Richard Streetman, 29, is a rising star in Illinois politics. He is the Public Information Officer in the office of Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Streetman began his political career in his hometown of Greenville, SC where he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Greenville County Democratic Party at the age of 17. Streetman co-founded South Carolina’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, coordinated Greenville’s first Gay Pride rally, was a founding member of AFFIRM youth and was active with the GreenvilleChapters of NOW and the NAACP.In 1998, he moved to Chicago to major in Religious Studies at DePaul University. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, the renowned author and professor of Religion, Philosophy and popular culture, handpicked Streetman toserve as his research assistant at DePaul.Prior to joining the Clerk’s office Streetman worked for Equality Illinois, the Lakeview Action Coalition and has worked as a Press Secretary, Field Coordinator or volunteer in dozens of political campaigns and causes. In 2000, Streetman worked for the GLBT Caucus at the Democratic National Convention in LA. Most recently, Streetman has coordinated the Northside campaigns of Dorothy Brown (2004)and Tom Dart, Candidate for Cook County Sheriff (currently). He is also an active supporter of Alexi Giannoulias for Illinois State Treasurer.Streetman is a member of Equality Illinois’ Capitol Club, Stonewall Democrats, IVI-IPO and the Fair Illinois Committee. He serves on the board of the Lake View Citizen’s Council, is Publicity Chair on theboard of Young Chicago Lakefront and a member of U.S. Senator Barack Obama’s GLBT Advisory Committee.DID YOU KNOW? Richard is also an accomplished singer and has performed at churches, the United Center and Wrigley Field. He also has had the fortune to sing a song or two with Patti LaBelle, Shirley Caesar,Jennifer Holliday and Ce Ce Peniston.