BLAZING TRAILS

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April 20, 2016 8 WINDY CITY TIMES Pro-LGBT organizations criticize N.C. order After signing an anti-LGBT rights bill, House Bill 2, that drew nationwide condemnation, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, on April 12, issued an executive order that he claimed “expanded” the state’s employment policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity—but which maintains the bill’s provisions that force transgender people to use the wrong restroom while prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for state employees. ACLU of North Carolina Acting Executive Director Sarah Preston said, “Gov. McCrory’s actions today are a poor effort to save face after his sweeping attacks on the LGBT community, and they fall far short of correcting the damage done when he signed the harmful House Bill 2 into law which stigmatizes and mandates discrimination against gay and transgender people. With this executive order, LGBT individuals still lack legal protections from discrimination, and transgender people are still explicitly targeted by being forced to use the wrong restroom. “An impressive and growing number of businesses, faith leaders and public figures have come out to condemn House Bill 2 as an unnecessary and dangerous measure that unfairly targets gay and transgender people. Regardless of political affiliation, more and more political leaders also understand that discrimination is bad for business and politically toxic. The public believes in equality and fairness and House Bill 2 and measures like it are out of step with the values of most Americans. “Efforts to divide the LGBT community by extending limited protections but leaving in place the rules mandating discrimination against the transgender community will only strengthen our resolve to fight back against this discriminatory and misguided legislative action. We call on Gov. McCrory and the North Carolina legislature to repeal House Bill 2 and replace it with full non-discrimination protections for all LGBT people.” Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Kyle Palazzolo, in a separate statement, said, “The devastating blow of HB 2 will not be fixed by the band-aid of an executive order. While this is an improvement for the state employees it impacts, HB 2’s reach goes far beyond what the executive order addresses and that’s why we are challenging this extreme and discriminatory measure—in order to ensure that everyone who lives in and visits North Carolina is protected under the law. “HB 2 is an attack on fairness in employment, education, and local governance that encourages discrimination against thousands of LGBT people who call North Carolina home, and it particularly targets transgender people.” National Center of Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling weighed in, saying, “It’s obvious that Gov. McCrory is trying to save his reputation with this desperate move. His executive order says that transgender state employees are protected from discrimination, but they still can’t use the restroom at work. It doesn’t make sense. In fact, the order does nothing to change the government-mandated discrimination against all trans people in public buildings across the state. And it doesn’t change the fact that most LGBT people in the state still have zero protections against discrimination. If Gov. McCrory thinks anyone is going to fall for this, he has completely underestimated North Carolinians—and the rest of the nation.” Lambda Legal, the ACLU and the ACLU of North Carolina recently filed a lawsuit challenging House Bill 2. The lawsuit argues that through HB 2, North Carolina sends a purposeful message that LGBT people are second-class citizens who are undeserving of the privacy, respect, and protections afforded others in the state. The complaint argues that HB 2 is National Center of Transgender Equality (NCTE) Executive Director Mara Keisling. Photo from NCTE unconstitutional because it violates the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment by discriminating on the basis of sex and sexual orientation and invading the privacy of transgender people. The law also violates Title IX by discriminating against students and school employees on the basis of sex. The Obama administration is presently considering whether North Carolina’s House Bill 2 makes the state ineligible for billions of dollars in federal aid for schools, highways, and housing. North Carolina receives more than $4.5 billion in federal funding for secondary and post-secondary schools, all of which remains at jeopardy given the state’s policy of systemically violating Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination, including discrimination against transgender students. Oldham sentenced to six months in jail By Matt Simonette Frank Oldham Jr., the former executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to embezzlement, according to the Washington Blade. A Montgomery County, Maryland, circuit court judge sentenced Oldham April 4 for the incidents, which allegedly took place in 2012. Oldham was active in a number of organizations and agencies across the country, including stints in Chicago as executive director of Horizons Community Services (which later became Center on Halsted) and assistant commissioner at the Chicago Department of Public Health. In September 2015, Oldham was the subject of a six-count indictment for stealing between $10,000-$100,000 from NAPWA, which later filed chapter 7 bankruptcy. Oldham admitted to charging $11,238 on a misappropriated NAPWA credit card, but did not admit guilt in any other allegations. Judge Steven G. Salant sentenced Oldham to five years in jail, but suspended all but six months. The Washington Blade article is at http://bit.ly/1Yld3sa. You, Me, and A.D. One might want to know what A.D. stands for. It does