Archives | Subscribe | Advertise | Contact

News

chicago

July 29-August 4, 2010

TarGET, OPEN IN UPTOWN,
IS UNDER FIRE AT HOME

Written by Gary Barlow

CHICAGO – Target came under fire from LGBT activists in Minnesota last week for spending $150,000 to support an anti-LGBT candidate for governor who’s praised and appeared with a Christian rock band that calls Muslims who execute gays “more moral” than American Christians.

The Minnesota-based retail giant gave $100,000 in cash and $50,000 in services to MN Forward, a political action committee running ads supporting Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.

Photo by Gary Barlow

Emmer has consistently voted against LGBT rights as a Minnesota state representative and has ties with You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, a Christian rock band whose lead singer, Bradlee Dean, has repeatedly condemned gays. Dean, who Emmer recently praised, has said that Muslims calling for gays to be executed are “more moral than even the American Christians. ...They know homosexuality is an abomination.”

Target has been viewed as an LGBT-friendly company and has supported LGBT events, particularly in Minneapolis. But some activists there say the company is betraying the LGBT community by supporting Emmer.

“Emmer stands alone among candidates for governor in opposing equality for GLBT Minnesotans. Target should not stand with him,” OutFront Minnesota said in an open letter to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel July 22.

In a statement to TheColu.mn, a Minnesota LGBT political site, a Target spokesperson said that while Target “is proud of the diversity of its team,” it supports Emmer because the company has “a large stake in the continued economic growth of our state.”

The controversy came just as Target opened its newest Chicago location in Uptown, where Mayor Richard M. Daley joined Ald. Helen Shiller (46th), state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and hundreds of new employees July 20 at the opening of the new Target store at the old Wilson Yard site in Uptown.

The Target opening marks the completion of the Wilson Yard development, a project Shiller said would have “a dramatic impact on the 46th Ward” and “spur future commercial and retail development” in the surrounding area.

“This development represents one of the best and most important uses of tax increment financing funds today,” Daley said. “Making key investments in our neighborhoods – from building new schools, fire stations and libraries to developing sites for new retail stores and preserving affordable housing – makes for a more stable and secure community.”

ACTIVIST FACES FINE FOR
TRYING TO COUNTER BIGOTS

Written by Gary Barlow

CHICAGO – Chicago gay activist Andy Thayer could be fined $1,000 and face a month in jail Aug. 2 for standing up for his right to counter-protest a group of anti-LGBT bigots who mar the end of the Chicago Pride Parade every year.

The bigots are cordoned off near the end of the parade, in recent years at Diversey and Cambridge. They hold large signs calling gays “wicked” and “sinful,” among other things, and shout anti-LGBT hate speech at the parade marchers and float riders as they near Lincoln Park.

Last year, Thayer and his group, the Gay Liberation Network, stopped their truck and very large sign in front of the bigots to counter their anti-LGBT message. That caused problems, police and parade marshals said, because it stopped the parade from moving.

This year, Thayer said, police initiated communications with Thayer and GLN before the parade to figure out a way GLN could counter-protest the bigots without blocking the parade.

“They called us to get this thing worked out,” Thayer said. “I returned the call. We made an agreement.”

Thayer said the deal was agreed to by Chicago Police Commander Frank Gross, of CPD’s Special Events Section, and approved letting GLN individual members carrying signs, including one very large one, stop at the curb in front of the bigots, while allowing the rest of the parade to proceed.

But when GLN got to Diversey and Cambridge and started to do just that, police told them to keep moving. That angered Thayer, who urged them to call Gross. Thayer said the police officers at the scene insisted that they didn’t know anything about GLN’s agreement with Gross. Eventually, Thayer was arrested for “failing to obey a lawful order” because he demanded the right to counter-protest the bigots.

“Yet the description of the charge is that I erected a scaffolding in the public way without a permit,” Thayer said, referring to the large GLN sign that had already been carried by the group throughout the parade route.

Thayer said he thinks the entire sequence of events could have been avoided by better communication between police about what was supposed to happen when GLN encountered the bigots.

“I believe this started as a genuine and innocent fuck-up by the police,” Thayer said. “But they refuse to admit they made a mistake.”

As activists who often take to the streets to protest, GLN and Thayer have clashed with police before, but they also are experienced enough to generally understand what will and won’t result in arrests. Working out a deal to allow them to exercise their right to counter the bigots, while ensuring a smooth end to the parade for others, could have been a win-win for everyone involved, Thayer said, but not if police won’t honor it.

“If they can’t keep an agreement, then there’s no upside for me to waste my time talking to these guys in the future,” Thayer said.

Gay activist Craig Teichen said he doesn’t understand why Chicago officials and Chicago Pride Parade officials allow the bigots to sully the end of the event every year anyway.

