, and events to the Iowa City/Coralville area. Culture Summit With this goal in mind, I have organized ICC Fusion - a diversity and inclusion committee comprised of hoteliers, business owners, community leaders, and voices from our LGBTQ+ community. The purpose of this committee is to examine current practices, necessary improvements, and to identify and connect with groups/planners that represent diverse groups, conferences, and events. Iowa City has been in the forefront of many LGBTQ movements and civil rights overall. This is evident in our MEI Score (Municipal Equality Index) of 100 out of 100. Think Iowa City is doing our part to keep it that Page 10 way!” Sept. 2019
Tuesday, Oct. 22 Kirkwood Community College Regional Center at the University of Iowa Coralville, IA LGBTQ community members - pay what you can pricing for tickets Visit oneiowa.org/corridorwcs2019 for tickets and more information
one1owa
Charting a new Course
Barilla USA is a shinning example of how a company can chage its ways for the better By Tim Nedoba, Des Moines metro editor, September 2019
Barilla USA likes to say in their human resources brochure, “...we can’t travel alone.”
There is more meaning in this statement than may appear at first glance. In terms of the LGBTQ community, it once seemed that Barilla was not the most inclusive company. You probably know Barilla as the maker of the spaghetti you buy at your local grocery store or supermarket. You may also remember a boycott against Barilla by the LGBTQ community launched in 2013. If you’re like me, you had long ago forgotten this boycott. In an interview with Barilla vice president human resources Laura A. Birk talked about how the company did not forget this charge and instead took it upon itself to change course. She also talked about the steps taken to bring about this positive change in company culture. Barilla is an excellent example of a company that can publicly admit their errors and then work very hard to correct those errors. Barilla now has received a perfect score from HRC as a “Best Places to Work” for five consecutive years. Barilla America is headquartered in Northbrook, IL, and also operates a plant in Ames, IA, with 214 employees. The Ames Barilla plant is the “Volunteer Zone Sponsor” for Ames Pride 2019. Ames Pride released this statement to GoGuide Magazine: “Over the last several years, Barilla has made significant progress in our diversity and inclusion journey. We believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do – it is also fundamental to our way of doing business. We value the opportunity to engage with the Ames community during Ames Pridefest..” The record speaks for itself. Barilla has changed course and is a worthy corporate sponsor.
Workplace Equality | Focus Linn County By Julia Freeman, September 2019 Who you are and who you work for is not always aligned
In the instance of employee resource groups (ERG), their aid has helped earn Collins Aerospace and Transamerica in Cedar Rapids consistently high Workplace Equality ratings by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. According to representatives of each company, the visibility of LGBTQ+ employees is what sets them apart from other workplaces in the Corridor. The premise of ERGs are spaces where “employees can meet together and offer support, insight, and suggestions with each other and to the company’s management team,” said Matt Van Maanen. The visibility of groups such as Transamerica Proud make him feel embraced beyond just his role as a lead data security analyst. According to Amanda Green, “because Pride ERG exists, we’re able to provide a compassionate, educated response to the inquiries and if we don’t already have the information they’re seeking, we find someone who does,” in navigating the Collins Aerospace system. In 2005, Collins was one of the first major corporations to offer Domestic Partnership benefits. This played a major role in recruitment of talent from across the country for the organization. Also the influence is not lost on any level of Collins Aerospace as Collins Aerospace is the largest single employer in Cedar Rapids. “We serve as role models and set the competitive bar for other corporations, both inside and outside of our industry. This means, when the public hears that Collins is the main sponsor for CR Pridefest, or they see our rainbow flags displayed on every building for Pride Heritage Month, they see our values. We get many compliments from the public, including other companies, thanking us for setting a positive, inclusive example for our community & our youth,” explained Lead Tech and cofounder of Collins’ Pride ERG Green. PROUD is just one of nine ERGs within TransAmerica that target specific populations of employees. They are DIMENSIONS (Diverse Abilities Partnering Together), GENS (Generations Network), PROUD (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Allies), RISE (Asian Affinity Network), SALUTE (Veterans Network), SPECTRUM (Multicultural Network), TECH (People Using Technology), WIN (Women’s Impact Network), XPATS (Expatriate Network). “Employee Resource Groups are intended to foster connections and a sense of community that assists in attracting, building, and retaining an inclusive workforce,” added Cindy Nodorft,Transamerica’s inclusion and diversity program manager. [Continued on next page]
Workplace Equa “Workplace equity to me is the ability to come to work as your authentic self, realizing that you are valued as you are, and that your perspective matters and is appreciated just as much asanyone else’s perspective,” commented Van Maanen. To Nordorft, Transamerica is a ‘company that goes beyond just having policies inplace.’ “Workplace equality means equal benefits andprotections,” added Green, “for all employees, period.” If you want to join a company that embraces inclusion and diversity, including scoring a perfect 100 on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, check out Transamerica’s jobopenings at http:/careers.transamerica.com. Collins offers regular Heritage Month events every June, in addition to social and educational events throughout the year.
