Across the country, our LGBTQ+ communities are facing a coordinated attempt to erase us. In Florida, the site of the Pulse nightclub massacre, the deadliest attack on our community in U.S. history, our symbols of pride are being painted over by state order. And there’s even an effort to repeal Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that secured marriage equality nationwide.
These political attacks have real consequences and are especially felt by youth. Though LGBTQ+ children and young adults make up roughly 10% of the general youth population, they represent as much as 40% of the youth experiencing homelessness, with family rejection being the leading driver.
I experienced this myself as a teenager and was forced to survive on my own. I worked at a small ice cream shop, eventually became the manager and slept on a cot at night in the back room. I didn’t want to live that way, but I didn’t know where else to turn.
Things have come a long way in Illinois since then, thanks to our state’s leadership and belief in human rights. Gov. JB Pritzker’s launch of Illinois Pride Connect offers what I never had as a young man: a trusted resource where people can access legal help, health care navigation and housing support in both English and Spanish. And across Illinois, there is a safety net of housing organizations stepping up to serve youth who, like me, were forced into homelessness simply because of who they love.
I’m doing my own part, serving as board president of La Casa Norte, a nonprofit standing up for youth who face homelessness, uncertainty and fear every day, because I don’t want anyone else to go through what I experienced. I want our youth to embrace their talents and their identities, so they can grow into the leaders our communities need.
In a nation where too many are intent on erasing us, Illinois is choosing compassion and building the infrastructure to protect our rights. But this work can’t fall on the state alone. Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can thrive.
Julio Rodriguez, board president, La Casa Norte, and co-founder and board chair, ALMA Chicago
Clean energy remains a priority in our state
President Donald Trump’s time in office has been marked by constant attacks on clean energy progress that threaten good-paying union jobs in energy and manufacturing, drive up costs for consumers and dismantle climate and health protections. In July, Trump signed H.R. 1, informally known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law, accelerating those attacks.
In August, the Illinois Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee convened a special hearing to discuss how the act will affect Illinoisans. We’re grateful Illinois lawmakers are addressing these concerns, but this conversation can’t just happen in the halls of government — all Illinoisans should know how Trump’s budget will adversely impact them and how renewable energy is the antidote.
Trump’s federal budget dismantles much of the Inflation Reduction Act, making it difficult to build clean energy and employ workers in green industries here in Illinois. As many as 52,000 energy and manufacturing jobs are in jeopardy. Illinois also stands to lose over $16.8 billion in investments due to the repeal of clean energy investments, putting 105 Illinois facilities at risk of closure. The impact of these cuts to our health and our climate is staggering. Air pollution will increase by 3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030, putting low-income and Black and Brown communities at even greater risk.
Thankfully, here in Illinois, we know what it means to put our union workers, communities and climate first. Even better — we have a blueprint for it. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act gave us a road map for a clean energy jobs boom while protecting consumers from electricity price spikes and ensuring grid reliability.
We can double down on those benefits by investing in energy efficiency and battery storage. For every $1 invested in energy efficiency, consumers see $3 back in systemwide benefits. Investing in the Carbon Free Healthy Schools campaign, which provides energy-efficiency upgrades and solar power systems for Illinois’ public schools and universities, will strengthen grid resiliency. Similarly, battery storage strengthens the grid by allowing us to store electricity produced from wind and solar and use it when needed. Illinois is on the cusp of a battery storage boom and must take every opportunity to invest in the union jobs this industry will deliver.
By staying the course and pushing forward with bold climate and equity initiatives, Illinois can strengthen our economy, protect communities and set the standard for others to follow.
Cate Caldwell, senior policy manager, Illinois Environmental Council, and Joe Duffy, executive director, Climate Jobs Illinois
College sports quandary
With the 2025 college football season in full swing, there is growing concern about an emerging paradigm for paying student-athletes. Even the White House is entering the fray with a dubious new executive order about player compensation. It may not be enforceable, but it can still carry weight.
Will colleges soon overspend to chase sports glory? Do schools need protection from themselves? Is it fair, even legal, to let the NCAA generate billions in revenue while cutting out the student athletes?
The overspending already started. No fewer than 73 college basketball coaches earn salaries of $1 million or more. The five highest range from $6.1 million to $8.65 million — the latter the salary of Bill Self at the University of Kansas. Top football coaches earn even more. The ten highest football coach salaries range from $9.75 million per year — Brian Kelly at Louisiana State University — to $13.28 million — Kirby Smart at University of Georgia. Deion Sanders earns $10 million per year at the University of Colorado-Boulder. If the student-athletes are no longer indentured amateurs, can lofty player salaries be far behind? Not if the new executive order, or some other federal intervention, holds up.
