Living History: Daley Inducts Hall of Famers - 4718 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

The 13th annual Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame members were inducted Oct. 21 in a ceremony at the Cultural Center. As protesters outside handed out flyers asking Mayor Daley for a $1 million increase in city AIDS spending, the mayor handed out the awards inside. Activist John Pennycuff diverted from protocol and received the support of the audience when he spoke about the need for more AIDS funds. ( See his speech on page 14. )

The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus opened the ceremony—many of them wearing stickers asking for the funding increase. Across the room, health department employees and volunteers administered meningitis vaccines. Speakers included Hall of Fame chairperson Gary Chichester, Commission on Human Relations Chairman Clarence Wood, and Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Chair Laura Rissover.

Mayor Daley also spoke, and noted the quick mobilization of city and community forces to respond to the days-old meningitis outbreak.

Michael Leppen and Chris Smith read the descriptions of honorees ( available online at www.GLHallofFame.org—do go online to read Chicago GLBT history ) . The awards this year were in honor of two activists who have passed away—Gerardo Montemayor and James Monroe Smith ( founder of the AIDS Legal Council, which was inducted this year into the Hall of Fame ) .

Those inducted in 2003 were:

Angel Abcede, 39, dancer; Chef Tania Callaway ( 1952-2000, her mother Lillian Callaway accepted on her behalf ) , caterer and chef; Armand R. Cerbone, Ph.D., 62, psychologist; R. Sue Connolly, 56, banker; Robert Bonvouloir Foster ( 1955-1991, Pat Logue accepted on his behalf ) , lawyer; Tonda L. Hughes, Ph.D., R.N., 50, researcher and educator; Patricia M. Logue, 43, lawyer and current interim legal director of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund; John Pennycuff, 39, activist; Laurence E. Spang, D.D.S., 54, dentist, for defending the treatment rights of HIV-positive practitioners and patients; DJ Sheron Denise Webb, 51, disc jockey; Albert N. Williams, 52, critic and teacher.

Organizations: AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, About Face Theatre, Buddies' bar, and Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays.

Friend of the Community: The Graham Family, a mother, father, daughter, and son who have upheld minority rights within their church and for the past four years have waged a legal battle against perceived antigay discrimination by a church campground.

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Pictured: The 13th annual Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame ceremony went off without problems, as attendance was up for the event where prominent GLBTs and allies are honored for their contributions to the community. As protesters outside handed out flyers and stickers urging Daley to increase the city's AIDS budget by $1 million, one of the Hall of Fame inductees, John Pennycuff, took the podium to also urge the support of a funding increase. Daley is pictured above addressing the crowd. Also pictured, from left: Commission on Human Relations Chair Clarence Wood, Advisory Council on LGBT Issues Chair Laura Rissover, Michael Leppen, Chris Smith ( partially hidden ) , and Thom Ford, the evening's sign-language interpreter. See link for Pennycuff's speech, and for more coverage. Photos by Tracy Baim

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Photos by Tracy Baim

Daley with Angel Abcede.

Daley with About Face Theatre reps, Eric Rosen ( co-founder ) , Monica Avery and Megan Carney.

Current and former leaders of Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays.

AIDS Legal Council

Daley with Buddies' owners Martin Enright and George Brophy.

Current and former leaders of Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays.

Daley with Armand Cerbone, Ph.D.

Chicago Gay Men's Chorus

Chef Tania's mom

Daley and Translator Carl