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.
OPALGA Contemplating Parenthood Workshop
The annual OPALGA Contemplating Parenthood Workshop will be held at the Hephzibah Children’s Association, 115 N. Marion St., Oak Park, on Saturday, June 9, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, June 10, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On Saturday, workshop attendees will hear presentations from a variety of legal, social work, and healthcare professionals. These experts will speak about foster care, adoption, alternative insemination, surrogacy, and the legal aspects of co-parenting. Sunday is “Family Day, “ where participants will have the exciting opportunity to meet established gay and lesbian families who have children of all ages. Parents will tell their stories about the options they had and the choices they made when planning their families and what it is like to be the parents of these wonderful children. Then, families will spend quality time together. Finally, everyone will break into small-group discussions so that participants can ask questions of specific families and get the feedback they need to pursue their parenting dreams.
The cost for the workshop is $75.00 per person, or two people can register for $130.00. All workshop planners and presenters are volunteering their time. The funding covers workshop costs, and any additional revenue will be donated to the OPALGA Youth Network.
Call The OPALGA Center at (708) 848-0273 soon to register; seating is limited.
Julie Loyd at the OPALGA Coffeehouse
On Friday, June 15, at 7:00 p. m., Julie Loyd will sing her dynamic, gutsy folk and folk-rock for this month’s OPALGA coffeehouse event. Her strong, clear, bell-like vocals and wonderful guitar stylings are not to be missed. For more information about Julie, visit her Web site at www.julieloyd.com. See you at the Buzz Café, 905 S. Lombard, Oak Park!
Pride Parade Remembered
We were a site, I’m sure—a bunch of gay teenagers decked out in our rainbow finest, singing songs from “Rent” as loudly as we could, riding the Green Line into the city. It was Pride, my first Pride to be exact, and as participants in the OPALGA youth group, Spectrum, we were on our way to the parade, under the watchful eye of Rob Ward. We arrived at our destination, made our way through the crowds of people, and found the Oak Park trolley. My boyfriend at the time, who I had met that summer through Spectrum, was marching behind the trolley with PFLAG…and his mother. This was a day of firsts: my first boyfriend, my first parade, and eventually my first awkward meeting of the parents. I wasn’t sure if I was more nervous to be riding in a trolley throwing beads and condoms to strangers or to be meeting my boyfriend’s very serious-looking mother. To top it all off, it began to rain.
We sheltered ourselves in the trolley and crossed our fingers that the rain would stop. The parade was scheduled to start in minutes, and a heavy downpour just would not do. Much to my amazement, at the moment the parade was scheduled to begin, the rain stopped, and a beautiful rainbow stretched across the sky. I questioned Rob as to whether all Pride parades begin with such dramatic effect and if gay people were indeed so fabulous that they had found a way to control the weather. We embarked on our journey, throwing our treats to the cheering crowd.
I couldn’t process all the feelings I had that day. I had never been near so many other gay and lesbian people. I wanted to scream and shout and do crazy things! But I remembered my mother’s warning—"Don’t end up on the news because I don’t know how we’ll explain that one to your grandmother.” So I kept a little of that excitement to myself, for my grandmother’s sake. We finished the parade and went out for lunch at a local restaurant. Rob told us stories of past parades and his many adventures at Pride. After lunch, several of us made our way to a Pride youth dance to round out the day by dancing until our shoes fell off. At the dance, I experienced my last first of the day, my first kiss. I will share with you that it was the best first of the day, far better than meeting mom.
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at my first Pride parade. Having come out only months before, it was the warm-hearted welcome to the gay community I was looking for. And it was the motivation I needed to be myself when I left for college only two months later.
What experiences have you had at Pride? Please write to us at and share some of your Pride memories with us. In honor of the occasion, we will share some of these memories in the July issue of Empower. What better way to celebrate our Pride in our community and in each other than by sharing our moments of celebration?
Center on Halsted Celebrates Grand Opening
This spring, Chicago celebrates the grand opening of the new LGBT community center, the Center on Halsted.
The Center is in the early stages of planning a series of several community interfaith services to commemorate the opening of the new Center and to celebrate the many dimensions of the LGBT community— lives and loves, hopes and dreams, and passions and promises.
The services will take place at the Center on Halsted beginning at 9:00 a. m. on each of several Sundays in June. The theme is “Celebrate @ the Center!” and several topics have been identified for each Sunday, based on other activities happening in the community and at the Center, which include:
- June 3—Family: Celebrating Love and Relationships in Their Splendid Diversity
- June 10—Community and Diversity: Claiming the Rainbow Promise and Possibility
- June 17—Health: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit Generation to Generation
- June 24—Spirit: Uniting for Equality and Elevating Pride
The Center is seeking individuals, LGBT organizations, and allies who will join together to develop, celebrate, and promote these meaningful experiences through music, arts, readings, and rituals from our community’s diverse traditions and experiences. The Center is located at 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago. For more information, visit www.centeronhalsted.org.
Windy City Times 30 Under 30
Each year, 30 young LGBT activists, journalists, students, HIV/AIDS volunteers, and performers under the age of 30 are honored by the Windy City Times for their achievements. Phillip “Andy” Walensa, one of our own, has been chosen as one of 30 Under 30 for 2007. His work with OPALGA, beginning as a youth in our drop-in center eight years ago and culminating as a peer advisor, community educator, artist, creative force in our office, and group facilitator, will be honored. The 30 young movers and shakers in the Chicagoland LGBT community will be honored at a ceremony on June 20 at the Center on Halsted. We are so proud of Andy’s journey from a timid 15-year-old boy in our drop-in groups to becoming a leader in our community. Congratulations, Andy!
