By Crystal D. Swann
October 31, 2005

On October 25, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley was presented with the Local Hero Award for his steadfast commitment to equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community in Chicago. Daley’s work to promote diversity and equal access in Chicago has included publicly supporting for same'sex marriage, creating Chicago’s Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, the only government supported project of its kind, in 1991, supported a measure passed by the Chicago City Council amending the city’s anti-discrimination laws to add explicit coverage for transgender Chicagoans; and supported laws which provided equal access to city contracts by gay and lesbian owned businesses.

The event was part of the Victory Fund’s annual Oates'shrum Award Presentation which recognizes outstanding local and national leaders for their support and commitment to the GLBT community. Daley was honored alongside former Senator Minority Leader Tom Daschle (SD). Since its founding in 1991, the Victory Fund is the only national organization committed to increasing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender public officials at federal, state, and local levels of government.