Disillusionment & Consequences: Moving Equality Forward After Setbacks

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:53:23 -0600

Now that a little time has passed after the midterm elections, it's time for us to pick ourselves up and figure out how to move forward in a very different political climate. There has been much talk about voter disillusionment with the Democrats, especially in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) community, which voted for the GOP in much higher numbers than in previous cycles -- even against their own interests and rights in many cases.

There is no doubt that proponents of equality are in a tough spot. We have the Democrats on one side, who constantly ask for our votes while also demanding our patience and to "wait" for our rights until it's a politically good time (which never comes despite controlling the Presidency, House, and Senate). On the other side are the Republicans, a political party with discrimination against LGBT people literally written into their platform and a history of not just blocking our rights, but using us as a "wedge issues" to drive out bigoted voters in elections. We have supportive lip-service or outright hostility.

Not exactly the best choices, proven by the fact that even though LGBT rights are gaining broad support among the American public, politicians continue to lag generations behind.

Given this, it's no wonder our community has grown angry, disillusioned, tired, and feels betrayed on all sides as the basic American Dream continues to allude us for no other reason than outdated bigotry and personal bias. But how can we move beyond those feelings, or perhaps even use them, to push forward on the equality and basic rights we need to live full, complete lives especially given an at least two year period when the GOP is going to block any forward movement on civil rights in the House?

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Wedding Announcement Gets Lesbian Fired From Illinois Catholic University

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:32:58 -0600

Benedictine University doesn't mind you being gay. Really. As long as you don't tell anyone.

Administrator Laine Tadlock, who was director of the education program at Benedictine, was forced from her job from the Catholic university in Springfield, Illinois after a local paper, The State Journal-Register, published her wedding announcement to her partner Kae Helstrom in Iowa. The university knew she was gay and about her out-of-state wedding. But apparently took issue with the announcement mentioning she worked at the university:

In a Sept. 30 letter to Tadlock's attorney, Benedictine President William Carroll wrote, "... By publicizing the marriage ceremony in which she participated in Iowa, she has significantly disregarded and flouted core religious beliefs which, as a Catholic institution, it is our mission to uphold."

That's right. Marrying her partner "flouted" the Catholic institution so much that she couldn't do her job anymore.

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Waiting for Rights Never Works

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 17:26:05 -0500

It's been a common mantra coming from the Democratic Party, the Obama Administration, large beltway equality groups like the Human Rights Campaign, and many others for years: just be patient and wait.

We'll get to you and your basic civil rights eventually, but we're a little busy. Stop griping and hop on board or you'll be a wedge distraction that makes us lose elections.

So how has that plan worked out?

The LGBT community has been blamed, cajoled, insulted, courted, and ignored depending on whether our votes and dollars are needed, yet when it comes time for real leadership on issues that matter to basic, day-to-day rights, we are told to wait. Now, after the disastrous midterm elections, we've lost the chance of a generation to push forward on civil rights and equality for LGBT people.

We waited and once again got burned.

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Victims of "don't ask, don't tell" are in uniform

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 08:47:04 -0500

The "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in our armed forces for no other reason than outdated bigotry and homophobia is one of the few political issues on which most Americans agree.

Poll after poll shows Americans from every walk of life, regardless of party affiliation, religion, race or any other factor oppose the ban and support a full repeal--by more than 70 percent in some cases.

Yet this issue has become a land mine for the Obama administration. The lack of focus, planning and, most of all, leadership have turned an already horrendous policy into an even more dangerous situation for gay and lesbian service members.

Take a quick look at recent events and the ensuing confusing news reports that flooded the media.

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Chicago Performers Come Together to Celebrate and Encourage the Lives of LGBT Youth

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:30:25 -0500

With the recent spotlight on the horrific epidemic of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth bullying and suicide, it's easy to get disheartened and feel that things are spiraling out of control for our young people. Yet in the face of continuing tragedy, like Tuesday's news that another young gay teen killed himself in Michigan, we can find a challenge to all of us for greater action in raising awareness around suicide prevention.

Chicago certainly hasn't taken this challenge lying down. The newly created Chicago Ambassadors of The Trevor Project, the national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts LGBTQ youth, has been embraced by the entire community. The town was "painted purple" to show support for LGBT kids on Wednesday's Spirit Day and business after business has stepped up to host events and help raise awareness around this important issue. But wearing purple is just the first step, a beginning of a conversation, in a long process of creating an environment in our country where young people can come out and be themselves safely and without fear or shame. Long after this issue fades from the news, LGBT young people will still need help and resources, so once again the community is coming together to raise awareness and encourage LGBT youth.

Roscoe's Tavern (3356 N. Halsted St.) will be hosting a star-studded Benefit for The Trevor Projecton October 25th at 10pm, a night to celebrate and encourage the lives of LGBT Youth. All the money raised will benefit the Trevor Project and their life saving work. Shawn Hazen, Director of Special Events at Roscoe's Tavern, certainly sees the need for this event:

“After 23 years of love and support, Roscoe's has a responsibility and duty to step up and give back to our community when it needs help. After the rash of recent tragedies, the Trevor Project is more important than ever and we look forward to a very successful evening that will help them continue their essential work.”

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Painting the Town Purple in Chicago to Raise Awareness About LGBT Bullying & Suicide

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:28:40 -0500

Once again, local Chicago businesses are coming together to help confront the huge problem of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth bullying and suicide. While LGBTQ bullying and the increased risk of suicide is not a new problem, the recent media coverage has finally helped put this important issue issue into the spotlight.

