Dissed and Dismissed: The Painful Side of Activism

Why it’s important to appreciate the activists among us while we can [View this e-mail as a web page]( November 18, 2019 Author Eve Ewing won Best Activist in the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll—among several categories she won this year. It got me thinking about another era of activism, during the years of ACT UP fighting back against AIDS, and one of that movement’s most prominent activists, Danny Sotomayor. The Reader wrote about Danny several times, including in this piece, “[The Angriest Queer.”]( Yesterday at City Winery I spoke about Danny in a Story Jam piece about his activism, and how he was dissed, dismissed, and disdained even by many within the gay community. His anger was often too hot to handle. But in his short life, he changed the world. He died at age 33 in 1992. We often don’t appreciate the activists when they are among us. It can take years to understand how precious they were, how their work impacted so many who will never know. Fortunately, we know we are living among greatness with Eve Ewing. And we’re glad our readers know that, too. Help the Chicago Reader celebrate some of the [Best of Chicago]( Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Thalia Hall in Pilsen, with food and performances from some of the best in Chicago. Tracy Baim, Publisher [BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!]( [In their new duo, pioneering women rockers Cherie Currie & Brie Darling continue to break the mold]( By [Monica Kendrick]( [Itasca’s sublime singer-songwriter sounds will warm your heart on Spring]( By [Steve Krakow]( [On Fran’s debut album, front woman Maria Jacobson claims her spot as one of Chicago’s best emerging indie rockers]( By [Leor Galil]( [@imLeor]( [The Steadfast Tin Soldier remains delightful in its second year]( Mary Zimmerman's adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale is moving and magical. By [Dmitry Samarov]( [P.Y.G. or the Mis-Edumacation of Dorian Belle cuts with double-edged satire]( A white Canadian pop star and two Black hip-hop artists share a reality-TV crib. By [Kerry Reid]( [@kerryreid]( [Issue of Nov 14-20, 2019 Vol. 49, No. 7]( [Fashion for all]( [Vihanga has arrived. The unisex clothing line has Chicago roots and a global message](. By [Kerry Cardoza]( [Download Issue]( (PDF) [@chicago_reader]( [/chicagoreader]( [@chicago_reader]( [Chicago Reader on LinkedIn]( [/chicagoreader]( [chicagoreader.com]( [Forward this e-mail to a friend](. Want to change how you receive these e-mails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. Copyright © 2019 Chicago Reader, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Chicago Reader 2930 S. Michigan Ave., Ste 102Chicago, IL 60616-3228 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](