SUGARLAND’S JENNIFER NETTLES WINDY CITY TALKS THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, WITH WCT BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985
page 29 April 13, 2011 TIMES vol 26, no. 28 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Study shows LGBT elders’ care concerns
By Joseph Erbentraut staff would likely discriminate against an openly percent). LGBT elder living under their care. More than half LGBT elder advocates in Chicago said the re- While long-term care facilities like assisted liv- (53 percent) predicted staff would abuse or ne- port’s findings were consistent with the fears of ing centers or nursing homes are not likely a glect an out resident. Their fears also extended the Windy City’s aging LGBT population. preferred housing option for aging Americans, a to other facility residents who are perceived as Hope Barrett, Center on Halsted senior di- KELLY ELEVELD’s new national study released this month outlined likely to both discriminate against (81 percent) rector of public programs, acknowledged that thoughts on 2012 many unique concerns facing LGBT elders con- or isolate (77 percent) an openly LGBT resident. while some facilities in the city are working to page 12 sidering such options. Many respondents further reported instances be sensitive to the concerns of their LGBT resi- The study—entitled “LGBT Older Adults in of mistreatment of LGBT elders, most commonly dents, many elders remain leery that all facilities Long-Term Care Facilities: Stories from the verbal or physical harassment from other resi- provide an atmosphere where they can be wel- Field”—was based on responses to a survey dents (23 percent) or staff (14 percent) or re- comed as their full selves. Particularly at risk of conducted online from October 2009 to June fused admission or re-admission or an attempted harassment, Barrett added, are HIV-positive and 2010 and featuring input from 769 respondents or abrupt discharge from a facility (20 percent). transgender elders. including LGBT elders; social services providers; Other respondents reported they were aware of “We’ve known about people having to go back and friends and family members of LGBT elders. instances where staff refused to accept medical in the closet because they’re now in assisted liv- The report specifically indicated a common power of attorney from a resident’s spouse or Turn to page 6 belief (89 percent of respondents) that facility partner (11 percent) or restricted visitors (11 CRATE EXPECTATIONS Making us count: Illinois’ queer couples and cory jobe: gay GOP the census in springfield NEWS ANALYSIS By Joseph Erbentraut
page 7 In terms of providing reliable information spe- cifically referencing LGBT Americans, the United States Census Bureau has just begun to make modest inroads allowing for demographical anal- ysis of where LGBT people live and work at the state, county or even city level. However, even it appears a question relating specifically to a respondents’ sexual orientation or gender identity will not be added to either the decennial census or smaller, annual Ameri- can Community Surveys (ACS) any time soon, forthcoming 2010 census data are expected the offer the most reliable measures of same-sex couples who report themselves as either mar- ried, in “unmarried partnerships” and, presum- ably, in civil unions. That data, including the first-ever census breakdown between individuals SUSIE BRIGHT in same-sex relationships who report themselves TALKS WITH wct as either spouses or unmarried partners, is due page 32 this summer. Meanwhile, Windy City Times has taken the opportunity to analyze available ACS data to gain a preview of what the 2010 census data nightspots on self-reporting same-sex couples might show tApril 13, 2011 with regard to what parts of the state LGBT Il-
Egg-cited Sisters linoisans call home. The analysis will be reported Celebrate Easter with the Abbey of the Windy City Sisters. page 6 over the course of a three-part series, including an analysis of Chicago neighborhoods and a re- pick it up port on why recognition of queer Americans in take it home census data is both important and beneficial for Robbie Cronrod and Allen Artcliff are deeply in love—and are hoping that they can get the wed- the community. ding of their dreams in Crate & Barrel’s online contest. Read their story on page 10. Photo by Turn to page 9
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Ksen Pallegedara issues address LGBT and Carl Siciliano of the Ali Forney Center in NYC. journalists, bloggers Photo by Tracy Baim by Jean Albright and Tracy Baim government proposed widespread funding cuts to homeless youth shelters. LGBT journalists, editors and bloggers met in New York State has funded programs through San Francisco March 12 for concentrated presen- the Runaway Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) since tations on LGBT youth homelessness, suicide, 1978. LGBT youth make up 40 percent of the family acceptance, immigration reform, and homeless youth population, and would be dis- legal progress on same-sex marriage. This was proportionately impacted by proposed cuts in the second LGBT blogger and journalist summit New York cuts. Homeless LGBT youth are at sig- youth are being protected by organizations that partment of