Illinois Eagle - June 2024 Edition

LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day comes to the capitol

2024

2, Issue 2

In this issue…

Statewide news Page 2

Photos Page 4-5

Review Page 6

Resources Page 7

The Illinois Eagle is an independent newspaper covering the LGBTQ community and social justice across the state. News is published daily on our website. To send in news tips or ask about advertising, email editor@illinoiseagle.com.

Hundreds of queer people, activists, and allies gathered at the Capitol in Springfield on May 8 for Equality Illinois’ LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day.

By Caleb Sneeden, Illinois Eagle

SPRINGFIELD – Equality Illinois called for queer people and allies to meet in Springfield and involve themselves directly in the processes of government, primarily by meeting with state legislators and advocating for their legislative agenda, but also through social media and a rally of all participants.

Early in Advocacy Day, spokespeople for Equality Illinois, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIL), ALMA Chicago, and their legislative allies, including State Sens. Adraine Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) Ram Villivalam (DChicago) and State Reps. Gonzalez (D-Chicago), Olickal (D-Skokie) gave a press conference on the intersection of reproductive rights, sex work, and LGBTQ rights, and their shared legislative agenda. Manuel Hernández, the executive director of ALMA Chicago, said “…latinx issues are queer issues, and queer issues are latinx are queer issues. We cannot think of one without addressing the other.”

The bulk of the work of Advocacy Day consisted of participants meeting with legislators and their staff, and for this people came from across the state with different personal priorities. Nicole Morrow of Peoria said she came out to support HBs 5164 and 5507, which abolish the publication requirement for name changes, and better allow for birth certificate name changes respectively. “It just protects folks as they’re coming out to be their authentic selves and allows their community to wrap around them to make sure they have everything they need.”

Amanda Suckow, a board member of About Face Theatre from Chicago, came primarily to support SB 3384, which allocates funds for schools that wish to teach comprehensive sexual health education, although they said “… anything that’s around LGBT issues we’re here to support.”

The afternoon rally was intended to take place around the Lincoln Statue in front of the Capitol, but was shifted to the Capitol Complex Visitor Center on account of rain.

State Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) encapsulated the sentiment of the rally early on by saying “…make it impossible for people to not know we are here.” State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) followed up by saying “You are our bosses. You can fire us. The sooner some of our colleagues figure that out, the better off we’ll all be.”

Also presented at the rally were spokespeople for PPIL, Equality Illinois, the Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center, Brave Space Alliance, and Prairie Pride Coalition, who covered topics such as the connection between reproductive rights and gender-affirming care and elderly LGBT care. The active part of Advocacy Day concluded with a picture with Governor J.B. Pritzker, who also met afterwards with organizers and lobbyists.

Equality Illinois provided training throughout the day for attendees to effectively interact with government and resources for social media utilization, and concluded the day with pizza at the local Gallina’s restaurant.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) poses with advocates during the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day on May 8. Photo by Tom Wray

State Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) and his partner during the rally on LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day on May 8.

Photo by Tom Wray

Trans led effort unionizes Pekin Starbucks

The

overwhelming vote is one of the latest in the growing union effort at the national chain.

By Brittni Waites, Illinois Eagle

PEKIN – What started out as a birthday dinner conversation this past December between a few coworkers at the Pekin, Ill., Starbucks, became a sort of underground rebellion in a movement to join the unionization of over 400 Starbucks stores across the country.

They approached the Workers United and for months afterward “stayed under the radar” as they quietly gathered information, opinions from other co -workers, and similarly shared frustrations they all wished could be addressed. When all the information had been collected, the majority agreed to sign Union cards.

The general reaction among the Pekin Starbucks employees was awe when the votes came in. The little quiet rebellion won by a landslide with a 14-2 margin.

Chloe Orwig, a transgender-woman who was among those who were in the original conversation, described the win as “impressive” and that she and her co-workers were “very excited” that the votes went so well. She said there was anxiety before the votes were cast, keeping in mind the Starbucks in Knoxville, Tenn., [IE1] that failed to get the simple majority vote, and hoping that things wouldn’t turn out the same way this time. With the vote being counted “in real time”, there was enough anxiety to go around as they waited. However, once the verdict was in, Orwig described feeling that Starbucks was finally saying, “We hear you and will do something about it,” by finally

“stepping up to the bargaining table”. She’s hoping that this is a decent step in the right direction and as the bargaining delegate for the Pekin store, She’s aiming to ensure that she and her co-workers have the protection against inconsistent scheduling; such as under scheduling in certain times of the year which causes the employees to lose benefits and wages they depend on. Another major thing Orwig would like addressed, as far as policies, is seeing the discrimination policies get a make-over with updated wording that has a “more all-inclusive nondiscrimination policy” that is “actually followed”. Orwig said that her coworkers are “one of the best groups of people that I’ve ever experienced working with. Everybody has been just so kind and supportive throughout my transition.”

