Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Passing of a Champion

Larry McKeon often served in an unassuming way, but he was a real fighter when he needed to be. We Illinoisans were lucky to have him in our corner. The Illinois legislator who died Monday was a champion for all civil rights, but I'll always associate him with the Illinois Human Rights Act, a strong LGBT rights bill passed in 2005 providing protections in the area of employment, public accommodation, and housing. I supported passage of that bill for twenty years, but felt better about its chances once Larry was elected to office in 1996. An openly gay, HIV+ man, Larry was a breath of fresh air in Springfield. He could be feisty and had occasional outbursts at the rank hypocrisy of some Illinois legislators. Some activists criticized this as hurting the movement, but I admired him for his restraint, patience, and legislative skills. With constituents, he was personable and down to earth. I went to a recognition event for Larry in 2006 just before I moved to DC to work for SLDN. He was retiring due to his failing health, having been diagnosed with cancer in addition to HIV. He seemed physically frail but mentally strong and determined to continuing to fight for LGBT rights. His gratitude for our appreciation was touching, given all he had contributed to the community. Larry was Chicago's Harvey Milk, a guy you would want to know, who fought hard for economic and social justice, and who was taken from us too soon. Like a million other Americans, he was an LGBT veteran, forced to serve in silence. I bet he served then as he served later in life: an unassuming soldier, but a real fighter you would want in your corner. Larry got to see passage of the Illinois Human Rights Act into law under his watch, and got the just appreciation he deserved for the hard work he put into that fight. He didn't get to see the U.S. Congress recognize the value of his service in the military by repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban. But soon, a million other LGBT veterans will. -----

05-15-08