Education rule that child protective sponsored by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr., nificant risk of suicide, with 62 percent admit- tell them that gays are evil,” Siciliano said. “It services be called. The counselor on his case Fund, and the program was held at their San ting having attempted suicide, and of HIV in- is as if the NAACP allowed an anti-Black message told him that his mother beat him “out of love,” Francisco headquarters. fection, with approximately 20 percent of NYC’s in homes where minority kids were housed.” He Pallegedara said, and the counselor did not help More than two dozen LGBT editors, journalists homeless LGBT youth currently infected with said that more funding has been directed to him. and bloggers heard about and discussed the is- HIV, according to the Ali Forney Center. faith-based organizations under the current ad- “I think that that’s when I became an athe- sues with experts from the around the country, “Balancing a budget by throwing poor children ministration than under former President George ist,” said Pallegedara. “I said, ‘Fuck you, I’m go- including Carl Siciliano, executive director of the out of shelters to fend for themselves in the W. Bush. “We need reporting on gay youth ing to live’. Because my mom had said if I came Ali Forney Center for homeless LGBT youth in streets is unspeakably wrong,” said Siciliano. “It groups accessing federal money,” Siciliano said. home without that ex-gay certificate, I would New York City. He shared his experiences with shows a reckless indifference to their safety and Siciliano also takes issue with the response of not survive.” homeless youth who identify as LGBT and his welfare.” LGBT leadership on this issue. He said lack of He said that kids in these circumstances often frustration with those who are not responding marriage wasn’t going to kill anyone, but that do some “couch surfing,” going from friend to to the urgency of the issue, in both the govern- LGBT youth as a population youth on the streets are at high risk. “It is a friend as long as they can. When they finally ment and the LGBT community. The mission of the Ali Forney Center is to pro- major disconnect that 10,000 gay people are be- turn to shelters, they have no expectation of Each year, tens of thousands of youth are cast vide homeless LGBT youth, up to age 24, with ing attacked, deprived of support, and it is not help. out of their homes, without the most basic of services and to help them escape the streets and treated as a core issue by the gay community,” “No space in [New York’s] Village is a kid-safe resources, into a brutal street life. According to become independent. It is named for Ali For- he told the group. “If a crisis falls in the forest space,” Pallegedara said. “Wherever you go you Siciliano, Ali Forney Center opened in 2002 with ney/Luscious, a homeless queer teen who lived and nobody hears it, is it a crisis? Homophobia are chicken,” he said, meaning exploited for sex just six beds, and right away they were turn- as both genders alternately, and worked on HIV is destroying the core environments in which by older men. It was at this point Pallegedara ing away hundreds of youth, most with horrific prevention on the streets in the 1990s. He was kids are supposed to be protected. went to the Ali Forney Center, expecting a bed stories. Youth were not just being kicked out by murdered in the streets in 1997. Many youth die “As a movement, we are calling for coming out, at most. “But what I got was Carl and other peo- their families; some were living in intolerable on the streets by both murder and suicide, and coming out, and when kids come out and get ple who actually cared. You come in expecting situations at home and had to flee. There were many murder cases were never solved, Siciliano kicked into the street [they have no help]. We to be hurt, but here the first question was ‘What stories of beatings and of parents forcing youth said. need a new paradigm. Our implication is that, do you need?’ Without their confidence in me, into “ex-gay” treatments. Before the 1960s, the New York government you come out and we’ll be sure you’re protected, I’d not be in school now,” he said. Kids distrust, “The risk [of death by suicide or other causes] took little or no responsibility and gay youth your ability to have a family will be treated as expecting to find nothing but dirty old men. At is eight and half percent higher for youth thrown were classified as “status offenders,” Siciliano equal. But that’s not what is happening. When the Ali Forney Center, Pallegedara said he finally out by families into an environment of risk,” he said. In the 1970s, a federal act created tran- kids come out they are unable to survive in the felt safe. said. “But I do not see it in our awareness, this sitional housing programs, providing a more kind of environment they come out into. We On April 12, the Ali Forney Center marked incredible risk to a large group of gay people.” enlightened model for how homeless gay youth have to be demanding that our fair share goes what would have been the 36th birthday of its According to the National Center on Family should be housed, ideally in facilities of 20 beds to our kids. We need grants to develop a model namesake, Ali