Rainbow flag at city hall

[Ted]

Berwyn has a rainbow flag on a flag pole outside city hall for the month of June.  Here is the text that was on city of Berwyn facebook page:

During the month of June, the City of Berwyn will be hanging the LGBTQ flag in recognition of LGBTQ month. The City of Berwyn is proud to have residents of many backgrounds and is committed to the notion that all people should be treated fairly and with respect.


https://www.facebook.com/BerwynIL/photos/a.157965061002838.35383.145307608935250/1069941096471892/

[markberwyn]

Berwyn is more progressive than the White House: http://fusion.kinja.com/looks-like-trumps-white-house-is-going-to-celebrate-lgb-1795757611/amp

[Ted]

This Tuesday, the city of Berwyn will vote on a proclamation declaring June to be PRIDE month in Berwyn.  BUNGALO is mentioned and honored in the proclamation.  Here is the text of the proclamation:

WHEREAS, in 1994 the City of Berwyn sought ways to protect residents from discrimination based upon race, sex, ethnic origin and sexual orientation hoping to secure for all persons living or desiring to live in the city a fair opportunity to obtain housing, employment, and accomodations through passage of a Community Relations Ordinance, and

WHEREAS, inclusion of protections for LGBTQ residents in the ordinance was met with vehement opposition voiced at meetings and in newspapers thereby threatening the passage of the ordinance and causing the Berwyn City Council to eliminate protections to LGBTQ residents, and

WHEREAS, in response to overt exclusion, Berwyn residents Ted Korbos, Jane Anderson, Tom Koppes, Susan Greenberg, April O'Malley and Don Butt formed and organized the Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay and Lesbian Organization, fondly known today throughout Berwyn and neighboring locals as BUNGALO, with the objective to make others aware that lesbian and gay residents were already an integral part of the community, and

WHEREAS, BUNGALO's membership grew through the years, as did Berwyn's LGBTQ population and members joined civic organizations and city commissions, inspired by BUNGALO's motto: "We, too, are Berwyn", with the purpose of fostering better community relations between residents adn the LGBTQ community and aiding the city they loved, and

WHEREAS, in 2008, after years of work and effort by BUNGALO, along with other residents working to build a welcoming city for all, the Berwyn City Council amended its Community Relations ordinance expanding protection and opportunity to all of its residents, and

WHEREAS, Berwyn has today achieved wide recognition for its inclusiveness due to its citizenry electing openly gay and lesbian representatives in city and township government as well as on school boards and park boards,

NOW, THEREFORE, let it be proclaimed that Mayor Robert J. Lovero, the Berwyn City Council and the City of Berwyn are grateful to BUNGALO's founding members for their trailblazing effort and courage, grateful for the many civic contributions made by BUNGALO members and in recognition of the many civic contributions by all Berwyn LGBTQ residents, declare June, 2017 as PRIDE month in the City of Berwyn.

Entered upon the records of the City of Berwyn this 13th Day of June, 2017.

[markberwyn]

That's wonderful, Ted. Congrats!

[Ted]

That's wonderful, Ted. Congrats!

Thanks, Mark.  Windy City Times also did an article a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Activist-reflects-on-Berwyns-LGBT-transformation/59245.html