(Scott Audette/Reuters)
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization announced that Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Tim Kaine will deliver the keynote address at the 20th annual HRC National Dinner on Saturday, September 10, 2016, in Washington D.C.
Civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) will also speak at this year’s sold-out event, which will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
“Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Kaine has spent his entire career fighting for the equal rights of all Americans,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “As part of the most pro-equality presidential ticket in American history, Tim Kaine will help ensure another four years of unprecedented progress for LGBTQ equality in this country and around the world.”
Kaine has a strong commitment to LGBTQ equality. In addition to supporting marriage equality, Kaine is an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act — federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people under our existing civil rights laws. One of Kaine’s first actions as Virginia Governor in 2006 was to sign an executive order adding sexual orientation protections to the non-discrimination policy for state workers. Kaine also recently signed onto an amicus brief in the 2nd Circuit case, Christiansen v. Omnicom Group Inc., arguing that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Representative John Lewis (D-GA) will also be addressing the crowd at the September 10 event. Lewis knows the struggle for equality first hand and has been a longtime, outspoken advocate for LGBTQ civil rights. At the 2014 HRC Atlanta Gala Lewis said, “No government—state or federal—should tell a person who they can love and not love, who they can fall in love with and get married to… I will be there with you now and forever, as long as I have breath in my body.”
The 20th annual HRC National Dinner is expected to draw more than 3,600 guests. More information is available at www.hrcnationaldinner.org.
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