Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

OPEN LETTER Census 2020: The LGBTQ+ community counts
2020-03-27

This article shared 3662 times since Fri Mar 27, 2020
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


It's a new decade, and that means it's time to complete the Census.

The Census is done every 10 years, and informs funding for neighborhood improvements, school districts, public health, the building of new roads and much more. Everyone is affected by the Census. Gay or straight, black or white, rich or poor, native born or immigrant. Everyone matters. We all count.

Even with COVID-19 forcing us to shelter in place, the 2020 Census is moving forward. Historically, LGBTQ+ people are undercounted in official data, and we can't let that continue. We exist, and we need to be included in how our communities move forward.

The LGBTQ+ community has always played a vital part in this nation's history and success. We are not a minor population subset. We are a powerful constituency made even more impactful because we cross racial, ethnic, religious, income, gender and many other intersectional identities. An accurate Census count of our community is critical to ensuring programs that address our unique needs are fairly funded. It will also highlight the importance of our political voice which, in a democracy like ours, is critical. If we are not counted then we won't count. It's that simple.

This year, for the first time in census history, same-sex couples will be able to declare their existence on the census form. While imperfect and incomplete, it represents an important step towards recognizing our community. We will continue to work on future Census, so that everyone in our community are counted and counted for who they are. But for now, we need to seize the moment and have our voices be heard.

Even before COVID-19, we faced an uphill climb in getting an accurate count. Anti-immigrant fervor and debate over the citizenship question has already had a chilling impact on participation. The first-time use of online forms has heightened fears over privacy and confidentiality. Misinformation and historical mistrust of these initiatives by our community has increased hesitance to responding. And now no one is focused on the Census because we are too busy trying to avoid getting sick. Here are some facts to dispel those myths: Census information is completely confidential. Census information cannot be given to any law enforcement, other government or outside agencies for use. And no one needs to visit your home if you complete the form online—including using your smartphone, by phone or the paper form. It has truly never been easier to complete the Census from the privacy of your own home.

Completing the Census does not benefit the government. Completing it benefits you and your community.

Let's shape our community's future. Together.

Signed by:

IDHS Census Grant Regional Intermediary

Tina Hone, Chief Equity Officer, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

YWCA IDHS Census Grant Subrecipients

Chris Smith, Executive Director, Affinity Community Services

Saul Zepeda, Director of Special Programs/Census Project Lead, AIDS Foundation Chicago

Modesto "Tico" Valle, Chief Executive Officer, Center on Halsted

Alonzo Brown, Interim Executive Director, Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus

Brian C. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Equality Illinois

Andie Baker, Vice President, Center for Education, Howard Brown Health

Jerome' Holston, Director, LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois

Jessica Rodriguez, Director of Development, La Casa Norte

Diana Perez, 2020 Census Coordinator, SGA Youth and Family Services

Shobhana Johri Vermi, Executive Director, South Asian American Research and Policy Institute

Deanne Benos, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Women's Justice Institute


This article shared 3662 times since Fri Mar 27, 2020
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

VIEWS Mike Johnson: The smiling face of Christian tyranny 2024-02-14
- Mike Johnson wants to rewrite the constitution to make the United States a Christian nation. James Michael Johnson, Republican from Louisiana's Fourth District, is the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was ...


Gay News

VIEWS Parents, not legislators, should be making decisions about medical options for children 2024-02-06
By Jeffery M. Leving - No matter the medical issue, when it comes to kids, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said something last December that every lawmaker in the country should realize when it comes to medical decisions for children. "Were House ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Sundance items, Green Day, 'Wednesday,' Queerties, 'The Wiz' 2024-01-26
- At the Sundance Film Festival, Jodie Foster told Variety that the $1.4-billion success of Barbie helps confirm that Hollywood no longer views women directors as too much of a risk. She said, "With a big success ...


Gay News

VIEWS Is the Pope Catholic? Francis faces opposition in steps toward LGBTQ+ inclusivity 2024-01-02
- The recent change in Vatican policy allowing priests to bless same-gender couples has provoked an unprecedented backlash against Pope Francis and his openness to LGBTQ+ people—a backlash that some fear might devolve into a schism in ...


Gay News

Bring Chicago Home: Guess who's saying no again 2023-12-04
Commentary by Bob Palmer and Mark Swartz - Chicago is ushering in an era of change with a new progressive mayor with a vision to invest in communities long ignored and a significant increase in like-minded city council members. We are excited to see ...


Gay News

Pope Francis's community of transwomen 2023-11-28
- It's a rare opportunity to meet the pope. It's even rarer if you're a transgender Catholic. However, on Nov. 19, in Torvaianica, Italy, a community of transwomen, many of them sex workers, were welcomed and seated ...


Gay News

Banning the Banning of Books: Illinois and California lead the way 2023-10-26
- In June, at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation banning book bans in Illinois public libraries. This legislation, initiated by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, passed the Illinois House and ...


Gay News

OPINION Renewing state's Invest in Kids program is investing in anti-LGBTQ+ hate 2023-10-23
- In February 2020, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield warned transgender students in the Diocese's educational system that they "may be expelled from the school" if they live their lives authentically. Lansing Christian School ...


Gay News

Gilbert Baker Foundation reacts to death of shop owner who flew the rainbow flag 2023-08-29
--From a press release - In response to the murder of Laura Ann Carleton over flying the Rainbow flag in her shop in California, the Gilbert Baker Foundation released the statement below. Facebook refused to post the statement as it did not "...meet their standards." ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT U.S. higher education under siege; freedom of inquiry and speech at risk 2023-07-03
- The Covid pandemic threw a harsh spotlight on higher education in America, exposing forces eating away at the foundations of college and university learning, calling into question the traditional purposes of such education in our post-modern, ...


Gay News

Guest essay by Florida mom Nicole Pejovich: What's Happening to Florida's Public Schools? 2023-06-19
Related video below - A queer Florida parent answers questions about recent laws, how Floridians are coping, and how you can help Books pulled from school library shelves by the dozens. All evidence of inclusivity stripped from classrooms. The politically ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT For divorced parents, transgender children's health can present tricky dilemmas 2023-06-12
- Over the last few months, issues impacting individuals who identify as transgender and non-binary are getting a lot of attention in the media and among some politicians. Sadly, because it's become a political issue; a lot ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT War in the 21st Century: mercenaries, private military companies, private armies 2023-05-20
- In 2022, $407 billion of the Pentagon budget—representing half of that year's funding —were obligated to private contractors, of which a significant number were Private Military Companies (PMCs) involved in ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT Telling the world about my mental health disorders 2023-05-04
- Over the years, coming out as a lesbian hasn't been that hard for me—because I was always too busy hiding something else. Confessing queerness can be a breeze compared to revealing mental illness. But I decline ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT German bishops endorse blessings of same-sex couples: Ancient rituals retturn 2023-03-31
- This March, at a national meeting of leaders of the German Catholic Church (referred to as a synod), a document titled Blessing Ceremonies for Couples who Love Each Other" received overwhelming support: 176 votes in favor, ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.