Pictured Johnston at PFLAG. Photo by Andrew Davis
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) hosted the ‘No Family Left Behind’ gala April 29 at Kendall College, 900 N. North Branch.
The reception was held to honor five individuals who were instrumental in the passage of SB3186 (the gay-rights bill) in January. The honorees were State Sen. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago, State Sen. Emil Jones, D-Chicago, and State Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, as well as longtime activists Art Johnston and Rick Garcia. Although the politicians were unable to appear, Johnston and Garcia graciously accepted their honors.
The gala also featured entertainment by Miss Foozie and a silent auction that featured items that ranged from personal training sessions to lithographs. Proceeds benefitted PFLAG’s Stay Close Campaign, which currently features advertisements of heterosexual celebrities (including Ben Affleck and Cyndi Lauper) and their LGBT relatives.