Chicago axes gay liaison, puts it under some larger category, concerns advocates

Windy City Media Group:

Under the subcategory "Commission on Human Relations," Emanuel has proposed having directors/community liaisons for the Advisory Council on Gender and Sexuality and the Advisory Council on Equity; each individual would receive an annual salary of $86,796.

However, in establishing these positions, several other councils would no longer exist, including those pertaining to African affairs; Arab affairs; Asian affairs; Latino affairs; immigration and refugees; women; and gay and lesbian issues. ( The directors/liaisons of those departments were being paid the same amount in the new proposal: $86,796. ) The aforementioned councils would be housed under gender and sexuality as well as equity. The Advisory Council on Veteran Affairs remains intact.

One individual whom the budget proposal negatively affects is Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Bill Greaves, who will lose his job.

Kelly also argued that there are practical concerns in reorganization. Kelly worries that the changes will undo progress the LGBT community has made with the Chicago Police Department and that by not naming "LGBT" specifically, the community will be less likely to report incidents of discrimination.