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History
As we celebrate our 35th year of service to our community, we’re grateful for the time, talent and treasure provided by many current and former members and other supporters!
Today, Dignity/Chicago is a Catholic reform organization and a local faith community – we are the third longest serving DignityUSA chapter.
2007 Four chapter members meet with Cardinal George in Jan. The chapter celebrates its 35th anniversary at the Center on Halsted with a special liturgy and dinner/program in May.
View our Chapter History Project - this is very large file and may take awhile to load.
Read Mary E. Hunt’s address to the chapter from our celebration on May 19, 2007.
View pictures from our celebration on May 19, 2007.
2006 In Dec. Dignity/Chicago responds to Community Challenge Phase of the Center on Halsted Capital Campaign with a mid level gift; allowing the chapter to create something for us, our youth, our community and for our future – a legacy we are proud of.
2005 The September issue of Chicago magazine
features chapter president,
2003-2004
Our leadership & advocacy ministry spearheaded an effort of multiple groups and individuals to fund a full page statement in the Chicago Tribune. The statement called on the nation's bishops to respect the lives and faith of GLBT Catholics. Representatives of this coalition met with Cardinal George in early 2004.
2001 Members and supporters conducted a prayer vigil in front of Holy Name Cathedral during the DignityUSA biennial convention in Chicago.
2000 Four Dignity/Chicago members met with Cardinal George in December.
1999 Dignity/Chicago reorganized into three core ministries: leadership & advocacy, liturgy and spiritual growth.
1997 Dignity/Chicago observed its 25th anniversary with a year-long celebration of educational and social events.
1995 We began observing Solidarity Sunday, a national program that invites people to join DignityUSA members in solidarity to end verbal and physical abuse.
1994 DignityUSA receives the 1994 Call to Action Award in Chicago for its efforts to promote understanding within the Catholic community and a vision of church in which all persons participate as full and active members.
1990s- At various times, chapter leaders met in dialogue with Cardinal Bernardin or his representatives. In 1992, many chapter members participated in a “prayerful protest” at the Cardinal's residence to bring attention to the archdiocese’s silence in regard to anti-gay violence. Several Dignity/Chicago members were honored by Chicago's Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian issues by being inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
1988 In May, Dignity/Chicago members were told by representatives of Cardinal Bernardin that six local pastors would assume responsibility for a new ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics at St. Sebastian’s. The ministry would be guided by several principles, one of which was that all "homosexual acts" are "immoral." At a meeting a few weeks later, seventy percent of the members voted to reject the idea of a Dignity chapter without control of its own Mass. Since that time, Dignity-sponsored liturgies have been conducted at non-Catholic churches.
1987 People Magazine does a story in conjunction with the Papal Visit entitled: "Nine Americans the Pope Won’t Want to Meet ... and Why." Pictured as one of the nine: National President and Dignity/Chicago leader, Jim Bussen!
1980s In the 1980s, most of the founding members of Chicago’s first AIDS hospice were members of Dignity. On Feb. 17, the Assoc. of Priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago honors Dignity/Chicago as "Organization of the Year."
1970s In addition to its Mass, the chapter offered retreats, educational programs and discussion groups. At a time when there were few social alternatives to bars, Dignity/Chicago's social events were very popular. The chapter sponsored fundraising activities for a variety of advocacy efforts. The 2nd biennial convention is held in Chicago in 1977. Dignity/Chicago participates in the city’s Gay Pride parade for the first time in 1975. Dignity holds the 1st biennial convention in Hollywood, CA in 1973; at this time 20 chapters were serving communities with another 12 chapters in formation. The national organization maintained a small office in Washington, D.C. Its volunteer officers and Board of Directors are elected directly by the membership. There is a paid executive director and part-time administrative staff.
1972 A Dignity chapter was chartered in Chicago and was incorporated by the State of Illinois on Nov. 11, 1972. However, its origins were in an earlier home Mass group for gay and lesbian Catholics. The new chapter had its Mass at St. Sebastian's Church (Wellington east of Halsted), which no longer exists.
1970 The first meeting on Catholic Church property was in the basement auditorium of a Los Angeles church on Sept. 26, 1970.
1969 Rev. Patrick X. Nidorf, an Augustinian priest and a psychologist, formed a group of “Catholic gay people” in San Diego. He chose the name “Dignity” for the group.