Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association
Since its inception in 1989, OPALGA has become one of the largest community based, multipurpose lesbian and gay membership organizations in Illinois.
Board of Directors Enters into Enhanced Relationship with the Oak Park Area Convention and Visitors
For the last few years, OPALGA has built a strong working relationship with the Oak Park Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (OPACVB) through various projects such as the “Big O” float in the annual Chicago Pride Parade. Our most notable joint endeavor was our partnership in the Gay Games in Oak Park last summer, when both organizations teamed up to encourage organizers of the Games to make Oak Park one of the sporting venues.
At the OPALGA Board of Directors February meeting, the Board moved to strengthen the relationship further by approving a reciprocal membership agreement that makes both organizations members in each other’s organization. For OPALGA, this means extending our ability to market our various events and programs through the OPACVB. We will now be listed in the OPACVB Visitor Guide, which has a printing of 250,000 copies and is distributed throughout Chicagoland. We will also have an enhanced listing on the OPACVB Web site, and all OPALGA events will be able to be promoted on the OPACVB Web sites ( http://www.visitoakpark.com and http://www.greatneighborsoakpark.com ).
Board Co-Chair Brad Bartels said of the new arrangement, “This is a great opportunity to further increase our visibility. I am very excited about what we can do together.” In addition, OPALGA will work with the OPACVB on other projects, such as a listing of gay friendly things to do in the area on various Web sites to which the OPACVB regularly provides content and working to designate more area hotels as TAG hotels— members of the Travel Alternative Group—that identify themselves as LGBT friendly.
Sixth Annual Freedom-to-Marry Reception
Lambda Legal of Illinois is hosting a special evening of love, equality, and action on Thursday, February 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the historic Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Be part of the movement to secure marriage equality in Illinois. Join Lambda Legal as they honor the commitment of local same-sex couples and shower appreciation on supportive family members and friends. Camilla Taylor, Lambda Legal staff attorney, will speak about marriage equality, and Rick Garcia, of Equality Illinois, will be the master of ceremonies. Come for the music, cake cutting, bouquet toss, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and more! OPALGA is an official partner for this event. RSVPs are preferred. Contact Catina Lowery at or at (312) 663-4413, ext. 27. The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago.
BUNGALO Board of Directors Election Results
In early January, BUNGALO (Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay and Lesbian Organization) elected a new board of directors. They are: Susan King, Board Chair; Marge Paul, Secretary; Nancy Kacys, Treasurer; and Joan Pellegrini, Megan Miller, Severon Dore, Jonathon Batozich, Roy Fitzpatrick, Ted Korbos, and Jack Corliss, members-at-large.
Over the years, OPALGA and BUNGALO have developed a close working relationship on a variety of projects and programs. We look forward to continuing our work with BUNGALO as Susan King assumes the role of Board Chair from longtime Chair Ted Korbos. Under Ted’s leadership, BUNGALO continued to build its presence and influence within Berwyn. Ted did an outstanding job in ensuring that BUNGALO members knew the views of elected officials on LGBT issues and worked very hard for the passage of state legislation that included sexual orientation and sexual identity and expression as part of the state’s human rights ordinance. Congratulations to the newly elected board!
Barbra Wows ‘Em at the United Center
The Voice. La Streisand. Babs. Funny Girl. The Diva. The Greatest of All Time. FOB. Actress/Director. Major Democratic Party Fundraiser. Whatever you call her, one thing is undeniably clear—Barbra has a voice that is an incredibly amazing instrument and a gift for the ages. On November 7 (and again on November 9), ticketholders to the concert of the year all agreed that they were indeed the “luckiest people in the world.”
Whenever Barbra appears, so do the boys and girls, and the gay and lesbian community were out in throngs for Barbra’s first Chicago appearance in 40 years. Before the concert began, they were treated to sightings of Rosie, James Brolin, and countless other stars. And from the opening note of “Starting Here, Starting Now,” they showed their love in a big way. There would be no right-wing hecklers in Chicago. The United Center patrons were there to pay tribute to a legend, and the legend put on quite a show. Appearing more relaxed than usual, she spoke lovingly of Chicago food and made sure to mention the Bears and Brian Urlacher. She even gave a Bulls’ score. By the time she began “The Way We Were,” the applause was already deafening, and this was only the third song! After singing “Ma Première Chanson” in impeccable French, she then introduced her special guests, Il Divo, four gorgeous guys with voices to match. After joining Barbra on “Evergreen,” a crowd favorite, Barbra left for a costume change while Il Divo entertained with their poperatic versions of “Unchained Melody,” “Unbreak My Heart,” and “My Way.” Their harmonies were amazing, but the crowd clearly wanted more Babs.
