Putting aside the nasty rhetoric, politics in Illinois may actually be getting more inclusive. The Windy City Times counts 11 openly lesbian or gay candidates running for Illinois public office in this election season. That’s more than in any other year—and it has advocates of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender rights jumping for joy. Tracy Baim talks more about trends in gay politics. She is the publisher of the Windy City Media Group, and a co-founder of the Windy City Times. Their free guide to the 2010 election comes out online and on newsstands tomorrow.

Music Button: Gabriel Johnson, “Be Serious”, from the CD Fra_ctured, (Electrofone Music)