Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Illinois Gay Rights Pioneer Larry McKeon Receives Foundation Grant For Four Decades of Activism, Public Service


[way to go Larry! LifeLube loves ya!!!]

The Stonewall Awards Honor
Heroes of LGBT Rights Movement

Chicago, Oct. 24, 2007—Illinois activist Larry McKeon has been named the recipient of the 2007 Stonewall Award in recognition of his longstanding service to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, Allen A. Schuh, president of The Anderson Prize Foundation, announced today. The $30,000 unrestricted cash award was presented to McKeon after an anonymous nomination process.

“Larry was not only the first openly gay representative in the Illinois legislature,” Schuh said, “more courageously, he was one of the first elected representatives in the U.S. who acknowledged being HIV-positive. By his presence and example as a gay and HIV-positive individual working day-to-day on both GLBT and ordinary legislative business, Larry overcame widespread homophobia in government, achieving the largest majority in support of gay and lesbian rights in Illinois history. The Anderson Prize Foundation is pleased to give something back to Larry for his selfless commitment to our community.”

“To be honored with The Anderson Prize Foundation’s award is especially meaningful, because I knew Paul Anderson and appreciated his important philanthropic work in our communities two decades ago,” McKeon said. “The Prize he funded before he died has recognized many activists over the years who might otherwise have gone unacknowledged, and I am honored to be among them.”

Among McKeon’s legislative achievements is an amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, passed in 2005 after 30 years of attempts to achieve state-wide legislation banning discrimination against LGBT citizens. “I am very proud of my success in passing the Human Rights Amendment during my career as a lawmaker,” McKeon said. “In a year when a dozen states were passing laws writing discrimination into their constitutions by banning same-sex marriage, Illinois moved towards ending discrimination. The Human Rights Act garnered the largest majority it had ever received in its 30-year history in the Illinois House, including the most bi-partisan support in its history.”

In addition, McKeon sponsored and achieved passage of revisions to the Illinois organ donor act that allows transplantation of organs between individuals who are co-infected with HIV and viral hepatitis. This legislation received international attention and awaits congressional action to modify the prohibition in federal law.

McKeon, 63, is an Idaho native who began his public service career more than 40 years ago as a U.S. Army officer, Los Angeles police officer and administrator, educator, social service manager and community activist before becoming an elected state representative.

Read more on Larry here.

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