» Chicago LGBT High School Plan Dropped

The team behind a proposal to create a LGBT high school in Chicago asked the Board of Education to drop today's scheduled vote on the idea, after Mayor Daley, local ministers, and some gay activists who complained the school would segregate gay youth criticized the plan. In response, the plan refocused on catering to all sorts of disenfranchised students, but amid concerns the idea had become "watered down", the organizers behind the effort asked for an additional year to retool. [Chicago Tribune]

  Respond


Over 100,000 protesters across the country and across the globe attended rallies and marched on Saturday in protest of California's Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex marriage. From Fairbanks, Alaska, where 32 people stood with signs in 6 degree weather as snow fell to San Diego, where 25,000 people marched on an unseasonably hot autumn day that reached into the 90s, supporters of civil rights demanded equality.

"This is the first time in U.S. history that the majority voted to strip the rights of a minority. Who will be next?" asked Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lori Jean, who also credited young people as the driving force of the movement, saying "We now pass the torch to you!" The protests, organized via the website www.jointheimpact.com, spread through sites like Facebook, Myspace & Twitter.

Many of you sent in photos, videos and stories of the day. After the jump, we present some of these snapshots from across the country. You may want to grab a hankie.

CONTINUED »


Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley's long been a pro-gay advocate, but that doesn't mean he's backing the city's potential gay high school. In fact, he's against it.

One day after his handpicked school board put off a vote on the School for Social Justice Pride Campus, Daley explained why — by expressing his misgivings.

"You have to look at whether or not you isolate and segregate children. A holistic approach has always been to have children of all different backgrounds– in schools. When you start isolating children and you say, 'Only 50 percent here, 40 percent here' — same thing we went through with the disabled — then you want to do that when they're adults," Daley said.

"It's controversial. Some people are for it. Some are against it– The Board of Education has to make the decision whether it's good for isolating children. I don't know– I'm just saying that's one of the problems– You start identifying them."

We actually agree with this one. Removing gay kids from potentially hostile environments may protect them, yes, but it does nothing to tackle the real problem: pervasive homophobia.

» (Irate) Words…

"The schools need to get out of the bedroom and back to the 3 R’s. This is why Johnny still can’t read because the children are being used as pawns to further a political agenda. We should be helping them out of that lifestyle, not helping them into it." - Oh-so-concerned parent Kathy Reese on why Chicago should not establish a controversial gay high school. [WMAQ]

  1 Response
» Helping Hand…

"Homeless shelters across Chicago are getting a crash course in how to better serve members of the gay community. The Chicago Department of Human Services is conducting four days of mandatory sensitivity training at the city's gay community center." [Chicago Tribune]

  3 Responses


As Barack Obama jets around the nation shoring up support for his presidential campaign, lawmakers in his home base of Chicago are preparing to vote on the erection of a "gay" high school.

Though he's not voting on the proposal, a local Fox News channel began to wonder where the Senator stands on the matter.

And the politician's support, they say, has been anything but resounding…

CONTINUED »

» Schooling.

"A 'gay-friendly' Chicago public high school that will weave gay and lesbian "heroes" — from James Baldwin to Gertrude Stein — into its curriculum was among 20 new school proposals unveiled Wednesday… In U.S. history and other classes, "gay and lesbian historical figures" would be taught so gay youth 'have heroes,' said Bill Greaves, Chicago's liaison on issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. 'We will teach the history of all people, but we are just going to make sure these people are not invisible in that history," said Greaves, part of the Pride Campus design team." The school hopes to open in 2010. [Chicago Sun-Times]

  4 Responses

200 people met last night in Chicago to discuss a possible LGBT high school named, The Social Justice High School—Pride Campus. The school would offer college-prep classes. "Gay, lesbian and transgender students are often overlooked in our district." Chad Weiden, who would be the school's Principal, said.

Not everyone is excited about the idea. "My fear is that the rest of the system will be let off the hook. The notion that the Pride Campus is a silver bullet to set aside all needs of [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] youth is mistaken." Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network said.

In NYC, we've had success with the 2002 public accreditation of the GLBT Harvey Milk School - with a 95% graduation rate.

Mr. Thayer is lucky that he isn't currently attending one of Chicago's tougher schools. Pride Campus would serve GLBT youth who have been victims of harsh intolerance and whose parents don't have the money to send them to a liberal private school. Schools like Harvey Milk and Campus Pride are a great way to give kids a safe education now, while school officials continue to teach tolerance to the broader student population. The Pride Campus won't be the "silver bullet" for ALL the needs of GLBT youth, but it will certainly be the silver bullet for those lucky enough to attend who have been the victims of abuse and bullying.

