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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/DavidBoyer/DavidBoyer_Small.jpg) | David Boyer Boyer has been a fixture on the gay bar scene for decades, including at Carol's and Touche.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/KevinBoyer/KevinBoyerBIO_Small.jpg) | Kevin Boyer Boyer has been a volunteer for Chicago gay groups since 1989, including with the Gay Games, Gerber/Hart Library and the gay chamber of commerce.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/LindaBubonAnnChristophersen/LindaBubonAnnChristophersen_Sml.jpg) | Linda Bubon & Ann Christophersen Bubon (left) and Christophersen founded Women & Children First in the late 1970s and both have played critical roles in the LGBT and feminist communit![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/LindaBubon/LindaBubon_Small.jpg) | Linda Bubon Bubob is co-founder and co-owner of Women & Children First Bookstore.
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PhilBurgessJimNutter/BurgessandNutterBIO_Small.jpg) | Phil Burgess & Jim Nutter Nutter (left) and Burgess have been a couple since 1976; they donate and volunteer for a range of gay and AIDS groups.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PhilBurgess/PhilBurgessBIO_Small.jpg) | Phil Burgess Burgess donates and volunteers for a range of gay and AIDS groups.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/RobbinBurrLisaLoudin/LisaLoudinRobbinBurr_Small.jpg) | Robbin Burr & Lisa Loudin Loudin (left) and Burr are partners who support LGBT organizations. Burr is former executive director of Center on Halsted.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/RobbinBurr/RobbinBurr_Small.jpg) | Robbin Burr Burr is former executive director of Center on Halsted, leading the agency during their drive for a community center building on Halsted.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/ValCamilletti/ValCammilletti_Small.jpg) | Val Camilletti Val has owned Val's Halla records in Oak Park since the 1970s. She is a pioneer in women's music and culture for the Chicago area.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/GaryChichester/GaryAndFlag_Small.jpg) | Gary Chichester Chichester has been a gay activist since the early 1970s, serving in vital leadership positions.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/AnnChristophersen/AnnChristophersen_Small.jpg) | Ann Christophersen Christophersen is co-founder of Women & Children First Bookstore and a critical volunteer and supporter of LGBT and feminist causes.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JanDeeJanetGutrich/JanDeeJanetGutrich_Small.jpg) | Jan Dee & Janet Gutrich Jan Dee (left) and Janet Gutrich have been partners since Dec. 17, 1994. They support LGBT and AIDS causes as individuals and through their businesses![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/EugeniaFawcett/EugeniaFawcettD_B_Small.jpg) | Eugenia Fawcett Fawcett came out in the 1940s in Chicago as a student at the University of Chicago. She was with her partner Mary from 1955 until Mary's death. ![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/CaroleGoodwin/CaroleGoodwin_Small.jpg) | Carole Goodwin Goodwin is an Oak Park-based writer and she co-owned an important bookstore there for many years, Left Bank Bookstall. She is a long-time activist. ![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/VernitaGray/VernitaGray2007_Small.jpg) | Vernita Gray Gray has been active on gay rights since the late 1960s. She has been part of a wide range of groups and works on anti-violence issues.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/TedHoerl/TedHoerl_Medium_Small.jpg) | Ted Hoerl Hoerl is an Actor-Director/ Adjunct Professor of Acting CCPA at Roosevelt University. In the 1980s he owned Opal Station, a popular gay bar.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/LynnHull/LynnHull_small.jpg) | Lynn Hull Hull is a long-time Chicago lesbian-feminist activist, including on making trades jobs available to women.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/ChrisJohnson/ChrisJohnson_Small.jpg) | Chris Johnson Christine Johnson is a co-founder of Metis Press, Publisher of Lesbian Feminist Literature, and a founding member of the national Women In Print netwo![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/ArtJohnstonJosePena/ArtJohnstonPepePena_Small.jpg) | Art Johnston & Jose A. Pena Johnston and Pena are co-owners of Sidetrack bar, which has been much-honored for its contributions to GLBT and AIDS charities. ![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/ArtJohnston/ArtJohnston_Small.jpg) | Art Johnston Johnston is co-owner of Sidetrack bar in Chicago, and a long-time activist on GLBT and AIDS issues.