Local bars Scarlet and Minibar UltraLounge &Cafe in Boystown announced today that they will be participating in a local event called Painting the 'Town Purple on October 20, 2010. That date has been deemed "Spirit Day", where the LGBT community and their allies will wear purple in honor of the LGBTQ youth who have committed suicide due to homophobic abuse and bullying in their homes, at at their schools, or in their daily lives. Purple represents "Spirit" on the LGBT rainbow flag, so the color was chosen to honor the spirit of our community as we remember those we've lost and come together to make sure young people know they aren't alone.

The Painting the 'Town Purple event will benefit the Trevor Project, which works every day to save the lives of young LGBTQ people by running the Trevor Lifeline, the nation's only 24-hour suicide and crisis prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. They also also run TrevorChat, an online messaging service that connects young people with a counselor without having to pick up the phone and TrevorSpace, a bully-free zone online where LGBTQ youth, their friends and allies can connect with other people just like them all around the world.

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National Coming Out Day: My Story

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 08:44:53 -0500

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an internationally observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and transgender issues. It is observed by members of the LGBT communities and their allies on October 11 every year. This year, with the focus on LGBT bullying and suicide in the news, it is more important than every to tell out stories and let our youth know it does get better.

Looking back, it is hard to really pinpoint one single moment as when I "came out." I grew up in a small farming community outside of Orlando, FL. The town name literally translates from Native American to "The Big Potato"... Yikes! For as long as I can remember, I liked boys. I was just always different. I had a crush on Luke Skywalker, sang and danced along to Debbie Gibson, and played with Barbies. I loved musicals, the solo-flex commercials with sweaty men, and fashion.

Not exactly your typical farm boy.

Not surprisingly, this never really sat well with my family or the people I grew up around. I was always the kid everyone called "Fag" or teased for being girly. It seems everyone knew I was gay before I did. I struggled with the feelings I had for other boys and tried to bury them. I tried to date girls, pray it away, or act "more like a boy" by attempting sports. By high school, I was already labeled as the token queer, even though I continued to deny it. Bullying was an everyday reality of my life.

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Chicago Stands Up Against Anti-Gay Bullying & LGBT Suicide

Tue, 5 Oct 2010 08:25:41 -0500

It's been a hard month for many LGBT people and their allies. The news has been filled with horrific story after horrific story of bullied gay or questioning youth who have taken their own life. While LGBT bullying and the increased risk of suicide is not a new problem, the recent media coverage has finally helped push a huge problem into the spotlight. The five reported suicides this month alone show the need for education, visibility, and action:

Billy Lucas on September 9, 2010
Tyler Clementi on September 22, 2010
Asher Brown on September 23, 2010
Seth Walsh on September 28, 2010
Raymond Chase on September 29, 2010

According to The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, LGBTQ teens are four times more likely to commit suicide than their straight counterparts. Statistically, a member of the gay community will attempt suicide every 5 hours -- with most suicides and attempts resulting because of intolerance, harassment, and bullying. And for every successful suicide, 100 - 200 attempts are made. This isn't just a problem, this is an epidemic.

But Chicago isn't sitting by silently in the face of this tragic problem. And I couldn't be prouder of my new hometown.

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'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Debacle: Where We Are & Where We Go

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:13:28 -0500

In yet another disappointing blow to the LGBT community, its allies, and equality, the Republicans in the Senate (with the help of two Blue Dog Democrats) successfully filibustered and killed the Defense Authorization Bill which contained the legislative repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bans open services by gays and lesbians in the military.

By a vote of 56-43, a unanimous GOP block of Senators led by John McCain, and joined by Senators Pryor & Blanche Lincoln (both Democrats from Arkansas), blocked the debate and vote for cloture on the Authorization Bill. On a side note, both of Illinois' Democratic Senators, Dick Durbin and Roland Burris, voted for repeal of DADT. In laymen's terms: for the first time in history, the Defense Authorization Bill was filibustered and killed all in the name of homophobia and outright bigotry against LGBT Americans.

This is a huge setback to a legislative repeal of DADT. There is still a slight chance of a lame-duck Senate vote in December, after the midterm elections. That is also the month that the major Pentagon study on the DADT policy is due and the House of Representatives have already passed the bill with the DADT repeal language. This option is still a HUGE "if" scenario. After a hard midterm election cycle, will Harry Reid bring another vote? No one knows. One thing that is certain, however, is that the vehement opposition from the GOP is certain to stay. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is unequivocally opposed to repealing DADT or giving the Democratic leadership any kind bipartisan agreement, and so-called moderates like Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine voted with their anti-gay GOP cohorts in this last vote to keep DADT.

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9-11 Remembered: A Flight Attendant's Story

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 08:39:50 -0500

Author's Note: I think it's important that we remember what happened and how we came together as individuals and as a nation after September 11th, especially in light of the recent abhorrent and repugnant bigotry, divisions, and fear that many have stoked in the name of scoring political points during an election year.

Many of you may know that I am a former flight attendant. What you may not know is that I was in the air on September 11th, working a flight leaving New York City going to Florida. I worked for an airline that has live TV's in every seat, so we were some of the few people in the air that actually watched the horrors of that day unfold live.

It all started normally enough. The crew of 6 (four flight attendants and two pilots) met for the early morning flight, expecting a short trip to Tampa and back. The plane was full of people, mostly bleary-eyed from having to make it to the airport on time. We did a quiet, low-key service, chatting with the few passengers who were awake, then went to our respective galleys to rummage up some breakfast for ourselves.

Then it happened.

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