THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Rocker Rob Thomas makes a few comments in the Chicago Sun-Times ( 7/14 ) re his supposed dalliance with Tom Cruise. It's not true & 'Even if I was gay...' [ my type ] '... would be Brad Pitt.' Furthermore, says Thomas, the real insult is saying Cruise had converted him to Scientology.

From the 'Twists-and-Turns-of-History' file a strange little fact emerges in the Chicago Tribune ( 7/10 ) . The United Church of Christ in general synod voted to endorse same-sex marriage. Not even a close vote—3/4 in favor. Here's what's strange: this is the church descended from the Puritans and the Pilgrims of the 17th century in which homosexuality was punishable by death. Sentences were indeed carried out. But as the Bible says—in human affairs nothing is forever.

Truman Capote, the gay author, might be turning over in his grave, but only because of squirming in pleasure. ( He was a trifle self-centered. ) The NY Times ( 7/13 ) reports two movies are being made of his life. Capote is based on a bio by Gerald Clarke and Have You Heard is based on a book of interviews of Capote's associates by George Plimpton. Both movies revolve around the writing of In Cold Blood, the half-journalism/half-novel that Capote took from the murder of a Kansas family. Capote's emotional involvement with the two protagonists ran smack into the brick wall of their executions which Capote witnessed. His success with that book did not endear him to other writers. ( Capote, ironically by the way, appears as a character in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird which his cousin Harper Lee wrote. )

The Chicgo Trib ( 7/14 ) likes the new gay musical at the Bailiwick Arts Center, A Kiss from Alexander in which THE Alex the Great comes back from the dead to critique a tacky off-Broadway version of his life ( Colin Farrell, beware! ) via witty puns and cute silly Greek chorus boys.