She returned with a lively version of “Come Rain or Come Shine” and then began her “Funny Girl” medley, which brought the house down. Starting with “Funny Girl” itself, it seemed to many like Fanny Brice herself was onstage. She then delivered “The Music That Makes Me Dance,” a beautiful song that was featured on Broadway but didn’t make the movie. Then, right before intermission, Barbra knocked out a version of “People” that was a showstopper in all senses. The audience could have left then and felt like they had seen a great concert—and that was only Act One!
Lennon and McCartney spoke of 64 as if it were some age near the end of the road, but Barbra showed that, for her, 64 is a great year. The voice may not be able to hit every note as it did over 40 years ago, but what human’s can? At any rate, while she can sing every genre, her fans love Broadway, and this would be her trump card this evening. Joined on stage by Il Divo, she opened Act Two with a version of “The Music of the Night” that was amazing from start to finish. She then followed with the crowd-pleasing “Children Will Listen” and segued into “Unusual Way” and “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?”
It was at this exact moment that the evening took on an almost surreal quality. In previous concerts, her Bush impersonator came on at this point, but since it was election day, he was previously committed, so she treated Chicago to an extra song, her famous “Stoney End” from her first soft-rock album in the 70s. While the selection was an excellent one, her announcement to the crowd that “it looks like we have taken over the House of Representatives, and the Senate is in play” was met with thunderous applause. Could there have been a better combination than seeing Barbra on election day when the nation finally sent Bush a message? I personally don’t think so!
She then concluded Act Two with brilliant versions of “Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair?” and “A Cockeyed Optimist.” A four-minute ovation preceded the beginning of the encores, which started with a glorious rendition of “Somewhere” with Il Divo. In a tip to the evening’s results, she treated the crowd to her signature piece “Happy Days Are Here Again” and then once again returned to “Funny Girl” for a passionate “Don’t Rain On My Parade.” She tried leaving once again, but the crowd wanted more, and she finished with “Smile,” a tribute to her beloved dog Sadie and to those of us who have lost loved ones.
With that, Barbra was gone, but memories of a true legend in Chicago were fixed in place for years. She looked amazing, and all three Donna Karan outfits were sleekly designed to show off those legs and then some. The clothes were just a sideshow, however, and as people filed out of the United Center, the comments describing Barbra’s voice and the show were amazingly similar in their hyperbole. She came, she sang, and she conquered, and Chicago was grateful for the visit.
Get Your Flu Shot Clinic Through The Oak Park Health Department
OPALGA will be hosting a Flu Shot Clinic offered by the Oak Park Health Department on Thursday November 30th from 4 to 7 PM at The OPALGA Center. Flu shots are recommended for anyone who wants to reduce their risk of getting the flu this season. Shots are $20 for adults, and free for anyone 18 or under. You do not need to be an Oak Park resident to be eligible for the service, all are welcome. Shots will be given on a walk in basis, but we are asking for RSVP’s for anyone bringing children 3 or younger, so the health department can ensure they have to proper supplies.
If you have any questions about Flu Shots, please call Margaret at the Oak Park Health Department at (708) 358-5492 prior to the event.
The OPALGA Center is located at 947 Garfield in Oak Park. For questions about getting to OPALGA, please call Jan at (708) 848-0273.
Seeing is Believing: THE MIRACLE, A Film By Jeffrey Jon Smith
A film by longtime OPALGA member Jeffrey Jon Smith, THE MIRACLE, will be screened on Friday, December 1, 2006. Jeff’s film is based on the life and work of Tekki Lomnicki and stars Ms. Lomnicki and Rula Sirhan Gardenier. The screening is part of the Columbia College Chicago MFA 2006 Presentation which beings at 6:00 PM at Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S. Wabash on the 8th Floor in the Film Row Cinema. Admission is free, and seating is first come, first served.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Miracle will be one of four Graduate Thesis films screened that evening, and the program will run continuously. It is not possible to come and see The Miracle only. We think you will enjoy all the films and urge you to arrive comfortably early to be guaranteed seating. Seating is very limited, and friends and family of all the filmmakers will be vying for seats. Out of respect for the filmmakers, audience members will be asked not to leave or enter the auditorium once the screening has begun.
Directions: This is the Ludington Building on the southwest corner of Wabash and 11th. It is one block north of Roosevelt, one block east of State, and one block west of Michigan. This is a busy, mixed commercial and residential area, and there are parking lots available near the building. For more information call (312) 344-6700.
DVD copies of the film will not be available until sometime next year. The film is currently being submitted to festivals and we will alert you to future screenings. We congratulate Jeffrey on his achievement! Please visit the website for THE MIRACLE, themiracle.shatteringparadigms.com
Iraq—A Gay Perspective
It has been four years since the U.S. invaded Iraq. It has been four years since we toppled the statue of Sadaam Hussein in central Baghdad. Remember George Bush landing in a bomber (weapon of mass destruction?) on an aircraft carrier? Bush speaking to his adoring masses under a huge banner proclaiming “Mission Accomplished”?
