![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/MichaelBauer/MichaelBauer_Small.jpg) | Michael Bauer Bauer is a political activist on the local and national scene.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/SamBezanis/SamBezanisBIO_Small.jpg) | Sam Bezanis Bezanis has donated his design services to many gay, AIDS and mainstream civil-rights groups, including the ACLU.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PatrickBova/PatrickBovaBIO_PIC_SMALL.jpg) | Patrick Bova Bova and partner Jim Darby have been together since 1963. They are activists working to overturn the military's gay ban, and support numerous gay caus![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/KathyCaldwell/KathyCaldwell_Small.jpg) | Kathy Caldwell Kathryn Caldwell is a Chicago police officer, active in organizing gays on the force, plus an athlete in the GLBT sports leagues. ![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/LoriCannon/LoriCannon_Small.jpg) | Lori Cannon Lori Cannon has been a long-time supporter of the GLBT community, especially in her pioneering AIDS activism and support services.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/EvetteCardonaMonaNoriega/MonaNoriegaEvetteCardona_Small.jpg) | Evette Cardona & Mona Noriega Noriega and Cardona are one of Chicago's power couples, active on a wide range of GLBT and Latina issues, including thru Amigas Latinas.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/EvetteCardona/EvetteCardona_Small.jpg) | Evette Cardona Cardona is active in a wide range of GLBT and Latina issues.
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/RobertCastilloJohnPennycuff/RobertCastillo_John_Small.jpg) | Robert Castillo & John Pennycuff Castillo and Pennycuff are partners in life and activism, seen at protests for Queer Nation, ACT UP, anti-violence, pro-marriage, and much more.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/RobertCastillo/RobertCastillo_Small.jpg) | Robert Castillo Castillo has been active for many years on a wide range of gay, AIDS and Latino issues.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/TomChiola/TomChiola_Small.jpg) | Tom Chiola Chiola made history by becoming the first openly gay person elected to major office in Illinois, when he won a judge post in the mid 1990s.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/MichaelCook/MichaelCook_Small.jpg) | Michael Cook Cook is former executive director of Howard Brown Health Center, and he has been active on gay legal and health issues for many years.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/TerryCosgrove/TerryCosgrovebyHalBaim_Small.jpg) | Terry Cosgrove Cosgrove is an openly gay man heading one of the top organizations working in the U.S. for a women's right to choose, Personal PAC of Illinois.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JimDarbyPatrickBova/PatrickBovaJimDarbyBIO_Small.jpg) | Jim Darby & Patrick Bova Bova (left) and Darby have been together since 1963. They are activists working to overturn the military's gay ban, and support numerous gay causes.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JimDarby/JimDarbyBIO_PICSMALL.jpg) | Jim Darby Darby is a Navy veteran active in the fight to overturn the military's gay ban.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/SusanaDarwin/SusannaDarwin_Small.jpg) | Susana Darwin Darwin is a legal activist fighting on women's choice and LGBT issues.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/KarenDixon/KarenDixon_Small.jpg) | Karen Dixon Dixon is an attorney and political activist in Chicago.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/TimDrake/TimDrake_Small.jpg) | Tim Drake Long-time political activist Drake was the first openly gay candidate to win election in Illinois, as a 1980 John Anderson presidential delegate.![](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/BillGreaves/BillGreaves_Small.jpg) | Bill Greaves In 1995 Greaves was appointed to the City of Chicago Commission on Human
Relations’ Advisory Council on LGBT
Issues; in 2000 he became the Directo![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JeanHardisty/JeanHardisty_Small.jpg) | Jean Hardisty Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D., was a critical activist in Chicago in the 1970s and 1980s. She also founded Political Research Associates She died in 2015.. ![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/GregHarris/GregHarris_Small.jpg) | Greg Harris Harris was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2006. He is a long-time Chicago-based activist on gay and AIDS issues.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/MarkIshaug/MarkIshaug_Small.jpg) | Mark Ishaug Ishaug is President/CEO of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/BillKelleyChenOoi/BillKelley_ChenOoi_Small.jpg) | Bill Kelley & Chen Ooi Kelley and Ooi were long-time partners and activists. Kelley has been fighting for gay rights since the 1960s. Kelley died in 2015.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/BillKelley/BillKelley_Small.jpg) | Bill Kelley Kelley was among Chicago's longest-serving and most important gay activists, having worked since the 1960s to secure gay rights. He died in 2015.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JulieKruse/JulieKruse_small.jpg) | Julie Kruse Kruse is a former Illinois lobbyist on a range of women's, LGBT and progressive causes. She is now based in Washington, D.C.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JaniceLayne/JaniceLayne_Small.jpg) | Janice Layne Layne is a writer and activist, working on a range of LGBT and AIDS issues. It was Layne's idea for the LGBT community to march in the Bud Billikin Pa![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PatLogue/PatLogue_Small.jpg) | Pat Logue Logue is an attorney with a long career working on LGBT and AIDS causes. She is now a judge.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PatMcCombs/PatMcCombsBIO_Small.jpg) | Pat McCombs McCombs has been an integral part of Chicago's LGBT community since the 1970s, when she first fought back against racial carding in the bars...![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/LarryMcKeon/LarryMcKeon_Small.jpg) | Larry McKeon McKeon had a long public service career, from serving as a police officer in Los Angeles, to being the state's first openly gay, HIV-positive rep.
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JillMetz/JillMetz_Small.jpg) | Jill Metz Metz has practiced law since 1978, with many gay clients. She has volunteered with numerous gay organizations.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JoeyMogul/JoeyMogul_Small.jpg) | Joey Mogul Mogul is an attorney who is also active on progressive causes, including with Queer to the Left.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/SidMohn/SidMohn_Small.jpg) | Sid Mohn Mohn, as president of the Heartland Alliance, has been a key part of work on behalf of people with AIDS and civil-rights for the LGBT community.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/DavidMunar/DavidMunar_Small.jpg) | David Munar Munar is an executive with AIDS Foundation of Chicago and a long-time volunteer for gay and AIDS groups, including Association of Latin men in Action.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](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/MonaNoriega/MonaNoriega_Small.jpg) | Mona Noriega Noriega has been active on GLBT and Latina political and cultural issues since the 1970s.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/RenaeOgletree/RanaeOgletree_Small.jpg) | Renae Ogletree Ogletree has been active on a range of youth, LGBT, AIDS and other causes in Chicago since the 1980s.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JohnPennycuff/JohnPennycuff_Small.jpg) | John Pennycuff Pennycuff has been seen around town marching and protesting for a wide range of gay and AIDS issues.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/JulioRodriguez/JulioRodriguez_Sml.jpg) | Julio Rodriguez Rodriguez is a critical activist working on LGBT, AIDS, Latino and anti-violence issues, including as a founder of ALMA.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/NormaSeledon/NormaSeledon_Small.jpg) | Norma Seledon Amador and partner Norma Seledon support a range of Latina lesbian and other causes. ![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](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) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/CocoSoodek/CocoSoodek_Small.jpg) | Coco Soodek Soodek is a partner with the law firm Bryan Cave and has supported numerous gay and lesbian causes.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/DavidStienecker/DavidStienecker2008NYC_Small.jpg) | David Stienecker David Stienecker was a critical 1960s and early 1970s Chicago activist who fought back against police harassment.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
![](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) |
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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) |
![](images/spacer.gif) | ![](photos/PatTomaso/PatTomaso_small.jpg) | Pat Tomaso Tomaso is a retired teacher who works to make change for gay teachers in the Chicago schools.![](images/biographies/readmore.gif) | ![](images/spacer.gif) |
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