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.
Oak Park Supports Civil Unions
On July 6, 2007, the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved a Resolution in support of Illinois HB 1826: “Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act.” This Bill, if approved by the State Legislature, would establish a civil union law in Illinois. This law would grant same-sex partners the State benefits now awarded to those who are civilly married in the State.
If the State Legislature approves the measure, Illinois will become the sixth state in the country to establish a civil union law.
Spearheaded by Village Trustee and former OPALGA Co-Chair Ray Johnson, the Resolution was read by Village President David Pope and passed unanimously by voice vote.
In a press release issued by OPALGA before the vote by the Village Board, OPALGA Public Policy Chair Alan Amato said, “I am confident this Resolution will garner unanimous approval from the Oak Park Village Board. Oak Park has lead the way in fostering community diversity. This is a logical next step.”
Oak Park Again in the Forefront
With this action, the Village of Oak Park became the first municipality in the entire State to support HB 1826.
Soon after passage of the Resolution, The OPALGA Center was contacted by residents of DuPage County, asking for a copy of the Resolution so they can present a similar Resolution to village boards in that county. According to Rick Garcia, Political Director of Equality Illinois, interest in the Oak Park Resolution has come from around the State.
Resolution Gains Press Interest
The Resolution has garnered press attention throughout metropolitan Chicago. In addition to interviews with the local press (Wednesday Journal and Oak Leaves), OPALGA representatives were interviewed by the Chicago gay press as well as the Chicago Tribune. Reports of the passage of the Resolution were also aired on WGN-TV and several radio stations.
We Need YOU to Take Action!
It is extremely important that we contact our State Representatives to request the support of HB 1826. PLEASE take a few minutes to contact your State Rep!
Representative LaShawn K. Ford (8th District)
5104 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60651
(773) 378-5902
(8th District: Adams to Roosevelt, Austin to Harlem)
Representative Deborah Graham (78th District)
6101 W. North Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 445-9520
(78th District: North to Madison, Austin to Harlem)
Meetings to Be Organized
OPALGA will also be organizing meetings with our State Representatives to gain their support of HB 1826. If you are interested in helping to organize these meetings and attending, please contact Alan Amato at .
OPALGA Sponsors Third Annual Wright Ride
OPALGA is again committed to be a sponsor of the Wright Ride being held in Oak Park and the near western suburbs on Sunday, August 19, 2007. This marks the third annual ride, and OPALGA has been a sponsor for all three rides. The start location for the ride is Oak Park and River Forest High School, and routes include 10, 25, 50, and 62-mile courses. The Wright Ride is the brainchild of the Oak Park Cycle Club and the Oak Park Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Enclosed with Empower is a brochure that gives all of the details and the required liability waiver. The cost for the ride is $20 per rider (children under 12 ride free but must be registered to participate and must be accompanied by an adult throughout the ride). There is also a Children’s Wonder Mile Ride, which costs $10 for children under 7. If you are a biking enthusiast, a weekend warrior, or just enjoy peddling, we encourage you to participate. It is a great event for the whole family.
Message from the Co-Chairs
Well, another OPAL Gala has been attended and enjoyed. Many people, sponsors, auction donors, volunteers, staff, attendees, and committee members all contributed to the success or failure of such an organizational event. Although the numbers aren’t all in, by attendance and preliminary estimates, the evening was a financial success. For this and a great evening, we must thank this year’s Gala co-chairs, Donna Karpavicius and Dan Salotti.
The Gala is OPALGA’s primary fundraiser. Many other events have a small cost or are free to members. But we plan and host this event with the intention of accumulating funds for the execution of duties and the fulfillment of the organization’s mission.
Feedback from the Gala is always an interesting mix of extremes. “Loved being back at the Elmcrest…it wasn’t the Holiday Inn of Hillside…dinner was great…dinner was awful…glad that we are back to Friday…music was fun to dance to…who does disco anymore? …prime rib was outstanding…the beef was pot roast…” and our favorite, “I guess you have to sleep with a co-chair to get a big award in OPALGA! “ (You have to talk to the OPAL Committee about that one.)
One thing is always consistent. Those of us who have attended more than one of these Galas bring expectations of the evening. We want it to be magical, perfect, and better than the year before. And we know that anyone who contributes to the current year’s evening plans to surpass the previous year’s: co-chairs, number of silent auction items, value of silent auction items, menu, entertainment, auctioneer, number of table captains, number of guests, and the music. We fantasize about the schmoozing, the dinner conversation, winning an auction, smoking outside, and, when the music ends, waiting for the valet to bring the car around when the evening is over. We end up satisfied or disappointed with the actual event. With this comes contentment or tension.
But here’s the thing. When we let all of the expectations fall away, we are left with an evening that we spent with friends, in which we see people whom we may only occasionally see, and in which we honor the Oak Park Area Leadership (OPAL) award recipients and celebrate the organization that we all care enough about to donate our time and money. In the end, we all want what’s best for OPALGA. While we may each contribute in different ways, we share a belief in its mission. For us, that’s enough to make every Gala special. Donna and Dan, you did a great job, and we are indebted to you both for choosing to volunteer for this important and exceptional event.
