Tuesday 8/18/2009
Domestic Abuse and the Chicago Police
Letter to the Editor
A Real Call for Real Change: Domestic Abuse and the Chicago Police
As an anthropologist studying Boystown for the past 3 years, I have followed many articles and discussions regarding LGBT community and the Chicago police. With the recent muggings in the Boystown and Lincoln Park area, interactions with the police have taken center stage; particularly at last week’s CAPS meeting where many Boystown residents and patrons raised their concerns and shared their disheartening experiences with the police. While conversations between the LGBT community and the police have definitely led to commendable improvements in policing, Boystown has been the focus of these issues. However, as more gay men and lesbians move into neighborhoods north of Boystown, there needs to be more discussion about how police throughout the city of Chicago are prepared to deal with the needs of Chicago’s LGBT citizens.
I write this in response to an incident that happened at 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. A friend who was in an abusive relationship called me crying, saying that she needed my address for the police to escort her to. She arrived 15 minutes later with a bloody nose and knot on her head from where her now ex-girlfriend slammed her into a wall and head-butted her face. As I watched from my window above, the police seemed courteous and waited for her to get into the building before they drove off. As she explained her story to me and our mutual friend, she told me the police did not allow her to take her belongings, her cellular phone, or her dogs. As she continued to tell us about the abuse, the ex-girlfriend sent our mutual friend threatening text messages that she was going to hurt both my friend and her dogs.
So, I called 3-1-1 who said that we could get a police escort to get her dogs and the rest of her belongings if we call 9-1-1 once we are 2 blocks away. We got in the car and drove over and called 9-1-1, who told us that we had to wait in front of the apartment for them to arrive and that the police would not call when they arrived. The same officers who escorted my friend replied to the call and immediately scolded her, the victim of domestic abuse, like a child. Already a nervous wreck, the officer’s indifferent and deferent behavior further traumatized a victim of domestic violence. They said that they were not going to escort my friend into her apartment to get her things, that she already took a bag of her stuff out, and that she had to come back at a “reasonable hour.” Showing them the welt on her head and telling them that her ex-girlfriend has been arrested multiple times for battery, they called their supervisor.
The three of us had to talk the supervisor into escorting her into the apartment. When in the apartment, they rushed my friend to get what she needed and allowed the ex-girlfriend to verbally abuse her the entire time she anxiously tried to collect her belongings. Leaving with her two dogs and only a bag-full of her items (not including her credits cards, social security card, birth certificate, and passport), she was rushed outside of the house. I asked the police if they could file a report so we could have a record of the incident and they refused to do so, saying, “make a report of what?” Then they said to come back to get the remainder of her things at a “decent hour” with a group of friends.
The problems with this situation were numbered. First of all, when the police originally arrived on the scene, they made no report of domestic violence even though my friend sat in the back seat of their squad car for 15 minutes with obvious head trauma and a bloody nose. Secondly, they were completely belligerent to my friend during the entire endeavor, causing her even more emotional trauma. No wonder why victims of domestic abuse do not want to call the police! How can someone who is both emotionally and physically traumatized muster the strength to persuade someone who is supposed to be there to serve and protect, to do just that? Third, is it that wise to tell a victim of domestic violence to wait for a police escort in front of the domicile where the abuse just happened? Fourth, how can a supervisor refuse to write a report when asked for one? Fifth, what police officer would suggest that a victim of abuse go back to the home with a group of friends to get the remainder of her belongings where the abuser resides with a knife collection? That just sounds like trouble waiting to happen.
I would like to think that the issue was not an LGBT one, but I cannot help but wonder if it would have been taken more seriously if she was being beaten by her husband?
I was disappointed the most by the reactions of the female officer who originally came to the scene. I choose to single her out for multiple reasons: (1) she was the one who was most vocal about refusing to assist my friend; (2) she explained the situation to the supervisor in such a biased way, as if she were trying to influence him not to help my friend; and (3) she had the most inappropriate, unprofessional behavior. She threw her hands up in the air when the supervisor decided to escort my friend into the home and walked with her hands on her head as she followed her supervisor into the apartment during the police escort that her and her partner just refused to do themselves.
