Tampa Bay Coalition

Posts this Media Release in Support and on Behalf of:

Chicago Anti-Bashing Network CABN

DATE CHANGE for the
Next CABN Meeting

The next CABN meeting will be on MONDAY, MAY 13th, 7 p.m., at Ann Sather's Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont, 2nd floor (wheelchair accessible). We will be discussing building our Pride contingent, including a possible Pride Month public forum with an out of town speaker - please join us at the meeting!

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CABN Launches Website!

Thanks to the hard efforts of CABN member Syd Stevens, we now have a website! - CABN.org

While parts of the website are still under construction, CABN.org now gives CABN members and others a tool to look at materials we've produced on a host of issues, and get a quick introduction to the group by looking at some of its previous activities.

Thank you, Syd, for your hard work! Supporters of CABN can help say thanks to Syd by considering sending a little business his way - go to SydStevens.com

…and be sure to check out CABN.org !!

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CABN Receives Grant From Crossroads Fund!
Stargaze Benefit Nets Nearly $500!

Thanks to a generous $1000 "technical assistance" grant from The Crossroads Fund, plus nearly $400 in contributions from CABN members to our equipment fund, we are now able to make some much-needed upgrades in our computer equipment.

We already just have purchased a high quality scanner and plan on getting a new, wide-format printer once we've shopped around a bit more. Both upgrades will go a long way towards saving much time and money currently being "donated" to Kinko's, and the scanner is already beginning to help us make additions to the CABN website. Thank you, Crossroads, and thanks to our members!

...and while we're extending thanks, let's not forget the Stargaze Club and their management and staff for hosting CABN's April 18th benefit! Benefit coordinator Jen Chapin-Harris reports that we had net proceeds of nearly $500, thanks in part to the "The Push Band" and "People Like Us," who generously donated their time for the event.

Many thanks to the businesses that donated services and gift certificates to our April fund-raiser. Those businesses include: Star Gaze bar and restaurant, Windy City Times, La Donna Restaurant, Jan Dee Jewelers, Batteries Not Included, Andies' Restaurant and Ann Sathers' Restaurant.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!!

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"Hate" Philip Does It Again
Bottles Up HB101 in Senate Committee

We recently received word that James "Pate" Philip (R-Wood Dale), long-time anti-gay bigot, has once again decided to play politics with our rights, burying the Illinois GLBT rights bill in a Senate committee.

As an article in the Trib put it, Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said "he could not muster the votes to get it out of an Illinois Senate committee... 'We don't have enough votes; we don't have any Republican votes,' Cullerton said. The bill was before the Senate Executive Committee, a panel with an 8-5 Republican edge. Moreover, the Republicans on the committee are all loyal to Senate President James 'Pate' Philip, R-Wood Dale, an opponent of the bill."

All is far from lost, though:

There is a chance for trying to bring the measure out of committee in the fall, after the elections.

In the meantime, CABN and the 85 Percent Coalition (a grassroots, Champaign-Urbana GLBT rights group) have tentatively discussed targeting "Hate" Philip for actions during the fall election season. Philip's leading role in promoting bigotry needs to be highlighted -- he may reside in a conservative district, but even many of his supporters may recoil from him if his leading role in promoting hate is properly exposed. We can isolate Phillip, help make bigotry less acceptable, and thus help pass HB101.

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National ENDA in Senate

A U.S. Senate committee has voted to the Senate floor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that,if passed, would protect gays and lesbians in the work place. The act will likely be voted on by the November election. Please write to your senators urging them to vote for ENDA. To find your senators' contact information, go to http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm

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Protest George Bush in Chicago!

Monday, May 13 -- 11 a.m.
Sheraton Hotel
301 E. North Water
(on Columbus Drive, just north of the Chicago River)

The Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism, of which CABN is a part, has taken the lead in helping organize a protest against the visit of George Bush to Chicago. Over 30 organizations have agreed to co-sponsor the protest.

Demands for the event include:

Stop the war at home!: Stop the attacks on civil liberties / Amnesty for immigrants / Stop racial profiling

No more war abroad!: Free Palestine / No U.S. invasion of Iraq / U.S. out of Vieques, Colombia & the Philippines

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Defend our Rights!
Solidarity with Lynn Sprout!

CABN learned recently from downstate direct actionists, the 85% Coalition, of the case of Lynn Sprout. Here is a portion of their message:

When her partner of 18 years was very ill last August, Lynn came out to her supervisor trying to get some understanding about her situation. Instead she got no support and a barrage of harrassment that culminated in her being fired. This after serving 15 years as a nurse, 3 as a nurse manager.

She has refused Carle's offer to settle and be quiet and has filed a suit with the city of Urbana. She has an excellent attorney and a well documented case but this has been a difficult situation. Lynn is a fabulous nurse, loved by her clients and staff. All she wants to do is be with her kids. In addition to the death of her partner, she is dealing with the loss of her position and the prestige that she enjoyed at Carle.

Stay tuned for how Carle reacts to the suit. They have the deep pockets to drag this out and Lynn is looking at over $10,000 in various fees and court costs which may or may not be covered by an eventual settlement. I would like for as many people to know about this issue as possible. I consider Lynn a trail blazer in being willing to stand up to the monster for what is right and fair.

If you need more information to convince our legislators that no protections are needed, Lynn is happy to fill in the blanks.