not stand for After Death. I believe that is used in biblical terms. When talking about A.D. I am referring to the “American Dream.” The American Dream is a dream not only about wealth but is about everyone getting a chance to do their best no matter what their family or financial background. The question that has been asked in many different ways is, do you think the American Dream is alive and available to everyone? The American Dream is only available to some and not others because not everyone can afford it and others are not treated fairly. According to Brandon King, in The American Dream Dead, Alive, or on Hold?, many liberal economists and activists say that the American Dream is dead, “but I say that it`s more alive and important than “Homeless people are another example of why the American dream is not available to everyone. There are a number of reasons why there are still homeless people in America. Affordable housing is the most common reason.” ever.” He most likely feels that everyone can attain the American Dream. I do not agree with his statement. Most people might think that the A.D., but I believe the American Dream is dead. If the A.D. was alive why are there still individuals who are struggling? I find it ironic how blind people are to what is really going on with a certain ethnic group or culture. For example one might assume that “Immigrants remind us that the American Dream is still possible.” People think that if some immigrants come to America and find okay jobs, the American Dream is still possible. This is so not true. Immigrants are one of the groups of people that are struggling to acquire the American Dream. Most immigrants come to America to try and achieve the American Dream. Some of them do reach it but there is still a huge chunk of them that do not. They have to go through so much just to live in America. If you do not have the right kind of paperwork you cannot be in this country. They have to constantly renew green cards in order to stay here. Some of them are only allowed in America if they are working or going to school. The overall goal for them coming to America was to make a better life for their family and or themselves. How is kicking someone out of America for not having proper paperwork helping them achieve their American Dream? No one should be forced to stay in a country they do not want to. Unless some immigrant’s version of the American Dream is to come here and get kicked out, then the American Dream is not available to them. Homeless people are another example of why the American dream is not available to everyone. There are a number of reasons why there are still homeless people in America. Affordable housing is the most common reason. It practically cost an arm and leg just to live in a studio apartment. Life by Breezy CONNOR A lot of people are not even purchasing homes any more. According to the They Say I Say handbook, “A recent study showed a decrease in home ownership from 69% in 2005 to about 66.5% in 2010, and an increase in renter households of 1.1 million.” My guess to why this happened is because of non-affordable housing. I know there are hundreds of housing programs out there. These programs are supposed to accommodate people who cannot live in market-rent homes and apartments. Here is the problem with these programs: If you do not fall into a certain group, population, or category it is hard to get accepted into these programs. Also if you are lucky to get into some of these housing opportunities the expectations are extremely high. These places require you to follow stupid rules and do a billion things just to maintain your spot in the program. One of these obscene rules would be, no overnight quests. If you are not a person that likes to be alone this could be an uncomfortable situation. It is impossible to live the American Dream when people are constantly breathing down your neck about rules. I have witnessed a lot of mentally ill people not living the American Dream. A bunch of these people cannot afford their medications. Medication is way too expensive. People end up in mental hospitals and sometimes dead because they are no longer on their medicine. “Mentally ill people would be able to afford their medications if the income gap was closed. This would possibly lead them to more productive lives and on their way to living their A.D. The next group of people I feel the A.D. is not available for are veterans. Brandon King thinks that “People do not want to live lavish lives, they just want to live average, save money, and have a secure job.” He probably thinks that living lavish has become so farfetched in people’s minds that they settle for average living. I am not disagreeing with that. Sad part about that is not everyone will be able to live an average lifestyle either. This is really hard for veterans to accomplish as well. I feel they get the worst treatment out of everyone when trying to achieve their American Dream. They fought for our country and can barely get any needs met. There are billions of veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness and addiction. These three things make it impossible to maintain employment. In my opinion they should be the first in line to receive any help, job or housing opportunities. They go fight for us so we can obtain the American Dream only to come back from combat and basically be treated like dirt. The final group of people I would like to touch base on are poor trans people of color. I am not just referring to African Americans. I am referring to anyone who is not Caucasian. One would like to believe historian James Truslow Adams when said the American Dream was “that dream of Turn to page 30 Breezy Connor is a homeless youth activist who helped coordinate the Windy City Times’ LGBTQ Homeless Youth Summit. This is part of a series of columns Breezi is contributing to Windy City Times.
