Hinshaw Attorney Jason Santos introduces Roderick Hawkins at the Annual Equality Illinois Gala, "Justice for All".

The annual Equality Illinois Gala, "Justice for All" was held on Saturday, February 14, 2015.

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP attorney Jason Santos introduced Roderick Hawkins who passed the torch to Bernard Cherkasov, of the TransLife Center, an EQIL Board Member and Gala presenter. Representatives of TransLife Center of Chicago House accepted the Equality Illinois Freedom Award from Mr. Cherkasov and Chicago Urban League's Roderick Hawkins, the 2014 Freedom Award Winner and Bernard Cherkasov at 2015 Equality Illinois Gala.

Valerie B. Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, was the keynote speaker at Equality Illinois' Justice for All Gala on February 14 at the Hilton Chicago. More than 1,000 high-profile guests attended the annual event for the LGBT civil rights organization. The gala included a silent auction at and a dinner program. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his wife Amy Rule presents the Equality Illinois Business Leadership Award to Michael J. Sacks, CEO of GCM Grosvenor, for building the business coalition for marriage equality. 

But the gala was also a celebration, complete with plenty of dancing and honoring of important community figures, such as the TransLife Center of Chicago House and Orange Is The New Black actress Lea DeLaria.