PRIDE 2011

Online magazine reaches out to gay couples Parents embrace gender diversity
PAGE 6 PAGE 3

| Pilsen radio station focuses on queer Hispanic culture

PAGE 4

| Civil union photos in Millennium Park PAGE 8 | Community center and Latin gay bar in Berwyn PAGE 10
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Calendar of events PAGE 11 | Affordable LGBTQ senior housing in Boystown

| Got pride? Products celebrating diversity

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June 2011

PRIDE

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June 2011

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Reaching out to gay couples across the globe

Delena Wilkerson hopes online zine becomes resource for same-sex partners
in 2009. She first studied other publications, such as Oprahs magazine, Staff Reporter wedding periodicals and other sites hile visiting California, geared toward straight couples. Then came the drama of findgetting married was just supposed to be a spur-of- ing content to publish onsite. After the-moment thing for gay scouring the Web and her networks, Oak Parker Delena Wilkerson. She Wilkerson came up with 16 differdidnt think it would be a big deal ent contributors, gay and straight, from several countries. They write but was surprised by the power of about everything from gay-friendly saying the words, I do. It so moved her, she started a vacation destinations to Star Treks free online magazine called 10,000 George Takei. The site isnt costing a ton to Couples, geared toward gay relationships, to provide resources and run less than $1,000 a month, which is subsidized share the marriage by Wilkersons lawyer experience with others. spouse, Sally Olson The site has gradually but it is in the red. The built a following since hope is that it will evenit started two years ago tually pay for itself. with about 4,000 visiWe have talked tors last month from about trying to get it more than 100 different to be a self-sustaining countries. enterprise, Olson, 57, Wilkersons goal, said. Were hoping it as the name states, is John Szlachetka will be, but shes doing to eventually have Associate Editor, it more because of the 10,000 different gay 10,000 Couples cause than the money . couples from around Its never going to make the world on display in money in the sense of the sites gallery (right now, theres about 300). There is not supporting her or me. Shelly Goldstein, a comedy a wealth of resources out there for same-sex couples, she said, and she writer and cabaret performer who wants to at least give them a virtual lives in Los Angeles, is one of shoulder to rest their head on when 10,000 Couples regular scribes. Married and straight, she comtheyre feeling alone. In places like Singapore and these posed a song called Stupid Callous other countries where we are attract- Homophobic Hateful Legislation ing people, they are able to see them- and put it up on YouTube to the selves and see that not only are they tune of the Mary Poppins number not alone, but they are not this hor- Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. rible image that people who are not It was in response to the repeal of gay marriage in California, and supportive promote, she said. caught the attention of Wilkerson. Goldstein writes a monthly colWilkerson, a 56-year-old retiree who formerly worked for a nonprof- umn called Soul Boosters, which it, started 10thousandcouples.com takes a humorous look at serious,

By MARTY STEMPNIAK

Its not just an American or a Canadian issue; its a worldwide issue.

J. GEIL/Photo Editor | Buy this picture at WednesdayJournalOnline.MyCapture.com

Oak Park resident Delena Wilkerson, moved by her gay marriage in California, started an online magazine called 10,000 Couples which helps same sex couples reach out to others to share experiences and give advice.
gay-related topics, most recently a law in Tennessee that would disallow teaching about homosexuality in the classroom, along with George Takeis response to it. The logic being that, if a child never hears the word, then there will be no more gay children, Goldstein said of the legislation. Single and gay Oak Parker David Loofbourrow, 58, also contributes to the site. In the June issue, he wrote about PRIDEcations trips to take around the world to celebrate gay pride. He says other publications have tried targeting the same demographic, but mostly on the political side, not lifestyle or a broader range of related topics. It really, I hope, becomes a destination place, especially for those who are coupled because theres nothing Ive seen that caters specifically to couples, he said. Canadian John Szlachetka, a 46-year-old married gay man, is the associate editor of 10,000 Couples, and he also writes monthly about gay marriage and family issues. Hes interested in the possibility of eventually printing a hard copy of the magazine, an idea thats in the raw stages right now.

Szlachetka believes that as more and more states and countries allow civil unions and gay marriage, the appetite for this type of content will grow. Its not just an American or a Canadian issue; its a worldwide issue, said Szalchetka, who most

recently wrote pieces about giveand-take in a gay marriage and what Fathers Day means to him as a gay dad. Another contributor is Jessica Arent, 43, a married straight woman from Houston who became a gay activist after her 15-year-old son came out. She also helps coordinate gay events and is looking at starting an online streaming radio station that discusses same-sex topics. Arent grew up in San Francisco and recalls asking one closeted classmate a question. The answer is the same attitude she brings to her writings for 10,000 Couples. Why are you so afraid to be who you really are?

