Gay seniors will find home at old Town Hall police station
Chicago Sun-Times
By Fran Spielman and David Roeder,
taff Reporters
May 13, 2011
A former police station on the North Side that once was a symbol of discrimination to Chicago's gay community will become part of a housing development serving gay seniors.
For $1, the city will sell the old Town Hall District station, 3600 N. Halsted, to Heartland Housing Inc., sources said. The nonprofit developer will incorporate the old station into new construction of about 90 apartments for senior citizens.
The apartments will be priced for lower-income renters. The project is a final favor for the gay community from Mayor Daley, who leaves office Monday.
Senior housing has been seen as an unmet need among gays, many of whom want to stay in familiar neighborhoods as they age. Housing cannot legally be restricted by sexual orientation, but the project's location in Boystown means its immediate market is seniors who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.
The site is within the 44th Ward represented by Ald. Tom Tunney, the first openly gay member of the City Council.
City officials scheduled a news conference Friday to announce the plan and the developer. The sale requires City Council approval.
Michael Goldberg, executive director of Heartland Housing, said the design is incomplete but that it "will preserve much of the exterior of the old Town Hall station and some interior features." The building dates from 1907 and is under consideration for landmark status, which probably would be granted under the deal.
Goldberg said his group must secure tax credits and other funding sources to ensure that the apartments remain affordable. He said the funding process could take about a year. The project will include ground-floor commercial space and social services provided in conjunction with the Center on Halsted next door. The $20 million center opened in 2007, billed as the Midwest's first permanent community center for gays.
Four months ago, at a Center on Halsted event for then-mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel, Tunney talked about the irony of turning a police station that once epitomized the tensions between police and the gay community into a housing project that will benefit gay seniors.
The alderman said it wasn't long ago that police rounded up people simply on suspicion of being gay or for patronizing a gay bar.
Reached Thursday, Tunney said police attitudes have improved and officers in the Town Hall district are now "very supportive of LGBT rights and fairness."
"But there have been times where the relationship with the police department was confrontational," Tunney said. "There was a lot of confrontation over AIDS funding and the AIDS crisis in the '80s where police were pretty hard nosed in their enforcement. … The gay bars were very concerned about bar raids."
Over the years, Daley emerged as a champion on gay and lesbian issues. He engineered $5.4 million in loans and subsidies for the Center on Halsted, where a rooftop garden bears the mayor's name.
Daley also championed gay marriage, appointed Tunney and gay department heads and extended health benefits to registered live-in partners of gay and lesbian city employees. He welcomed the 2006 Gay Games, increased city support for AIDS funding and established the LGBT Hall of Fame.
The city closed the station in 2010 when the new Town Hall headquarters opened at 850 W. Addison, just up the street. A vacant parcel next to the old building will be part of the development.
Goldberg said Heartland Housing has built 1,600 units over nearly 25 years. "Our mission is to serve and to house people most vulnerable to danger and injustice," he said.
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$30,000 CUBS CARE GRANT AWARDED TO
YOUTH FITNESS PROGRAM AT CENTER ON HALSTED
APRIL 28, 2011
Cubs Care presented a $30,000 grant to Center on Halsted's Youth Fitness Program on Wednesday, April 27. The fitness program has become an important component of COH's broader Youth Program, which helps youth improve lifelong achievement rates and become productive citizens. The Youth Fitness Program offers sports, fitness, health and nutrition programming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 13-24, along with opportunities for social and leadership development. It targets youth often marginalized within, or denied service by, mainstream sports and fitness programs—in other words, youth who are the least likely to take part in sports and recreation.
Center on Halsted's youth program serves more than 600 youth each year – 300 of them through after-school programming or our Breakfast Club for homeless young people. Approximately 80 youth participate in the Youth Fitness Program each year.
Cubs Care is a fund of the McCormick Foundation, and supports nonprofit social service and youth initiatives in Lakeview, Uptown and Lincoln Park.
Center on Halsted is the most comprehensive lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community center in the Midwest, and we strive to meet the social, recreational and cultural needs of people of all ages in a safe and nurturing environment. Every day, more than 1,000 people walk through the doors of our 65,000-square foot building, which includes a gym, theater, computer lab, two art galleries and a rooftop garden. We offer a variety of social services and public programs, including mental health services, support groups, and free HIV testing 7 days a week.
www.centeronhalsted.org, 773.472.6469, open 8am – 10pm daily.
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Remarks by the President and Vice President at Signing of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 - 12/22/2010
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release December 22, 2010
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND THE VICE PRESIDENT
AT SIGNING OF THE
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL REPEAL ACT OF 2010
Department of Interior
Washington, D.C.
9:10 A.M. EST
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hey, folks, how are you? (Applause.) It's a good day. (Applause.) It's a real good day. As some of my colleagues can tell you, this is a long time in coming. But I am happy it's here.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Please be seated.
It was a great five-star general and President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who once said, "Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness and consideration, and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace."
By repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" today, we take a big step toward fostering justice, fairness and consideration, and that real cooperation President Eisenhower spoke of.
This fulfills an important campaign promise the President and I made, and many here on this stage made, and many of you have fought for, for a long time, in repealing a policy that actually weakens our national security, diminished our ability to have military readiness, and violates the fundamental American principle of fairness and equality -- that exact same set of principles that brave gay men and women will now be able to openly defend around the world. (Applause.)
It is both morally and militarily simply the right thing to do. And it's particularly important that this result was fully supported by those within the military who are charged with implementing it. And I want to pay particular respect, just as a personal note -- as we used to say, I used to be allowed to say in the Senate, a point of personal privilege -- Admiral Mullen, you're a stand-up guy. (Applause.) I think they like you. (Applause.)
He already has enough power. Don't -- (laughter.)
And it couldn't have been done without these men and women leading our military. And certainly it could not have been done without the steady, dedicated and persistent leadership of the President of the United States. (Applause.)