FYI
OPALGA is a funded HIV and STD prevention organization in the state of Illinois and is provided with thousands of condoms to help spread the message of prevention. Please stop by our office at any time to pick up free condoms for yourself, your friends, and your neighbors. We will be happy to prepackage a bag to go if you call ahead of time. Just call The OPALGA Center (708) 848-0273 for office hours and arrange a time to stop by.
It Was a Good Time
On Tuesday, May 22, the OPALGA Board of Directors hosted their annual Membership Recognition Reception at Holley Court Terrace in Oak Park. Approximately 50 OPALGA members were treated to appetizers, desserts, beverages, and a gorgeous, summer-like evening on the top-floor terrace with panoramic views of the Chicago skyline.
The theme for the reception was “Looking Back and Moving Forward, “ and its purpose was to celebrate OPALGA’s 18th anniversary of empowering the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of the Oak Park area. The reception also served as an opportunity to thank OPALGA members for their support of our organization.
The program began with welcoming remarks from Board Co-Chairs Brad Bartels and Cheryl Haugh. Susan Anderson gave a preview of the OPAL Gala 2007, and Youth Program Director Susan Abbott updated attendees on youth activities and events.
The highlight of the reception was the presentation of the 2006 Carol Zientek Award for Distinguished Service and the Brian Findlay Award for Outstanding and Long-Term Commitment. Public Policy Chair Alan Amato told attendees about Carol and Brian and why these awards are named for them. The awards were presented by Brad and Cheryl, and this year’s honorees were:
For the Carol Zientek Award for Distinguished Service:
• Programming Committee Chair Laura Drumm, for her strong and solid leadership of the programming committee. From the potlucks and coffeehouses to the book club, holiday party, drag show, picnic, home tour, and many other events, Laura and the committee have proved time and time again that they know how to 1) get things done and 2) keep us very, very busy.
• Board Treasurer Mike Cochran, for his work to develop better accounting measures for the organization, including hiring an accountant, establishing policy guidelines, and improving financial reporting. Mike was also co-chair of the 2006 OPAL Gala, which was our most financially successful Gala to date.
• Board Member-at-Large JoAnn Ziebarth, for her invaluable work as the editor of Empower and for her willingness to take on other tasks. JoAnn has repeatedly proved that whatever project she takes on, it will be done and it will be done well.
For the Brian Findlay Award for Outstanding and Long-Term Commitment:
• Board Member-at-Large Liz Stallone. Liz is serving her second term on the OPALGA Board of Directors, and she is an active and tireless volunteer. She also served as co-chair of the 2005 and 2006 OPAL Galas, both of which were very successful. Liz, her partner Nancy Sexton, and their business, Carnegie Printers, have also generously donated design and printing services to the organization.
The OPALGA Board of Directors and the membership heartily congratulate this year’s award winners, and we encourage all OPALGA members to keep in mind for nomination for next year those members who demonstrate service and commitment.
Donut Days Are Here Again!
WE NEED up to 40 VOLUNTEERS to help us with our 6th Annual fundraiser making, powdering and selling donuts at the Oak Park Farmers Market held in the Pilgrim Church parking lot (460 Lake St. Oak Park, Illinois 60302) ON SATURDAY JUNE 9TH.
Shifts run about 3 hours, beginning at 4:00 AM and ending with the clean-up Crew at 11:30 AM. Duties range from cooking in the kitchen, to powdering, to selling outside.
For more information or to sign up for this event please contact Susan at or by cell (708) 408-3463. Friends and family are always welcome, kids need to be 16 or over to help in the kitchen. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Committee Negotiates TimeOut Subscription for All Gala Attendees
My co-chair Dan Salotti and I have been working with our excellent Gala committee to bring you what we believe will be the best OPAL Gala ever, to be held on Friday, July 13, at Elmcrest Banquets by Biancalana in Elmwood Park.
Our emcee, comedienne Georgia Ragsdale, will entertain us for the second time (the first was in 2003). Georgia will also conduct the live auction and assist with the presentation of this year’s Oak Park Area Leadership (OPAL) awards.
We have also worked out a partnership with the popular weekly, TimeOut Chicago, to sponsor the Gala. A one-year subscription to the magazine (51 issues, a $19.99 value) will be included with the price of your Gala ticket.
Gala invitations will be sent out toward the end of May. Please RSVP as soon as possible to guarantee that you don’t miss this fabulous event!
Annual Membership Reception to Be Held at Oak Park’s Holley Court Terrace
This year, OPALGA will hold its Annual Membership Reception on Tuesday, May 22, at Holley Court Terrace (1111 Ontario St., Oak Park). The theme for the reception is “Looking Back and Moving Forward. ” The evening will start at 7:00 p.m. and will celebrate our organization’s 18th anniversary of empowering the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of the Oak Park area. The reception also serves as an opportunity to thank our members for their support of the organization. The highlight of the reception will be the presentation of the 2006 Carol Zientek Award for Distinguished Service and the Brian Findlay Award for Outstanding and Long-Term Commitment.
The catered reception will also include hors d’oeuvres, sweets, and assorted beverages— champagne, wine, beer, and soft drinks. In addition, music will be provided. Holley Court Terrace also boasts a magnificent rooftop terrace, where our members will be able to take in the terrific views of the Chicago skyline and the surrounding communities.
This event is free for all members, but, because it is a catered event, we ask that you RSVP (that you will be joining us!) to The OPALGA Center (708) 848-0273 by Tuesday, May 15.
We hope that you will be able to join us. This is a lovely event that you won’t want to miss!
