The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame honored 19 LGBTQ+-identified individuals and 4 LGBTQ+-identified organizations at its 34th annual free and open to the public induction ceremony Nov. 6 at the Chicago History Museum.
The 2025 inductees included
Northwestern University Gay Liberation Front Co-Founder and Hollywood art director Maher Ahmad;
Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine faculty member, pioneer in gender affirming care and urologist Traci P. Beck, M.D.;
Trailblazer in LGBTQ+-focused medical care, Gay Athletic Association Co-Founder and member of the first-ever Mayor’s Commission on Human Rights Committee on Gay and Lesbian Affairs Jan Berger, M.D.,
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Commissioner and social justice advocate Precious Brady-Davis;
Hubris Productions Founder and Drag Story Hour Chicago chapter initiator Jacob Christopher Green (aka Muffy Fishbasket);
Scrooge and Marley co-writer/co-director and entertainer/musician Richard Knight;
boiMAGazine Publishing Editor and Chicago Arts Center Founder Mike A. Macharello;
Black Alphabet NFP President and Executive Director, Jamii Center for Arts and
Media Co-Founder and activist Adam L. McMath;
and entertainment reporter and Critics Choice LGBTQ+ Committee Founder Jerry Nunn.
Additionally inducted at this year’s ceremony.
TaskForce Chicago Director of Programs and activist/advocate Reyna Ortiz;
Chicago-based independent filmmaker and actress Milon V. Parker;
Chicago-based national correspondent for ABC News Alex Perez
Brave Space Alliance Senior Director of Programs Mario Pierce, M.D. (aka the House of Balencia’s Midwest Father Mario Balenciaga);
Chicago AIDS Garden Board President and LGBTQ liaison for U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-5) Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer;
and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary (one of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s cabinet members) and civic leader Mario Treto Jr.
These individuals were inducted posthumously:
LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS healthcare and housing advocate Arick Buckles;
Balloons by Tommy, LLC Founder Tommy DeLorenzo;
Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association Hall of Famer and community leader Sam Hamilton;
and Biscotti/Miller Fund Founding Board President and Seasons of Concern Board President Jim Rinnert.
The Chicago Gender Society, Chicago Pride League (largest Chicago LGBTQ+ bowling league), the older LGBTQ+ male-focused Chicago Primetimers and ONYX Midwest were also inducted this year.
Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Board Member Emeritus Gary Chichester (1992 inductee) and former Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Co-Chair and Morten Group President Mary Morten (1996 inductee) served as the event emcees.
Chichester spoke about the 2016 induction ceremony which took place the day after then Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton lost that election. Ahead of the event, Chichester said he thought it would be like “a funeral” but instead it was the “largest crowd we ever had.”
He also spoke about this year’s elections in many states where most of the pro-LGBTQ+ candidates won their races. Chichester reflected on the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame’s history and mission, and noted that Illinois was the first state to repeal its sodomy ban laws in 1961. He also noted that Chicago was the first location across the world to hold a Pride March in 1970 which kicked off at Bughouse Square (now Washington Square Park), a day before New York City, Los Angeles and San Franciso held theirs.
“We want to acknowledge the complexity of coming together as LGBTQ+ people, Black and Brown people, immigrants and children of immigrants and people committed to justice in this country in this moment,” said Morten. “As we celebrate tonight, our neighbors and members of our community are being targeted for who they are and where they come from. Families are being separated and there are federal attempts to weaken the very principles our inductees fight to protect—human rights, equity, and the belief that everyone deserves safety and belonging … we stand in commitment to each other and to a future where every person, every family and every community is protected, valued and free.”
Morten also acknowledged and saluted Chicago icons Lori Cannon (1994 friend of the community inductee) and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy who died in recent months.
Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductees and community leaders Robert Castillo (2001) and Channyn Lynne Parker (2024) took turns reading the inductees biographies before they took to the stage to receive their awards from Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward). Fuentes’ arrival was greeted with a standing ovation and raucous cheers from the entire audience.
Fuentes said, “I’m extremely excited to help honor this year’s inductees to the LGBT Hall of Fame. But first, I want to say this. We are in grim and dark times. But what I know to be true is that in this moment our community will fight back and overcome this. For every institution that’s rolling back gender affirming care, we will stand in the front lines and make sure that our trans siblings receive the care that they need and deserve. We are going to ensure the LGBT individuals, leaders, organizers and residents have the right to radically love one another despite a decision that the Supreme Court is trying to make. Here in the state of Illinois, we will always protect our right to love one another. We also won’t forget just how intersectional our identities are.
“Tonight, we are going to honor individuals who know exactly what it means to organize for our ability to exist, love, thrive and move our communities forward so that the next generation can have it that much easier. We are here today on the shoulders of many individuals who struggled so that this room can look as beautiful as it does this evening.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson greeted and took pictures with a number of the inductees at the reception held prior to the induction ceremony. Additionally, Lakeside Pride Woodwind Quintet performed for the guests at the reception.
Photos by Vern Hester
