Kicking Butt, Taking Names, And Drinking A Whole Lot Of Coffee

Chicago, Meet Your Busiest GLBT Activist

 

Resume:

*Founded non-profit group LGBT Change- now has over 4,000 followers on Facebook as well as countless volunteers all over Chicago.

*Sitting Executive Director of The Civil Rights Agenda- a year old non-profit organization that has become the medias steadfast knowledge source for facts and opinions on GLBT issues in Chicago.

*Sitting senior board member on Equality Illinois, Test Positive Aware Network, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and Association for Latino Men of Action.

Anthony Martinez has accomplished a great deal throughout his life- a great deal, all before the ripe age of 30.

“I hated this year’s birthday”, said Martinez as he drank from a large gallon jug of water at a coffee shop on the corner of Clark and Leland. “You do know, 30 is the new 60 in gay years”.

Martinez, in a black Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt and khaki shorts, looks like any other young gay man living in the up-and-coming Uptown area of Chicago.

He complains about the humidity messing with his hair, he compliments a nearby coffee shop patron on their tennis shoes, and, of course, is constantly checking his phone.

But the unassuming young activist is perhaps becoming the most powerful young gay voice in all of Chicago.

In only the past two years he has been quoted in every single large Chicago-land newspaper, has appeared multiple times in debate on WGN and FOX 30, and single-handedly organized a Chicago Civil Union event that was featured in national news outlets across the country.

Anthony Martinez is not your normal young gay man.

Yet, just two years ago, Martinez had been working for a Real Estate agency in Chicago.

“It was so boring”, said Martinez. “I felt as though I was in a waiting room- waiting to do something bigger with my life”.

And something bigger he did.

In March, Martinez was named Executive Director by the 12 member board of The Civil Rights Agenda- the youngest Executive Director of any Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) organization in the city.

The organization focuses on establishing civil rights for the GLBT community in Chicago and as well as all over the state of Illinois. The Civil Rights Agenda works with local media outlets, lawmakers, and the people of Illinois in order to gain equality and acceptance by changing not only minds, but laws as well.

“I was ecstatic”, said Martinez when he found out he had been named Executive Director. “It was nice to be recognized for all the work I had done with LGBT Change”.

Martinez started LGBT Change two years ago following the Obama inauguration. He was inspired by the activism that Chicago played electing the nation’s first black president.

LGBT Change was Martinez first venture into creating a non-profit on his own. In the years prior to starting the organization, he had belonged to many different GLBT groups in Chicago, but always thought he would be better at the helm.

“I wanted to be the one to call the shots”, said Martinez. “I had been involved in GLBT organizations since college, but now I have the ability to put forth my vision for equality”.

Martinez admits that he did not always want to be in the gay rights spotlight. In fact, for most of his life, all he wanted to do is blend in.

Martinez grew up in the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. At a young age he knew he wasn’t the same as everyone else.

“I think when you try to like girls like everyone else and then you realize that it’s just not working out, you feel removed”, said Martinez.

Martinez parents got divorced when he was a young child, and both have since remarried. He lived with his mother and his two sisters.

“Growing up my mom and sisters bonded through Hispanic traditions in our neighborhood”, said Martinez. “My grandparents spoke Spanish, and taught us a lot about Hispanic culture”.

Martinez pointed out that his family could be traced from the direct linage of Conquistadores from Spain who settled a mission outside of Albuquerque.

“Knowing that piece of my family history made me proud to be Hispanic”, said Martinez. “I didn’t know it at the time, but it made me who I am today”.

Adam Dempenwolf, a long time friend of Martinez from Albuquerque who now also lives in Chicago, says that his Hispanic heritage helped him be the activist he is today.

“He is such a strong person and he always has been”, said Dempenwolf. “And I think part of that had to do with his Hispanic heritage.”

Martinez dated girls throughout high school until he decided he couldn’t hide his sexuality any longer. He first came out to his mom and his two sisters.

“They were like, ‘So what, that’s nothing new’”, Martinez said, laughing to himself. “It was my Dad that was the problem”.

Martinez said that his Dad almost deterred him from getting into activism.

“I came out to him and he called me a ‘faggot’ and hung up the phone”, said Martinez. “I didn’t talk to him for almost a year. But, after he realized he would lose his son, came around”.

After Martinez graduated from high school, he went to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa where he became heavily involved in the school’s gay organization, BEPROUD.

“After that, I knew what I wanted to be involved in GLBT activism”, said Martinez.

After graduation in 2002, Martinez moved to Chicago and worked in Real Estate. He then started volunteering for various organizations before starting LGBT Change and being subsequently named Executive Director for The Civil Rights Agenda.

“I was a part of a lot of different gay organizations when I first moved to Chicago”, said Martinez. “But ALMA had the biggest impact on me”.

San Francisco Giants "It Gets Better" Video

OPINION: Homophobia in Sports: Is Enough Being Done?

This past week Joakim Noah, a center for the Chicago Bulls, called a fan in the stands a "F**king f**got" ( read the whole story here). Last month, Kobe Bryant called a referee the same explicit epithet. Both were made to apologize- under the pressure of the NBA as well as GLBT advocacy such as GLAAD, and were made to pay a heavy sum of money to the NBA for using the slur. But has this really changed their minds? Only Noah and Bryant know for sure- but I would argue that making homophobic sports players pay sums of money for their "mistakes" only makes them more hardened to stand by their ways.

