http://subs.zinester.com/78167 Occasional newsletter of the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, a Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans direct action group organizing for gay rights and liberation. en http://archives.zinester.com/78167/128999.html?rss=1 Join GLN at Tomorrow's

Huge Immigrant Rights March



The Gay Liberation Network is inviting all LGBT supporters of immigrant rights
to join us at tomorrow's huge immigrant rights march. Aside from directly
expressing solidarity with others in our society, LGBT people have specific
reasons for wanting genuine immigration reforms:



1) We need the right to asylum for sexual minorities needing to flee repressive
countries, and
... ]]> 128999 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:27:10 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/127317.html?rss=1 Call for a Protest Against

General Peter Pace!



Outspoken Homophobe & Head of U.S. Military

To Visit Chicago May 18^th



Open Organizing Meeting Set for This Friday


... ]]> 127317 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:41:11 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/125311.html?rss=1 On the 4th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, please join the Gay
Liberation Network as we unite with others in saying: "Stop Funding War &
Occupation / Bring the Troops Home NOW!"

We will be meeting at the southwest corner of State & Oak (a few blocks north
of the Red Line "Chicago" stop) at 5:30 PM, Tuesday, March 20.  Look for our
big pink banners!

The "new" Iraq features fatwas that call for killing all gay people, issued by
the so-called moderate that the U.S. has been courting, Ayatollah al-Sistani.
Iraq has become probably the most dangerous place on the planet for LGBT
people.  The war has killed over 650,000, according to a study by Johns Hopkins
Hospital, and billions of tax dollars which could have gone to securing decent
health care and other social services for all instead have gone into the back
pockets of privileged private contractors.
... ]]> 125311 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:56:08 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/78167/123727.html?rss=1 Reminder:



The next meeting of the Gay Liberation Network is 7 PM this Wednesday at Gerber
Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville.  New participants welcome!



Hope to see you there!!



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

... ]]> 123727 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 09:05:09 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/78167/121897.html?rss=1 Next door Wisconsin just passed an anti-gay constitutional amendment.

In Michigan, the religious right is using that state's recently passed
amendment to go after the rights of Lesbian and Gay workers in state-funded
institutions.  Same sex couples are fighting an uphill battle to preserve
health benefits for spouses of employees at the state's colleges and
universities.

Help PREVENT this kind of hate from spreading to Illinois, AND join the fight
for full legal equality for LGBT people -- including marriage rights.


                    Valentine's Day -- Wednesday, Feb. 14th

      4 PM assembly outside of the Marriage License Bureau, 118 N. Clark
... ]]> 121897 Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:58:31 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/78167/121515.html?rss=1                     PROTEST to demand FULL equal rights,

                          including marriage rights,

                            for Lesbians and Gays.



Valentine's Day -- Wednesday, Feb. 14th



**  4 PM assembly outside of the Marriage License Bureau, 118 N. Clark


... ]]> 121515 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:14:44 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/78167/120143.html?rss=1                           On Marriage Equality Day

                        Wednesday, February 14th . . .

                               (Valentine's Day)



                     PROTEST to demand FULL equal rights,

                          including marriage rights,

                             for Lesbians & Gays!


... ]]> 120143 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 10:34:09 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/78167/111507.html?rss=1 Pictures and story of the 8th Annual Matthew Shepard March can be found on the
Gay Liberation Network (GLN) website at the following URL:



http://www.gayliberation.org/photos/2006/1007msm.html



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Reminder:

The next Gay Liberation Network meeting is 7 PM this Wednesday, Nov. 1^st at
... ]]> 111507 Mon, 30 Oct 2006 09:05:08 MSK http://archives.zinester.com/78167/110888.html?rss=1 Trial Regarding Police Suppression

of Press Conference

on 2^nd Anniversary of the Iraq Invasion



Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 24th, the Gay Liberation Network's Andy Thayer will
face trial for charges arising out of the Chicago police shut down of a press
conference that he and several other activists attempted to hold on the 2^nd
anniversary of U.S. invasion of Iraq, March 19, 2005.



... ]]> 110888 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 08:31:08 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/109624.html?rss=1 George W. Bush -- aka Old Scratch, Prince of Darkness, Azazel, Beelzebub,
Pretzel Boy -- is coming to Chicago for a gala Republican fundraiser at the
Chicago Hilton and Towers on Thursday, October 12. Halloween comes early to
Chicago.

