By Amy Wooten
Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit April 18 in federal court to stop discrimination against students at Chicago's Noble Street Charter School.
Students at the school, located at 1010 N. Noble, have been barred from having an official gay-straight alliance ( GSA ) at the school. They have been trying to become an official school club all academic year, but Noble Street Charter School and the Noble Network of Charter Schools have forced the club to meet informally. Because it is not an official club, GSA members can't announce meetings, post signs, hand out flyers or enjoy any of the other perks official clubs enjoy. This makes it especially difficult for the club based on promoting awareness, safety, respect and tolerance of LGBT people to spread its message to the student body.
The complaint asserts the students' rights under the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act. The Equal Access Act prohibits secondary schools that receive federal funds and that allow non-curricular student groups to meet on campus from discriminating against any student group based on its viewpoint.
The students seek the same resources given other student groups and immediate injunctive relief to allow the students to hold an official meeting before June.
In spring 2005, students at the school decided to organize a GSA. In September, the students held their first informal meeting. Shortly after, a teacher notified the school's principal that the GSA wished to be officially recognized. According to the complaint, the principal expressed discomfort with the idea, but let them meet unofficially with restrictions. Also according to the complaint, hearings were denied to the group.
James Madigan, the lawyer handling the case, said he feels confident that the students will obtain preliminary relief.
'We're very hopeful that we can get preliminary relief so that we can salvage this for the students who are graduating,' Madigan told Windy City Times. 'That's important for two reasons. First, it's very important for the 12th graders because this is their only chance. It's also very important for the students coming back next year because to have an established group that can continue is much easier than trying to reinvent the wheel every school year. So there's some sort of institutional momentum that is gained by beginning the school year with a group [ that is ] established.'
Madigan said the school's reaction to the club has been 'demoralizing' for the GSA's organizers. 'Unfortunately, it looks as though the school sort of thinks this group isn't worthy somehow or isn't legitimate enough to be given all the perks and advantages that every other student group is able to take for granted,' he said. 'So, the unfortunate part here is that they've sort of created a bit of a second-class status for this group.'
According to Madigan, the school's principal and other administrators were given information regarding the GSA and the school's legal obligations.
'It's very hard for them to suggest that they just needed to learn more because they really had every opportunity and every piece of information literally, not figuratively, handed to them, and still, the decision was the same,' Madigan said.
Vital Bridges
Receives $150K Grant
Vital Bridges has announced that it has received a grant of $150,000 from the Chicago Tribune Charities to provide food and nutrition services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The funding will help provide 40 meals a month for more than 2,100 low-income people who rely on Vital Bridges' grocery centers annually, as well as nutrition counseling to help clients get the most out of the food they receive.
The grant is made possible by the funds raised through the Chicago Tribune Holiday Giving campaign. As a result of the funds raised through Holiday Giving in 2004, Chicago Tribune Charities awarded almost $4.2 million in grants to 170 non-profit organizations.
People needing help from Vital Bridges can call Lane Bradley at ( 312 ) 948-2781. To volunteer or donate, call Tom Hartman at ( 312 ) 948-2784.
Broadway Youth
Center Expands
By Andrew Davis
Howard Brown has announced the expansion of program hours at Broadway Youth Center ( BYC ) .
BYC, which opened in 2004, is a program of Howard Brown and community partners Teen Living Programs, The Night Ministry and Children's Memorial Hospital, offering comprehensive services to all youth 24 and under. The physical expansion of an additional floor at the corner of Broadway and Belmont in Chicago allows for expanded program capacity.
In addition to regular programs, free HIV testing and STD screening hours have expanded; those services are now available from 1-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 1-9 p.m on Fridays. HIV testing is anonymous. STD testing screens for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and are conducted using urine samples. Results are available in one week.
Drop-in counseling is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1-4:30 p.m. and on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome and the appointments are free.
BYC also offers many social and support groups specifically geared to youth. These programs include SHOUT!, Q, TYRA ( Transgender Youth Resource & Advocacy ) and Xpressions.
BYC is located at 3179 N. Broadway. For more information, contact Joe Hollendoner at ( 773 ) 935-3151 or joeh@howardbrown.org . Also, see www.howardbrown.org/byc.
Theatre Building Sustains Damage
By Andrew Davis
Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, sustained significant smoke and water damage after a fire occurred April 13, due to an apparent electrical/computer surge, according to a press release.
While none of the three theatres on the ground floor were directly affected, the box office and second-floor administrative offices suffered extensive damage. However, despite the fire, the building continued to host uninterrupted performances and rehearsals of current and future productions.
The fire apparently originated from an office rented by the Illinois Theatre Association—a space that suffered the most damage. Additional damage included a large hole in the roof and smashed windows in the front office and skylight, due to rescue efforts.
Anyone interested in assisting with tax-deductible donations may send them to: 1225 W Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60657. Make checks payable to Theatre Building Chicago.
There will also be a special performance by members of Blue Dog Entertainment, who are producing the Tony Award-winning musical Urinetown. This event will take place May 4 at 7:30 at Theatre Building Chicago. Tickets are $35 each and proceeds will go the newly-established Fire Fund.
For more information, see www.theatrebuildingchicago.org or call ( 773 ) 327-5252.
