EI Political Director Rick Garcia spoke about the organization’s work not just on behalf of a statewide GLBT rights bill, which is now expected to pass this year given that Democrats control the House and Senate as well as the governor’s mansion, but also about EI’s work supporting local communities throughout Illinois as they struggle to pass GLBT rights laws.
Garcia, in introducing Daley, listed the mayor’s many accomplishments on behalf of GLBTs, including the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, the Halsted gay district, trans rights, domestic-partners coverage for city employees, successfully urging the U.S. Conference of Mayors to move their planned Colorado conference after the anti-gay Amendment 2 passed in that state, supporting the Center on Halsted, and, most recently, appointing the city’s first openly gay alderman, Tom Tunney.
Daley reiterated his belief that gays and lesbians are an integral part of the city’s fabric, saying ‘you make a difference … you have made a difference in every part of our city.’ He added that the strength of Chicago is in part because of the GLBT community’s ‘past, present and future’ contributions. He also shamed other cities that don’t allow gays to march in their non-gay parades.
Blagojevich joked that when Daley asked him if he was attending the EI gala, Rod quipped ‘Are you asking me on a date?’ Daley said ‘Just dinner.’ The governor said the fight for GLBT rights is what this country is about, it is a ‘historic movement.’
More than 50 politicians attended. This was Daley’s first time since attending the first EI gala six years ago.