THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Big Chicks Battles to Keep License
Gays and Lesbians Head North for Marriage
Could the Gay Games Come to Chicago?
Gays at Peace Rallies
Death Penalty Shocker
Pols at Gay Events: From National Dem Leaders to Local Senate and Judicial Candidates
Not to mention the pride events, parties, vigils, rallies, social occasions and benefits galore ...While the North American GLBT community had much to celebrate in 2003—with marriage in parts of Canada, the U.S. Supreme Court anti-sodomy-law ruling, and Massachusetts marriage—the Illinois community also did not completely disappoint. The year started with a bang in Chicago, with the city's first openly gay appointed alderman, Tom Tunney, beating out a field of candidates that included another gay man, Rick Ingram, to win a four-year term as the city's first elected openly gay alderman. Mayor Daley was on a ride with gay issues during the year, once again hosting the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame and Pride receptions, plus lending his support to the Center on Halsted and the Federation of Gay Games annual meeting in the fall. Daley also faced criticism for only increasing the city AIDS budget by $100,000. After pickets, protests and City Council testimony, the mayor agreed to add an additional $500,000. Gov. Rod Blagojevich also responded to protests by adding back minority AIDS funding in the state budget. The state gay-rights bill may have been delayed yet again in both the spring and fall veto sessions ( despite public statements of support by Blagojevich and Senate leader Emil Jones ) , but gay-rights laws did play in smaller towns, such as Springfield and Peoria. And in Cook County, which includes the city of Chicago, same-sex domestic partners were allowed to register as couples. While few tangible benefits will follow, the document could help serve as evidence for those seeking some partnership rights and benefits. When it comes to health causes, the gay community has a lot of history from which to learn. After three gay men died from a meningitis outbreak, the city, businesses, and community members responded immediately with vaccine locations and educational outreach. More than 14,000 were inoculated in just a few days, and the death toll was kept at three. And as community and corporate giving numbers were down this year for the Lesbian Community Cancer Project, individual donors stepped up to save the organization. Earlier in the year, as progressive groups called for protests against the war, some GLBTs also took up microphones in opposition to U.S. militarism in Iraq. Rainbow flags and pink triangles could be seen at many of the downtown peace demonstrations and rallies—and on some of those arrested by over-eager Chicago police. Protests were also the name of the game in front of Uptown's Big Chick's bar late in the year, as owner Michelle Fire faced increasing harassment from city licensing officials. Elected officials also rallied to her side, vowing to help change laws that hurt some businesses. GLBT youth continued to shine in 2003, whether at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network Scholarships, in the About Face Theater Youth Program, our own Windy City Times 30 Under 30, or in work with a variety of AIDS and GLBT groups. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services [ DCFS ] held its first summit on GLBT youth issues, finally starting to address a decades-old problem with the agency's handling of GLBTs under their care. Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, now under indictment in the license-for-bribes scandal, retired with a big decision heard around the world—changing the sentences of many on death row to life in prison, and pardoning some. Ryan perhaps was trying to salvage a career linked mostly to scandal and backroom political deals, maybe in his own way asking for forgiveness because of his alleged role in the deaths of children ( killed by a truck driver who bribed his way to a license ) . GLBTs in Illinois and elsewhere often find themselves at a disadvantage in the court systems when homophobic juries, judges and prosecutors use their sexuality against them as mitigating factors in seeking harsher penalties—including death. At lease one lesbian had her sentenced changed to life in prison by the Ryan move. National political leaders—including presidential candidates—also sought the Illinois GLBT vote in 2003. Howard Dean campaigned at the gay bar Sidetrack, and John Kerry attended the Human Rights Campaign Chicago gala. Most of the major Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate from Illinois have GLBTs supporting their campaigns, and there are even four gay and lesbian candidates running in one North Side judicial district. The year of course included many large-scale benefits and social occasions, from the Hearts Parties and LCCP to Black Pride, Gay and Lesbian Pride, Marketdays, and our own Gay Idol contests. The community's calendar was always chock full of events to choose from—including those that benefit great causes. And when the Chicago Cubs were making history on their road to the playoffs, they included the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus on the ride. They sang the National Anthem on the day the boys of summer clinched their place in playoff history.