CONTACT: mstempniak@wjinc.com

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Section Contributors Matthew Blake, Megan Dooley, Ian Fullerton, Christina Pippin, Marty Stempniak Manager of Internet and Technology Graham Johnston Editorial Intern Shawn Gilley Online Editor Sandi Pedersen Web Developer Mike Risher Editorial Design Manager Rebecca Lomax Editorial Designers Alaina Buzas, Mark Tatara Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Elisha-Rio Apilado Debbie Becker, Evan OBrien Advertising Director Marc Stopeck Display Advertising Sales Dawn Ferencak, Missy Laurell, Molly Frank-Stewart Display Advertising Coordinator Bridget Optholt

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Editor and Publisher Dan Haley VP/Director of Operations Andrew Johnston HOW TO REACH US Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois 60302 PHONE 708-524-8300 FAX 708-524-0447 ONLINE www.OakPark.com | www.RiverForest.com

ON THE COVER
Art Johnson (middle right) and Jose Pena, (middle left) are surrounded by friends after their civil union became official in Millennium Park on June 2.
J. GEIL/Photo Editor Buy this picture at WednesdayJournal Online.MyCapture.com

June 2011

PRIDE

Young, queer and Latino

Pilsen radio station focuses on queer Hispanic culture
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he National Mexican Museum of Modern Art announced last month that they intend to sell the Pilsen community radio station, Radio Arte, with the promise that the new owner will preserve its unique programming. Radio Arte is the only youth-run bilingual radio station in the country . Perhaps the most groundbreaking of Radio Artes shows has been Homofrecuencia, a weekly program for queer Latino youth thats been on the air since August 2002 and currently airs Monday evenings from 6-7. The goal of Homofrecuencia was to connect queer Latino youth who feel isolated, and I think weve accomplished that, said Jorge Valdavia, general manager at Radio Arte, which broadcasts at 90.5 FM. Valdavia started with Radio Arte as a college student when NMMA purchased the station in 1997. NMMA used one-time federal funding a Clinton administration empowerment zone grant to urban neighborhoods to set up a studio at the intersection of 18th Street and Blue Island. The station started by training college and high school Latino students to be disc jockeys, broadcasting shows on Latino culture and the Latino youth experience in Chicago. Today about 80 percent of the DJs are college and high school students, with some adults from the community also going through the training program.

YONI GOLDSTEIN/Contributor

Trustee Ray Johnson Village of Oak Park 708.358.5788 or rjohnson@oak-park.us

Valdavia said he pushed early on for one of these shows to be dedicated to queer Latino youth, viewing it as a community service. It was the tail end of the 90s, and computers were still not really a common household item, at least not among Latino residents, Valdavia said. Access to information was not as easy and accessible as it is today. Program managers continually rejected the idea, but by 2002, support had emerged among Radio Arte staff and DJs. Once the show got going, it made a series of choices that seem bold still today like the shows name. People were like, How are non-gays going to feel about it? and I said, If they listen, great, but thats not our target audience, Valdavia said. Another controversial move was to broadcast the show live. The reason we wanted to do the show live was because of the phone calls, Valdavia said. We wanted to answer the phone in case somebody, worst-case scenario, wanted to commit suicide or were in danger, so we could refer them. The case against broadcasting the show