While she herself hasn’t experienced “a ton of outright discrimination” while working at the store, from either coworkers/management or even customers, she said there is a “fair bit” of misunderstanding toward the LGBTQ community and has been misgendered “multiple times” while working at Starbucks. With a smile and laugh, she said that you just have to “roll with it”.

The importance of having a union representative present for any meetings, such as in the instance of a write-up to protect employee rights, discrimination or other such rights violations can’t be overstated. Orwig, like most of her co-workers, just hopes that now that the vote is in, things keep moving in the right direction not only for Orwig and her coworkers, but for future employees at the store.

First Pride event coming to Richland County

The Southeastern Illinois community will have a familyfriendly Pride on June 15.

By Jay Bull, Illinois Eagle

OLNEY –Richland County’s first Pride celebration will be held at Olney’s Rotary Park just outside of town on East Fork Lake, on Saturday, June 15, from 1 to 7 p.m.

Pride Richland County, a nonprofit organization, promises a family friendly event at a beautiful park for the first Pride celebration in the region.

“It’s family-friendly,” said Ashlie Zwilling, director of Pride Richland County. “We have three musical artists lined up, we have a stage, we will have bounce houses, we will have a bubble machine, we will have face painters, we will have lots of fun stuff for the kiddos.”

Zwilling said she thought there were at least 28

vendors already signed up, ranging from crocheted witch’s hats to a 4H lemonade stand.

“I think that we will have a lot of things and I’m really excited,” she said.

Pride Richland County is accepting vendors until June 1 and the vendor price is $20 for a space. The organization is also accepting donations through their PayPal account for anyone that would like to help support or sponsor the event. Those interested sending in being a vendor should email priderichlandcounty@gmail.com.

Vendors aren’t just from the Olney area, either, as some vendors are coming from out of town or even out of state.

“I have someone coming to sell smash burgers from Clayton, Missouri,” Zwilling said.

Vendors are still being accepted. The event will be in a large lakeside park with a big playground.

“I’m excited,” Zwilling said. “I think that for the first Pride festival that Richland County has ever had, we’ve received a lot more love than we have hate, so I’m thankful for that.”

Pride Richland County is also hoping to branch out and be a resource for the community in addition to celebrating Pride. One of the goals is to create a resource manual of LGBTQ friendly services in the area. It would be a rainbow book of safe places to receive medical care, legal advice, and other life necessities that people are often denied due to bigotry and homophobia.

“We’ll be doing ongoing fundraising and things like that,” Zwilling said. “The big goal is support for the community, for parents whose kids have come out and they don’t know how to navigate it. We’re in a super red county and so when their kids come out, they think it’s the end of the world. How to navigate that conversation with them and just being like a safe space for kids, too.”

The family-friendly Pride won’t have alcohol, but bringing lawn chairs or even food is more than acceptable.

“Bring your rainbows, bring your happiness and glitter.” Zwilling said.

The newly unionized Starbucks in Pekin. Photo from Google Maps.

‘Ride

For Our Lives’ moves through Springfield for fifth year

The drive has been held annually since the death of George Floyd in 2020.

By Tom Wray, Illinois Eagle

SPRINGFIELD – Black Lives Matter-Springfield held their fifth annual “Ride For Our Lives” drive on Saturday, May 25.

The event, which has people driving on a route through Springfield’s near east side, has been held annual since 2020. It started as a way to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of police and stay within COVID-19 restrictions.

The first drive had 3,000 cars participating in the wake of the massive nationwide protests of that year. While the drive has not reached those levels since, it has still been held to remember those who have been lost to police violence.

Remarks before the start of the drive thanked those who were participating and their continued support

for BLM-SPI and social justice. The group also recognized this year’s BLM-SPI scholarship winners DeAndre Cameron, Asianna Benson, and Bryce Musgrave. Musgrave was able to attend and spoke to those gathered.

“We recognize it is a holiday weekend,” said Sunshine Plemons, BLM-SPI co-founder and copresident. “We understand people have things going on, but we appreciate you taking the time to be here, even on a holiday on a Saturday.”

Martin Woulfe, pastor at Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Springfield, gave the invocation.

Plemons said that while this was a memorial to those lost, it was also a celebration since it lifted up the winners of the scholarship contest, started just a couple of years ago. In previous years, it had given $500 to a Springfield-area student going on to postsecondary education or training. This year, thanks to support from the community, it was raised to $1,300.

Springfield Ald. Shawn Gregory and Sangamon County State’s Attorney John C. Milhiser also participated, with Gregory speaking to the driv-

ers. State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) had planned to attend, but budget legislation over the weekend kept her at the Statehouse.

