May 14, 2008 1:57 pm US/Central
First Openly Gay Illinois Lawmaker Dies
Rep. Larry McKeon Was 63
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Larry McKeon, Illinois' first openly gay state representative, died this week.
CBS
Former Illinois State Rep. Larry McKeon, the first openly gay lawmaker in Illinois, has died at the age of 63.
McKeon was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1996. He retired from office in 2007.
Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) said McKeon died of a stroke on Tuesday night. He had also suffered from colorectal cancer and was HIV positive.
McKeon is best known for working to expand the state's anti-discrimination law to protect gays and lesbians.
When McKeon announced his retirement in 2006, fellow lawmaker Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) emphasized how much public perceptions changed in the 11 years McKeon was in office.
"He may have gone in there as the first openly gay state legislator but he is leaving as a very good legislator who happened to be gay," Fritchey said in July 2006.
In January 2006, a state law prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination went into effect more than three decades after state lawmakers first debated it.
In his zealousness over the years to get such a measure passed, McKeon caused a stir in 1999 when he said some lawmakers who helped narrowly defeat the measure then should have voted for it because they had gay relatives. McKeon later apologized.
Before being elected to the state House, McKeon worked as Mayor Richard M. Daley's liaison to gays and lesbians. He was also a police officer and teacher.
Rep. Gregory Harris (D-Chicago) now holds McKeon's former seat, representing parts of the city's north lakefront.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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