1st openly gay member of Illinois legislature Posted on May 15th
Larry McKeon polished relations between Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago’s gay and lesbian community in the early 1990s before becoming the first openly gay member of the Illinois General Assembly, where he successfully pushed legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Mr. McKeon, 63, died Tuesday, May 13, in Springfield, apparently after suffering a stroke. His death was announced Wednesday to lawmakers by House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago).
A Chicago Democrat, Mr. McKeon served five terms in the House but did not seek re-election in 2006 because of health struggles that included cancer and an AIDS-related digestive illness.
He recently had moved to Springfield, mostly for retirement but also to serve as a part-time lobbyist. His clients included the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, for which he worked pro bono, said Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), who won election to Mr. McKeon’s former seat.
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