Rick Garcia (September 15, 1956 – January 12, 2026) was an American LGBTQ activist known primarily for his work in Chicago and for LGBTQ acceptance within the Roman Catholic Church.[1] As a co-founder of Equality Illinois, he advocated for equal treatment and social justice for the LGBTQ community.
Biography
Garcia was born on September 15, 1956,[2] to parents of Spanish descent[3] and grew up in the "Spanish Colony" neighborhood of St. Louis.[4][3] He attended Saint Louis University.[2] While there, he was first thrust into the media spotlight after he was filmed confronting a Catholic priest and theology professor who had just given a speech on the "sins of homosexuality".[2] Garcia, who had told no one he was gay, was at first fearful of reactions, but his family and the nuns he was then working with responded positively.[2][3] Garcia was already working with the United Farm Workers in Missouri, and decided to expand to gay rights activism, soon joining the local Dignity chapter.[3][5]
In 1980, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he began working with Maryland's New Ways Ministries, a Catholic organization focused on the gay and lesbian community.[3][4][6] He also spent time living in New York City.[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 as part of the activist group known as the "Gang of Four," working under the auspices of the Gay & Lesbian Town Meeting organization.[4][2] He later contributed to the passage of the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance in 1993.[4]
He co-founded Equality Illinois in 1992, advocating for statewide protections against discrimination.[4][3] He continued to work with the organization until 2010.[5] He helped establish the national Federation of Statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Political Organizations[4] and was a staff member of The Civil Rights Agenda from 2012.[5] In the 21st century, Garcia also advocated for statewide discrimination protections and same-sex marriage.[7]
Personal and later life
Garcia, who was a devout Catholic,[2] worked within the Roman Catholic Church and with various political groups to support LGBTQ+ rights.[4]
Garcia met his partner, Ernie Hunsperger (d. 2020),[8] in New York City in the 1980s.[7] Hunsperger was also an activist, and worked alongside Garcia until his retirement in 2007.[7] Garcia died on January 12, 2026, at the age of 69, from heart failure.[5][2]
Recognition
References
- 1."WALKIN' THE DOG". Chicago Tribune. December 16, 1994.
- 2.[2.2][2.3][2.4][2.5][2.6][2.7][2.8]Dudek, Mitch (January 15, 2026). "Rick Garcia, activist who fought for gay rights legislation, dies at 69". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- 3.[3.2][3.3][3.4][3.5][3.6]Felshman, Jeffrey (August 29, 1996). "How to Win Enemies and Influence People". Chicago Reader.
- 4.[4.2][4.3][4.4][4.5][4.6][4.7]"Rick Garcia". Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.
- 5.[5.2][5.3][5.4][5.5]Harrington, Adam (January 13, 2026). "Rick Garcia, activist and leader in Chicago's LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, dies at 69". CBS News. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 6.DeBernardo, Francis (January 16, 2026). "In Memory of Rick Garcia: Former New Ways Staff Member Who Became Illinois' Leading LGBTQ+ Equality Leader". New Ways Ministry. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- 7.[7.2][7.3]"Remembering Rick Garcia, a Giant of LGBTQ+ Equality and Quiet Courage". Instinct Magazine. January 15, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- 8."PASSAGES Activist Ernie Hunsperger, Rick Garcia's longtime partner, dies - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. April 16, 2020.
- 9."LGBTQ political activist Rick Garcia: "I don't see any great republicans today."". wgnradio.com. June 22, 2018.