Scary!  Time to frighten the ol' devil right out of town. Let's remind him that
Chicagoans oppose the US war in Iraq -- and any future attack on Iran,
Venezuela or other trumped-up targets -- and are overwhelming pro-civil
liberties, pro-union, pro-immigrant rights and pro-choice. Foul demons are no
longer welcome in our fair city (Daley take note).

So grab a Halloween costume, bring a prop, banners, signs, puppets, drums and
gather on:


... ]]> 109624 Wed, 11 Oct 2006 03:00:05 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/108775.html?rss=1 Iranian Gay Leader, WVON's Cliff Kelley
Headline this Saturday Night's
Matthew Shepard March

GLN's 8th Annual Matthew Shepard Event
Features an 8 PM Rally Followed by a March Out of Boystown

This year's Matthew Shepard March & Rally for Lesbian, Gay, Bi & Trans Freedom
October 7th will feature an Iranian gay leader, Sam Kosha, and civil rights
advocate and popular WVON-AM host Cliff Kelley.  Besides being a long time
defender of Chicago's African American community, Mr. Kelley holds the
distinction of being the first to introduce a gay rights ordinance into
Chicago's city council - way back in 1973.  The event will begin with an 8 PM
rally at the Halsted & Roscoe 7-11 parking lot, followed by a march out of
Boystown into the "straight" Wrigleyville bar district, returning back to the
... ]]> 108775 Tue, 03 Oct 2006 01:58:11 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/106807.html?rss=1 Indiana Club Cancels "Kill Gays" Singer
After House of Blues Protest
Bloomington, IN club responds to protests in Chicago & locally
by cancelling 9/14 Buju Banton performance

CHICAGO - Gay rights activists are applauding the September 13th decision of a
Bloomington, IN nightclub to cancel the scheduled September 14th performance of
Buju Banton, a dancehall musician who has become infamous in some circles for
his graphic advocacy of murdering gays.  In his song "Boom, Bye Bye," for
example, Banton urges people to shoot gay men in the head, pour acid over them,
and burn them alive.

Gay rights activist Morgan Tilleman of the Hoosier Rights Campaign reports that
the manager of "The Blue Bird" Club in Bloomington said that he had not heard
of the controversy about Banton until news reached him of the pending protest
... ]]> 106807 Fri, 15 Sep 2006 05:29:08 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/106581.html?rss=1 Protest Another "Kill Gays" Singer
@ House of Blues -- 7 PM Tonight!

Dancehall musician Buju Banton, who graphically advocates killing gays in the
lyrics of his songs, is scheduled to perform tonight, Wednesday, September 13,
at the House of Blues.

In his song "Boom, Bye Bye," for example, Banton urges people to shoot gay men
in the head, pour acid over them, and burn them alive.

Please join the protest to get House of Blues to stop sponsoring "Kill Gays"
performers at their club.  The protest begins tonight at 7 PM sharp, 329 N.
Dearborn (just north of the Chicago River).

The Gay Liberation Network has been in communication with the incoming owners
... ]]> 106581 Wed, 13 Sep 2006 09:04:14 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/105748.html?rss=1 Protest Against Clear Channel
Wednesday Afternoon

Clear Channel radio stations WGCI and V103 have a history of promoting language
that ridicules LGBT people, and normalizes racism and misogyny. Their overt
expressions of homophobia, misogyny, and racism create an atmosphere of
acceptance to intimidate, and even terrorize people who do not fit the white,
straight, Christian categories.

Example: WGCI radio personalities air "NO HOMO" sound bites and feature artists
that call for the death of LGBT people.

Example: WGCI continued to air Beenie Man's music while censoring media
coverage of the public outcry against his "kill gays" lyrics and subsequent
concert cancellations.
... ]]> 105748 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 22:00:06 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/103898.html?rss=1 Swan Song for the Illinois Family Institute?
Hate-Gays Group in Turmoil

By Andy Thayer
Co-founder, Gay Liberation Network
(http://www.gayliberation.org/)

Over the past few years the Illinois Family Institute (IFI) has established
itself as the state's most active and vociferous opponent of equal rights for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people.  This week it announced that its
Executive Director, Peter LaBarbera, had resigned.  Given his string of
failures, we suspect the real truth is that he was given the axe.

