The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced its endorsement of Rahm Emanuel for mayor of Chicago. According to a press release, "the former White House Chief of Staff and member of Congress representing Chicago's northwest side has a consistent record of support for LGBT Americans and was instrumental in enacting hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples nationwide."
"Rahm Emanuel has been a champion for equality throughout his career in public service," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "His dedication to the LGBT community and his commitment to fairness for all Chicagoans makes him a stellar choice for Mayor."
"Confronted by my family's story, it was Rahm Emanuel who saw an injustice and brought it to the President's attention in order to make the lives of same-sex couples better," said Janice Langbehn, the catalyst for the hospital visitation regulations who was shut out of the emergency room as her partner Lisa Pond was dying.
The Equality Illinois PAC also endorsed Emanuel.
"Rahm Emanuel has articulated a clear vision for the City of Chicago, in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are fully included and involved in every level of governance," said Art Johnston, chair of the Equality Illinois PAC.
Jeremy Gottschalk, board president of Equality Illinois, said, "Rahm Emanuel has been a staunch champion of inclusion and equality for LGBT people."
The PAC also endorsed 46th Ward aldermanic candidate Don Nowotny and city clerk candidate Susana Mendoza. Nowotny is openly gay.