Schools may also be lured by the Stephen Curry effect, chasing Cinderella seasons for fame and notoriety. In his early days, Steph was slender, unimposing and largely unnoticed, so he wound up playing basketball at a smaller liberal arts school, Davidson College. Then he put Davidson on the map during the 2008 NCAA Tournament by dropping 40 points in a first-round upset of powerhouse Gonzaga. A tsunami of headlines followed, triggering a surge in Davidson new student applications.
In January, the latest landmark case, House v. NCAA, led to a massive $2.8 billion settlement among players, the NCAA and the power conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and SEC). This was a game changer. Now student-athletes can earn direct compensation beyond their own marketing rights. Combine that with the recent portal rules facilitating student-athlete transfers, and the future of college athletics is suddenly much more complex.
Today the NCAA struggles to balance sportsmanship, fairness and massive spending to buy wins, acclaim and even student-athlete free agents. But should the NCAA get artificial protection from executive orders or otherwise? Not when it disingenuously pockets billions under the pretext of student-athlete amateurism. Two wrongs, after all, still do not make a right.
Eldon L. Ham, Glencoe
Sweet memories of southern Illinois
The story on apple orchards by Dorothy Hernandez and Camila Trimberger-Ruiz in Wednesday’s Sun-Times Taste section brought back memories of my childhood in Pinckneyville. My grandfather’s brother, Uncle Tuppy, had an orchard where he grew apples and peaches. He sold bushels of apples and peaches in late summer and fall. I remember most of all those southern Illinois tree-ripened peaches. My cousin Tom and I would walk through the orchard and pick ripe juicy peaches from the tree. We would eat them, peelings and all.
My grandmother would make great Dutch apple pies, but her peach pies, cobblers and preserves were to die for. Her homemade peach ice cream was absolutely the best.
Much later on a trip to Pinckneyville from Knoxville, my grandfather asked if I wanted to go fishing. I said I did, but I no longer had an Illinois fishing license. He said not to worry. Uncle Tuppy sold his orchard, purportedly for a $1 million, bought some land closer to town, had his house physically moved to the new place and built a fishpond where we could fish without worrying about a fishing license.
No more apples, no more peaches, and there’s only my cousin remaining now to share those memories.
Since my retirement, I’ve had plenty of Georgia peaches here in Atlanta but none ever compared to those juicy tree-ripened peaches from Pinckneyville.
Bob Barth, Atlanta
Do better, Peoples Gas
Depending on which source you use, natural gas rates have gone up in Chicago over 20% since 2020. I had a general question, so I called Peoples Gas late last month. It was 4:30 p.m., and I got a pleasant message saying that I would be connected to an agent shortly. That was followed by some relaxing music. Being a type A person, I decided to go outside and pick weeds while I waited (my phone is connected to my hearing aid). It was almost 5:30 p.m. before I realized I was still on hold! I disconnected and checked the internet to see Peoples Gas office closed at 5 p.m.
Not once during the music did I get a quick message “all representatives are busy” or your wait time is so and so. And when 5 p.m. rolled along no voice message alerted “our office is now closed, please call again later.” If I am going to pay a lot more for my natural gas, at least update your phone messages to be more informative. Thank God, I wasn’t calling about a potential gas leak.
Ray Toczek, Portage Park
Bracing for Trump’s federal troops
Flash-gangs grenades, no-fly zones, early morning raids, I think Donald Trump is at war with our state as well as the city of Chicago as he makes plans to call in the National Guard. I guess that I, a white, native-born American citizen, will be next, as “collateral damage” in this war. I will be prepared to be deported without a hearing or trial. I hope my grandchild will not be coming with.
Marcelline Ricker, Downers Grove
Thinking of the ‘Trumplicans’
I hope Trumplicans are enjoying the decrease in living costs they voted for.
If Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a human trafficker and gang member as Trumplicans claim, let’s have a trial to prove it and lock him up. But do they want that?
Using local police to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents steals away Americans’ tax dollars. ICE was just given $75 billion in supplemental funding in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” That should be enough for the agency to do its job.
If we mistreat our friends, allies and trading partners, Trumplicans should not be surprised if they treat us the same way. Is this what they wanted?
Robert Kleps, Oak Park
High prices to pay
I keep reading that inflation is down. I must be living in the wrong part of the country, because my cable bill just went up 9%, coffee is up 12%, my frozen pizza is up 20%, eating out is well above 3%, egg whites up 25%, and gas prices are also up since Donald Trump took office. Promises made, promises not kept.
Mike Sienkowski, Tinley Park