Since the Turn It Up for Change campaign launched last October, there have been about 40 events at W Hotels around the United States, marquee events in Chicago and New York, and a pre-Grammys celebration at W Hollywood.
The events and W overall have raised more than $100,000 for the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ).
Turn It Up for Change raises money and awareness for LGBT rights, including marriage equality nationwide. With its HRC partnership, the initiative aligns with W's longstanding commitment to the LGBT community.
Academy and Grammy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson is the campaign's spokesperson, lending her voice to the cause through exclusive performances and appearances at select events at W Hotels.
The campaign has been anchored on social-media initiatives.
"I loved attending our marquee events along with Jennifer Hudson," said Anthony Ingham, who lives in New York City and is the vice president of luxury and design brands in North America at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. ( W's parent company ). He is openly gay, has been out his entire Starwood career, and is married to his partner of nearly 20 years.
Ingham said the short-term goal for the campaign is to continue hosting events at W Hotels across the country and to raise funds to benefit HRC as well as awareness in support of marriage equality. Long-term, "we look forward to celebrating marriage equality in all 50 states," he said. "There is still more to the fight after that, and we will turn our attention to these issues, including workplace equality."
The W Chicago hosted a marquee event with Jennifer Hudson, DJ White Shadow and Legendary Damon this past January.
"I was living and working in Europe when I got the incredible opportunity to move to America and work for Starwood," Ingham said. "Fortunately, the position was in New York and was right after the state passed the Marriage Equality Act, so I was able to bring over and legally marry my partner. Otherwise, I may not have taken the position. I'm committed to everyone having access to the same rights, regardless of where they live."
Starwood has long had a perfect score on HRC's Corporate Equality Index.
"Over the years, we have supported many other organizations working on LGBT rights issues, including Lambda Legal, Immigration Equality, the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and scores of local LGBT organizations," Ingham said. "We continue our proud support of many of these today.
"[Since] this [campaign] is focused on advocacy for marriage rights in all 50 states, we felt the Human Rights Campaign, as the largest national organization focused on this issue, was the perfect partner."
And Hudson is a "fierce equality advocate," he said.
"She has an enormous following among the LGBT community, and she credits them with supporting her phenomenal success," Ingham said. "She also has huge reach in the mainstream audience, which is very important as we fight to open people's minds and change old perceptions. We are fortunate to have her support for the campaign."