Alec Mapa _______
On June 16 at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus will celebrate its 25th anniversary with, among other things, a slew of songs and some knockout comedy. The latter will be provided by out Broadway and TV veteran Alec Mapa, who took a few moments from his hectic life to talk with Windy City Times about passports, activism and Noah's Arc.
Windy City Times: So, how are you?
Alec Mapa: I'm doing great. My sister is leaving for Mexico, and the passport system is such a mess right now. You never needed a passport to go to Canada or Mexico before. She applied for her passport three months ago, and it never arrived, so we had to go to directly to the passport office—and it's the closest I'll ever come to the Ellis Island experience. We stood in line for four a half hours yesterday; to pick up the passport today took two hours. So, my message to the readers of Windy City Times is to get your passports now.
I care; I give.
WCT: Yes. You give until it hurts. [ Laughs ]
AM: It's part of my official duties as America's Gaysian sweetheart.
WCT: Now, where did that [ nickname ] come from?
AM: Somebody at ABC on the set of some show called me that because I was talking about how busy I was; I was doing something for L.A. AIDS Project and I was getting a GLAAD award [ among other things ] . And then someone said sarcastically, 'Well, it's because you're America's Gaysian Sweetheart,'—and I am, dammit!
It's also because I came of age when everybody died. I grew up in San Francisco in the '70s and I moved to New York in the '80s, and every single one of my mentors died of AIDS—and my activism was borne of that. I have always been a part of [ AIDS-related ] organizations.
WCT: How would you say that activism today compares with activism back in the '80s?
AM: In the '80s, we saw what AIDS looked like. You wouldn't see someone for three weeks, and then when you saw him, he'd look like an old man—emaciated. And then if you didn't see him for another month, you just assumed he died. AIDS had more of a face then; you didn't have the [ medicinal ] cocktails; and it was so clear that the government did not give a shit. It wasn't until Nancy Reagan's hairdresser died of AIDS that the Reagans did anything about it—and they knew tons of gay people. But it wasn't until it affected them personally that they did anything.
In the '80s, it really was life and death; you had to get involved or someone would not get his lunch. Now, AIDS is more of a manageable disease and people are living longer; [ the disease ] is not as terrifying now. But the cocktail regimen is exhausting and the cocktail is toxic, [ plus ] it's very expensive.
WCT: Switching gears, have you been to Chicago?
AM: Chicago is one of my favorite cities. What I love about Chicago is that everybody is really proud to be from there. Also, there's a large African-American population there; I was on a UPN series [ Half and Half ] for four years, so when I went to Marshall Field's it was like I was Madonna. [ WCT and AM laugh ] We used to call [ the UPN ] the You People's Network.
WCT: Speaking of African Americans, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that you did commentary on the DVD of the second season of Noah's Arc.
AM: I haven't heard the commentary yet, but I love those guys! There's a yearly fundraiser I do for GLASS ( Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services ) , which is for gay and lesbian youths who run away, are kicked out of their homes or who are sexually abused. I called the Noah's Arc people for the fundraiser, and they all came. The kids were so thrilled. To see people like the cast of Noah's Arc is so important for these minority kids.
WCT: Did you know that, according to [ Noah's Arc producer ] Patrik-Ian Polk, the 'ARC' in Noah's Arc stand for [ the main character's ] best friends—Alex, Ricky and Chance?
AM: Oh, my God! I'm a big dummy.
But I love those guys—and if you ever get a chance to kiss Darryl Stephens on the lips... He has the softest lips, ever. But you can't go wrong with any of them.
WCT: What else are you up to?
AM: I just finished up the third season of Desperate Housewives, and it's the gayest television set in Hollywood. It's like a circuit party with craft service.
I remember the first time I met Eva [ Longoria ] ; I didn't know how to act because she's so beautiful. Then, when I realized that people were telling fart jokes around her and she was laughing her head off, I said, 'I'm home.'
For more about the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' 25th anniversary celebration, see www.cgmc.org . Also, see www.TicketMaster.com or call 312-902-1500.