Working out of their bunker in the lily white suburb of Glen Ellyn, LaBarbera
has churned out ream after ream of press releases over the past few years, once
... ]]> 103898 Sun, 20 Aug 2006 01:19:05 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/102685.html?rss=1 It's Been a Busy Summer!

From countering anti-gay protesters at the Gay Games, to participating in an
international LGBT conference held as part of Montreal's Out Games, it's been a
BUSY few months!

Once again our webmaster, Syd Stevens (www.SydStevens.com (http://
www.sydstevens.com/)), has done a magnificent job of helping get the word out
about various Gay Liberation Network activities.

Dyke March & Pride Parade, June 24th & 25th --

For a report and pictures from the Dyke March and our Pride Parade contingent,
please go to:
http://gayliberation.org/photos/2006/0624dykemarch.html and
... ]]> 102685 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 09:50:17 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/102536.html?rss=1 It's Been a Busy Summer!

From countering anti-gay protesters at the Gay Games, to participating in an
international LGBT conference held as part of Montreal's Out Games, it's been a
BUSY few months!

Once again our webmaster, Syd Stevens (www.SydStevens.com (http://
www.sydstevens.com/)), has done a magnificent job of helping get the word out
about various Gay Liberation Network activities.

Dyke March & Pride Parade, June 24th & 25th --

For a report and pictures from the Dyke March and our Pride Parade contingent,
please go to:
http://gayliberation.org/photos/2006/0624dykemarch.html and
... ]]> 102536 Tue, 08 Aug 2006 10:15:05 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/100617.html?rss=1 Bigots Set to Invade Halsted Street
Tomorrow Night (Saturday)

The Illinois Family Institute (IFI), a group which has actively campaigned
against equal employment, housing, marriage and public accommodations rights
for Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans people, has announced that it will use the
occasion of the Gay Games to protest outside of Steamworks bath house, 3246 N.
Halsted, tomorrow night (Saturday, 7/22).  We urge PRO-LGBT forces to be there
at 5 PM to counter-protest.

Whatever your opinion of Steamworks, we cannot allow IFI's provocative hate
offensive to go unanswered.  The IFI is protesting there because they perceive
it to be a "weak link" in our community.  Funny, though, how they don't
similarly use protests against Las Vegas chapels or Hooters Restaurants as
excuses to deprive heterosexuals of rights.
... ]]> 100617 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 22:03:04 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/99870.html?rss=1 The Gay Games Are Here --
Show Your PRIDE &  Oppose Anti-Gay Bigots!

Every time our community makes an advance out of the closet, our opponents do
their best to spoil the party.  The Gay Games are no exception:

1) This Saturday, July 15th, anti-gay bigots are protesting the Gay Games by
holding a Saturday press conference at the viciously anti-union Congress Hotel
(hey creeps, get a CLUE -- there's a reason why you got the room cheaply --
there's a BOYCOTT of the hotel on!).  Fortunately, the Chicago Coalition of
Welcoming Churches has called for a PRO-gay presence outside of the hotel. The
Gay Liberation Network applauds this initiative from the Welcoming Churches and
strongly encourages everyone to join them at this event:
3 PM, Saturday, July 15 in front of the Congress Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave.

... ]]> 99870 Fri, 14 Jul 2006 19:51:14 MSD http://archives.zinester.com/78167/97356.html?rss=1 Photos from
Our Recent Protest Vigil

Thanks to the efforts of Deacon Rob Hadley of the Good Shepherd Parish of the
Metropolitan Community Church, we have photos of our June 20th vigil protesting
the arson attack on the Merlo Public Library's Lesbian and Gay collection. Go
to www.GayLiberation.org (http://www.gayliberation.org/) to see them.

The Tribune, Red Eye, Pioneer Press, WBBM-AM and channels 2, 5, 7, 9, 32 and 66
covered the event, helping send our stop gay-bashing message that much farther.

With many more people out of the closet in public during Pride weekend and next
month's Gay Games, it is particularly important to send a loud message NOW
against hate violence.  Violence against LGBT people typically spikes during
big public events like these.
... ]]> 97356 Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:10:05 MSD