Switch to the present. Over 2,000 U.S. service personnel are dead. Thousands upon thousands of Iraqis—mainly civilians—are dead. Iraq is in the throes of a bloody civil war. I guess the “mission” has not been “accomplished.”
A gay perspective:
Hundreds of lesbian and gay military personnel have been discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Discharges are occurring while there is a severe shortage in troop levels. Young service people who thought their military service in Iraq was completed are now being returned to the war zone. Lesbian and gay service people are being thrown out of the armed forces despite their credentials to serve—electronic and engineering specialists, linguistic specialists fluent in Arabic—and the list goes on.
Bush promised a free and democratic Iraq. The “mission” has not been “accomplished.” Iraq is evolving into an Islamic theocracy à la Iran. The U.S. presence in Iraq has sown the seeds for the development of future terrorists and for the continued hatred of the U.S. in the entire Middle East.
Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa last October calling for the death of gay Iraqis. According to al-Sistani (who, according to the Bush administration, is a “moderate” who deserves U.S. support), “Those involved in the act of sodomy should be punished. In fact, sodomites should be killed in the worst manner possible.”
As a result, death-to-gays squads have been roaming Iraq and routinely arresting, beating, torturing, and murdering gay Iraqis. Scores of gay Iraqis have fled the country into exile for fear of death. Similar to theocratic Iran, Iraq has been carrying out systematic anti-gay programs. Gay Iraqi exiles now living in London tell horrific stories of gays being beaten on the streets while crowds of onlookers cheer on. Gays are being arrested and kidnapped—kidnapped and eventually found dead with their hands tied behind their backs, blindfolded with either a bullet hole in back of the head or decapitated.
Gay Iraqi Olympian Wissom Adel Odah, his coach, and one other teammate were kidnapped. A few days later, they were found bound, blindfolded, and executed.
According to one gay Iraqi exile, “These assaults and murders have been reported to the Green Zone, but the Americans don’t want to upset the religious authorities, and so they do nothing or treat gay Iraqis with contempt or as an object of humor.”
According to one gay Iraqi, four years after Sadaam’s fall, life for gay people in Iraq is even more unbearable than it was before.
Anu Nawas Group, a gay Iraqi London-based exile group reports the following: Ammar, a young gay man of 27, was abducted and shot in the back of the head in Baghdad by suspected Iraqi militia members in January. Haydar Faiek, 40, a transsexual, was beaten and burned to death on a main street in Baghdad. Naffeh, 45, disappeared. His family was informed that he was kidnapped. His body was found in January. Sarmad and Khalid were partners. Persons unknown revealed their same-sex relationship. They were abducted and their bodies were found two months later—bound, blindfolded, and shot in the back of the head. The stories go on and on.
Perhaps Bush has indeed “accomplished” his “mission.” If he and his supporters cannot create a brutal, homicidal theocracy in the U.S., they have certainly created one in Iraq.
Domestic Partnership Registry Anniversary
This month a very special anniversary is remembered by all Oak Park residents who care deeply about the diversity, history and acceptance of our Village.
In September, 1997 the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees passed an ordinance creating a Village-wide Domestic Partnership Registry. By approving the ordinance Oak Park became the first municipality in the State of Illinois to offer recognition to its lesbian and gay citizens in committed relationships.
The Registry allows same-sex couples to register with the Village Clerk as “Domestic Partners”. The Registry does not have any legal benefits or legal rights however the symbolism is important. The Registry illustrates the Village of Oak Park’s commitment and acknowledgement of all its citizens. The Registry acknowledges that its gay and lesbian couples are recognized as legitimate, loving, caring couples in Oak Park. Couples which have a major stake in our community: we own homes, raise our children and socialize with our neighbors in an atmosphere of mutual respect and acceptance.
The passage of the Ordinance did not come without rancor and debate. The Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association (OPALGA) devoted several months to organizing a broad based coalition of Oak Parkers to lobby for passage. Gay, lesbian, straight Oak Parkers, as well as clergy, businesspeople and community organizations came together in one voice to speak for its passage.
Why does the lesbian and gay community in Oak Park recognize the importance of the Registry? The Registry affirms the dignity and legitimacy of our loving relationships. It is important today - especially in an election year when several politicians around the country tend to demonize lesbian and gay Americans in order to pander for votes from the extreme right wing. Especially when several states have encoded discrimination in their state constitutions to ban same sex marriage. Especially when politicians continue to use religion as a basis for hate and discrimination.
In 1997 the Village of Oak Park reaffirmed its commitment to equality and fairness for all of its citizens. In 2006 let us continue to reaffirm Oak Park’s commitment to diversity, equality and acceptance.
