Induction Ceremony Set for Nov. 5, 2026
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, the only city-sanctioned LGBT Hall of Fame in the world, has announced its slate of 2026 inductees: 13 LGBT-identified individuals, two LGBT-identified organizations and three friends of the community, or allies. The 2026 inductees represent a wide cross-section of the diverse Chicago community.
2026 Individual inductees:
For more than 24 years, Bradley Balof has strengthened Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community by supporting cultural events and storytelling, raising over $1 million for Center on Halsted, stewarding the Northalsted Business Alliance, and leading major celebrations that foster belonging, visibility, and community investment.
Pat Cummings has advanced Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community through decades of activism, volunteer service, advocacy, and photography documenting and preserving its history.
David Dodd has advanced Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community—particularly Black LGBTQ+ people—through advocacy, HIV/AIDS education, mentorship, communications leadership, and the production of more than 500 affirming events and two decades, fostering visibility, opportunity, connection, and cultural pride.
Maya Douglas has advanced LGBTQ+ visibility through four decades of nationally recognized performance, judging, mentorship, and media appearances, while supporting Chicago’s community through fundraising, creative work, and ongoing contributions to Dance Divas benefiting the Chicago Dance Health Fund.
Coquie Hughes advances LGBTQ+ visibility, access, mentorship, and participation through award-winning filmmaking, youth training, accessible smartphone-filmmaking education, media innovation, community service, and national creative leadership.
Saundra DeAnne Johnson advanced LGBTQ rights and health by helping secure LGBTQ inclusion in Chicago’s Bud Billiken Parade, co-founding ACT UP Chicago’s Women’s Caucus, advocating for Black communities and women living with HIV/AIDS, helping establish an AIDS ward for women, and providing case management, food support, and compassionate care to people affected by HIV/AIDS. (Posthumous Induction).
Over three decades, Simone Koehlinger has strengthened LGBTQ+ health in Chicago by expanding HIV prevention, testing, treatment, housing, mental health, and supportive services; advancing culturally responsive public health; and building collaborative systems that have helped thousands access care, achieve viral suppression, and improvement their quality of life.
Ray J. Koenig III has advanced Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community through marriage-equality advocacy, leadership at Chicago House, anti-discrimination public service, and historic visibility as the first openly LGBTQ+ president of The Chicago Bar Association.
Mimi Marks has advanced LGBTQ+ visibility and community life through celebrated performances, international transgender pageant achievements, advocacy for transgender equality, and HIV/AIDS fundraising and awareness.
For over 30 years, Angelique Munro has strengthened Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community by fundraising for HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ organizations, creating opportunities for LGBTQ+ performers, educating future professionals about transgender-affirming care, and advancing transgender visibility through advocacy, employment, and media.
As an openly gay Black elected official, Alderman Lamont J. Robinson has advanced LGBTQ+ visibility and equality, mentored emerging leaders, and supported more inclusive access to healthcare, education, housing, economic opportunity, and public safety for Chicago’s marginalized communities.
Marshall Titus has advanced LGBTQ+ visibility as a Black gay soul artist, using his music video “I Will” for TPAN’s A Day with HIV campaign to challenge HIV stigma and promote testing, disclosure, and openly expressed love.
Michelle Wetzel has advanced LGBTQI rights and wellbeing through decades of HIV/AIDS advocacy, legal defense, supportive housing, healthcare access—including gender-affirming care—and organizational leadership, while strengthening LGBTQI community services and visibility through education, partnerships, and Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles.
2026 Organizations:
ADODI Chicago advances the well-being, visibility, connection, and health of Black same-gender-loving men through support groups, social and artistic programs, sexual-health education, and HIV support.
For 25 years, Hell in a Handbag Productions has advanced Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community by creating opportunities for queer artists, celebrating queer camp and self-expression, fostering inclusive community through theater, and raising over $100,000 for LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
2026 Friends of the Community:
Brad Cummings uplifted Austin’s West Side and the LGBTQ+ community through his stewardship of the Austin Voice, HIV/AIDS awareness efforts, founding of the Austin AIDS Planning Coalition (later WHARP), and support for Pathfinders Prevention & Education Fund and allied organizations. (Posthumous induction)
Since 1985, Sharyl Holtzman has advanced Chicago’s LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS communities through direct aid, fundraising, event production, activism, memorial work, advocacy, and preserving the legacies of community leaders.
Rev. Dr. L. Bernard Jakes fosters an affirming, safe, and welcoming church community for LGBTQIA people; promotes HIV testing and combats stigma, supports people living with HIV/AIDS, and provides clothing, food, and other assistance to displaced and unhoused LGBTQIA youth and adults.
The Annual Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark, Chicago. The awards for the new inductees are traditionally given out by the Mayor of Chicago. The ceremony is free and open to the public. To register go to 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.
From a press release
