Shaun Sperling has been a gay pioneer of sorts, dating back to 1994, when he came out—at age 15—while a student at Stevenson High School in northwest suburban Lincolnshire. In fact, he told Windy City Times that "being out was unheard of in my community in 1994." (However, he was also a leader in 1992, when he had a Madonna-themed bar mitzvah; see below.)
He eventually campaigned—along with then-Stevenson English teacher Patrick Finnessey, who was out, and then-Stevenson guidance counselor Janet Shushinsky, who is straight—to start one of the first high school support groups for LGBT students in the Midwest.
"Patrick and Janet gave me the courage to join them in speaking to the school board and teachers about the need and the importance of the group," Sperling said. "The group was eventually approved and Project 10 Midwest was created during my senior year. That experience influenced me in immeasurable ways."
Sperling moved on to Bradley University, graduated in 2002 and now lives in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. He has a partner, Matt Leyes, whom Sperling tagged as "incredibly talented, sexy and smart."
Sperling, an attorney, moved to the law firm Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa (AGDG) late last year. He is a member of the commercial litigation, commercial workout and foreclosure groups. His practice is focused on creditor's rights matters, including complex commercial mortgage foreclosures. He regularly represents financial institutions and other lenders in resolving disputes arising out of contracts, commercial mortgages, notes, guarantees and other credit instruments.
He's still out, and proud—and thinks he's the only gay attorney at his firm.
"I think being out has impacted me professionally in a profound way," Sperling said. "I was fortunate enough to have a strong support system [when coming out] and a healthy environment to always be myself. Since that time, I have never hidden my sexuality. I knew that I had to be 100 percent myself, no matter what career or job I landed in.
"The move to AGDG was a great move for me. As a relatively new attorney, it's important to me to be working for a firm or company where I can learn and grow while being supported and respected. AGDG is one of the oldest firms in Chicago, and I am learning from attorneys who have an enormous amount of knowledge and expertise in law and, specifically, in the Chicago legal community."
Sperling said being out helped with his initial job interview with AGDG, as it showed his openness and commitment to the LGBT community.
Sperling is now a member of the board of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC), which he has been aligned with since he was in law school.
"I was by no means one of those people who always knew they wanted to be an attorney," Sperling said. "I know that, being at AGDG as a commercial litigator, is what I should be doing right now. Over time I have trusted that as long as I keep setting goals for myself and working hard to achieve them, I will end up where I am suppose to be. I am confident that I am in the right place now, which gives me the confidence to keep doing what I do."
Getting to his current job has, though, been quite a journey. After graduating from college, he worked at Steppenwolf Theatre, and then with the official endurance-training program of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), the National AIDS Marathon Training Program, now known as the Team to End AIDS (T2).
"I never had to question how my sexuality, or being out, would affect my career," he said. "It wasn't until I was well into law school that I realized that my sexuality, or being out, could affect my career options.
"I could never hide who I am or pretend to be someone I am not, so I never made it a secret. In fact, I did the opposite; I made sure that my involvement with the LGBT community was a focal point of my resume and sometimes my cover letter. I did this because it is the work that is most important to me.
"I think that has helped me make great connections with LGBT and non-LGBT attorneys and professionals. Being aligned with a community, especially a minority community can be a major benefit because it automatically provides a network. It also has proven to be a great way for me to show my commitment to the things that are most important to me—equality and human rights."
Sperling is now celebrating his 10th year intertwined in Chicago's LGBT community, and is a former Windy City Times' 30 Under 30 honoree.
"Chicago's LGBT community is filled with diverse, smart, positive, active people who are committed to making Chicago a great place for LGBT people to live and work, and for providing a place for LGBT youth to have a safe place to be themselves," he said. "I remember, as a kid growing up in the suburbs, walking along Halsted [Street], shopping at [since-closed] Flashy Trash and fantasizing about the day I would live in Boystown and be a part of it all.
"Now that I am, I try and get involved in all aspects and of the community. I am so thankful to be here and be a part of Chicago's LGBT community."
In 2001, Sperling participated in the AIDS Ride from Minneapolis to Chicago, launching his advocacy and fundraising for HIV/AIDS.
The following year, he ran his first marathon with AFC's endurance-training program, and then became a program representative for the National AIDS Marathon Training Program. He worked in the program's Chicago office for almost three years and then was transferred to its San Francisco office to be the associate program manager.
"I loved my work with National AIDS Marathon Training Program because I was able to motivate and inspire people to do the things I was so passionate about," Sperling said. "In turn, I met the most amazing, inspiring, fun-loving people who dedicated so much to the fight against AIDS and reaching their own personal goals.
"Since my first AIDS ride, my endurance sports and fundraising for HIV/AIDS has not stopped. I have run eight marathons, three Olympic triathlons, two 550-mile AIDS Rides, and most recently, a Half Ironman with the Team to End AIDS.
More Shaun Sperling:
—He was a member of AFC's junior board and, in 2011, was its president.
—He has a passion for storytelling and writing creative personal essays. Recently won the Moth Story Slam and competed in the First Chicago Moth GrandSlam at the Park West Theatre. The Moth is a storytelling show/competition, with a podcast and shows throughout the country.
