Chicago LGBT activist Art Johnston recalls meeting with Barack Obama in 1997 during Obama's first year in the Illinois state senate. At the time, local activists were sensing potential disruptions between the LGBT community and the African-American caucus in the senate. "We usually have 100% support of the black caucus, except for Meeks," Johnston explains, referring anti-gay state senator Reverend James Meeks.
Johnston visited Obama to figure out what the community needed to do in order to shore up black support. But Barack didn't give Johnston exactly what he wanted. "He wanted to talk about the underlying assumptions blacks have about gays and gays have about blacks," says Johnston. "It was this incredibly thoughtful, cerebral conversation. As a lobbyist, it wasn't what I was looking for -- I wanted a quick fix. But that's not where Barack was going. I walked out overwhelmed by the man's sincerity, commitment to the issues, and intellectual rigor." (Kerry Eleveld)
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