Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame 2016 inductions announced
2016-08-21

This article shared 1381 times since Sun Aug 21, 2016
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Twelve individuals, two organizations, and two friends of the community have been selected for induction into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, the organization which honors and celebrates notable members of Chicago's LGBT communities.

The Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 9, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the program scheduled to follow at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The inductees were selected by a committee composed of current individual inductees who reviewed an array of nominations submitted by members of the public. The names were released by Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, a section 501( c )( 3 ) nonprofit organization.

"This year's inductees, like our rosters since 1991, represent LGBT achievements in a variety of fields," said Mary Morten and Gary G. Chichester, co-chairs of the Friends organization and longtime leaders in maintaining the Hall of Fame. "Each year, the Hall of Fame spotlights some of the many who have made contributions to their own communities and to the city as a whole."

"It continues to show how important contributions from our LGBT communities and from our friends pave the way for the future," said Israel Wright, executive director of the organization. "It is humbling to recognize each inductee's special efforts to create change in ways that affect us all so greatly."

Hall of Fame inductees fall into one of three categories: "individual," "organization," or "friend of the community." Nominees represent all of Chicago's sexual-minority communities, including LGBT Chicagoans, past and present, living and dead, as well as those who have supported or assisted them.

Those honored in 2016 in the "Individual" Category:

Robert Allerton ( 1873-1964 ) | Honorary president and trustee of the Art Institute, this gay Chicago philanthropist's donations beautified the city. In 1951 Allerton pressured the state legislature to permit adult adoptions. He spearheaded this effort as a way to adopt his adult partner so his inheritance could not be legally challenged. This opened the door the first legally recognized same-sex relationships.

Tom Bachtell, 59 | Artist, musician, and, most notably, the prolific illustrator whose distinctive drawings and caricatures appear in "Talk of the Town" and other sections of The New Yorker, as well as periodicals such as Newsweek and Entertainment Weekly.

Ronald E. Bogan, 65 | In 1992 he became the first man to publicly come out as gay in a major Chicago newspaper while still actively serving in the Chicago Police Department — opening the door to recruiting openly LGBT officers. He served on the CPD as a Hate Crimes investigator.

Roman Buenostro, 49 | Co-founder of the Association for Latin Men for Action ( ALMA ) and who has served persons living with AIDS as a Director at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago for the last 18 years, most recently as the Director of Special Projects overseeing innovative programs that seek to reengage people living with HIV.

David Cerda, 55 | Co-founder and artistic director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, a theatrical group formed to celebrate and preserve the art of high camp and parody on the stage. His productions include "Poseidon: An Upside Down Musical", "The Birds", "Christmas Dearest", and "Caged Dames" among many others.

David Csicsko, 59 | Acclaimed graphic artist and designer whose distinctive artwork, stained glass, and mosaics have beautified many Chicago locales, including the Belmont "EL" Station. His many credits include designing the 2012 holiday season displays at the White House.

Patrick Dennis ( 1921-1976 ) | Author of sixteen books including the enormously popular bestselling camp classic Auntie Mame. Dennis was the first individual to have three books simultaneously on the New York Times best seller list.

Kim Hunt, 54 | Current Executive Director of the Pride Action Network, former Executive Director of Affinity Community Services, Co-founder of the OUTSpoken storytelling series, and current Board Member of the Legacy Project.

Dr. Thomas Klein, 65 | Longtime openly gay physician who was on the front lines during the darkest days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He has served on the Boards of Howard Brown as well as Horizons, is a current Board member of Heartland Health Outreach, and is a member of the Gay and Lesbian American Medical Association.

Norma Seledon, 54 | Longstanding activist within the women's, Latina, and LGBTQ communities through her professional affiliations with Chicago Public Schools as well as Amigas Latinas, Mujeres Latinas in Accione, and Lesbian Community Cancer Project.

Maritxa Vidal, 59 | President of the TransLatin@Coalition - Chicago Chapter, Board Member of the national TransLatin@Coalition, and Director of Health Education, Community Outreach, and Marketing at Vida/SIDA.

Dr. Yvonne Welbon, 54 | Acclaimed filmmaker has promoted understanding the experience of Black Lesbians, Black Women, and the larger Black Community. Her work includes "Sisters in Cinema", "The New Black", and "Living with Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100".

In the "Organization" category:

Amigas Latinas | Non-profit organization which provided advocacy, programming, and support for an array of issues facing LGBTQ Latinas in the Chicagoland area from 1995 to 2015.

Big Chicks | For thirty years this pioneering Uptown bar has served as a diverse LGBTQ watering hole, a hub of community events and performances, and a longstanding center of LGBTQ fundraising and sponsorship.

And in the "Friend of the Community" Category:

Patrick Quinn, 68 | Governor of Illinois from 2009-2015. Quinn is a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community whose contributions included decisive support for anti-bullying, HIV funding, non-discriminatory policies, and signing legislation to make Illinois the 16th state to provide full marriage equality.

The John Marshall Law School | A Chicago institution since 1899. An early opponent of police entrapment and of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, JMLS remains a center for LGBT advocacy and scholarship in Illinois.

