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We Are Halsted: Opening The Doors

courtesy Nightspots magazine

WE ARE HALSTED: OPENING THE DOORS

As a young gay male, I see different reactions to the progress being made on queer rights. And though I feel discouraged at times that not all rights are equal to me, I still feel optimistic that more and more doors are being opened. Our president has come out in support of gay marriage, gays are able to serve openly for our country in the armed forces and I feel more and more comfortable holding a sweetheart’s hand in public with every day. Some constantly say that it isn’t enough progress or it’s taking too long — or both — but it is a step in the right direction.

It’s easy to see all the doors that are opening for me as a gay white male, but it’s impossible for to feel comforted by it when doors are actively being closed for queer homeless youth. There is undoubtedly a disparity within the queer community that goes largely unnoticed or ignored. More so than ever before, queer youth are homeless. As of now, the statistic is 26% of queer youth that are either kicked out or run away. The Night Ministry’s homeless youth shelter, The Crib, is the only of its kind in the Midwest; giving homeless youth a place to stay in Chicago’s gay district and doesn’t follow gender specific policies and promotes queer programming. After a year of being open year round, the The Crib’s doors are being closed.

With the economic hardships that our country is undergoing, both government and private funding for nonprofits has slowed. At last week’s meeting with The Night Ministry’s board of directors, they made a very difficult decision to return The Crib to a seasonal shelter. The Crib was originally funded by the City of Chicago as a seasonal shelter that would be open from October 1 to April 30. When The Night Ministry Board decided to re-open it in August 2011 as a year-round shelter, it was with the understanding that the program needed to be financially sustainable. Unfortunately, The Night Ministry has been unable to raise enough private funds to keep the program open during the summer months. Effective July 1, The Crib will return to operation as a seasonal shelter and re-open its doors for the winter on October 1.

If there are 15,000 homeless youth in Chicago and 40% of them identify as queer, that means approximately 6,000 homeless queer youth no longer have a safe place to go in Chicago from April 30 to October 1. These numbers don’t even begin to take into account those outside the Midwest that come to Chicago for shelter. Sure, other programs such as the Broadway Youth Center and Center on Halsted have day programming for queer youth, but what comfort is a program in daylight when you have no place to sleep at night?

Any member of the queer community can attest to the fact that coming to terms with your sexuality can be a difficult time; add to that the physical struggles that come from being displaced from your home and you can almost appreciate the terror of the situation. Worse, queer homeless youth come to the gay district for the same reasons that every other member of the queer community do: to belong. But instead, they are treated like outsiders, pariahs and accused of being criminals and running with gangs. And though, Lakeview is still among the safest neighborhoods in Chicago, community members are actively trying to displace the queer homeless youth even further with dirty looks, snide remarks and slander. Instead of celebrating the fact that the queer community has a home in Chicago away from prejudice, it turns against its parts with exclusivity. It would be ironic if it weren’t so hateful.

In response to the closing of the Crib and to this behavior, I wanted to help open a few doors for queer homeless youth. Last Summer, Patrick Gill and I approached the Alderman’s office asking to put together a show that would benefit homeless youth shelters and raise awareness about homeless youth — entertaining while educating the community. They passed on the idea but referred us to The Center on Halsted. The name for the series embodied what we wanted to accomplish with uniting the Chicago queer community: We Are Halsted. With an all-ages show, we raised money and awareness for three homeless youth shelters in Chicago, including the just recently re-opened The Crib.

After working with the homeless shelters, I learned just how unique The Crib was. Unlike the other youth homeless shelters that were located on the South and West side specifically, this one was located in Lakeview. And as previously mentioned, the administrators don’t use policies that are gender specific such as bathrooms or sleeping arrangements. I wanted to continue the series by reaching out to different parts of the community and including them in helping queer homeless youth. The next We Are Halsted was presented in December of 2011 with Stardust at Berlin nightclub, and I worked with AJ Durand to put on a raucous variety show that included burlesque, drag and circus acts to appeal to younger, alternative queer community members.

