Mary Glasspool is now the first out lesbian bishop ordained by the Episcopal Church.
Advocate.com reported that Glasspool was ordained May 15 in a Long Beach, Calif., ceremony in front of 3,000 people. Glasspool now joins the Right Rev. Gene Robinson as the only openly gay bishops in the church.
Glasspool said, "I think they've grown as a church. And I'm not saying that everyone out there is going to march in the next gay pride parade—including myself. But I think what we're fighting for is to have our own integrity, to not have one particular aspect of our personality preclude the totality of who we are as individuals."
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire told Windy City Times May 17 that Robinson had not yet issued a statement regarding Glasspool's ordination.
According to the L.A. diocese's website, Glasspool has been with her life partner, Becki Sander, since 1988. Sander recently earned her Ph.D. in social work.
The Episcopal Church had established a ban on gay clergy after Robinson was ordained in 2004; however, the ban was lifted in 2009.
—Andrew Davis
Bayh stuns
with AIDS joke
At the 2010 Indiana Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner in Indianapolis May 14, U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., shocked attendees when he made a joke about AIDS during his speech, according to Advocate.com .
Bayh subsequently apologized for the joke, saying that he was misunderstood and stating that he has continuously voted in favor of AIDS funding. Members of the Indiana Stonewall Democrats reportedly left the venue because they were offended.
According to a transcript posted on Bilerico.com, the punchline of Bayh's joke involved him confusing someone asking "Do you have aides?" with "Do you have AIDS?"
The Huffington Post reported that Indiana's State Central Committee has selected Brad Ellsworth—a conservative with an anti-gay voting record—to replace Bayh, who is retiring, at the end of his term.
Jefferson-Jackson Day is the name given to several annual fundraisers held by Democratic Party organizations throughout the United States.
LOCAL NEWS
Lakeview site
for LGBT housing?
BY ANDREW DAVIS
The City of Chicago's department of community development has issued a request for proposal ( RFP ) for the purchase and development of 3600-3616 N. Halsted, a site that currently includes the landmark Town Hall police station.
The development goal, according to the executive summary, is to create "a mixed-use development containing 60 to 90 affordable senior rental housing units targeting, but not limited to, the senior lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) population. Senior housing is defined as housing developed for people age fifty-five and above."
Because the 23rd District police station ( constructed in 1907 ) has been landmarked, the building would have to stay and be rehabilitated as part of the development project, in accordance with landmark guidelines.
The Center on Halsted—considered by many to be the hub of the LGBT community—is located just north, at 3656 N. Halsted. According to the summary, "the location was selected because of the large and growing population of LGBT seniors and the proximity to LGBT activities and social services located at the [ Center ] . The beneficial location nets an expectation that services and activities will be integrated into any development."
The target price is $4.13 million. The summary states that said price is not a minimum bid but applicants are advised that the purchase price is "an important consideration in [ the department's ] evalution of responses to the RFP." A good-faith deposit of $413,000 ( or 10 percent of that amount ) would be needed.
Lakeview Action Coalition's Bob Zuley applauded the move, telling Windy City Times that it "is a major achievement for the city to recognize the needs of LGBT seniors. [ It's ] a terrific first step on the housing front in Chicago—and certainly another demonstration of the mayor's commitment to our community."
Tunney told Windy City Times that he has been advocating for this type of housing since he "became alderman, if not before. We're really excited about the RFP process and, hopefully, we will come up with some really innovative ideas for our community. And what better place is there to have it than next to the Center on Halsted?"
The response due date is July 6. Interested parties can contact project manager Oneida Pate at oneida.pate@cityofchicago.org or 312-744-7471.
