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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN MEMORIAM OF RICK GARCIA
WHEREAS, Rick Garcia was a principal founder of the Illinois Federation for Human Rights (renamed Equality Illinois in 2000), which grew to become the leading organizational voice for LGBTQ+ rights in Chicago and across the state; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure as executive director, Garcia helped build local lobbying units throughout Illinois, worked directly with legislators, and appeared frequently in the media to advocate for comprehensive protections against discrimination; and
WHEREAS, starting his activism early, Garcia began organizing as a teenager pioneering gay rights efforts in his hometown of St. Louis during the 1970s; and
WHEREAS, Garcia moved from St. Louis to Chicago in 1986, bringing his leadership with him and elevating LGBTQ+ organizing to new levels of visibility, credibility, and effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1980s, Garcia was a member of the “Gang of Four,” a group of activists who led the successful effort to secure passage of Chicago’s anti-discrimination ordinance; and
WHEREAS, Garcia became a high-profile activist whose leadership helped finalize the 15-year struggle to pass Chicago’s landmark 1988 ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, he went on to focus on county-level protections, playing a key role in shaping the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance, which was enacted in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Garcia was also instrumental in advancing protections for LGBTQ+ people in Illinois through his role in the effort to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Illinois Human Rights Act in 2006 and helping lay the early groundwork for marriage equality in the state; and
WHEREAS, at a national level, Garcia also helped found the Federation of Statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Political Organizations in cooperation with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; and
WHEREAS, Garcia became renowned as a bridge-builder, forging alliances across political, religious, and community lines - including working extensively on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community within Roman Catholic circles; and
WHEREAS, he additionally collaborated with organizations such as Operation PUSH while engaging leaders from both major political parties in pursuit of justice and equality; and
WHEREAS, Rick Garcia passed away on January 12, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Garcia’s legacy lives on through the laws he helped implement, the organizations he helped build, and the countless lives made safer because of his activism;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family and many friends of Rick Garcia and joins them in sorrow at this time of loss.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and suitable copies be tendered to Equality Illinois, that his memory may be so honored and ever cherished.
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