Emanuel Garcia, Homofrecuencia producer, hosts a recent episode at Radio Artes studios in Pilsen. Below, contributors Mayra Buitron and Sandra Urbana join him on the program.
live, though, is that Radio Arte DJs sit by clear window walls making them visible to anyone on 18th St. the main pedestrian hub of Pilsen. We thought to ourselves, what if parents start picketing, Valdavia said. But there was nothing that happened there was no hate mail, nothing. It was like coming out all over again where you dont know what to expect, but the outcome you imagine is worse than the reality. Homofrecuencia evolved as not just a public service, but also a celebration of queer culture. One element of this was the creation in 2004 of the Queer Prom a citywide prom hosted each year at NMMA. I was having a conversation with a Homofrecuencia producer about an event where the theme was The prom I always wanted, and we were like, Wouldnt it be cool to have a prom like that in Pilsen? Valdavia recalled. Working with the gay-straight alliances of local high schools as well as Latino queer advocacy groups like Amigas Latinas, the first Queer Prom attracted about 100 students. Today the prom draws 350 teens across Chicago 70 percent of them Latino, but also a sizable portion of queer African-American teens from the Southeast Side of Chicago. Valdavia said the Latino queer experience is unique for many who are either undocumented immigrants or grow up speaking Spanish. Anytime you have a legal status issue and a language barrier and are queer, its extremely difficult, he said. Valdavia is upset by the stereotypes that Latino culture might be less accepting. The stereotypes about Latinos being a machista community it got drilled into our heads, but its not true, he said. Thats part of why Homofrecuencia is there to dispel some of the stereotypes we believe in.

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June 2011

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June 2011

PRIDE

One kid claims a space on gender spectrum

Parents make bold choice to embrace gender diversity and find an Oak Park public school thats game to explore the path
By MEGAN DOOLEY
Staff Reporter Editors note: The names of the child and parents in this story have been changed to guard the privacy of those involved.

Resources for parents

amie is your fairly typical schoolgirl. She wears her blonde hair long, likes the color pink, and takes a keen interest in fashion. Shes equally comfortable on the monkey bars as she is on a kickball field, and shes happiest doing both activities in a skirt. Shes energetic and outgoing, and, at age eight, looks forward to playdates with her closest friends. Jamie is also comfortable in her own skin, an accomplishment few people far beyond her years can claim. Its not easy, and its a continuing process, because Jamie was born a boy. Theres this area, this gray area, where youve got these gender diverse or gender nonconforming children, meaning they were born with a certain gender yet theyre not typically that gender, said Jamies mother, Jennifer. The way she says it is, her brain is a boy, her heart is a girl. And she really is both. Jennifer and her husband, Robert, began to take notice shortly after Jamies second birthday. The first inclination was the pajama pants, and taking my shirts, Jennifer said. Jamie began to make a nightly habit of fashioning a pair of pajama pants into a makeshift wig. The elastic waistband was used a headband, leaving the pant legs to flow like long hair down his back. After that, Jamie began asking for his mothers oversized shirts, long enough to belt into dresses on his tiny frame.

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Gender Born, Gender Made: Raising Healthy GenderNonconforming Children by Diane Ehrensaft, Ph.D. All I Want To Be Is Me by Phyllis Rothblatt Be Who You Are by Jennifer Carr

called her gay, though she didnt know what the word meant. But the school always intervened, and the incidents of bullying have drastically decreased. If there has been anything thats come out, Jennifer lets me know right away, and then we address it on the administrative side immediately, said the principal. Its been a gift, Jennifer said of the school. When I talk with the other parents [of gender non-conforming children both locally and across the nation] they cant believe that shes in a public school. But it can still be lonely, at times, for Jamie. In a society of rigid gender definitions, shes continuously trying to live both her physical gender and her gender expression. We worked really hard at having her be just sort of unshakable with it, and not take it to heart. And its hard. She doesnt have a spot. So because shes got both expressions, she wants to play kickball with the boys, but theyre like, no, youre in a skirt and youre a girl. And then she wants to hang out with the girls, and they want to hang out with girls, because she sometimes is really hyper and goofy, the way boys are.

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In the younger years, it was a steady mix of the masculine and the feminine, with Jamies male gender defining his perception by the outside world, while his female expression continued to emerge at every turn. By kindergarten, Jamie asked that her parents refer to her as she. Later that year, she asked to go to school as a girl. Jamies parents did something that many parents of gender non-conforming children struggle with on a daily basis; they embraced it. What were doing with Jamie is very unique, Jennifer said. Our approach has been to make sure that people know that Jamie is a boy whose expression is a girl, whereas a lot of the families, they just have their kids present as girls. For now, Jamie is still comfortable straddling two genders. She knows that having boy parts is a part of her, but doesnt define her, Jennifer said. She can sayIm a boy, and its not all of me. So when we say to peo-

Parents interested in speaking with Jennifer about having a gender-nonconforming child may contact Megan Dooley at (708) 613-3368 or mdooley@wjinc.com.

