More than 700 people attended Mayor Richard M. Daley's annual Pride Month reception of the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues at the G.A.R. Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph, on June 17.
Text by John Lendman; photos by Kat Fitzgerald ( see more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com/photos/MayorPridereception2008 and www.MysticImagesPhotography.com )
CCHR LGBT Director Bill Greaves read the mayor's pride proclamation, officially declaring June as Pride Month in preparation for the 39th annual Pride Parade.
Mayor Daley, who was wearing an 'I support marriage equality' pin—on the first full day of legal same-sex marriages in the state of California—thanked the LGBT community for having such a positive impact on Chicago.
'What this community does for our city and our society, I am very proud of,' Daley said to the crowd. 'This community … represents the spirit and commitment of our great city. You can see the city changing constantly by the great influence you have.'
Greaves thanked Marc Loveless, Ben Montgomery and Michael O'Connor for their contributions to the Illinois Lottery's 'Red Ribbon Cash for Quality of Life,' where 100 percent of the net proceeds go towards HIV/AIDS prevention services.
The CCHR LGBT Advocacy Council and also honored three students—Phil Miatowski, Chris Jessup and Sean Tenner—in their efforts in lobbying for civil unions.
Also in attendance were 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, Illinois State Representative Greg Harris and Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, to name a few.