Sure, it will probably stop them from using gay slurs on the court- but what about at home, in the locker room, or with their friends? Many may think that it doesn't matter what they say- as long as it's not in the public eye. I am here to tell those people that it does matter. As more and more people in the GLBT community come out of the closet, it is evident that there are members of the community all around us. What I am saying is just because someone does not say they are gay, doesn't mean that they are straight- obvious, right?

Maybe- and that is the point I am trying to make. It seems the resolve is staring everyone in the face but no one in sports really wants to address it- EDUCATION. Education is the key to acceptance. These sports powerhouses- whether it be the NBA, NHL, MLB, or NFL- need to educate their players on the importance of acceptance- not only for their own good, but more importantly for all those who look up to them and are trying to follow in their footsteps- young athletes and sports fans.

I can envision someone reading this post and saying "Okay, Nick- I think you are going a little overboard here- they apologized, they got fined, what more do you want?" The truth is- I want complete acceptance and I will not stop pioneering for GLBT rights in all areas until that goal is reached.

Here's why- Jaheem Herrera, an 11 year old from Atlanta, GA, killed himself last year after enduring years of torture from his classmates for being, as his family said, "effeminate". His 10 year old sister walked in to his room and found he had hung himself by his own belt in his closet. Add that to over a dozen well-publicized grade school GLBT youth suicides in just the past year alone- and those are just the ones that made it into the media. Many of these kids look up to sports figures as heroes.

So what do you think happens when a gay or lesbian 11 year old, while watching the NBA playoffs in their #13 Chicago Bulls Jersey in their living room, hears their hero call someone a fag? It's bad enough going to school everyday and getting bullied- believe me, I know- but how about hearing it from someone they have looked up to? Do you think an 11 year old feels better when Noah or Bryant is ordered to pay a monetary fine for their gay slur? Of course not- the damage is done.

This is why we must be on the defensive instead of the offensive when it comes to homophobia in sports. We need more education, more professional teams supportive of the gay community, more done in sports in general to ensure these kids can keep their heroes in tact as well as have a positive role model to look up to.

One ESPN.com commenter commented on the Noah Gay slur story calling it "just an insult- like calling someone an a**hole- people need to stop being so sensitive about this stuff". Maybe he should tell that to Jaheem Herrera's family.


To find out what you can do to help: start at http://www.itgetsbetter.org/. The San Francisco Giants have already pledged  to record a video. The first pitch has already been thrown. Will you help knock it out of the park or strike out?

Chicago History Museum's "Out In Chicago"

The Chicago History Museum will present a special exhibit called "Out In Chicago" to commemorate June as Pride Month. According to the Chicago History Museum website, Out in Chicago explores the stories of a group of Chicagoans who have been here since the city’s beginnings but whose lives have often been lived in the shadows.   

From the Chicago History website:

Out in Chicago spans diverse stories and perspectives and explores issues such as language, gender expression, formation of identity, the role of LGBT people in politics and culture, and family relationships. It balances private stories with public perspectives in relation to gender, community, and identity  and spotlights the inspiring and charged heritage of this diverse Chicago community, whose history truly belongs to all of us.

Check out a sneak peak of the exhibit, which opens this Saturday, here. 

For more information and a complete list of events beginning this weekend, click here.

Joakim Noah Uses Gay Slur During NBA Playoffs

 

Joakim Noah, a center for the Chicago Bulls, is under fire for using a gay slur during a playoffs game last night. Caught on camera, Noah is heard calling a fan a "f**king f**got". Kobe Bryant called a referee the same slur during a game a couple months ago and was fined $100,000 for the verbal attack. 

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios remarked, "Last month the NBA sent an important message about how such slurs fuel a climate of intolerance and are unacceptable. These anti-gay remarks, coming so soon after, demonstrate how much needs to be done.”

Barrios continued, "Noah's apology is a start. We are confident that the NBA will now take disciplinary measures and hasten its work with us to tell all players that there is no place for anti-gay words and attitudes in the game."

Noah's slur comes just a week after Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts revealed he was gay.

 The NBA has yet to comment on the matter. 

More must be done to curb the use of gay slurs, not only in the NBA, but all professional sports. As the NBA takes more aggressive measures to fine those using the anti-gay slur, the more it will curb its usage.

Plans To Convert Station Into Senior Housing

The City of Chicago unveiled plans May 13 to turn the historic former 23rd District Town Hall police station at 3600 N. Halsted into affordable community housing for seniors with a specific focus on providing a secure place for LGBT seniors to "age with dignity."

The space will include 90 rental units as well as provide new retail space servicing the Lakeview community. The housing units will include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.

Heartland Housing, a non-profit developer and frequent partner of the city, was the only developer to respond to the city's request for proposals last July. Executive Director Michael Goldberg said that an estimated 40,000 LGBT seniors live in the city and the population stands as one of the most invisible groups in the community.

This is a great opportunity for our aging LGBT population to enjoy their "golden years" with a support system to call their own. 

Rahm Emanuel Declares June Pride Month

Only a few days into holding office, new Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has issued a proclamation declaring June Pride Month.

The Proclamation states:

"WHEREAS, the 42nd Annual Pride Parade, one of the major events of the month, will take place on Sunday, June 26, 2011, bringing together an estimated 450,000 people; and..."


"WHEREAS, Chicago's diverse Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities have contributed significantly to the quality of life in Chicago;


NOW, THEREFORE, I, RAHM EMANUEL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, do hereby proclaim June 2011 to be PRIDE MONTH in CHICAGO, and encourage all Chicagoans to recognize the many contributions the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities have made to our city."
View the proclamation here.

Chicago is gearing up for Pride Month! Check back soon for more updates on event in activities going on in the LGBT community during the month of June.