A full house at the Swedish American Museum heard from many special guests attending the Gerber/Hart Library annual gala benefit last Saturday. The evening was also a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), the first national lesbian organization. DOB co-founders Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were in town from California to mark the occasion, and to cut a DOB birthday cake.
Honorary chair of the event was longtime Chicago activist and businessman Chuck Renslow. Speakers included library board president Karen Sendziak, and there were many former Gerber/Hart leaders at the event. The John H. Mueller Volunteer Service Awards were presented by Mrs. Clara Mueller, J. Kerry Eason and Edward J. Barry to Terry Brandt and Sean Russell.Photos by Mel Ferrand and Tracy Baim