John Benjamin Hickey Just One of Many Reasons to Attend the HRC Gala
What comes to mind when you think about the HRC Gala? Tasty food? A chance to get gussied up? Fantastic opportunities to socialize and support a great cause? Those may all be on your mind, but chances are you’re also considering the cost. It’s true that attending an HRC Gala is not without its expenses. Aside from the cost of the ticket, you may have to spend additional funds on some new clothes or fancy accessories, not to mention the cost of parking or perhaps a taxi fare. But after attending the Gala for the first time last year, I can tell you that the cost is worth it.
While it’s important – vital even – to have local pride, sometimes, in San Antonio, we forget that there is a national “conversation” on LGBT rights that we are, or should be, a part of. The HRC Gala is chance to connect with the largest LGBT civil rights organization in the country, and despite criticisms of the organization, I believe the HRC works hard to do what is right and that they are an organization worth supporting.
Although all the funds raised go to the national office to support LGBT lobbying in D.C., that is not necessarily a bad thing. As someone who has worked on efforts to reform laws at the local, state, and national levels, I think it is of great importance to chip away at anti-LGBT bigotry at all levels. But if change can happen on the national stage, then that advocacy truly does trickle down because states and municipalities have to follow suit. Lobbying the federal government is important, and HRC does its job with gusto.
Without going into too much detail, I must acknowledge that in the last few years, HRC has worked to diversify its base to include transgender rights and ethnic minority voices. Admittedly, it took extra time and effort to make these changes happen, but sometimes the largest organizations are the slowest to change. But HRC has heard the critiques and assessments of its practices, and I believe that their more inclusive outreach efforts are evidence that the organization is not just hearing but listening.
This year, the HRC Gala and Silent Auction will be held on Saturday, October 15, at the Grand Hyatt downtown. The silent auction and reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with the program of events beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $175, with discounts for students and HRC Federal Club members at $75. Each ticket also requires a $7.25 processing fee. For details and tickets, visit www.sanantonio.hrc.org/dinner.
Tony-award winning, and openly gay, actor John Benjamin Hickey (featured on the cover) will be honored with the Visibility Award – a recognition regularly given at the HRC Gala in New York. There are many good reasons, however, for Hickey to receive this award in the Alamo City. For one, Hickey is a Texas native. He was born and raised in Plano, TX and did part of his theatrical education at Texas State University in San Marcos. Another reason is that Dr. Paul Boskind – this year’s recipient of the Chuck Jordan Lifetime Advocacy Award - also produced the play for which Hickey received his Tony Award. Earlier this year, Hickey was honored for his role as Felix Turner, lover of writer-turned-gay activist Ned Weeks in “The Normal Heart,” Larry Kramer’s explosive play about early days of the AIDS epidemic in New York.
Boskind is a native San Antonian. He is a local entrepreneur and long-time benefactor of several state and national pro-LGBT organizations. He is an active board member for Equality Texas, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and the Service members Legal Defense Network (SLDN). In addition, he is a major donor for the Victory Fund, the Point Foundation, Faith In America, GenderPAC and the Michael Palm Center, as well as the Democratic National Committee.
“The Normal Heart” was also recognized at the 2011 Tony Awards for its stellar performances. John Benjamin Hickey was awarded Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role, and Ellen Barkin received the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play.
Other worthy notes for the HRC Gala include the Community Service Award, which will be given to TGRA, the Texas Gay Rodeo Association, a fundraising and social organization that has given thousands of dollars to San Antonio area LGBT organizations over the last several years. Additionally, there will be entertainment provided by Shavonne Conroy, an actress and singer who has headlined all over the country, but who now calls San Antonio home.
I hope you will consider supporting the work of the HRC by attending the Gala on October 15. The event is a lot of fun, a great chance to network and an opportunity to be part of national efforts for pro-LGBT rights.
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