Chicago Hall of Fame Inducts 15

The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame inducted 15 new members Wednesday night, the last induction ceremony attended by Richard M. Daley as mayor.

The Chicago institution, the only city-supported LGBT hall of fame in the nation, inducted 11 individuals and four organizations. Among the individuals were playwright Claudia Allen, homocore rocker Scott Free, journalist and novelist Achy Obejas, and activists including David Ernesto Munar, the Reverend Stan Sloan, and Mark E. Wojcik. The organizations were two LGBT ones -- Asians and Friends Chicago and International Mr. Leather -- and two Friends of the Community -- the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and the Chicago History Museum.

Daley, inducted in 2006 as a Friend of the Community, told an estimated 700 attendees at the Chicago Cultural Center that he was proud of his relationship with the city's LGBT population. "This community has given more to the city than the city and country has given to you," the mayor said, according to Windy City Times.

Daley is not seeking reelection as mayor next year after serving since 1989. Attendees included two politicians hoping to succeed him -- former congressman and presidential chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and former U.S. senator and ambassador Carol Moseley Braun.

Find more on the ceremony here and more about the hall of fame here.