Halem and partner Red Tremmel spent many years in Chicago working on a variety of LGBT causes, including cultural activism. They away moved for work reasons in 2008. Halem is former executive director of the Lesbian Community Cancer ( now Care ) Project, and a standup comic. Tremmel is a researcher on burlesque issues and active on trans rights. Tremmel co-founded the Sissy Butch Brothers, which did burlesque shows.