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GENDERPAC NYC "TOP CHEF" COOKOFF
by: Cathy Renna, OIA Newswire
WASHINGTON (May 6, 2008) -- An energetic crowd filled the Institute for
Culinary Education in Chelsea as Ilan Hall, Hung Huynh, Ted Allen and Josie
Smith-Malave of Bravo's hit reality series, Top Chef, took their places at
center stage for the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition's NYC Celebrity
Cook-Off on Friday May 2, 2008. Two teams led by Top Chefs Ilan and Hung
cooked up culinary delights and motivated a crowd of fans and donors to
serve up support for GenderPAC's youth program.
Guests mingled with Josie, Ilan, Hung and Ted at a reception prior to the
cook-off with cocktails provided by Chopin Vodka, Greenpoint wines, and
Goose Island Beer. After Kate Clinton dished out the comedy to a boisterous
crowd of 100+ New Yorkers, Ilan faced off with Hung in a friendly iron-chef
cooking competition featuring various secret ingredients ranging from spam
and gummy bears to ostrich and papaya -- each assisted by an audience
member/sous-chef chosen through the live auction. Ted Allen and Josie
Smith-Malave -- accompanied by two lucky raffle winners -- had the difficult
task of judging the dishes and declared Ilan's team the winners. It was the
GenderYOUTH Network, however, that took home the spoils of victory.
Proceeds were raised for the GenderYOUTH Network from admission sales and a
live auction that featured items such as a cooking lesson from Josie, two
Nannette chairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, as well as the
opportunity to serve as sous-chefs to Ilan and Hung. "Fumerist" -- feminist
humorist -- Kate Clinton acted as auctioneer and mistress of the kitchen,
keeping the audience in hysterics throughout the evening.
Further support was fostered with purchased entries to a drawing for a
$5,000 Give-Away* of KitchenAid appliances that will only be available to
attendees of the 2008 GenderPAC Celebrity Cook-Offs held in NYC, Denver,
Chicago and Austin. The winner of which will be contacted once the drawing
is held after the final Cook-Off in September. Visit
www.gpac.org/give/2008-cook-off to learn more about the other Celebrity
Cook-Offs.
"This was our first cook-off in New York City, and I have to say that the
energy in the room was raucous, refreshing and inspiring," said Brittney
Hoffman, Program Manager. "It's rare to have such a large group of people
in one place who are not only having a total blast but also supporting the
efforts of so many youth leaders in the GenderYOUTH Network working to
create safer and more equitable spaces for everyone to learn, grow and
succeed."
Currently 300+ youth in 106 GenderYOUTH chapters in 28 states work to make
their campuses GenderSAFETM - supportive, equitable, and protective -- for
all students, whether or not they fit expectations for masculinity or
femininity. To learn more about GenderPAC visit www.gpac.org. Full Story. [5/7/08]
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN TO HOST BOOK SIGNING EVENT FOR REV. GENE ROBINSON
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, will hold a book signing event on Monday, May 5, for Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson. Elected bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, Rev. Robinson is the first openly gay man to be elected to such office. Rev. Robinson will discuss his new book, In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God, and reflect on his journey of faith, his life experiences, his passion for justice, and the controversy that has rocked the church he loves. The event will be held in Washington, D.C. at the national headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign.
For additional information on this event visit: http://www.hrc.org/your_community/9367.htm
WHAT: Book signing event for Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson
WHEN: Monday, May 5, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. > Full Story. [5/1/08]
OPENING THE DOOR TO THE INCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
WASHINGTON, April 28 - The National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today released a joint publication titled Opening the Door to the Inclusion of Transgender People: The Nine Keys to Making Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organizations Fully Transgender-Inclusive, geared toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations. > Full Story. [4/28/08]
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES YEAR TO WINť NATIONWIDE MOBILIZING EFFORT FOR ELECTION 08
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) civil rights organization, today announced the launch of “Year to Win,” a nationwide electoral initiative aimed at mobilizing pro-equality voters in the 2008 election season. The effort will focus the resources of the organization’s more than 700,000 members and supporters in key battleground races throughout the country.Along with today’s announcement, HRC also released its first round of U.S. Senate endorsements for the 2008 General Election.