Q&A with Amanda Green co-founder Collins Aerospace Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) Opening remarks (what separates you from other well rated businesses/companies) What is your role within the company? My name is Amanda Green and I’ve worked at Collins Aerospace for over 17 years. I helped cofound our Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) in 2008 and we officially launched in 2009. Since then, I’ve served in almost every capacity / role as needed, including letting others lead whenever possible. Currently, I’m serving as the Cedar Rapids Chair. However, this is a supplemental position to my full time title, of Lead Tech. Collins was one of the first major corporations to offer Domestic Partnership benefits to same-sex couples, back in 2005. This inspired me to become more engaged in helping my company not only recognize but protect & celebrate ALL employees, regardless of queer or any other identities. Why is your employee support organization important? We receive questions weekly if not daily from employees, inquiring as to resources, benefits, and information related to themselves or their LGBTQIA+ family members. Because our Pride ERG exists, we’re able to provide a compassionate, educated response to the inquiries and if we don’t already have the information they’re seeking, we find someone who does. In addition, because Collins Aerospace is the largest employer in Cedar Rapids, we serve as role models and set the competitive bar for other corporations, both inside and outside of our industry. This means, when the public hears that Collins is the main sponsor for CR Pridefest, or they see our rainbow flags displayed on every building for Pride Heritage Month, they see our progressive values. We get many compliments from the public, including other companies, thanking us for setting a positive, inclusive example for our community & our youth. What is something that Collins Aerospace does well that many other companies can learn from?
uality Continued Collins has dedicated themselves to listening to the experiences of real employees and then keeping their word when they promise to make improvements. This not only keeps current employees engaged and bringing their whole selves to work, but also helps recruit top talent from across the country. What is an aspect that proved to be more difficult than you anticipated it being? As a historically conservative corporation, we have often found the fear of anticipated backlash exceeds any actual negative feedback we receive from less diverse, less equality minded folks. Therefore, we’re often challenged to not only demonstrate a need & business case value for our requested improvements in benefits, protections, and resources, but also asked to help prepare a response for pushback if said improvements are introduced. In addition, all of the ERG positions here are in addition to our formal titles at Collins. This means that we are still expected to contribute as much as any other full time employee, and then also donate our time and effort toward improving our workplace and company’s image. This can be very challenging at times but has always proven worth the extra effort & sacrifice. What does workplace equity mean to you? Why is it essential, if at all? Workplace equality means equal benefits and protections for all employees, period. It really is that simple. However, it’s also incredibly vital to remain aware of cultural and public influences that continuously change. In this way, no company or organization can ever truly “arrive” at final equality. It requires perpetual & intelligent engagement & action and based on human history, always will. How can Collins Aerospace improve even more in equality of all clients and employees alike? The largest area of improvement I see across all groups is increasing ally engagement. Equality in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility, not just those immediately impacted by any given benefit or protection. Closing comments (how can people connect/engage further with your company/business?):
We offer regular Heritage Month events every June, social and educational events throughout the year, and send out a pulse survey to encourage active participation and to continuously progress as an entity within our company. We are always interested in feedback and diverse contributions, this is truly what makes humanity shine.
