SCOTT CRAMER
Starting at The Abbey Pub as an intern, Scott Cramer stomped the urban miles, hanging concert posters, stamping hands at venues and answering phones. Today, he is the publicist and assistant talent buyer for The Abbey; publicist and talent buyer for Berlin Nightclub; and host and organizer of indie LGBTQ events around Chicago. Scott has helped create Stardust at the nightspot Berlin and Chicago's groundbreaking Outdanced, featuring artists such as Peaches, JD Samson of Le Tigre, Leslie and the Lys, Larry Tee, Margaret Cho and Sophia Lamar. His events have been featured in publications like Spin, the Chicago Reader and Time Out Chicago, where he was named one of Chicago's top promoters.
Did you know? Scott is a huge Elvis Presley fan.
MATTHEW FRENCH
While he is a Loyola University graduate and Chicagoan at heart, Matthew, 23, ( who is, in fact, not French at all ) currently lives and works in Beirut, Lebanon. Since his move to Beirut, Matthew has co-founded the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality ( AFE ) . While LGBT grassroots activism is currently almost non-existent in Arab countries, Matthew is addressing this gap through AFE; the organization now supports the development of and funds LGBT activists across 15 Arab countries. He will be returning to Chicago at the end of June to continue supporting global LGBT activism through his new role at the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights.
Did you know? Among Matthew's favorite bands is Vampire Weekend, whose keyboardist, Rostam Batmanglij, recently came out of the closet.
KARA WABBEL/SIERRA BERQUIST
Sierra, 24, grew up in a little blue house cuddled at the base of a small mountain in Fayetteville, Ark. After meandering about for a few years, Sierra decided to make a home in Chicago and start an art project. Sierra met her partner in crime, Kara, in spring 2008, and started barbara&barbara. The project began with absurd stickers, and somehow blossomed into an art gallery. Sierra is also co-producer of a monthly queer dance party, and has recently opened barbara&barbara hair parlor. On her own, Sierra makes art and is perpetually brewing ideas for future projects.
By way of train, her belongings strapped to her back, Kara, 27, came to the city of Chicago on a whim. Three years later she has fallen in love and certainly understands the pulse of the queer community. Aside from barbara&barbara, Kara DJ's dance parties that facilitate safe space for the queer community to come dance their pants off—literally. As for her scissor skills, she states that she loves to give a lesbian haircut and her clients love her because they needn't explain.
Did you know? Kara and Sierra have actually looked into legally changing their names to Barbara.
JAKOB VANLAMMEREN
Jakob, 27, earned his B.A. in English from the University of Vermont, and an MFA in poetry from Bennington College. He facilitates RAWR, a creative writing group at the Broadway Youth Center; is a co-founder and collective member of the Write to Win Collective, a pen-pal project for transgender and gender non-conforming people surviving inside Illinois prisons; and is a collective member of the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois. Jakob's poems have appeared in diode, Pebble Lake Review, QueerZineLit.com and Hanging Loose magazine.
Did you know? Jakob loves Mariah Carey, and has aspirations of becoming a radical FTM tranny librarian.
SETH DODSON
—Seth Dodson: Seth, 28, has been performing in the Chicago comedy scene the past five years. He founded the Qweirdo comedy showcase at world-famous comedy club iO, which donates a portion of its proceeds to Lambda Legal. He is also one third of improv group 1, 2, 3, Fag!, a member of GayCo and 2008 champion of Impress These Apes, winning the comedy challenge with a gay-positive finale.
Did you know? Sean sleeps with his eyes open.
JAKOB VANLAMMEREN
Jakob, 27, earned his B.A. in English from the University of Vermont, and an MFA in poetry from Bennington College. He facilitates RAWR, a creative writing group at the Broadway Youth Center; is a co-founder and collective member of the Write to Win Collective, a pen-pal project for transgender and gender non-conforming people surviving inside Illinois prisons; and is a collective member of the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois. Jakob's poems have appeared in diode, Pebble Lake Review, QueerZineLit.com and Hanging Loose magazine.
Did you know? Jakob loves Mariah Carey, and has aspirations of becoming a radical FTM tranny librarian.
OWEN DANIEL McCARTER, Esq.
—Owen Daniel-McCarter, Esq.: Owen, 28, is one of the founding collective members of the Transformative Justice Law Project ( TJLP ) of Illinois, which provides free, zealous, life-affirming and gender-affirming holistic legal services to poor transgender and gender non-conforming people targeted by the criminal legal system in Chicago, as well as folks in prisons throughout Illinois. TJLP provides legal services with a commitment to three core values: the right to gender self-determination, vision towards a long-term goal of prison abolition, and dedication to resisting state-sponsored systems of control through transformative justice and community empowerment models. Owen—who has advised LGBTQ organizations such as Chicago Dyke March—is also an adjunct professor at DePaul University.
Did you know? Owen is a Pisces with a Cancer rising and an Aquarius moon.
