Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Lambda Legal marks 50 years with Bon Foster Civil Rights Celebration
by Carrie Maxwell
2023-05-20

This article shared 3012 times since Sat May 20, 2023
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Lambda Legal marked its 50th anniversary with The Bon Foster Civil Rights Celebration May 19 at the Art Institute of Chicago. The event honored Windy City Times Owner and Co-Founder Tracy Baim.

The celebration was named after Chicago attorney and civil rights activist Robert Bonvoulier "Bon" Foster, who died in 1991 from complications due to AIDS. Foster gave Lambda Legal a large sum of money specifically to open a regional office in Chicago.

Guests were greeted with an opening reception featuring cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a five-piece jazz performance by Sun Ensemble. Ahead of the speeches, a video was shown chronicling the work Lambda Legal has done over the past five decades. The video ended with the message that Lambda Legal has had and will continue to have an "unprecedented past, unstoppable future."

Event co-chairs Chappell Communications Group Founder and Principal and media commentator Terrence Chappell, Feeding America Vice President of Development Daniel Nisbet and Lambda Legal National Board of Directors Executive Committee member and Ice Miller law partner Diane Bell welcomed the packed house to the event.

Chappell spoke about how, especially in the past year, the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community are at risk, and "they are really coming for all of us." Nisbet called on supporters to continue funding Lambda Legal's "vital mission."

Bell recalled how Lambda Legal "had to sue the state of New York in order to be recognized as a not-for-profit, and for its very right to exist." She added that what started as a small group of lawyers in New York City has grown to a nationwide team fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and the rights of everyone living with HIV. Bell said that their mission is all about "bringing down injustice … "representing love in the face of hate and the values of a free and equal democracy."

State of Illinois Human Rights Commission Chair and former Lambda Legal Midwest Regional Director Mona Noriega introduced Baim. She added that, "We cannot assume our safety nor can we assume legal precedent that establishes and protects our rights are guaranteed."

Noriega reminded attendees of how important it is to "have a press that covers issues that are relevant to our lives," which was the reason Lambda Legal recognized Baim for her decades of work as a journalist. She went on to chronicle Baim's journalism career, which began at the age of 10 with a family newsletter and continued throughout her school years, to her first paid reporter job at GayLife newspaper after Baim graduated from college. Noriega highlighted Baim's co-founding of this publication, starting other publications and, more recently, rescuing The Chicago Reader from going out of business and founding the Chicago Independent Media Alliance, among other non-journalism endeavors over the years.

"As we witness the killing or jailing of journalists trying to report world events, we must cherish and protect a free press," said Noriega. "We must thank and honor those who report on, find value and validate our queer lives, and we must especially protect the individual journalists who take the hits, who might miss out on their social and family life covering a news story, who stay up nights writing to meet a deadline, and [work] even harder to endure are all the criticisms and even threats to their lives. Yup, Tracy has done all of it. She has consistently reported on the beauty and tragedies of life and of queer life and that is why today we honor her at this year's Bon Foster Civil Rights Celebration."

Baim was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation. She called this honor "amazing" and recalled her many decades of covering the work Lambda Legal has done for the community.

"I have seen what a critical building block it has been to our movement," said Baim. "Without Lambda Legal, including the Midwest office launched by Mona and … the amazing Pat Logue, our movement … might have just collapsed. So, thank you for honoring me with this award. I was especially excited because I covered the early days of the Midwest Office before there was an actual office.

"I covered the fight to have access for a gay contingent in the Bud Billiken Parade, from the press conference outside of the Chicago Defender, where my mother had worked decades before, to marching at the head of the contingent taking photos and feeling the love of the people on the sidelines. It was a great risk for those who marched, but 98% of the people were actually very supportive.

"It has been an honor to document this community, and the work of Lambda Legal, from my days at GayLife, to Windy City Times, Outlines, Blacklines and En La Vida, Windy City Radio and again when I got Windy City Times out of foster care."

Baim spoke about her beginnings as an editorial assistant at GayLife in June 1984, where she immediately covered the AIDS (then known as Gay Related Immune Deficiency) crisis, serial killers who were targeting the gay community, hate crimes, trans rights and lesbian culture; she said, "Everything old is new again."

She added that "as an openly gay journalist, my options were pretty limited. There were very few openly gay reporters in the country. Randy Shilts is the only one I could name [back then]. But I did find a home, and that was at GayLife. The mainstream did not matter to me, even though my parents were [working] in [the mainstream press]. It wasn't for me. What mattered was covering this community. The good and bad, the culture and sports, the murders and looming pandemic … It was all worth it. There was never a dull day, and I knew early on how important these stories were to get down. Because almost no one else was covering our community the way the gay press was."

Baim said the next chapter of her professional life will be focused on her archives, which she will be turning into books and other forms of media. She added that this is now her "life's work, to collect it all for the next generation who is being censored in other places.

"Being a journalist gives me such an incredible cat-bird seat to this community. It's really the best seat in the house … And that's why I can say with complete confidence that this award means something special to anyone who has received it, including me. Because without Lambda Legal, and Lambda Legal Midwest's office … our family feuds would have probably been worse."

Baim ended her speech with a request for the audience to sing to the lyrics of The Rainbow Connection which they did and then gave her another standing ovation.

