Businessman Fred Eychaner’s North Side home has been the hot location for political fundraisers this season, and the biggest and best so far was the Sept. 13 “no-media-allowed” big-ticket benefit for the Democratic National Committee. DNC Chair Joe Andrew addressed the crowd and helped introduce both Chicago’s First Lady, Maggie Daley, and U.S. First-Lady-in-waiting Tipper Gore, who is stumping for hubby Al to be U.S. president. My partner Jean and I decided to step a bit into the political waters this season with so much riding on the presidential ballot. We truly are voting for the U.S. Supreme Court. Sorry we couldn’t provide pics from the 250-person event, which raised nearly $200,000 (and far out-distanced gay DNC and Gore fundraising in most other U.S. cities) —there was no media allowed. Besides Eychaner, other top donors and organizers were Michael Bauer, Nan Schaffer, Jeffrey Woods, Arthur Johnston, Michael Leppen, and more than 200 others. There were also a lot of political candidates in the crowd, including Lauren Beth Gash, who is running for Congress in the north suburbs. “What an incredible event,” said Tipper. “It’s an awesome amount of money to raise for Al and Joe [Lieberman] to get the message of tolerance across.” … Oak Park Trustee Joanne Trapani was at the DNC event, and she reported that she is looking into the possibility of running for Village President in the 2001 elections. She is still our state’s only openly lesbian elected official (Judge Nancy Katz was appointed). … Also at the event, Rick Garcia of Equality Illinois said he and other political folks and groups are trying to organize a mid-October panel on “What’s At Stake” in the 2000 elections. … Attorney and long-time gay-rights activist Larry Rolla and other friends of the late Chicago gay activist Danny Sotomayor are hoping to have a celebration of his work and life staged soon. … Phil Burgess and James Nutter are hosting a benefit in their home for incumbent U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky Sunday, Oct. 29. … Gays and lesbians are helping the campaign of Dorothy Brown for Clerk of the Circuit Court. There’s a fundraiser Tuesday, Sept. 26, noon, 190 S. LaSalle, 39th floor. … And finally, Mayor Daley and Cook County Commissioner John Stroger are expected to attend a fundraiser for gay Rep. Larry McKeon Monday, Sept. 25 at Cy’s, 3819 N. Ashland, (773) 348-7701.
We Are Voting Illinois (WAVI) has registered more than 5,854 community members as of last weekend, surpassing 58% of its goal with three weeks remaining before the Oct. 10 deadline. Call (773) 883-0676.