The issue of marriage equality is connected to Chicago and the United States because the former governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn signed legislation in 2013 that would allow would same-sex couples to get married on June 1, 2014. This granted all of the 102 counties that are in Illinois to start issuing marriage licenses and couple that had civil union to convert to marriage. Although many counties in Illinois had granted marriage licenses in February of 2014 because of a court ruling, some people will that Sunday June 1 is a historical day for Illinois.
Student can collaborate with local organization to help become an ally to the LGBT community. For example, they can collaborate up with The Human Rights Campaign to become an ally. The have a guide on how to become an ally and how to create a safe-zone for allies and those of the LGBT community. The Illinois Safe School Alliance is an organization that is located in Champaign, IL. They wish to promote safety amongst the LGBT student in Illinois schools and communities. “The mission of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (the Alliance) is to promote safety, support and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, in Illinois schools and communities, through advocacy, education, youth organizing and research.” The University of Chicago has a bunch of groups that students can partake in. They have some just for men, some for just women, and some for both men, and women.
Lastly, the most comprehensive LGBT community center in the Midwest opened on Chicago's north side on June 5th, 2007. The three-story, 185,000-square-foot Center on Halsted includes an auditorium, a café, more than a dozen community service partners, a technology center, a gymnasium, and plentiful meeting and conference rooms. The Center provides support groups for youth and adults, psychotherapy services, a hotline for HIV and STD concerns, and domestic violence prevention, treatment and advocacy for LGBT individuals.
Student can collaborate with local organization to help become an ally to the LGBT community. For example, they can collaborate up with The Human Rights Campaign to become an ally. The have a guide on how to become an ally and how to create a safe-zone for allies and those of the LGBT community. The Illinois Safe School Alliance is an organization that is located in Champaign, IL. They wish to promote safety amongst the LGBT student in Illinois schools and communities. “The mission of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (the Alliance) is to promote safety, support and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, in Illinois schools and communities, through advocacy, education, youth organizing and research.” The University of Chicago has a bunch of groups that students can partake in. They have some just for men, some for just women, and some for both men, and women.
Lastly, the most comprehensive LGBT community center in the Midwest opened on Chicago's north side on June 5th, 2007. The three-story, 185,000-square-foot Center on Halsted includes an auditorium, a café, more than a dozen community service partners, a technology center, a gymnasium, and plentiful meeting and conference rooms. The Center provides support groups for youth and adults, psychotherapy services, a hotline for HIV and STD concerns, and domestic violence prevention, treatment and advocacy for LGBT individuals.