Kevin Cathcart ( left ) , national executive director of Lambda Legal, spoke at the local branch's annual Bon Foster event, which took place April 23 at the Chicago History Museum. Cathcart is pictured with a photo of the late activist/attorney Robert 'Bon' Foster. Photo by Kat Fitzgerald. More photos at www.windycitymediagroup.com/photos/BonFoster2008-04-23
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'There is a celebration in the struggle,' said Lambda Legal Midwest Regional Director Jim Bennett at the organization's annual Bon Foster celebration.
At the April 23 'Revolution'-themed event, Lambda Legal Midwest celebrated 15 years of tackling tough battles in hopes of gaining full LGBT equality—a dream that has not yet been realized, but becomes slightly closer with each landmark court case. This year alone was one of many historic victories, despite the continued strength of anti-gay opposition.
Despite recent victories across the Midwest and beyond, Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart, who was present for the celebration, stressed that LGBT people still face 'enormous challenges.' Lambda Legal Midwest's leaders stressed the importance of continued support from the community so that its small team of lawyers can keep fighting for equality in the face of strong opposition.
During the event, Lambda Legal also celebrated the five-year anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court Lawrence v. Texas case, which struck down the state's sodomy law and declared that gay people have a right to privacy. The victory has had a far-reaching impact.
Lambda Legal board member Paul Smith, who argued the case before the Supreme Court in 2003, reflected on the importance of the historic decision. Smith said that although the case 'didn't sweep away every single element of discrimination in the law against us,' its significance remains undiminished five years later.
Smith said he still remembers the moment the decision was announced, and said it has been a 'wild legal ride' since that will some day help lead to the full equality for LGBT people in the U.S.
'In that moment, the basic relationship between the LGBT community and the rest of our fellow citizens in the United States changed irrevocably and radically,' Smith said.
Also highlighted that evening were recent Lambda Legal cases in Iowa, Ohio and beyond.
'These are the cases that will become the new victories of tomorrow,' Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Camilla Taylor said.
'What many straight Americans take for granted, we have to fight for,' she added.
Lambda Legal Midwest's largest event honors the late Bon Foster, a Chicago attorney who helped create the Midwest Regional Office. By the night of the event, over $360,000 was raised, breaking all prior records.
Photos by Kat Fitzgerald; see more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com .