Forney. Homelessness, New York currently has more than or less. But resources were never made available. for the foster care system.” See www.aliforneycenter.org. The Chicago 45,000 homeless youth, making it the twelfth- In the mid 1990s, Times Square got cleaned up Coalition For Homeless, http://www.chica- worst state. Siciliano said only 57 beds in the and “the kids were the dirt that got cleaned,” One man’s story gohomeless.org, has no specific mention of city are designated for LGBT youth. No other Siciliano said. They had to go to other neighbor- One young man, formally homeless and, after LGBT youth issues. Please see http://www. center in the city makes specific provisions for hoods to survive, often using prostitution and help from the Ali Forney Center, is now studying ucanchicago.org/host-home/ for details on LGBT youth, he said, adding that across the drug dealing to do so. law, spoke to the bloggers and journalists. Chicago’s LGBTQ Host Home Program. U.S., only about 200 beds are targeted for LGBT Siciliano also spoke against homeless shel- Ksen Pallegedara’s mother beat him and told see upcoming editions of Windy City Times youth; but more than 200,000 youth need such ters that are run by anti-gay religious groups, him to go through an ex-gay program or she for additional reports from the Haas Founda- facilities. including the Catholic Church. “It speaks to our would kill him. When a young person goes to tion summit. Siciliano spoke to the group just as New York’s impotence as a community that a percent of our school and has clearly been beaten, it is a De-
The LGBT bloggers and journalists, along with presenters at the event in San Francisco March 12. Tracy Baim and Jean Albright attended as representatives of Windy City Media Group. Photo by Matt Forman WINDY CITY TIMES April 13, 2011 5 on appeal,” concludes the brief. “Under Califor- ONLINE AT nia law, that is the end of the matter. Neither proponents—nor any other private party—can WINDYCITYMEDIAGROUP.COM Olson-Boies: usurp the constitutional prerogative of the Gov- NATIONAL NEWS ernor and Attorney General to decide that, in some circumstances, it is in the best interests of Yes on 8 trying to California, and all its citizens, for the State not to participate in the defense of a patently un- constitutional initiative. Proponents’ remedy for ‘usurp’ power of their disagreement with their elected officials lies at the ballot box-not in this, or any other, Court.” —U.S. Rep. Debbie elected officials ©2011 Keen News Service. All rights re- Wasserman Schultz served. (left) now heads DNC
By Lisa Keen torney General to direct the defense of state —Woman attacks art Keen News Service laws.” Corrections featuring two The photos and text of the March 23 Gay Allowing Yes on 8 to pursue the appeal of in the Life profile (actor Jayson Bernard) naked women Proponents of Proposition 8 are trying to sub- a decision that the state’s elected legal offi- should have been credited to Jerry Nunn. vert the California constitution for a second cers have chosen not to appeal, said the brief, In the April 6 Gay in the Life of Francis —Delaware gets first time, argues the legal team of Ted Olson and “would upend the settled separation of powers Shervinski, it was stated that Russel Yost out gay mayor David Boies, in a brief filed last week with the and eviscerate the constitutional authority of was “actually not happy” with Shervinski California Supreme Court. the Governor and Attorney General….” being homecoming queen. That assertion The brief is in preparation for oral arguments “The Governor and Attorney General have was the opposite of how Yost truly felt. in September on the question of whether there decided that the arbitrary, discriminatory, and Also, Yost’s surname was misspelled. is any authority in California law to give Yes irrational restriction on the right to marry im- Windy City Times regrets the errors. on 8 officials standing to represent voters in a posed by Proposition 8 should not be defended federal court case which elected state officials chose not to appeal. The case is Perry v. Schwarzenegger, in which a U.S. district court judge ruled last August that the 2008 initiative banning recognition of same- sex marriages in California violated the federal constitution. The California governor and attor- ney general were only passive defendants at the district court level and declined to appeal the WINDY CITY district court decision. But Yes on 8 was allowed TIMES to defend Proposition 8 in the district court and now seek the right to appeal the decision to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit has already heard oral arguments on the merits of the appeal, and it heard arguments concerning whether Yes on 8 has standing to bring the ap- peal. But before it issues an opinion, the panel PRIDE DAY has said it would like to hear from the California Supreme Court whether there is any authority in state law to provide Yes on 8 with standing. The AT WRIGLEY panel’s request is essentially following a proce- dure laid out for it by the U.S. Supreme Court in Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011 an earlier, unrelated, voter case. In its brief, the Olson-Boies team argues that allowing Yes on 8 standing to represent voters after the state’s election officials have decided against appeal would “subvert the express con- stitutional authority of the Governor and At- MEDIA SPONSORS: WINDY CITY TIMES n i g h ts p o t s Join us for a charitable event at the Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game 1:20 p.m., Sept. 4. Bleacher $50 tickets www.windycitymediagroup.com/WrigleyPride
