Equality Illinois ( EI ) held its annual gala on Feb. 12 at the Hilton Chicago and Towers. An estimated 1,000 people attended the event, titled "Justice for All," marking the 20th anniversary of the organization.
The gala began with a silent auction, which showcased items ranging from small Chagall prints to gift certificates for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Several politicians, including mayoral candidates Rahm Emanuel and Gery Chico and all three openly gay candidates for 46th Ward alderman ( James Cappleman, Don Nowotny and Emily Stewart ) were in attendance.
President Barack Obama sent a letter to Equality Illinois congratulating the organization on 20 years.
Others in the "parade of politicians" at the gala included Gov. Pat Quinn, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez were also there. Openly gay politicians Rep. Greg Harris, Rep. Deborah Mell, Ald. Tom Tunney and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore also attended.
Mayoral candidate Carol Moseley Braun was conspicuously absent; according to a member of her team, she had refused to pay for a table, saying that candidates should not have to pay to interact with voters. Asked about the issue, Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov said that as a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization, free seats would have counted as illegal gifts to a candidate. Mayoral candidate Miguel del Valle also skipped the event.
U.S. Rep. Congressman Mike Quigley told Windy City Times, "This year is special because last year we had not repealed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell '… and we had not passed civil unions in Illinois. It's rare that we have that much progress in one year."
Similar thoughts were echoed by speakers at the dinnertime program that followed soon after, with several noting that Illinois' passage of the civil unions bill in December was a hallmark for both the state and the country. Christina Kahrl, who welcomed attendees, spoke of a "shared vision of America, with full equality under for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."
Quinn said the event was "an occasion to celebrate a great civil-rights victory." Art Johnston, a co-founder of Equality Illinois, listed the year's progress, including the passage of the Illinois anti-bullying legislation, and in proposing a toast for "full equality and justice for all," emphasized that while the community is "three giant steps towards a goal," there was still work to be done. Joining him on stage for the toast were event chair Mark Cozzi and EI Board First Vice President Dalila Fridi.
Johnston was the surprised recipient of a lifetime achievement award that, according to Equality Illinois Board President Jeremy Gottschalk, had been kept secret for a year because Johnston would have balked at the idea. The award was presented by Mayor Richard Daley, who spoke glowingly of Johnston having been "a consistent presence" who helped build a relationship between the community and the city. Daley also addressed the community, thanking it for "making me a better mayor and a better citizen." Johnston appeared on stage to accept the award with his long-time business and life partner, Jose "Pepe" Pena, who was also called upon by Daley.
Cherkasov spoke of the occasion as one of celebration and of the need for ensuring that the civil unions bill's benefits would indeed be made available to those who needed them.
Absent from the evening was Rick Garcia, whose presence nevertheless was felt by those who knew of the organization's history and his recent controversial ouster. Garcia, a co-founder of Equality Illinois, was only mentioned once in passing—by his first name, by Quigley but by no one else. Attendance at the event seemed only minimally impacted by the controversy, and just one protester was outside the gala.
The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance received the Equality Illinois Freedom Award for its work on the state's Safe Schools Act. Shannon Sullivan accepted the award on behalf of the group.
State Rep. Greg Harris concluded the evening with a brief speech, saying that the civil-unions bill was "one step in Illinois but there were many more steps" still to come. Noting that Illinois had turned the tide after Proposition 8 in California, he cautioned that states like Indiana were now pushing marriage amendments and that the right-wing, if not stopped, would "take away the rights we have fought so hard to achieve … and push us back into the shadows where they think we belong." Saying that it would take a collective effort across the city and state to push back against such efforts, he urged the audience to continue its support.
