Loved ones gather for funeral to honor Rick Garcia, longtime Chicago LGBTQ+ advocate

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Loved ones of a longtime Chicago LGBTQ+ activist remembered him on Saturday

Rick Garcia is known for playing a key role in Chicago's human rights ordinance. He died Jan. 12 at the age of 69.

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Garcia's friends and family gathered at Saint Mary of the Lake Catholic Church on the city's North Side to say one final goodbye.

The beloved activist never shied away from the cameras.

"I want them to remember him for who he was which was a tenacious, never give up activist, who was fantastic with the press," said Michael McHale, former president of Equality Illinois. "Made a lot of contacts and helped us pass the gay civil rights bill in 2005 which was one of Rick's many accomplishments."

Garcia played a key role in pushing for legislation in the 80s that made it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation in Chicago. Similar legislation was then passed at the county and state level.

Garcia was also a devout Catholic.

"When people would use the excuse, I can't vote for this I'm Catholic, Rick would say, 'Well I'm Catholic too. You can vote for this,'" McHale said.

His advocacy has inspired others to continue pushing for equality.

"I remember he would always just say, 'Girl, never let them keep you outside, because we all have a seat at the table, even if you have to be the one that drags it there,'" said Julio Rodriguez, co-founder and president of ALMA Chicago.

"As a gay man, and as a friend, they'll never be another like him, because he was built in a different era, and he made it possible for me to be who I am," best friend Richard Streetman said. "And there's a little piece of him in my heart forever."