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  WINDY CITY TIMES

The year in local news
Extended for on online edition of Windy City Times
by Matt Simonette
2013-12-31

This article shared 6815 times since Tue Dec 31, 2013
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Although marriage equality was surely the hottest topic for many in Chicago's LGBT community in 2013, a number of other achievements, tragedies and changes took place this year. Here are some of the top headlines over the past 12 months.

—Passing the torch: Former state Rep. Deb Mell, who is a lesbian, was named by a five-person committee to be the replacement for her father, Ald. Richard Mell. Though Mell did not get a chance to vote on SB10, she was present on the House floor during debate before its passage; she was joined there by House Speaker Michael Madigan.

—What's that in your wallet?: Cook County Clerk David Orr issued wallet-sized certificates for same-sex couples with a civil union; married couples with two different last names; or any couple who wants to carry proof of their union. The set of two wallet-sized marriage or civil-union certificates included names, license number, the clerk's signature and an embossed Cook County seal.

—Cocktail closing: Boystown bar Cocktail was shuttered over alleged rent debts in January. Building owner Robert Brumbaugh confirmed that he had posted the notice and said that he has seized all property inside the bar except for the liquor. Brumbaugh and Cocktail, owned by John "Geno" Zaharakis and Dustin Hoffman, were long ensnarled in a court battle.

—Salvation Army in Uptown: Openly gay 46th Ward Ald. James Cappleman came under fire following a Chicago Sun-Times report that stated that Cappleman ordered a Salvation Army truck, which typically distributes free meals and other social services, to leave the neighborhood. Both sides have since agreed to keep the truck in the neighborhood and work together.

—New resources: Lurie Children's Hospital's Gender, Sexuality and HIV Prevention Center moved to Uptown at 4711 N. Broadway, bringing with it testing services, transgender support and cutting edge LGBT medical research.

—The axe falls: For the third year in a row, HIV/AIDS groups were staring down budget cuts to funding in Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn released his proposed budget in March, slashing HIV/AIDS funding by 16 percent.

—Affordable housing for seniors: The Midwest's first LGBT-friendly, affordable senior housing broke ground this year. The 79-unit, affordable housing senior building is being developed on the corner of Halsted and Addison streets, and includes the historic 23rd District Town Hall police station.

—More bar changes: T's Restaurant and bar, 5025 N. Clark St., longtime a popular LGBT hangout in Uptown, was shuttered by the Cook County Sheriff's Office in March. Days later, owner Colm Treacy and Renee Labrana, his co-owner of the Glenwood, 6962 N. Glenwood Ave., parted ways, leaving Treacy the sole owner of that popular Rogers Park gay bar.

—From Bucks to Replay: Bucks Saloon, 3439 N. Halsted St., a Boystown institution, closed its doors and was taken over by Replay, a retro arcade bar operated by Mark Liberson, owner of Hydrate Nightclub, Halsted's and Elixir.

—Youth care: The Same-Gender Loving Clinic at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County began providing weekly care for uninsured and underinsured LGBT youth. Thay can drop in for general health services or meet with a physician or psychiatrist to re- ceive counseling on sexuality, gender identity, hormone therapy or safer sex.

—Not much buy-in for Out Hotel: Out Chicago, a hotel slated to sit at Halsted and Buckingham, was greeted with neighborhood concerns about noise and the hotel's design. The hotel was modeled after the Out Resort in New York City.

—Excitement in the air: An exuberant crowd marched through Chicago's Wrigleyville and Boystown neighborhoods June 26 after favorable decisions on equal marriage came down from the U.S. Supreme Court. Nearly 500 attended the rally and march, which started and ended at Roscoe and Halsted.

—Uptown spirit: More than 1,000 people filled the streets of Uptown June 29 for the city's annual Dyke March parade and rally. Attendance and spirits were high despite overcast skies and chilly weather early in the march.

—Runner record: The 32nd annual Proud to Run race, which includes both 5K and 10K races, took place June 29 at Montrose Avenue near Lake Shore Drive. About 1,600 participants—an event record—gathered in foggy, windy and chilly weather to participate in the run/walk to benefit the Links Pride Youth Program, The Night Ministries and TPAN.