ple that shes a boy it doesnt disempower her or invalidate her expression, its just a reality. Physically shes just a boy. That doesnt mean that her expression is that. On the outside, people assume that Im a boy. But on the inside, in my heart, I believe Im a girl, Jamie said. Theyre not my body, and they cant tell me who I am. Jamie entered kindergarten at a public school in Oak Park presenting as a boy. She was allowed to wear her girl clothes at home after school, and eventually outside. But it got to the point where she was tearing off her boy clothes the moment she got home after school. I felt more comfortable in girls clothes, Jamie said. I dont know why. Its just, girls are pretty, and I like their clothes so much. Her true identity eventually became too dif-

ficult to suppress. Near the end of school, I showed my class, said Jamie who wore girls clothing to school the last few weeks of kindergarten. By then, most of the kids kind of knew, said the principal at the Oak Park school where Jamie just finished up second grade. Those who didnt were informed by Jennifer, who spoke to the class to explain that Jamie is a boy, but likes to express herself as a girl. We really didnt make a huge deal about it, said the principal.

The transition came with some bumps along the way. She would spend a lot of lunchtimes (at school) crying last year, Jennifer said. Older children sometimes antagonized her, and

Jamie is vocal about the difficulties she faces, but shes confident that she knows who she is, and made the right decision, to express herself as a girl. It was hard, when I started to be a girl, because I got bullied, like right at that moment, Jamie said. And at the same moment, I wanted to be a girl. Would it just be easier to not deal with all that? Not to deal with the whispers, not to deal with the pointing, not to deal with all of that? For a lot of kids, it just is, its just easier, Jennifer said. But for someone with a strong personality like Jamie, its way more damaging to suppress that. So shes healthier. There was a mourning period, for Jennifer and Robert, for the son theyd never have. They are the parents of four children, but Jamie was their only son. There are some things that you have to deal with, and give up, Robert said. I actually looked forward to playing baseball with my son. And thats probably not going to happen. For Jennifer and Robert it was an ongoing process. And theyve grown considerably since Jamie first began to express herself as a female. You think its just a phase. You think, oh thats funny, she really likes dresses, Jennifer said. And then after six or seven months, I realized it wasnt waning at all. In fact it was intensifying. I was really annoyed with my wife, for buySee GENDER DIVERSITY on facing page

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June 2011

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gendered people, among others. n her 13 years in the field of educaHere in the States, many families tion, Jamies principal, said shes are still scared to speak publicly about never encountered another genderit. Jennifer said she was recently one nonconforming child that she knew of 20 or 30 families who were slated to of. But that doesnt mean theyre not participate in a documentary about out there. It just means that most gender-nonconformity, but everyone else arent comfortable making it public. eventually backed out. The project was The principal said she knows of finally scrapped. They were so afraid of another Oak Park child close to what would happen if they Jamies age who attends a different elemenwent on film, she said. tary school and is going And even for the through virtually the purposes of this story, same gender identity Jennifer and Robert issues. asked that all names be Its not as abnorchanged to protect their mal as I would have privacy. thought, she said. The couple are memI know there are so bers of a Childrens many more kids like National Medical Center Jamie, Jennifer said, listserv that connects explaining that its much them with families of more widely accepted gender-diverse children Jamies mother, Jennifer from across the country, in girls, who are known affectionately as tomand theyve also found boys. For boys whose some very close to home. expression is female, There are other genpeople seem to be less tolerant. der-nonconforming boys in the neighHundreds of years ago, Jennifer borhood who arent as visibly public as said, Native American cultures Jamie, Robert said. They get together embraced the ambiguity. They occasionally, probably less than Jamie would call this having two spirits, would like, but for them, finding playshe said. And they were respected, mates they identify with is a blessing. and revered. Were like a group, Jamie said. All In May, Nepal became the first of us are exactly the same. country in the world to give official Its more common than I think recognition to a third gender, for the people are aware, which is also very purposes of collecting census data. sad, the principal said. Its sad that The third gender encompasses gay, they arent able to express themselves gender-nonconforming, and transas freely as Jamie has been.