Mr. President, by signing this bill, you will be linking military might with an abiding sense of justice. You'll be projecting power by promoting fairness, and making the United States military as strong as they can be at a time we need it to be the strongest.
Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America, the Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Yes, we did! Yes, we did! Yes, we did!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! Yes, we did.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you, Mr. President!
THE PRESIDENT: You are welcome. (Applause.)
This is a good day.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes, it is!
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.) (Laughter.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: You rock, President Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Laughter.)
You know, I am just overwhelmed. This is a very good day. (Applause.) And I want to thank all of you, especially the people on this stage, but each and every one of you who have been working so hard on this, members of my staff who worked so hard on this. I couldn't be prouder.
Sixty-six years ago, in the dense, snow-covered forests of Western Europe, Allied Forces were beating back a massive assault in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge. And in the final days of fighting, a regiment in the 80th Division of Patton's Third Army came under fire. The men were traveling along a narrow trail. They were exposed and they were vulnerable. Hundreds of soldiers were cut down by the enemy.
And during the firefight, a private named Lloyd Corwin tumbled 40 feet down the deep side of a ravine. And dazed and trapped, he was as good as dead. But one soldier, a friend, turned back. And with shells landing around him, amid smoke and chaos and the screams of wounded men, this soldier, this friend, scaled down the icy slope, risking his own life to bring Private Corwin to safer ground.
For the rest of his years, Lloyd credited this soldier, this friend, named Andy Lee, with saving his life, knowing he would never have made it out alone. It was a full four decades after the war, when the two friends reunited in their golden years, that Lloyd learned that the man who saved his life, his friend Andy, was gay. He had no idea. And he didn't much care. Lloyd knew what mattered. He knew what had kept him alive; what made it possible for him to come home and start a family and live the rest of his life. It was his friend.
And Lloyd's son is with us today. And he knew that valor and sacrifice are no more limited by sexual orientation than they are by race or by gender or by religion or by creed; that what made it possible for him to survive the battlefields of Europe is the reason that we are here today. (Applause.) That's the reason we are here today. (Applause.)
So this morning, I am proud to sign a law that will bring an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." (Applause.) It is a law -- this law I'm about to sign will strengthen our national security and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risk their lives to defend.
No longer will our country be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans who were forced to leave the military -– regardless of their skills, no matter their bravery or their zeal, no matter their years of exemplary performance -– because they happen to be gay. No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie, or look over their shoulder, in order to serve the country that they love. (Applause.)
As Admiral Mike Mullen has said, "Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well." (Applause.)
That's why I believe this is the right thing to do for our military. That's why I believe it is the right thing to do, period.
Now, many fought long and hard to reach this day. I want to thank the Democrats and Republicans who put conviction ahead of politics to get this done together. (Applause. I want to recognize Nancy Pelosi -- (applause) -- Steny Hoyer -- (applause) -- and Harry Reid. (Applause.)
Today we're marking an historic milestone, but also the culmination of two of the most productive years in the history of Congress, in no small part because of their leadership. And so we are very grateful to them. (Applause.)
I want to thank Joe Lieberman -- (applause) -- and Susan Collins. (Applause.) And I think Carl Levin is still working -- (laughter) -- but I want to add Carl Levin. (Applause.) They held their shoulders to the wheel in the Senate. I am so proud of Susan Davis, who's on the stage. (Applause.) And a guy you might know -- Barney Frank. (Applause.) They kept up the fight in the House. And I've got to acknowledge Patrick Murphy, a veteran himself, who helped lead the way in Congress. (Applause.)
I also want to commend our military leadership. Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was a topic in my first meeting with Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and the Joint Chiefs. (Applause.) We talked about how to end this policy. We talked about how success in both passing and implementing this change depended on working closely with the Pentagon. And that's what we did.
And two years later, I'm confident that history will remember well the courage and the vision of Secretary Gates -- (applause) -- of Admiral Mike Mullen, who spoke from the heart and said what he believed was right -- (applause) -- of General James Cartwright, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; and Deputy Secretary William Lynn, who is here. (Applause.) Also, the authors of the Pentagon's review, Jeh Johnson and General Carter Ham, who did outstanding and meticulous work -- (applause) -- and all those who laid the groundwork for this transition.
And finally, I want to express my gratitude to the men and women in this room who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Services. (Applause.) I want to thank all the patriots who are here today, all of them who were forced to hang up their uniforms as a result of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- but who never stopped fighting for this country, and who rallied and who marched and fought for change. I want to thank everyone here who stood with them in that fight.
Because of these efforts, in the coming days we will begin the process laid out by this law. Now, the old policy remains in effect until Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and I certify the military's readiness to implement the repeal. And it's especially important for service members to remember that. But I have spoken to every one of the service chiefs and they are all committed to implementing this change swiftly and efficiently. We are not going to be dragging our feet to get this done. (Applause.)
Now, with any change, there's some apprehension. That's natural. But as Commander-in-Chief, I am certain that we can effect this transition in a way that only strengthens our military readiness; that people will look back on this moment and wonder why it was ever a source of controversy in the first place.
I have every confidence in the professionalism and patriotism of our service members. Just as they have adapted and grown stronger with each of the other changes, I know they will do so again. I know that Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, as well as the vast majority of service members themselves, share this view. And they share it based on their own experiences, including the experience of serving with dedicated, duty-bound service members who were also gay.
As one special operations warfighter said during the Pentagon's review -- this was one of my favorites -- it echoes the experience of Lloyd Corwin decades earlier: "We have a gay guy in the unit. He's big, he's mean, he kills lots of bad guys." (Laughter.) "No one cared that he was gay." (Laughter.) And I think that sums up perfectly the situation. (Applause.)