The Human Rights Campaign’s Year to Win campaign builds on the success of its efforts in 2006, which had an over 90% win rate and earned the organization the #2 ranking as most effective interest group by National Journal. As in the 2006 general election, HRC will be on the cutting edge of strategic and organizational efforts to harness the political power of the organization’s members and supporters nationwide – in addition to the GLBT community as a whole – as well as to prevent the right wing’s election-year attempts to exploit GLBT Americans for political gain. These efforts include:
· Launching Camp Equality™ to provide state-of-the-art campaign training for more than 1,500 participants in 13 cities across the country and to help deploy trainees to targeted campaigns;
· Educating voters throughthe HRC Equality 2008 website, www.hrc.org/YearToWin,a new “one-stop shopping” election resource that will allow visitors to gauge the political landscape of each state, donate to candidates, access the latest news and information on GLBT issues on the trail, and view a report card on where the candidates stand on key issues in the race for the White House;
· Mobilizing voters at more than 100 Pride events nationwide, expected to reach more than 5 million people;
· Targeting 14 Senate races through on-the-ground organizing, GOTV efforts and fundraising to increase the fair-minded majority in the Senate;
Having already organized, educated and motivated the GLBT community during the primary season, HRC will target resources toward fair-minded candidates on the federal and state level. By maintaining a visible and sustained presence in the field, at GLBT community pride events, and through the ’08 election website, issues important to pro-equality voters will continue to be on the front-burner of the national political dialogue.
“From mobilizing our members and all GLBT Americans, recruiting and training a cadre of grassroots campaign workers, and strategically targeting ‘high-impact’ races, the Human Rights Campaign is making 2008 our ‘Year to Win,’” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We’ll elect fair-minded candidates and ensure that issues equality are discussed this election year on our terms – not the right-wing’s.”
Building off the success of HRC’s Campaign College, which brings college students to Washington, D.C. every summer for intensive campaign training, HRC will kick off trainings in communities nationwide to mobilize on the grassroots level. Camp Equality™ will train nearly 1,500 people in 13 cities to work on political campaigns. By recruiting and training supporters of equality, HRC will bring more people into the political process, train them to help fair-minded candidates achieve victory, and build support for equality across the country. The first Camp Equality™ training will take place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on May 10-11. Additional trainings are scheduled for Phoenix, Arizona (May 30 – June 1); Houston, Texas (June 13 - 15); Albuquerque, New Mexico (June 27 - June 29); Las Vegas, Nevada (June 27 - 29); Northern Virginia (July 11 - 13); Cincinnati, Ohio (July 11 - 13); Columbus, Ohio (July18 - 20); Long Island, New York (July 25 - 27); Denver, Colorado (August 8 - 10); Dallas, Texas (August 15 - 17); St. Louis, Missouri (August 15 - 17); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (September 5 - 7). Those interested in participating in Camp Equality™ are encouraged to apply online: www.hrc.org/CampEquality.
HRC will also take advantage of opportunities to connect with voters at GLBT pride events nationwide. As in previous years, the Human Rights Campaign will take part in more than 100 pride events, allowing HRC to reach out to core supporters, introduce people to the equality movement and ask members of the GLBT community to sign pledges to vote in November. The HRC Diversity team will also empower GLBT people of color to be proud of their sexuality while celebrating their unique cultural heritage. The International Federation of Black Prides started in the late 1980s as a way to raise money for Black HIV/AIDS organizations. There are now 36 cities that host Black pride events. HRC is a supporter of 20 Black pride events, three Latin pride events, and one Asian Pacific Islander heritage celebration. For a complete list of pride events where HRC will be involved, visit: www.hrc.org/Pride.
Additionally, HRC will be mobilizing equality supporters on the 2008 True Colors Tour, with headliners Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, Rosie O’Donnell and host Carson Kressley. The tour will kick off Gay & Lesbian Pride Month on May 31st at Boston’s Bank of America Pavilion. Special guests will include the Indigo Girls, Joan Armatrading, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Regina Spektor, Tegan and Sara, Wanda Sykes, Nona Hendryx, Deborah Cox and The Cliks. In 2007, more than 70,000 people attended the concert series. For a complete list of dates and to purchase tickets, visit: http://www.TrueColorsTour.com.