Guide to the 2 Senator Amy Klobuchar Shared Midwestern Values By Tim Nedoba, political editor, September 2019
A true Midwesterner and a neighbor to our North Amy
Klobuchar is running for President of United States of America and is our featured candidate in our ongoing Guide to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses series. Amy Klobuchar is the senior Senator from Minnesota. She was born in Minnesota on May 25, 1960. She’s a graduate of Yale University and University of Chicago Law School. She returned to Minnesota to practice law before being elected county attorney for Hennepin County in 1998. Klobuchar was first elected to the Senate in 2006, becoming Minnesota’s first elected female United States Senator, and re-elected in 2012 and 2018. In 2009 and 2010 Senator Klobuchar was described as a “rising star” in the Democratic Party by the Huffington Post and others. On February 10, 2019, The Amy Klobuchar 2020 presidential campaign began. “On a cold February day in Minneapolis on the mighty Mississippi River, with thousands of friends and supporters at my side, I announced that I’m running for President of the United States. As I said that day in our nation’s heartland, we must heal the heart of our democracy and renew our commitment to the common good.” AmyKobuchar.com GoGuide Magazine goes one-on-one with Senator Amy Klobuchar
Can you win the Iowa Caucuses? Well, I’m your Senator next door, and as I like to say, I can see Iowa from my porch! I understand the Midwest, and I’ve been down to Iowa early and often. My plan is to go everywhere because I believe we need to talk to people all over the state. In Minnesota, I’ve won blue, purple, and the reddest of the red counties and I’ve been successful because I listen, I meet people where they are, I hear about the things they need, and I get things done. We’re going to do the same thing in Iowa and across the Page 16 country. Sept. 2019
e 2020 Iowa Caucuses Are you actively seeking the LGBTQ vote in Iowa and and nationally? Yes. The LGBTQ community is going to be critical if Democrats are going to win in 2020 and that’s because the LGBTQ community knows how to win. In 2009 the Iowa Supreme Court made Iowa one of the first states in the nation to recognize same-sex marriage. And today there are also more LGBTQ elected officials than ever before. Look at 2018, when we elected my friend Angie Craig, who was running to be the first openly gay member of Congress from Minnesota. We re-elected my next-door neighbor Tammy Baldwin. And we also elected over 150 LGBTQ candidates across the country, more than any previous election! Why should someone who is gay, lesbian, transgender, or questioning vote for you for President? I believe that we need a President who has the backs of the LGBTQ community, and not a President who wakes up every morning trying to divide our country. We must cross the river of our divides, walk across the sturdy bridge of our democracy to a higher plane in the politics. And that includes fighting for the transgender person who wants to serve, or go to school, or just go out in their neighborhood, without fear. It includes fighting for the young gay man looking for his first apartment or his first job and fighting for the two moms who want to protect their family. And As your President, I will focus on getting things done. I have released a plan of more than 100 actions I will take during my first 100 days as President, and it includes priorities like combating hate crimes, lifting the ban preventing transgender people from serving in the military, and addressing homelessness, suicide and access to life-saving drugs in the LGBTQ community. I will also reverse the harmful anti-LGBTQ administrative actions taken by the Trump Administration when it comes to education, health care, and civil rights, and work to pass the Equality Act in year one of my presidency. The LGBTQ community remembers the Orlando shooting at The Pulse night club. What is your plan to combat gun violence? Gun violence in America has cut short, far too many lives, torn families apart, and plagued communities across the country. From the shooting in Orlando to the recent tragedies in El Paso and Dayton to the everyday gun violence that takes the lives of the equivalent of a classroom of school children every week, it’s clear that gun safety policies are long overdue. I support a package of proposals including putting universal background checks in place by closing the gun show loophole, banning bump stocks, high capacity ammunition feeding devices and assault weapons, [continued on next page]