Finally, I want to speak directly to the gay men and women currently serving in our military. For a long time your service has demanded a particular kind of sacrifice. You've been asked to carry the added burden of secrecy and isolation. And all the while, you've put your lives on the line for the freedoms and privileges of citizenship that are not fully granted to you.
You're not the first to have carried this burden, for while today marks the end of a particular struggle that has lasted almost two decades, this is a moment more than two centuries in the making.
There will never be a full accounting of the heroism demonstrated by gay Americans in service to this country; their service has been obscured in history. It's been lost to prejudices that have waned in our own lifetimes. But at every turn, every crossroads in our past, we know gay Americans fought just as hard, gave just as much to protect this nation and the ideals for which it stands.
There can be little doubt there were gay soldiers who fought for American independence, who consecrated the ground at Gettysburg, who manned the trenches along the Western Front, who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima. Their names are etched into the walls of our memorials. Their headstones dot the grounds at Arlington.
And so, as the first generation to serve openly in our Armed Forces, you will stand for all those who came before you, and you will serve as role models to all who come after. And I know that you will fulfill this responsibility with integrity and honor, just as you have every other mission with which you've been charged.
And you need to look no further than the servicemen and women in this room -- distinguished officers like former Navy Commander Zoe Dunning. (Applause.) Marines like Eric Alva, one of the first Americans to be injured in Iraq. (Applause.) Leaders like Captain Jonathan Hopkins, who led a platoon into northern Iraq during the initial invasion, quelling an ethnic riot, earning a Bronze Star with valor. (Applause.) He was discharged, only to receive emails and letters from his soldiers saying they had known he was gay all along -- (laughter) -- and thought that he was the best commander they ever had. (Applause.)
There are a lot of stories like these -- stories that only underscore the importance of enlisting the service of all who are willing to fight for this country. That's why I hope those soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have been discharged under this discriminatory policy will seek to reenlist once the repeal is implemented. (Applause.)
That is why I say to all Americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this country in uniform: Your country needs you, your country wants you, and we will be honored to welcome you into the ranks of the finest military the world has ever known. (Applause.)
Some of you remembered I visited Afghanistan just a few weeks ago. And while I was walking along the rope line -- it was a big crowd, about 3,000 -- a young woman in uniform was shaking my hand and other people were grabbing and taking pictures. And she pulled me into a hug and she whispered in my ear, "Get 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' done." (Laughter and applause.) And I said to her, "I promise you I will." (Applause.)
For we are not a nation that says, "don't ask, don't tell." We are a nation that says, "Out of many, we are one." (Applause.) We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot. We are a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal. (Applause.) Those are the ideals that generations have fought for. Those are the ideals that we uphold today. And now, it is my honor to sign this bill into law. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you, Mr. President!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you!
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We're here, Mr. President. Enlist us now. (Laughter.)
(The bill is signed.)
THE PRESIDENT: This is done. (Applause.)
END 9:35 A.M. EST
.
DECEMBER 2010 SUCCESS STORIES
SAGE AND YOUTH PATRONS ENJOY THANKSGIVING AT THE CENTER
Center on Halsted hosted its second annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner last Thursday, serving a traditional, sit-down dinner to our SAGE and youth patrons. Many seniors feel the pain of isolation most acutely around the holidays, whether grappling with mobility problems, family rejection or lost friends. Many youth cannot return to their families because they were spurned after coming out. We were proud to offer a warm, safe and vibrant Thanksgiving dinner this year. Seniors, youth and volunteers dined together and got to know each other over turkey, pumpkin pie, and all the fixings. A special thank you to MillerCoors for donating the delicious meal – this year and last! We also couldn't have pulled it off without the help of more than 30 volunteers who spent part of their holiday decorating The Center, preparing and serving food, and doing many, many dishes at the end of the day.
HUBBARD STREET DANCE COMPANY TEACHES COH FAMILIES TO DANCE
On Saturday, November 13th, Hubbard Street Dance Company (HSDC) presented their DanceOUT Discover Dance Family Dance Workshop at Center on Halsted. Families participated in the interactive workshop, with parents and children collaborating to form shapes and move around the space creatively. After learning how to use their bodies to abstractly represent motions and words, families proceeded to choreograph a dance to tell a unique story. It was a privilege to host this wonderful program and to bring HSDC to the Center again.
ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS A VALUABLE ADVOCACY RESOURCE
The reach and recognition of our COH Anti-Violence Project is growing locally and nationally and so is the impact of our advocacy activities. AVP has been asked to participate in a variety of advocacy activities during recent weeks. The Cook County Commission on Women's Issues requested testimony from COH AVP at a public hearing about violence in the lives of women and girls. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center invited Lisa Gilmore, Director of Education and Victim Advocacy at COH, to participate in a National Sexual Assault Advocacy Summit this week, specifically to increase the voice of LGBTQ people in sexual assault response conversations. Finally, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (of which we are a founding member) asked Lisa to deliver a training to Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals HIV/AIDS Program outreach staff, in order to help them understand experiences of violence in the lives of LGBTQ people impacted by HIV/AIDS. We are proud that our experience and expertise are recognized as valuable resources in growing advocacy and prevention efforts in anti-violence work.
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David H. Porter Young Alumni Service Award
Craig Hyland '05, 11/22/10
The David H. Porter Young Alumni Service Award honors one alumna/us graduated one to ten years and who has demonstrated outstanding service to the College. Service may be evidenced through a variety of forms.
In his junior year, Craig Hyland, member, Center on Halsted Associate Board, '05 and fellow social work major Erica Campbell '06 created a mural consisting of 12 squares, each representing a student organization dedicated to promoting social justice. Inscribed at the center of the mural were Margaret Mead's words: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." In many ways, the mural exemplifies the legacy of leadership, advocacy, and community building that Hyland forged for the benefit of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students as well as the greater Skidmore community. Hyland, who went on to earn a master's in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, says he often draws upon the lessons he learned at Skidmore in his work as associate director of development at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Clearly, he has also carried forth an extraordinary dedication to volunteerism.
