Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez held a fundraiser directed at members of the LGBT community, on June 10, at Sidetrack
Alvarez was introduced by attorney and civic activist Ray Koenig, who chairs her LGBT advisory council. He noted that Alvarez, who assumed office in 2008, has repeatedly "stood up for our community," citing specifically her support for marriage equality, which she lobbied for personally.
"She took her own time to do that," Koenig added.
Equality Illinois co-founder and Sidetrack owner Art Johnston said, "It's a historic occasion when the State's Attorney has a Pride month celebration, and they hold it in a gay bar," adding that Alvarez's office has a "ground-breaking" staff.
In her remarks, Alvarez pointed to the issue of human trafficking, which has been a key issue at the State's Attorney's Office.
"It's one of the biggest initiatives I've implemented since being in office," Alvarez said. "It's something that affects all communities including here, the LGBTQ community, so we have to make sure that, when people talk about human trafficking that they know it's not just something that happens in a foreign country. It happens here, to our own kids, to people who you least suspect walking down the street."
She further dismissed a rumor that she would not be running to keep her position. "I have loved being the Cook County State's Attorney. It's a job I was made for, and I plan on continuing. I know that there's been rumbling about people running against me. I'm going to be ready for whoever wants to take me on."
Alvarez noted that the State's Attorney's Office had "increased LGBTQ diversity, across the board. ...I will continue to speak out on your behalf, especially when I see something that's unjust."