MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: Bernard Cherkasov
November 13, 2009 773-477-7173
Rick Garcia
312-560-0405
Equality Illinois Organizes First Meeting of LGBT Community Leaders
with Cook County President Stroger
CHICAGO – Equality Illinois, the state’s largest organization working towards full LGBT equality, facilitated the first-of-its kind meeting of Cook County President Todd Stroger with representatives of almost two dozen groups that provide services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) community in Cook County. The leaders discussed how Cook County could better work with the organizations in providing services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens of Cook County.
"This was the first time in my memory that such a group was assembled to meet with a Cook County Board president," said Rick Garcia, Director of Public Policy at Equality Illinois. "We were able to let President Stroger know of our work and we explored ways that we could all collaborate more closely in meeting the needs of Cook County citizens."
Among the attendees were representatives of the LGBT equality group Equality Illinois, Chicago House which provides housing to those impacted by HIV and AIDS, Howard Brown Health Center, the largest health care provider to the LGBT community in the Midwest, the Center on Halsted, Affinity Social Services that provides outreach to lesbian women of color, Vida/Sida an outreach group for Latino gays and lesbians and PFLAG which works with parents and friends of lesbian and gay people.
"Major items of discussion were the need for services for LGBT youth who are homeless and lesbian women's health care needs," Garcia said.
"The meeting demonstrated that President Stroger understands that gay and lesbian people are part of the fabric of Cook County and that their needs need to be addressed as any other group in the county," said Garcia.
Following is a partial list of attendees: Affinity Community Services, Allied for Equality, Amigas Latinas, AVER, Center on Halsted, Chicago House, Congregation Or Chadash, Equality Illinois, Howard Brown Health Center, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Lesbian Community Care Project, Parents Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays, UCAN, Vida/SISA, Vital Bridges.
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Equality Illinois was founded to secure, protect and defend the civil rights of lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender Illinoisans. It is one of the Midwest’s largest gay civil rights organizations.
