A statement that outgoing Center on Halsted Executive Director Robbin Burr allegedly made about a part of the new building at 3656 N. Halsted has set off a controversy within the older LGBT community. However, Burr insists that the allegation is based on a big misunderstanding.
Burr recently gave a tour to members of the center's elder LGBT group, SAGE, that involved a walk-through of the new facility's athletic area, which includes a gymnasium and locker room, but no showers. SAGE member Darrell Gordon, who was on the tour, commented to Windy City Times that Burr said that there are no showers because of a liability issue. Then, according to Gordon, 'she made a subtle reference that there was a concern about older gays and younger gays.'
'Some people were shocked, but a couple made jokes,' Gordon said.
Burr told Windy City Times that the whole thing is a huge misunderstanding. 'This is craziness,' she said. 'I never said [ a comment like that ] . Someone misunderstood or read something into what I said.'
'I told them that there was a combination of reasons: liability ( in terms of the showers ) , but also cost,' said Burr, who will step down July 1. 'There were some things [ like ] code and occupancy on the third floor that were part of the reasons for not having showers. So when I talked about liability, they took it a certain way that I didn't mean at all. I certainly would not have said anything about older gays preying on younger gays.'
Burr added that a couple individuals approached her after the tour. ' [ They ] let me know that I said something that offended them, and I corrected them at the time,' she said. 'I would encourage people to not take things out of context.'
Later, Burr called Windy City Times to reiterate that she would never make a statement like the one alleged. 'People need to stop making drama out of nothing,' she said.