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May 2008 You're Invited: GNP Annual Dinner, Featuring Philip Yancey

July 2007 Press Release: New Life Interim Housing Dispute Resolved

2006 News

2005 News

Good News Partners Invites You to our Annual Dinner
Featuring

PHILIP YANCEY

Author of
Reflections on Prayer:
Does It Make A Difference?

Friday, May 16, 2008

Reception and Dinner:
(includes Mr. Yancey’s Address) 6:00 p.m. $50.00 per person

Reflections on Prayer
Philip Yancey 8:15 p.m. $25.00 per person

Reservations required. For further information call Leah Kranz at Good News Partners, 773/764-4998
or by email at leah@goodnewspartners.org.
Event to be held at First Presbyterian Church of Evanston,
1427 Chicago Ave., Evanston

New Life Interim Housing Dispute Resolved

July 2007

"...God often teaches us that good things can come out of bad situations."

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Bud Ogle
President
Good News Partners
Phone: (773) 764-9214 Contact: Edwin C. Yohnka
Director of Communications
American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois
Phone: (312) 201-9740, ext. 305

CHICAGO -- A Chicago lesbian who was denied access to a City-funded homeless shelter today agreed to resolve the dispute with Good News Partners (GNP) after the organization agreed to take a number of steps to insure that its facilities are free from all discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Michelle Wang of Chicago filed charges of discrimination in April 2007 with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations and the Illinois Department of Human Rights after she was denied shelter at the New Life Shelter, owned and operated by GNP, on November 1, 2006. The denial came after Ms. Wang revealed to a GNP employee that she was homeless because of the break-up of her relationship with her lesbian partner.

In the settlement announced today by Reverend Bud Ogle, founder and President of GNP, and Ms. Wang’s attorneys at the ACLU of Illinois and Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, the shelter agreed to reaffirm its opposition to discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons and demonstrate that commitment by initiating comprehensive training for all GNP employees. The Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, in cooperation with two other fair housing advocacy groups, will provide training for all current GNP employees. In addition, GNP will train all new employees and provide refresher training for all employees annually for at least the next three years.

"I'm happy this got resolved so well," said Ms. Wang in announcing the settlement. "I wanted to make sure no one else had to fear for their safety after being turned away like I did." "I think the training they are starting will make a huge difference for LGBT people looking for shelter," added Wang. "I met other homeless lesbians who felt they had to make a choice between coming out as lesbian or having a shelter bed. Homeless lesbians and gay men are going to be better protected in the future because of what Good News Partners is doing with this training."

Addressing the settlement, Reverend Ogle stated: "In our 31 years of work to end homelessness God often teaches us that good things can come out of bad situations. Michelle Wang has helped us realize this again. We continue to oppose any and all discrimination, injustice, fear and prejudice. Sometimes the painful reality is that we learn how to do our work better through our mistakes."

Under the agreement, employees at GNP will undergo training that in large part could be titled "LGBT 101." Among other topics, the course includes: basic information about sexual orientation and gender identity, the proper use of terms and pronouns; means for communicating to LGBT residents that they are welcome and will be treated with respect; and guidelines for protecting the privacy and dignity of LGBT persons. In addition, the training will address the vulnerability of LGBT persons to harassment, abuse and assault; measures to help prevent this harm, and the commitment of GNP management to investigate complaints of discrimination and respond appropriately to them. Ms. Wang will be able to review an agenda before the training takes place and will provide any suggestions to the organization conducting the training.

"We are pleased that GNP has acknowledged the need to take steps to ensure that the lesbians and gay men don’t face discrimination at their shelters," said John A. Knight, Project Director for the ACLU of Illinois Gay and Lesbian Rights Project. "We hope this agreement will make life a little easier for this vulnerable population."

Knight also noted that the City of Chicago recently decided to conduct anti-discrimination training of staff at other homeless shelters.

