Michelle Wang, a Chicago lesbian originally from Indianapolis, says that she was turned away from a homeless shelter because of her sexuality. From the Chicago Tribune:
Finally, Wang blurted out that she was a lesbian. The staffer immediately put her on hold. After a long wait, Wang got the word she feared: There were no beds available. She would have to fend for herself for another night in the unseasonably cold fall weather. In complaints with city and state officials and in an expected lawsuit, the 27-year-old Wang alleges New Life Interim Housing, a homeless shelter in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, discriminated against her on the basis of sexual orientation.
The Presbyterian pastor who runs the shelter said that the evidence that shows open beds that night was just a recording error, but also said:
Some of our staff are less comfortable with homosexual, gay and lesbian folks than others are. Our policy as a ministry is to welcome every single person as a child of God.I don't know about this pastor's religious beliefs, but his comments in the article sound an awful lot like "Hate the sin, love the sinner", and we all know where that ends up when the sin is an immutable part of one's identity.
This comes on the heels of the Task Force study that found that 20-40% of homeless youth are LGBT and the NY Times story on discrimination against queer youth in homeless shelters and indication that homeless advocacy groups won't ask for federal funding for diversity training or LGBT-focused programs because they fear that the Religious Right will retaliate by taking away funding from homeless shelters.
So is this Falwell's legacy?
(Photo from the Chicago Tribune)
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6 Comments
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I believe that Wheeler will do the same thing here in Indy. They also will not accept help from the Homeless Ministry from Jesus MCC because it is conscidered "that gay church".
phil | May 21, 2007 3:44 PM
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Stories like this one really piss me off. I've been homeless - and lived on the streets. I also had the same experience - "Oh! You're gay? Sorry, this Christian organization has no room at our inn."
Ooooh. Way to get my blood boiling, Alex.
Bil Browning | May 21, 2007 4:50 PM
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I know intimately the people involved in the organization (Good News Partners) that funds New Life Shelter and I can assure you that that Rev. Bud Ogle is exceptionally open-minded and accepting of people. He has never exhibited one ounce of homophobia. The idea that this generous organization and would be lumped in with Jerry Falwell and his reprehensible "legacy" is disgusting. I suppose you missed the information in the article that Bud Ogle is a lifetime member of the ACLU.
I have no doubt that homophobia exists in some faith based outreach groups, but I am certain that it will be revealed that this young woman's experience was due to a clerical error and not homophobia.
It does usually go "Love the sinner, hate the sin." Not the other way around as you've printed it. Of course, homosexuality is not a sin.
IamSusie | May 22, 2007 12:40 PM
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Having worked at a shelter, I find it sad that someone would be turned away on the basis of sexuality. I also know that its possible for beds to be accounted for, and then have the person the bed is being held for not show up. Then that bed is once again freed up. So its possible that at the time of the call, the shelter was full, and an hour later they have openings.
That said, I also know that because of others homophobia, having a lesbian in the shelter can cause the other ladies to act out and cause trouble. A lazy shelter worker might see the situtation as,"too much work" and deny entrance unfairly. It is certainly NOT on the client, to be responsible for the behavior of others. When I have had clients come up to be to complain about someones sexuality, race, hiv status, or other non relevant issues, I always let the complainee know, that they have the right to be comfortable, so they are alway free to find another shelter for THEMSELVES...
soulsurvivor | May 30, 2007 12:40 PM
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One other comment, WHY WAS THE QUESTION ASKED? Was the caller asked, or led to disclose, if so why? Seems that just asking the question would be discrimination.
soulsurvivor | May 30, 2007 12:44 PM
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Once this goes to trial, it will be made known that Michelle had been working a full time job and staying at a coworker's house for 3 months, not a few weeks, before this incident occured. Is it legal for someone to be turned down because they were trying to abuse the system?
goldfish | May 30, 2007 3:31 PM
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