closing the “Charleston loophole,” and passing my bill to close the “boyfriend loophole.” Right now federal law says if you’re convicted of abusing your wife, you can’t get a gun; if it’s your girlfriend, you can. My bill to close the boyfriend loophole has passed the House of Representatives and has been blocked by Republicans in the Senate -- it’s time to get it done. For too long, those who side with the NRA have blocked necessary reforms that save lives. I went to the White House and sat across the table from him to make a case for gun safety laws after Parkland. I kept track. Nine times he said he wanted universal background checks. Then the next day, he met with the NRA and folded. As your President, I won’t fold. Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks at Zach Wahls The recent mass shootings were also disturbing reminders of fundraising event this the rise in hate in this country. I have been taking on hate crimes past July. GoGuide and combating hate since I was the Hennepin County Attorney. file photo. Because of my work on this issue as County Attorney, I was invited to the White House when President Bill Clinton proposed the Matthew Shepard federal hate crimes bill. In the Senate, I have continued to be a leader when it comes to taking on hate. And as President, I will end the hateful rhetoric that has become all too routine during the Trump Administration, and I will prioritize combating hate-motivated violence and domestic terrorism, including against the LGBTQ community. Healthcare is another critical issue. Please tell us about your plan to improve and make our healthcare system better for all? Too many Americans struggle to pay for health care and their prescription drugs. I believe the Affordable Care Act is a beginning, not an end, and we need to make changes on both the state and federal level to bring down health care costs. That includes bringing down the cost of health care for everyone by putting a non-profit public option in place that allows people to buy into affordable health insurance coverage through Medicare or Medicaid. I have fought the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Before the Affordable Care Act was passed, LGBTQ people who were denied coverage had nowhere to turn, people living with HIV/AIDS couldn’t afford the prescription drugs they needed, and transgender people were flat-out denied care. We can’t let the Trump Administration take us backwards. When people are sick, their focus should be on getting better, rather than on how they can afford their prescriptions, yet drug prices are an increasing burden across our country. I have been a strong advocate for tackling the high costs of prescription drugs, leading proposals to lift the ban on Medicare negotiations for prescription drugs, allow personal importation of safe drugs from countries like Canada, and stop pharmaceutical companies from blocking less-expensive generics. And as President, I’ll get this done. Is there anything more you would like to share with the GoGuide readers about your platform for President?
One issue that we’re not talking about enough as a country is how we can support our rural areas. And this directly impacts the LBGTQ community -- between 3 million and 4 million LGBTQ people live in rural America. I firmly believe that kids who grow up in rural America and rural Iowa should be able to live there. That’s why I released a plan to help close the rural-urban divide and address some of the unique challenges facing rural areas. My plan is about expanding rural health care — including mental health and addiction treatment — saving rural hospitals, supporting critical access hospital and community health centers, and dramatically expanding telehealth services. It’s about making it easier for workers to housing and education and investing in our rural infrastructure, expanding rural broadband, and ending the digital divide. Follow Senator Klobuchar at AmyKlobuchar.com. Follow our “Guide to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses” online at GoGuideMagazine. com. Visit our online guide and read our past interviews with Andrew Yang, Marianne Williamson, John Delaney & Pete Buttigieg. More to come! Our December print and online editions will be our complete guide to the caucuses. It’s a must-read issue.
Cedar Rapids Gazette press release
[CR] - Former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, former Pennsylvania representative Joe Sestak and author Marianne Williamson will speak at this September 20 forum on the lives of LGBTQ people and other civil rights issues impacting them in the heartland and rural America. All Democratic presidential candidates have been invited to participate. The event will be held at Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe College campus. Registration is free, but highly recommended. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m., and the program will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Each candidate will have individual stage time to address the audience, followed by a one-on-one moderated Q&A session. More information is available at www.facebook.com/ events/535384020541907/.
Dan Royer Photo courtesy One Iowa
[Des Moines]— After a national search, One Iowa announced September 26 it has named Dan C. Royer as its new executive director. Royer will begin leading the organization on September 1, 2019.
