Literally backed by several prominent members of the local LGBT community, Cook County Board president candidate Toni Preckwinkle held a press conference Jan. 28 at the Hotel Allegro that focused on healthcare and LGBTQ-related concerns.
Among the community leaders who attended the conference were Metropolitan Water Reclamation District ( MWRD ) Commissioner Debra Shore and MWRD candidate Todd Connor; state Rep. Greg Harris; activist/entrepreneur Art Johnston; trans-rights activist Helena Bushong; and Howard Brown Health Center CEO/President Mike Cook.
Harris said, "I think we're here for a variety of reasons, but foremost among them is Toni Preckwinkle's commitment to fully reforming the healthcare system in Cook County to really serve all the people of this county." He added that doing this includes "making sure that this county is run by medical professionals and not by political bureaucrats; making sure that every dollar goes into primary and preventative care; [ and ] , more importantly, being sure that the health system ... reaches out to all citizens of the county and is culturally competent to serve all citizens of the county."
Connor and Shore said that they were confident that Preckwinkle would be a very effective ally of the community, with Connor stating that the board candidate "brings the requisite diverse skill-set and relationships to be effective once [ she is ] elected." Bushong—who serves on the HIV Prevention Planning Group—noted that Preckwinkle was the only candidate who approached her for advice.
Preckwinkle said, "In my compact for change, I stated that it's a fundamental responsibility of Cook County government to ensure that all of our residents have access to healthcare. Responsibility is twofold: monitoring and addressing public-health issues, and ensuring that all of our county's residents have access to quality health care. Unfortunately, there still exists a disparity between the level of care received by the heterosexual community and the level of care received by the LGBTQ community.
"Many doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers have not had sufficient training to understand the specific health issues for the LGBT community. As a result, these residents of our county face barriers to optimal healthcare, such as the fear of negative reactions from the doctors serving them.
"...It's not enough to make sure that services are provided to all of our residents. We need to make sure that health services are provided to meet the specific needs of diverse communities. As Cook County Board president, I will meet with LGBTQ community representatives and health officials to ensure that cultural competency is guaranteed at all Cook County health facilities." Preckwinkle added that her hiring policies would reflect the diversity in Cook County ( including sexual orientation ) and that she would have an LGBTQ advisory committee to discuss community issues.
