Bon Foster

Last updated

Robert Bonvouloir "Bon" Foster (1955 - 1991)was an American lawyer.

Contents

Biography

Foster was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1955. [1] He studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated with a bachelor's degree in urban studies and a master's degree in city planning. [2] Later, he went to the Northwestern University Law School to complete his law degree. [2] He clerked for U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur. [2]

Foster started his career with the Illinois Bureau of the Budget and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Later, he worked for law firms such as Jenner & Block and Schiff Hardin & Waite. [2]

Foster was the founder of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago. [2] [1]

Death and legacy

In 1991, Foster died due to AIDS. [2] [3]

The Bon Foster event, [4] [5] [6] Bon Foster Civil Rights Celebration, [7] and Bon Foster Memorial Lecture Series are named after him. [8]

Recognition

Related Research Articles

The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, better known as Lambda Legal, is an American civil rights organization that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities as well as people living with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) through impact litigation, societal education, and public policy work.

Lorrainne Sade Baskerville is an American social worker, activist, and trans woman best known for founding transgender advocacy group transGENESIS.

Gay Chicago is a defunct LGBT online news organization in Chicago, Illinois, which ceased publishing in print form on September 21, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Ricketts</span> American political activist

Laura Marie Ricketts is an American political activist and former attorney who is co-owner of the Chicago Cubs. Ricketts is also a board member of Lambda Legal and the Housing Opportunities for Women organization. Ricketts' ownership stake in the Cubs makes her the first openly gay owner of a major-league sports franchise.

Thomas R. Chiola served as a judge of the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County from 1994 to 2009. He was the first openly gay person elected to public office in Illinois.

The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) is a civil rights advocacy organization founded in June 2010 by Jacob Meister, with a stated mission "to maintain and increase individual rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) citizens in Illinois through inter-generational volunteerism and community-driven project-based education, statewide coalition and network building, and leadership in supporting underserved communities with the necessary tools that will equip members of those communities with the resources and confidence to establish equality for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equality Illinois</span>

Equality Illinois (EI) was founded in 1991 to work towards building a better Illinois by advancing equal treatment and social justice through education, advocacy, and protection of the rights of the LGBT community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legacy Walk</span> LGBT+ commemorative outdoor public display on North Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois, USA

The Legacy Walk is an outdoor public display on North Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois, United States, which celebrates LGBT contributions to world history and culture. According to its website, it is "the world's only outdoor museum walk and youth education program dedicated to combating anti-gay bullying by celebrating LGBT contributions to history." It is the world's largest collection of bronze biographical memorials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT culture in Chicago</span>

Chicago has long had a gay neighborhood. Beginning in the 1920s there was active homosexual nightlife in Towertown, adjacent to the Water Tower. Increasing rents forced gay-friendly establishments steadily northwards, moving through Old Town and Lincoln Park along Clark Street and on to Boys Town. Boys Town presently serves as the best-known Chicago gayborhood, and the center of its LGBT culture. Gentrification has pushed many gay and lesbian people to reside ever further north into Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos T. Mock</span> American novelist

Carlos T. Mock is a Puerto Rican physician, gay activist, journalist, and writer who has published both works in the medical profession, works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

William B. Kelley was a gay activist and lawyer from Chicago, Illinois. Many laud him as an important figure in gaining rights for gay people in the United States, as he was actively involved in gay activism for 50 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernita Gray</span> African-American lesbian activist and writer

Vernita Gray was an African-American lesbian and women's liberation activist from the beginning of those movements in Chicago. She began her writing career publishing in the newsletter Lavender Woman. After owning and operating her own restaurant for almost a decade, Gray became the LGBT liaison for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. In 2013, she and her partner became the first same-sex partners to wed in Illinois.

Renee C. Hanover was an American lawyer and civil rights advocate who practiced in Chicago. As a lawyer, she defended groups and individuals involved in civil rights cases dealing with gender, LGBT issues and race. She was part of the Women's Law Center and fought for intersectional equality. Hanover was one of the first openly gay lawyers to practice in the United States.

Tracy Baim is a Chicago-based LGBT journalist, editor, author, and filmmaker. She is also a former publisher of the Chicago Reader newspaper.

Joanne E. Trapani was an American activist and politician. She was the first open lesbian elected official in Illinois when she won a seat on the village board of Oak Park in 1997, and she was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1993.

Daniel Sotomayor was the first openly gay political cartoonist in the United States for various newspapers throughout the country, such as Chicago's Windy City Times, and the cofounder of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power organization’s branch in Chicago (ACT-UP/Chicago).

Ron Bogan was the first police man in Chicago to come out as gay. Fellow officer Mary Boyle was the first out officer. By coming out to the Chicago Tribune, eventually the CPD Chicago Police Department began actively recruiting homosexual officers and acceptance of LGBT officers increased.

Tania “Chef Tania” Callaway (1952-2000) was a chef and caterer from Chicago, Illinois. Her parties were legendary in the African-American lesbian community and for about ten years, was chef at Heartland Cafe, beginning in the 1980s.

Lana Hostetler was an educator and activist.

References

  1. 1 2 "ROBERT BONVOULOIR FOSTER – Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "CHICAGO ATTORNEY ROBERT 'BON' FOSTER". Chicago Tribune.
  3. ↑ "Bon Foster Gets Controversial - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. May 9, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Clark Hill is Proud to Honor the Memory of Bon Foster | News & Events | Clark Hill PLC". www.clarkhill.com.
  5. ↑ "Lambda Legal Bon Foster benefit honors Fred Eychaner - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. April 23, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Lambda Legal hosts annual Bon Foster event - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. April 20, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Bon Foster Civil Rights Celebration co-chairs named - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. March 16, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Lambda Legal commemorates 20 years with Bon Foster celebration - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. April 15, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.