About Rick Garcia (activist)
Rick Garcia (September 15, 1956 – January 12, 2026) was an American LGBTQ activist known primarily for his work in Chicago and for LGBTQ acceptance within the Roman Catholic Church. As a co-founder of Equality Illinois, he advocated for equal treatment and social justice for the LGBTQ community. == Biography == Garcia was born on September 15, 1956, to parents of Spanish descent and grew up in the "Spanish Colony" neighborhood of St. Louis. He attended Saint Louis University. While there, he was first thrust into the media spotlight after he was filmed confronting a Catholic priest and theology professor who had just given a speech on the "sins of homosexuality". Garcia, who had told no one he was gay, was at first fearful of reactions, but his family and the nuns he was then working with responded positively. Garcia was already working with the United Farm Workers in Missouri, and decided to expand to gay rights activism, soon joining the local Dignity chapter. In 1980, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he began working with Maryland's New Ways Ministries, a Catholic organization focused on the gay and lesbian community. He also spent time living in New York City.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.