On Feb. 3, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) brought together more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ advocates and supporters from across the country for its annual Greater New York Dinner.
This year's event honored members of the LGBTQ+ community, including Academy Award-nominated actor, playwright and producer Colman Domingo (Rustin), actress and transgender advocate Trace Lysette, and Macy's Inc. Chairman & CEO Jeff Gennette.
Domingo HRC's Equality Award for his transformative work showcasing stories of being both Black and queer. Lysettestar of the Prime Video series Transparent and critically acclaimed film Monicawas honored with HRC's Trailblazer award for her influential expansion of transgender visibility on and off screen. Lastly, Gennette received HRC's Corporate Visibility Award for his unwavering dedication to bolstering LGBTQ+ inclusivity in business.
In speaking, HRC President Kelley Robinson said, in part, "My family is proof that the story of America is a story of hope. It's a story of progress. But, it's also proof that that progress is not guaranteed. That progress is fought for and earned generation after generation. And now it is our time. We are truly in a pivotal moment in the history of our democracy. We are in a moment where we have to see the present as it is, but still reach forward. Reach forward for a future that we can all believe in. Not a future that is great again. A future that is greater, and more free and more just than anything that could have ever been possible before this very moment."
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was a special guest. In part, he said, "As you know, the story of LGBTQ liberation in America is deeply intertwined with the story of Black liberation. The Stonewall Riots and all the protests that followed were led by many Black LGBTQ New Yorkers. And there have been so many Black LGBTQ leaders since then who have carried the torch."
Andrew Davis