In 2006, through an expanded field team and an unprecedented focus on state-level activity, the Human Rights Campaign helped secure victory for 211 endorsed candidates, offering up a stinging defeat for some of the most anti-gay politicians in the country, including Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. HRC targeted 30 races in 18 states, raised $1.3 million in candidate contributions, placed 84 staffers in the field and spent more than $5 million in election-related activities.
“I am proud to have the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign, a group that does so much to further the cause of equal rights for all Americans,” said Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), candidate for U.S. Senate. “Justice for all is one of the bedrock principles on which our country was founded and it is the responsibility of every American to work to make true equality a reality. It’s something I am committed to doing in the U.S. Senate. I am grateful for the support of the HRC and applaud them for the work that they do every day.”
“I have always been an advocate of equal rights for all Americans, regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, religion or sexual orientation,” said U.S. Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM), candidate for U.S. Senate. “As a tireless and effective advocate for equal rights, HRC helps advance the cause of equality, and because of that, I am proud to receive their endorsement.”
“I'm grateful to have this endorsement from an organization that fights for the rights and celebrates the spirit of the individual,” said U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), candidate for U.S. Senate. “Born and raised in the West, I know firsthand the strong ethic of protecting individual rights – a western tradition that reminds members of both political parties to leave people alone in their private lives. Because of this ethic, I find it troublesome when I see a politician - or anyone for that matter - righteously championing discrimination or hateful attitudes about the GLBT community. To do so reflects a world view that seems to me to be ethically wrong and backward-thinking. I am proud to have HRC’s endorsement and support.”
“I am proud to accept the Human Rights Campaign’s endorsement and vow to continue the fight against all forms of bigotry, hate and prejudice and for basic equality and human rights as New Jersey's U.S. Senator,” said U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).
“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign, one of the savviest, most respected and most influential political, civil rights and human rights organizations in our country,” said U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). “When you’re in a fight to change our country, you can always count on HRC to be there with you in the trenches, and there’s no better ally in the fight to advance the cause of freedom and equality for all Americans. I have been proud to work with the Human Rights Campaign for close to 25 years now in the U.S. Senate. We’ve fought together to combat AIDS, including our fight this year in the Foreign Relations Committee to lift the HIV Travel Ban, to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to end discrimination in the workplace through ENDA, and to work toward the day when same-sex couples are granted the same rights other Americans take for granted. We’ve spent a lot of our energy these last years stopping bad things from happening with a Republican in the White House. We’ve been proud to fight those fights, but I can’t begin to tell you how much I look forward to serving in a bigger, stronger Democratic majority in Congress under a Democratic president so we can wage and win the progress we’ve been waiting for and which the community deserves.”
2008 U.S. Senate endorsements as of April 28, 2008:
Max Baucus, D-MT
Joe Biden, D-DE
Susan Collins, R-ME
Dick Durbin, D-IL
Al Franken, D-MN
Tom Harkin, D-IA
John Kerry, D-MA
Mary Landrieu, D-LA
Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ
Carl Levin, D-MI
Jack Reed, D-RI
Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH
Mark Udall, D-CO
Tom Udall, D-NM
Note: U.S. House endorsements by Human Rights Campaign will be made available at a later date.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
-30-If you would rather not receive future email messages from Human Rights Campaign, let us know by clicking here.Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036 United States > Full Story. [4/28/08]
NAT'L TRANS LOBBY DAY FORUM
Transgender Law Center ED Masen Davis recounts highlights from National Transgender Lobby Day in DC (April 14 & 15) > Full Story. [4/24/08]
GAY CULTURAL HUB FORCED OUT BY NATIONALS PARK
Gay Cultural Hub Forced Out by Nationals Park
FOX WTTG Washington, DC • Mar. 25, 2008. 08:00 PM EST > Full Story. [3/27/08]
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