“The board is delighted that Dan is taking the helm at One Iowa,” said Jenny Smith, chair of the One Iowa Board of Directors.
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor LGBTQ Workplace Culture Summit
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Tuesday, Oct. 22 Kirkwood Community College Regional Center at the University of Iowa Coralville, IA LGBTQ community members - pay what you can pricing for tickets Visit oneiowa.org/corridorwcs2019 for tickets and more information
one1owa
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An Open letter from CRPrideFest 9,000 people enjoy CRPrideFest You know it’s the first Saturday in July when you see a large crowd in NewBo coming together to celebrate our local LGBTQ community. This year, over 9000 people turned out on a picture perfect day to celebrate at the 23rd Annual PrideFest Celebration at NewBo City Market. The event, which attracts people from all over the corridor, was a day to remember for many! Over 100 vendors participated in the event and showed their support for LGBTQ community. Many of the vendors had free activities for families and children to partake in. Children had the opportunity to have their face painted, jump in a bouncy house and watch performances by the Eastern Iowa Circus Collective.
Entertainment was abound during the festival with Lady J as DJ and Mindy Belle and Lexy Belle being the emcees for the day. The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy performed some of their favorite songs and then Isaac Burris brought the crowd to their feet with a high energy performance. The party then continued with a family friendly Drag Queen/King. Many people were wowed by the outfits and the preparation that it took each performer to participate. The audience was also ecstatic to see Pretty Belle come out of retirement! After the show, people had the opportunity to meet the Queens/Kings and have their pictures taken and get their autographs. The Awful Purdies closed the event down with an amazing performance that included many of their fan favorite songs. CR PrideFest wishes to thank everyone for their support, especially our major sponsors- NewBo City Market, Collins Aerospace, Cargill and Linn County Public Health-Sexual Health Alliance. Planning has already begun for the 2020 celebration. If you are interested in getting involved, please follow CRPrideFest on Facebook or email info@crpridefest.org to get involved. -CRPrideFest Board of Directors
GoGuide Magazine wants to hear from you. Send your letters to info@GoGuideMagazine.com.
Inside Corridor Theater
It’s September the Iowa State Fair is done, students are back in school, and most of the local theatres are starting their new seasons. Between all the local community theaters and University events across the area, it’s a great time to get out and see some fantastic live theater. There’s a wide range of things from classic musicals to newer more thought-provoking shows to enjoy this month.
The University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium will be kicking off its new season in September. However, the event that got my attention is the 20th-anniversary tour of RENT. The rock musical took the country by storm 20 years ago presenting a cast of characters with diversity (racial and sexual orientations) including representations of characters living with HIV and AIDs. If you’ve never seen it, it’s about time to find out what the buzz is about, or if you have seen it, it is probably time to see it again. The show will be at Hancher on October 4-6th. Watch their website for info and tickets. https://hbotix.hancher.uiowa.edu/Online/ Riverside Theatre starts its season off with a new adaptation of Chekov’s Uncle Vanya directed by Adam McKnight with a stellar cast including two longtime friends Jessica Link (last seen in Men in Boats) and Rachel Lindhart. I had a chance to speak with Adam about the show and assembling this impressive cast, which left me nearly as excited to see the show as he is about directing it! It opens September 13th and runs through October 6th. Dreamwell Theatre will be kicking off its season with Robert Askin’s Hand to God, an irreverent and shocking comedy about sin, puppets, and a church youth group. This play was a big hit on Broadway just5 years ago. As Dreamwell’s Artistic Director, I am very excited to have director Grant Freeman bring this to the Dreamwell stage. Check out www.Dreamwell.com for info and tickets. Page 22 Sept. 2019
[Inside corridor theater continued on page 24]
2019 Iowa City Book Festival Festival runs October 1-6
August 22, 2019 By BookFest
IOWA CITY – The Iowa City Book Festival’s 11th year will feature a mix of authors, panel discussions, workshops, a book fair and more, with programming that blends the best in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. The Iowa City Book Festival is organized by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature. Iowa City is one of just 28 Cities of Literature in the world. The Iowa City Book Festival celebrates books and writing by leveraging the unique mix of local resources that helped to earn that designation. The festival will be held from Oct. 1-6, with most events at various locations throughout downtown Iowa City. Long a showcase for collaborations with other area organizations, this year’s festival partners include the International Writing Program, the One Community One Book program, Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, the Iowa Writers’ House, GoGuide Magazine and more.