The first-year student signed on as vice president of Skidmore Pride Alliance, served as president during his sophomore and junior years, and as a senior, took on the newly created position of alumni coordinator. Hyland demonstrated a remarkable level of commitment to its mission of fostering awareness, outreach, and understanding of issues pertaining to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression. He spent countless hours advocating for and implementing new LGBT resources and programming, managing speaker events, and streamlining the organization's policies and procedures—so much time that the alliance "really became a second family." Working with the Student Government Association Senate, the Office of Campus Life, and Facilities Services, the group, under Hyland's leadership, successfully lobbied for the installation of more than a dozen gender-neutral bathrooms in academic buildings across campus by the end of the year. Hyland also co-led the effort to establish a gender-neutral residential living option, and negotiated with the Office of Residential Life to ensure the final product adequately addressed the community's needs.
To codify the right of LGBT students to gender-neutral housing, Hyland and other alliance leaders worked with SGA to pass a resolution calling for Skidmore to add "gender identity and expression" to the College's non-discrimination policy. Wanting to ensure that the alliance was adequately addressing the needs of incoming first-year LGBT students, he revived the campus Coming Out Support Group and integrated Ally Training, a program that promotes understanding and cooperation between the LGBT and straight communities, into its offerings.
Hyland served as Pride Alliance liaison to the Center for Sex and Gender Relations from its inception and helped craft its mission statement.
In his junior year, he joined Ryan Hannon '07 and Erica Campbell '06 to further strengthen resources for LGBT students by partnering with the organization Students Promoting Action, Responsibility, and Knowledge, a group of peer educators who promote awareness of student health issues through educational and social events. They presented at national and statewide conferences of peer educators. At one conference of college and university health center administrators, the trio received a standing ovation when they described the resources available to LGBT students at Skidmore, which they had been largely responsible for establishing.
One of the highlights of Hyland's senior year was serving as chair of SGA's Speakers Bureau Committee, where he learned a great deal about budgeting, organizing events, and team building. That year, he realized the importance of reaching out to LGBT alumni to expand the community that the alliance and other organizations had built on campus. As alumni affairs coordinator, he organized Skidmore's first LGBT reunion, which drew 40 attendees, and launched a newsletter for LGBT alumni.
With all this, he found time to serve as co-president of the Social Work Club and Scribner Village. He was also Skidmore baseball scorekeeper and Webmaster.
Voted one of the Five Most Influential Students on Campus by the Skidmore News in 2005, Hyland was the recipient of the Katherine Scranton Rozendaal Citizenship Award, which recognizes student citizenship at Skidmore, the same year. His citation noted "his vision, courage, passion, service, and sense of fair play. He is a tireless and selfless leader who has worked to promote dialogue and encourage fellowship. He turns private concerns into public issues, and then mobilizes people and resources in service of the common good."
As an alumnus volunteer, Hyland is just as dedicated to community building. Founder and leader of the Skidmore College LGBT Alumni Association, he serves as class president, reunion chair, class agent volunteer, co-president of the Chicago Alumni Club, and alumni admissions contact. He is a former class secretary.
And recognition now comes from many quarters. In 2007, he was named a Jonathan Lax Scholar by the Bread and Roses Community Fund of Philadelphia, Pa., for his extensive work with the LGBT movement at Skidmore. That same year, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund.
He is currently an associate board member at the Center on Halsted, a Chicago-based organization that supports an array of LGBT organizations and resources, and sits on the advisory board of LinkEd, a nonprofit organization dedicated to overcoming educational inequity, founded by Rachael Beard '05 and Anna Markowitz '05.
What drives his continuing efforts to reach out to the Skidmore community and beyond? "In my four years at Skidmore, I was given more than I can ever give back. The Skidmore liberal arts education instilled in me a drive to question the world around me and the ability to look at it, and process it, from many different perspectives. And, most importantly, Skidmore introduced me to my best friend and partner of more than six years, now my fiancé, Ryan Hannon '07. While the education Skidmore provides is second to none, it's the whole experience—cocurricular opportunities, residential life, and the Skidmore community—that has formed the strong affinity I have to my alma mater."
Kraft and Banana Republic Give Back by Volunteering at Center on Halsted, 10/29/10
On Tuesday, October 5, Center on Halsted welcomed 35 volunteers from Kraft Foods who lent a hand with our SAGE luncheon. Marcus Brady, COH Board Member and Kraft’s Director of National Accounts, organized the day-long event. Every Tuesday, The Center hosts a lunch for about 90 patrons of the SAGE program (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders), but this particular lunch was something special. Instead of the traditional buffet-style service, Kraft volunteers served a sit-down lunch, and one musically talented Kraft employee serenaded the diners with popular songs. Later in the afternoon, the Kraft volunteers played bingo, board games and made art with SAGE patrons. SAGE patrons raved about the luncheon—many of them mentioned how wonderful and kind the volunteers were, and asked them to return again.
Kraft’s impact has lasted long after their day of service. Several volunteers have since signed up to volunteer on their own, and others were inspired to become donors. Thanks to their generosity and Kraft’s matching gift program, Kraft volunteers have contributed more than $27,500 to Center on Halsted.
In partnership with Banana Republic, we now offer monthly career development workshops at The Center. Led by a team of experienced HR professionals from Banana, these workshops offer one-on-one career coaching and assistance with resumes, cover letters and job applications. The workshops also include career transition exploration and mock interviews. 33 participants have attended one of the three monthly workshops that have occurred since August, and their feedback shows how valuable this program is. After sitting side-by-side with one of the Banana career coaches for a few hours, one attendee was able to “trim the fat” and completely revise his outdated resume. In his evaluation of the program, he wrote, “Everyone was very supportive and provided immeasurable feedback! I was elated when I left.” Another attendee said that the training inspired her to sign up for computer classes at The Center, so that she can continue to work on her resume and apply for jobs online.