The other reason why I choose to single-out this officer is because I had the stereotypical expectation for a female cop to have more compassion and understanding; especially when another woman is the victim, even if she happens to be a lesbian. However, I now realize the multiple ways in which gender and sexuality can affect performance in work that is highly gendered itself; a real danger when that work has to do with public safety. This situation shows how important it is to recognize issues of gender and sexuality and how they operate in the “real world.” Issues of gender and sexuality do matter, in that they are directly related to policing and the physical safety of all citizens everywhere.
It is because of police experiences like these that the cycle of domestic violence is able to continue. Women are unable to leave abusive relationships because they are physically unable to do it without risking physical harm, which is exactly what my friend has to do when we go to retrieve the rest of her belongings. The drama that the police created, from child-like bickering to the unnecessary and intimidating arrival of 3 police cars, is completely unacceptable for someone trying to escape the trauma of domestic abuse. Luckily my friend had somewhere to go and money she had hidden just in case of a situation like this. But what about people who do not?
I write this because this situation can easily be remedied. Officers can easily be trained to handle situations like these, to be sensitive to issues of domestic violence, and understanding LGBT issues. This is a call for awareness and better police training, especially at a time when same-sex domestic abuse is on a rise. The way the police handled this situation was completely unacceptable.
On a positive note, I called the Anti-Violence Project at the Center on Halsted, which turned out to be a great resource for information. If anyone LGBT or otherwise is having an issues with violence or with the police, I suggest you contact them.
-Zachary Blair
ChicagoPride.com welcomes your views and encourages lively and civil discussions. Comments are unedited, but submissions reported as abusive may be removed. Any submission to ChicagoPride.com may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms. Please thoroughly read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Letters for consideration must include a name, address, day and evening phone numbers, email address and are verified by ChicagoPride.com.
CLICK HERE to submit a Letter to the Editor.
A Real Call for Real Change: Domestic Abuse and the Chicago Police
As an anthropologist studying Boystown for the past 3 years, I have followed many articles and discussions regarding LGBT community and the Chicago police. With the recent muggings in the Boystown and Lincoln Park area, interactions with the police have taken center stage; particularly at last week’s CAPS meeting where many Boystown residents and patrons raised their concerns and shared their disheartening experiences with the police. While conversations between the LGBT community and the police have definitely led to commendable improvements in policing, Boystown has been the focus of these issues. However, as more gay men and lesbians move into neighborhoods north of Boystown, there needs to be more discussion about how police throughout the city of Chicago are prepared to deal with the needs of Chicago’s LGBT citizens.
I write this in response to an incident that happened at 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. A friend who was in an abusive relationship called me crying, saying that she needed my address for the police to escort her to. She arrived 15 minutes later with a bloody nose and knot on her head from where her now ex-girlfriend slammed her into a wall and head-butted her face. As I watched from my window above, the police seemed courteous and waited for her to get into the building before they drove off. As she explained her story to me and our mutual friend, she told me the police did not allow her to take her belongings, her cellular phone, or her dogs. As she continued to tell us about the abuse, the ex-girlfriend sent our mutual friend threatening text messages that she was going to hurt both my friend and her dogs.
So, I called 3-1-1 who said that we could get a police escort to get her dogs and the rest of her belongings if we call 9-1-1 once we are 2 blocks away. We got in the car and drove over and called 9-1-1, who told us that we had to wait in front of the apartment for them to arrive and that the police would not call when they arrived. The same officers who escorted my friend replied to the call and immediately scolded her, the victim of domestic abuse, like a child. Already a nervous wreck, the officer’s indifferent and deferent behavior further traumatized a victim of domestic violence. They said that they were not going to escort my friend into her apartment to get her things, that she already took a bag of her stuff out, and that she had to come back at a “reasonable hour.” Showing them the welt on her head and telling them that her ex-girlfriend has been arrested multiple times for battery, they called their supervisor.
The three of us had to talk the supervisor into escorting her into the apartment. When in the apartment, they rushed my friend to get what she needed and allowed the ex-girlfriend to verbally abuse her the entire time she anxiously tried to collect her belongings. Leaving with her two dogs and only a bag-full of her items (not including her credits cards, social security card, birth certificate, and passport), she was rushed outside of the house. I asked the police if they could file a report so we could have a record of the incident and they refused to do so, saying, “make a report of what?” Then they said to come back to get the remainder of her things at a “decent hour” with a group of friends.