Following Baim's remarks, Lambda Legal Director of Constitutional Litigation Camilla Taylor spoke about the organization's past, present and future, including fighting in court against the current onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ laws being passed in GOP-controlled states. Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings said that it is more important than ever to support the work the organization does in the courts, because there are over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been introduced in 46 states this calendar year.

Additionally, Lambda Legal's Board Chair Lauren Mutti, Illinois Department of Human Rights Director and former Lambda Legal Midwest Regional Director Jim Bennett and former Lambda Legal Midwest Regional Director and attorney Christopher Clark also spoke.

To close out the festivities, DJ Rae Chardonnay spun tunes, and Lilith Towers regaled the guests with a Drag Queen Story Hour, where she read from the original work, The Tale of Lambda Legal.

See lambdalegal.org/ .


This article shared 3012 times since Sat May 20, 2023
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Lambda Legal Launches "Speak OUT" awareness campaign uplifting trans, nonbinary voices
2024-03-28
--From a press release. VIDEO BELOW - (NEW YORK, NY — March 28, 2024) In advance of Transgender Day of Visibility, Lambda Legal, the nation's oldest and largest legal nonprofit working to achieve full equal rights for LGBTQ people and everyone living with ...


Gay News

Brown Elephant Returns To Northalsted
2024-03-26
Brown Elephant's Lake View location is moving to Northalsted and already accepting donations. Howard Brown Health, the largest LGBTQ+ health center in the midwest, operates three Brown Elephant resale shops in the Chicagoland area to help ...


Gay News

Be here, be queer, play polo: Gay Polo League creates safe athletic space for LGBTQ community
2024-03-26
LGBTQ+ athletic clubs aren't too hard to come by, offering a variety of sports such as softball, soccer and more in cities across the country. But LGBTQ+ athletes would be harder pressed to find someplace to ...


Gay News

The Jeff Awards announces the 50th anniversary awards for non-equity theater
2024-03-26
--From a press release - A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org. (March 25, 2024 - Chicago) — Celebrating its 50th anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the ...


Gay News

After 30 Under 30: MAP Executive Director Naomi Goldberg
2024-03-25
NOTE: In this series, Windy City Times will profile some of its past 30 Under 30 honorees. Windy City Times started its 30 Under 30 Awards in 2001, presenting them each year through 2019. This year, ...


Gay News

Former Chicago Girl Scouts CEO Brooke Wiseman to receive Luminary Award
2024-03-22
Brooke Wiseman, a now-retired nonprofit leader in the Chicago area, spent most of her career creating leadership development opportunities for girls and women—and making sure that hungry children could be fed. While leading Girl Scouts of ...


Gay News

Alyssa Naeher wins National Women's Soccer League Impact Save of the Week
2024-03-20
--From a press release - CHICAGO (March 20, 2024) — Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Deloitte Impact Save of the Week honors, the league announced today. Seven minutes into the eight minutes of added ...


Gay News

Affinity celebrates Burning Bowl while looking toward the future
2024-03-19
On March 17, Affinity Community Services held its annual Burning Bowl ceremony even as it already sets its organizational sights on 2025. The event, titled Burning Bowl 2024 Evolution, was held at Studio Imani, 5917 N. ...


Gay News

Windy City Times seeks nominations for 30 Under 30 Awards
2024-03-18
--From a press release - CHICAGO—After a four-year hiatus, Windy City Times has revived its 30 Under 30 Awards. Windy City Times is seeking to recognize 30 more outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals (and allies). Nominees should be 30 years or younger as ...


Gay News

Oprah, Niecy Nash-Betts honored at GLAAD Media Awards
2024-03-15
Oprah Winfrey and Niecy Nash-Betts were honored at the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards that took place in Los Angeles at The Beverly Hilton on March 14. Winfrey received the Vanguard Award, introduced by iconic Chicago ...


Gay News

Howard Brown experts discuss advocacy and allyship for Chicago's trans community
2024-03-14
By Alec Karam - Howard Brown Health's Trans & Gender Diverse People's Rights & Patient Care panel convened March 12 to discuss both resources for—and opportunities to provide allyship to—the city's trans and gender diverse communities. The event hos ...


Gay News

Howard Brown Health faces October trial if settlement isn't reached with union
2024-03-13
Howard Brown Health could go to trial over unfair labor practice allegations if the LGBTQ+ health center doesn't reach a settlement with its agreement soon. Chicago's regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed ...


Gay News

No 'explanations' needed: Affinity remains a haven for Chicago's Black queer community
2024-03-12
Back in 2007, Anna DeShawn came out while she was studying for her undergraduate degree. At around the same time, she searched online for "Black lesbians in Chicago." Her search led her to Affinity Community Services, ...


Gay News

Longtime LGBTQ+-rights activist David Mixner dies at 77
2024-03-12
On March 11, longtime LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist David Mixner—known for working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign but then splitting from him over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT)—died at age 77, The Advocate reported. ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund remembers co-founder David Mixner
2024-03-12
--From a press release - Today, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Mayor Annise Parker released the following statement on the passing of LGBTQ+ civil rights activist and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund co-founder David Mixner: "Today, we lost David Mixner, a founding ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.