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/NancyLanoue/NancyLanoue_LCCP_Small.jpg) | Nancy Lanoue Lanoue co-founded the Womyn's Gym in the 1980s, later to become Thousand Waves. She co-founded the Lesbian Community Cancer Project.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/MichaelLeppen/MichaelLeppen_Small.jpg) | Michael Leppen Leppen is among Chicago's most important philanthropists, supporting a wide range of gay, AIDS and human-rights causes.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/SteveMcDonough/SteveMcDonough_small.jpg) | Steve McDonough Steve McDonough and his partner Dan Smith have broken new TV ground as the Hearty Boys.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/DebMurphyKayMiles/KayMilesDebMurphy_Small.jpg) | Deb Murphy & Kay Miles Miles (left) and Murphy support a range of non-profits, including through donation of accounting services. They also fought a pioneering adoption case![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/SharonMylrea/SharonMylrea_Small.jpg) | Sharon Mylrea Mylrea is a former board member of Lesbian Community Cancer Project who supports gay political and health causes.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JosePena/PepePena_Small.jpg) | Jose A. Pena Pena is co-owner and video director of Sidetrack bar. He is a video pioneer, and donates his time and energy to numerous causes.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/NancyPoore/NancyPoore_Small.jpg) | Nancy Poore Poore co-founded Helaine Victoria Press in the 1970s and was active for decades on lesbians issues in Chicago.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/KaseyReese/KaseyReese_Small.jpg) | Kasey Reese Reese and his partner Javier Barajas were critical parts of numerous Chicago gay groups when they lived here.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/OtisRichardson/OtisRichardson_Small.jpg) | Otis Richardson Richardson is an artist, filmmaker, and activist with involvement in several key LGBT and African-American LGBT organizations.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/RaymondRodgers/RaymondRodgers_Small.jpg) | Raymond Rodgers Rodgers is a deaf gay man who opened the first gay-deaf-owned interpreter service in the U.S, Deaf Communication By Innovation.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/VictorSalvo/VictorSalvo_Small.jpg) | Victor Salvo Salvo is a designer by trade, and an activist in his down time, having been a key part of Chicago's political and AIDS activism.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PatrickSheahan/PatrickSheahan_Small.jpg) | Patrick Sheahan Sheahean was president of the Center on Halsted's board during its critical campaign to build a new community center.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/ArtSmith/ArtSmithPhototobyBrunoEris_Small.jpg) | Art Smith Smith is a world-renowned chef with a popular restaurant and cookbook, and is well known for his work as Oprah's chef.
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/DanSmith/DanSmith_Small.jpg) | Dan Smith As one-half of the Hearty Boys, Smith and his partner Steve McDonough have broken new TV ground as top chefs and philanthropists.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/MaxSmith/MaxSmith_Small.jpg) | Max Smith Max Smith has been a gay activist since the 1970s, including on media, health and political issues.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/ByronStewart/ByronStewart_Small.jpg) | Byron Stewart Stewart is an actor, cultural pioneer and diversity trainer.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/LaurenSugerman/LaurenSugerman_Small.jpg) | Lauren Sugerman Sugerman is one of the co-founders of Chicago Women in Trades, a critical support for women entering non-traditional trades jobs.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/KathleenThompson/KathleenThompson_Small.jpg) | Kathleen Thompson Thompson's involvement in the lesbian community includes opening the city's first feminist bookstore in the early 1970s.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PatTomasoLindaPalm/PatTomasoLindaPalm_small.jpg) | Pat Tomaso & Linda Palm Tomaso (left) and partner Linda Palm live in Barrington, Illinois. Tomaso is a retired teacher with many years of activism on behalf of gay teachers.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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