In honor of Pride Month in Chicago, let's get to know the people from Columbia College Chicago whose advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community has made a lasting impact.

Throughout Columbia College Chicago’s 135-year history, countless individuals have worked to shape a more inclusive and equitable campus—and among them are LGBTQ+ advocates whose voices and actions have left a lasting legacy. From pioneering educators and student leaders to artists and activists, these changemakers have challenged norms, inspired dialogue, and helped pave the way for greater visibility and acceptance.

As we celebrate Pride Month in Chicago and across Columbia, we honor their contributions by amplifying their stories—stories rooted in courage, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of equality. This month, we shine a light on those who have not only supported the LGBTQ+ community but have helped it thrive within the heart of our institution. 

Precious Brady-Davis  ‛13

LGBTQ-rights advocate, environmental activist, and Columbia alum Precious Brady-Davis ’13, who graduated from Columbia with an Interdisciplinary BA in Theatre and Liberal Education. Precious Brady-Davis is the first Black transgender person appointed to public office in Cook County. She was appointed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in July 2023 and was elected Commissioner in 2024. Brady-Davis also previously served as the assistant director of Diversity Recruitment Initiatives at Columbia College Chicago, where she implemented the campus-wide diversity initiative and provided leadership and oversight on national diversity recruitment and strategic policy initiatives. 

Albert Williams  ‛73

Emeritus Professor and alum Albert Williams ‘73 recently retired after four decades of teaching at Columbia. Williams is the former editor of "Windy City Times" (LGBTQ+ news site) and before that editor of Chicago GayLife (LGBTQ+ newspaper), and a longtime staff writer for the Chicago Reader, for which he haswrittenmany articles related to LGBTQ issues. As a Columbia studentstudying Music, Williams was a member of Chicago Gay Liberation and helped organize the first Stonewall anniversary march (forerunner of the annual Pride Parade) on June 27, 1970. He also cofounded Gay and Lesbian Town Meeting, the organization that spearheaded passage of the LGBTQ-inclusive Chicago Human Rights Ordinance through Chicago City Council in 1988.He is an inductee in the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame and a go-to person on LGBTQ+ issues/history in Chicago.  

 

Preston Max Allen ‛13

Preston Max Allen is a transgender playwright, composer, and lyricist whose work has been featured at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Lincoln Center, Signature Theatre, and more. Allen’s musicals include his 2019 Off-Broadway debut “We Are the Tigers” (album streaming) and “The Rage: Carrie 2, An Unauthorized Musical Parody” (Jeff Award Nominee, Best New Musical). Allen is a member of the Writers Guild of America East, Ars Nova Play Group (2019-21), and 2023 Jonathan Larson Grant Honorable Mention recipient. 
In 2024, "Windy City Times" recognized Allen in its 30 Under 30 awards for making substantial contributions to the Chicagoland LGBTQ+ community in the fields of entertainment, politics, health, activism, academics, sports, and other areas.  

Jake Wittich ‛17

Jake Wittich, a Columbia Journalism alum and former managing editor of The Columbia Chronicle while he was a student. Wittich is now managing editor of Windy City Times and its events newsletter “Social Butterflies.” He has also covered LGBTQ+ issues for the Chicago Sun-Times and Block Club Chicago.  He's a major figure in Chicago's LGBTQ+ community today, and his investigative reporting on racism in the Boystown neighborhood was recognized as a finalist in the 2019 Chicago Journalists Association awards.   
His beat helps fill the void in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park area, home to the largest population of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community. From covering the impact of the expanding Wrigley Field on the neighborhood to giving a voice to the many LGBTQ+ organizations that are creating change by fighting bigotry. 

Devlyn Camp ‛14

Devlyn Camp is the producer, writer, and host of “Queer Serial,” a three-season podcast chronicling LGBTQ+ liberation in America from the beginning to the Stonewall uprising and its aftermath. A graduate of Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Writing and Producing for Television, they also studied acting and musical theatre history with Albert Williams, whose guidance led to a passion for queer history. As an activist in Chicago, Camp was instrumental in removing the exclusionary “Boystown” nickname from the Legacy Walk & gay bar strip in Lakeview.

Danny Sotomayor ‛80 (1958-1992) 

Danny Sotomayor was known for being the first nationally syndicated, openly gay political cartoonist.  Sotomayor studied Art and Design at Columbia, and throughout his 13-year career, he created more than 200 cartoons highlighting his anger with AIDS, government inaction, the insurance industry, the health care system, and pharmaceutical companies. Battling his own AIDS diagnosis, Sotomayor proceeded to join and advance ACT UP CHICAGO, a grassroots activist group that brought awareness to the AIDS crisis. Sotomayor became widely known for his public confrontations with Mayor Richard M. Daley to bring attention to the AIDS crisis and the Chicago Health Department’s responsibility to implement the City’s AIDS Strategic Plan. As the sun rose on the morning of February 5, 1992, Sotomayor passed away leaving an indelible legacy in Chicago and across the U.S. 

 

Vernita Gray ‛80 (1948-2014)

Vernita Gray was a trailblazing activist who served Chicago’s lesbian and gay community for over 40 years, with a focus on the African American community. Inspired by the gay liberation movement in the late 1960s, she began organizing support groups and launched a community hotline—humorously named FBI-LIST—from her home. Her activism often came at personal risk due to widespread homophobia. She and her partner were the first same-sex couple to marry in Illinois after the state passed Marriage Equality legislation.

Gray helped establish the first Lesbian Caucus of Chicago’s early Gay Liberation movement and co-founded Lavender Woman, the city’s first lesbian newspaper. She was involved with organizations such as IMPACT and Mountain Moving Coffee House. Beyond activism, she owned the “Sol Sands” restaurant, ran a children’s media company, and published a poetry collection, "Sweet Sixteen." A Columbia graduate, she remained a dedicated advocate until her passing in 2014. 

---

At Columbia, we believe creative practice is a powerful force for equity, visibility, and community. We honor those who continue to shape our culture by amplifying the voice of marginalized communities and advocating for their rights as humans. We embrace the LGBTQ+ community with love, understanding, and desire to amplify their stories to our platforms. 

Join us in celebrating Pride Month by visiting our cooling bus located at the Belmont Redline Station. We will be passing out sunscreen and fans to keep parade goers cool during the festivities of Pride. 

 

Image of Vernita Gray (left) and her wife Patricia Ewert (right) via NPR and Timmy Samuel/Lambda Legal

Recent News

• Redefining Fast Fashion: Columbia Partners With NASCAR for Street Race Fashion Show
• July 6-11 Named International Fernando Jones' Blues Camp Week by Illinois Governor
• New Leadership at Columbia College Chicago
• Steering the 'Columbia Chronicle' Through a High-Speed, High-Stakes Summer
• Fashion Meets Flora: Columbia Students Bring Sustainable Couture to Chicago Botanic Garden