As a kickoff for Pride Month 2025 in Chicago, Baird and Warner held its 23rd annual Out of the Office fundraiser and networking event at The Godfrey Hotel at 127 W. Huron on May 29. The beneficiary of the event was The Legacy Project.
This year’s event featured a raffle and a cash bar with light food offerings on the roof of the hotel and plenty of networking options. The event was sponsored by the Godfrey Hotel with Windy City Times as media sponsor. Additional sponsors included East Lake View Neighbors, Middleby, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele, Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th Ward) and Jim Daniels LLC.
Legacy Project Board Vice-President Kit Welch recalled former Baird and Warner owner John Baird speaking in front of the Chicago City Council in 1962, resulting in Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Federal Fair Housing Act into law in 1968. The legislation prohibits discrimination in housing due to race, national origin, religion, sex, disability and familial status.
She added, “A year ago I could have confidently told you that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity was also prohibited and that the rights of LGBTQ+ people were also protected by law, but I can’t say that today…
“Today, under the current administration of the United States government, the rights of LGBTQ+ people are being aggressively threatened. Written protections for individuals have been redacted from federal websites and funding for organizations and companies which support diversity, equity, and inclusion are being cut across the board.”
Welch closed by noting that, “For well over a decade The Legacy Project has been tirelessly working to educate the public about LGBTQ+ historical achievements. All of that work is now at risk. ‘We Will Not Be Erased’ is the Legacy Project’s new campaign to fight the United States Government’s attempted erasure of LGBTQ+ people. The work we do is critically important, now more than ever. Make no mistake, we are in the fight of our lives.”