The Far Away Brothers is this year’s selection for the UI’s Center for Human Rights “One Community One Book” program. Markham will speak at 7 p.m. in 240 Art Building West.
The festival will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Coralville Public Library with presentation of the City of Literature’s annual Paul Engle Prize to poets Toi Derriocotte and Cornelius Eady. Each year, the festival features the public reading of a classic work of literature with supporting programming throughout the week. From Monday, Sept. 30, through Friday, Oct. 4, volunteers will read Leo Tolstoy’s classic War and Peace aloud in its entirety. The reading will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the Pedestrian Mall stage outside the Graduate Hotel. Other programming, including partnerships with the Stanley Museum of Art, Special Collections at the UI Main Library; FilmScene will screen the classic 1966 film War & Peace as part of Festival For more information and festival updates visit /www.iowacitybookfestival.org/.
[Inside corridor theater continued from page 22] Another great show – also set in a church – kicks off City Circle’s season, The Christians by Lucas Hnath is an incredibly thought-provoking drama that explores belief, conviction, and whether those beliefs can evolve and change. Starring good friends Rip Russell and Duane Larson, this show directed by Kevin Michael Moore is on my must-see list. The Christians will run September 20-22nd at the Coralville Center for Performing Arts Both Theatre Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Community Theatre are kicking off their seasons with classic musicals. TCR will be presenting Hello, Dolly, September 20th through October 13th, and ICCT will be presenting Pippin, running September 20th through 29th. Lastly, the Giving Tree Theatre in Marion will be presenting Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, September 6th through the 22nd. I can’t say enough about how vital Oscar Wilde writing is culturally and especially historically for the LGBT community. Though he was never able to write openly about his sexuality, when his plays are viewed through our modern culture and sensibilities, it comes through pretty clearly just how far ahead of his time he was. For more info on tickets, go to https:// givingtreetheater.com/. Inside Corridor Theater is a column by Matthew Brewbaker.Contact Matthew at info@GoGuideMagazine.com or visit our website at GoGuideMagazine.com.
University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium photo by Bill Adams
Q-Music: All that (queer) jazz By Gregg Shapiro
Out chanteuse Ann Hampton Callaway is perhaps best-known for being the composer and performer of one of the jazziest TV theme songs ever; “The Nanny Named Fran” from the Fran Drescher sitcom The Nanny. If course, there’s more the Callaway than that. She’s the older sister to singer (and occasional duet partner) Liz Callaway. She has released more than a dozen albums during the course of a recording career that has lasted more than 25 years. On Jazz Goes to the Movies (Shanachie), Callaway applies her impressive vocal skills to a set of 14 songs written between 1927 (Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” from The Jazz Singer) and1962 (Rodgers and Hart’s “This Can’t Be Love” from Jumbo). As the opening cut states, the album “’S Wonderful” (composed by the Gershwins for “An American in Paris”) in the way that it offers listeners another way to enjoy these classic tunes. Kandace Springs is a queer artist whose legend precedes her. Influenced by Nina Simone, Springs was invited by Prince to perform onstage with his band for the Purple Rain 30th anniversary show. She has also collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah on his song “Love Don’t Live Here No More”. Her newest album Indigo (Blue Note) features splendid covers of Ewan MacColl’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, Creed and Bell’s “People Make The World Go `Round” and Jesse Harris’ “Black Orchid”. Equally notable are Springs originals including “Breakdown”, “Unsophisticated” and “Simple Things” (co-written/co-performed with her father Scat Springs). You’ve probably heard drummer Allison Miller keeping the beat on albums by fellow queer musicians Brandi Carlile, Erin McKeown and Ani DiFranco. But did you know that she also leads her own musical outfit known as Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom? She does! On BTB’s fourth album, Glitter Wolf (Royal Potato Family), Miller and company (including Todd Sickafoose, Jenny Scheinman and Myra Melford) deliver a set of ten originals that sparkle and have teeth. Highlights include “The Ride”, “Zev – The Phoenix”, “Daughter and Sun”, “Welcome Hotel” and the title number. Gay guitarist Gregory Uhlmann is one third of the all-male Chicago jazz/post-rock trio Typical Sisters. In fact, you can certainly hear the influence of Chicago bands such as Tortoise and The Sea and Cake on Typical Sisters on its debut album Hungry Ghost (Outside Music). The gifted Uhlmann is clearly the focus here (apologies to his band mates) and songs including “To The Landing”, “Benjamin”, “Portrait of a Fast Moving Object” and “Young and Foolish” are showcases for his stellar playing. Live at Earshot (Break Open) by lesbian trombonist and composer Naomi Moon Siegel was indeed recorded live at the PONCHO Concert Hall at Cornish College during the Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle. Backed by a band including legendary keyboard player Wayne Horvitz, Siegel and her able-bodied musical crew effortlessly work their way through nine Siegel originals.
Pride at FilmScene: Wild Nights with Emily FilmScene 118 E College St, Ste 101, Iowa City Monday, September 9, 2019 6 PM – 8 PM
WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY - In the mid-19th century, Emily Dickinson is writing prolifically, baking gingerbread, and enjoying a passionate, lifelong romantic relationship with another woman, her friend and sister-in-law Susan... yes this is the iconic American poet, popularly thought to have been a recluse. Beloved comic Molly Shannon leads in this humorous yet bold reappraisal of Dickinson, informed by her private letters. While seeking publication of some of the 1,775 poems written during her lifetime, Emily (Shannon) finds herself facing a troupe of male literary gatekeepers too confused by her genius to take her work seriously. Instead her work attracts the attension of an ambitious woman editor, who also sees Emily as a convenient cover for her own role in buttoned-up Amherst’s most bizarre love triangle. A timely critique of how women’s history is rewritten, Wild Nights With Emily remains vibrant, irreverent and tender - a perhaps closer depiction of Emily Dickinson’s real life than anything seen before. [FilmScene Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ Page 26 events/446924202829500/] Sept. 2019
Becca Mancari will be performing at The Mill in Iowa City on September 27
Mancari Apparing at The Mill By Gregg Shapiro and staff reports
In addition to her acclaimed solo work, Mancari has also performed as one-third of the trio Bermuda Triangle with Brittany Howard and Jesse Lafser. With a new album Photo by Zachary Gray completed (and being shopped around to labels), Mancari is embarking on a multi-city concert tour including Iowa City. The Mill is located at120 E. Burlington Street, Iowa City.
