Chicago House and Social Services Center announced, on Aug. 24, that Caitlyn Jenner will give the keynote address at Chicago House's 2015 Speaker Series luncheon Nov. 12. Windy City Times reported the news two weeks ago, but the agency confirmed details Aug. 24.
Jenner, a former Olympian and a winner of the 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, made headlines earlier this year when she revealed details of her gender transition, first in a 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer, then in an extensive Vanity Fair interview. She has also been the focus of a reality TV program, I Am Cait.
According to a statement, this year's luncheon "will be especially effective at highlighting the marginalization and suffering disproportionately experienced by transgender individuals. Offending the values of fairness and equity, transgender men and women face enormous intertwining barriers to stability due to discrimination, societal and family rejection, and pervasive hostility."
Chicago House CEO Rev. Stan Sloan noted, "Together, we stand at crossroads of progress in HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ civil equality, but that progress is not being felt by those who are homeless and low income in those communities. With the help of its supporters, Chicago House looks forward to the continued celebration of the lives of individuals and families that it serves with dignity and respect."
Previous speakers in the Chicago House series have included former President Bill Clinton, designer Kenneth Cole, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actress Laverne Cox and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.
The luncheon takes place Nov. 12 at Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., from 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. For more information, contact Tyler Lewis at 773-248-5200, ext. 304, or visit www.chicagohouse.org .