CHICAGO — Equality Illinois' Dining Out for Equality is Thursday, October 11 this year, a date that takes on added significance as it falls on the inauguration day for the Chicago Legacy Walk and also National Coming Out Day.
Participants of Dining Out for Equality will dine and/or drink at LGBT-supportive restaurants throughout the North Side, and a significant portion of the bills will be donated to Equality Illinois. The money will support EI's LGBT-rights work across the state.
Earlier in the afternoon, Chicago will celebrate the dedication of The Legacy Walk, which will honor 18 heroic figures with plaques on the rainbow pylons along Halsted Street. Equality Illinois is sponsoring the plaque remembering Bayard Rustin, the strategist and speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
National Coming Out Day is a time to publicly display LGBT pride. It is an opportunity to recognize that important moment in the lives of every out LGBT person when they came out to themselves, friends, loved ones and colleagues, and to help those still fearful of leading happy, proud lives in the open.
"With The Legacy Walk dedication and National Coming Out Day, we will have much to celebrate by Dining Out for Equality," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. "In these days when some restaurants make a point of hating the LGBT community, it is a good gesture to support the LGBT-friendly establishments and, at the same time, return something to the community to continue the fight for equality."
Diners are urged to make reservations, as the participating restaurants are often quite busy on Dining Out for Equality night. The confirmed participating restaurants are:
Lead Sponsor:
Taverna 750: 750 West Cornelia in Chicago / 773-904-7466
Additional Participating Restaurants:
Big Jones: 5347 North Clark in Chicago / 773-275-5725
Halsted's: 3441 North Halsted in Chicago / 773-348-9696
Hamburger Mary's: 5400 North Clark in Chicago / 773-784-6969
HB Home Bistro: 3404 North Halsted in Chicago / 773-661-0299
Hearty Restaurant: 3819 North Broadway in Chicago / 773-868-9866
Jack's on Halsted: 3201 North Halsted in Chicago / 773-244-9191
Kit Kat: 3700 North Halsted in Chicago / 773-525-1111
Lady Gregory's: 5260 North Clark in Chicago / 773-271-5050
Magnolia Cafe: 1224 West Wilson in Chicago / 773-728-8785
Nookies Edgewater: 1100 W. Bryn Mawr in Chicago / 773-516-4188
Socca: 3301 N. Clark in Chicago/ 773-248-1155
Vincent: 1475 West Balmoral in Chicago / 773-334-7168
Wilde: 3130 North Broadway in Chicago / 773-244-0404
Yoshi's Cafe: 3257 North Halsted in Chicago / 773-248-6160
