Presented by alderman deborah mell on November 18.2015
WHEREAS, Windy City Times is celebrating its 30th Anniversary serving the diverse communication needs of Chicago's LGBTQ community; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this significant occasion by the Honorable Deborah Mell, Alderman of the 33rd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1985, Windy City Times began as a small newspaper and has steadily grown to be the preeminent LGBTQ newspaper and a political force not only in Chicago, but nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Windy City Times conducted special investigative projects that have been cited as important contributions to the community, including AIDS @ 30, LGBTS in the Criminal Legal System, and Generation Halsted; and
WHEREAS, Their accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. The newspaper and its reporters have won numerous community awards including: Crain's Chicago Business 40 Under 40, Night Ministry, Astraea Lesbian Fund, True Colors Fund, OPLAGA, Crossroads Fund, Human Rights Campaign, American Civil Liberties Union, National Organization for Women, Affinity, Federation of Gay Games, Dignity, Association of Latin Men in Action, March on Washington, Test Positive Aware Network, and Bailiwick Theatre; and
WHEREAS, Windy City Times staff and writers received awards for their work including: the Peter Lisagor journalism award, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association writing awards, Q Syndicate national press awards, and the National GLAAD Awards, winning entries and finalists. In addition, Publisher Tracy Bairn has written 11 books on LGBT history, has executive produced two feature films, has received the Studs Terkel 2005 Journalism Award and has been inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, the Chicago Society of Professional Journalists Hall of Fame, and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Windy City Times and their staffs dedication to the community extends beyond the written word. They are deeply engaged in the community helping to organize the Gay Games VII in 2006, the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, the 2014 Homeless LGBT Youth Summit, and numerous other community events and benefits including the Nov. 20, 2015 Out in the Open Sleep Out to benefit 19 projects that serve youth experiencing homelessness; now, therefore,
BEITRESOL VED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this eighteenth day of November 2015, do hereby extend our heartiest congratulations to Windy City Times on celebrating their 30th anniversary and wish them every success in any and all of their future endeavors; and