Press Release: Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame announces 2025 Inductees

CHICAGO LGBT HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2025 INDUCTEES
Induction Ceremony Set for Nov. 6, 2025

The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, the only city-sanctioned LGBT Hall of Fame in the world, has announced its slate of 2025 inductees: 19 LGBT-identified individuals and four LGBT-identified organizations.

The 2025 inductees, who represent a wide cross-section of the diverse Chicago community, this year include Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary Mario Treto Jr.; Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis; ABC national news correspondent Alex Perez; and Hollywood art director and former Chicago theatre designer Maher Ahmad.

The 2025 Class of Inductees: 
Individual inductees: 

Maher Ahmad, an activist, theatre scenic designer, motion picture art director (The Fugitive, Goodfellas), and teacher, made significant contributions to the LGBT rights movement in Chicago as co-founder of the Northwestern University Gay Liberation Front, protesting against anti-LGBT discrimination and using his influence in the Chicago theatre and Hollywood film industries to promote LGBT visibility.

Traci P. Beck, a board-certified urologist, has impacted Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community for decades through her pioneering work in gender-affirming care, expanding access to high-quality care for transgender and nonbinary individuals and integrating LGBTQ+-inclusive practices in Illinois hospitals.

Jan Berger has made significant contributions to the LGBTQ community over 45 years through her work in healthcare policy, community involvement, and sports, serving on the Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations Committee on Gay and Lesbian Affairs, founding and leading LGBTQ sports organizations, and mentoring young LGBTQ professionals.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, the first Black openly trans woman elected to public office in Cook County history and the first to serve on a water reclamation district in the U.S., has made significant contributions to the LGBT community and environmental conservation through her work with the Sierra Club, the Center on Halsted, and Columbia College Chicago and in public office, with a focus on renewable energy, corporate accountability, water protection, and diversity initiatives.

Arick Buckles (posthumous inductee) contributed to the health, security, and dignity of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, particularly persons living with HIV and AIDS, through decades of service in community outreach and housing support roles, while also advocating for systemic change through policy work. 

Balloons by Tommy, LLC, founded by Tommy DeLorenzo (posthumous inductee) and his husband Drew Scott DeLorenzo, has been a cornerstone of the Chicago LGBTQ+ community for over 25 years, providing vibrant balloon artistry for numerous events, participating in the Chicago Pride Parade, and fostering community spirit through their inclusivity, generosity, and dedication to creating spaces for celebration and solidarity.

Jacob Christopher Green, also known as Muffy Fishbasket, is the founder of Hubris Productions, a theater company that has raised thousands of dollars for charities; he also initiated the Chicago chapter of Drag Story Hour in 2016, promoting literacy and diversity despite facing political backlash and threats.

Sam Hamilton (posthumous inductee) significantly contributed to the LGBTQ+ community through her involvement in the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association, the largest not-for-profit LGBTQ+ sports organization in the Midwest, through which she managed various teams, initiated women’s dodgeball and other leagues, coordinated community events, and played a crucial role in the growth of women’s sports within CMSA.

Richard Knight, Jr. has contributed to the LGBTQ+ community through his work as a public relations director, Emmy-winning television entertainer, cabaret performer, singer/songwriter, creative writer, critic and journalist, and activist, notably as a founding member of ACT-UP Chicago.

Mike A. Macharello, a prominent figure in Chicago’s House Music scene, significantly contributed to the LGBTQ+ community through his inclusive Circuit Night Club; his publication boiMAGazine, which highlights alternative lifestyle talent; and his nonprofit organization, the Chicago Arts Center, aimed at combating post-pandemic smart-device addictions.

Adam L. McMath, a filmmaker and activist, has significantly advanced the visibility and wellbeing of the Black LGBTQ+ community through his documentaries, music videos, creation of professional and creative spaces, leadership in the Black Alphabet NFP, and co-founding of the Jamii Center for Arts and Media and Tala Roots Media.

Jerry Nunn‘s diverse career spans acting, writing, and healthcare, with notable roles in media outlets ranging from WGN Radio and the Critics Choice Association to Windy City Media Group and GoPride Chicago, and as an HIV tester, health educator, and volunteer for Heartland Alliance’s GroceryLand food pantry.