The talented volunteers from Banana Republic have enabled Center on Halsted to provide a much-needed program without additional expense, and their expertise makes a real, lasting change in patrons’ lives. Special thanks to Nancy Brandes and the other generous Banana Republic employees for helping to create and manage this valuable program.
Click here for details on upcoming workshops.
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Center on Halsted Gives a Damn, 10/14/10
At least six teens have taken their own lives in recent weeks to escape the torment of persistent bullying at the hands of their classmates. In each case, these teens were targeted because they were or were perceived to be gay. Their friends recounted many instances when they were taunted with anti-gay slurs, harmed physically and told to “kill [themselves].” In the Bronx, teenagers were subjected to violence for the perception of being gay.
This is never OK. We—as a community and as a nation—cannot allow this to happen. We cannot accept a society that forces anyone to think of themselves as less of a person simply because of who they are.
We must insist that our young people, regardless of how they identify, feel affirmed and accepted everywhere. Though schools are not the only places where youth can become victims of bullying, our efforts there are especially important. Our schools—of every size, grade level and location—are the primary backdrop for bullying of LGBT teens.
These tragic incidents are a direct consequence of failures in our education system to address school bullying. According to the
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), nearly nine out of ten LGBT youth report being bullied in school. LGBT youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers.
Whether the educators at these teens’ schools were ill-equipped to recognize the signs of bullying or unwilling to intervene when they suspected their students were being bullied, the deaths of these six young people speak to the dangers of our inaction. Even when teachers want to intervene, many states lack clearly-defined anti-bullying policies that empower teachers to stop bullying in their classrooms.
But the causes of these incidents run still deeper. Bullying of LGBT youth occurs because LGBT people continue to be demonized and scapegoated in much of our culture. Hatred is not created in a vacuum, and bullies act on what they are taught. If we truly hope to end bullying of LGBT youth, we need to end the odious pattern of teaching intolerance in our schools, homes, churches and everywhere else.
Center on Halsted offers
community programs that both bring comfort to victims of bullying and also work to address the systemic issues that make anti-LGBT bullying permissible. Through direct services, the Center offers support and guidance for LGBT youth and their families.
The Center’s
Youth Program provides a safe space, guidance and programming for LGBT youth from all walks of life. The
Anti-Violence Project links offers both a 24-hour crisis line and counseling for victims of bias-motivated abuse.*
Mental Health services at Center on Halsted afford clients the opportunity to work with a counselor sensitive to the needs of LGBT clients.
The Center’s education, training and advocacy initiatives engage educators, public officials, youth and parents in an effort to make everyone understand the dire consequences of endorsing hate. Through the
Anti-Violence Project, the Center conducts trainings with educators and other groups and advocates for the victims of bullying in schools and in the court system. The
Legal Program at Center on Halsted links victims and their families with legal resources, and the Center’s
Public Advocacy efforts have demanded that our public officials pay serious attention to the nation’s bullying epidemic.
We cannot allow this to happen. We cannot allow our youth to feel that their only recourse to escape bullying is suicide. That requires not only our action in response to what happens in classrooms, but also our attention to what young people are taught.
*Anyone in need of assistance after a bias-motivated attack is encouraged to call the Anti-Violence Project Crisis Line at (773) 871-CARE (2273). If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please contact the Trevor Project at (866) 4-U-TREVOR (448-7386).
Other resources against LGBT bullying include:
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Memorial Service for Martin Gapshis, 09/07/10
We are sad to announce that Human First 2010 Honoree Martin Gapshis passed away Monday, August 30 in his Chicago home. Martin served the Chicago LGBT community throughout his adult life. As president of Progress Printing Corporation for many years, he showed extraordinary generosity with his time and resources, making in-kind donations to virtually every nonprofit organization in the city. He served as a co-chair for the Center on Halsted’s Capital Campaign, helping to raise $20 million for the construction. On February 10, 1995, Mayor Daley declared “Martin Gapshis Day” in Chicago in honor of Martin’s quiet, understated commitment to securing human rights for all. He is a leader, role model, and will be greatly missed – not only for his contributions and accomplishments, but for his ever-present humility and his kind and generous spirit.
A public memorial service will be held at 11am Sept. 12 in the
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
To read Martin’s full obituary in the Chicago Tribune,
click here.
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Youth program members receive scholarships for non-traditional endeavors, 08/26/10
Two $500 scholarships were presented on Thursday to Desiree Gales and Jeremy Nowell, two Center on Halsted youth program members. Awarded in honor of Martin Ruiz, Jr., the scholarships help LGBT youth achieve their educational and career goals through non-traditional means, like apprenticeships, self-study, vocational training, or other avenues.
Desiree will use her scholarship to buy art supplies and equipment for her button-making business. She makes artistic buttons and pins about nearly everything – bands, political ideas, or simply words, pictures or designs. Desiree also creates custom buttons, such as those of ticket stubs to memorialize a favorite concert. She also plans to employ other youth to help in her growing business. “With art, your social class or ability doesn’t matter,” she said. “Art neutralizes those things.” Desiree plans to enroll in college to study engineering next year.
Jeremy Nowell is a sophomore studying journalism at Eastern Illinois University. He writes for the school newspaper and has hosted shows about LGBT teen issues on CAN TV, the Chicago nonprofit access network. He plans to spend his scholarship money on summer journalism classes at EIU, so he can get ahead and possibly graduate early. “I want to write, do radio and television,” he said. “I want to reach as broad an audience as possible.”
The scholarships honor the deceased Martin Ruiz, Jr. who was unable to afford to attend a traditional four-year college program and instead focused his efforts in different forms of education. A child of an immigrant family, Ruiz never finished high school, but through his own initiative he became a successful wine distributor. Robert Sash, Ruiz’s former partner, administers the annual scholarship fund.
