Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

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

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

City Report: Focus on GLBT Health
2005-03-23

This article shared 2809 times since Wed Mar 23, 2005
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


A report examining substance abuse issues in the city's LGBT community was unveiled by the Chicago Department of Public Health ( CDPH ) and community-based partners at a press conference that took place March 17 at City Hall. The report's release coincided with the Third Annual National LGBT Health Awareness Week, March 14-19.

Compiled by the Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse and entitled 'Abuse?,' the report is a 26-page document that details everything from key areas of concentration ( research, public policy, training, education and programs, and communications ) to first-person accounts from former addicts. There are also many resources listed as well as a glossary that defines items such as harm reduction and relapse.

A who's who of local public health experts, service providers, activists, and other community leaders appeared at the conference, including Lora Branch and John Wilhelm of CDPH; Joe Camper of VALEO; the mayor's GLBT liaison Bill Greaves; Michael Segobiano of the Mayor's Office of Special Events; Rick Garcia of Equality Illinois; and Jim Pickett and Mark Ishaug of AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Wilhelm made it clear that drug addiction cuts across all socioeconomic areas but that substance abuse may be more prevalent in the LGBT community 'due to such factors such as stigma, homophobia, isolation, HIV infection, and others.' He congratulated the LGBT community 'for taking the collective and personal responsibility for [ tackling ] this difficult issue.' Wilhelm also called on all Chicagoans 'to be introspective and look at their use of substances and to seek appropriate counseling and treatment if they feel they have a problem. We must remove the stigma of substance abuse and discuss it honestly as the public health issue that it is.'

Greaves echoed Wilhelm's sentiments by stating that 'the best way to fight substance abuse is to talk about it openly and frankly.' He labeled the report as 'a catalyst for action' and said that it represents the good work done by bringing together a large and diverse group of people from every corner of the LGBT community throughout the city: community leaders, service providers, community organizations, and interested individuals. He insisted that the report is not meant to be an all-encompassing research document on substance abuse regarding Chicago's gay demographic; however, Greaves added that the information in it is intended to build healthy communities.

Branch declared that the problem of substance abuse is complex yet simple. 'The problem is multipronged and requires a multipronged approach. The call to action involves more treatment, better education and providers, heightening awareness of drug problems to legislators, conducting more research, and developing creative media and social marketing campaigns to address the wide range of experiences on that continuum of use to abuse,' she said.

Edward Negron, an activist whose story is illustrated in the report, said he did not hesitate to include his account because he hoped that others 'would not be ashamed of their substance abuse issues.' He also hoped that non-LGBT individuals would be more sensitive to the needs of the LGBT community. Camper said that, as a treatment provider, he was grateful for raising awareness of the issue and providing resources for those who need them. In addition, he said that, by offering a 'culturally sensitive environment' more people are able to overcome addiction for longer periods of time.

A question-and-answer session followed. In response to a question about bar owners blowing the whistle on their employees, 23rd District police commander Gary Yomoshiroya prefaced his answer by stating that law enforcement is just one facet of the fight against substance abuse. He then talked about the recent bar owners' forum at Sidetrack and the need to get treatment for troubled employees. A question also arose regarding how to stop ordering drugs over the Internet; Branch replied that there are several organizations ( Center on Halsted and Howard Brown Health Center, among them ) that have implemented programs and that many individuals are 'actively involved.'

Dealing with an inquiry about the perceived tolerance of recreational drug use in the LGBT community, Camper said that there may be a more tolerant subgroup within the gay demographic. However, he added that, while that might always be the case, it is up to providers and others to step up educational efforts.

One of the most controversial questions revolved around the issue of classifying the substance abuse situation as a crisis because of the recent arrests of prominent figures in the LGBT community, namely Michael Jackson ( formerly of CDPH ) and Michael Anderson of Howard Brown Health Center. Branch responded that 'we have considered this a crisis for a long time. We started this process a long time ago. It certainly has been heightened by not only what's happened here but what's going on in other cities.'

Greg Harris of 48th Ward Ald. Mary Ann Smith's office said 'this wasn't started because of one substance but because of the awareness that people were using and abusing substances, with catastrophic results. ... There was also research that the incidence of use was statistically higher in our community; THAT was our wake-up call. If anything, we're grateful that the whole visibility of the issue has been raised a little.'

Community leaders' meeting

On March 18 there was a breakfast meeting of community leaders at Ina's, 1235 W. Randolph, in which the report was officially released to community leaders from such organizations as Chicago Gay Youth and Amigas Latinas.

Branch emphasized that the document was something that its supporters wanted to be available and helpful to everyone. 'We wanted to make something that was accessible to many different types of populations. It doesn't matter if you're a church leader, community provider, or policy maker—we wanted to make sure that this document would point you in some direction,' she said.

In addressing the crowd, Harris said that what started the ball rolling was that 'we would talk about friends and loved ones who were suffering from drug use and abuse and ... realized that these private discussions needed to be brought out into the light.'

Harris also stressed that the release of the report has nothing to do with a drug that has been in the spotlight as of late: 'This is not a document about crystal meth. Crystal meth is [ just one ] drug that people use and abuse.' He went on to say that ' [ s ] ubstances in our community range from legal prescription drugs to the steroids you [ heard ] about in Washington to street drugs to party drugs to alcohol. In some recovery programs they talk about the elephants sitting in the livingroom that no one wants to talk about. A lot of us have these elephants—and our community needs to talk about [ them ] .'