Pride Proclamation and Human Rights Award
On June 4, 2007, the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees declared June, 2007, to be LGBT Pride Month in the Village of Oak Park. This is an annual tradition and one worth repeating.
In addition, at the same night’s Village Board meeting, OPALGA Public Policy Chair Alan Amato was awarded the Human Rights Award by the Community Relations Commission. This award recognizes individuals, local businesses, and organizations who have worked to foster and promote human rights, diversity, and equality in the Oak Park community. OPALGA received this award in 2006.
Alan was recognized with this award because of his energy, dedication, and the variety of service that he has provided to Oak Park, the surrounding area, and the state of Illinois.
Alan has a background as a legislative aide to an Illinois House member. When he moved to Oak Park in 1985, he became aware of the growing problem in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, and he left his work at the Illinois House to become a community organizer and to focus on social work.
Devastated by the growing AIDS plague, Alan worked with a fledgling AIDS organization, now called Vital Bridges. Through this connection, Alan joined in convincing the Board of Trustees to add the term “sexual orientation” to the village’s Human Rights Ordinance.
Given this victory, Alan and others established OPALGA. In addition to developing public policy stances, Alan has been a member of the OPALGA board of directors, and he helped to spearhead the efforts to add domestic partnership benefits for employees of Oak Park and River Forest High School and the Village of Oak Park.
Alan then started the Pride Agenda Book Store on the Marion Street Mall. Pride Agenda quickly became a LGBT center, and Alan quickly recognized that he should join in the effort to establish a Domestic Partnership Registry in the Village. The Village of Oak Park was the first city in the nation to affirm a Domestic Partnership Registry by popular vote.
Alan has also continued his ties to the Illinois House, working with both Judy Barr Topinka and Barak Obama to draft statements on gay and lesbian issues.
Currently employed at Tan Travel, Alan has organized trips to Europe and South America for gay, lesbian, and straight travelers.
In 2002, Alan was named to the Wednesday Journal’s list of Top 100 Oak Parkers for his work on behalf of diversity and human rights. Alan is now also a board member of the Animal Care League and the Oak Park Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Alan is a true community-builder who understands the value and importance of civil discourse and of building diversity, and we enthusiastically congratulate him on receiving the 2007 Human Rights Award. Congratulations, Alan!
Message from the Co-Chairs
It’s been good to see members attending more events sponsored by OPALGA. The programming committee, who organizes and hosts many of these events, works diligently to offer both new activities and those that we look forward to every year. Coming up this month is a unique opportunity to exercise and lounge with other people who like to canoe or kayak. The Moonlight Dinner Paddle will take place on July 28. Expertise is not necessary.
The event to which many of us look forward all year, the OPAL Gala, will take place on July 13 at Elmcrest Banquets by Biancalana. Joe Langley, Reverend Elizabeth Ritzman, and our local chapter of PFLAG were selected to receive this year’s revered Oak Park Area Leadership award. Both of us are proud and excited about the choices for recipients this year! Past recipients, as a part of the broader Gala planning committee, comprise the group that selects honorees. They may select one person or organization or more, depending on the wishes of the committee each year. The OPALGA board and the Gala planning committee hope that you will accept our invitation to join the festivities on this magical “Friday the 13th.”
Thanks to everyone who participated in Donut Days at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market last month! It is an early morning for those folks who get the donuts to the throngs of people who lust for the cinnamon or powdered sugar once a week. (Gotta eat ‘em the same day.) It’s a big production, and many hands were available to do the work. It is one of our best events for volunteers. It’s good to see and be seen at the Farmers’ Market! We exceeded last year’s production, and, because we worked it alone, we received all of the spoils. So that we have it in writing, Susan Abbott said, in front of witnesses, that she would always spearhead Donut Days. We have it in writing, Susan…
It takes many people giving many hours to plan and orchestrate an event of this magnitude. Similarly, it takes many people willing to donate countless hours of their time to see that the organization thrives and grows. We can’t express our gratitude enough for these contributions. Many people do this work without much visibility. Beginning next month, Empower will offer an opportunity to meet a volunteer each month. We will interview a person who does something that benefits OPALGA. We look forward to getting to know the many people who make it possible for this organization to serve our community.
11th Annual OPAL Gala Is On Its Way
Friday, July 13, 2007
The 11th Annual OPAL Gala is well on its way to being an event that you won’t want to miss.
This year’s Gala emcee, Georgia Ragsdale, is an exciting, animated, and stimulating personality who promises to entertain and guide us through an evening dedicated to celebrating the 18th anniversary of the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association; to empowering unity of spirit and purpose; and to honoring the dignity and integrity of our community through the presentation of the Oak Park Area Leadership Awards.
This year’s setting is the elegant Elmcrest Banquets by Biancalana, 7370 W. Grand Avenue, Elmwood Park, host of previous OPAL Galas. From the moment you enter, you will be treated to an elegant atmosphere where we know your every need will be met and where hospitality will be your best dish.
The evening will begin with cocktails and waiter-served hors d’oeuvres at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 8:00 p.m. and includes a choice of succulent prime rib, savory chicken marsala, or aromatic eggplant parmesan; salad; and dessert.
