CHICAGO—Two individuals and a South Side institution who work to improve the lives of Illinoisans, particularly LGBTQ people of color, will be honored Friday at the Kick Off Reception for the weekend's Fahrenheit Chicago celebration, according to Equality Illinois, the state's civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer ( LGBTQ ) people.
The three honorees are Lora Branch of Gilead Sciences Inc., Mo Green of the Office of the Cook County State's Attorney, and Jeffery Pub, a South Side cultural institution. They will be recognized at Fahrenheit Chicago's Kick Off Party, from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, August 24, at the historic Gallery Guichard, 436 E. 47th Street, Chicago.
The reception will celebrate the beginning of the Fahrenheit Chicago weekend, which culminates with the LGBTQ Beach Party the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 26, at Oakwood Beach, 4100 S. Lake Shore Drive. Friday's reception includes music by Sean Parks and other entertainment. Sponsors of the Kick Off Reception include Howard Brown Health, MillerCoors, and Breakthru Beverage. Fahrenheit Chicago events run throughout the weekend of Aug. 24-26. For a complete rundown, visit www.equalityillinois.org/fahrenheitchicago2018/ .
"Equality Illinois is excited to honor Lora Branch, Mo Green, and the Jeffery Pub during Fahrenheit Chicago. They are creating a powerfully positive impact in communities of color in Chicago," said Anthony Galloway, Director of Civic Engagement at Equality Illinois. "Lora, Mo, and the Jeffery Pub work hard to ensure community voices are heard and to foster much-needed safe spaces, visibility, and understanding. They are symbols of Fahrenheit Chicago's values."
Lora Branch oversees HIV and Hepatitis C screening programs in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for Gilead Sciences, Inc. and manages Gilead's collaborative partnership with the NAACP to implement a national program known as the Black Church and HIV Social Justice Initiative. Previously, Branch worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health, where she led program operations for HIV prevention, care, housing, capacity building, and STI/HIV specialty clinics. Branch was also the Bureau Chief for the Chicago Department of Public Health's Office of LGBT Health. Lora is also a well-known house and dance music DJ and has been featured in several documentaries as she holds the distinction of being the first female DJ in Chicago's historic House Music scene.
Mo Green is Director of Community Engagement at the Office of the Cook County State's Attorney. He previously served as Senior Community Outreach Coordinator for U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. He also served as Deputy Political Director for the Tammy Duckworth campaign for the U.S. Senate. Additionally, Green was the Regional Field Director for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's 2014 re-election campaign and the Campaign Manager and Political Consultant at New Chicago Consulting, LLC, where he managed and advised on several aldermanic races.
Jeffery Pub is an institution for Black LGBTQ culture in Chicago and is believed to be one of the oldest Black LGBTQ bars in the country. Welcoming a diverse clientele, this nightclub-focused spot has served as a safe gathering space for the South Shore LGBTQ community since the 1960s.
Lynne Perryman, a member of the Equality Illinois Institute's Board of Directors, and Channyn Lynne Parker, Youth Development Manager at Howard Brown Health, will emcee the Kick Off Reception. The festivities will begin with a ribbon cutting by organizers and Lamont J. Robinson, Democratic candidate for state representative of the Fifth House district. Mr. Robinson is a local business leader in the LGBTQ community and the first LGBTQ person of color to be nominated by a major party for a seat in the Illinois General Assembly.
In addition to the awards presentation and entertainment, civic engagement opportunities will be available to attendees, including a campaign to commit to vote in the November general election.
Sponsors and Supporting Entities of Fahrenheit Chicago
Presenting Sponsor: Howard Brown Health
Platinum Sponsors: PrEP4Love, Women Connection, and Start Talking. Stop HIV.
Gold Sponsors: Breakthru Beverage, MillerCoors, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Uber, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Cook County Health and Hospital Systems
Bronze Sponsors: Third Coast CFAR, 2Gether Project, Chicago Department of Public Health, Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling, and ID Lubricants
Partner Sponsors: ACLU of Illinois, South Side Help Center, Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ), University of Chicago's Ci3 and Care2Prevent, BTAN Chicago, Jeffery Pub, UFCW Local 881, SEIU of Illinois, and Pillar Insurance Services
LGBTQ Beach Party Vendors ( Aug. 26 ): AARP Illinois, Illinois Public Health Association, the Obama Foundation, HRC Chicago, PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois, Napo Pharmaceuticals, Legal Council for Health Justice, Allstate-A Lamont J. Robinson Agency, Lighthouse Church of Chicago, AT&T, Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus, LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Project WISH at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Center on Halsted, Mission Illinois, Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles
Supporting Public Officials: JB Pritzker for Governor, Kwame Raoul for Illinois, State Rep. Greg Harris, State Rep. Rita Mayfield, State Rep. Camille L. Lilly, State Rep. Christian Mitchell
From a press release