This time around, with The Crib’s recent closure, my cause has turned into a crisis. With Over The Rainbow creator Jimmy Kays, we’re bringing We Are Halsted to Sidetrack with a crowd-pleasing show that is completely showtunes-themed. With an amazing line-up featuring Jayson Brooks (Jeff-nominated musical theater actor, lead vocalist for JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound,) Jess Godwin (nationally touring recording artist,) rising musical theater talent Sharriese Hamilton and hosted by Benny Stardust (Steamworkz: The Musical, Windy City Gay Idol.)

I invite you. Not just to give money to The Night Ministry’s The Crib but also to look at every youth that vogues up and down Halsted at night and ask yourself if maybe that could have been you, if your coming out story was different. Be a part of your community by helping all of its parts. You may be queer, straight, questioning, gainfully employed, living paycheck to paycheck, home-owner renter or homeless…but when you come to a We Are Halsted event, you’re none of these things anymore. You stop being an individual and become part of We Are Halsted.

Open a door for someone in your community. We Are Halsted: Show Support With Showtunes. Wednesday July 25th and doors open at 7pm at Sidetrack on 3349 N Halsted. Tickets are $12 in advance (go to www.thenightministry.org – donate – and choose “We Are Halsted” in the drop-down menu, select $12 donations and your name will be added the door list) and $17 at the door. Proceeds benefit The Night Ministry’s The Crib.

Help spread word by “liking” our community page on www.facebook.com/WeAreHalsted and following us on www.twitter.com/WeAreHalsted.

We Are Halsted: Show Support With Showtunes

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poster courtesy John Scalise

On Wednesday July 25th, We Are Halsted, a series of variety shows that benefits the Chicago queer community by raising funds and awareness, will be raising money for homeless youth in the queer community. The event will be called Show Support With Showtunes, will feature live musical theater performances and take place at Sidetrack Video Bar at 3349 N Halsted, Chicago, IL at 7pm. Performers donating their talent include Jeff nominated Jayson Brooks (lead singer from JC Brooks And The Uptown Sound,) Jess Godwin (nationally touring recording artist,) Sharriese Hamilton (Musical theater buff,) and hosted by Benny Stardust (Steamworkz: The Musical, Windy City Gay Idol.) The night will also include a silent auction. The proceeds will benefit The Night Ministry’s queer homeless shelter The Crib.

We Are Halsted was organized in the summer of 2011 in response to rising numbers in queer homeless youth. Twenty-six percent of LGBTQ youth were kicked out of their homes when they came out (that’s over a quarter of LGBTQ youth.) Queer youth are seven times more likely to be victims of crime and three times more likely to engage in survival sex. There are 15,000 homeless youth in Chicago and up to 40% of them identify as queer. July 25th will be the third edition of We Are Halsted and organized by its creator Adam Guerino and the creator of Over The Rainbow, Jimmy Kays.

Our beneficiary combats this issue like no other organization in Chicago. The Night Ministry’s The Crib not only provides queer homeless youth with food and shelter throughout the night, but with a sense of community and confidence–empowering them as they search for housing and employment. It is the only shelter of its kind in the Midwest and the only resource for youth from Chicago and several surrounding states. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, it will go from being a year-round homeless shelter to only being available from October 1st to April 30th. If there are 15,000 homeless youth in Chicago and 40% of them identify as queer, that means 6,000 homeless youth no longer have a safe place in Chicago over night. Where will these youth go? Statistics can’t say but whether they are empowered enough to ask or not, queer homeless youth are hoping for your help.

A personal belief from the organizers of We Are Halsted is that when a youth is kicked out of a straight home for being queer, whether admitted or only suspected–they belong to the queer community. These youth want what the entire queer community wants, to be accepted for who they are, who they love but most importantly, to feel safe with food, shelter and a future in the wider community. They need your support to achieve these simple, basic goals.

We Are Halsted: Show Support With Showtunes. Wednesday July 25th doors open at 7pm at Sidetrack on 3349 N Halsted. Tickets are $12 in advance ((go to www.thenightministry.org – donate – and choose “We Are Halsted” in the drop-down menu, select $12 donations and your name will be added the door list,)) and $17 at the door. Proceeds benefit The Night Ministry’s The Crib.

