| Rick Garcia | |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Occupation: | LGBT activist |
| Known For: | Co-founded Equality Illinois |
Rick Garcia is an American LGBT activist.[1]
Garcia is from St. Louis.[2] His advocacy work began in his teenage years organizing local gay rights efforts.[2]
After moving to Chicago in 1986, Garcia became a significant figure in the successful 15-year campaign for a 1988 ordinance prohibiting sexual-orientation discrimination.[2] As part of the activist group known as the "Gang of Four," he later contributed to the passage of the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance in 1993.[2]
Garcia co-founded Equality Illinois in 1992, advocating for statewide protections against discrimination.[2] [3] He also helped establish the national Federation of Statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Political Organizations.[2]
Garcia has worked within the Roman Catholic Church and with various political groups to support LGBTQ+ rights.[2] He was previously associated with Maryland's New Ways Ministries, an organization focused on the gay and lesbian community.[2]
His partner Ernie Hunsperger died in 2020.[4]