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

Gerber organized the first known homosexual rights organization, the Society for Civil Rights, which lasted from 1924-1925, at the house, which is located in the Old Town Triangle Chicago Landmark District. It was designated a Chicago landmark in 2001.

The National Park System Advisory Board National Historic Landmarks Committee will convene is Washington, D.C., Feb. 12 and 13 to consider new nominations for National Historic Landmark status. The house would be the second LGBT location to obtain such status; the first is the Stonewall Inn in New York City.

Rainbow Heritage Network, which advocates for the recognition and preservation of historic LGBT sites, said in a statement, "Recognition of the Gerber house as an NHL will pay tribute to the pioneering work of Gerber and the Society for Human Rights, which he founded in 1924 and was the first chartered organization publicly advocating on behalf of an oppressed homosexual minority. The ongoing campaign for equal treatment under the law of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer citizens traces its origin and much inspiration to this pioneer and his organization.

"Recognition will be fully in keeping with the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Heritage Initiative announced by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on May 30, 2014. As one of the most significantly underrepresented communities in the National Park Service's inventory of historic places, the LGBTQ community will have instantly doubled its representation if the Gerber home is accepted.

"Recognition of the Gerber house will acknowledge the extraordinary significance of 1710 North Crilly Court not only to LGBTQ citizens but to the nation's own account of its civil rights struggles. Rainbow Heritage Network encourages all Americans to support recognition of the Gerber house."

The nomination can be read at www.nps.gov/nhl/news/committee.htm .