The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame announced today that it has made its entire nomination process available online.
Those wishing to nominate individuals, organizations, businesses, or “Friends” of the Community, may now do so without having to download print and fill out forms. All steps of the nomination process are now available on the Hall of Fame’s website. Nomination criteria and nomination forms, both downloads and online submissions are now available at www.chicagolgbthalloffame.org/nominate.
To nominate someone for the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame now only takes a few clicks of your mouse. Anyone can nominate an individual, organization, or business for the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. The goal is to honor people and entities that have made significant contributions to the quality of life or well-being of the LGBT community in Chicago or the city at large.
To allow everyone to take advantage of the new, online nomination process, the deadline for nominations has been extended to May 28, 2021. The nominations will be reviewed by a committee comprised of current Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame members, after which a slate of inductees will be chosen.
Kathy Caldwell, the board’s co-chair stated, “It is important to continue to recognize the achievements of Chicagoans, past, and present, especially since so many of the community’s original movers and shakers have passed on. We need to ensure that their achievements are not forgotten.”
The ceremony for inductees will be held in October 2021. At this point, it has not been determined whether it will be an in-person ceremony or a virtual one. Last year the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame held its first virtual induction ceremony for its 2020 inductees.
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame is the first city-sponsored hall of fame dedicated to LGBT people, organizations, community organizations, and allies in the United States. It was founded in 1991 as the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame.
From its founding in 1991 until 2016, the Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame relied on financial and staff support from the city of Chicago. The first Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame ceremony took place during Pride Week and was held at Chicago City Hall. Mayor Richard M. Daley hosted the ceremony and afterward, photos of the inductees were displayed in City Hall. The city ceased funding the Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2016 under then-mayor Rahm Emanuel. At that time, it was rechristened the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame and has since been supported and maintained by the Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, with approval from, and the cooperation of, the City of Chicago. The Hall of Fame has no physical facility but maintains a website that allows anyone to visit the Hall of Fame at any time.
For more information, email inquiry@chicagoLGBThalloffame.org, visit the organization’s website chicagolgbthalloffame.org or its Facebook page, facebook.com/groups/56108152083.