» Touchy!

"An amateur body-builder is suing the Chicago Free Press and a North Side gay bar after the paper ran an ad featuring him clad in leather and chains, allegedly without his consent. Joel Rabb, who works as a personal trainer and a “national level amateur body-builder” claims his photo was used in an advertisement for Bobby Love’s bar, 3729 N. Halsted St., in the paper without his consent, according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court Wednesday. The ad, which pictures a muscular man wearing chains and leather chaps, reads, “Bobby Loves, tallest cock tail on Halsted” scrolled across the man’s face." Oh, please! It could have been worse. The text could have been across his crotch! [Sun-Times]

  1 Response


Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now" has been rattling around our brain for a few days now, but it wasn't until this morning that we finally pinned down the track name. So, in an effort of exorcise this aural gem, we're passing it along to you.


We've resigned ourselves to our Wednesday reality, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a "Saturday In The Park." Doesn't that sound delicious?

And, yes, there will be ice cream.

stuartlevine.jpg
Now this is a revelation. Key Republican donor Stuart Levine told a federal jury that he hosted dozens of drug-filled parties populated solely with male friends.
Chicago's Sun Times reports that Levine, a key witness against embattled real estate developer Tony Rezko, testified that his clandestine antics back to 1972:

Levine said he first experimented with drugs in 1972, primarily using marijuana and cocaine during that decade. He said he also tried quaaludes a couple of times in the same period and did LSD once.

In the mid-1980s, Levine said there was a change in his drug use when he began partying with a group of five male friends — two or three at a time — once or twice a month as his business schedule allowed.

Levine later moved on to crystal meth, which he apparently preferred.

Rezko's defense claims that Levine's drug use may have impaired his memory. They wanted to delve into the married father's sexual secrets, but the judge ruled them irrelevant. And to spare us the gory, easily envisioned details.

venush.jpg
Charlene Cothran's back in action!

The "ex-gay" former Venus publisher has been hard at work on an inflammatory new project: a speech entitled "How Homosexuality Destroys Families, Not Just Values." Sounds like a real winner.

Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network will protest Cothran's appearance on March 13th.

As a publisher of Venus magazine, a publication formerly oriented towards African American lesbians, about a year ago Cothran apparently decided that the grass (and money) was greener on the Republican right, and has since become a tool of their movement and a professional gay hater. Her presentation, which is advertised as "free and open to the public," will be at 7 PM, Thursday, March 13th at the Hoffman House, 7550 E. State Street in Rockford, IL

GLN will be car-pooling from Chicago to counter her lies, with our protest beginning at 6:30 PM that night. GLN invites all LGBT people and our allies to join in countering Cochran's hate.

Those of you who want to say "hell no" to Cothran should email GLN: LGBTliberation@aol.com.

Activists Assert A Queer Connection

mysterygif.jpeg
Black gay activists in Chicago claim two seemingly unrelated deaths have an unspoken connection:

Leaders of Chicago Black Lesbian and Gay Organizations announced a community alert Thursday morning after two recent homicides in which they believe black gay men were targeted.

The community organizations called the alert in response to the deaths of Larry Bland, on Nov. 17, and Donald Young, on Dec. 23, according to a news release.

Bland's mother believes that a potential lover shot him to death last November.

Young, a choir director and deacon, seems to have been murdered in an apparent pre-Christmas robbery.

Mourning Mama Says "Yes".

larrybland.jpeg
Chicago-based Larry Bland died violently two weeks ago and his mother suspects his one his chat room mates may have murdered him. This isn't the first time online sex has been brought up in a gay man's murder.

Michael Sandy met his killers online, as have a number of other men who have come up on this site. Never in our eons of reporting gay murders, however, have we heard a story start with such panicked condemnation.

From local Fox reporter Darlene Hill:

Log in, type the address, and enter a world unknown to many: a world full of men seeking sex with men.

Josephine Bland says her son was so consumed by that activity, she moved out of her own home.

CONTINUED »



Queerty Team

Editor
Japhy Grant

Editorial Director
David Hauslaib

Publisher
Jossip Initiatives

Our Network

Jossip The gossip's gossip sheet

Mollygood Splaying celebrities from A- to D-list

Stereohyped Once you blog black, you never go back

About

Advertise

Privacy

RSS

 
Copyright 2008 Jossip Initiatives LLC