The problems with this situation were numbered. First of all, when the police originally arrived on the scene, they made no report of domestic violence even though my friend sat in the back seat of their squad car for 15 minutes with obvious head trauma and a bloody nose. Secondly, they were completely belligerent to my friend during the entire endeavor, causing her even more emotional trauma. No wonder why victims of domestic abuse do not want to call the police! How can someone who is both emotionally and physically traumatized muster the strength to persuade someone who is supposed to be there to serve and protect, to do just that? Third, is it that wise to tell a victim of domestic violence to wait for a police escort in front of the domicile where the abuse just happened? Fourth, how can a supervisor refuse to write a report when asked for one? Fifth, what police officer would suggest that a victim of abuse go back to the home with a group of friends to get the remainder of her belongings where the abuser resides with a knife collection? That just sounds like trouble waiting to happen.
I would like to think that the issue was not an LGBT one, but I cannot help but wonder if it would have been taken more seriously if she was being beaten by her husband?
I was disappointed the most by the reactions of the female officer who originally came to the scene. I choose to single her out for multiple reasons: (1) she was the one who was most vocal about refusing to assist my friend; (2) she explained the situation to the supervisor in such a biased way, as if she were trying to influence him not to help my friend; and (3) she had the most inappropriate, unprofessional behavior. She threw her hands up in the air when the supervisor decided to escort my friend into the home and walked with her hands on her head as she followed her supervisor into the apartment during the police escort that her and her partner just refused to do themselves.
The other reason why I choose to single-out this officer is because I had the stereotypical expectation for a female cop to have more compassion and understanding; especially when another woman is the victim, even if she happens to be a lesbian. However, I now realize the multiple ways in which gender and sexuality can affect performance in work that is highly gendered itself; a real danger when that work has to do with public safety. This situation shows how important it is to recognize issues of gender and sexuality and how they operate in the “real world.” Issues of gender and sexuality do matter, in that they are directly related to policing and the physical safety of all citizens everywhere.
It is because of police experiences like these that the cycle of domestic violence is able to continue. Women are unable to leave abusive relationships because they are physically unable to do it without risking physical harm, which is exactly what my friend has to do when we go to retrieve the rest of her belongings. The drama that the police created, from child-like bickering to the unnecessary and intimidating arrival of 3 police cars, is completely unacceptable for someone trying to escape the trauma of domestic abuse. Luckily my friend had somewhere to go and money she had hidden just in case of a situation like this. But what about people who do not?
I write this because this situation can easily be remedied. Officers can easily be trained to handle situations like these, to be sensitive to issues of domestic violence, and understanding LGBT issues. This is a call for awareness and better police training, especially at a time when same-sex domestic abuse is on a rise. The way the police handled this situation was completely unacceptable.
On a positive note, I called the Anti-Violence Project at the Center on Halsted, which turned out to be a great resource for information. If anyone LGBT or otherwise is having an issues with violence or with the police, I suggest you contact them.
-Zachary Blair
ChicagoPride.com welcomes your views and encourages lively and civil discussions. Comments are unedited, but submissions reported as abusive may be removed. Any submission to ChicagoPride.com may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms. Please thoroughly read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Letters for consideration must include a name, address, day and evening phone numbers, email address and are verified by ChicagoPride.com.
CLICK HERE to submit a Letter to the Editor.
Tuesday 6/30/2009
Quacking Phone Interrupts Obama
A "duck" ringtone interrupted President Obama as he spoke in the East Room of the White House at an event marking Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month.
(I use this tone as an alarm on my iPhone... LOL)
(I use this tone as an alarm on my iPhone... LOL)
Tuesday 11/4/2008
Get Out and Vote!
TODAY is the General Election - a history election - so get out and vote!
Though marriage rights is a big issue for our community, none of the presidential candidates support marriage rights for gays and lesbians. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has voiced support for civil unions. Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been relatively moderate on gay-related issues.
In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin signaled support for a federal marriage amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman a position inconsistent with Sen. John McCain, who has opposed such a measure. (Full Story)
Whoever wins will have a profound influence on the Supreme Court. At stake could be Roe v. Wade, LGBT issues including gay marriage and "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
In addition to the presidential election, there are a number of state and local races of interest. Many local candidates have been actively courting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered voters in an attempt to sway undecided voters.
