More than 50 Chicago-area LGBTs will join forces Wed., Oct. 11—National Coming Out Day—to show their support of the Democratic presidential ticket. Mary Morten, Brandon Neese and Rep. Larry McKeon will host a major media event to convey their support of Vice President Al Gore and Sen. Joseph Lieberman at 9 a.m. at the Democratic Party of Illinois Office, 320 N. LaSalle, 3rd floor.
"Please join us with members of the Human Rights Campaign and Stonewall Democrats-Illinois as we make this historic commitment in support of the next President and Vice President of the United States," McKeon said. Call ( 773 ) 528-9135 ext. 2 or mckeon34@aol.com .
Election Forum Oct. 16
The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and Equality Illinois are cosponsoring a forum discussing the role of gays and lesbians in the upcoming election. "Election 2000, What's at Stake" will be held Monday, Oct. 16, 7-9 p.m. at Ann Sather's, 929 W. Belmont.
"We are bringing together gay and lesbian Democrats, Republicans, activists and pundits to discuss what the upcoming election means for the gay community," said Rick Garcia, director of Equality Illinois.
Among the speakers at the forum are Betsey Gressler, Field Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force; Terry Cosgrove, Executive Director of Personal PAC; Mary Morten, Director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the City of Chicago; Achy Obejas of the Chicago Tribune; Edward Abdalla of the Stonewall Democrats; as well as a representative of Log Cabin Republicans and It's Time, Illinois.
Call ( 773 ) 244-3371.
Voting group near 10,000 registration goal
As the Oct. 10 voter registration approached in Illinois, We Are Voting Illinois, a coalition of lesbigay/trans groups, had registered 9,712 community members, surpassing 97% of its goal of 10,000 voters.
The group's volunteers were working up until the deadline to reach the 10,000 mark.
WAVI is a coalition of volunteers from many groups, including Affinity, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, American Civil Liberties Union, Equality Illinois, Horizons, Human Rights Campaign Illinois, Lesbian Community Cancer Project, PersonalPAC, Planned Parenthood and Stonewall Democrats.
Call ( 773 ) 294-3452 or wavi2000@hotmail.com . Also see www.hrc.org or www.beavoter.org
Judicial endorsements issued by gay group
The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago Judicial Evaluation Committee recommends all candidates for retention to the bench in November 2000 except for the following nine: Circuit Court of Cook County Judges Patricia Banks, Cynthia Brim, Christopher Donnelly, David G. Lichtenstein, John E. Morrissey, Amanda S. Toney, Michael J. Varga, and Thomas E. Nowinski, and Justice John P. Tully of the Appellate Court.
LAGBAC's criteria for evaluation are:
First, because retention candidates are essentially competing against themselves individually, they only issue "recommended" or "not recommended" ratings in retention races. Candidates who choose not to participate get rated "not recommended."
Second, they evaluated judges based on information gained from their applications, the Alliance's supplemental questionnaire, the Alliance's investigation, and in individual in-person interviews with the Alliance panel.
Third, the LAGBAC Judicial Evaluation Committee looks for each of the following in all candidates: excellence in legal, analytical, and writing skills; demonstrated impartiality; a thorough understanding of the entire legal process; a patient and respectful temperament; and sensitivity to issues of concern to lesbians and gay men, women, and people of color. "We also consider each candidate's personal and professional integrity, character, and extent of community participation and service," the group stated.
LAGBAC examined each candidate as part of the broad-based Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, so they encourage voters to view the results from all Alliance members. Results will be released next week from the Alliance ( Asian-American Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers Association, Chicago Council of Lawyers, Cook County Bar Association, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois/Puerto Rican Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, LAGBAC, and the Women's Bar Association of Illinois ) .
Equality Illinois makes endorsements
The Equality Illinois' political action committee, the Illinois Federation for Human Rights-PAC, has listed its endorsements in Illinois Senate and House races.
"We have made endorsements of pro-gay candidates throughout the state," said PAC President Arthur Johnston. "In addition, we are providing money and volunteers in certain key races."
Among those in Senate races, the group endorsed incumbents Christine Radogno, R-LaGrange, John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills. Sue Walton, D-Rolling Meadows, was endorsed over incumbent Sen. Wendell Jones. Walton and Radogno received contributions and volunteers from IFHR.
In House races, IFHR-PAC backed all incumbents who voted "yes" on House Bill 474. This includes Democrats and Republicans across the state. Among those endorsed were Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, the state's only openly gay rep. Also endorsed were Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, Julie Hamos, D-Evanston, Rosemary Mulligan, R-Des Plaines, and Judy Erwin, D-Chicago for their leadership on GLBT issues. Todd Sattherwaite was endorsed over incumbent Rick Winkel, R-Champaign.