Tickets are $125.00 per person and include an open bar. A raffle and both a live and silent auction will be offered as part of the evening’s activities. Attendees will also receive a free one-year subscription to the popular weekly, TimeOut Chicago. The subscription is for 51 issues and is a $19.99 value.
Please join us for an evening of fun, friendship, and “family” by ordering your tickets today from The OPALGA Center, 947 Garfield St., Oak Park, 60304, (708) 848-0273.
Gay Day at the Farmers’ Market
Eat donuts and drink coffee on Saturday, June 9, at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market and support OPALGA! Our dedicated team of volunteers will be working diligently beginning at 3:30 a.m. to bring you the legendary Farmers’ Market donuts and raise money for OPALGA. We will be the community partner for the day, and half of all proceeds raised from the sale of donuts will come back to our organization. The Farmers’ Market is located in the parking lot of Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park. The market opens at 7:00 a.m. and features local produce, plants, fresh cheese, herbs, flowers, and more. While you are enjoying your donuts, pull up a chair and listen to the live bluegrass performers. Don’t forget to buy a dozen donuts to take home…they freeze well.
We can still use volunteers for this event with shifts beginning at 5:30 a.m. through 11:00 a.m. If you are interested in hearing more about this volunteer opportunity, please call Susan at (708) 408-3463 or send e-mail to .
Youth Group Updates
Two years ago, participants in our Spectrum program for LGBT young adults 18–25 asked if we could create a new program that they could attend when they aged out of Spectrum. With the dedicated leadership of Rob Ward and Jason O’Neal, TGIQ was born, meeting every Saturday night for LGBT people 21 and over. After Rob’s passing last summer, we began to have volunteer staffing issues with the program, and we began to look at ways to meet the needs of this demographic while maximizing our volunteer hours. As of May, we are no longer open for group on Saturday night, but we have opened up Spectrum as an 18 and over group. The response so far has been positive, and the combined programs are bringing people together who just two years ago were in groups together but separated because of group age caps. We’re bringing the family back together again!
The OUTspoken is preparing for a summer workshop. Visit our Web site at opalga.org for more information. If you know any young adults who would be interested in participating in this spoken word and art outreach program, please send e-mail to or call (708) 386-3463.
We will be hosting our Fourth Annual LGBT Youth Picnic during Pride Weekend. The event will be held in Oak Park on Saturday, June 23, from 11:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m. and is a collaborative event with Howard Brown Health Center, the Illinois Safe Schools Caucus, and Aunt Martha’s Youth Center. Interested in volunteering? Call Susan at (708) 386-3463.
OPALGA will be a pickup site for the Center on Halsted’s Gay Prom! At 5:30 p. m. on June 23, suburban youth who want to attend the prom will meet at The OPALGA Center, and a bus provided by the Center on Halsted will transport them to the event. The center will be abuzz with tuxes and taffeta that evening, and we’ll help pin on the boutonnieres!
OPALGA Member Screens Movie
OPALGA member Jeffrey Smith will screen his movie The Miracle on Thursday, June 21. Dominican University (7200 W. Division, River Forest) is holding a special-event screening with its Alumni Association at 7:00 p.m. in Martin Hall. A reception will follow the screening.
This is a chance to say thank you to the Oak Park-River Forest community as a whole and to Dominican University in particular, since many scenes for the film were shot in the area. Seating will be first come, first served and is limited.
Message from the Co-Chairs
Remembering back to that first Gay Pride Parade causes a flurry of emotions to flood over me. It was in the 70s, just pre-disco, and I hardly knew any gay people, women or men. But I’d been invited to the parade by someone who was involved with a participating car. I rode in that car with eight or so other people. I remember feeling acknowledged, accepted, and a little self-conscious. Yet, when I looked up at folks hanging out windows cheering and clapping and celebrating, blending with the four-deep people on the street, the excitement and joy of being a part of this expanded world was overwhelming. It’s an emotional confirmation that some people are never graced to have if they live in small towns or conservative countries.
We all have a story.
This month, Michael Williams, now a board member but also a Spectrum “graduate, “ reflects with warmth and tenderness about his first Gay Pride Parade in the company of other Spectrum youth. Rob Ward accompanied a gaggle of Spectrum attendees and with knowing leadership fostered their first experiences. It was a tradition with Rob and one, I think, that he took great pleasure in providing.
As OPALGA members, we can be proud to have created and supported the kind of positive experiences so many of the youth have now had the opportunity to encounter. How different it is today from those times some of us went through in our “coming out” years. Shame and fear prevented many from knowing that they were part of a larger community and that they were not a “diagnosis” or did not need to be splintered from their faith.
Let’s start the celebration in June. This year, we can keep the party going through July 13, when the 11th Annual OPAL Gala will take place. Join us for each and every expression of pride and celebration that we have.
Note: OPALGA is again teaming up with the Oak Park Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in the PRIDEChicago Annual Parade on June 24. The Big “O” float will once again travel up Halsted and down Broadway in celebration of the Oak Park area LGBT community. If you would like to participate in the parade, please call The OPALGA Center at (708) 848-0273 for more information.
