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WINDY CITY TIMES Mar. 5, 20149ELECTIONS 2014Gay Congressionalcandidate promisesdirect involvementBy Matt SimonetteJorge Zavala Jr.At 26, Jorge Zavala Jr., is currently the youngestIllinoisan currently running for U.S. Congress.A native of the Logan Square neighborhood,he’s currently seeking the 4th Districtseat currently held by Luis Gutierrez. Zavala isopenly gay.He said that his inspiration to run for officestems from his doing development work inSoutheast Asia, shortly after graduating fromDePaul University. “The experiences that wereclosest to my heart were women’s issues, humanrights issues and immigration issues,” hesaid. “My role was to seek funding and resourcesto provide basic health care to women andchildren, and at the same time help promoteeducation.”He added that, back home in Chicago, hisfamily had been very active in community organizinga well, “whether it was to keep a localschool from closing down, or grant writing tofund technology programs that benefit underservedcommunities.” Zavala’s father, Jorge ZavalaSr., has also run against Gutierrez.Expanding job opportunities within the districtis a key concern for Zavala: “It’s a challengeto find jobs, especially in this weak jobmarket that we have, [and] particularly for ourelders and our recently graduated youth. Manyare working jobs that they could have gottenhad they not gone to college. It’s still a blessingto have the opportunity to work but, atthe same time, to we have to secure jobs inour district that promote a stable community.”Residents of Zavala’s district are primed towork, and elected officials have to work tobring businesses there, he said. “I would liketo seek out more investment from prospectivecompanies in our communities,” Zavala noted.“I know that, in speaking with leaders inplaces like Humboldt Park, Cicero and Berwyn,there has been a deep interest in really securingmore jobs in the community through activeengagement and more investing. It’s aboutgetting other people to take notice.”He added that one consequence of the pooreconomy has been the closing of clinics offeringmental health services: “[That] affectedthe community and forced the patients to seekhealthcare places far away, and many of thosepatients don’t have transportation on theirown.Zavala also would like to see an expansionof funding for services to LGBT constituents,especially LGBT youth, including testing services,mentoring programs and easier access toshelters.“We really have to promote safety in ourcommunity,” he added. “I’m working to hearthe trans perspective on these issues as well. Ihave friends who identify as pre-op and postop,and their health needs are completely differentfrom that of a [cisgender] gay man orlesbian, for example.”Zavala spent some time working at the ConsulateGeneral of Mexico in Chicago, where hehelped community members address concernsand secure needs regarding documentation.“My whole purpose was to create an environmentthat was less hostile and more welcoming.”Gutierrez has done a great deal of work onimmigration reform. Zavala said, however, thatmuch of his opponent’s work has yet to trickledown to the district.“[Gutierrez] is leading us in the right direction,but there hasn’t been a local focus,”he added. “When he speaks of issues like theDREAMers, those are wonderful, beautiful concepts,but that’s what they are—concepts. …Residents cannot get useful information becauseagencies cannot provide it to them. Ibelieve the Congressman is going in the rightdirection, but there is just not enough actionat the local level.”Zavala said that he’d stand apart by engaginghis district at the community level. “We’re ata point where there are a lot of cultural warsgoing on, and we have to have our leaders beadults about these things,” he said. “We needto be able to ask our leaders what they’re doing.I’m transparent about what I plan to do.”ELECTIONS 2014Equality Illinois PACgathers to supportpro-marriagelawmakersBy Matt SimonetteOfficials of Equality Illinois PAC (political actioncommittee), as well as many of its supporters,gathered at Hubbard Inn on Feb. 27to raise financial support for eight legislatorswho voted “yes” on SB10 in 2013.Among those in attendance were stateRep. Sam Yingling, Ald. Deb Mell, Cook CountyClerk David Orr and ESPN.com contributorChristina Kahrl.“All of the candidates are looking good inthe primary, but we have to leave no stoneunturned,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO ofEquality Illinois. “We have to stand by ourfriends.”The candidates Equality Illinois PAC is supportinginclude state Sen. Don Harmon andstate Reps. Jaime Andrade, Toni Berrios,Thaddeus Jones, Christian Mitchell, Ron Sandack,Ed Sullivan and Kathleen Willis.Cherkasov said that Equality Illinois PAC isrunning 18 phone banks several days a weekuntil the primary election; the organizationexpects to make about 60,000 phone callsbefore then. “Every space in the office isfull—we have people sitting on the floor,”he added.Attorney Nicole Bashor said that, whileother states’ LGBT residents have had to fendoff harmful legislation, such as in Indianaor Arizona, Illinoisans have to demonstratethat there will be no retribution from votersbrought upon legislators who voted infavor of marriage equality. “Other states arewatching Illinois to see what we do,” addedBashor.Yingling said that his constituents werelargely supportive of his vote for gay marriage.“I received an outpouring of congratulations.The district realized that this was ano-brainer,” said Yingling, who is not facinga challenger in his primary race.Many spoke of other directions Equality Illinoisand similar organizations might takeonce marriage becomes convenient and obtainablefor all residents of the state. Cherkasovsaid the organization would turn toissues such as transgender rights and schoolbullying.“Every victory we’ve achieved has been acoalition effort,” said Cherkasov. “We’re goingto have to bring weight to bear uponthese issues. Marriage is one good exampleof what happens when everyone works together.”“It’s going to be harder going forward,”admitted Equality Illinois co-founder ArtJohnston. “Everybody ‘gets’ the idea of marriage—butthese other things are extremelyimportant.”Orr said that, as of Feb. 26, 87 same-sexcouples had obtained licenses to be marriedat the County Clerk’s Office.“By today [Feb. 27], I expect there shouldhave been about 100,” he said, adding thatapplicants ages have ranged from 18- to80-years-old. “We haven’t had a stampede,which is actually a good thing—we want tomake sure people know the licenses are onlygood for 60 days, and I know a lot of peoplewill want June weddings.”One couple that won’t be going in rightaway for their license is Yingling and hispartner Lowell Jaffe, who got engaged at thegovernor’s mansion the day the House passedSB10.“It won’t be until 2015—I have to getthrough the election,” said Yingling. “I’mafraid I’m going to turn into a groomzilla.”Photos available with online version ofthis story.