After wading into politics with her endorsement of Bernie Sanders in 2016, transgender director Lana Wachowski (who co-helmed The Matrix films, among others) has spoken out on a race much closer to home, backing Lake View neighbor Austin Baidas in his battle to represent the 44th Ward in the Chicago City Council.
First-time candidate Baidas previous served in the Obama administration and was the highest-ranking LGBTQ member in Gov. Pat Quinn’s office, where he took a leading role in the fight for marriage equality in Illinois.
The 44th Ward race now includes two fellow candidates: incumbent Ald. Tom Tunney and Elizabeth Shydlowski. Baidas and Tunney are both openly gay.