There are also a number of gay and gay-friendly candidates running for office locally.
For more information on today's election and to see where candidates stand on LGBT issues, ChicagoPride.com encourages readers to pick-up this week's Windy City Times and review their Election Guide (online version).
Find your polling place: Chicago | Cook County
Lake | McHenry | DuPage | Kane | Will
Many believe the gay vote could be large enough to give Democrat Barack Obama the margin of victory in three critical swing states. (Full Story)
So today get out and vote -- and remind your friends here in Chicago and throughout the United States to exercise their right to vote.
Though marriage rights is a big issue for our community, none of the presidential candidates support marriage rights for gays and lesbians. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has voiced support for civil unions. Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been relatively moderate on gay-related issues.
In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin signaled support for a federal marriage amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman a position inconsistent with Sen. John McCain, who has opposed such a measure. (Full Story)
Whoever wins will have a profound influence on the Supreme Court. At stake could be Roe v. Wade, LGBT issues including gay marriage and "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
In addition to the presidential election, there are a number of state and local races of interest. Many local candidates have been actively courting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered voters in an attempt to sway undecided voters.
There are also a number of gay and gay-friendly candidates running for office locally.
For more information on today's election and to see where candidates stand on LGBT issues, ChicagoPride.com encourages readers to pick-up this week's Windy City Times and review their Election Guide (online version).
Find your polling place: Chicago | Cook County
Lake | McHenry | DuPage | Kane | Will
Many believe the gay vote could be large enough to give Democrat Barack Obama the margin of victory in three critical swing states. (Full Story)
So today get out and vote -- and remind your friends here in Chicago and throughout the United States to exercise their right to vote.
Wednesday 10/1/2008
Register to vote by October 7th
Now more than ever, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Americans must take an active role in the political process. Everyone, of all orientations and identities, must participate. Don’t forget to register to vote by Tuesday, October 7th and then join with Americans from all walks of life to make your voices heard on Election Day.
To register to vote for the upcoming General Election, you must be a citizen of the United States and 18 years of age or older by November 4, 2008. In order to vote in the next Presidential Election, you must register no later than October 7th
After the official 'deadline' to register to vote on October 7, voters have one last chance under the "grace period" option.
The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners officially will offer "grace period" registration and voting from Wednesday, October 8, 2008 through Tuesday, October 21, 2008. This will give Chicagoans who are eligible to vote but who missed the registration deadline one last opportunity to participate in the November 4, 2008 General Election. Voters who utilize the grace period should come to 69 W. Washington Street, Suite 600. When registering during the grace period, a person needs to show two valid pieces of identification, with at least one showing the current residence address.
If you need to check your registration or find your voting location click here.
For a complete view of candidates in Illinois click here
To see where the Democrat and Republican candidates stand on the issues click here
Chicagoans will be able to use Early Voting at 51 sites, starting on Columbus Day, Monday, October 13, 2008.
Early Voting allows Chicago voters to vote at any city Early Voting location from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, Oct. 13 - 30. Early Voting on Sundays is only at the Election Board from 9 a.m. to noon.
During Early Voting, you must present a government photo ID. Once you cast a ballot during Early Voting, you cannot return during Early Voting or on Election Day to change your ballot for any reason.
* Monday through Saturday, Chicago voters will be able to use any of 51 sites: one in each ward, plus the Chicago Election Board office at 69 W. Washington St.
* On Sundays, Early Voting will be offered only at the Election Board Office at 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level, and only from 9 a.m. to noon.