The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame was established in 1991 under the auspices of what was then the Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian ( later, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender ) Issues, a municipal government agency. At the end of 2011, the advisory council ceased to exist after a commission restructuring, and the Friends organization succeeded it as caretaker of the Hall of Fame in partnership with city government.

Beginning with the first ceremony in 1991, former Mayor Richard M. Daley personally participated in the Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. Current Mayor Rahm Emanuel has done the same.

The purpose of the organization is to recognize the achievements of LGBT Chicagoans, their contributions to the development of the city, and the help they have received from others. In 2016, the 26th annual induction ceremony will be held and the honor remains an official recognition by Chicago's government of the city's LGBT residents and their allies.

Those selected for the "individual" category are or were members of Chicago's LGBT communities and have made single far-reaching or significant long-term contributions to the quality of life of those communities or of the city as a whole. Those in the "organization" category are LGBT businesses and nonprofit groups that have done likewise. "Friends of the community" are non-LGBT-identified individuals and organizations that have contributed to the quality of life of the city's LGBT communities.


This article shared 1381 times since Sun Aug 21, 2016
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Howard Brown experts discuss advocacy and allyship for Chicago's trans community 2024-03-14
By Alec Karam - Howard Brown Health's Trans & Gender Diverse People's Rights & Patient Care panel convened March 12 to discuss both resources for—and opportunities to provide allyship to—the city's trans and gender diverse communities. The event hos ...


Gay News

Howard Brown Health faces October trial if settlement isn't reached with union 2024-03-13
- Howard Brown Health could go to trial over unfair labor practice allegations if the LGBTQ+ health center doesn't reach a settlement with its agreement soon. Chicago's regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed ...


Gay News

No 'explanations' needed: Affinity remains a haven for Chicago's Black queer community 2024-03-12
- Back in 2007, Anna DeShawn came out while she was studying for her undergraduate degree. At around the same time, she searched online for "Black lesbians in Chicago." Her search led her to Affinity Community Services, ...


Gay News

Longtime LGBTQ+-rights activist David Mixner dies at 77 2024-03-12
- On March 11, longtime LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist David Mixner—known for working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign but then splitting from him over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT)—died at age 77, The Advocate reported. ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund remembers co-founder David Mixner 2024-03-12
--From a press release - Today, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Mayor Annise Parker released the following statement on the passing of LGBTQ+ civil rights activist and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund co-founder David Mixner: "Today, we lost David Mixner, a founding ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted's signature Human First Gala to return 2024-03-11
--From a press release - CHICAGO, IL — Center on Halsted's signature Human First Gala will be held on Saturday, April 20 at The Geraghty. The gala brings together LGBTQ+ community members and allies for an evening of celebration to recognize ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted celebrates Dreams of Drag 2024-03-11
- On March 9, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., in partnership with the Ralla Klepak Foundation, presented the Dreams of Drag Spring Cohort Class of 2024. The event featured performances from a class of new ...


Gay News

Affinity Community Services' Latonya Maley announces departure 2024-03-06
- Latonya Maley, executive director of Affinity Community Services, announced March 6 that she would be stepping down from her post. The announcement came from a statement with Affinity board members. Maley said that, "It has been ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted hosts 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show 2024-03-03
- On the evening of Feb. 29, Center on Halsted held its 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show in front of a packed audience at the Hoover-Leppen Theater. The event brought together participants of the Center's youth and senior ...


Gay News

Samuel Savoir-Faire Williams's violin stylings help COH mark Black History Month 2024-02-23
- As part of its celebration of Black History Month, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., presented a solo jazz performance by violinist Samuel Savoir-Faire Williams on Feb. 21. The two-hour long performance presented a showcase ...


Gay News

Howard Brown Health Names Robin Gay, DMD as Interim President and CEO 2024-02-23
--From a press release - Howard Brown Health's Board of Directors announced today the appointment of Robin Gay, DMD as Interim President and CEO. Dr. Gay, who most recently served as Chief Dental Officer, assumes the role formerly held by outgoing ...


Gay News

Owasso High School student of Bridge v. Oklahoma State Board of Education case dies, groups respond 2024-02-20
--From press releases - Oklahoma City, Okla. — In response to the death of 16-year-old Owasso High School student Nex Benedict following an assault in the school restroom, Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Oklahoma ...


Gay News

GLAAD releases report on LGBTQ+ inclusion in video games 2024-02-19
- LGBTQ+ media-advocacy organization GLAAD has released a report on queer inclusion in the world of video games. Among the key findings in "Gaming: The State of LGBTQ Inclusion in Video Games" is that 17%—nearly one in ...


Gay News

SAVOR A new Sushi By Bou, a seafood boil class and James Beard scholarships 2024-02-18
- Pop life: Don't forget my other Substack: "Pop-Eds: My takes on pop culture." Thank you so much to the people who've already subscribed. The latest entry (Feb. 17) features Beyonce, Zendaya and my Oscar predictions. Subscribe ...


Gay News

Connections for the Homeless purchases Evanston hotel 2024-02-18
- Connections for the Homeless in Evanston hosted an open house at the Margarita Inn, formerly a boutique hotel, February 13, to celebrate its purchase for use as a hotel-based interim shelter. The Margarita Inn will give ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.