The annual banquet for anti-gay organizations Americans for Truth About Homosexuality ( AFTAH ) stirred protest from local LGBT activists and also resulted in vandalism on Oct. 15.
Just hours before the event the windows were smashed at the Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights where the banquet was held.
Gay Liberation Network ( GLN ) , who organized the protest, said they were not involved in the vandalism.
GLN has picketed the event in years past as well as other AFTAH events. Drawing controversy this year in particular was the organization's decision to give its "American Truth Teller" award to Scott Lively, Abiding Truth Ministries President, who many activists blame for anti-gay violence in Uganda.
"These guys are professional bigots," said Roger Fraser, an organizer with GLN. "They've made a career of it, and they're on the march."
Both AFTAH and Lively's Abiding Truth Ministries are classified as anti-gay hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Many gay activists argue that Lively's work in Uganda, including a 2009 visit, have fed anti-gay hate and violence that country.
Speeches were given by GLN's Bob Schwartz, Andy Thayer, and Fraser.
According to Fraser, the demonstration drew greater police presence than years past but fewer protesters. Fraser estimates that just 30 people picketed the banquet.
Fraser suggested that many who have protested the banquet in years past were siphoned off this year by Occupy Chicago, the ongoing protest downtown against alleged corporate greed.
The protest ended without incident.
AFTAH responded to the vandalism that occurred earlier in the day on its website, stating that "pro-homosexual activists" were responsible for the damage.
An anonymous post on the Chicago Indymedia website took credit for the vandalism, stating that the attack was in anticipation of the AFTAH banquet.
"These chunks of concrete were thrown through these windows and doors for two reasons: to show that there is a consequence for hatred and homophobia in our community and to directly cause this event to be shut down," the statement said.
The statement went on to say that such attacks on the academy will continue so long as anti-gay trainings and events do.
GLN leaders said in a statement that they were not responsible for the vandalism nor did they know who was. The group also said they "would not put it past [ AFTAH ] to commit this minor vandalism against the Academy themselves so that they could put upon themselves the mantel of "victim."
"It says something about the profound narcissism of American political life that political leaders and organizations who advocate for wars upon millions overseas, and repression of whole groups of people at home and abroad, are taken aback when minor vandalism is visited upon them," GLN said in a statement."
Several GLN members attended the Occupy Chicago protest in Grant Park after the AFTAH protest. One was arrested, said Fraser.
