Marriage Equality Anniversary

According to the 2014 book entitled, The Fight for Marriage Equality in the Land of Lincoln written by Tracy Baim and Kate Sosin, the fight began in the early 1950's in Illinois. For countless decades after, the fight was worked on in many different ways. Even during the year that led up to March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, StonewallAGAIN's founder, Mike Lackovich and Bisexual liaison, Br. Michael C. Oboza (ret) brought StonewallAGAIN to several anti-marriage equality rallies and protests.

Following StonewallAGAIN's historic recorded activism... It was on October 22, 2013, Tracy Baim, matriarch and founder of March on Springfield for Marriage Equality asked Lackovich to help record the day and Oboza to be one of the diverse speakers, regarding Bisexuals in Marriage Equality. Ironically, Illinois Governer Pat Quinn signed Illinois Marriage Equality bill into Illinois law after that successful day.

Before the one year anniversary of March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, Lackovich married his husband, Marc Cohen after eleven years together. Their daughter, Catie and the humbled Oboza were their Wedding witnesses. On October 22, 2014, one year later, StonewallAGAIN, a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)  inclusive project continues helping confront homophobia, lesbianphobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterophobia.

Illinois LGBT Voter History

He first came out gay.... Like some.... Not all true bisexuals do....

But... StonewallAGAIN's Bisexual liaison, Br. Michael C. Oboza (ret) remembers being asked to leave three Voter polling places nearest to him "back in his gay days."

"I was told... We are closing up, about four hours early from one place," Oboza remembers, "Then "my kind" was illegal or abomination and I was asked to leave. I remember being escorted out from the last Voting place because of my sex and sexual orientation."

He has fought and worked for LGBT equality for years, even in some Lutheran churches on Same Sex blessings in the North shore where he resides. To see his and countless others' work show it's success, progress and hope so far is "About time....," whispers Oboza.

Oboza asked all Illinois residents who are over the age of 18 to vote on Election day, November 4, 2014... Vote YES to Proposed Amendment to the 1970 Illinois Constitution Section 8 Article III, Suffrage and Election article that includes voters of all sex and sexual orientations to their equal rights to equally vote in Illinois.

Brother Michael Retired

After 20 years of being part of Chicago's GLBT then LGBT activism leadership, StonewallAGAIN's Bisexual liaison, Br. Michael C. Oboza (ret) hosted his Activism Leadership retirement at PRIDE Alliance at College of DuPage on September 26, 2014.

After he gave his last Bisexual history lesson, "because Queer theory often forgets bisexuals," Oboza explained, "Who is more important than me, a part of past Bisexual history is you all... Awesome you... The future generation... The next generation."

The most exciting moment of Oboza retiring from leadership to the sidelines to continue to at least volunteer for the LGBT cause happened during an encore of Question and Answer.

"I had a public conversation with a student that became a heart to heart moment. Even some PRIDE student board members thought the moment was beautiful," Oboza shares, "I was so moved that I offered the student my Bisexual flag. With tears in his eyes, behind his glasses, the student said yes. I gave him my Bisexual flag and he wore the flag like a cape for the rest of the day.... My life is half complete."

Alan Cumming in Chicago

Alan Cumming, actor, director, writer and Tony Award winner for the Emcee in Cabaret was in Chicago for his 2014 book tour, entitled, Not My Father's Son A Memoir.

StonewallAGAIN's Bisexual liaison, Br. Michael C. Oboza (ret) sat in the front row of a crowded The Music Box theater for An Evening with Alan Cumming in Chicago.... Thank you to Oboza's awesome mom who bought Oboza the ticket.

Alan shared bits of his book reading excerpts from his book. The book explores Alan's journey of reclaiming no shame surviving his own Child abuse to later finding success he earned himself later in life. Profound! Poetic! Honest! Alan's words left the theater speechless, concentrating on his words as he read from his book. Then the theater applauded over and over after every time he read.

During Question and Answer, Oboza expressed how humble he was to be a part of I Am Visible campaign (alongside with Alan.) Alan then said on the microphone, "Bisexual." Most of the theater applaused his word, bisexual. Oboza then offered Alan a Bisexual bracelet. Alan said yes. As Oboza approached the stage to hand Alan the bracelet, Oboza bowed. And Alan whispered, thank you to Oboza. The theater applaused again louder like echoing Ocean waves of excitement.

At the end of the event, during a book signing, Alan showed Oboza the bracelet, saying, "I am visible." Also, Alan agreed to a selfie with Oboza after he signed a copy of his book to Oboza. The pictures are out of focus, because no flash was allowed. "At the end of my life," Oboza shares, "Memories out live their pictures, out of focus or not."

National Coming Out Day 2014

On October 11, National Coming Out Day, StonewallAGAIN's Bisexual liaison, Br. Michael C. Oboza (ret) was a 4'th year Legacy Project Chicago (LPC) volunteer with their Legacy Walk, the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Outdoor History museum.

Victor Salvo, founder of LPC put a Gay Rainbow and not a Bisexual flag over Babe Didrikson Zaharias's history plaque as he put Rainbow flags on all LGBT plaques since 2012. However, the plaque, itself, mentions Babe was a pioneer and bisexual. Never the less, Oboza brought a Bisexual flag out of respect.

The event was well attended and has grown in the last four years. At the end, Oboza was asked about his flag that he wore. The student who asked about his flag came out bisexual to Oboza. Oboza then asked if he may give the High school visiting volunteer his Bisexual flag. The student said yes with a smile while wearing Bisexual flag color shoes.

MaMa Gloria

StonewallAGAIN's Bisexual liaison, Br. Michael C. Oboza (ret) is known to have come out Transgender female. While surviving, there was one diva of an inspiration for Oboza and her name is MaMa Gloria, an activist in Chicago from the 1960's who shared some of her legacy with Oboza on September. 29, 2014.

"In the 1950's, I lived on a farm... But, I later moved to Chicago. City life was not so friendly. I had to adjust to it like it had to adjust to me," MaMa Gloria continues, "I lived on 59'th and State street on the south side of Chicago. State street was jump'n in the 1960's. You know State street that great street."

"In 1963, Transgender didn't exist.... Let them tell it," MaMa Gloria shares, "I had rocks and bottles thrown at me outside of 59'th and State street. I was arrested in South Park and Englewood. Many girls were arrested for wearing wigs and bras. So, I always had to snatch off my wigs and wear bigger t-shirts to cover my bras. We also needed 3 pieces of i.d. to get into bars."

"Yes, I had supportive family and church who accepted me even though I was "different." You heard it takes a village to raise a child," MaMa Gloria remembers, "Yes, I knew girls like me who fought for resources. We spoke up! I knew girls that were arrested, beaten and murdered, because they were "different" like me."

Before taking the picture for the blog, MaMa Gloria finishes the interview. "In the 1970's, I moved to the northside of Chicago to my own apartment. The police were worse up there to Transgender women of color and still are even to today. My advice to Transgender women of color is stay in school. Get an education! Education is a big step in life. It helps you with style and tenacity. That's what we had to do in my day. The youth today have more resources than we had. There was nothing... Nothing for Transgender women of color in the 1950's-1960's. No Transgender support groups and no Transgender inclusive Health insurance. We also had to hide to have underground parties trading, buying and selling hormones. The parties were illegal and dangerous....We are all the same and can better ourselves today more than we could back in my day."