Robert Castillo ( left ) was among those inducted into the City of Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame Oct. 24. Chicago has the only city-backed GLBT Hall of Fame in the world. Castillo, recognized for his activism with ACT UP and Queer Nation, held a placard backing trans rights in the city.
The following individuals were inducted into the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame Oct. 24. Mayor Daley could not attend this year's ceremony...he was at the Conference of Mayors.
Lora Branch, 38, public health administrator and educator, video producer ( Kevin's Room ) and African-American lesbian and gay community activist. She is currently head of the Chicago Department of Health Office of Gay and Lesbian Health.
Robert Castillo, 33, queer Latino activist, for launching grassroots sexual-minority campaigns during the past decade involving Latinas and Latinos, gender-identity bias, homophobic violence, neighborhood activism, human-rights laws, and HIV/AIDS.
Keith Elliott, 42, dancer, choreographer and producer, for a decade of creating and developing the annual Dance for Life.
Frank Goley ( posthumous, 1943-1994 ) and Bob Maddox, 66, for helping to pioneer openly gay businesses in Chicago since 1972 with their leatherwear store, Male Hide Leathers.
Chuck Hyde, 39, businessman ( co-owner of Sidetrack bar ) and fundraising advisor.
Antonio David Jimenez, 47, social service administrator and HIV/AIDS educator.
Michael Leppen, 48, philanthropist, fundraiser, and board member.
Ellen Meyers, 43, political organizer and Sec. of State Jesse White's assistant director of intergovernmental affairs.
Kathryn Munzer, 54, social services professional and volunteer arts booker, for 20 years of helping Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for Womyn and Children.
Friends of the community: state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, 44, and author Studs Terkel, 89. Organization of the Year: Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.