On Dec. 6, 2017, the five Democratic candidates for governor met in a historic statewide forum in that was the first ever in Illinois to focus solely on LGBTQ issues.
The candidates–Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools Bob Daiber, businessman Chris Kennedy, anti-violence activist Tio Hardiman, state Sen. Daniel Biss, and businessman J.B. Pritzker–all agreed that issues such as youth homelessness, health care access, immigration fairness, equal treatment of transgender students and care for elderly community members must be better addressed by the state. The candidates also committed to appointing LGBTQ Illinoisans to senior level positions in their administration if they are elected.
The forum was hosted in Chicago’s historic Second Presbyterian Church, introduced by Anthony C. Galloway of Equality Illinois, moderated by Brian C. Johnson of Equality Illinois, with questions asked by the other cosponsors Imani Rupert-Gordon of Affinity Community Services, Kenny Martín-Ocasio of ALMA Chicago, and Kim L. Hunt of Pride Action Tank.