The Midwest regional office of Lambda Legal held the 17th annual Bon Foster Civil Rights Celebrationthe office's largest fundraising event for the yearApril 22 at the Chicago History Museum.
According to Lambda Legal's Midwest regional director, Jim Bennett, this year's event was the most successful in the office's history, with more than 500 people in attendance contributing to the $375,000 raised for Lambda Legal's general operating expenses in the Midwest.
The keynote speaker for this year's Bon Foster event was Tina Tchen, director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Tchen focused her speech on the recent presidential memo to address hospital visitation rights for LGBT familiesan action inspired by a recent Lambda Legal case in Florida. Tchen stated in her address that "Lambda is an essential part of this recent change," and that they made "a real difference" with this case. She went on to say that, while it might not always seem so, the president and White House are committed to fight for LGBT Americans to become "fully inclusive" citizens in American society.
Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart took the podium following Tchen's speech and stated, "Although it is our job to be impatient and stubborn sometimes with your office, we both seem to be moving in the same direction."
Cathcart added, "We are so happy to have a White House office that is finally willing to really work with us." Text by Chasse Rehwinkel; photos by Kat Fitzgerald ( MysticImagesPhotography.com ) with many more available at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com