Once again, the Pride Parade has come to a fabulous close. The streamers and glitter have all been swept up, and the morning we marched in the name of love and equality is but a beautiful, sweat-soaked memory…but Pride Month is just getting started. Yes, we have the merriest of months ahead of us, and it simply wouldn’t be complete without the annual HRC Gala. We’ve chatted with you a time or two before about the HRC, but we’re happy to have your ear again, because truth is, they’re championing a cause that means so very much to us. The group is “America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality,” and they’ve been the catalyst to many-a magnificent change in this nation in recent years. The HRC is one of the loudest shouts in the rally for equality, and since they tackle issues from bullying and housing equality to transgender healthcare and hate crimes, we think it’s safe to say that they’ve got some pretty important stuff on their plates. So naturally, we feel that the annual HRC Gala is an event massively worth a holler or two. The Gala is a chance for LGBT folks (and those that love ’em so) to get together and celebrate the year’s successes while humbly discussing those causes that are still in need of some TLC. It’s the single largest fundraising event in Utah that benefits the LGBT community, and this year marks the 12th. The theme is “Equality Forward”, and we imagine it serves to act as an apt round of applause to the progress that’s been made, while heralding that work that’s still to be done–and quite frankly, we like their style.
Galas past have been a smash, to be sure, and this year’s party (kicking off this Saturday, June 11th), is all-systems-go to be nothing short of spectacular. As always, the night promises to be one of black ties and cocktails, of happy tears and hugs. HRC will be honoring the Volunteers of America and Alex Cooper with well-deserved Equality Awards, and with celebrity host Caroline Rhea (of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Caroline Rhea Show), and musical guests DJ Young 1 and Grammy Award-winning artist Estelle, we’d say the entertainment portion of the evening is safely in the bag. There are also a few fantastic items up for auction, including two first class tickets to anywhere from Delta, a $10,000 shopping spree from Barclay Butera, and some smashing art from Brent Godfrey, so small potatoes these are not. The Human Rights Campaign “envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community,” and that’s a future we can definitely get behind. The HRC’s vision is inspired, the message is empowering, and the cause is imperative. Raise a glass. Raise some funds. We’ll see you there.
Equality Forward , 2016 HRC Utah Gala | Saturday, June 11th, 6pm | Grand America Hotel Ballroom | Tickets available here
