politically active ellen garrison, amy li, gideon resnick, sally zhang
TRANSCRIPT
Politically Active
Ellen Garrison, Amy Li, Gideon Resnick, Sally Zhang
Demographics
• Because it's difficult to directly assess demographics of a "politically-active" LGBTQ community, we must begin by targeting more large-scale statistics.
• In 2008, 54% of the voting age population voted in Cook County.
• In 2011, a report from the University of Chicago's Social Research Committee revealed that 10.3% of households in the Edgewater community were led by same-sex couples (based on self-reporting).
Demographics • Representative Kelly Cassidy who serves the 14th district (including
Edgewater) advocates for the rights of women and LGBTQ communities specifically, being an openly gay legislator herself.
• Robert Remer, president of the Edgewater Historical Society claimed that Gay Life was not always so open in Edgewater, with men identifying with one another at events by wearing red ties.
• Rick Garcia, a member of the "Gang of Four" in the 1980s worked to pass a Chicago ordinance against sexual-orientation discrimination (enacted in 1988).
• With a week left to register to vote in Chicago, over 1.27 million people are signed up which is a decrease of about 225,000 from the registration count
of the previous election.
• In a recent poll (conducted via phone between September 4 and 10), 43.6% of respondents said that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
Interviews
Dan Au Andersonville Resident, Age 43
Concernso Mitt Romney's stance on LGBT issueso U.S. is supposed to be progressive
“Being gay, straight or ethnic we should all have the same rights and we should be heard, we should be taken seriously”
Mediao Subscribes to Windy City Times
"Her publication represents the community as well as gay rights in a very balanced way"
Rick Garcia Resident of Edgewater and longtime political
activist
Issues NOT covered well enough in the news:
• Bullying in the schools
• Anti-gay violence by individuals and institutions
• Discrimination nation-wide, not in Illinois
"The media has an important responsibility to... put aside myths and prejudices and to cover stories in a fair and balanced way."
Caitlin Huxley President of the Illinois Log Cabin Republicans
Reactions:• Republicans have never had a negative reaction to her face about being
gay- She works for the Republican National Committee
• Other members of the LGBT community have shouted in her face
Concerns:Everyday issues like red light cameras and school choice.
Media Sources:• Fox, Reddit, social media, CNN, and sometimes C-Span
Edwin Yohnka Director of Communications and Public
Policy at ACLU Illinois
• Began working at ACLU in 1999, serving as the primary spokesperson for the civil rights advocacy organization.
• Issues most prevalent to the LGBTQ community:
i. Marriage and relationship recognition
ii. Relationships with police and government officials
iii. Economic issues
• The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the clerk of Cook County earlier this year, claiming that not issuing marriage licenses to gay/lesbian couples violates
clauses in the Illinois Constitution.
Mark Zubro Local LGBTQ-affiliated Novelist
• Zubro, an Illinois native, has written a slew of novels (most of which fall in the mystery genre) with prominent gay themes.
"All of my work is social/political. By its very existence, books such as mine with gay characters are offens[ive] to some. I'm glad it is and I hope it really pisses them
off."
• According to him, "the reelection of President Obama" is the most prevalent issue to the Chicago-land LGBTQ community.
• He agrees with many others that the "Windy City Times" seems to cover LGBTQ issues best.
Jerry Goodman,Staff Assistant in Alderman Harry Osterman’s
office
"I'm gay and I've lived in Edgewater for 25 years. My partner and I have been together for 10 years."
Conclusion: Gerry is a good representation of what the LGBT community in Edgewater is like. Many are 35-50 years old and are very content with the things are. Not many people are very politically active.
• Working in the Alderman's office, he rarely hears any problems from the LGBT community
• He says the Edgewater community is a very accepting and comfortable place to live.
Mark Jensen, 22, Senior at Northern
Illinois University
"As an openly gay man, I find that the LGBT community can be very cliquey and certain populations such as transgender would commonly be overlooked."
Political Stance:
• Very politically active• Very liberal - "I will vote for Obama and
everyone else should too!"• Feels very strongly about the
marginalized population
Problem with Media:
• Many people in the LGBT community want to have a monogamous relationship, but the media tends to portray the LGBT community as sexually unrestrained.
"I am extremely politically active."
Events
1. LGBTQ College Fair at Center on Halsted October 6, 2012
2. Edgewater Historical Society 10th Anniversary
Events
Conclusions
• Generally don't see many big issues in Edgewater
• Friendly and accepting neighborhood
• While Edgewater itself is a welcoming, receptive community for LGBTQ members, there are larger political issues to tackle.
"When I moved here from lakeview, it was almost like moving to a different city. I was able to meet everyone from my community. Immediately I felt welcomed. I felt like I was at home." Rebecca Parrilla, Andersonville Resident
Windy City Times
• One of many media outlets
• Overall good impression
"I’m always reminded that there’s someone covering LGBT issues, I get a lot of value out of knowing that"
"wide coverage" "in depth" "not shallow"
• Improvementso Lacks coverage of lesbian community, most focus is
on gayso Lacks coverage of ethnic LGBT
Story Ideas1. Undercoverage of anti-gay violence in the
community.
2. Homelessness for LGBT youth compared to normal homelessness youth.
3. Underrepresentation of bisexual and transgender populations within the LGBT community.
4. Discrimination of LGBT community in workplace.
5. Future of same-sex marriages/unions in Chicago compared to the United States overall.
Sources1. Hussain Akram - [email protected]
2. Patrick O’Brien: 773-612-2352
3. Rebecca Parrilla - 42, Andersonville resident - [email protected]
4. Dan Au, 43, [email protected]
5. Caitlin Huxley, 312-841-0172
6. Rick Garcia, 312-560-0405
7. Audrey Habermann, 773-702-1905
8. Ash Mohney, 312-369-7134
9. Clint Sabin, 773-706-5754
10. Edwin Yohnka, [email protected]
11. Mark Zubro, 708-479-5335, [email protected]
12. Jessica L. Howe, [email protected], 773-506-6005
13. Robert Remer, 773-506-4849
14. Zach Wichter, [email protected]
15. Katy Weseman, DePaul University LGBTQA Student Services Coordinator, 773-325-7396
16. Robert Remer - President of the Edgewater Historical Society and Museum - (773) 506-4849
17. Gerry Goodman – Staff Assistant in Alderman Harry Osterman’s office – (312)774-6860
18. Mark Jensen, 22, 815-508-4199
19.Hannah Said - Center on Halsted STANDOUT Youth Coordinator - (949)-266-4135
20. Adam Glueckert, 16, Edgewater resident, 312-307-1131
