Armando Smith, LCSW, ACSW to receive John Michie Award
Dignity/Chicago will celebrate the thirty-eighth anniversary of its founding in 1972, and its ongoing ministry to the GLBT communities, family and friends with an anniversary Mass at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 16 at Dignity/Chicago, 3344 N. Broadway. Dignity/Chicago's annual John Michie Award for community service will be presented to Armando Smith, a longtime volunteer in the community and currently Chief Program Officer for Vital Bridges, NFP, a social service organization that provides comprehensive services to individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS.
The Anniversary Mass will be followed by a reception in the church social hall. For further information, call Dignity/Chicago at 312-458-9438. All are welcome to attend.
Said Dignity/Chicago board president, Blane Roberts, "Dignity/Chicago is one of the city's oldest GLBT organizations and the only GLBT Catholic organization to publically affirm our sexuality as loving, life-giving and life-affirming. We have recently expanded our mission to be inclusive of all sexual orientations, though our strength remains our ministry in the GLBT community. We have held mass every Sunday, continuously for thirty-eight years and have helped thousands navigate the integration of their sexuality and their spirituality."
Roberts continued, "Selecting Armando Smith as the recipient of this year's Michie Award compliments our history. Armando has also shown long-term dedication to the GLBT community through his work both as staff for organizations serving these communities and as a volunteer. The John Michie Award goes to individuals or organizations that show hospitality and service in our community. Armando certainly is deserving of recognition for his service."
John Michie was a member of the chapter well-known for his hospitality and welcome to new comers. This award was created to honor his memory after he passed away in the 1980's. Awardees have included both individuals and organizations that have helped to make Chicago a more welcoming city for LGBT people.
Dignity/Chicago was formed in January of 1972, the fourth DignityUSA chapter in the nation, approximately one year after Ms. Mary Houlihan, a member of the Legion of Mary, began a home Mass for the gay and lesbian community under the Legion's aegis. Following Dignity's formation, the chapter was asked to assume sponsorship of this Mass. Dignity then secured St. Sebastian Church for a weekly Sunday evening Mass, which continued until 1988.
The 1970's were an active time for the chapter. It played host to the national convention of Dignity/USA in 1977, was a charter member of Call to Action, an umbrella organization for progressive Catholic groups, and co-sponsored the Orange Ball, a Chicago benefit to raise funds to combat Anita Bryant-backed anti-gay referendums around the country.
The 1980's were challenging time for Dignity/Chicago as the chapter to grew to over 150 members. In May of 1988, after sixteen years of ministry, the chapter membership voted to remove its ministry from St. Sebastian Church and all church property rather than submit to a demand from Cardinal Joseph Bernardin to withdraw Dignity's public statement that affirming homosexuality which said "we believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching. We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving and life-affirming."
After leaving St. Sebastian's Dignity/Chicago began meeting in a series of welcoming Protestant churches before settling at Broadway United Methodist in 1992.
In the '90's Dignity/Chicago reasserted its role as a Roman Catholic faith community ministering the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. Dignity has continued to protest the denial of its place in the life of the Church and has responded to statements issued from the Church that would encourage discrimination in both religious and civil life. In 1992 we brought our call for justice to the home of Cardinal Bernardin in a prayerful protest.
In 1999, the chapter was reorganized to focus on the three core ministries that underlie its mission: Worship, Spiritual Growth, and Leadership and Advocacy. From this base Dignity/Chicago continues to provide the Mass and other liturgical services while remaining involved in many social and social justice events in the community. In the summer of 2001, Chicago again hosted the DignityUSA convention.
In response to the summer 2003 letter from the Vatican denouncing civil recognition of same-sex unions, Dignity/Chicago organized the 'Always Your Families, Always Our Church' coalition to affirm and support same-sex unions. The coalition took out a full-page open letter in the Chicago Tribune that addressed the U.S. Catholic Bishops and urged them to seek dialogue with GLBT people on the issue of same-sex unions.
Dignity/Chicago is a chapter of DignityUSA and works for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world. We minister through education, advocacy and worship. We believe that same-sex relationships are life affirming and life giving. The chapter holds a weekly Roman Catholic Mass at 5:00 p.m. on each Sunday at the Broadway United Methodist Church. For further information about Dignity visit www.dignitychicago.org or www.dignityusa.org .
