The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame — this year being rechristened the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame — is the only municipally supported institution of its kind in the nation. “There’s nothing like this,” says Mary Morten, cochair of the Hall of Fame board and herself a member. The Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues established the hall in 1991 to honor the volunteer and professional achievements of LGBT people, their organizations, and their straight allies, the latter in a category called Friend of the Community. The hall was financially supported by the city for many years; in 2010 the city ceased providing funds due to budgetary considerations, but it continues to offer backing in other ways. A new group of members is inducted each year; this year’s class will be inducted in a ceremony November 10 at the Chicago History Museum. Click through to meet 25 members — LGBT heroes you might not know but should — and to learn more about the hall and see the full list of members, visit GLHallOfFame.org.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
