Lauren Beth Gash, who is running for Congress from the North Suburban 10th District, hosted a benefit brunch last Saturday in Glencoe, at the home of longtime civil-rights activists. Dozens of gays and lesbians attended the event, which featured openly gay Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank. Frank said Gash’s race is one of the most targeted in the country for a victory —Gash is running for the seat vacated by longtime Rep. John Porter, a Republican, and the Democrats see the seat as potentially helping them regain a majority in the U.S. House. Frank and other gays at the event said moderate Republicans can often be just as bad as right-wingers—because they vote for and prop up the conservative party leadership. Democrat Gash is pro-choice and pro-gay, and has sponsored the Illinois gay-rights bill. Call (847) 266-VOTE (8683). PICTURED TOP is Lauren Beth Gash. BELOW, front: Gash, Rep. Frank, and Lance Pressl, a Democrat taking on long-time incumbent Republican Rep. Crane in the Northwest Suburbs. With the three pols are some of the lesbigays at the benefit. RIGHT: Jim Darby with Rep. Frank. Photos by Tracy Baim