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

LGBT group forms to back Emanuel for mayor
News update posted Jan. 28, 2011
by Tracy Baim.
2011-01-26

This article shared 223 times since Wed Jan 26, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

      More Photos


More than 200 people have signed up for the new LGBT Committee for Rahm in Rahm Emanuel's race for Chicago mayor, and about 50 of them showed up for a press conference at the Center on Halsted Jan. 28. The LGBT Committee also includes straight allies.

The location was symbolic, since as a U.S. representative, Emanuel helped secure a $1.25 million federal earmark to help build the LGBT community center.

Former Center board chair Robert Kohl, co-chair of Emanuel's campaign, introduced the committee to the press, which was out in force the day after Emanuel learned from the state Supreme Court that he will remain on the mayoral ballot. Community activist Mona Noriega introduced Emanuel, saying she liked his sometimes controversial style.

Emanuel pointed to his accomplishments, including the Center funding and working to eliminate bullying in schools. He mentioned the state's civil-unions bill but said he looked forward to lobbying in Springfield for full marriage rights. He mentioned the accomplishments of the Obama White House on LGBT issues, while Emanuel was Chief of Staff, including repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, passing the hate-crimes law, and issuing an executive order banning hospitals that receive federal funds from discriminating against LGBT families—something Emanuel said he pushed Obama to do after hearing about the Janice Langbehn-Lisa Pond case in Florida.

Emanuel said he will keep on course with Mayor Daley's progress on LGBT issues, and said he would take it further, possibly including city pension benefits for gay partners. He also promised to continue working to make the police department more accountable on transgender issues.

All four of Chicago's openly gay elected officials are backing Emanuel: Ald. Tom Tunney, state Rep. Greg Harris, state Rep. Deborah Mell and Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore. Only Harris missed the event, due to a scheduling conflict. Other politicians attending include Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, Ald. Mary Ann Smith, state Sen. Heather Steans and former state Sen. Carol Ronen. Mayor Daley's liaison to the LGBT community Bill Greaves, and Kelly Cassidy and Vernita Gray of the state's attorney's office were all at the endorsement event as well, but as individuals.

Community activists at the event included: Pat Ewert, Modesto "Tico" Valle, Clark Pellett, Jim Bennett, Israel Wright, Jr., Dane Tidwell, Paul Fairchild, Jill Metz, Ronna Hoffberg, John Barry, Dave Reithoffer, Michael Bauer, Roger Simon, Dave Samber, Vicki Raymont, Kevin Boyer, Norman Sandfield, Bill Kelley, Dalila Fridi, Gary Chichester, Tom Chaderjian, Brandon Neese, Stan Sloan, Laura Ricketts, Beth Plotner, Rhett Lindsay, Jerry Pagorek and Darr Gapshis. An official list of all Emanuel LGBT and allied supporters is on the Emanuel campaign website.

Kohl announced there would be an LGBT fundraiser for Emanuel Feb. 11, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at The Ivy Room at Tree Studios, 12 E. Ohio. There is a $30 minimum donation, and RSVP is required at www.chicagoforrahm.com/LGBT. Kohl and Pellett are event co-chairs, along with Mark Cozzi, Fred Eychaner, Todd Hamilton, Ray Koenig III, Phil Lumpkin, Gail Morse and Lauren Verdich, Tom O'Briant and David Boul, and Laura Ricketts.

A mayoral forum sponsored by more than 32 LGBT groups is also being planned, Wed., Feb. 9, and Emanuel is expected to attend.


This article shared 223 times since Wed Jan 26, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill 2024-03-27
- On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margin—a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...


Gay News

Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event 2024-03-25
- Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...


Gay News

Wyoming is latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors 2024-03-24
- On March 22, Wyoming became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, The Hill noted. In doing so, it joined 23 other states that passed laws restricting or banning the treatment. Legislators in both ...


Gay News

Chicago alder proposes renaming street after Obama 2024-03-22
- Openly gay Black Chicago Ald. Lamont Robinson has proposed renaming Columbus Drive after former U.S. President and city resident Barack Obama, media outlets noted. The street stretches through the Loop from East Grand Avenue to DuSable ...


Gay News

Congressional Equality Caucus on FY24 bills passing the house 2024-03-22
--From a press release - WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), released the following statement after the House successfully passed the final funding bills for Fiscal Year ...


Gay News

WORLD Uganda items, HIV report, Mandela, Liechtenstein, foreign minister weds 2024-03-21
- It turned out that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator Jay Gilliam traveled to Uganda on Feb. 19-27, per The Washington Blade. He visited the capital of Kampala and the nearby city of ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist 2024-03-21
- Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ candidates Marcelino Garcia, Precious Brady Davis win primary elections to keep MWRD seats 2024-03-21
- Marcelino Garcia and Precious Brady-Davis, the two openly LGBTQ+ incumbents in the race to keep their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), won their primary elections and will move on to the general this ...


Gay News

Small LGBTQ+ candidate pool nevertheless scores some important victories March 19 2024-03-20
- Relatively few openly LGBTQ+ candidates were running in the March 19 Illinois Primary Election. But there were some significant contests in play at the local, state and federal levels. Openly gay Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) ...


Gay News

Gay Irish prime minister to step down 2024-03-20
- In a surprise move, openly gay Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar has announced his resignation, citing "personal and political, but mainly political reasons," according to CNN. Varadkar said he felt he was no longer ...


Gay News

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council sets a new course 2024-03-18
- Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council held its first meeting of the calendar year on Feb. 28 at City Hall in the Loop under the leadership of the recently appointed chair Jin-Soo Huh. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Council is ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools 2024-03-15
- In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


Gay News

PASSAGES: Former Chicago Commission on Human Relations chair Clarence Wood 2024-03-13
- LGBTQ ally and former Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) Chair and Commissioner Clarence N. Wood died March 5. He was 83. Wood was born April 14, 1940, in Alabama. While primarily raised in Alabama, Wood ...


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 ...


 


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






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.