The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, founded in 1991, this year voted to change its name to the more inclusive Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. The new name and logo were revealed at the launch of a new exhibit at the Harold Washington Library, 300 S. State St., Oct. 31.
The exhibit features large photos of the 2015 class for the LGBT Hall of Fame, as well as display posters with each of the Hall of Fame inductees going back to 1991.
Mary Morten, co-chair of the Hall of Fame with Gary Chichester, spoke about the importance of the exhibit, which will be on display on the first floor of the library through early July 2016. She said the Hall of Fame seeks to have greater visibility in the city, and this exhibit will be part of that campaign. She also thanked the Chicago Public Library and its staff for their hard work on the project.
Eleven individuals and one organization will be inducted into the LGBT Hall of Fame, the country's only known government-sponsored hall of fame that honors members of the LGBT communities, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 5:30 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. The event will be free and open to the public.
The inductees were selected by a committee composed of former inductees, which reviewed nominations submitted by members of the public. The names were released by Friends of the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
Those honored in 2015 are:
Individuals:
Jean Albright
Fred Eychaner
Emmanuel Garcia
Stanley Jenczyk
Phoenix Matthews
Gail Morse
Michael O'Connor
Barbara Smith
Lauren Verdich
Organization Category
Lesbian and Gay Police AssociationGay Officers Action League
Friend of the Community Category:
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Camilla B. Taylor