Lambda Legal will host its annual Fort Lauderdale reception at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens (900 North Birch Rd.) on Sunday, March 30, 2014, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The evening will celebrate the organization’s civil rights achievements and honor Fort Lauderdale resident Robert Boo. Boo serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Pride Center at Equality Park. The event will also feature Lambda Legal client Craig Leiby and Lambda Legal Executive Director, Kevin Cathcart.
Robert Boo, our event honoree, is currently the Chief Executive Officer of The Pride Center at Equality Park, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community center in Wilton Manors. Under Robert’s leadership as CEO, The Pride Center has greatly expanded their services. Previously, as Director of Development, Boo helped quadruple the annual operating budget and launched a multi-million dollar capital campaign.
Craig Leiby, Lambda Legal client, will share his story of the loss of his partner Ken and the subsequent legal fight to ensure Ken’s estate wishes are honored. Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, will discuss the impact Lambda Legal has had in making change for LGBT people and people living with HIV and the work ahead.
Tickets are available online at www.lambdalegal.org/fortlauderdale14, or contact Jeff Souva at (312) 663-4413 or jsouva@lambdalegal.org. For further information or to become a sponsor of Lambda Legal in Fort Lauderdale, please contact Jeff Souva.
Profiles of the Honoree: Robert Boo
Robert Boo has invested his passion, humor, vision and professionalism as Chief Executive Officer for The Pride Center at Equality Park since March 2012. His dedication to The Pride Center began much earlier. Robert served as Director of Development for five years from 2006 – 2010 and was a member of the 2011 Board of Directors. During his leadership, The Pride Center has expanded service, programs and events for Seniors, LGBT Families, People Living with HIV/AIDS, Women, Couples, People of Color, the Transgender community, and more. As Director of Development, Robert tripled the number of major donors in the Founders Circle, helped quadruple the annual operating budget and launched a multi-million dollar capital campaign. Robert is active in the Fort Lauderdale area, participating on the Boards for the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Gay and Lesbian Business Exchange, 2009 Stonewall Street Festival and the Business & Professional Group.
Lambda Legal Client: Craig Leiby
For nearly 20 years, Craig Leiby and Ken Ranftle shared a life together, marrying in Montreal in 2008 as soon as New York’s governor announced the state government would respect out of state marriages. When Ken passed away several months after their marriage, leaving a will naming Craig as his executor and primary beneficiary, Ken’s oldest brother argued that Craig should not be respected as Ken’s spouse. Lambda Legal represented Craig, winning an appellate ruling that out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples are entitled to respect in New York for purposes of inheritance and succession rights. Now Ken’s youngest brother is asserting that Ken was not a resident of New York when he died but rather of the non-recognition state of Florida (the couple owned a home in Fort Lauderdale), and thus the estate proceeding must be in Florida where Craig would not be respected as a spouse. Lambda Legal is again representing Craig to defend lower court rulings that Ken had settled in New York so that his marriage, and his spouse, would be protected under New York law.
