Sotomayor tribute at Center

About 40 people paid tribute to the late Chicago activist and artist Danny Sotomayor Feb. 4 at the Center on Halsted. Photos, memorabilia and Sotomayor’s NAMES Project AIDS Memorial quilt were displayed in honor of the 20th anniversary of his death.

Sotomayor died on Feb. 5, 1992 of AIDS complications. His partner, playwright Scott McPherson, died later that same year.

Victor Salvo and Lori Cannon organized the tribute. Dean Ogren, Gary Chichester and Ed Woslyus helped stage the event, along with Center on Halsted staff.

After Salvo and Cannon spoke about their memories of Sotomayor. Other speakers were former Ald. Helen Shiller, who remembered Sotomayor’s help in getting Mayor Daley to increase AIDS funding; Mayor Harold Washington’s liaison to the gay community, Kit Duffy; professor Gabriel Gomez, a former ACT UP member with Sotomayor; Sidetrack bar owner Art Johnston; activist Rick Garcia; and Windy City Times publisher Tracy Baim.

Speakers remembered Sotomayor’s passionate commitment to increase attention and funding to the fight against AIDS.

“It was truly a lovely gathering, so heartfelt and bittersweet … one of those times to count your blessings for the opportunities that put all these amazing people in your life to share such a special evening,” Salvo said. “My love and gratitude to you all—especially my cohort Lori Cannon who inspires us all to reach beyond our perceived shortcomings to find the magic that makes everything possible if we just try.”

Photos by Tracy Baim. YouTube video tribute by the friends of Sotomayor.