A few Chicago gay activists are pressuring the Barack Obama campaign to remove gay fundraiser Michael Bauer from his role with the campaign, as both a fundraiser and a member of Obama’s gay and lesbian advisory group, the Sun-Times reported earlier this week.
The Obama campaign told the Sun-Times that it is standing by Bauer.
As reported in Windy City Times Oct. 11, 2006, Bauer received a nine- month law-license suspension from the Illinois Attorney Registration and Desciplinary Commission stemming from a dispute of his management of a trust fund for his nieces and nephew. While gay activists who oppose Bauer want the removal, the Sun-Times reported that the nieces and nephew wrote the licensing board asking that their uncle not lose his license for his ‘lapse in judgment.” Bauer has promised to repay funds taken from the trust.
This debate is fueled by fierce divisions among community activists based on personal and political disputes.
Bauer is a co-owner (of less than 3 percent) of Windy City Media Group. There are more than 20 similar minority stakeholders in the media company.