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Ted Olson and David Boies. Photo by Alex J. Berliner 6 April 13, 2011 WINDY CITY TIMES university told him that “homosexuality is pres- against homosexuality. Spong said that the Bi- ent in the animal kingdom particularly among ble really teaches that “the heart of the story is mammals so it’s hard to argue that something is no one is separated from the love of God. … If Bishop Spong unnatural if it appears in nature,” Spong said. we denigrate a part of humanity then we destroy After reminding the audience that LGBT peo- all humanity,” which is not what God wants. ple are in everyone’s families and in all profes- For more information on Spong, visit his stirs crowd at sions, Spong talked about the fear that still website (http://JohnShelbySpong.com) or resonates with LGBT people about coming out his Facebook page. To find out more about of the closet. This fear, Spong said, exists due the Still Speaking series, visit http://public. Elmhurst College to homophobic people using the Bible to argue elmhurst.edu/projects/stillspeaking.
By Carrie Maxwell women were property and could not be church referral.” Martinez was also clear about the leaders, much less ordained ministers. Anti-gay origins of the amendment, saying that it was Speaking about liberal theology and an inclusive What changed his views on segregation, Spong definitely an attempt to undermine the civil church to a packed house, author, biblical schol- said, was the civil-rights movement. His atti- foster-care/ unions bill: “We know that the Catholic Cau- ar and retired Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby tudes about women were reversed when he be- cus and the Catholic Diocese is involved in Spong stirred the crowd on the topic “Homo- came the father to four daughters, all of whom adoption bill this bill and advocating for it and really trying sexuality: The Battleground for a Dying Form of are accomplished in a variety of professions. “It to push it through. They are the most vocal Christianity.” The event was held as a part of was a very feminine household. We had a male in state Senate opponents of the civil unions bill.” the Still Speaking: Conversations on Faith Lec- cat but they operated on him,” Spong said to By Yasmin Nair According to both longtime LGBT-rights ac- ture Series April 6 at the Founders Lounge of the the crowd, who roared with laughter. The laugh- tivist Rick Garcia, who is also following the Frick Center at Elmhurst College. ter continued throughout his speech as he poked An amendment to a proposed bill in the Illi- bill in Springfield, and Martinez, this amend- Reverend H. Scott Matheney, the college’s fun at himself and church doctrine. nois Senate states that “a child welfare agen- ment is a watered-down version of a previ- chaplain, reminded people of the colleges strong It was not just Spong’s position on segrega- cy that is religiously based or owned by, oper- ous version. Speaking with WCT, Garcia said, emphasis on faith rooted in their affiliation with tion and women that changed over the years. ated by, or affiliated with a bona fide religious “What it really wanted to do was exempt any the United Church of Christ. Then Vice President While in Sunday school they were taught that organization may decline an adoption or fos- religious organization or any religious individ- of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Dr. anti-Semitism was perfectly fine since, accord- ter family home application … from a party to ual, anyone who holds deeply held religious Alzada Tipton told readers of the Bible that they ing to his church, Jews were evil. a civil union if acceptance of that application beliefs, that’s how they put it, would be ex- “It amazes me how religion demonizes any- would constitute a violation of the organiza- empt from the Illinois Human Rights Act. That body that is not a part of its particular point tion’s sincerely held religious beliefs.” piece didn’t make it into this amendment. So of view,” Spong said before going into how his SB 1123, the bill including this amendment we have this bill that would allow faith-based church taught him that gay people are also evil. No. 65, means that unmarried straight or gay foster and adoption institutions that would He accepted his religion’s position on gays and couples in civil unions who do not share the discriminate. Any agency that takes state or lesbians early on including the theory that ho- religious values or faith of the organization city or federal funds has to obey the law. That mosexuals can be cured and they are morally de- could be denied the chance to adopt or be is a slippery slope that we do not want to go praved. Spong emphasized that his church was foster parents. down.” responsible for his former homophobic beliefs Interestingly, the bill was introduced by News of the bill came last week. Martinez just like it fostered his former racist, sexist and