“The African American community and the police would never allow the KKK to demonstrate on the periphery of the Bud Billiken Parade,” Teichen said, referring to the annual South Side back-to-school celebration attended by hundreds of thousands.

Teichen said Thayer was well within his rights during the incident.

“He had every right to be angry that we couldn’t counter the bigots and the horrible things they had to say,” Teichen said.

Thayer’s hearing is at 1:30 p.m., Aug. 2, at the city’s Central Hearing Facility at 400 W. Superior St.

CDPH MOVING TO FILL
LGBT HEALTH POSITION

Written by Gary Barlow

CHICAGO – Despite the City of Chicago’s budget crunch, the Chicago Department of Public Health is moving to fill the vacant position of director of the Office of LGBT Health, a CDPH spokesman said July 23.

“We fully understand the importance and support the work of the CDPH LGBT Health Office,” CDPH’s Tim Hadac said. “We are moving forward with the process of hiring a director.”

The job has been unfilled since its former director, Simone Koehlinger (right), left CDPH June 14, and some in the community have speculated that the City’s budget woes might be why. Those concerns led the Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ Advisory Council on LGBT Issues, whose members are appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley, to approve a letter July 21 to CDPH Comm. Bechara Choucair urging CDPH to fill the position and continue to support the office.

“As one of only a few of its kind in the U.S., the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Office of LGBT Health has consistently played a leading role in addressing the specific needs of the city’s LGBT communities since its establishment in 1999,” ACLGBTI’s letter stated. “Continued support of the Office of LGBT Health and the timely appointment of a new director of that office will send a strong message that CDPH is committed to the health and wellbeing of the city’s LGBT communities.”

But Hadac said last week that CDPH plans to advertise the position soon and that the office would continue to have the City’s support.

“When we are ready to accept applications, the position will be posted publicly – both on the City of Chicago website and in other media,” Hadac said. “We look forward to this office continuing its proud and important history of service to people all across the city.”

Koehlinger took over the post in July 2005, succeeding Lora Branch. Under her leadership, the Office of LGBT Health took a leading role in fighting crystal meth abuse and other substance abuse in the LGBT community. Koehlinger also worked to reduce the prevalence of smoking among LGBTs in Chicago.

Koehlinger left CDPH to take a position that deals with obesity and health with the Cook County Department of Public Health.

GLN TO PROTEST ANTI-LGBT
GROUP IN CAROL STREAM

Compiled by Gary Barlow

CHICAGO – LGBT advocates and allies plan to counter a right-wing group’s efforts to indoctrinate students with anti-LGBT information with a protest Aug. 4 at the group’s event in west suburban Carol Stream.

The Gay Liberation Network is organizing the protest and said it would be joined by the DuPage County chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Woodstock/McHenry County chapter of Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays and La Voz de los de Abajo. The groups are protesting an “academy” designed to teach students how to “fight the homosexual-bisexual-transsexual agenda.” The three-day event is hosted by the anti-LGBT Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, which is led by longtime anti-gay activist Peter LaBarbera.

“AFTAH has a long history of telling lies about LGBT people and recently was designated a ‘hate group’ by the Southern Poverty Law Center,” said Bob Schwartz, of GLN. “What they are really trying to do is inculcate the next generation with a religious, sectarian-based hatred of gays.”

GLN said one of the speakers scheduled for the AFTAH “academy” is Cliff Kincaid, an outspoken anti-LGBT activist who said he plans to talk about “the homosexual drive for the ‘right’ to donate possibly infected and contaminated blood to the nation’s blood supply.” Kincaid famously urged Ugandan legislators to pass a law this year that would have led to long prison terms and possible executions of gays in that African country.

“With the inclusion of a ‘kill the gays’ spokesperson like Kincaid, the AFTAH youth academy is an attempt to legitimize a set of politics so vile that even leading figures on the religious right have felt compelled to condemn them,” said Schwartz.

The protest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Aug. 4, at AFTAH’s headquarters at 25W560 Geneva Road in Carol Stream. For more information email lgbtliberation@aol.com or go to gayliberation.net.

LESBIAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
GIVES $10,000 IN GRANTS

chicago – The Lesbian Leadership Council at Chicago Foundation for Women announced $10,000 in grants to four Chicago-area nonprofits last week. The funded programs focus on LBTQ women, girls and individuals.

The council’s Lavender Fund granted $2,500 each to four organizations: Affinity Community Services provides community resources, political advocacy and a safe space on the South Side of Chicago for lesbian and bisexual African American women. The Amiguitas Program at Amigas Latinas Association brings together young, queer Latinas for discussions, arts and activism. Chicago Books to Women in Prison is a volunteer collective that distributes free books to women in prisons nationwide. Gender JUST (Gender Justice United for Social Transformation) develops leadership and builds power by organizing multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-generational LGBTQ people and allies.