The PAC will mail out almost 10,000 palm cards with its recommendations and will distribute another 40,000 in key districts. Call ( 773 ) 477-8048.
Illinois House races: Edward Acevedo ( 2 ) , Willie Delgado ( 3 ) , Lovana Jones ( 5 ) , Shirley Jones ( 6 ) , Calvin Giles ( 8 ) , Art Turner ( 9 ) , Judy Erwin ( 11 ) , Sara Feigenholtz ( 12 ) , Louis Lang ( 16 ) , Harry Osterman ( 17 ) , Julie Hamos ( 18 ) , Robert Bugielski ( 19 ) , Rich Bradley ( 20 ) , Mary Flowers ( 21 ) , Michael Madigan ( 22 ) , Dan Burke ( 23 ) , Howard Kenner ( 24 ) , Barbara Flynn Currie ( 25 ) , Charles Morrow ( 26 ) , Monique Davis ( 27 ) , Tom Dart ( 28 ) , Harold Murphy ( 30 ) , Todd Stroger ( 31 ) , Constance Howard ( 32 ) , John Fritchey ( 33 ) , Larry McKeon ( 34 ) , Sidney Mathias ( 51 ) , Mark Beaubien ( 52 ) , Rosemary Mulligan ( 55 ) , Elizabeth Coulson ( 57 ) , Jeff Schoenberg ( 58 ) , Susan Garrett ( 59 ) , Andrea Moore ( 61 ) , Patricia Reid Lindner ( 65 ) , Doug Scott ( 67 ) , Dave Winters ( 69 ) , Mike Boland ( 70 ) , Angelo "Skip" Saviano ( 77 ) , George Scully ( 80 ) , Jack McGuire ( 86 ) , Michael Smith ( 91 ) , Ricca Slone ( 92 ) , Gwen Klingler ( 100 ) , Julie Curry ( 101 ) , Steve Davis ( 111 ) , Jay Hoffman ( 112 ) , Wyvetter Younge ( 114 ) .
For Senate: Margaret Smith ( 3 ) , John Cullerton ( 6 ) , Carol Ronen ( 9 ) , Robert Molaro ( 12 ) , Bill Shaw ( 15 ) , Christine Radogno ( 24 ) , Sue Walton ( 27 ) , Terry Link ( 30 ) , and Denny Jacobs ( 36 ) .
Women rally for Dems
A "Winning With Women" rally will be held in support of the Gore-Lieberman presidential ticket, Sunday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m. The event will also serve to back Illinois Democratic candidates, and is at the Sheraton, 301 E. North Water.
Call ( 312 ) 329-2000, x. 222.
Mayor backs National Coming Out Day
Chicago's Mayor Daley is expected to issue a proclamation for National Coming Out Day, Wed., Oct. 11. The document will officially recognize the day for Chicagoans.
HRC concert on VH1
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation says cable network VH1 will broadcast highlights from "Equality Rocks," the historic concert featuring some of the top performers in show business. The concert—which included some very warm comments by Anne Heche about Ellen DeGeneres ( will they be edited out? ) —airs Oct. 27 at 9 p.m.. The show will be hosted by rock star Melissa Etheridge and include performances by: Etheridge, k.d. lang, Chaka Kahn and the Pet Shop Boys. DeGeneres, Kristen Johnston and Kathy Najimy make special appearances. HRC is organizing special "get out the vote" house parties to coincide with the broadcast to encourage people to vote Nov. 7. Call ( 800 ) 727-3723 or email hparty@hrc.org .
Clinton to campaign for lesbian rep. hopeful
President Clinton will campaign for House candidate Gerrie Schipske, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund announced Sept 18. Schipske, a nurse practitioner and healthcare policy consultant, is the Democratic nominee running for Congress in California's Long Beach-based 38th District. Clinton will be the special guest at a luncheon for Schipske Oct. 16, in Long Beach.
Schipske's platform includes passing a strong "Patient Bill of Rights," advancing healthcare reform and tax fairness, protecting Social Security and Medicare, strengthening labor laws and investing in education. As with all Victory Fund-endorsed candidates, she is a champion of non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation, as well as sound public health policies on HIV/AIDS and women's reproductive choice.
Stonewall Dems add national field director
The National Stonewall Democrats have hired Cindy Jordan as the organization's first national field director. Jordan will work out of the Washington office helping to coordinate the field plans of Stonewall's chapters across the country. Jordan served as the Lesbian Rights Director for the National Organization for Women ( NOW ) and was a staffer for Sen. Barbara Boxer's race. She organized the national Lesbian Rights Summit in 1999. She is currently Vice President of 51st State NOW. She recently worked for the Human Rights Campaign, where she headed membership and fundraising projects.
