• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour are engaged
  • Jury awards $45.2 million in punitive damages in Alex Jones Sandy Hook trial
  • Britney Spears and Sam Asghari hit back at Kevin Federline

First Openly Gay Illinois Lawmaker Larry McKeon Dies

Andy Towle May 15, 2008

Illinois’ first openly gay legislator, former state rep. Larry McKeon, died on Tuesday the Chicago Tribune reports:

Mckeon“McKeon, 63, a Chicago Democrat, did not seek re-election in 2006 because of health struggles that included cancer and an AIDS-related digestive illness. An Army veteran and former lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, McKeon came to Chicago in the 1980s to pursue a degree in social service administration. He worked as a director at United Charities and became involved with gay activist groups, leading to his run for political office. In 1992, he was hired as executive director of the Chicago Human Rights Commission’s Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues. McKeon was elected to the House in 1996 by voters in what was then the North Side’s 34th District. During that campaign, he acknowledged being HIV-positive. One of his major legislative priorities was to expand gay rights. In 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into law a measure that added sexual orientation to the state’s human rights act banning discrimination against gays and lesbians by landlords, real estate agents, employers and lenders.”

McKeon died in Springfield.

Topics: AIDS, Health, News More Posts About: Deaths, Democratic Party, Illinois, Illinois, News

Related Posts
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Duran Duran Has New Music And You Are About To Enjoy it. It’s 2021. Seriously.
  • Iowa Democratic Party leader says he was target of racist threats, some Explicitly violent
  • Jury awards $45.2 million in punitive damages in Alex Jones Sandy Hook trial

    Jury awards $45.2 million in punitive damages in Alex Jones Sandy Hook trial

    Published by Reuters By Jack Queen (Reuters) -U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre $45.2 million in punitive damages – on top of …Read More »
  • Britney Spears and Sam Asghari hit back at Kevin Federline

    Britney Spears and Sam Asghari hit back at Kevin Federline

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Britney Spears is “saddened” after her ex-husband publicly revealed their sons haven’t seen her “for months”. The ‘Gimme More’ singer has spoken out in response to an interview given by Kevin …Read More »
  • Fidel Castro’s daughter praises James Franco casting

    Fidel Castro’s daughter praises James Franco casting

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Fidel Castro’s daughter has praised James Franco’s casting as her father in a new movie. The ‘127 Hours’ actor – who has Latin and Portuguese heritage – will portray the former …Read More »
  • Brigitte Neilsen: World wasn’t ready for Red Sonja

    Brigitte Neilsen: World wasn’t ready for Red Sonja

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Brigitte Neilsen doesn’t think the “world was ready” for a “fierce female lead” when she made ‘Red Sonja’. The 59-year-old star was an unknown actress when she landed the role in …Read More »
Previous Post: « Isabella Rossellini Makes Juicy Earthworm Porn
Next Post: Marc Jacobs Employee and T-Shirt Model Arrested for $62K Theft »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Flight tracking exposure irks billionaires and baddies

    Flight tracking exposure irks billionaires and baddies

  • US Senate poised to pass Biden’s cornerstone climate and health bill

    US Senate poised to pass Biden’s cornerstone climate and health bill

  • Suspended Florida prosecutor hits back at Ron DeSantis and reveals suspected motive

    Suspended Florida prosecutor hits back at Ron DeSantis and reveals suspected motive

RSS Partner Links

  • Selena Gomez Goes On A Boat Adventure With Producer Andrea Iervolino in Italy
  • Open Post: Hosted By The Moment A Meteorologist Discovered He Had A Touchscreen
  • Kevin Federline Talked About Britney Spears’ Relationship With Her Sons During An Interview, And Yes, She Hit Back At Him
  • Singer David Archuleta: “I don’t feel right hiding pieces of me like my journey of coming out”
  • Nicola Peltz Slams People Who Make Her Feel Bad Amid Rumors That She And Victoria Beckham Can’t Stand Each Other
  • Sunday Round-Up: Leo Baker; Joel Kim Booster; Hailie Sahar; Ariana DeBose; Beyonce; Anne Heche
  • All the Bravo Stars at Teresa Giudice & Louie Ruelas' Wedding Revealed!

Most Recent

  • Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour are engaged

    Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour are engaged

  • Jury awards $45.2 million in punitive damages in Alex Jones Sandy Hook trial

    Jury awards $45.2 million in punitive damages in Alex Jones Sandy Hook trial

  • Britney Spears and Sam Asghari hit back at Kevin Federline

    Britney Spears and Sam Asghari hit back at Kevin Federline

  • Fidel Castro’s daughter praises James Franco casting

    Fidel Castro’s daughter praises James Franco casting

  • Brigitte Neilsen: World wasn’t ready for Red Sonja

    Brigitte Neilsen: World wasn’t ready for Red Sonja

  • German consul arrested in Brazil over husband’s death

    German consul arrested in Brazil over husband’s death

  • Chile sinkhole grows large enough to swallow France’s Arc de Triomphe

    Chile sinkhole grows large enough to swallow France’s Arc de Triomphe

  • Kevin Bacon: Being scared takes work

    Kevin Bacon: Being scared takes work

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

×