IL SR0594

Illinois Senate memorial resolution honoring Rick Garcia, a Chicago LGBTQ activist from the Edgewater neighborhood who passed away on January 12, 2026

Principal founder of the Illinois Federation for Human Rights (later renamed Equality Illinois) in 1992, serving as its public policy director and inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1999

Key advocate for major civil rights legislation including Chicago's Human Rights Ordinance (1988), Cook County Human Rights Ordinance (1993), expanded Illinois Human Rights Act (2005), and Illinois marriage equality (2013)

Held government positions with the Cook County Sheriff's Office and Illinois Secretary of State's Office after his advocacy career

Preceded in death by his partner of 40 years, activist Ernie Hunsperger, who passed on April 9, 2020