Advocates remember former Illinois legislator Susan Catania as an active ally in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
Susan died Nov. 27 after a fire broke out in her home in Wisconsin, according to a tribute written by her daughter, Sara Catania.
Susan was a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973-1983. She was dedicated to fighting for womens' rights and other "unpopular causes," including gay rights, abortion rights, gun control and the Freedom of Information Act, her daughter wrote.
Susan's staunch support for LGBTQ+ causes extended beyond simply voting for inclusive policies, said activist Rick Garcia, who worked with her for many years.
"She wasn't just a vote," Garcia said. "She stood by us and introduced us to people and she provided a pathway for other Republicans to take the right stand on LGBTQ+ issues. She played a key role because her presence meant we had a Republican standing with us."
Susan's unwavering belief that all people should be treated fairly "opened the door for other moderate Republicans to start to begin supporting basic civil rights for LGBTQ+ people," Garcia said.
"She lobbied with us and she always brought Republicans along," he added. "Whatever the initiative was, whether it was at the city level or the county level or state level, we could always count on Susan Catania to stand with our community and fight for us."
"We owe her a great debt of gratitude because we would not be where we are today if not for people like her," Garcia said.
Garcia remembers Susan as someone who "demonstrated the best of the Republican party, although there is no 'best' in the Republican party anymore," he said.
"She exuded this strength, but at the same time a peacefulness within her work," Garcia said. "She was doing what most of us would consider fair and right and just, as she worked for the rights of women and LGBTQ+ residents of Illinois."
Susan Catania chose to run for office after spending about a year advocating for legislation that would make it harder for employers to discriminate against pregnant people, Sara Catania wrote.
Around the same time, the legislator from her district, Genoa Washington, resigned because he was battling cancer, leaving an open spot.
Susan won the election after her efforts to connect directly with voters won her an endorsement from the influential Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI), as well as support from Gloria Steinem.
As one of just a few women in the legislature, Susan faced lots of condescending, sexist comments from her male coworkers but she "took it in stride," Sara wrote.
Although Susan Catania frequently supported progressive causes that "fizzled out" because she was ahead of her time, more than 50 of her bills became law. For example, she was able to pass income tax reforms that included a compensation plan for crime victims, and legislation that led Illinois to become the first state to designate a state holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
A mother of seven girls, Susan Catania had three of her daughters while she was in office and frequently brought her babies to work with her, which was unheard of at the time, according to her daughter's tribute.
Susan Catania felt that her legislative achievements closely aligned with her desire to have a family, wrote, adding, "She was having the babies she wanted to have, while doing the job she wanted to do. She felt responsible for creating a more just world for us, her daughters."
To learn more about Susan Catania, read her daughter Sara Catania's full tribute here: medium.com/@Catanify/trailblazer-feminist-mom-an-appreciation-1fa8fe533a2b .
