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Crowd encouraged to continue fight for fairness and equality

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Chicago, IL — Nearly 250 people tolerated the cold weather to attend the Chicago Solidarity Rally at Daley Plaza this afternoon. The rally, organized by LGBT Change - a Chicago grassroots initiative, included a list of speakers from politicians to activists. 

"It's really important for those who care about fairness and equality to stand up in Chicago or Washington D.C.," State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) said.

The National Equality March and the Chicago Rally was held in the thirtieth year anniversary of the first gay and lesbian rally in Washington D.C., and coincided with National Coming Out Day.

Democratic candidate for governor Dan Hynes, Candidate for Illinois State Senate Jim Madigan and State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) were in attendance and spoke to the enthusiastic audience.

"Everybody knows that there is a consequence to discrimination. We need action in D.C.," said Hynes to the receptive crowd. "There are some who say that would be moving too fast; there are some who urge incremental change, incremental progress ending certain kinds of discrimination, pushing for certain kinds of rights, pushing for domestic partnership benefits or civil unions and they say that maybe someday, a decade from now or two decades from now we can get marriage equality. Well I say this, there is no such thing as incremental equality."

For over an hour the speakers rallied the crowd. Other speakers included Jim Pickett of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, John Knight of the American Civil Liberties Union, Peter Ji, President of PFLAG Illinois and Gerald Farinas, Candidate for Alderman, 46th Ward. 

"Democrats control all branches of government, but they aren't producing results for our community. Join this rally to show our leaders that we want results not more talk," said Madigan in a press release before the event.

LGBTChange.org organized today's event and has another gathering planned for October 20, 2009 at the Lincoln Park Public Library.

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