Help spread word by “liking” our community page on www.facebook.com/WeAreHalsted and following us on www.twitter.com/WeAreHalsted.

We Are Halsted – TONIGHT!

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We Are Halsted – Adam Guerino from Moka Productions on Vimeo.

After being featured in The Redeye, Timeout Chicago and doing two interviews for radio and newspapers today, there is no doubt–We Are Halsted is the place to be tonight. Chicago is listening, let’s celebrate our progress!

Tickets available at the door for $15 or you can bring two 1-day cta passes to substitute the price of admission. 100% of proceeds benefit The Night Ministry’s The Crib! For more info about the cause and the event, check out the video above from Gaychicagotv.com.

Giving Thanks

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Guerino in holiday sweater

This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for perspective. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to immerse myself in a world of community building, helping those in need. But as much as I believe I’ve learned more, I think I’ve lost sight of one my first goal: raising awareness. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy getting angry about misconceptions from the majority about the minority. Specifically, queer homeless youth. But in the last week, I’ve re-assessed my self-righteous “Think of the children!” position. I have had unique experiences that shaped my outlook and instead of doubting those that think differently, maybe I should relate my experiences in a way that others might understand better.

With legislation and popular culture growing more accepting of homosexuality, it’s hard to see the drawbacks. But it happens in the homes of queer youth. Straight parents who still fear homosexuality see this as something that claims their children and their reaction is as extreme as the progress we’ve made. The statistics for homeless queer youth are astounding. More than 1 in 4 queer youth that come out to their family are kicked out of their home. Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as queer. But statistics define the issue about as completely as any number defines you from age to weight to phone number.

This Thanksgiving, I’m going to start talking about my endeavors to raise awareness and funds for queer homeless youth. There are stories I haven’t shared. It wasn’t until this past Summer that I publicized that I was ever homeless myself. My experiences were terrifying but small in comparison to many of the youth I have met this past year who struggle with homelessness on a daily basis. I hope my personal stories can change this issue from numbers to a reality you wouldn’t think you could relate.

My very first story is the story of We Are Halsted.

Last Summer, I saw a community issue. The whole community was on alert. I was proud that they were worried and wanted to help but I didn’t think they were making informed opinions on what should be done. The issue, on the very surface, was crime in Chicago’s queer neighborhood, Lakeview. What bothered me though was where community concern was directed. There were a series of muggings and stabbings and terms like “south-side gangs” and “Take back” were used to disguise fear and racism.

Most of the blame was directed at the mass of young persons that roamed up and down Halsted who largely were African-American. There were congregations of them and they’d be seen laughing, shouting and vogue-ing all through the night. It was obvious to see that they were younger, poorer and non-whiter than the majority of Lakeview so I could understand how they were considered outsiders. But I had to laugh to myself a little when people tried to label them “gangs.” The term was used in an effort, conscious or otherwise, to have them forced out of the neighborhood. I mean, with the flailing of limp wrists and uncanny ability to turn a city street into a catwalk, these mary’s are most assuredly not a gang.

It took little investigation from police officers and city officials to confirm what I thought was obvious, these were gay teens and they didn’t live on the south side because they didn’t live anywhere. They were homeless. At least in the conventional sense that they had no bed or mailing address. But, because of their sexuality, they came to Lakeview. Hoping to not be judged by their sexuality. Hoping to call it home.

This is why the “take back” movement equally confused and infuriated me. It was a mostly anonymous league of angry people who facebooked and blogged about how violence has taken over Lakeview and the “gangs” need to be removed. I saw a distinct lack of awareness that Lakeview was still one of the safest neighborhoods in the city and that the targets of their community outrage came to their community for the same reason that they did. People don’t come to Lakeview just for the safety or the real estate. They come to belong. To possibly meet a love interest. To support businesses that support their lifestyles. To hold their lovers hand in public without attracting dirty looks. So who are we “taking back” the neighborhood from?

