POLITICS: Did Chicago LGBT leaders help fuel Rahm’s win?

The 2011 citywide elections are a signpost of evolution in Chicago’s powerful arena of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender politics. There is a rift in that community, exposed by the firing of gay activist Rick Garcia, the longtime public policy director for Equality Illinois, writes Laura Washington in Chicago Sun-Times.

Chicago’s LGBT leadership went all out for Rahm Emanuel, angering some veteran grass-roots activists such as Garcia, who relishes a political street fight. They argue the LGBT establishment is in the bag for the mayor-elect, and suggest that once in office, Emanuel may not return the favor. The rabble rousers, however, are a vocal minority.

The LGBT establishment players and their cash helped fuel Rahm Emanuel’s Feb. 22 victory. And their vote surely spurred the election of James Cappleman in last week’s 46th Ward runoff election, adding a second openly gay alderman to the Chicago City Council.

In the 44th, 46th and 48th wards, Emanuel racked up about 74 percent, 70 percent and 68 percent of the vote respectively. Those three North lakefront areas are home to most of the city’s LGBT voters.

During the heated mayoral campaign, the four leading aspirants ardently wooed the city’s LGBT leadership, lusting for its progressive credentials and money muscle.

Emanuel prevailed big-time, winning the vast majority of heavy-hitting LGBT leaders across the spectrum of politics, business, government, arts and culture.

On a cold January weekday, dozens turned out at the Center on Halsted to kiss the Rahm ring at an endorsement session at the Center on Halsted. Among other things, they credit the former Northwest Side congressman with securing $1.25 million in federal funds to help erect the wildly popular LGBT community center.

Emanuel also won support from virtually every LGBT political and activist group, from the national Human Rights Campaign to the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee.