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  WINDY CITY TIMES

LETTERS
2000-06-07

This article shared 1142 times since Wed Jun 7, 2000
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Bares-Montiel resignation

And Below: HIV Testing, Memorial Day and the March

I was sorry to read about the resignation of Kim Bares-Montiel from the Edgewater Community Council [ Outlines May 31 ] .

Before Kim took her position in Edgewater, she was the Director of the Berwyn Development Corporation here in Berwyn. She did a terrific job in her years in Berwyn.

When Kim came here in the mid-'90s, she was instrumental in setting up TIF districts and putting together a visionary plan for re-vitalizing Cermak Road, Ogden Avenue and the Berwyn Depot district. As I now look at all the construction going on in Berwyn, from the building of Berwyn Manors to the new businesses on Cermak Road and on Ogden, I realize that a large part of it is due to Kim's efforts as director of the BDC. When I think about what Cermak Road looked like 10 years ago and what it looks like today, I know most of the change is due to Kim and the BDC.

When Kim resigned last year to take the new position in Edgewater, there was a lot of sadness at seeing her leave. She had the respect and admiration of most of the business and civic leaders in Berwyn. Ironically, the city of Berwyn just created a new Community Development organization and is looking for people to fill some of the positions in the organization. I think if Kim wanted to come back to Berywn, she would be welcomed back with open arms.

Ted Korbos, Berwyn

HIV testing

The following letter was sent to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Your editorial of June 4, "Leading by example, Religious leaders take HIV Test," is the first step in opening the doors within the African American communities hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic.

I now ask if those religious leaders will allow Community Based Organizations ( CBOs ) , serving those congregations, to not only test them, but also provide prevention information?

This is a bold and needed step, but what type of follow-up is forthcoming? The Greater Chicago Committee, like other CBOs, has been doing testing and individual/community prevention interventions and has found that our church doors are closed to the work that needs to be done within our community.

I pray these leaders will put "teeth" into this move and encourage/allow testing to be done at their locations. These leaders are some of the most important gatekeepers of our communities and those gates must finally be opened.

Derrick A. Hicks, executive director

Greater Chicago Committee

Memorial Day 2000

Memorial Day celebrations have come and gone, but special memories still linger on. The Chicago Chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Veterans of America marched for the third time in the city's huge Memorial Day Parade. We were No. 39 of 140 units. It was an incredible parade, and we were pleased to be invited, and included.

There is always a tense moment when we pass the reviewing stand. Will they recognize us? Will there be applause or boos? We have experienced both.

In one 4th of July parade in Washington, D.C., one of the reviewing officers was heard to say "I'm not saluting those f*****s." We lowered the Colors until they all did, and then we marched on.

The announcer of the Chicago parade took a long, long time describing how well we looked, and how we marched with solemnity before he finally said it: "Ladies and gentlemen, we now have passing by, The Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Veterans of America." We were well past the reviewing stand when he finally finished saying it. We feel that it is just one small victory for the community.

For the eighth year, on Memorial Day the Chicago Chapter travelled to the graveside of Allen Schindler, in Steger, Ill. His mother, Mrs. Dorothy Hadjys-Holman, meets us there for this memorable wreathlaying ceremony.

George Buse, one of Chicago's most well-known figures, and a longtime member of GLBVA, passed away in April. On Memorial Day we also visited George's grave for a farewell service. George is buried in the new Abraham Lincoln National Veterans Cemetery, in Elwood, Ill., near Joliet. Plan to visit there sometime, but bring boots.

At the service a cemetery caretaker came over and asked, "What kind of flag is that?" He was referring to the Rainbow Flag. We told him that it was the gay flag, and he said he didn't know there were gay veterans. We said "We're all gay veterans, and now one of our members is buried here." Non-plussed would be a good way to describe his reaction.

There are always a multiple of events taking place in the gay community in Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend. The Chicago Chapter of GLBVA always takes the time to honor and remember all American Veterans who have served this country. Thanks to all of you for your participation and dedication.

Jim Darby, National Secretary, GLBVA

The March

On the weekend of April 30, I went home to visit my family. Not my biological one, but, my real family—the LBGT one. My life partner Bob and I were two of the lucky 300,000 or so "family" members to gather in Washington, D.C. for the Millennium March. I now know how Dorothy felt as she opened her backdoor and got her first glimpse of the land of Oz. I felt as she did, standing, looking back from the Millennium March stage, I saw an ocean of proud LBGT family members, stretching all the way to "Kansas:" I said to myself, "We rule! Straight society is no more. Being gay is the norm!"

There has been quite a bit of controversy concerning the March. A few disgruntled LBGT groups called the March, "exclusionary" and "wasteful." Some people even dared to say "Been there, done that, why is it needed now."

I'll tell you why it was needed now. I needed it! I've never "been there, done that!" In '93 when the last March occurred, I watched it all on CNN and I longed to be there. As the LBGT community has been splintered by petty bickering over this March, I needed a place to renew my spiritual being. I needed to renew my place in gay society. ...

One day as we sat in the lobby of our hotel, we watched as Matthew Shepard's mother, Judy, walked by. She looked like any other mom, but we knew how special she is to us all. She reminded me of why I was there.

At a cocktail party given by the Human Rights Campaign, we stood not three feet away from James Dale, the Eagle Scout who was thrown out of Scouting for being gay ( his case is pending in the Supreme Court ) . At the same party retired and "out" baseball player Billy Bean was there. They both reminded me why I was marching.

On a beautiful Saturday morning, in the shadow of the Lincoln memorial, Bob and I got "committed"! After 23 years together we finally tied the knot with the blessing of Rev. Troy Perry and the MCC. Along with about 1,000 other couples, we celebrated our love for one another while in the background we barely heard another minister, Fred Phelps, condemning us for that love. ...

On Saturday, we attended the rock concert of the century! HRC presented EQUALITY ROCKS—45,000 queers gathered in the RFK stadium! ... Two of my favorite moments came when Melissa Etheridge sang Dylan's "The Times They Are A Changing." His anti-Vietnam war meaning forever changed to now symbolize equality for the LBGT community. Garth Brooks, talked about freedom and unity for ALL people! This coming from a straight C&W superstar, was special indeed.

Flying home I noticed that Dorothy Hadjys-Holman was one of the passengers. She is the mother of Allen Schindler, the sailor who was beaten to death because he was gay. She looked so lonely and tired. But knowing that she was still there, fighting for our rights, gave me hope that someday we will overcome. ...

We bumped into so many old friends: Janice and her wife, with their newborn twins. We made new friends too: John and Paul from Waterloo, Iowa, who own and run a LBGT newspaper in the middle of nowhere. ...

The "meaning" of the Millennium March on Washington was about unity. It was about passing the torch on to another generation of activists while inspiring us older street fighters to keep up the good fight! It was about coming together as a group with one goal in mind—equality for every human being. The narrow focus of some groups to concentrate on states rights doesn't sit well with me. Why not work for everyone's rights? Why not unite and show our strength throughout the whole 50 states and beyond. Maybe if we all work together, we will finally find our piece of Oz. We wouldn't have to march to go look for it. It would finally and forever be found in our own backyard.

Mark A Pence, Wheaton


This article shared 1142 times since Wed Jun 7, 2000
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