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GENDER DIVERSITY

Continued from facing page

ing all this pink stuff, Robert said. But then she started researching, and researching and we started to get that theres this whole world of gender spectrum. He eventually came around. Youve got to house both ways of being for a little while. Youre saying goodbye to the things you thought you were going to experience with your son, and at the same time, welcoming what will be, Robert said. A few years from now, new issues will likely arise. The question of a physical transition, for instance. Its not something the couple discuss with Jamie yet, but there is a hormone regimen available that blocks some of the male characteristics that come with puberty. On one hand, it simplifies what might later

be a much more complex process. But its a life-altering decision for a prepubescent child, because the blockers cause sterility. Jamies parents feel its simply too soon to have that conversation. At eight years old, how the heck do you know? said Jennifer. The couple faces complex issues every day in their quest to honor Jamies true self, but they said that theyre the ones who have really learned from the experience. Its taught us both to have a whole new level of appreciation and tolerance for other views. Not just gender expression, but anywhere in life, Robert said. Its one of their goals, to educate others on gender non-conformity. Its completely normal. Its completely OK. Theres nothing to fix, said Jennifer. And there are tremendous resources for [parents], to work through their own stuff. Because thats what it is. Theres nothing wrong with [the kids]. Its our stuff.

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June 2011

PRIDE

A more civil union

PHOTOS BY J. GEIL
Photo Editor

n the first day civil unions became possible in Chicago, 36 happy couples tied the knot at Wrigley Square in Millennium Park. For the record books, that was on Thursday, June 2, 2011. 1) Paul Dombrowski (right) and Joe Serio share a kiss in front of a banner held by those who were demonstrating near the ceremony after their civil union became official. 2) Vernita Gray and Pat Ewert carry a Just United sign after their civil union. 3) Mark Weber and Roy Wesley share a smooch. 4) Ross Slotten and Ted Grady embrace after they were among the first to be wed at the ceremony. 5) Myra Rodriguez (center, left) and Janeida Rivera (center, right) participate in the civil unions ceremony 6) A civil union license is filled out. 7) Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel speak during the ceremony. 8) Myra Rodriguez (right) and Janeida Rivera share a smooch after their civil union became official. 9) A couple speaks to the media. 10) Mark Weber and Roy Wesley embrace.

Purchase a copy of these photos at WednesdayJournalOnline.MyCapture.com

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June 2011

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June 2011

PRIDE

Chicagoan to open Berwyns first gay bar

Antronios will take the place of long-shuttered Inclusive on Roosevelt
By MARTY STEMPNIAK
fast to keep up with, so Casco decided to decamp and start up somewhere else. Berwyn and Cicero have a growing gay Latino population, which the West Lawn resident hopes to capitalize on. Berwyn has a large community of gay people, just like Oak Park and Cicero, he said. So were centralizing ourselves among three towns that have a good gay population. Casco says other clubs in town have hosted gay-friendly nights, but none were solely geared toward gay customers. Hell offer a drag show and dancing on the spaces sizeable dance floor, which would function as community space while the restaurant operates. They plan to keep a low profile during the daytime, so as not to upset any neighbors. If I want people to respect my clientele, I have to respect that they live around this area, he said. Theres

Staff Reporter

few short years ago, Inclusive nightclub quickly became a neighborhood nuisance, with loud noise, brawls and public urination a common occurrence after hours. That bar is long gone, and a Chicago entrepreneur wants to transform the empty space into Berwyns first gay bar. Jos Casco, 54, is working feverishly to turn the former Inclusive space at 6319 W. Roosevelt into a lounge/restaurant called Antronios. The business will be multifaceted, according to the owner, operating as a community center and Mexican eatery during the day, and switching to a Latin gay bar in the evening. He formerly owned a club called Chesterfields in McKinley Park. The client base was growing too

Jos Casco

J. GEIL/Photo Editor | Buy this picture at WednesdayJournalOnline.MyCapture.com

nothing wrong with two guys holding hands, but we all have different values. So I dont want your kids to see two guys kissing at noon. Thats why Im trying to do this very low key . The South East Oak Park Community Organization worked with local police to address the issues that came from Inclusive a few years ago. Board member Jim Kelly says

theyve reached out to Casco already and hope to meet with him in the future to build a relationship and talk about the toxic impact that Inclusive had on the area. Kelly, a 63-year-old gay man who is a member of the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association, thinks Antronios will be a much better fit. On the one hand, you can argue

that gays and lesbians dont need their own spaces because were so integrated into everything thats done in Oak Park. There isnt any place we cant go and feel welcome, Kelly said. On the other hand, it is nice to have something thats more akin to a place of our own, where everyone is welcome. OPALGA and Berwyns version, Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay and Lesbian Organization (BUNGALO), have often talked about holding activities together. Kelly thinks Antronios might be a good place to meet halfway. Ted Korbos, a 26-year Berwyn resident, who is founder and chair of BUNGALO, doesnt know why Berwyn didnt have a gay bar before (though he said Salernos restaurant in the towns Depot District used to cater to gays after hours.) Korbos added that the gay advocacy nonprofit is planning to host an event there sometime soon, possibly this summer. Im glad to see a gay bar opening in Berwyn. I hope it succeeds, he said. CONTACT: mstempniak@wjinc.com

