The first meeting of the Chicago Teachers Union ( CTU ) Human Relations subcommittee for Gay and Lesbian Issues took place Jan. 29, 1998. Ten years later, to the date, the CTU Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues held a celebration of its first decade.
Started as a subcommittee, the CTU soon recognized the need for a unique Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee and members rolled up their sleeves to start getting things done. Over the next 10 years, as a direct result of those efforts, several rights and benefits were added to the teachers' contract, including protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation; health insurance benefits for qualified domestic partners; and bereavement leave. Encouraged by these successes, the committee is working to add more protections. In addition, the committee has established the Allan Wardell Inspiration Award, named for a former Chicago teacher and gay activist.
Teachers in the Chicago Public Schools who are members of the union are invited to join the committee, which meets monthly. Please contact committee liaison Marc Wigler at marcwigler@ctulocal1.com . Text and photos by Mel Ferrand