—Huge Pride turnout: More than 1 million people attended this year's Pride parade. Mayor Rahm Emanuel led, with Gov. Pat Quinn following later. Spirits were high just days after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and California's ban on same-sex marriage. But many contingents focused on equal marriage in Illinois, as the Illinois House had failed to vote the issue in May.

—There will be blood: The first-ever nationwide gay blood drive demonstration took place July 12 at more than 50 locations across the country, including the Lincoln Park Lifesource branch in Chicago. Ryan James Yezak organized the demonstration to raise awareness about the ban and increase pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to lift the ban.

—Moving downtown: Equality Illinois announced it was moving its headquarters to the Stevens Building at 17 N. State St., Chicago.

—Zimmerman reaction: More than 300 people turned out for a noon rally at Daley Plaza July 14, the morning after a jury reached a not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of African American youth Trayvon Martin.

—Nomination: Openly gay Chicagoan James "Wally" Brewster, one of the top LGBT fundraisers for President Obama's 2012 re-election efforts, was nominated June 21 to be U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Despite some controversy in the island nation, Brewster was confirmed and sworn in in November, just before Brewster married his longtime partner, Bob Satawake.

—TransLife opens: After months of anticipation and fundraising, LGBT leaders, elected officials and ad- vocates celebrated the opening of Chicago House's TransLife Center ( TLC ) July 15. Stormie Williams, the first resident of the house, cut the ribbon the newly renovated house during the morning reception.

—Crime in Lakeview: A string of weekend iPhone robberies in Lakeview in July had 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney cautioning area residents. Lakeview residents later took police officials to task for what residents say is an ongoing crime problem in the neighborhood, reporting a seeming increase in graffiti and robberies, among other concerns.

—BYC move: Broadway Youth Center largely completed the transition from its old location at Broadway and Belmont to its new location at Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 W. Wellington Ave. The facility's future at that location was soon in question, however, when the City said their location was not zoned for the medical services it provides. BYC's director, Lara Brooks, also left in 2013.

—No to Stoli: Many Chicago gay bars—among them Sidetrack, Elixir Lounge,, Halsted's Bar and Grill, Hydrate Nightclub and Replay— said they were banning Stolichnaya Vodka and other products of Russian origin following the passage of oppressive anti-gay laws in Russia.

—Sister cities: Following a call by Equality Illinois for Chicago to drop its sister city status with Moscow, the Chair of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International released a statement July 31 saying that it would be wrong to end the relationship.

—Charges: Lloyd Kelly, founder of the now-defunct AIDS organization Let's Talk, Let's Test Foundation ( LTLTF ), and former 34th Dist. Rep. Connie Howard were named in separate federal cases pending in the Central District Court of Illinois. Kelly formerly worked as an aid to Howard.

—Did she bring an invisible jet?: Northalsted Business Alliance presented Market Days 2013 on Aug. 10-11, and things were bigger than ever for the largest two-day festival in the Midwest. Artists on three stages included Wilson Phillips, Erasure's Andy Bell, Aaron Carter and Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter.

—More help for patients: On Aug. 1, Illinois became the 20th state to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes. The new law will mean less stigma and more frank communication between patients and doctors, advocates say.

—Not lovin' it: Chicago-area activists protested at the Oak Brook headquarters of McDonald's corporation, 2111 McDonald's Dr., to take a stand against the fast-food giant's sponsorship of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

Members and supporters of StonewallAgain called on McDonald's to demand a new venue for the Olympics instead of Sochi.

—Successor: Jaime Andrade, a longtime aide to Ald. Richard Mell, succeeded his daughter—out lesbian Deb Mell—as 40th District state rep. Andrade was appointed by vote Aug. 12 and will be up for re-election in 2014. Mel Ferrand, an openly lesbian union activist and Latina, is pursuing the position in the election as well.

—Sex ed: Comprehensive sex education became the law of the land in Illinois when Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a bill requiring that schools offer comprehensive sex education in grades six through 12. HB 2675 requires that schools teach about contraception and preventing sexually transmitted infections, in addition to teaching about abstinence.