The council pointed to the importance of supporting Gender JUST, a young and effective organization that is a new CFW grantee.

“This is what the Lavender Fund is for: bringing support and awareness to groups that are pushing the LGBTQ community to do more for the marginalized within its own borders, which so often means women and girls,” said Jane M. Saks, Lesbian Leadership Council co-chair.

The council raises money for the Lavender Fund through membership dues, fundraising events and donations. The council also promotes and cultivates leadership among underrepresented women and engages the local community through events and collaborative partnerships.

The five Leadership Councils at Chicago Foundation for Women – African American, Asian American, Latina, Lesbian and Young Women’s – raise money for grantmaking funds that support programs serving women and girls in diverse communities. In 2010, the councils broke all previous grantmaking records by collectively awarding $42,000 through 12 grants.

Chicago Foundation for Women raises money to fund and support organizations that help women and girls, aiming to make smarter connections between need, money and solutions. CFW stresses that when women and girls are secure, whole communities are made better, and works to improve the lives of women and girls through grants, advocacy, leadership development and public and grantee education. Since 1985, CFW has given more than 2,800 grants totaling more than $17 million and helped thousands of women and girls become philanthropists. For more information, visit cfw.org.

Above: The Lesbian Leadership Council at Chicago Foundation for Women presents Chicago Books to Women in Prison with a $2,500 grant from the Lavender Fund. Left to right, Arline Welty, executive director at Chicago BWP; Laura Stempel, council member; Melba Rodriguez, council member; Suzanne Kraus, council member; and Pat Ewert, council member.

Photo by Kat Fitzgerald

BEHIV TO HOST AIDS RUN & WALK KICKOFF EVENT

CHICAGO – Better Existence with HIV is hosting an AIDS Run and Walk Chicago kickoff event to register members for its team and to solicit donations to support team members and BEHIV’s life-saving programs. The event, a party hosted by BEHIV Board member Mike Peck, is Aug. 14, 8 p.m.-midnight, at Mr. Peck’s residence, 5455 N. Sheridan Road, #3112, Chicago IL 60640. There is no charge to attend the party. Door prizes are being awarded to guests and information on Team BEHIV activities is to be presented to attendees. All proceeds benefit BEHIV. This year’s AIDS Run and Walk Chicago, organized by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is Oct. 2. Since its establishment in 2001, AIDS Run and Walk Chicago has raised more than $3 million net to fight HIV/AIDS. Through the CommunityDirect program, pledges collected by teams affiliated with the Service Providers Council are able to raise funds to benefit Chicagoland HIV/AIDS service organizations whose work is so invaluable to this cause. To join Team BEHIV or make a pledge, visit afc.aidschicago.org/netcommunity/teambehiv. For more information, contact Eric Nelson at 773-293-4740, ext. 35, or email ericnelson@behiv.org.

OBITUARIES

TROY LYNN MOONEYHAM

Troy Lynn Mooneyham died suddenly on Saturday, July 3, 2010.

Mr. Mooneyham was a unique and treasured friend to all who knew him.

Originally from Iowa Park, Texas, he moved to Chicago 15 years ago to be with his best friend and soulmate Richard “Rick” Hedberg.

Mr. Mooneyham made many friends and eventually fell in love with Chicago and all it had to offer.

He is survived by his mother, Shirley Revis; sister, Michelle Wright; nephews, Zachary and Zane; niece, Kimberly Wright; friends at Granville Anvil and the wonderful staff and many patrons at Bucks Saloon.

Donations may be made in his name to Vital Bridges, 5543 N. Broadway, 773-271-5550, with Lori Cannon.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, at Good News United Church of Christ Rogers Park, 7649 N. Paulina (one block north of Howard Red Line stop).

ROBERT JAMES MAZZACONE

Robert James Mazzacone died after a short illness on July 17, 2010.

Mr. Mazzacone was born on October 4, 1954.

He enjoyed camping and he loved his family and friends.

Mr. Mazzacone was preceded in death by his father, Louis John; mother, Nettie Dorsett Barracca Mazzacone; and brother, Daniel. He is survived by his daughter, Thersa Beth, and son, Joel Scott, both of Quincy, MA; brother, Richard of SC; sister, Sharon Luksha of MT; brother, Louis of Beacon, NY; sister Diane Dowsey of Rowlett, TX; brother, David of NY; his sister, Louisa, of NY; sister, Angel Kujan of NY; and many nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday July 31, at the Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago, Il 60613.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Benevolence Fund of aChurch4Me, Metropolitan Community Church, 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago, IL 60657.