state Sen. David Koehler, who introduced the said that TCRA had been working on “con- anti-Semitic views of the world. civil-unions bill in the Senate. Anthony Mar- necting the dots” since then. It is currently Only when he was elected bishop for the tinez of The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) spoke in assignments, and from there will move into Northern New Jersey Episcopalian diocese of to Windy City Times, saying that, “We know the executive committee and could come up Newark, which included Hoboken (also known as this is an attack on the civil-unions bill. We’re for a floor vote by the end of the week. Greenwich Village West), at the age of 44 that seeing a re-presentation of that bill through WCT left messages for Lambda Legal and the he began to change his homophobic ways. This an amendment to another bill, originally American Civil Liberties Union, but they were was the first time he had ever lived in a commu- intended to expand the civil rights of the also not able to return calls in time. WCT will nity where people lived as openly LGBT people. blind.” continue to follow this story. Meanwhile, Mar- One of his goals was to meet the priests who According to Martinez, “If an agency de- tinez says that TCRA is urging the community served in his diocese. During one of his meetings cides to not provide service, they can turn to take swift action. the priest announced to Spong that he was gay. [the parents] away through the process of a While they talked Spong realized this priest was not mentally ill or morally depraved which belied Bishop Spong at Elmhurst College. Photo by his earlier stereotype about LGBT people. He met Carrie Maxwell Barrett indicated she is hopeful that cul- another priest who was in a relationship with a ELDER from cover tural competency will soon become the rule, man. When Spong told the priest he couldn’t do ing facilities with staff that are not culturally rather than the exception. Under the Obama anything to protect him if it got out that he was competent and are discriminatory in how they administration, the U.S. Department of “are active agents in shaping the meaning of living with another man while unmarried the serve them,” Barrett said. Health and Human Services has lent an un- that pivotal text” to combat homophobia in priest asked Spong, “you can’t or you won’t?” Paula Basta, director of the Chicago Depart- precedented level of attention to the health their lives. The conversation with the priest stayed with ment of Family and Support Services’ North- concerns of LGBT Americans and have actively Spong started off with the role that religion him like “a pebble in his shoe” so after a while, east (Levy) Regional Senior Center, described included elders in those efforts. That support, plays in fostering prejudice, using his own life as in an effort to be an effective bishop in his New the report as “not surprising” but indicative she hoped, will trickle down to more research an example of how one overcomes prejudice. He Jersey diocese, he sought a friend who was on of much work lying ahead for those working and training at the local level. was raised in an evangelical Episcopal church in the faculty of the Cornell School of Medicine to to ensure long-term care providers—includ- “It is the responsibility of the staff to make the Bible Belt of the south—just one block away learn more about sexual orientation. ing frontline staff, administrators and case sure the environment in their facility is one from the Rev. Billy Graham. While at church he It took about six months of study to change managers—are LGBT-friendly. Further re- where everyone is respected and not discrimi- was told that “segregation was the will of God.” his mind. Spong came to the conclusion that search and education, she said, will be key to nated against,” Barrett said. The church also preached that women were in- “sexual orientation is a given. We don’t choose progress. The study, available in full at http://www. ferior, using that as an argument to explain why it; we awaken to our identity.” The doctors at the “On some levels, this is a wake-up call and lgbtlongtermcare.org, was co-authored by the a charge to action,” Basta said. “I want to National Senior Citizens Law Center, National believe that [care providers] don’t want to be Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Services & Advo- Chicago’s Dedicated and bigoted or biased and think they want to do cacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), Lambda Legal, a good job but that they don’t have the tools Comprehensive LGBT Program the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the yet to be able to go through with those sorts National Center for Transgender Equality. ALEO of efforts.” VAT CHICAGO LAKESHORE HOSPITAL Valeo at Chicago Lakeshore Hospital provides comprehensive psychiatric and addiction-related treatment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. 