Memorial for Renee Hanover July 16
A memorial has been set for long-time Chicago lesbian activist and attorney Renee Hanover. The memorial will be Saturday, July 16, 1-3 p.m. at 1900 S. Prairie Avenue in Chicago near South Loop. Hanover, 84, died Jan. 5.
All are welcome to celebrate Hanover's life. Memories of Renee and her times will be shared by many. RSVP to her daughter Nancy: nhanover@mac.com if you plan to attend. Also, please let her know if you wish to speak for 2-3 minutes about Renee during the event.
Hanover opened what is believed to be the first law office in the U.S. focused on women's issues and was also believed to be the first "out" lesbian attorney in the county.
Hanover was inducted into Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1991. Her tremendous contributions to Chicago's LGBT and mainstream communities includes work on dozens of non-profits, defending gay men against police entrapment, fighting to desegregate beaches in Chicago, helping overturn the Chicago anti-cross-dressing law, representing African-American lesbians protesting heavy carding at white lesbian bars, representing the Black Panthers, and much more. She was a colleague of legendary Chicago lesbian Pearl Hart.
Hanover was one of Chicago's most cherished lesbian activists. She worked inside and outside the system to save and change the lives of tens of thousands of people.
With her senior colleague, attorney Pearl M. Hart, she helped overturn the Chicago "zipper" law banning cross-dressing and worked on numerous cases of gay men arrested by police in public spaces.
Hanover, a powerful presence in any meeting, was a traditional anti-war leftie, always challenging the government. Starting in July 1961, she helped organize a "freedom wade-in" at the South Shore's Rainbow Beach to help desegregate Chicago's beaches. It took three years, but eventually she and her allies won.
See more details at http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30130
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