I started We Are Halsted, a series of variety shows benefiting homeless youth, as a vessel to raise funds and awareness about homeless youth. I didn’t want to fault those who didn’t understand that these aren’t criminals in their community–they are homeless members of the community.

I believe that when someone is kicked out of a family in the heterosexual community that they then belong to the homosexual community. We can’t all open our doors but can support the amazing community organizations that are fighting to help. The one I have chosen to help is The Night Ministry.

The Night Ministry has been helping the homeless with food, shelter, empowerment and job placement since the 1970s. In the last year, they opened up a homeless shelter in Lakeview called The Crib. I have tried to be an ambassador to the queer community about this shelter because it is the only one of its kind in the Midwest yet not a lot of people know about it. We should feel a singular pride to be the first to respond to this growing problem of queer youth homelessness. Because it is a huge problem. Straight families are kicking out their queer youth and the queer community is largely unaware of them. By supporting The Crib, you are becoming a part of the solution.

One of my goals is to have an opportunity to celebrate this progress. With my We Are Halsted events, you can see an amazing world-class variety show, drink and dance with friends, all while supporting The Night Ministry’s The Crib. The next event is a week from today, appropriate a week after Thanksgiving. Give thanks to everything you are thankful for this weekend and next Thursday, December 1st, help those that are a part of your community at Berlin nightclub starting at 10. You can buy tickets at www.wearehalsted.eventbrite.com and there are only a few more days of discount tickets so don’t hesitate to buy them.

And, even if you can’t make it or you can’t donate, be a part of the progress by looking at all members of our community with a new level of understanding. These queer homeless youth belong to us now. And they are screaming, shouting, laughing, cat-walking and vogue-ing their way up and down Lakeview in an effort to be heard by a community where they wish to belong.

Throughout the next week, I’ll share my experiences with being homeless. Not as an effort to gain sympathy for myself but to relate the kinds of obstacles that queer homeless youth face in Chicago. Thanks for reading and Thankgiving!

We Are Halsted logo/family crest by Claude Abbott

We Are Halsted is BACK!

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Stardust presents We Are Halsted: A gender f-ing, all-loving, big ole, great big, get down.

After its sensational debut this summer, the LGBTQ youth benefit We Are Halsted is back; and it’s taking to the dance floor. Thursday December 1st, doors open at 10pm at Berlin nightclub 954 W Belmont, creator and host Adam Guerino is bringing another night of spectacle with substance. Proceeds will benefit The Crib, a shelter in Lakeview that serves LGBTQ youth organized by The Night Ministry.

Twenty six percent of LGBTQ youth were kicked out of their homes when they came out (that’s over 1/4th of LGBTQ youth.) Queer youth are seven times more likely to be victims of crime and three times more likely to participate in survival sex. There are 15,000 homeless youth in Chicago and up to 40% of them identify as queer. And it’s getting colder. Chicago has a long way to go toward both social acceptance and housing homeless youth. We’re inviting you to be a part of the solution. The Night Ministry’s The Crib not only provides them with food and shelter, but with a sense of community and confidence–empowering them as they search for housing and employment.

We Are Halsted will be part risque variety show part raucous dance party. Hosted by Stardust and Adam Guerino with photos by ASL media. Performances include Trandroid and D’juanna Cyber (Shits and Giggles,) Les Soubrettes (We Stand Sideways Dance Co.,) Viva La Muerte (America’s Got Talent,) Jeffrey Pressley (Carnival of Curiosity and Chaos,) and presenting Ana Hoops, followed by a dance party with DJ Erik Roldan (Chances Dances) and DJ Black Gold (Queerer Park.) We Are Halsted family crest/logo created by Claude Abbott.

This is a difficult time of year for homeless youth. As the temperature drops the need for shelter and support rises. Make yourself at home while helping thsoe who don’t have one. And drink. And dance. Thursday December 1st, doors open at 10pm, Berlin nightclub 954 W Belmont. Tickets are $10 in advance at http://wearehalsted.eventbrite.com/and $15 at the door.