—Pritzker announcement: Col. J.N. Pritzker publically indicated that she identifies as a woman. Pritzker, the founder of the Pritzker Military Library in Chicago and a member of one of the nation's most wealthy families, legally changed her name to Jennifer Natalya Pritzker, and her foundation has supported major transgender causes in recent years. Equality Illinois later named Pritzker as Chair of their February gala.

—Mary Richards, maid of honor: Minneapolis, Minn., officials visited Chicago to encourage local residents to consider their city when they wanted to get married. "Chicago is my kind of town, but right now, it's a second city in human rights," Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said. Exactly two months later, however, marriage equality legislation passed the Illinois House.

—Hunters closing: Hunters Chicago, a gay bar in northwest suburban Elk Grove Village, announced its closing in September. Robert Brumbaugh, who also owns Progress Bar on Halsted Street in Lakeview, purchased Hunters and reopened it the following month as The PhoenixBar.

—Pasta la vista: The chair of Parma, Italy-based Barilla Group—a company with Illinois ties—said Sept. 25 that his company would not feature gay couples in its ads, and that if gays didn't like it, they could "eat someone else's pasta." Barilla later attempted to issue an apology on Twitter, writing, "I apologize very much for having offended the sensibilities of many. I have the deepest respect for all the people without distinction."

—Adding to the legacy: The Legacy Project announced that Ruth Ellis, Lorraine Hansberry, Walt Whitman, Tom Waddell and Frank Kameny will be joining the other 18 individuals who have already had their faces and biographies cast on bronze plaques and installed on the rainbow pylons that line North Halsted Street.

—Leader of the PAC: Marquell Smith, a former Marine sergeant who was kicked out of the military for being gay, formed his own political action committee, Inclusive Community Project, to rally support for the passage of SB10. His group concentrated mainly on building support in communities of color.

—March on Springfield: Several thousand gathered under rainy skies at the State Capitol in Springfield Oct. 22 to demand the Illinois House vote on gay marriage in the fall veto session, which kicked off the same day. An afternoon-long rally featured several politicians and community leaders, each voicing their support for SB10.

—Cab lawsuit: Lambda Legal filed suit against a Chicago-based cab company after one of its drivers allegedly ejected a gay couple for kissing in May. Steven White and Matt McCrea made headlines in June when they alleged that driver Jama Anshur ejected them from his cab late at night on a trip back from O'Hare Airport.

—Velvet Rope arrest: Frank Elliot, 26, was arrested by Oak Park police Nov. 1 in connection with a fire that destroyed his gay bar Velvet Rope Ultra Lounge, 728 Lake St., on June 2, 2012. The fire was suspicious from the start, with Elliott alleging he was targeted in a hate crime, but others concerned it may have been motivated by an insurance claim.

—Excellent day for an exorcism: Bishop Thomas Paprocki announced Nov. 14 that he would offer "prayers of supplication and exorcism" in Springfield at approximately the same time Gov. Pat Quinn will sign marriage equality into law Nov. 20.

—Cappleman weds: Ald. James Cappleman wed longtime partner Richard Thale in Washington state. Cappleman announced that the marriage had taken place on his Facebook page Nov. 17. "Can't wait to celebrate the day that's coming soon when other same- sex couples can get married in Illinois," Cappleman said.

—More work to do: Activists from the Black LGBT community, as well as their allies and supporters, gathered Nov. 25 for a celebration of the passage of marriage equality in Illinois. Many participants said they were already looking ahead to take on other challenges facing LGBT communities of color.

—Reopening: Members of the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives board of directors met with the public Dec. 5 to discuss new directions it intends to take as the library recovers from nearly two years of turmoil. The library opened to the public for the first time at its new location, 6500 N. Clark St., in December. Carrie Barnett will be the organization's new Board President.

—So long, farewell: About 25 activists, mostly members of the Gay Liberation Network ( GLN ) and Rainbow Sash Movement, protested a celebration honoring the retirement of Cardinal Francis George held at the Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton Pl., on Dec. 18.


This article shared 6815 times since Tue Dec 31, 2013
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