STARS & POLS PARADE AT GAY GALA: EQUALITY ILLINOIS RAISES FUNDS AND AWARENESS - 2501 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

With 1,200 tickets sold, the signature parade of politicians and a special appearance by the stars of one of gay TV's biggest shows, Equality Illinois organizers declared their 2001 benefit gala "a huge success."

Saturday night's Swing into the New Millennium brought out more than two dozen elected and appointed officials, a crowd of close to 1,200 and three actors from the Showtime series Queer as Folk.

Of the crowd, EI board Chair Ellen Meyers said, "It really shows that we're a force to be reckoned with."

The evening began with the annual parade of politicians, which this year also included an appearance by Arizona Republican Rep. Steve May.

"It's great to be here," said May, who came fresh from his victory against the Army. On Jan. 13, military officials dropped their discharge case against him on the condition that he does not re-enlist when his term as a reserve lieutenant is up on May 11.

Queer as Folk stars Scott Lowell, Peter Paige and Michelle Clunie also worked the crowd.

"As hokey as it sounds, it's great to be a part of the cause," said Paige, who plays Emmet on the show. "They're pimping us out for photos, it's great."

After EI's Freedom Awards were distributed, cast members made themselves available for photos for a minimum donation of $10. "We're cheap but we're not easy," Paige quipped.

Even as the night was winding down, there was still a long line of takers, and organizers expected the photos to be a big moneymaker.

Clunie said it was exciting to see so many people come together for an event and a movement that "allows people to be exactly who they are."

"It means a lot to me to be able to use any modicum of power that we've gotten from the show" to help push the community's causes, said Lowell, who portrays Ted.

The three filmed throughout the night before in Toronto and flew to Chicago at 7 a.m. on just four hours of sleep, Clunie said.

EI Political Director Rick Garcia said State Rep. Mary Kay O'Brien was instrumental in bringing the cast members in for the event after learning they were going to be in Chicago.

While the structure was the same, this year's gala differed from years past in several ways.

Though ticket sales were only slightly above last year's, 1,200 vs. 1,150, there were two big differences in organizers' eyes, Garcia said.

One, this year's event had much more corporate support, meaning it made much more money, and two, there was a substantial number of elected and appointed officials despite 2001 not being an election year.

"Every Democrat who's running for governor was in the room tonight," Garcia said.

Unlike other political fundraisers, he said, "We can tell you exactly where this money's going to go," noting that it will pay the expenses of the organization's lobbyists and of staffers who need to travel the state. The money also provides the money needed to help elect pro-gay legislators.

Garcia added that there were three legislators at the benefit who voted against the human-rights bill, and that their presence showed, "Clearly they need to be here if they have future aspirations."

Special recognition was also given to "three legislators who have brought us closer than ever to passing a human-rights bill for the state of Illinois," said Mike McHale, of Equality Illinois' board of directors. This year's Distinguished Legislator Awards went to State Sen. Carol Ronen, D-9th, and State Reps. Julie Hamos, D-18th, and Sara Feigenholtz, D-12th.

"We're gonna keep fighting and fighting until we change this and equality will reign in the state of Illinois," Ronen said.

The emcees for this year's dinner were Garcia and Fox 32 News anchorwoman Lilia Chacon, who began the evening by saying, "I count on Equality Illinois to be one of my sources."

A special recognition award was given to the DeKalb GLBT organization Community Members Against Discrimination for its efforts to add gender identity to the city's human-rights ordinance last fall.

Accepting the award were CMAD members Kathie Hankins and Cordelia Parnham.

Freedom Awards went to central Illinois activist Dave Bentlin and University of Chicago professor Dr. George Chauncey, who organized last year's Future of Queer Past conference, the largest of its kind in the world.

This year's Parade of Politicians included:

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who thanked the crowd for its input on presidential attorney general nominee John Ashcroft

Secretary of State Jesse White

State Comptroller Dan Hynes

State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, who introduced herself as "The Money Honey"

Openly gay Judge Tom Chiola, who declared, "I'm queer, I'm on the bench, and they're getting used to it."

Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine

Cook County Clerk of Circuit Court Dorothy Brown

Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado, D-8th

State Rep. Harry Osterman, D-17th

Openly gay State Rep. Larry McKeon, D-34th

State Rep. Louis Lang, D-16, who professed his intention to run for governor