About Youth Programming at Center on Halsted
Originally named Gay Horizons, Center on Halsted Youth Program was founded in 1978 by a group of less than ten young people. Today, the Youth Program serves over 800 youth every year. Youth ages 13-24 participate in a vast array of programs, including mentorship, case management, counseling, art, recreation, culinary education and career development.
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Chicago Tribune Article: Some black youth feel more at home in Boystown, but get chilly reception, 11/30/09 
When Antonio Jones walks down Halsted Street in Boystown, he feels more at home here than he did in his old Garfield Park neighborhood, where he used to worry about thugs attacking him for being bisexual.
But all is not bliss for Jones in Boystown either. That's because the 21-year-old college student, who often travels down Halsted wearing baggy pants and a dark coat, knows that -- in an ironic twist -- some residents now view him as a thug.
For a couple of years, this section of the Lakeview community has been trying to figure out how to deal with the young gay men from the city's South and West sides who come to Boystown to visit the Center on Halsted, whose youth programs for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community make them feel safe, affirmed and valued.
Sometimes the young men leave the center and hang out on the corners in the community, which some residents and patrons of Halsted's gay bars have found off-putting, even along this street known for its colorful and lively night life.
"You have guys who are too young to get into the gay bars but old enough to still hang out late," said Jones, who began coming to Halsted Street when the center opened 2 1/2 years ago. "I'll admit they can be teens -- that means being unruly or rowdy."
He said many of the youth come from communities that historically have been hostile to gays and find in Boystown a refuge. Often it's the first time the teens, the majority of whom are black, really can be themselves.
It's not uncommon for some young men to start applying makeup on the train en route to the center. Some may feel more comfortable walking down Halsted Street holding hands with a same-sex partner.
But the residents who have been complaining at CAPS meetings -- many of whom are newcomers to the community, white and straight -- have been saying they feel threatened or intimidated when they pass clusters of these teens on the sidewalks. They've lamented the youths' catcalls along with their noise. Police have stepped up patrols.
Jim Ludwig, who owns Roscoe's Tavern, a local gay bar, is the president of Triangle Neighbors and a board member of the Northalsted Business Alliance. Some gay patrons also have complained about the youth.
Ludwig has been in the community for 23 years and understands the complexity of this issue, one facet of which may seem to pit one group that has faced discrimination and stereotypes against another.
"It's not a race thing, it's a cultural adaptation thing," Ludwig told me. "It's a youth rebellion thing. We're at a loss in trying to figure out what's a good thing for these kids to be doing other than congregating on the corner. Sometimes there are 50 kids. But it's only a handful that doesn't have the social skills regarding sidewalk etiquette, so it intimidates customers and residents."
What complicates this further, he said, is that the neighborhood does have to fend off a criminal element, including sex traffickers and those dealing drugs.
"There's a whole bunch of kids who aren't causing trouble," Ludwig said. "But they are an unknowing shield for others who do come here to commit crimes. Sometimes residents can't or don't distinguish between the two groups."
Sandra Klein, a resident who's sympathetic to the youth, attributes the neighborhood's challenges in part to its changing demographics, which increasingly includes straighter, younger and wealthier residents who have bought pricey condos in or near Boystown.
"There was a controversy with a group of young mothers who complained about the word 'masturbate' being in a window" of a business that sells sex toys, Klein said. "If you live here and your child is old enough to know the word, then it might be time to have 'that talk.' But if he's not reading, I don't understand why they would take issue."
She likened these newcomers to people who move into nearby Wrigleyville and complain about the baseball park's lights.
For its part, the center is trying to be a good neighbor. While programming used to end at 9 p.m., it now ends at 7 p.m. Youth are instructed daily not to loiter and to be on their best behavior. The center also has hired additional security guards between the peak loitering hours of 4 and 8 p.m., to protect neighbors from disturbances, but also to protect the youth.
Jones said residents would be less fearful if they visited the center and interacted with the youth.
"They should come here and see a different side of the young people, a side they don't see on a regular basis," Jones said. "When it comes down to it, we're all just looking for the same thing, and that's simply peace of mind."
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RedEye Article: For transgender people, acceptance is hard to find-even in LGBT community, 11/18/09 
When Adrianna King was turned out of her home, she went north in search of acceptance.
A transsexual woman with a shy smile, King, 21, moved to Lakeview earlier this year in hopes that gay-friendly Boystown would offer a haven safe from the harassment and abuse she suffered in her South Side neighborhood.
But Boystown wasn't always safe, and it wasn't always friendly.
King, born a male and in transition to becoming a woman, said she was turned away from Lakeview homeless shelters because management feared she'd be harassed by other boarders. She said she spent the summer sleeping in parks, abandoned buildings, "L" trains and on the lakefront. When nowhere felt safe, King walked all night through Lakeview's streets, waiting until the Center on Halsted opened so she could crash on its couches.
"Every morning I'd come to work, and she'd be outside in the rain," said Tiffany Traylor, a clinical case manager at the center, which serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Homeless youth have congregated in Lakeview for decades, but the past three or four years have seen an influx of transgender youth from throughout the city who come for social services or to find a welcoming community, said Heather Bradley, youth outreach coordinator for the Night Ministry, a nondenominational nonprofit that serves vulnerable kids and adults.
To read more
click here.
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23rd District Police Station Host LGBT Youth Health Fair at Center on Halsted, 9/11/09 
The mood was festive as the 23rd Precinct hosted its annual LGBT Youth Health Fair at Center on Halsted. Hundreds of LGBT and ally youth enjoyed free hot meals and beverages while getting to know many of the local Chicago Police from the 23rd Precinct. Local hospitals and health care organizations were present providing additional information on programs and services for youth.
The party extended outside onto the Richard M. Daley Roof Garden space where youth and the police celebrated together. The event was generously sponsored by Circuit Night Club.