Ward / Location / Address
1. Goldblatts Building 1615 W Chicago Ave
2. Mabel Manning Library 6 S. Hoyne Ave
3. Chicago Bee Library 3647 S. State St
4. M L King Community Ctr 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave
5. Jackson Park 6401 S. Stony Island Ave
6. Whitney Young Library 7901 S ML. King Jr. Dr
7. Jeffery Manor Library 2401 E. 100th St
8. Olive Harvey College 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave
9. Palmer Park 201 E 111th St
10. Vodak/East Side Library 3710 E. 106th St
11. McKinley Park 2210 W. Pershing Rd
12. Back of the Yards Library 4650 S. Damen Ave
13. West Lawn Park 4233 W. 65 St
14. Archer Heights Library 5055 S. Archer Ave
15. Lindbloom Park 6054 S. Damen Ave
16. Sherman Park Library 5440 S. Racine Ave
17. Thurgood Marshall Library 7506 S. Racine Ave
18. Wrightwood-Ashburn Library 8530 S. Kedzie Ave
19. 22nd Police District 1900 W. Monterey Ave
20. Coleman Library 731 E. 63rd St
21. Woodson Regional Library 9525 S. Halsted St
22. Piotrowski Park 4247 W. 31st St
23. Clearing Library 6423 W. 63rd Pl
24. Douglass Library 3353 W. 13th St
25. Chinatown Library 2353 S. Wentworth Ave
26. Humboldt Park Library 1605 N. Troy St
27. Union Park 1501 W. Randolph St
28. West Side Learning Ctr 4624 W. Madison St
29. Amundsen Park 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave
30. Portage Cragin Library 5108 W. Belmont Ave
31. Blackhawk Park 2318 N. Lavergne Ave
32. Pulaski Park 1419 W. Blackhawk St
33. Independence Library 3548 W. Irving Park Rd
34. West Pullman Library 830 W. 119th St
35. Logan Square Library 3030 W. Fullerton Ave
36. Hiawatha Park 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr
37. West Chicago Library 4856 W. Chicago Ave
38. Wright College - Science Bldg 4300 N. Narragansett Ave
39. N. Park Village Admn Bldg 5801 N. Pulaski Rd
40. Budlong Woods Library 5630 N. Lincoln Ave
41. Roden Library 6083 N. Northwest Hwy
42. Access Living 115 W. Chicago Ave
43. Lincoln Park Library 1150 W. Fullerton Ave
44. Merlo Library 644 W. Belmont Ave
45. Edgebrook Library 5331 W. Devon Ave
46. Truman College 1145 W. Wilson Ave
47. Welles Park 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave
48. Edgewater Library 1210 W. Elmdale Ave
49. Pottawattomie Park 7340 N. Rogers Ave
50. Warren Park 6601 N. Western Ave
Board of Election Commissioners 69 W. Washington St
DATES: Columbus Day, Monday, October 13 thru October 30, 2008
HOURS: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday - 9 a.m. to Noon ONLY at the Election Board Offices,
69 W. Washington, Lower Level Conference Room
(All other Early Voting locations are closed on Sunday)
Questions? Call 312-269-7900 / TTY 312-269-0027
To register to vote for the upcoming General Election, you must be a citizen of the United States and 18 years of age or older by November 4, 2008. In order to vote in the next Presidential Election, you must register no later than October 7th
After the official 'deadline' to register to vote on October 7, voters have one last chance under the "grace period" option.
The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners officially will offer "grace period" registration and voting from Wednesday, October 8, 2008 through Tuesday, October 21, 2008. This will give Chicagoans who are eligible to vote but who missed the registration deadline one last opportunity to participate in the November 4, 2008 General Election. Voters who utilize the grace period should come to 69 W. Washington Street, Suite 600. When registering during the grace period, a person needs to show two valid pieces of identification, with at least one showing the current residence address.
If you need to check your registration or find your voting location click here.
For a complete view of candidates in Illinois click here
To see where the Democrat and Republican candidates stand on the issues click here
Chicagoans will be able to use Early Voting at 51 sites, starting on Columbus Day, Monday, October 13, 2008.
Early Voting allows Chicago voters to vote at any city Early Voting location from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, Oct. 13 - 30. Early Voting on Sundays is only at the Election Board from 9 a.m. to noon.
During Early Voting, you must present a government photo ID. Once you cast a ballot during Early Voting, you cannot return during Early Voting or on Election Day to change your ballot for any reason.
* Monday through Saturday, Chicago voters will be able to use any of 51 sites: one in each ward, plus the Chicago Election Board office at 69 W. Washington St.
* On Sundays, Early Voting will be offered only at the Election Board Office at 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level, and only from 9 a.m. to noon.
