Around 50 self-proclaimed "Jan Fans" from the LGBTQA community spent the middle of the afternoon Sept. 26 sipping mimosas and nibbling mini-burgers together with U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky during a fundraiser at Hamburger Mary's.
Schakowsky opened her talk by saying, "It is a historical inevitability that we will win on the full array of LGBT issues." Then with a smile, she threw in, "I keep saying to my colleagues, 'Don't embarrass your grandchildren by coming down on the wrong side of this fight'."
However, the bulk of Schakowsky's address was filled with more somber remarks. She said, "Our values are on the line in this election. We are back to the culture wars. The Republican Party wants to take us back to an era where discrimination was OK, increase the growing economic inequity in our country, and put in charge the same people who drove our economy into the ditch." This was met with booing from the crowd. Once it died down, the congresswoman said, "The most effective response is to get out the vote. They say we're not energized; we have to prove them wrong! Early voting and voting on Nov. 2. If we do that, we will win and when we win, we can continue to make forward progress."
Karen Dobleski, a "Jan Fan" from Des Plaines, said, "I think that Jan is progressive, she gets it, she truly cares about people and I think she's a refreshing change to politics as usual." This sentiment was echoed by supporters there, some of who do not live in the 9th Congressional District. For example, one non-resident supporter, Daniel Perry, said, "it's important to support anyone who supports our ( LGBTQA ) community."
Schakowsky ended by saying, "a huge thank you for all the work you've done to make our country a better place. I love you. I thank you. Let's keep fighting."