A packed crowd of about 200 people gathered to celebrate Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) Chicago's annual Her HRC event, "Wonder Women: Celebrating Female Heroes in our Community," March 1 at Chicago Theater Works.
Center on Halsted Director of Community and Cultural Programs Tamale Sepp served as the evening's emcee and live auctioneer. Sepp spoke about HRC's work in fighting anti-LGBTQ bills that have been introduced over the past year. She also noted the five pro-LGBTQ laws that were enacted last year and the 154 and counting pro-LGBTQ bills that are pending this year.
HRC Chicago Board of Governors member and membership outreach steering committee co-chair Julie Anderton spoke about the work the national and local sectors of HRC have done, including supporting pro-LGBTQ candidates through successful elections and the growing grassroots army ( HRC Rising ) they have built to combat anti-LGBTQ legislation and actions.
Among the many performers were belly dancer Lee Na-Moo, drag king Dick Then Dyke, comedians Shannon Noll and Brittany Meyer, musicians Maddy Ludwig and The CoverGirls Violin Show, and performance artist Ammunition.
Guests were encouraged to dress as their favorite superheroes so they could win a prize.
The evening also featured live and silent auctions ( theater tickets, dates, dinner reservations and many other items ), door prizes and dancing.
The live-auction items were dates with Noll, Erin Kwiatkowski, Brissa del Mar, and Maria Hadden ( who has announced her candidacy for the 49th Ward alderman race in the 2019 election ) and her girlfriend, Natalia Vera.
When asked about her candidacy, Hadden said, "I would be only the second woman to represent the 49th Ward, the first Black alderman on the North Side of the city and the first gay woman of color to be alderman."
Photos by Kat Fitzgerald