Photo: Jose Rios Openly Gay Chicago Police Officer, LGBT liaison for the 23rd District with 23rd District Commander Kathleen Boehmer
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No on Number 1: Protect Maine Equality, 9/2/09 
We Are... Gay & straight, young & old, couples & families, people of faith, friends, neighbors & co-workers.
We Believe In... Fairness, commitment, strong families, vibrant
communities, Maine values.
We Are Mainers... Who believe in marriage for all Maine families.
Please visit the Maine campaign by
clicking here.
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Weekly Success: Stroger Town Hall at Center on Halsted, 8/28/09
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger held a Town Hall at the Center this week regarding the GeoVax therapeutic HIV vaccine clinical trial that he would like implemented at the CORE Center. 200 community members, staff from Chicago-area ASOs, and TV, radio and print media were in attendance.
The CORE Center declined involvement in the clinical trail based on serious health concerns for their clients. The discussion was intense and participants voiced their opinions passionately. An event like this fits perfectly into our mission - "Center on Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community..." We were able to offer a safe space for 2 disparate groups to try to find understanding and be understood.
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Weekly Success: Seeking Safety from Domestic Abuse, 8/21/09
This week, the Anti Violence Program (AVP) staff and volunteers assisted a survivor of domestic violence by helping the client to explore her options for relocation to Chicago. Her objective was to secure a safe, anonymous haven away from her abusive partner. Because of the many years of experience with these kinds of cases, excellent training of Center AVP volunteers and a valuable referral guide, the Center was able to meet this client’s needs by providing her with accurate, useful, up-to-date information which will help to allow her to live with a higher level of safety.
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GeoVax Vaccine Meeting at Center on Halsted, 8/19/09
Next Tuesday, Cook County Board President, Todd H. Stroger will host a community meeting to discuss ways in which interested parties can work together to educate the CORE Foundation and Cook County residents on the benefits of the GeoVax Vaccine trial. Mr. Stroger will personally be present to discuss what the original agreement was and address any concerns you may have on the clinical trial.
Please join us on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 at the Center on Halsted located at 3656 N. Halsted Street in Chicago. The meeting will start promptly at noon. If anyone has questions, please call 312-603-0395.
To read the full letter regarding the GeoVax Vaccine
click here.
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Northalsted Merchant Association Safety Seminar, 8/17/09
Northalsted members:
Chicago Police Department Districts 19 and 23 will hold a Personal Safety Seminar designed to help business owners and their employees stay safe.
The seminar will be held as follows:
1 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 25
Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted St.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Jay Lyon
(jay@northalsted.com) no later than Monday, Aug. 24.
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President Obama honors Billie Jean King and Harvey Milk, 8/14/09
President Barack Obama honored lesbian tennis legend and Chicagoan Billie Jean King who support received the naming of the Billie Jean King Recreation Hall at Center on Halsted and the late gay-rights activist Harvey Milk at the Aug. 12 Medal of Freedom ceremonies at the White House.
To read more click here...
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Weekly Success: workOUT Recreational Program, 8/14/09
Exciting, new recreational programs will be offered at Center on Halsted including classes offered by DeAnna Bellamy's fitness group, "BODY REVOLUTION." When DeAnna learned about the extraordinary programs available at the Center she graciously volunteered her professional staff and resources to the Center and the community.
All classes are offered at the very low-cost $10 ($5 for Seniors/Youth with valid I.D.) For details and to RSVP, please contact Cathy Jones (Health/Wellness Coordinator) via email at
cjones@centeronhalsted.org or call 773-472.6469 x265
workOUT: Body Guard/Self-Defense 7PM-8PM: Wednesdays (Sept. 9-Oct. 14) Learn to protect your body with self defense strategies and unleash your inner Warrior! Body Guard/Self-Defense teaches participants to harmonize the mind, body and spirit while striking hand pads, kneeing body pads, and kicking your way to SEXY end of summer physique.
workOUT: Body Control 12PM-1PM, Tuesdays (Sept. 8-Oct. 13) Body Control creates greater awareness of muscle and joint alignment as well as posture that will help reconnect individuals with their body. The Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist will teach injury prevention, core control, balance and flexibility. Great for all levels.
workOUT: Eco-Body Power 7PM-8PM: Mondays (Sept. 14-Oct. 19) Eco-Body Power is a completely GREEN workout class! A Certified Personal Trainer will instruct this class on how to use their own body weight as well as how to utilize the urban resources as exercising tools. Each class starts on the open-air Richard M. Daley Roof Garden, and then moves out into the neighborhood so you begin to think outside the fitness box.
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Weekly Success: Youth What's Cookin? Culinary Program, 8/7/09
Six weeks ago, over 80 eager and enthusiastic youth attended the Center on Halsted’s What's Cookin? Culinary Program orientation. They then went through a rigorous interview with the Youth Career Development Center staff and Chef Abraham Conlon, and 15 of our best youth were chosen to participate in the culinary program.
Six weeks later, Center on Halsted proudly recognizes the accomplishments of this amazing program and 15 motivated youth. The participants accomplished the following:
- Cooked (from scratch) close to 20 nightly dinners for youth in the youth space
- Prepared weekly deserts for upwards of 100 participants in the SAGE program
- Over 4 weeks, planned, budgeted, prepared and served three-course dinners for over 150 community members attending the Rooftop CookingOUT series (also ensuring the night's decor and overall mood matched that of the varying themes)
This program is an exercise in teamwork. It demonstrates that amazing things happen when passionate people come together. Youth participants are coming away from the CookingOUT program more than better cooks, but inspired and armed with a host of transferable skills for a successful life.