"We are very delighted that GNP has made this comprehensive effort to prevent discrimination a priority," added Stephen Fedo of Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP. "We are pleased that all parties were able to arrive at this agreement."

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;

May 2008	You're Invited: GNP Annual Dinner, Featuring Philip Yancey
July 2007	Press Release: New Life Interim Housing Dispute Resolved
2006 News
2005 News

Good News Partners Invites You to our Annual Dinner Featuring PHILIP YANCEY Author of Reflections on Prayer: Does It Make A Difference? Friday, May 16, 2008
Reception and Dinner: (includes Mr. Yancey’s Address)	6:00 p.m.	$50.00 per person
Reflections on Prayer Philip Yancey	8:15 p.m.	$25.00 per person
Reservations required. For further information call Leah Kranz at Good News Partners, 773/764-4998 or by email at leah@goodnewspartners.org. Event to be held at First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, 1427 Chicago Ave., Evanston


PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Bud Ogle President Good News Partners Phone: (773) 764-9214	Contact: Edwin C. Yohnka Director of Communications American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois Phone: (312) 201-9740, ext. 305
CHICAGO -- A Chicago lesbian who was denied access to a City-funded homeless shelter today agreed to resolve the dispute with Good News Partners (GNP) after the organization agreed to take a number of steps to insure that its facilities are free from all discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Michelle Wang of Chicago filed charges of discrimination in April 2007 with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations and the Illinois Department of Human Rights after she was denied shelter at the New Life Shelter, owned and operated by GNP, on November 1, 2006. The denial came after Ms. Wang revealed to a GNP employee that she was homeless because of the break-up of her relationship with her lesbian partner. In the settlement announced today by Reverend Bud Ogle, founder and President of GNP, and Ms. Wang’s attorneys at the ACLU of Illinois and Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, the shelter agreed to reaffirm its opposition to discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons and demonstrate that commitment by initiating comprehensive training for all GNP employees. The Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, in cooperation with two other fair housing advocacy groups, will provide training for all current GNP employees. In addition, GNP will train all new employees and provide refresher training for all employees annually for at least the next three years. "I'm happy this got resolved so well," said Ms. Wang in announcing the settlement. "I wanted to make sure no one else had to fear for their safety after being turned away like I did." "I think the training they are starting will make a huge difference for LGBT people looking for shelter," added Wang. "I met other homeless lesbians who felt they had to make a choice between coming out as lesbian or having a shelter bed. Homeless lesbians and gay men are going to be better protected in the future because of what Good News Partners is doing with this training." Addressing the settlement, Reverend Ogle stated: "In our 31 years of work to end homelessness God often teaches us that good things can come out of bad situations. Michelle Wang has helped us realize this again. We continue to oppose any and all discrimination, injustice, fear and prejudice. Sometimes the painful reality is that we learn how to do our work better through our mistakes." Under the agreement, employees at GNP will undergo training that in large part could be titled "LGBT 101." Among other topics, the course includes: basic information about sexual orientation and gender identity, the proper use of terms and pronouns; means for communicating to LGBT residents that they are welcome and will be treated with respect; and guidelines for protecting the privacy and dignity of LGBT persons. In addition, the training will address the vulnerability of LGBT persons to harassment, abuse and assault; measures to help prevent this harm, and the commitment of GNP management to investigate complaints of discrimination and respond appropriately to them. Ms. Wang will be able to review an agenda before the training takes place and will provide any suggestions to the organization conducting the training. "We are pleased that GNP has acknowledged the need to take steps to ensure that the lesbians and gay men don’t face discrimination at their shelters," said John A. Knight, Project Director for the ACLU of Illinois Gay and Lesbian Rights Project. "We hope this agreement will make life a little easier for this vulnerable population." Knight also noted that the City of Chicago recently decided to conduct anti-discrimination training of staff at other homeless shelters. "We are very delighted that GNP has made this comprehensive effort to prevent discrimination a priority," added Stephen Fedo of Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP. "We are pleased that all parties were able to arrive at this agreement."
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