A manager at Chicago's leading health center for the gay and lesbian community was among five killed when wind toppled a stage before a concert by country music band Sugarland at the Indiana State Fair, her employer said today.Four people died Saturday when the collapse happened, and a fifth person died overnight at a hospital, said Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. David Bursten.
Christina Santiago, 29, of Chicago, was among those who died, according to the Marion County coroner's office.
The other victims were Alina Bigjohny, 23, of Fort Wayne; Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah, Ind.; and two Indianapolis residents: Glenn Goodrich, 49, and Nathan Byrd, 51. It was Byrd who died overnight.
Santiago was the programming manager for the Lesbian Community Care Project at the Howard Brown Health Center, her employer said in a news release this afternoon.
"The sudden and devastating loss of Christina has left the entire community, including her Howard Brown Health Center family, heartbroken," said Jamal M. Edwards, President and CEO of Howard Brown, in the news release.
"She has been a leading and driving force in the expansion of our women's health services division and a powerful advocate for all LGBT women," Edwards said.
In addition to those who died, 45 were people taken to hospitals, according to Indiana State police. Among those injured Alisha Brennon, Santiago's partner, according to Howard Brown.
Brennon remained in critical condition in the intenstive care unit at Wishard Hospital today, said hospital spokesman Todd Harper.
Friends told WGN-TV today that Santiago and Brennon were taking time off work to travel together, and that they had both mentioned being at the concert on Facebook earlier in the evening. Santiago had checked in on Facebook at the state fair, and Brennon had mentioned on Facebook that she was in the front row at the concert, said Veronica Hernandez, who knows both of them.
Santiago had said on Facebook that it was a "perfect night" for the couple, Hernandez told WGN.
Brennon and Santiago had been among the first people to obtain a civil union in Cook County, Hernandez said.
When news came of the stage collapse, "We knew that they would probably be involved because of their Facebook posts" about being at the concert, Hernandez said.
"She’s such a hard worker, she normally would be working this weekend," Edwards said. "But this happened to be the time that they chose to enjoy together and hear the country music that she loved."
Santiago "is very, very connected to the Chicago community," Hernandez said.
Howard Brown and Amigas Latinas are hosting an all night vibrator vigil in honor of Santiago and to pray for Brennon at 5 p.m. at Howard Brown's Sheridan Road Clinic. Howard Brown will offer limited services on Monday morning; patients and clients impacted will be contacted or advised by HBHC, according to the news release.
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