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chicago_windyCityTimes_5x2_silhouette.indd 1 1/26/2011 9:55:52 AM WINDY CITY TIMES April 13, 2011 7 Springfield Loyola Univ. gets first gay Michael J. organization Garanzini. alderman—and works with LGBT he’s Republican by Lisa Klein community BY LINDSAY NOELL Coming Out Ball for student members and Republican Cory Jobe, 37, was elected alderman supporters of the Chicagoland LGBTQA com- The Catholic Church has not had a reputation of Ward 6 in Springfield, Ill., April 5, becoming munity. for being the most accepting institution, but the city’s first openly gay alderman. “As an organization that strives to give sup- one LGBTQA-rights group has found an ally Many Republicans, such as former chairman of port and offer education and social network- in a university run by Jesuit priests: Loyola the Republican National Committee Ken Mehl- ing to students of differing sexual orienta- University Chicago. man and former congressman Mark Foley, have tions, Advocate can be a useful and important The Jesuit Catholic ideal, “cura personalis,” caused a media frenzy when they finally come contributor to student life here at Loyola,” calls for the care of the whole person. Many out publicly. However, Jobe’s win proves that a Cory Jobe. Photo from Jobe said Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., president of students are embodying this Jesuit ideal by person can be gay and Republican and still get the university. considering sexual orientation a piece of the elected to office. inner city, downtown and older historic homes. After controversy over a proposed drag show “whole person.” “Pro-choice, pro-gay Republicans can get He said residents there are concerned about in- last fall, the organization has been working Advocate is Loyola’s LGBTQA organization elected in this state,” Jobe said. frastructure, the city budget, closing commercial closely with the campus Jesuits to maintain and, since 1990, students have been working Jobe was the only candidate on the ballot, but corridors and a rising crime rate. an open dialogue over the relationship be- to educate the campus and greater Chicago ran against two write-in campaigns from Repub- Jobe, who is president of the MacArthur Bou- tween queer and religious issues. community on queer issues. lican Cameron Counts and Democrat Kent DeLay, levard Business Association, said voters already “Regarding controversial programming that “Overall, it’s a good environment,” said Ad- the latter who is also openly gay. knew his name because of his volunteer work Advocate may sponsor, the real question for vocate President Mar Curran, 21. “Loyola is a Jobe said he “grew up in a more conservative there. He still “wanted to know my voters,” and me is how does that programming contribute very accepting community.” family” in southeastern Robinson, Ill., and cred- went door to door talking with them. to the mission of the organization,” said Ga- Current projects include gender-neutral ited his upbringing for many of his right-leaning “People are gonna know where they stand with ranzini. “And, given Advocate’s unique role, bathrooms to make the campus more trans- views on fiscal issues and government involve- me,” he said. how does that mission help non-GLBTQ stu- gender-inclusive, and a queer resource center ment. Jobe worked as director of the economic de- dents appreciate the worth and dignity of its that would work dually as an office for the “I think the government should stay out of our velopment office for LGBT-friendly Republican members or any person whose sexuality is not organization where sensitive subjects can be lives,” he said. Judy Baar Topinka when she served as Illinois part of the majority?” discussed privately. Jobe said that his views on social issues, how- state treasurer. She is now state comptroller and Advocate hosted a panel in February where “We try to create a safe space for Loyola ever, lean more to the left. He is pro-choice and he works for her again as her deputy chief of community members discussed how gender students to come and feel like they can ex- “obviously pro-gay,” and doesn’t think that con- staff. expression and queer identity play into living press who they are and be celebrated for their flicts with being a Republican. “She is really my political mentor,” Jobe and working on Loyola’s campus. identity, whether they identify as queer or are “I’m the kind of guy who wants to bring people said. He learned from her “ability to cross party The group is also a founding member of allies,” said Curran. together,” Jobe said, pointing out that all kinds lines and work with constituents to get things the Queer Intercollegiate Alliance, a group of From safety coordinators to support groups, of people voted for him in the April 5 election, done.” Chicagoland schools’ queer groups that works Advocate assists students with an array of is- including Republicans, Democrats and Indepen- Jobe said this ability to compromise is impor- toward community outreach. sues, including those involved with mental dents. He was also backed by the Republican tant in reaching all of his new constituents. To support or learn more about Advocate, health and coming out of the closet. In ad- party and “endorsed by every union.” “I vote for a person instead of a party,” he visit the Advocate at Loyola University Chi- dition, it sponsors an annual Intercollegiate Jobe described Ward 6 as a middle-income said. In Ward 6 in Springfield, the voters seem cago Facebook page. residential neighborhood, covering parts of the to feel the same way.
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