Gay Seniors Program Wins $475,000 Grant

And some good news for your hump-day.

From the Chicago Tribune:

A program that caters to the unique needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender senior citizens received nearly half a million dollars in federal funding Tuesday, opening the door for a wide range of initiatives organizers hope will assist thousands of older Chicagoans.

The program, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders, or SAGE, is part of the Center on Halsted, a gay and lesbian community center in Lakeview, and was profiled by the Tribune last June.

Its director, Serena Worthington, said the $475,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services marks only the third time that federal money has gone to a program focusing on GLBT seniors.

More here!

Great to hear that even during trying economic times, there are some monies available for programs aimed at helping people.  Think of how much good could have been done with the tens of millions spent on fighting to deny people equality.

Holy Name Protests in Chicago

Gay protest in Chicago,   Sunday saw around 100 gay  men and women gather outside Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago to protest about  the Catholic Church’s opposition to gay marriage and other stands that they see as unjust to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Andy Thayer  from The Gay Liberation Network said recently they were protesting not just about gay marriage, but also  equal rights  “ This is not just about the equal right to marry.  In Illinois, Cardinal George and his predecessors over the years have worked behind the scenes to vehemently oppose every piece of equal rights legislation for gay people that has ever been proposed, including opposing equal employment rights, equal access to housing, equal access to public accommodations and equal access to adoption”

According to local media protesters waved rainbow flags and shouted slogans like, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, homophobia has got to go!” and, “Holy Name, holy shame!”

Last year, the GLN Network helped organize a march from the city building in which marriage licenses are issued to Holy Name to show support for gay marriage,  Thayer, who is  the group’s co founder  said    “We want to drag the church’s bigotry out of the closet,”

Chicago Archdiocese spokesperson Colleen Dolan said the pprotesters were misdirected. “They may not like it, but it’s the teaching of the church that marriage is between one man and one woman.  Those of us in the church don’t get to choose what the teachings are.”

However,  I think the final word must go to one of the congregation, heading into the cathedral who was quoted as saying.      “They’re really annoying,   They took up all the parking!”

Jason Shaw,  Brighton, England.GayAgenda.com’s United Kingdom correspondent.

Jason’s own blog www.seafrontdiary.com living life in the slow lane and finding after 40 years the parking break is still on!  Hey,  come by and say hello!

Chicago Having to Swallow Some Pride?

As reported yesterday on ChicagoPride.com:

Openly gay U.S. Senate candidate Jacob Meister has been denied a place in tonight’s debate between Democrat Senate candidates hosted by Chicago PBS television station WTTW.

An attorney for the Meister for U.S. Senate campaign is asking the Federal Communications Commission to find WTTW in violation of FCC rules for its exclusion.

“The only fact, which appears to distinguish Mr. Meister from any of the other Democratic Party candidates, is that Mr. Meister is gay,” said Meister attorney David Axelrod, who shares no relation to the White House staff member of the same name.

Meister said “WTTW’s decision to exclude me isn’t based on any reasonable or accurate standard, whether in a court of law or the court of public opinion. My inclusion is about access. It is about fairness and the right of every Illinois voter to be given the opportunity to choose the candidate who he or she believes is best suited to hold the office of United States senator.”

The post also stated:

An attempt to get comment from WTTW was unsuccessful.

Read more after the jump -

Knowing Public Television and Broadcasting has long been an advocate of equal opportunity, I felt inclined to see if I would receive a response as to why Meister was denied. The following is a statement I received from WTTW
via email:

Chicago Tonight has a long history of inviting candidates to our studios prior to important elections. We invite candidates the same way we invite other guests, using our news judgment as to what races and candidates are of the greatest interest to our viewers. In addition, in some high profile races like the Illinois governor’s race or the race for the U.S. Senate, we often exclude candidates who have not reached 5% in any non-partisan, independent poll. We use that low bar in order to give more air time to those candidates whose campaigns appear to be viable.

Sorry Meister, makes sense to me! Sometimes I think it’s a bit too easy to jump on that bandwagon which accuses people of homophobia. This sounds like a sound judgment to me.

Tabatha Coffey Lets Her Hair Down

Courtesy of The Advocate:

She’s tough, she’s talented, and she might be taking over a salon — or a gay nightclub — near you. Winner of the “fan favorite” award on season 1 of Shear Genius, Tabatha Coffey now gives business makeovers to struggling salon owners as host of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover on Bravo, which airs the show’s second season finale on Tuesday, January 12. Preparing for a special appearance at New York’s Splash on Thursday, January 7, the Australia-born Coffey called from her own salon, Industrie Hair Gurus in Ridgewood, N.J., to cut up with Advocate.com about stereotypical gay stylists, unsolicited sperm donors, and the Boystown salon that brought out her militant lesbian claws.

Read the interview by clicking here!

HS Teacher Reprimanded for Anti-Gay Comment

From the Chicago Tribune:

School officials have issued a warning to a Geneva High School teacher who made an anti-gay comment in his classroom, but the student whose complaint prompted officials to act says the reprimand was not enough.

“I’m disappointed at the outcome,” said senior Jordan Hunter, 17. “It seems like (district officials) didn’t take it seriously.”

Hunter, who is gay, made a written complaint last week against his consumer teacher, David Burk, saying he was “personally offended” by the teacher’s comments, which included a derogatory slang term for homosexuals. Some people also complained about racial overtones in the comments. Burk was warned by officials that any further improprieties could result in dismissal.

Read more here!

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