THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Honey West was mistress of ceremonies, while GLAAD Leadership Council co-chairs Chad Bermingham and Kinley Preston were hosts. The Leadership Council and the 2015 Hatter Host Committee made the event possible.

The committee includes Ian and Julie Andrusyk; Kevin Boyer and Bobby Hoeppner; Jorge del Busto; Scott Fiero; Sue Fisher Yellen; Dustin Goltz and Jason Zingsheim; Sara Hassan; Nick Eigen; Kyle Heath and Todd Rhoades; Byron Hoover; Christina Kahrl and Charley Sheri Wanamaker; Kevin Lewis and Kepa Barcenas; Grant McCorkhill; Mike Paonessa and Mark Steffen; Kristen Prinz; Courtney Rowe; Doug Sanborn; Atish Shah; Tharius Sumter; Steven Ticzon; Ricardo Torres; Nick Urig; David Viggiano; and Brian Weil.

"This is to really raise awareness of our mission—to accelerate acceptance in Chicago and the Midwest," said GLAAD Major Gifts Officer Joe Foster.

Foster noted the strides the LGBT community has made, including forcing a Supreme Court decision regarding marriage equality that is expected in June. However, he acknowledged that laws or rulings alone won't accomplish GLAAD's goal.

"You can't legislate acceptance," Foster said. "[GLAAD] is trying to ensure we raise a generation that won't create laws that will discriminate against the LGBT community."

Foster highlighted, aside from marriage inequality, other specific ways the community is shortchanged. For example, he stated that LGBT youth face a variety of challenges and LGBT people can still be fired for being gay.

Foster noted a GLAAD-commissioned Harris poll about U.S. residents' attitudes about LGBT people. It revealed that 33 percent of those polled would be uncomfortable being treated by an LGBT doctor, for instance.

GLAAD could help counter those perceptions with a Southern Story Bus Tour, Foster said, adding that the bus would make stops throughout the South, giving LGBT people the chance to tell their stories.

"People can come out and be who they are," he said.

The 2015 GLAAD Hatter Brunch's presenting partners included Ketel One Vodka and MillerCoors, while Hyatt was a major partner. Cresa, Nielsen and Vanite served as community partners.