MEMORIAL-RICK GARCIA

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0594

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SR0594 - 104th General Assembly

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SR0594
LRB104 20497 RMO 33970 r
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3
to learn of the death of Rick Garcia of the Edgewater
4
neighborhood of Chicago, who passed away on January 12, 2026;
5
and

6

WHEREAS, Rick Garcia was a longtime Chicago LGBTQ activist
7
and fierce organizer who spent decades fighting for equality,
8
justice, and dignity in Illinois and beyond; known for a
9
direct approach to activism and a focus on strategy, he played
10
a key role in translating grassroots power into legislative
11
wins and was at the forefront of many civil rights victories;
12
he was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1999; and

13

WHEREAS, Rick Garcia was born on September 15, 1956 in St.
14
Louis, Missouri, where he was involved in organizing for the
15
United Farm Workers as a young man; while attending St. Louis
16
University, he found his voice as a gay rights advocate and
17
joined the gay Catholic group Dignity in St. Louis; he had a
18
deep love for the Catholic Church and worked throughout his
19
life to make it a spiritual home for LGBTQ people; and

20

WHEREAS, Rick Garcia worked for the liberal gay Catholic
21
group New Ways Ministry in Washington, D.C. before moving to
22
Chicago in 1986; he joined the effort to pass the city's Human

SR0594
- 2 -
LRB104 20497 RMO 33970 r
1
Rights Ordinance, which was enacted in 1988, and was a leading
2
advocate for passage of the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance
3
of 1993 and the expanded Illinois Human Rights Act of 2005; he
4
was a leader in lobbying for gay marriage in Illinois, which
5
became law in 2013; and

6

WHEREAS, Rick Garcia was a principal founder of the
7
Illinois Federation for Human Rights, later renamed Equality
8
Illinois, in 1992 and served as its public policy director;
9
after his time with The Civil Rights Agenda, he went on to work
10
within government, including a role with the Cook County
11
Sheriff's Office and, most recently, the Illinois Secretary of
12
State's Office; and

13

WHEREAS, Rick Garcia was a gourmet cook who loved to
14
dance; he will be remembered for his deep sense of loyalty, his
15
humor, and his care for his loved ones; and

16

WHEREAS, Rick Garcia was preceded in death by his partner
17
of 40 years, activist Ernie Hunsperger, on April 9, 2020;
18
therefore, be it

19

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
20
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
21
Rick Garcia and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
22
friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

SR0594
- 3 -
LRB104 20497 RMO 33970 r
1

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2
presented to the close friends and family of Rick Garcia as an
3
expression of our deepest sympathy.

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