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PRIDE

June 2011

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Calendar
JUNE 24-25 CHICAGOS 9TH ANNUAL PRIDE FEST, at the intersection of Waveland Avenue and Halsted Street in Chicago will feature live music, arts and crafts, and food. Theres a gate donation of $7 ($10 after 5 p.m.) that will benefit the Northalsted Business Alliance. Gates open 4-10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit www.northalsted.com/ pages/chicago_pride_fest. JUNE 24 THE LIES WE TELL, BUT THE SECRETS WE KEEP by MVP Productions at the Portage Theatre, 4050 N. Milwaukee, Chicago at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www. themakingofmvp.com. JUNE 24 CIVIL RIGHTS AND LEFT OVERS by gay-themed sketch comedy group Quixotic. Midnight at Donnys Skybox, 1616 N. Wells St. For more information, visit www.quixoticcomedy. com/Quixotic_Comedy/Quixotic.html. JUNE 24 VITAL NIGHTS AFTER DARK, a social networking event for young professionals at Lumen, 839 W. Fulton, hosted by Vital Bridges Junior Marketing Committee. For more information, visit www.vitalbridges.org. JUNE 24-26 OUTDOOR WEEKEND PRIDE PARTY, Backlot Bash, behind the Cheetah Gym, 5428 N. Clark, Chicago. For more information, visit www.backlotbashchicago.com. JUNE 25-26 EDGEWATER PRIDE OPPRESSION TO EXPRESSION, at the Edgewater History Museum, 5358 N. Ashland, Chicago. 1-4 p.m. both days. JUNE 25 A GAY PRIDE GOLDEN SAIL ADVENTURE SUNSET CRUISE hosted by Class C Entertainment. 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www. classceechicago.com. JUNE 25 PROUD TO RUN. To kick off Chicagos Gay Pride Weekend Saturday morning, there will be a 5K and 10K run as well as a 2-mile walk to celebrate lesbian and gay pride. The races will start in Lincoln Park at Montrose Avenue, east of Lake Shore Drive. Find out more at www.proudtorun.org. JUNE 26 42ND ANNUAL CHICAGO PRIDE PARADE. Steps off at noon

The annual Pride Parade in Boystown

heading north on Halsted and then heading south on Broadway. This years Grand Marshall is Fernanda Rocha of The Real Housewives of Orange County. For more information, visit www.chicagopridecalendar.org. JUNE 26 LGBTQ PRIDE SERVICE at the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 W. Wellington Ave., on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. For more information, visit www.waucc.org or call 773-935-0642. JUNE 26 CULTIVATING A RAINBOW HEART, a service at the Peoples Church of Chicago, 941 W. Lawrence Ave.10 a.m. For more information, visit www.peopleschurchchicago.org.

File 2008/JOSH HAWKINS

OUT IN CHICAGO at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark, Chicago, examines the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Chicagoans from the citys beginnings. For more information, go to www. chicagohistory.org.
Compiled by Shawn Gilley

residence corporation

oak park

let your voice be heard

The Oak Park Residence Corporation offers studios, one, and two bedroom apartments in 20 distinctive buildings. Our goal is to upgrade and maintain quality housing in the community through the purchase, rehabilitation and management of apartment buildings in beautiful Oak Park. Call our Marketing Dept. 708-386-6061 www.oakparkrc.com 21 South Boulevard Oak Park, IL 60302

