Posted on 07/07/2012 9:37:42 AM PDT by scottjewell
The Chicago Fire have teamed up with LGBT rights group Equality Illinois to create the first formal partnership between the one of the Midwest's largest gay rights organizations and a local professional sports team.
Initially announced during the Chicago Pride Parade late last month, when members of the Chicago Fire organization marched with the Equality Illinois float and its "I Do" marriage equality theme, the partnership involves several events during the month of July promoting lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender rights awareness and providing the team an opportunity to provide support to the local LGBT community.
Other Chicago sports teams, including the Cubs and White Sox, have held promotional nights and donated items for silent auction fundraisers in the past, but none have officially partnered with Equality Illinois.
"It's a small step in the right direction for any team," said Chicago Fire President Julian Posada. The team also has partnerships with other local LGBT advocacy groups and programs, including Fred Says and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital's Center for Gender, Sexuality and HIV Prevention.
"It's not because we want to make a political statement," said Mr. Posada. "It's just the right thing to do." The next major event is a social networking cocktail party tonight at Wrigleyville bar Sidetrack, which will feature two Chicago Fire stars, Gonzalo Segares and Jay Nolly.
"This support from a major pro-sports team signals to fans and LGBT youth the diverse voices that embrace equality," said Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov. "When we have sports heroes and teams show their support, it takes the conversation away from politics." The team will host Chicago Fire Pride Night at their game on Aug. 4 against Toronto FC, when a portion of ticket sale proceeds will go to benefit of the Equality Illinois Education Project.
The intersection of LGBT rights and professional sports sporadically appears in the national headlines, most recently last month, when former NFL cornerback Wade Davis came out of the closet, speaking to OutSports.com and SBNation about the challenges of hiding his secret in an NFL locker room.
"Your biggest fear is that you'll lose that camaraderie and family," Mr. Davis said in an interview with OutSports. "I think about how close I was with (teammates Jevon Kearse and Samari Rolle). It's not like they'd like me less, it's that they have to protect their own brand." That, among other reasons, plays a big part in why no professional athlete in a major North American sports league has ever revealed they are gay during their career.
Sorry. IAMIA nor am ICETASC.
You have me stumped now. What the heck do those mean?
Now THAT I understand (LGBT - Lettuce Grilled Bacon and Tomato Sandwich) ....
But I don’t understand what that has to do with the rest of the article.
Actually I figured it was a Democratic originated anachronism. It is that I refuse to memorize crap created to simplify (stupid)(perverted)(immoral)(etc., etc) the names or descriptions of such organizations. I just refuse to accept convention that such organizations create.
If we (on the side of good, moral etc) were to ignore such crapola maybe, just maybe, they would stop.
At lease I can dream. I have enough trouble with English as it is. English teachers say that English is tough enough as it is with our language’s massive irregularities and confusing rules that are prolific throughout.
Heck if I can remember. I merely abbreviated a list of words to prove a point.
“Words” are what mark to intelligence of men - not anachronisms.
Campaign theme: We’re All Flamers Now
I would have thought that Q would be for “Queer”.
(but that would be politically incorrect, wouldn’t it?) - whereas the Democrats are ALWAYS politically correct, or so they say.
Isn't the Chicago Fire a defunct Football team from the WFL? or the USFL??
I used to work in education, I was an advisor. One day a sweet old lady came in with a woman in her mid 30s and told me she wanted to help her pick out classes and that she would be paying for her tuition. She was wearing a Chicago Fire scarf and asked me if I followed soccer. I told her I didn’t and she told me that her son was the owner of the Chicago Fire.
It looks like he sold the team, thankfully isn’t him who’s endorsing this she seemed very nice. And that lady who’s tuition she was paying for was her dead husband’s hospice nurse, that lady was a class act.
Was going to take the family to a Fire game. Now, no way. Let the homosexuals fill the stands. Bye.
The gay sex act, anal in nature, is revolting to any civilized person. Gay militants (lunatics) want to make us accept and approve of their bedroom perversions while they make nice when they aren’t terrorizing business owners who take a stand against them and their bullying
Gay mayhem comes from all the cash these degenerates hoard. Due to no children or wife to support plus many have high paying jobs
Of course language and words are the mark of intelligence. The LGBTQ banner is the sort of politically correct circus act that appeal to so many in our era. I for one am surprised at the ease with which this agenda has made it to the top, almost effortlessly, and is taken seriously the world over. I would not have thought it would be that easy, but apparently it was.
I personally perceive such users as arrogant & self serving individuals. Fortunately I am not impressed and willing to infer that I AM NOT IMPRESSED.
HAGD (Have A Good Day)------ HA!
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