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LOCAL News :: Gender & Sexuality

Activist Carl T. Wilson Dies

Carl T. Wilson (aka Miss T.), A long time activist for persons with HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ youth died early Monday morning, June 27.
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Carl began his years in Chicago as a self-described "club boy" and waitress at the Limelight, a glamorous nightclub. But, as he related to a friend, he “decided to grow up” when he saw so many people working so hard and taking so many risks on behalf of persons with HIV/AIDS. He joined ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), arguably the most dynamic organization of the late-'80s/early-'90s which, through a creative campaign of street protests and other actions, succeeded in forcing the first Bush administration to start taking a scientific and humane approach to fighting the AIDS epidemic, with gains such as the Ryan White AIDS Care Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

ACT UP was a political cauldron that was a transformative experience for all involved. Carl said that because of the ACT UP Women’s Caucus he developed a lifelong commitment to organizing against racism, for women’s right to control their bodies, for the rights of the poor and oppressed, and linking these to struggles for LGBTQ liberation.

Carl could be found one day defending a medical clinic against anti-abortionists, another day writing angry letters to the editor regarding eviction of people from public housing, and another day organizing a conference for LGBTQ rights.

Carl never wavered in his commitment to LGBTQ youth. He was the founder of Chicago Metro Area Gay Youth Coalition [C-MAGYC], probably the first organization to form a gay rights network to fight homophobia across high school and college boundaries in the Chicago area. He was the primary organizer of the "Across the Fruited Plain" Conference [Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender Conference, 2/1998], which brought together queer folk from the Midwest to network and organize for queer rights. At the time of his death Carl worked for Horizons Youth Services/Center on Halsted as a youth advocate and therapist.

Carl was a co-founder of the Coalition for Positive Sexuality, which wrote and disseminated a safer sex booklet to every high school in the city in the earlier days of the AIDS epidemic. The pamphlet was handed to teens themselves, with those who did the handing at risk for arrest or assault (by enraged high school principals!) The booklet "Just Say Yes" took a playful, non-judgmental, respectful, approach to teen sexuality of all kinds. One newspaper article described CPS as "guerilla sex education, one pamphlet at a time."

Carl wore many hats—literally. He was never seen without headgear! He attended UIC to get his Bachelor’s degree and social work and went on to get his MSW in 2004. He was the "wedding" planner for the commitment ceremony of two lesbian friends; he was on the committee for Women’s Heritage Month @ UIC; he sat on The Chancellors Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues. Carl was a member of the Radical Faeries, an international network of LGBTQ people who seek alternatives to urban gay culture through exploration of gay spirituality. In graduate school for Social Work (piercings, tattoos, and all!) Carl made many friends among students and professors and received awards for his contributions to the field of social work and progressive student activism. Awards included: the prestigious Alumni Association Leadership Award (2003); Social Work Dean’s Award (2003); Chancellor’s Student Service Award (1998,1999, 2000).

Carl overcame a difficult grow-up in Ohio and formed himself into a compassionate, intelligent, advocate for the dispossessed. With his friends he shared his wicked, sh**-eating grin, his tentative, fey "Hey" when answering the phone, his love, his thoughts, his clarity. We feel robbed of our future joy and conversations with him, robbed of the opportunity to share our lives with him. We stand beside Carl in his efforts to hold accountable those responsible for oppression.

Carl is survived by his sister Shawn and her family, by his many friends, his adopted sister/mentor, Carol Hayse, and by all the people for whom he fought for justice and a better world. A celebration of Carl’s life is planned for August 27. Email for details. carolhaysie (at) aol.com
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