Pickett, the lead writer of the report, pointed out that people had worked on the document for a few years: 'There were so many different players involved so it took a long time. It was edited, revised, and approved [ constantly ] . It had many permutations; there were probably a dozen iterations before [ the final version ] .' He talked about an aspect of the document that provided a more human element: the personal stories. 'I want to thank all the people who agreed to talk to me, many of whom did not know me from Adam.' Pickett also mentioned that the report 'is not the beginning [ or ] end of the discussion ... and I hope it advances the discussion.'

Vernita Gray of the State's Attorney's Office talked about dealing with addicts and those closest to them: 'In my work, sad to say, I see the victims of this kind of abuse. I see those people whose partners are hooked on drugs and are beating them up. Also, unfortunately in the felony courts, I see the families of those victims who have been murdered by partners who have been addicted.'

Gray also talked about another issue that may have escaped the minds of most people: 'In the other part of my job, I travel all over Cook County to talk to high school students about ending hate crimes. One of the [ similarities I have noticed ] is that whether I'm at a school at Oak Park, New Trier, Calumet City, or some other place is that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender children are being harassed in every language. I also thought about how [ GLBT ] children are four times more likely to commit suicide. I'm glad that we've come together, but we also need to reach out to our young people.'

Note: A PDF version of the report can be found online at the Web site egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/LGBTsubstanceabusebook.pdf.


This article shared 2809 times since Wed Mar 23, 2005
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

HIV criminal laws disproportionately impact Black men in Mississippi 2024-02-21
--From a press release - A new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds that at least 43 people in Mississippi were arrested for HIV-related crimes between 2004 and 2021. Half of all arrests in the state ...


Gay News

'West Side Story' gets a sex-positive spin with new burlesque show 2024-02-19
- In partial observance of National Condom Day, which was Feb. 14, Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) presented A West Side Story Burlesque at the Harris Theater for two hour-long performances on Feb. 17. The show, ...


Gay News

$200,000+ raised at AIDS Foundation Chicago's World of Chocolate Fundraiser to fight HIV/AIDS 2024-02-13
--From a press release - (Chicago, IL) More than 950 guests gathered at Chicago's famed Union Station (500 W. Jackson) for Chicago's Sweetest Fundraiser, AIDS Foundation Chicago's (AFC), World of Chocolate on Friday, February 9. ...


Gay News

Munar prepares to step away from Howard Brown leadership 2024-02-11
- After 10 years of leadership at Howard Brown Health, President and CEO David Ernesto Munar has decided to step down from his post on Feb. 29. Munar, who'd previously been president and CEO of AIDS Foundation ...


Gay News

National Black Justice Coalition commemorates National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2024-02-07
--From a press release - WASHINGTON — Today, Feb. 7, marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). In commemoration, Dr. David J. Johns, CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a leading Black LGBTQ+/same-gender ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Wis. report, gender dysphoria, HIV research, Stonewall exhibit, gay CEOs 2024-01-19
- A new annual report from Wisconsin's Office of Children's Mental Health shows that the state's minors—especially girls, children of color and LGBTQ+ youth—continue to struggle with anxiety, depression and thoughts ...


Gay News

WORLD Activist honored, marriages in Estonia, Madrid law, trans sports item 2024-01-05
Video below - The National AIDS Commission (NAC) recently honored Caleb Orozco—a leading figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Belize—for his instrumental contributions to the national HIV response, BNN reported. According ...


Gay News

SAVOR World of Chocolate, Jaleo and 'Superhot' 2023-12-31
- World of wonder: I am excited to announce that I will be a judge at AIDS Foundation Chicago's World of Chocolate fundraiser! Join me in sampling delicious chocolate from local chefs and help support a great ...


Gay News

PASSAGES Frankie Franklin-Foxx 2023-12-18
- Frankie Franklin-Foxx (born Waverlynn Franklin), a resident of Chicago's North Side, passed away peacefully Dec. 13 at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. She was 68. Born at Cook County Hospital, Frankie graduated from South Shore High ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Dr. Rachel Levine, World AIDS Day, trans deaths, Philly bar art 2023-12-08
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Liles C. Burke ruled that emails and other records from U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Rachel Levine are relevant to a lawsuit challenging Alabama's ban ...


Gay News

STRUT marks World AIDS Day with 14th Annual Fashion Show 2023-12-05
- On Dec. 3, John Fleming and Madman Productions presented the 14th annual STRUT fashion show at Joe's on Weed Street, 940 W. Weed St. As in previous years, the standing room only show was a fundraiser, ...


Gay News

World AIDS Day commemorated at AIDS Garden Chicago 2023-12-03
- On the rainy morning of Dec. 1, Chicago Parks Foundation and the AIDS Garden Chicago Board of Directors hosted a World AIDS Day commemoration at AIDS Garden Chicago, just south of Belmont Harbor on the Lakefront. ...


Gay News

GLAAD marks World AIDS Day with launch of global resource hub, new HIV report 2023-12-01
--From a press release - New York, New York — Friday, Dec. 1 — GLAAD marked World AIDS Day this year by sharing the results of its fourth annual State of HIV Stigma Report, a national survey among U.S. adults measuring ...


Gay News

Wrightwood 659 to present 'Daniel Goldstein: The Marks We Leave Behind' on World AIDS Day 2023-11-29
- (CHICAGO, Nov. 29, 2023) —Alphawood Exhibitions will present Daniel Goldstein: The Marks We Leave Behind, an exhibition of works from the San Francisco-based artist & HIV/AIDS activist's iconic "Icarian Series," ...


Gay News

WTTW doc chronicles the activism of Danny Sotomayor 2023-11-03
- Practically everything the late Chicago AIDS activist Danny Sotomayor did was "a fight." So says fellow activist Victor Salvo in the new WTTW documentary The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor, which is part of the station's Chicago ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.