Thu. October 15, 2026
CHICAGO, ILL. -
By Michael Oboza, Special to GoPride.com
During October for LGBTQ History Month, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs hosted an award celebration honoring community leaders.
Notable attendees included Starr De Los Santos, the first Latina chair of the City of Chicago LGBTQ Advisory Council, and Dr. Norma Seledon, a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee.
During the luncheon tradition, Frerichs welcomed the crowded room.
"With its significant date of National Coming Out Day on October 11," Frerichs reflected, "after coming out to students, openly gay public school teacher from Missouri Rodney Wilson founded LGBTQ History Month in October of 1994."
"This is not a lifetime achievement award. The work is not done. Today's award recognizes your life's work as you continue your legacy, even after today."
Award recipients included Executive Chef Carol Himmel, owner of Erich's Lehigh Auto Body Inc. and Himmel's, who was recognized with outstanding service in business.
"I don't like to make speeches," Himmel expressed, "but it's important to mention, we are grateful in our state because there are people like Frerichs who care and who always cared."
John Peller, a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee and the president and CEO of AIDS Foundation Chicago, was recognized with outstanding service in leadership. He was unable to attend in person and sent a video recording.
"I'm humbled to work for AIDS Foundation Chicago for 21 years and as president and CEO for the past 12 years," Peller shared. "My proudest moment has been working with others on our Get to Zero Illinois strategy. We have scientific knowledge that shows when people with HIV are successfully treated, they cannot transmit HIV. This resulted in Undetectable equals Untransmittable."
Robert Castillo, a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee and community organizer, was recognized with outstanding commitment to community service.
"I didn't know how much the love of my life, John Pennycuff, would be mentioned," Castillo shared. "I'm usually better at public speaking, but I got caught off guard. Please bear with me."
"During LGBTQ History Month, I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge some important LGBTQ lives who impacted me who are now with their ancestors, some on the front lines and others behind the scenes: Marie Kuda, Bill Kelley, Alicia Amador, Gerardo Montemayor, Steve Brichetto, Daniel Sotomayor, Jackie Anderson, Vernita Gray, Bennett Williams, Marc Loveless, Renae Ogletree, John Pennycuff, Saundra Johnson, the queer-friendly Unity Park Advisory Council, and my supporter, my niece Amanda."
Jin-Soo Huh, senior director of partnerships and innovation at Education Leaders of Color, was recognized with outstanding commitment to education.
"LGBTQ History Month was founded by a teacher, and visibility is so important right now," Huh explained. "People are trying to erase our history, especially our transgender history. What's amazing about Illinois is it's one of the few states that require LGBTQ history to be taught in public schools."
"A lot of the work isn't sexy. A lot of the work isn't glamorous. But we need people to step up to do the hard work."
Alderman Bennett Lawson of Chicago's 44th Ward was recognized with outstanding commitment as an elected official.
"My first real action in our LGBTQ community," Lawson shared, "we marched. We marched after Matthew Shepard was murdered. Matthew Shepard was my age. It could have been me or any of my friends. And that was not okay."
Lauren Sugerman, a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee and retired national policy director of Chicago Women in Trades, was recognized with outstanding achievement in workforce and labor. Unable to attend, Caress Pouncy accepted the award on her behalf.
"Our CWIT sisterhood, together, we keep working to break open concrete floors that keep saying women don't belong in construction and male-dominated fields," Pouncy said. "Together, we keep fighting to be free from harassment and discrimination, to not just let us in, but also ensure we're treated with respect and dignity."
Pouncy also shared her personal experiences.
"Before I joined our sisterhood at CWIT, I was in and out of jail. Our sisterhood has provided a home and helped me with my first job as a welder for over 12 years."
Marcia Hill—a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee, athlete, coach, manager, league commander, sports official, and board member of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association—was recognized with outstanding achievement in sportsmanship.
"I began in sports when I was in high school, then played three varsity sports in college," Hill remembered. "I moved to Chicago in the early 1980s. I began the first women's sporting league in Chicago, and I helped with the Gay Bowl and Gay Games."
"Throughout my life's work, I tried to provide a space for everyone who played competitive rec. I'm thankful for this honor for my life in sports."
Megan Carney, a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee and artistic director of About Face Theatre, was recognized with outstanding achievement in arts and humanities.
"I'm happy to be here, embraced in the work we're doing together," Carney said. "The award means a lot to me."
"I moved to Chicago as a young person for a couple of reasons. I believe Chicago is the greatest theater city in the world, and also, I believe in Chicago I could build an out and proud life for myself. And I've been able to do that."
"Over the past year, we asked young folks at About Face Theatre what they needed from adults and allies in their lives. They repeated one word: listen. They needed them to listen."
"When we truly listen to each other, we learn, we grow, we change, and we're motivated on behalf of other people who we know."
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