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Univision Chicago Spanish-language HIV/AIDS/STD Town Hall held at Northeastern University, 8/7/09 
Two Center on Halsted HIV/STD Department Health Educators, Erik Glenn and Jorge Gonzalez, appeared as panelists this past Saturday at Univision's HIV/AIDS and STDs Town Hall. During this Spanish-language town hall, the Health Educators discussed detailed information around HIV/AIDS and STDs. They also answered questions from audience members. The event, which lasted an hour and a half, was attended by many members of Chicago's Latino community. Special guests included Illinois State Representatives Greg Harris and Sara Feigenholtz. Univision will edit and broadcast the town hall on the morning of Saturday August 15th.
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CAPS Meeting Schedule, 8/5/09 
The CAPS meeting for Beat 2331 (E of Clark, N of Belmont, S of Addison) takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at Nookie's Tree (3334 N Halsted).
The CAPS meeting for Beats 2323 (W of Broadway, E of Clark, S of Irving Park, N of Addison) and 2324 (E of Broadway, N of Addison, S of Montrose) takes place here at the Center on what looks like the 3rd Wednesday of every other month. There is no meeting this month; the next will be 16 September.
There is a Boystown community walk scheduled for a week from tomorrow, 14 Aug, Fri @ Midnight (leaving from 7-11 at 3407 N Halsted). The other events organized by the Lakeview Citizen Task Force include a dinner meet-up at Yoshi's called the Lakeview Supper Club (3334 N Halsted; next one is scheduled for 19 Aug, Weds @ 7 PM) that also meets monthly.
For more information about CAPS in chicago
click here.
For more information about CAPS in the Lakeview area for Beats 2331 and 2323
click here.
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Center on Halsted and its What's Cookin? Youth Culinary Program, 7/29/09 
Center on Halsted and its What's Cookin? Youth Culinary Program paired up with Chef Abraham Conlon to create an extraordinary dining series taking place on four consecutive Wednesday evenings in July. The dinners are staffed solely by talented aspiring chefs ranging from 15 – 18 years old. The program has been such a success it has completely sold out! Watch for more dinners in the fall.
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Weekly Success: ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT Crisis Line, 7/31/09
The Anti-Violence Crisis Line has kept volunteers and staff very busy. Pride Month (June) and the summer weather often bring a greater awareness of LGBT violence within our community. Center on Halsted is grateful for the extraordinary work of its volunteers who staff this line for 12 hour shifts each day. In June alone, volunteers provided 528 hours of service – this is an amazing commitment to doing such challenging work.
One of our callers to the Anti-Violence Hotline was a man who is experiencing a great deal of violence - physical and emotional - in his apartment building due to his sexual orientation and his disability. He resides in a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) and has limited options for housing. He called looking for support and resources to deal with his ongoing victimization. We were able to link him to our on-site case manager from Northside Housing and Supportive Services for housing assistance, and also provided in-house referrals to Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), our free Legal Clinic, and the Center’s Mental Health program. It is fortunate that Center on Halsted can provide comprehensive services and support for clients like this who call.
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Weekly Success: Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) Program, 7/24/09
As a part of Center on Halsted’s Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) Program over 100 elder LGBT adults have enjoyed our Tuesday hot catered lunches and remained at the Center for an afternoon of classes including French and Art as well as group discussion. On one Tuesday alone, 11 individuals were new to the SAGE program. The word about the SAGE program has spread.
In a recent survey, we asked SAGE patrons how they learned about the program. These are the responses; friend (60%), ads in gay papers (39%), printed calendar (25%), COH web page (10%). This demonstrates that patrons feel positive about the program and are recommending the Center to a friend. Clearly this is happening on a regular basis and Center on Halsted could not be more pleased.
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Weekly Success: Community and Cultural Program, 7/17/09
Over 300 people attended the opening reception at the Galleries at Center on Halsted! There were many newcomers to the Center who experienced for the first time the beautiful rooftop garden, while sipping wine & enjoying two gorgeous art exhibits. Many of the new patrons were interested in attending more events or volunteering. The new CENTERFOLDS informational brochure was a major asset to inform the newcomers to the breadth of programming at the Center. People were visibly excited to see how THEIR Center does have something "just for them".
This week, the workOUT recreation classes taught over 40 new students how to shake their booty and get a great work-out, with the Sat. morning ROOFTOP HIP-HOP class, followed by Sunday evenings' Ballroom for Beginners! Added to this were the ongoing Volleyball practices, partnering members of the Youth Program with local Chicago police officers from our neighborhood precinct.
Sunday afternoon was an exceptional day with the first OUTwrite author reading, presented by Lambda Award-winning author Evan Fallenberg. This event was presented in partnership with and located at Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies at 610 S. Michigan Ave.; over 30 guests enjoyed the presentation and book signing overlooking Grant Park.
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Center on Halsted is pleased to announce that one of its board members, Christy Webber, has been named Success of the Year.
Chicago entrepreneur and out Lesbian Christy Webber was presented the 2009 Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Success of the Year award on June 25, 2009. This prestigious award is given out each year by the U.S. Small Business Administration during Small Business Week to "recognize the accomplishments of outstanding Illinois small business owners." Criteria used to determine the honoree were staying power, growth in number of employees, innovativeness and contributions to community-oriented projects. Her business name is Christie Webber Landscapes.
www.christywebber.com
Congratulations Christy!
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Center on Halsted and Sara Lee Foundation Planting DaySara Lee Planting
Volunteers from The Sara Lee Foundation, lead sponsor for the Access to Nutrition Program, and the Center's Executive Director Modesto Tico Valle spend a Sunday morning planting seasonal flowers in front of the Center.
To view more photos from the event
click here.
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Illinois Bar Foundation awards grant to Center on Halsted Illinois Bar Foundation
Illinois Bar Foundation Grants Committee Member Tony Romanucci presents a $5,000 grant to Modesto Tico Valle Executive Director at Center on Halsted, to support the posting of legal education workshops podcasts and relevant handouts on the Center's website.
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