In his remarks, Gregory said he appreciated how BLM-SPI had grown in their activities, not just protesting for social justice but actively working to support the community through projects like the scholarships. He also said that in the years since Floyd’s death, some may have forgotten the impact it had on people.

“But I can say here in Springfield, it has stayed near and dear to our hearts,” Gregory said. “Something we have worked toward in our various sectors of what it is we do to make sure we stamp out systemic racism, police brutality, and any barrier that needs to be addressed.”

The route went from the Sangamon County Building parking lot over to Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. down to South Grand Avenue then up Ninth Street back to the parking lot. Those participating were encouraged to decorate their cars in support of those lost and social justice and residents were invited to come along the route to cheer.

Top le : Cars turn onto Ninth Street during the Ride For Our Lives” drive on Saturday, May 25.

Above: Springfield Ald. Shawn Gregory speaks during the welcome program before the start of the drive.

Le : BLM-Springfield founders and co-presidents Sunshine Plemons (le ) and Khoran Readus (right) present scholarship winner Bryce Musgrave with a cer ficate of recogni on during the welcome program.

Photos by Tom Wray

More photos available on the website.

Pride marches through Springfield

Thousands attended the unofficial kick-off to the Illinois Pride festival season.

By Tom Wray, Illinois Eagle

SPRINGFIELD – The 14th Springfield Pride Parade and Festival returned to the city this past weekend, bringing thousands.

The event was peaceful and crowded, with people touring more than 100 vendors lined along Fifth and Capitol streets in downtown Springfield, just up the street from the Illinois Statehouse.

There had been a rumor of a protest planned, but nothing panned out. Instead, music and laughter were the most heard sounds. While it was hot, with highs in the upper 80s, it didn’t stop the crowds.

Along with vendors, attendees also watched the Pride Parade that rolled north on Fifth Street to the festival ribbon cutting. The entertainment stage, with the state capitol behind it, hosted live music and drag into the night.

More than 23,000 attended this year’s parade and festival.

Springfield Pridefest photos by Tom Wray

Book Review: The Other Pandemic

Lynn Curlee’s The Other Pandemic is a harrowing memoir of the author’s experiences in the AIDS pandemic of the 80s and 90s.

By Caleb Sneeden, Illinois Eagle

Two generations before COVID-19 killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, and millions globally, another pandemic ravaged the United States, devastating our queer communities and leaving wounds and scars that, in many ways, haven’t healed. Lynn Curlee’s The Other Pandemic is a harrowing memoir of the author’s experiences in the AIDS pandemic of the 80s and 90s. Curlee, in both the Introduction and Epilogue, compares the two pandemics. Both were (and in the case of Covid, still is) downplayed, subject to denial, misinformation, and mistreatment of the ill, oftentimes by authorities.

While in large part an autobiography of his life’s events and works prior to and during the AIDS pandemic, The Other Pandemic is largely focused on Curlee’s life during the AIDS pandemic: his work as an artist, his fascination with New York and Los Angeles, and, most significantly, his romances. It is, for younger queer people like myself, a snapshot to another era: before marriage equality, before the level of acceptance we’ve come to enjoy, and, most importantly, before the all-important cure that relegated Aids to a marginal status. Curlee ensures that we have an opportunity to learn of those he lost. Through his recollection of

loved ones, friends and acquaintances fallen to Aids, we are able to feel but a fragment of the pain the survivors of that pandemic did. That we grow to know many of these people through Curlee’s memories makes the connected pain feel all the more biting.

Curlee’s prose is simple. His writing style, as evidenced by his previous works such as Ballparks: The Story of America’s Baseball Fields and The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is to the point and unpretentious. His descriptions are utilitarian, providing just what is needed, mostly emotion and basic context for each chapter. This helps center the story on exactly what matters - pandemic and how it affects those in it.

Several times throughout the book, Curlee describes an increasing numbness to the death around him. It is never that he ceases to care, but that he suffers so much personal loss that each new one comes to feel more and more expected and exhausting.

Personally, as a member of America’s queer community, who has contracted Covid and lost loved ones and friends to it, my emotional connection to Curlee’s book runs deep. I cannot hope to fully understand, being born after the events or Curler’s book, exactly how it felt to live through the Aids pandemic.

You should grab or read a copy of The Other Pandemic Curlee’s memories are a tragic and well constructed reminder that history often rhymes, and speaks to the danger of the politicization of identity and public health issues. What has happened can happen again, and we must never forget what we are. Others have lost lest we continue to face the consequences.

Central Illinois Friends gets grant for new building

The city of Peoria awarded the organization $75,000 to finish the new LGBTQ community center.

Tom Wray, Illinois Eagle

PEORIA – Central Illinois Friends (CIF) has received $75,000 from the city of Peoria to finish preparing their new home for opening.

