Vernita Gray, A Chicago LGBTQ Activist, Never Stopped Fighting For Liberation episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 19, 2026 · 29 MIN

Vernita Gray, A Chicago LGBTQ Activist, Never Stopped Fighting For Liberation

from In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

In honor of Women’s History Month, In the Loop talks about the life and legacy of Chicago’s Vernita Gray. From when she first learned about the gay liberation movement at Woodstock in the ’60s to her death in 2014, Gray was a pioneer for gay and lesbian rights in Chicago. She and her partner were also the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Illinois. In the Loop learns more about Vernita Gray’s instrumental work in Chicago from Jennifer Brier, distinguished professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and History at UIC. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

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Vernita Gray, A Chicago LGBTQ Activist, Never Stopped Fighting For Liberation

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This episode is 29 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 19, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In honor of Women’s History Month, In the Loop talks about the life and legacy of Chicago’s Vernita Gray. From when she first learned about the gay liberation movement at Woodstock in the ’60s to her death in 2014, Gray was a pioneer for gay and...

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