Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) held its "Lifeline Celebration" fundraiser May 6 at the Palmer House Hilton's Red Lacquer Room, attended by about 250 people. The event, billed as a "No Black Tie Allowed" event, was designed to spotlight the organization's fundraising efforts, begun in November 2010. At that time, HBHC asked for $500,000 in 50 days, saying it needed that amount in order to keep its doors open.
The event was a two-tiered one, with a VIP champagne reception and mixer with special guest Chaz Bono, followed by a main event (where Bono was also present). At both, HBHC CEO Jamal Edwards spoke to attendees, giving his updates on funding and accomplishments. He began by noting that HBHC had "been through a lot" over the last many months, and spoke of the center's ongoing significance within the LGBTQ community as a place where they could get "compassionate, culturally competent care," adding that "no one cares for the LGBTQ community like Howard does. No one has and no one ever will."
With regard to fundraising so far, Edwards said that HBHC had raised $800,000 as of that day, with a goal of $1 million by the end of the fiscal year. He said that "Howard Brown must exist to serve ... all the people who historically have nowhere else to go. We are the LGBTQA community's lifeline."
Bono's address at the main event was heralded by a clip from the documentary Becoming Chaz, slated to premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network May 10. Bono spoke of his visit to HBHC earlier in the day, when he had also participated in a panel discussion about trans healthcare needs, and praised it for its THInC protocol, an informed consent model for accessing hormones. Noting that there were not many trans people in the room, he said, "For anybody who is not trans: It's a really difficult thing to be in our society. We are 30-40 years behind the gay community." Bono, the only child of legendary entertainers Sonny and Cher, has lived out his transition in the public eye and addressed that aspect of his personal history, saying that for years, "I mistakenly thought I was a lesbian attracted to women, but I always had a nagging feeling that I didn't fit, that somehow I was a bad lesbian."
According to Bono, his relative access to resources did not make the transition process any easier, saying that it was "very difficult to get the right medical care" and that it took two or three times before he finally found doctors with the cultural competency to work with him. For that reason, he said, "what Howard Brown is doing for this part of the community is amazing. It's a gift and you should be proud that this is part of the city."
Edwards, before making a final fundraising appeal, also made a point of thanking a list of "key" HBHC staff, including Christina Santiago, Lesbian Community Care Project manager of programming; Lara Brooks, Broadway Youth Center manager; Joe Hollondoner, vice president and chief program officer; and transgender health advocate Lois Bates, among others. Asking the audience for funds, he pointed out that the pre-event tickets this year were only $100 ($125 at the door; VIP reception tickets were $250), whereas last year's event had been $300. Some members of the community had objected to what they considered a high price of admission to an event billed as "for the community, by the community."
Attendees appeared to be happy with the event and Edwards' reports. Jasmine (she would not give her last name) and Bethany Johnson, both of the Chicago Outfit Roller Derby League and sporting their team jackets, said they were there as invitees; they had chosen HBHC as their charity of the season. They said they were "glad HBHC got over the hump because it's vital to the city's GLBT community." Photos by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com ); many more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com