Gender JUST Victories

Gender JUST has made tremendous progress towards our mission & vision over the last several years. Since coming together & beginning to organize, Gender JUST has:

In Schools: Played an instrumental role in expanding the CPS anti-discrimination policy to include Gender Identity & Expression. In 2010, secured a commitment from former Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman to create a Grievance Process that is youth centered, non-punitive, and focused on solving problems within the student community (based in principles of Restorative Justice). Held a public accountability session with the former CPS CEO Ron Huberman. 200+ community members witnessed a team of students, parents, & teachers present solutions to make schools safe & affirming for all students. Worked with Chicago Public Schools to ensure that all staff will be trained adequately and accountably around the issues surrounding our multiple identities. Continuously worked with GSAs in local high schools to engage students in popular education & community activism. In the LGBTQA community: In 2010, secured commitments from major service providers in Boystown to decrease police presence and disproportionate targeting & exclusion of queer and trans youth of color. In 2010, provided training to business owners on Halsted about the experiences of queer & trans youth of color. Provided trainings around racial justice & white privilege, often highlighting racism, classism and privilege in "mainstream" LGBTQA communities & movements. In 2011, created a Fellowship for Gender JUST youth leaders & organizers to engage in education & skills training in grassroots, community organizing. While maintaining a multi-generational, multi-racial membership, continues to engage queer & trans youth of color around issues in their communities, providing a home for countless LGBTQA people to organize in issues important to them and their communities. In health services & resource equity: Has met with several health providers & community leaders about the inequities in HIV prevention funding on the South & West sides of Chicago.  Has built a relationship with the Chicago Department of Public Health to discuss the availability & visibility of services on the South and West sides of the Chicago, and to make the community planning process (the HIV Prevention & Planning Group) more inclusive and accessible for working people. Provided trainings to Chicago service providers around the realities & experiences of LGBTQA communities (most often the experiences of LGBTQA youth). Team with the Illinois Caucus on Adolescent Health to educate young people about the oppressive Parental Notice law in Illinois and mobilize around its defeat. In addition: Launched a pen pal correspondence project between Gender JUST members and queer and trans folks in prisons. Worked with a citywide coalition to stop the deportation of Rigo Padilla, a student who was a risk of bearing the brunt of our racist and broken immigration system. Mobilize LGBTQA communities around the foreclosure crisis, raising the visibility of queer folks within economic justice struggles.  Gender JUST played a lead role in the Showdown in Chicago, a series of direct actions on banking institutions demanding accountability for the economic disaster in 2009.