ChicagoPride.com's Bill Pritchard on Chicago's LGBT community
Mon. February 9, 2009 12:00 AM by Kevin Wayne
bill pritchard, vice president community affairs
photo credit // chicagopride.com
Chicago, IL -
Medill Reports, written and produced by graduate journalism students at Northwestern University's Medill school, recently interviewed Bill Pritchard, ChicagPride.com Executive of Community Affairs
39-year-old Pritchard weighs in on the challenges and hopes for Chicago's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community.
On Chicago's Boystown neighborhood:
"I've always felt that Boystown is more an idea than a location. It's the idea that members of the LGBT community have a place in society that they can call their own. It's the notion that our contribution to the Chicago community and abroad is a valid one."
On being known as the "unofficial Mayor of Boystown":
"The Mayor of Boystown nickname was given to me about seven years ago by famed Chicago Realtor Mike Liska of RPL Real Estate. It was a funny term of endearment that happened to stick. I've always thought of it as a challenge to be the best representative of the LGBT community as I could be, but I've not taken it too seriously. Currently, I know of three others with the same moniker."
On Chicago's LGBT experience:
"There is no doubt about it. It's a total blast to be a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individual in Chicago. Unlike other cities around the world, the gay experience in Chicago is tucked into one area of the city, while the city on the whole is very open to members of the LGBT community. In short, I think most LGBT folks feel comfortable in Chicago."
On Chicago's LGBT civil rights movement:
"I am happy to see many in the Chicago community take a stand for LGBT rights. It does lend a certain familiarity of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement. However, I think the issues are very different. I am delighted to witness the rise in youth involvement in this refreshed movement. Many are substituting reality TV for rallies, porn for poster board and drinks for donations. Clearly, we are living in a better gay world."
Read the full story by Meg Martin on Medill Reports.
39-year-old Pritchard weighs in on the challenges and hopes for Chicago's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community.
On Chicago's Boystown neighborhood:
"I've always felt that Boystown is more an idea than a location. It's the idea that members of the LGBT community have a place in society that they can call their own. It's the notion that our contribution to the Chicago community and abroad is a valid one."
On being known as the "unofficial Mayor of Boystown":
"The Mayor of Boystown nickname was given to me about seven years ago by famed Chicago Realtor Mike Liska of RPL Real Estate. It was a funny term of endearment that happened to stick. I've always thought of it as a challenge to be the best representative of the LGBT community as I could be, but I've not taken it too seriously. Currently, I know of three others with the same moniker."
On Chicago's LGBT experience:
"There is no doubt about it. It's a total blast to be a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individual in Chicago. Unlike other cities around the world, the gay experience in Chicago is tucked into one area of the city, while the city on the whole is very open to members of the LGBT community. In short, I think most LGBT folks feel comfortable in Chicago."
On Chicago's LGBT civil rights movement:
"I am happy to see many in the Chicago community take a stand for LGBT rights. It does lend a certain familiarity of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement. However, I think the issues are very different. I am delighted to witness the rise in youth involvement in this refreshed movement. Many are substituting reality TV for rallies, porn for poster board and drinks for donations. Clearly, we are living in a better gay world."
Read the full story by Meg Martin on Medill Reports.