The HIV service agency closed on a new headquarlast summer that will also be the city’s first standalone LGBTQ community center. CIF has been working since then to update and remodel the building to best serve the community.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali announced the grant on May

The funding was provided through the American Rescue Plan, and will go towards the funding of our LGBTQ+ Community Center’s clinic which will host not only the HIV/STI testing we are known for, it will also allow us to provide a greater standard of care for our transgender and gender nonconforming clients, and be the home of our new affirmative counseling center,” said Selena Pappas, CIF marketing manager.

She said that Deric Kimmler, CIF executive director and a grant writer, had been on the lookout for the grant since the city had given similar grants to organizations in the past.

“Grants, such as this one, which provide capital funds are difficult to acquire,” Pappas said. “The funding we will receive from this grant will go a long way towards helping us finish the community center.”

The building in Peoria’s Averyville neighborhood is expected to open later this year.

Illinois LGBTQ Resources

Bloomington/Normal

ISU Pride

https://www.facebook.com/isupride/ prideilstu@gmail.com (309) 438-8968

Mid Central Community Action https://www.mccainc.org/ mcca@mccainc.org (309) 829-0691

PFLAG Bloomington/Normal https://www.facebook.com/PFLAGBN pflagbn@gmail.com (309) 828-5554

Prairie Pride Coalition http://www.ppc-il.org/ info@ppc-il.org (309) 827-4005

Queer Coalition at Illinois State University https://www.facebook.com/ ISUQueerCoalition lgbtq@ilstu.edu

Stand Up for Social Justice - BloNo, IL https://www.facebook.com/ StandUpforJusticeBloNo socialjusticebn@gmail.com

Carbondale

Pride in Action, Southern Illinois http://amasong.org/ office@amasong.org

Rainbow Café LGBTQ Center https://www.gcapnow.com/ info@gcapnow.com

SIU LGBTQ Resource Center

https://smrc.siu.edu/lgbtq/ lgbtq@siu.edu (618) 453-5627

Champaign/Urbana

Amasong http://amasong.org/ office@amasong.org

Greater Community AIDS Project https://www.gcapnow.com/ info@gcapnow.com

U of I LGBT Resource Center https://oiir.illinois.edu/GSRC

Uniting Pride of Champaign County

https://www.unitingpride.org/ info@unitingpride.org

Decatur

Decatur Pride

https://www.facebook.com/DecaturPrideIL decaturpride.media@gmail.com

PFLAG Decatur IL

https://www.facebook.com/ groups/652120161630148/

Jacksonville

The SAGE Project coldalphabetsoup@hotmail.com

Lincoln

Logan County Pride logancountypride@gmail.com

Quad Cities

Clock, Inc LGBT+ Community Center https://www.clockinc.org/ info@clockinc.org (309) 558-0956

The Project of the Quad Cities https://www.tpqc.org/ tyler@tpqc.org (309) 762-5433

Peoria

Acorn Equality Fund https://www.acornequalityfund.org/ acorn1999@gmail.com

Central Illinois Friends

https://www.friendsofcentralillinois.org/ outreach@centralillinoisfriends.org (309) 671-2144

Peoria Mutual Aid Network peoriamutualaid.com peoriamutualaid@gmail.com (815) 627-0716

Peoria Proud https://www.peoriaproud.org/ peoriaproud.prez@gmail.com (309) 472-0470

Peoria, IL - National Organization For Women peorianow.org/contact-us nowpeoria@gmail.com

PFLAG Peoria https://www.pflagpeoria.org/

Rockton

Rockton Pride rocktonpride@gmail.com

Springfield

ACLU of Illinois Springfield Chapter springfieldchapteraclu@gmail.com

Coalition of Rainbow Alliances https://www.springfieldcoral.org/ coral.springfield@gmail.com

Fifth Street Renaissance/Sara Center http://www.fsr-sara.org/ info@fsr-sara.org

Phoenix Center http:// www.phoenixcenterspringfield.org/ ruthannbertram.phoenix@comcast.net (217) 528-5253

PRIDE At Heartland Community College http://www.heartland.edu/

UIS Gender and Sexuality Student Services https://www.uis.edu/gsss gss@uis.edu (217) 206-8316

Statewide

ACLU of Illinois https://www.aclu-il.org/ (312) 201-9740

Equality Illinois http://www.equalityillinois.us/ info@eqil.org (773) 477-7173

Illinois HIV CareConnect https://hivcareconnect.com

Illinois Safe Schools Alliance https://www.ilsafeschools.org/ (312) 629-2988

Planned Parenthood of Illinois https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ planned-parenthood-illinois (312) 592-6800

Speak Out Illinois https://www.speakoutillinoisllc.com/ support@speakoutillinoisllc.com (309) 981-7233