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I. Character background

II. Internalized homophobia // What are common characteristics of an individual internalizing homophobia

III.Male masculinity

IV. LGBTQ+ History// Milestones

V. Organizations

VI. References

Topics discussed in ‘Tricks’ by Ellen Hopkins:

Sexuality, sexual assault, socioeconomic inequality, substance abuse, religion, death, and sex work

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Raised in catholic religious beliefs// small town in Indiana- conservative mindset

Seth’s father comes from a long line of farmers and factory workers & his dad big dream for him was to work until death

Seth’s mother believed in that sex was just a way to make babies and ONLY after marriage

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This is defined by The Rainbow Project as “Internalised homophobia and oppression happens to gay, lesbian and bisexual people, and even heterosexuals, who have learned and been taught that heterosexuality is the norm and “correct way to be”.

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Connection between internalized homophobia and mental health 

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Connection between internalized homophobia and mental health 

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1. Denial of personal sexual identity to oneself and others

2. Attempts to alter sexual orientation

3. Contempt of open or obvious members of LGBTQ+ community

4. Increased fear and withdrawal from friend and relatives

5. Continual self-monitoring of one’s behaviors, mannerisms, beliefs, and ideas

6. Unsafe sexual practices and other destructive risk-taking behaviours-including risk for HIV and other STIs

Reported that…

• Almost 57% report being harassed at least once in the last 30 days.

• About 55% were screened positive for depression; 63.5% were positive for anxiety.

Much like in 2017, the recent survey found that teens who live in states that are more conservative around LGBTQ+ issues report worse outcomes.

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The Pressures of Heteronormativity on Mental Health | Gianluca Bacilliere | TEDxHECParis

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December 10, 1924

The Society for Human Rights is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. The society is the first gay rights organization as well as the oldest documented in America. Soon after its founding, the society disbands due to political pressure.

November 11, 1950

In Los Angeles, gay rights activist Harry Hay founds America’s first sustained national gay rights organization. In an attempt to change public perception of homosexuality, the Mattachine Society aims to "eliminate discrimination, derision, prejudice and bigotry," to assimilate homosexuals into mainstream society, and to cultivate the notion of an "ethical homosexual culture."

December 15, 1950

A Senate report titled "Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government" is distributed to members of Congress after the federal government had covertly investigated employees' sexual orientation at the beginning of the Cold War. The report states since homosexuality is a mental illness, homosexuals "constitute security risks" to the nation because "those who engage in overt acts of perversion lack the emotional stability of normal persons."

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January 1, 1962

Illinois repeals its sodomy laws, becoming the first U.S. state to decriminalize homosexuality.

June 28, 1969

Patrons of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village riot when police officers attempt to raid the popular gay bar around 1am. Since its establishment in 1967, the bar had been frequently raided by police officers trying to clean up the neighborhood of "sexual deviants."

June 28, 1970

Christopher St. Liberation Day commemorates the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Following the event, thousands of members of the LGBT community march through New York into Central Park, in what will be considered America's first gay pride parade.

October 11, 1987

Hundreds of thousands of activists take part in the National March on Washington to demand that President Ronald Reagan address the AIDS crisis.

Although AIDS had been reported first in 1981, it is not until the end of his presidency that Reagan speaks publicly.

May 18, 2004

Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage. The court finds the prohibition of gay marriage unconstitutional because it denies dignity and equality of all individuals.

October 28, 2009

The Matthew Shepard Act is passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on October 28th. The measure expands the 1969 U.S. Federal Hate Crime Law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. (Matthew Shepard was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming on October 7, 1998 because of his sexual orientation.)

June 26, 2015

With a 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court declares same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.

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LGBT+ History By The Decades: Gay Liberation | Episode 7

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Organizations supporting LGBTQ+ communities

1. Rainbow Project funded in 1994 that works to improve the physical, mental & emotional health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ people and their families in Northern Ireland.

(https://www.rainbow-project.org)

2. Center on Halsted is a center in Chicago that has multiple programs that work with the LGBTQ+ community that provides support, resources, and educational opportunities.

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Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. More than 1,000 community members visit the Center every day, located in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview Neighborhood. Center on Halsted, in compliance with the City of Chicago public health order effective Center on Halsted complies with Federal regulations surrounding patient privacy and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Clients who engage in clinical services may rest assured that their private health information is secure. Please review Opened in 2007, Center on Halsted's home is a testament to the growing strength and diversity of the LGBTQ community. As an award-winning, integrative and forward-thinking design, it reminds visitors of our shared future together. Designed by the global architecture firm Gensler, Center on Halsted was designed to enable Chicago's wide array of LGBTQ organizations to come together to collaborate, grow and share resources. A intentionally visible symbol of LGBTQ pride, the three-story, 175,000-square-foot complex houses an entertainment venue, a Whole Foods grocery store, a café, office space for resident partners, a technology center, a gymnasium, a theater, a public roof garden, an underground parking structure and a number of other unique gathering spaces, all designed to be ADA compliant. Center on Halsted's dedication to advancing the community includes creating a healthier, greener environment for all. With this in mind, our building was designed not only to be functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also environmentally conscientious. As part of our vision of providing supporting and inclusive environments, our restrooms are open to everyone regardless of gender. Everyone should be able To learn more about how you can join Center on Halsted's journey,

We are open to the public every day from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

We work hard to provide a safe and welcoming environment with programs and services for the entire community. Our programs range from volleyball, dance performances and cooking classes to rapid HIV testing, group therapy and vocational training. We partner regularly with other organizations and groups from across Chicago and the nation to provide additional programming for the community. February 28, 2022, no longer requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination for those gathering in our ground-floor lobby area or participating in Open Gym.

