Dear Windy City Times Editor,
Chicago's LGBT community is soon to lose its BFF, Mayor Richard M. Daley, who is not seeking re-election. It is crucial that the next mayor of Chicago be someone equally dedicated to the needs of our community. Among the many candidates there is only one person who not only has been a great friend to us, but has helped meet many LGBT community needs. We have formed a committee to encourage him to run, and we hope that our community will join us in supporting Rahm Emanuel for mayor of Chicago.
As mayor, Rahm will have the opportunity to support our community in numerous ways—insuring the city is safe and welcoming for all; providing financial support for our community organizations; hiring and promoting LGBTs in government; working to establish equal marriage rights in Illinois; and using the bully pulpit to assure our full equality and participation in the life of the city. We know there can be no better candidate than Rahm to meet our expectations.
While serving as President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm has been especially receptive to hearing the civil-rights concerns of our community and he has acted on them. For example, when members of the Chicago LGBT community approached him about securing hospital-visitation rights for gay and lesbian partners, Rahm immediately began work on the problem and saw to it that an executive order was signed prohibiting hospitals from continuing this form of discrimination.
Supporting our community means more than an annual march in the Pride Parade. For years now, Rahm has been our champion—a progressive, pragmatic and energetic leader for the LGBT community and for all of Chicago. That's what the LGBT community needs in a mayor. That's what all Chicagoans need in a mayor.
Since his days as the representative from the 5th Congressional District, Rahm has been a true champion for the LGBT community. Rahm played an early and leading role in the creation of the Center on Halsted, securing a $1.25 million for the construction of the center—the largest federal earmark ever for an LGBT organization.
Rahm has not only walked the walk, he has earned our trust and respect. Please join us in urging Rahm Emanuel to enter the race for mayor of Chicago. We have formed a Facebook page, "Run Rahm Run" where you can get more information, or email us at runrahmrun@gmail.com
Sincerely,
David Boul, Todd Bruce, John Champion, Robert Cohn, Kenneth Cutamora, Oliver Cutamora, Mike Demetria, Jesus Diosma, Debbie Dorfman, Willard Dumas, III, James Eisenbart, Mike Ferro, Gregg Fohl, Jon Foley, John Galladora, Steve Giltner, Grant Gochnauer, Steve Gonczy, Tommy Grace, Jeff M. Grinspoon, Allyn Hanson, Todd Harris, Stuart Keeshin, Robert Kohl, Angelo Macias, Chuck Mrotek, Steve Nakisher, Tom O'Briant, Phil Palmer, James Platt, Ari Pribadi, Carl Radford, John Regalado, Matthew Saleski, Jeffrey Schrieber, Scott Silverman, Joseph Straub, Shane Talbot, Tim Toth, Modesto "Tico" Valle and Brian Walker