United Methodist Church

Celebrating with Pride and Welcome Euclid Avenue

Worship Hour: 10:30 am Summer Worship: 9:30 am

405 South Euclid Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 848-7360 www.euclidumc.org

SKYLINE
NEWS OF LINCOLN PARK, OLD TOWN, RIVER NORTH AND GOLD COAST

CHICAGO

JOURNAL

NEWS OF SOUTH LOOP, NEAR WEST AND WEST LOOP

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June 2011

PRIDE

Cop shop in Boystown eyed for LGBTQ seniors

Affordable, supportive housing planned on Halsted
By IAN FULLERTON
Contributing Reporter
lifestyle, finding themselves placed in a senior home and feeling to a degree that they have to hide their sexual orientation, said Beyers, noting that there have been recorded cases at senior homes in which staff have been reluctant to allow clients to hang pictures of partners in their room or even allow longtime partners to visit them at the home. Some senior providers may not have the capability or the sensitivity to allow LBGT seniors to live their life the way they are used to, said Betty Atkins, an information and referral coordinator at the center. Through its Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) program, the center, 3656 N. Halsted, facilitates a number of classes, workshops and discussion groups designed to encourage community engagement among LGBT seniors and minimize the social isolation that often comes with old age.

oger Beyers gestured toward the other side of the long sunlit room where a group of seniors was settling down to a late breakfast. A man coming from a French class that had just let out upstairs greeted Beyers as he passed. Many folks who are here today are hungrier for nourishment of the soul than they are for the meal itself, said Beyers. He and the other men had come to dine together at the Center on Halsted, an LGBTQ community center in Boystown that dedicates part of its programming to senior citizens who fall into that category. Beyers, 67, currently lives in a development supported by Chicago House, a 26-year-old organization that provides housing for people with HIV and AIDS. He was diagnosed with HIV 10 years ago. He referred to a friend who attends programs at the center, a man who had recently lost his partner of 50 years. You can be sure he feels more comfortable here knowing that he can explore his feelings of loss and vulnerability, he said. The right to lament the death of a companion in ones own home may seem like a given, but for some seniors in the LGBTQ community, living situations dont always make things quite so simple. An oft-told story is of a person who has lived a relatively open gay

An upcoming project by LGBTQ advocates and city leaders aims at bringing that experience home for seniors in the community. In mid-May, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) announced that the city in collaboration with the center and the Heartland Housing Alliance is working on designs to open an LGBTQ-friendly senior living home in Boystown. Now in its sixth year of planning, the home will offer low-income housing options for seniors in the LGBTQ community, as well as provide a supportive living environment that will include health and social services. Preliminary designs for the home envision 79-89 units, made up mostly of one-person studios and

some two-bedroom apartments, said Michael Goldberg, executive director of Heartland, which currently manages more than 600 units of affordable and supportive housing in Chicago. This is what we do; this is our mission, said Goldberg. The home is slated to be built at the vacant 23rd District Town Hall police station next door to the center. Goldberg said most of the units in the building are expected to be priced affordably, at up to 60 percent of the areas median income. That price point acknowledges another stereotype about LGBTQ seniors, said Beyers, who has followed the planning of the home closely. Were not all affluent, he said. Many LGBTQ seniors are childless and have little family they can turn to for financial assistance, said Beyers. According to a study by the MidAmerica Institute on Poverty that Heartland Alliance released in 2007, of the nearly 40,000 LGBT seniors counted in Chicago at the time, approximately one in five had an annual income below $20,000. The study stated that LGBT seniors often face financial roadblocks because of issues such as workplace discrimination and pension clauses that deny same-sex life partners some of the benefits that are offered to married couples. Another misconceived notion about LGBTQ seniors, said Beyers, is that they are not sexually active, leading some homes to overlook sexual health programming for clients. Since we know of Viagra and Cialis, that proves that to be untrue, he said. Beyers said the forthcoming LGBTQ senior home was the begin-

ning of what he hoped would be a trend in focusing on the needs of his community. Let it be said that whoever occupies that building will not have to return to the closet, he said. Construction on the senior home is expected to begin in 2012.

IAN FULLERTON/Contributor

Roger Beyers (top left) with his friend Erland Parnell at the Center on Halsted. Above, the vacant 23rd District Town Hall police station is slated to be a LGBTQ-friendly senior living home.

LGBT Law
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M. Emily Arthur
Oney & Arthur P.C.
Attorneys at Law
1011 Lake St., Ste 435 Oak Park, IL 60301 (708) 660-1900 111 E. Wacker Dr., Ste 2600 Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 540-1900

Celebrating 18 days of my own civil union bliss!!

www.OakPark.com

PRIDE

June 2011

A13

A place we all can be proud to call home.

For more than 20 years, the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association (OPALGA) has worked to make our area a place we all can be proud to call home.

local. sustainable. seasonal. certified.

A Community Of Pride
We do this by:
Fostering positive attitudes and advocating for full equality for the LGBT community Promoting institutional change in both the private and public sectors Providing educational, social and cultural opportunities for LGBT individuals Celebrating the contributions the organization and its members make to the community.

