CABN MEETS WITH UNITED WAY BOARD MEMBERS
Following up on an earlier meeting with United Way executives, representatives of the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network last week met with board members from the agency who will make recommendations about funding for the Boy Scouts.
The next full board meeting for the Chicago United Way Crusade of Mercy is May 31, and agency executives said they will decide by then whether to continue providing funding for the Scouts.
The agency gave roughly $424,000 to the Scouts last fiscal year, said Communications Director James Kales. He said United Way is already allowing givers to deselect the Boy Scouts from receiving any of their donation, meaning people can still support the organization's other member agencies.
Andy Thayer and Bob Schwartz described their most recent meeting with the United Way as cordial but tense. Both said board members seemed taken aback by CABN's uncompromising stance on the Scouts and its intention to launch a protest campaign against United Way if funding continues.
"A compromise with hate is no solution as far as we're concerned," Thayer said. "There's no wiggle room on this."
Activists nationwide have waged a war against the Scouts since last June's Supreme Court decision gave the Scouts the right to ban gays.
CABN noted the negative impact that the Scouts' ban on gays has on youth and pointed out that there would be no question of withdrawing financial support if the Scouts had a similar policy based on race or gender.
They also noted that United Way agencies around the country, including in smaller and more conservative areas than Chicago, have withdrawn support for the Scouts.
"We here in Chicago can make a significant contribution to the nationwide struggle," Thayer said.
"Hopefully that made an impression on some people," Schwartz said. "We're still hopeful that the decision will go our way."
CABN is urging members of the community to contact United Way and "politely but firmly" call for an end to funding of the Scouts.
Letters to the United Way should be directed to:
James Kales
Director of External Communications
Chicago United Way Crusade of Mercy
560 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60661
Man admits to killing dog judge
A man accused of killing a Streamwood dog show judge has told prosecutors he committed the murder and doesn't want to stand trial, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Donald A. Gordon, 41, is being held in the murder of Richard F. Fetzer, 72.
Fetzer was found beaten and strangled in his home April 22. According to the Sun-Times, Fetzer and Gordon met Friday at Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, where Fetzer worked at Brookstone. He was last seen alive by neighbors, who saw him pull into his garage at 6 p.m. Fetzer lived alone.
Police caught Gordon during a prostitution sting Friday night, and he is accused of patronizing a male prostitute in exchange for $7 and crack cocaine. He was in possession of Fetzer's 2000 Honda Civic. At presstime, he was being held at Cook County Jail awaiting a May 7 court date.
House panel OKs prenatal testing
A House committee last week approved legislation that would provide insurance coverage for prenatal HIV testing. Senate Bill 1254, sponsored by state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, would require insurance companies that provide maternity coverage to cover the tests. The measure passed unanimously out of the House Health Care Availability and Access Committee and now moves to the full House.
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