Ward / Location / Address
1. Goldblatts Building 1615 W Chicago Ave
2. Mabel Manning Library 6 S. Hoyne Ave
3. Chicago Bee Library 3647 S. State St
4. M L King Community Ctr 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave
5. Jackson Park 6401 S. Stony Island Ave
6. Whitney Young Library 7901 S ML. King Jr. Dr
7. Jeffery Manor Library 2401 E. 100th St
8. Olive Harvey College 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave
9. Palmer Park 201 E 111th St
10. Vodak/East Side Library 3710 E. 106th St
11. McKinley Park 2210 W. Pershing Rd
12. Back of the Yards Library 4650 S. Damen Ave
13. West Lawn Park 4233 W. 65 St
14. Archer Heights Library 5055 S. Archer Ave
15. Lindbloom Park 6054 S. Damen Ave
16. Sherman Park Library 5440 S. Racine Ave
17. Thurgood Marshall Library 7506 S. Racine Ave
18. Wrightwood-Ashburn Library 8530 S. Kedzie Ave
19. 22nd Police District 1900 W. Monterey Ave
20. Coleman Library 731 E. 63rd St
21. Woodson Regional Library 9525 S. Halsted St
22. Piotrowski Park 4247 W. 31st St
23. Clearing Library 6423 W. 63rd Pl
24. Douglass Library 3353 W. 13th St
25. Chinatown Library 2353 S. Wentworth Ave
26. Humboldt Park Library 1605 N. Troy St
27. Union Park 1501 W. Randolph St
28. West Side Learning Ctr 4624 W. Madison St
29. Amundsen Park 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave
30. Portage Cragin Library 5108 W. Belmont Ave
31. Blackhawk Park 2318 N. Lavergne Ave
32. Pulaski Park 1419 W. Blackhawk St
33. Independence Library 3548 W. Irving Park Rd
34. West Pullman Library 830 W. 119th St
35. Logan Square Library 3030 W. Fullerton Ave
36. Hiawatha Park 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr
37. West Chicago Library 4856 W. Chicago Ave
38. Wright College - Science Bldg 4300 N. Narragansett Ave
39. N. Park Village Admn Bldg 5801 N. Pulaski Rd
40. Budlong Woods Library 5630 N. Lincoln Ave
41. Roden Library 6083 N. Northwest Hwy
42. Access Living 115 W. Chicago Ave
43. Lincoln Park Library 1150 W. Fullerton Ave
44. Merlo Library 644 W. Belmont Ave
45. Edgebrook Library 5331 W. Devon Ave
46. Truman College 1145 W. Wilson Ave
47. Welles Park 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave
48. Edgewater Library 1210 W. Elmdale Ave
49. Pottawattomie Park 7340 N. Rogers Ave
50. Warren Park 6601 N. Western Ave
Board of Election Commissioners 69 W. Washington St
DATES: Columbus Day, Monday, October 13 thru October 30, 2008
HOURS: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday - 9 a.m. to Noon ONLY at the Election Board Offices,
69 W. Washington, Lower Level Conference Room
(All other Early Voting locations are closed on Sunday)
Questions? Call 312-269-7900 / TTY 312-269-0027
-
CPMike
Total blog posts: 1
MyPride friends: 1
I went to www.VoteForChange.com and it will fill in all the information you need to send in your voter registration. I recently moved so I had to register again; it was very simple! : )
Sunday 7/20/2008
Young, Gay and Murdered
Kids are coming out younger, but are schools ready to handle the complex issues of identity and sexuality?
Click Here to read the heart breaking story of 15-year-old Lawrence King. This week's Cover Story in Newsweek magazine.
We need to protect our gay youth.
Click Here to read the heart breaking story of 15-year-old Lawrence King. This week's Cover Story in Newsweek magazine.
We need to protect our gay youth.
-
CPBill
Total blog posts: 1
MyPride friends: 1
What a heart breaking story! Indeed we DO need to protect our youth!
I was really touched in the end by the donation of Larry's heart to a 10 year old girl on Valentine's Day!
Wonderfully his death will not be in vein if we can learn from his story! ~Bill Pritchard
I was really touched in the end by the donation of Larry's heart to a 10 year old girl on Valentine's Day!
Wonderfully his death will not be in vein if we can learn from his story! ~Bill Pritchard
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