Pride in action
Dear Editor,
More than a hundred people attended the 7th Annual Latino/a LGBTQ Pride Picnic in Humboldt Park Aug. 4. Orgullo en Accion truly lived up to its namewhich, in English, means "Pride in Action"by once again sponsoring the popular event that includes outstanding main stage performances, community art projects, grilling and family activities.
Due to the extreme weather, which also forced the evacuation of the much larger Lollapalooza, the picnic ended prematurely. Orgullo en Accion's rapid response to the severe weather warnings is credited with ensuring the safety of all those in attendance as they moved quickly to safely evacuate everyone.
Orgullo en Accion, Inc., extends its heartfelt appreciation to the all the performers, planners and volunteers. It also thanks Broadway Youth Center, Chicago Childcare Collective, La Casa Norte, UCAN, Vida/Sida, Ana Castillo, Monique Lara, Ald. Tom Tunney's office, Howard Brown, Lambda Legal and Test Positive Aware Network. They have continued to believe in the core of Latino/a LGBTQ Pride Picnic; their dynamic effects have made this event a true reality for our community members.
In the next year, Orgullo en Accion, Inc., board will focus on a collective strategic plan to include more community events and work with the Latino/a Pride Planning Committee to enhance, develop and host the 8th Latino/a LGBTQ Pride picnic in Humboldt Park.
Orgullo en AcciÃ"n is a group of Latino/a LGBTQ community members united in working for social and political change. Its goals are to promote education, provide leadership development and to increase Latino/a LGBTQ awareness within communities.
In the past seven years, Orgullo en Accion, Inc. has worked in collaboration with community members, organizations and volunteers in a grassroots collective to honor the intent of Latina/o LGBTQ Pride. The picnic has been organized to provide a space in which intergenerational Latino/a LGBTQ community members and allies join in solidarity to honor diversity and culture as well as celebrate their identities with no boundaries while surrounded by love, unity, families and community members.
For more information, contact Dulce Quintero at 773-443-3471 or orgulloenaccion@gmail.com .
With great appreciation,
Orgullo en Accion board
and Latino/a LGBTQ Pride
Picnic organizers
I'm coming out
Dear Editor,
The Rainbow Sash Movement, a Catholic organization, is calling on gay individuals in the College of Cardinals and Archbishops to come out of the clerical closet Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
In the words of St. Francis, "We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way." What better way to do this than by calling for integrity among the highest levels of our Catholic leadership.
It is time to stop the rumor mills from those bishops who occupy leadership positions from Washington, D.C., to Atlanta to San Francisco and Chicago in the hopes of stopping the hate directed at the national LGBT community. We have chosen Oct. 4 because it is the installation of the new Archbishop-elect of San Francisco, Bishop Cordileone. We feel it is time to let the truth set bishops free by freely coming out and self-identifying as gay.
It is time that our Catholic bishops face their fear of the word "gay" and embrace it.
Bill O'Connor
Rainbow Sash Movement