Kathie
85% Percent Coalition

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CABN's Pride Contingent to
Focus on Solidarity With Other Communities
Facing Hate and Discrimination

As noted in our last e-mailing, this year's CABN contingent at the Pride Parade will focus on the need to fight ALL forms of hate and discrimination, especially the heightened bias being focused on Arabs, Muslims and South Asians. We have already applied with the organizers for a "legal" spot in the parade -- details on exactly when and where we'll be assembling will be forthcoming.

Below is the text of the flyer we've begun to use to help promote attendance in the contingent. Please send a reply e-mail or call 773.209.1187 if you'd like to get copies of it to distribute to your friends, neighbors, etc. Also, we'll be organizing coordinated distribution of the flyer at GLBT and GLBT-friendly businesses and meeting places throughout the Chicago area, and can certainly use your help in this as well.

Here is the text of the flyer:

As Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people
we know what it's like

…to be attacked on the streets by perfect strangers, simply for being who we are…

…to have our government target us for "legal" discrimination and abuse…

…to have our houses of worship vandalized and destroyed by those who hate us…

Just as we request support from others when GLBT people face hate and discrimination, it is important for our community to be in the forefront of support when other communities are under attack.

When we all oppose discrimination, regardless of which group is targeted, we are all stronger as a result.

Currently Arabs, Muslims and South Asians face a host of attacks including:

* Violence against houses of worship and community centers, such as Chicago's Arab American Community Center and the Assyrian Church on Lawrence Avenue

* People "detained" - imprisoned - without criminal charges, without evidence, and denied bail, such as Pastor Rabih Haddad at the federal jail in downtown Chicago

* Government destruction of charitable organizations through confiscation of assets, despite facing no criminal charges, such as Bridgeview's Global Relief Foundation

In the face of such hate and discrimination against Arabs, Muslims and South Asians, words are not good enough.

If we, as GLBT people are going to ask for, let alone demand, solidarity for our struggles from non-LGBT people, it is incumbent upon us to give active solidarity to the Arab, Muslim and South Asian communities now that they are under attack.

Therefore we request your participation in a

GLBT People & Allies' Contingent in
SOLIDARITY
With Arabs, Muslims & South Asians

at this year's Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30th. With hundreds of thousands attending the parade, we aim to send the message to the GLBT community that our vision of rights and freedom is not narrowly limited to our community-for freedom to mean anything, it has to apply to all.

Solidarity Should Not be Limited by National Borders

The Bush administration and its allies in both major parties are transparently preparing another war in the Middle East. The excuse this time is Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction - never mind the fact that the U.S. is the primary purveyor of mass destruction in the region , through its killing of over 500,000 Iraqis through sanctions, its killing of over 3000 Afghani civilians (not to mention combatants, reluctant or otherwise), and its use of Israel as a proxy to kill thousands of Palestinians using American money and high tech weaponry.

The true goal of a new war isn't to defend the U.S. or fight for freedom, but instead, furthering American domination of the resources and people of the Middle East and Central Asia. Therefore our contingent will have an anti-war theme as well.

For information on how to join our contingent in the Pride Parade, please call 888.471.0874 and leave a message, or e-mail CABNstopthehate@aol.com

Chicago Anti-Bashing Network Check out our new website at www.CABN.org

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CABN Calendar

Tuesday, May 7th - HIV Treatment Access Forum. 6 p.m., MCA Theater, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue (free). Demands for access to life saving treatments and basic healthcare for people with HIV are being voiced all over the world. Here in Chicago, there are many people with HIV who must overcome enormous barriers to get access to treatments. This panel will make connections between local and global concerns. The panel will consider new directions for AIDS activism including, is it time to ACT UP again?

Saturday, May 11 -- People's March for the Wilson Yard. 12 noon, Goldblatt's Building, Broadway and Leland Avenues (4700 N. Broadway). GLBT People and allies demanding low-income housing in rapidly gentrifying Uptown. The event is sponsored by The Wilson Yard Coalition, which includes COURAJ (Community of Uptown Residents for Affordability and Justice), Queer to the Left, CABN and many other groups.

Monday, May 13th - PROTEST vs. GEORGE BUSH! 11 a.m., Sheraton Hotel, corner of Columbus Drive & N. Water Street, Chicago (just north of the Chicago River, across the street from the NBC building). See notice above.

Monday, May 13th -- Monthly CABN meeting -- new members welcome! 7 p.m., Ann Sather's Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont, 2nd floor (wheelchair accessible).

Friday, May 17 -- Help thank Crossroads for their generous donation to CABN! Attend THEIR benefit at the Hothouse, 31 E. Balboa, 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-150.

Friday, May 24 -- Monthly CABN show on Chicago Access Network TV (CAN-TV). 6:30-6:55 p.m., Cable Channel 21 in Chicago.

Wednesday, June 5 -- Monthly CABN meeting at Ann Sather's Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont, 2nd floor (wheelchair accessible).

Sunday, June 30 - Chicago Gay Pride Parade. Join the CABN solidarity contingent!

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"Formed in response to three September '98 anti-gay bashings in the "Boy's Town" neighborhood… [we] respond to all serious hate crimes, no matter which scapegoated group is targeted. We will actively seek out and work with individuals and organizations in other communities to assist them in responding to hate crimes which target them. Only by the active involvement of grass roots people from all communities can we isolate the bigots and thus lessen hate crimes." -- from the CABN founding statement
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CABN, 4404 N. Magnolia, #420, Chicago, IL 60640 - 888.471.0874 -- CABNstopthehate@aol.com

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