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“Surrounded by Idiots” Review by Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer: The Bookworm Sez Every day of the week, you want to pound your head against your desk. What is wrong with your co-workers? Argh, you can barely stand it, but read the new book “Surrounded by Idiots” by Thomas Erikson, and you’ll see that the situation is not so black and white. Five days a week, you grit your teeth and take a deep breath. That’s thousands of hours per year, spent with co-workers who bug you. So how can you get along with them? Says Erikson, “the first thing to know is that the listener controls communication. You can talk until you’re crimson-faced, but it’s all up to he who hears it. Furthermore, though you may think your co-workers are downright weird, every kind of behavior is normal.” Knowing that makes it easier to move forward and to understand. Next, using a method of communication called DISA (or DISC), which stands for Dominance, Inducement, Submission, and Analytic ability (or Compliance), you can categorize people in your mind by colors correlating to “primary personality types.” This helps you see why people act as they do. Reds, for instance, are the quick-reacting folks who are dominant and decisive and not always useful in making relationships. Greens, who make up the most prominent subset of people, are calm, supportive, and they generally hate change. Yellows are the sunniest of people and try to always look on the bright side. Organized blues are the Sheldons of the world, and require complete knowledge on issues before committing. So why seek this book out? Like other tests, Erikson uses science to back up his methods of personality assesments. However, This book is more casual in its approach, more anecdote-based, and more on the lighthearted side, too, which makes it fun to read. Get “Surrounded by Idiots” and put your business in the pink. by Thomas Erikson | c.2019, St. Martin’s Essentials | $27.99 USA | 304 pages
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travel
NYC’s Best Rooftop Bars There’s still time this fall to enjoy New York’s best roof top bars
Travels with @Asianmapleleaf If you are visiting New York City or just passing through, make sure you check out some of the city’s best rooftop bars. It’s the time of the year right now when the city is super hot and stuffy. NYC’s rooftop bars not only provide great views of the city, but they also offer a little escape from the busy streets, refreshing atmosphere and drinks, and in many cases, even a pool to relax in. New Yorkers know how to cool down in style! Here are a few of the best NYC Rooftop Bars to visit this summer. Jimmy at the James 15 Thompson St | 18th Floor | New York, NY Pool and grilled pineapple mojitos. Do I need to say more? The rooftop bar located at Tribeca’s James hotel isn’t easy to get into, but it is well worth trying. Besides the pool and incredible drinks, there is also an indoor lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. The 1970s décor with fireplace surrounded by plush seats gives it a unique and sexy atmosphere. Yes, I did say the 1970s and sexy in the same sentence. The outdoor terrace has a large LOVE art sculpture that is perfect for Instagrammers. The Skylark 200 W 39th St | 30th Floor | New York, NY Located in the heart of Times Square South, The Skylark features views of the Hudson River, Times Square, The Empire State Building, the Hudson Yards, and more. (continued on next page)
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A perfect hangout year-round, the multi-level space offers guests a sophisticated open-air rooftop terrace, which is ideal for the summer – and a lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, which is perfect for the cold months. Upscale casual dress is suggested. Gallow Green 530 West 27th St. | New York | NY Located atop the McKittrick Hotel, Gallow Green has one of the most relaxing atmospheres when it comes to rooftop bars. The garden bar and restaurant genuinely make you feel like you are away from the city lifestyle. Gallow Green hosts several fun events, including Sunset Sundays and music. Be sure to check out their calendar of events for the complete list of things to do and see at Gallow Green. While you are in the area, you should also check out Sleep No More (even in the McKittrick Hotel), a super cool theatrical experience that tells Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a setting where you can walk around among the actors to take in the story. Plunge Rooftop Bar + Lounge 18 9th Ave | New York, NY Located at the Hotel Gansevoort, Plunge is one of the most stylish rooftop bars in the city. Not only is it known for boosting great views of NYC, but it also has a full bar, great music, and fun atmosphere. Plunge Rooftop Bar + Lounge has an outdoor pool where you can cool off – and a pool table inside for those who are trying to escape the heat. The Press Lounge 653 11th Ave | 16th Floor | New York, NY A top favorite, The Press Lounge is one of the city’s sexiest rooftop bars. Located above the Ink48 Hotel in Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown West, it serves seasonal cocktails and light fare. This contemporary and elegant rooftop bar boasts views of downtown Manhattan and the Hudson River. The Press Lounge has been recognized as one of the top 22 rooftop bars in the world. This article was submitted by Barry Joy (aka asianmapleleaf), an ambassador of all things travel – he was born and raised in Toronto and currently lives in New York City. Follow his adventures on asianmapleleaf.com or Instagram @asianmapleleaf.
GoGuide NightLife Studio 13 13 S. Linn Street, Iowa city Photo by Treyner W from Strey Photography
Photos: Amy Guip
OCTOBER 4-5 HANCHER AUDITORIUM
HANCHER.UIOWA.E DU . (319) 335-1160 OR 800 -HANCHER The performance on Saturday, October 5, at 1 pm, will feature an American Sign Language interpreter. Audio Description is also available for this performance.