Masks will continue to be required for those participating in the Center's free HIV testing program, per the City's medical services mask mandate. Center on Halsted's Privacy Practices that describes how the Center may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) in accordance with applicable law. It also describes your rights regarding how you may gain access to and control your PHI.

Center on Halsted is a catalyst advocating for racial equity for all LGBTQ individuals, allies, and their intersectional identities. With our partners we fight racism, bias, and hate. We commit to take intentional action, remain humble, defend equitable policy-making, and seek accountability in the collective effort to foster resilient communities.

The Center developed one of Chicago's first experimental rainwater harvesting systems. Rainwater was captured and recycled using the natural filtering powers of specific plants and topsoil found in our rooftop garden. After natural filtration, the water was stored in the basement, chlorinated, and then reused as non-potable flushing water.

Our roofing consists of white material-instead of traditional tar-reducing the overall energy consumption of the building and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Additional green design principles can be found inside the building including recycled carpeting throughout, 'fly ash' concrete and salvaged brick.

The building maximizes natural lighting and utilizes an automatically adjusting ventilation and lighting system designed to be used only when space is in use, decreasing our consumption of electricity. The Center also invests in Renewable Energy Credits to reduce our carbon footprint through the development of global clean energy choices and carbon reduction projects.
to use the restroom of their choice, free of abuse and harassment of any kind.
We ask you to support us in keeping this space safe and accessible for everyone.

Get Involved and Contact Us.

In 2008, Center on Halsted became one of the first buildings in Chicago to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Composed of the restored terra cotta and brick façade of a 1924 building wrapped by a new glass structure, Gensler's design creates a visible neighborhood presence for the community center. The historic façade serving as the visual indication of the retail space on the first floor, and the glass composition providing a clear identity for the Center itself.

"The diverse identities of the people who will be using this building inspired our design," Jason Longo, one of Gensler's architectural design directors, said during construction. "Expressions of transparency, color, pattern and historic elements reflect diversity while presenting a unified composition."

The unadorned clear glass façade exposes the inner workings of the Center, proclaiming boldly LGBTQ people will no longer reside behind a curtain but will be visible for the world to see. A set of doors remains open between Whole Foods and the Center's soaring lobby during working hours to further the Center's connection to the neighborhood.

Because the Center serves as a meeting place for diverse organizations and communities Gensler designed the interior around a central corridor that acts as a main street. The top floor of the three-story building includes a double-height space devoted to theater and other performances, while a similarly scaled volume contains a gymnasium with a basketball court that opens to the public roof garden.

Center on Halsted welcomes, affirms and celebrates diversity in all its forms. Every member of staff and patron is bound by a Code of Conduct to respect and honor the dignity of every person in the Center. We require adherence to those principles from Center patrons and visitors alike. Please take a moment to review our Code of Conduct and Operations Plan by clicking on the following links.

Click here to view our In-Center Commitments.

Click here to view our Operations Plan.

We continue to encourage all in our facility to practice the following risk reduction behaviors:

Maintain appropriate social distancing of at least six feet whenever possible.

Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Carefully monitor your health, including for symptoms of COVID-19 (i.e., fever, cough, chills, respiratory issues, loss of taste or smell)

Please stay home if you are not feeling well or have a temperature above 100.4. (The Center has a temperature kiosk you may use on the second floor of the building, next to the elevator bay.)

Center on Halsted provides masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer to all in need.

Center on Halsted also serves as an incubator for a number of smaller LGBTQ non-profit organizations, called Resident Partners. We provide operational support, space and resources for organizations that may otherwise find it difficult to interact and grow.

In addition, there is a Whole Foods Market in the building with two levels of underground parking at Center on Halsted (note, parking is exclusively for Whole Foods customers). Free wi-fi access is available throughout the building including our lobby, reading library and our rooftop terrace. We also offer meeting and reception space, with special discounts for non-profit community groups.

For more information, please check out our programs and events pages. And check out our get involved pages to find out how you can help us advance the LGBTQ community. We hope to see you at the Center soon!

Center on Halsted's deep commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community is reflected in both the mission and vision of the organization. Center on Halsted advances community and secures the health and well-being of the LGBTQ people of Chicagoland.

A thriving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, living powerfully in supportive inclusive environments.

Copyright © Center on Halsted

3656 N. Halsted Street | Chicago, IL 60613 | 773.472.6469

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Center on Halsted - Chicago's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center

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Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. More than 1,000 community members visit the Center every day, located in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview Neighborhood.

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1. About Center on Halsted (no date) Center on halsted - chicago’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender Community Center. Available at: https://www.centeronhalsted.org/cohoverview.html (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

2. Internalised homophobia (2021) rainbow. Available at: https://www.rainbow-project.org/internalised-homophobia/ (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

3. Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement (no date) PBS. Available at: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-milestones-american-gay-rights-movement/ (Accessed: 11 November 2023).