Mayor gets liaison name
The Mayor's Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues has recommended a candidate for the LGBT liaison post, vacated earlier this year by Mary Morten, and the Commission on Human Relations has also OK'd the candidate and sent the name for approval to the Mayor. Now it's in Daley's hands.
Jackson hosts AIDS forum
Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rainbow PUSH hold a Town Hall Meeting on HIV/ AIDS in the African-American community, Wed., July 26, 7 p.m., Hyatt Regency, 151 E. Wacker. The program will also be broadcast live on the Black Entertainment Network. Speakers include: Dr. Louis Sullivan; Sandra Thurman; Sidney Thomas; Rae Lewis-Thornton; Dr. Lisa Henry-Reid; Dr. Cassandra Newkirk; and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. BET's Cheryl Martin will anchor.
Rep. Barney Frank in town for Lance Pressl
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank will be in Chicago Aug. 2 for a fundraiser for Lance Pressl, Democratic candidate for Congress from the 8th district ( most of the NW Suburbs up into Lake County ) . Pressl is the first serious challenge that incumbent Republican Phil Crane has had in his 30 years as a conservative, anti-gay rep. Call ( 847 ) 882-1202.
State funding helps Horizons
State legislators were on hand last week to present the "Member Initiated Funds" they collectively contributed to support Horizons Community Services programs and services. Rep. Larry McKeon, Sen. Lisa Madigan, Sen. Carol Ronen, Rep. Harry Osterman, Rep. Sara Feigenholtz and Sen. John Cullerton all were behind the $245,000 in funding.
Immanual Church hosts Rev. Johnson
Immanuel United Church of Christ in Streamwood is hosting a Welcoming Sunday, July 30 with its 9 and 10:30 a.m. services focusing on gay and lesbian partnerships. Featured speaker will be Rev. William Johnson, Minister for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Concerns at United Church of Christ national office in Cleveland. He made history in 1972 as the first openly gay person ordained to the Christian ministry in modern times. Call ( 630 ) 837-0190.
Naperville anti-gay harassment policy debated
The Chicago Tribune reports that a proposed expansion to the Naperville District 203 harassment policy that aims to protect gay students sparked an emotional debate from both for and against activists during a recent school board meeting. The policy bars students from harassing or intimidating another student "based upon a student's sex, color, race, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or other protected group status." The document is based on a harassment policy that is being promoted to hundreds of school boards by the Illinois Association of School Boards, the newspaper reported. The board is expected to vote on the measure Aug. 14.
Charges filed against Chicago Bishop Sprague
John Juergensmeyer, a lawyer and conservative lay member of the United Methodist Church, has filed ecclesiastical charges against Chicago Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, reports The Chicago Tribune.. He accuses Sprague of promoting writings about Christ that allegedly violate church doctrine, and also for using church funds to promote homosexuality, after Sprague took part in a pro-gay protest at the church's national conference in May.