WINDY CITY TIMES Report: N.C. law could cost state $567M The Center for American Progress has distributed an analysis of the potential economic cost of North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law HB2. Based on publicly available estimates of the economic impact of lost or at-risk business activity or events, the state’s economy could potentially lose out on more than $567.5 million in private-sector economic activity through 2018. Among those businesses/activities lost pending the law’s repeal are PayPal ($44 million), Deutsche Bank ($21.4 million), an unnamed tech company expansion in Buncombe County ($14.3 million), film company Lionsgate ($3 million), a Bruce Springsteen concert ($0.7 million), Charlotte hotel revenue lost from canceled or relocated events ($2.2 million) and five canceled, relocated or scaled-back events in Raleigh ($0.7 million). At-risk businesses/activities include Braeburn Pharmaceuticals ($27.6 million), Red Ventures ($15.9 million), NCAA ($10 million), April 20, 2016 9 NBA ($195 million), ESPN ($50 million), High Point Market ($143.4 million), Charlotte hotel revenue from potential relocated events ($15.3 million) and 16 events in Raleigh at risk of being canceled ($24 million). These totals do not include several entities that have announced that they will not do business in North Carolina but do not currently have events or work planned in the state, including Google Ventures, Fox, A+E Studios and Turner Broadcasting. The article is at https://www. americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/ news/2016/04/13/135391/north-carolinasdiscriminatory-h-b-2-threatens-more-thanhalf-billion-dollars-in-economic-activity/. The revenue North Carolina has lost includes profits from a concert by Bruce Springsteen (above). Twitter photo Cook County board votes to boycott N.C., Miss. By Matt Simonette The Cook County Board of Commissioners, on April 13, passed bills boycotting North Carolina and Mississippi for non-vital city business. The bills, sponsored by Commissioner Luis Arroyo Jr., come in response to virulently anti- LGBT legislation that was recently passed in those states. As such, Cook County will not enter into new contracts with North Carolina- or Mississippi-headquartered businesses, nor will county employees attend conventions or conferences there. Jacob Meister, of The Civil Rights Agenda, testified in support of the bills. “We in Illinois enjoy some of the most broad protections in the country for LGBT folks,” Meister said, adding that “a growing chorus of voices” was seeking to boycott North Carolina and Mississippi for their oppressive legislation. “I ask this body to join in this collective voice that is growing across the country.” James Bennett, Midwest regional director of Lambda Legal, added, “Pressure, like the resolution you’re considering today, is beginning to work. …We are fortunate to live in a state where we protect all our citizens. As a Chicagoan, and a native Illinoisan, I ask that we extend our values of fairness and justice by supporting these resolutions.” Both resolutions passed with relatively little comment. All the commissioners who were present asked to be co-sponsors of the measures, except for Republican Commissioners Gregg Goslin and Tim Schneider, who were also the solitary “no” votes; the other two Republican Commissioners were not present. Commissioners John Fritchey and Joan Patricia Murphy, also not present, asked to become co-sponsors as well. Schneider said that the bills would unfairly penalize North Carolina businesses and residents who may not have supported the legislation. Goslin said that a boycott would be a “bad idea.” The bills are applicable “to the extent practicable, and in instances where there is no significant additional cost to the County nor conflict with law.” S.C. sheriff makes anti-trans speech Conservative podcast Dimsdale Debate posted a video of Sheriff Chuck Wright talking about South Carolina’s so-called bathroom bill at the Greenville-Spartanburg Republican Women’s meeting at the Pelham-Batesville Fire Department, according to WYFF4.com. A bill proposed in South Carolina, S. 1203, would limit use the use of public bathrooms by LGBT individuals to that of their birth gender. In part, he said, “if you are a guy and you go into bathroom with my wife, I’m gonna make the news. I know there’s three cameras rolling. I’m gonna whip your tail if you go in there with my wife while she’s trying to use the bathroom, or my granddaughter. That is bologna.” Pro-LGBT groups criticized Wright. National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling said, “I am shocked that Sheriff Wright would threaten police brutality against South Carolinians for doing something everyone has to do every day. Transgender people have been using public restrooms that match who the gender they live as every day across South Carolina without hurting anyone, and this man is threatening them with physical harm.” The article is at http://www.wyff4.com/ news/sheriff-wright-bathroom-bill-is-bolognaonly-chicks-should-wear-dresses/38985606. @windycitytimes1 /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com Your financial needs are unique. Whether you want to provide for your loved ones, support the organizations that are important to you, or plan for your own comfortable retirement, I can help you plan for your goals. I’ll look at all aspects of your finances, then find solutions that are right for your unique needs. And as your goals and needs change, I’ll be there to adjust your plan and help put your dreams within reach. This is one of the many benefits of working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner. Call me today at 312.346.1000 to get started. Ameriprise Financial is proud to be recognized with another perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. Phillip J. Sitar, CFP ® , CRPC ® , MBA Financial Advisor CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner 33 N Dearborn St., Ste 1400 Chicago, IL 60602 312.346.1000 phillip.j.sitar@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/phillip.j.sitar Learn to play 6 LESSONS 3 WEEKS $99 STARTS MAY 7 There’s a reason the word “LOVE” is used in tennis. It’s because tennis is not so much a sport as it is a passion. And you can learn it in no time at Midtown Athletic Club. Register at midtown.com/tnt ® Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2015 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (7/15)
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