The weather held up for the annual Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Launch 2000 boat benefit cruise Sunday. An added bonus this year was an advance brunch catered by Hypermeals.com .
Co-chairs of this year's cruise were Sharon Furiya, Michael Pleasants and Kyle Stoltzner. Co-sponsors were United Airlines, Outlines/ Nightlines, Sterling Vintner's, Chivas Regal, The Palmer House and Gay Chicago.
At the brunch, Lambda staff and attorneys spoke about the recent Supreme Court cases involving gay and lesbian issues. While noting that the Boy Scouts' loss was disappointing, Lambda Midwest Office Supervising Attorney Pat Logue said the ruling will not impact employment or housing laws, and will narrowly impact public accommodations. She also noted that there were two other victories for gay and lesbian issues this court session—on the use of student fees for gay groups, and on the definition of "family" in custody decisions.
Meanwhile, Lambda Regional Director Matthew Roberts announced that nationally recognized authority on HIV/AIDS policy, A. Cornelius Baker, will deliver the annual Bon Foster Memorial Civil Rights Lecture and describe the ongoing fight against AIDS-related discrimination and its effect on the lesbian and gay community.
On Friday, Oct. 20, Baker will address hundreds of people at Chicago's Palmer House Hilton, discussing HIV/AIDS prevention and care and their effect on the lesbian and gay community.
The Bon Foster Lecture is designed to place the lesbian and gay civil rights movement within the broader spectrum of civil-rights struggles taking place across the nation. The lecture is named in honor of Bon Foster, a Chicago attorney who died of AIDS complications in 1991, and whose generosity aided the creation of Lambda's Midwest Regional Office. He is remembered by friends and colleagues as a leader, an outspoken opponent of intolerance, and a forthright and intelligent advocate.
Call ( 312 ) 663-4413.