Reyna Ortiz, an Indigenous Mexican and Caribbean Boricua woman of trans experience, has dedicated her life to advocacy and activism in the LGBT community, promoting HIV prevention, supporting LGBTQ+ youth, assisting homeless individuals, and advocating for the rights of trans and gender diverse populations.

Chicago-based independent filmmaker and actress Milon V. Parker has contributed to the representation and visibility of the LGBT community through her work, including the popular film series The Lies We Tell But the Secrets We Keep, the romantic drama More Than Friends, and the holiday-themed film Coming Out for Christmas, all of which authentically depict LGBTQ+ stories to inspire audiences worldwide.

Alex Perez, Chicago-based national correspondent for ABC News and previously a reporter for NBC Chicago, is a nationally respected openly gay Latino journalist who has contributed to elevating issues of racial justice, public safety, and marginalized voices through his impactful reporting for major news platforms.

Dr. Mario Pierce, also known as Midwest Father Mario Balenciaga, is Senior Director of Programs at Brave Space Alliance, an LGBTQ+-focused center on Chicago’s South Side; he has dedicated over two decades to developing community-based programs, facilitating support groups, and managing educational and health initiatives, notably in HIV prevention.

Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer, along with his husband Brad Lippitz, has emerged as a leader in the Chicago LGBTQ+ community through serving as the first board president of the Chicago AIDS Garden, acting as the LGBTQ liaison for Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), and hosting fundraising events for pro-LGBTQ+ politicians.

Artist, playwright, and activist Jim Rinnert (posthumous inductee) was the founding board president of the Biscotto/Miller Fund, created in 1985 to provide direct financial assistance to Chicagoland theatre artists impacted by HIV/AIDS, and later served as board president of the nonprofit agency Season of Concern; his 1980 multimedia play The Artaud Project won a special Joseph Jefferson (Jeff) Award in 1980, and he worked for some 30 years for In These Times magazine as art director and a contributing writer on LGBT rights issues.

Mario Treto Jr., Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, is a trailblazing public servant, attorney, and civic leader; as the first openly gay Latino Cabinet member in Illinois government, he has profoundly impacted Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community by authoring transformative local ordinances for LGBTQ+ protections and implementing equity-focused regulations.

Organizations:

Founded in 1987, the Chicago Gender Society (CGS) serves as a pillar of support for the transgender community, providing a safe space for individuals to transition, build community, and receive educational resources, while also hosting social events, supporting other LGBTQ+ organizations, participating in Pride Parades, and educating the public on the transgender journey.

The Chicago Pride League (CPL), the largest LGBTQ+ bowling league in Chicago, fosters community through bowling, raises funds for local charities through raffles, and promotes the sport and the city’s LGBTQ+ community through annual International Gay Bowling Organization-affiliated tournaments.

For more than 25 years, Chicago PrimeTimers (CPT) has served as a crucial community for older LGBT men in Chicago, providing social, cultural, and educational programs, promoting inclusivity and visibility, reducing isolation, and fostering lifelong learning.

ONYX Midwest, a pioneering leather fraternity founded in Chicago in 1995, has empowered queer men of color in the kink community for over 30 years by fostering inclusion, knowledge-sharing, and fellowship, organizing charity drives, prioritizing community health and wellness, championing sexual health education, and maintaining a visible presence at major LGBTQ+ events.

—–

The Annual Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark, Chicago. The plaques for the new inductees are traditionally given out by the Mayor of Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson has been invited and we hope he will participate this year.  The ceremony is free and open to the public.  To register go to https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/RSVP

The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, the only city-sanctioned LGBT Hall of Fame in the world, was founded in 1991 to honor Chicago’s people and entities, nominated by the community, who have made significant contributions to the quality of life or well-being of the LGBT community and the city of Chicago. The first Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame ceremony took place during Pride Week 1991 at Chicago City Hall. Then-mayor Richard M. Daley hosted the ceremony and photos of the inductees were later displayed in City Hall.

The Hall of Fame maintains a website, which allows anyone to visit the Hall of Fame at any time at https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/. Traditionally, the City of Chicago has displayed the Hall of Fame materials during induction periods, Pride Month, and in October for LGBT History Month.

For more information, email inquiry@chicagoLGBThalloffame.org, or visit the organization’s website, https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/, or its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/56108152083.

#####