Tomaso ( left ) and partner Linda Palm live in Barrington. Tomaso is a retired teacher with many years of activism on behalf of gay teachers.

Says Tomaso: “I worked as a teacher in the Chicago public schools after school program for 25 years, and retired in 1994 with the 5+5 early retirement option. Upon retirement I was free to be ‘out of the teacher’s closet’ and began working to address GLBT issues in the Chicago schools, working in collaboration with the Chicago Teachers Union and the newly formed chapter of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network as a steering committee member. In 1998 I accepted a volunteer position with the Chicago Teachers Union as chair of an ad-hoc committee on GLBT issues where I continue to serve.”