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Written by WiG
Feb 11, 2012
Valerie Jarrett. - Photo: Courtesy
Equality Illinois holds its signature Justice for All gala on Saturday night, welcoming dozens of politicians, including a White House rep who will deliver a speech.
Valerie Jarrett, special advisor to President Barack Obama, will deliver the keynote address at the dinner to be held at the Chicago Hilton on Michigan Avenue.
This year’s Justice for All theme is "Celebrating Every Family," and it is likely that Equality Illinois’ members and supporters will be celebrating this week’s introduction of a marriage equality bill in the state House and the recent U.S. appeals court ruling against California’s Prop 8.
In addition to Jarrett’s attendance, EI plans to welcome Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Michael Quigley, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White, State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.
The statewide LGBT civil rights group also will welcome a group of gay and lesbian sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago. The sailors are members of Gays, Lesbians and Supporting Sailors or GLASS and their participation would not have been possible at the 2011 gala, when "don't ask, don't tell" remained in place.
Special recognitions during the evening will include the posthumous presentation of the annual Freedom Award posthumously to the late state Rep. Mark Beaubien Jr., R-Barrington Hills, for his work to end discrimination and advance equality during his nearly 15-year tenure in the Illinois House of Representatives.
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