To help keep the Oak Park area a place we all can be proud to call home, join us today!
www.opalga.org email: info@opalga.org (708) 848-0273

we are proud to be oak park's very first restaurant to be certified as a green restaurant by the green restaurant association one of only three restaurants in chicagoland to earn 3 stars.

Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association

100 s. marion street oak park, il 60302 708.725.7200 marionstreetcheesemarket.com

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June 2011

PRIDE

your financial
with expert Fee-Only advice

Set and meet

goals

thats designed for you.

(Theres no charge for your initial consultation!)
FINANCIAL PLANNING 101 N. Marion St., Suite 306, Oak Park, IL 60301 Phone: 708/445.8747 E-mail: sophie@vistafp.com Website: www.vistafp.com

Sophie Kaluziak, CPA, CFP

Registered Investment Advisor

Shopping & Fashion Blogger

CHR ISTIN A PIPPIN

As an Oak Park resident and loyal shopper of local, independently owned businesses, my goal is to introduce readers to neighborhood merchants via interviews that share the personal stories of the shopkeepers we support. It is also my goal to feature items found in local boutiques that are innovative, artful, well-crafted, thoughtfully designed, and fashion forward. I hope to create an online community where readers are inspired and share inspiration. Forget those Monday blues! Mondays will be Green Days, where I bring you all that is eco-friendly. Vintage, repurposed, and recycled products will abound. Deals and steals are on the agenda. Fridays will feature a fantastic find or fashion item. This may include apparel, accessories, home decor, or fun foodie items. I will also be on the lookout for local fashionistas who are interested in sharing their personal style in our Style Inspiration posts. Each month, youll be introduced to a local entrepreneur in the Meeting of a Great Mind post, where I interview a local shop owner and discover their Aha! moment. We will learn of the remarkable journeys that galvanized each pioneer. The Shopping Blog will bring you news of fun, style-infused events in town and a number of opportunities to create a positive change through commerce. I will see you around town and in the shops!

Read Christina Pippins blog at OakPark.com/Shopping/Blogs

PRIDE

June 2011

A15

Got pride?
Celebrating diversity, love and unity
Compiled BY CHRISTINA PIPPIN KOLA RAINBOW CAMERA FILTERS Fly Bird, $15.99 JUST MARRIED PIN Beatnix, $1

PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD PIN Batteries Not Included, $1 LOVE ME DO BEATLES GUITAR PICKS Wonderwall Music Shoppe and Emporium

Where to buy
Batteries Not Included 3420 N. Halsted St., Chicago (773) 935-9900 om www.bachelorettepartystore.com Beatnix 3400 N. Halsted St., Chicago (773) 281-6933 www.beatnixclothing.com Gaymart 3459 N. Halsted St., Chicago (773) 929-4272 www.gaymartchicago.com Fly Bird 719 Lake St., Oak Park (708) 383-3330 www.fly-bird.net Wonderwall Music Shoppe and Emporium 325 Harrison St., Oak Park (708) 948-7986 www.sitaremporium.com/ WonderwallEmporium.html

COMMITMENT NECKLACE FOR HER GayMart, $21.49

JOSEPH JOSEPH NESTING BOWLS Fly Bird, eight for $59.99

A16

June 2011

PRIDE

UP UP TO TO

Summer Sale
ends June ends June 30th 30th

Summer Sale

30 30
OFF

OFF OFF

% %

Bring this ad in and 5% of your purchase will be donated to the West Suburban Humane Bring this ad in and of your your Society or the animal shelter5% ofchoice purchase will wshs-dg.org be donated to the West Suburban Humane

Summer Sale
UP TO

Society or the animal shelter of your choice wshs-dg.org

30
ends June 30th

Bring this ad in and 5% of your purchase will be donated to the West Suburban Humane Society or the animal shelter of your choice wshs-dg.org

Oak Park/Chicago 7040 West North Avenue 708.386.3500 or 773.889.7500

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9:30am6pm Friday & Saturday: 9:30am5pm Sunday: 11am4pm

Downers Grove 730 Ogden Avenue 630.963.2000

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9am8pm Friday & Saturday: 9am5pm Sunday: 11am4pm

H A R D W O O D T I L E L A M I N AT E G R A N I T E C O U N T E RTO P S

www.yonancarpetone.com