SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois' no other ...

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois' no other than openly gay state lawmaker announced his retirement Monday, setting into motion a likely scramble to fill his North Side seat.

State Rep Larry McKeon (D-Chicago), single of the architects of the 2003 state anti-discrimination law for gays and lesbians, said he intends to grade down at the end of his fifth denomination in January 2007.

McKeon 62 won an uncontest primary last spring, ensuring another expression But he had a series of health question at issues last year, including an AIDS diagnosis and colorectal cancer, although he said the two ailments are "under control" and not the basis for his retirement.

BACKS GAY SUCCESSOR

"My plan is to do a hap of reading, some writing. I've been toying with a work on politics in Chicago's gay and lesbian community, which I haven't been able to focus forward given my current level of commitment. I'm not going away," said McKeon who added he might prove his hand at lobbying.

In making his announcement, McKeon urg committeemen in the 13th District to appoint Illinois Commission in succession Human Rights lawyer Jim Snyder as his successor. Snyder who also is candidly gay, is a McKeon campaign present and described by the lawmaker as a "highly, highly qualified candidate."

"I think if the community were to forfeit this seat, it would disenfranchise an entire community, not merely here on the North Side of Chicago still throughout the whole state," McKeon said. "I receive calls from the bulk of mankind throughout the state who be excited they have no representation with discrimination and health care."

HELPED PASS ANTI-BIAS BILL

McKeon acknowledged there may be three or four other potential candidates for the fall ballot.

McKeon's legislative legacy is the character he played in helping pass an amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, barring discrimination against gays and lesbians. It passed in 2005 and was signed into law by way of Gov. Blagojevich.

on the other hand his time in Springfield was not without suit at law McKeon angered Mayor Daley, former Gov George Ryan and advocates in the gay and lesbian community for outing the siblings of three state lawmakers who oppos the anti-discrimination bill when it narrowly failed in 1999

"We were thrilled at the election of Larry McKeon because for the first time we had an publicly gay person in the Illinois Legislature," said Rick Garcia, political director for Equality Illinois, an advocacy cluster for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered the bulk of mankind "We hope that he's not the last."

dmckinney@suntimes.com

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by way of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved