2024 HRC Louisiana Dinner Program Book by Human Rights Campaign

PRESENTING SPONSOR

*Updated as of 11/19/24 THANK

PLATINUM

SILVER

BRONZE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP

*Updated as of 11/7/24

List current as of 9/4/24

SILVER

BRONZE

WELCOME LETTER

Welcome to the Human Rights Campaign Louisiana Gala, a signature event showcasing the unwavering belief that equality should be upheld. It’s truly a pleasure to have everyone join us for this electrifying evening.

Tonight, as we gather in unity, we’re reminded of the remarkable power that comes from a community devoted to a common cause. The Human Rights Campaign has been champions of LGBTQ+ rights for over four decades. It’s your continued support and dedication that moves us toward a world marked by equality and inclusivity for ALL.

This dinner symbolizes the collective strength and determination that fuels the nationwide movement for equality. We acknowledge the trailblazers who’ve paved the way before us and honor their legacies by continuing the march toward a world where every individual is treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their identity or who they love.

The theme for this year’s dinner is “People. Purpose. Progress” a reminder that our collective effort is magniﬁed when we stand together. Each of you here tonight adds to the power of this shared vision. Your presence is a source of hope for all of us.

Throughout the evening, you will have the privilege of hearing from inspirational speakers, connecting with likeminded individuals, and gaining insight into the crucial work being done to advance equality in our community and across the nation. We hope that by the end of the night, you’ll be even more determined to play an active role in the quest for inclusivity AND equality.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our remarkable Presenting Sponsor-Hyatt Regency New Orleans, generous Corporate Sponsors, Major Donors, Table Captains, Fed Club Members, volunteers, HRC staff, and all who have contributed to making this event possible. Your support enables us to keep advocating for change and nurturing a more inclusive society.

Thank you for being part of this journey toward a world where every person, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or background, can live authentically and freely. Together, we’ll continue to embody the principle of “People. Purpose. Progress”, and with your support, we’ll bring a brighter, fairer future within reach for all.

Enjoy this evening of celebration, camaraderie, and commitment. Let’s stand united, ﬁrmly believing that LGBTQ+ rights are an absolute necessity, and that TOGETHER, WE have the power to effect positive change.

Sincerely,

BRANDON WOLF SPECIAL GUEST

Brandon Wolf is a nationally recognized advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights and gun safety and a survivor of the 2016 shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub. He is a frequent face on MSNBC and CNN, and an opinion contributor in Oprah Daily, Newsweek, USA Today, and others. Brandon has graced the cover of Dazed Magazine and LGBTQ publications nationwide, having been named one of the Logo TV’s 30 LGBTQ Changemakers, Huf ﬁ ngton Post’s 30 LGBTQ Influencers under 30 and Out Magazine’s 100 Most Influential LGBTQ People.

He was a national surrogate for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Presidential Campaign and an advisory committee member for President Biden’s General Election bid. In 2019, he became the ﬁ rst survivor of the Pulse tragedy to testify before Congress and was returned in 2022 to testify on the rise of anti-LGBTQ hate violence before the House Oversight Committee. Brandon is a co-founder of The Dru Project, a nonpro ﬁ t organization that empowers safe spaces in schools for LGBTQ youth, and currently serves as National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign.

His debut memoir, “A Place for Us”, was released in July 2023 and became an instant bestseller.

STONEWALL SPORTS COMMUNITY AWARD

The Human Rights Campaign Community Award recognizes organizations that work to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ+ people in our community. Stonewall Sports- New Orleans Chapter is this year’s recipient.

Stonewall Sports is a nationwide organization that has 27 chapters throughout the country. The New Orleans Chapter was founded in 2016, and now includes kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, pickleball, bowling, trivia, yoga, bocce, running club, and gaming nights. Having a philanthropic heart, our local stonewall chapter makes ﬁ nancial donations to other local non-pro ﬁ t organizations and strives to embody their vision statement of having the responsibility to help others in need.

Stonewall Sports took its name from the Stonewall riots of 1969. While the world has changed in many ways since 1969, we still fi ght for equality, fairness, visibility, and safety. Stonewall honors the sacri fi ce of previous generations and continues the struggle for liberation by offering queer people a place to fi nd community across all identities.

Stonewall Sports began in Washington, D.C. in 2010 as a nonpro ﬁ t organization intentionally dedicated to fostering inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. Stonewall Sports emphasizes community and inclusion and provides a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for people of all skill levels where they can be comfortably and authentically themselves. Both on and off the ﬁ eld, stonewallers have many opportunities for fun, making new friends and lasting memories, self-expression, and building strong community bonds and solidarity.

Along life’s journey, let’s travel together.

American Airlines is a longstanding partner of the Human Rights Campaign.

American is a proud advocate for LGBTQ rights in Washington DC and beyond.

TRISTIN MAYS VISIBILITY AWARD

Tristin Mays is an actress/director who is most notably known for her starring role as “Riley” in the hit CBS series “MacGyver.” With 32 years in the industry, Tristin also has a Broadway and theatre performance background including Disney’s “The Lion King” as “Young Nala”. She has appeared and starred in many popular television series such as “The Vampire Diaries,” “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Gullah Gullah Island.”

Tristin has directed and produced many dynamic short ﬁ lms and musical pieces over the years, and has grown a strong following dedicated to her unique and cinematic ﬁ lm works, specializing in creating new and eccentric worlds and scenarios for people of color in a way that has never been seen. Some of her work can currently be viewed on her Instagram page at Instagram.com/TristinMays .

Everybody.

At Apple, we’re committed to using our voice to advocate for LGBTQ+ people and the freedoms they deser ve Because we believe ever ybody should have the right to be free from discrimination

We proudly suppor t the Human Rights Campaign and stand with you to build a better future.

COURTNEY SHARP EQUALITY AWARD

PRESENTED BY

Andy Kopplin, President & CEO

Doris Z. Stone Chair in Philanthropic Leadership

Greater New Orleans Foundation

Courtney Sharp has been a transgender activist since the mid-1990s. She has increasingly assumed leadership positions throughout her many years of service.

She served on the Board of Directors for LAGPAC, former Mayor Marc Morial’s LGBT Advisory Committee serving as Secretary, Vice Chair and Chair, and served on the local PFLAG Board of Directors for 22 years.

She actively advocated for and served in leadership positions in the efforts to include protections for gender identity in the City of New Orleans. Her exhaustive efforts spanned a three-year period from 1995 through1998. Finally, the City Council ultimately passed the ordinance amending Chapter 86 of the Human Relations Code.

At the same time, Sharp approached the Board of Directors of PFLAG New Orleans Chapter to encourage them to provide support for families with transgender children. For several years she worked with a group of parents across the U.S. to educate the leaders of the PFLAG National organization and lobby them to expand their mission statement to include support, education and advocacy for transgender persons and their families.

PFLAG National expanded their mission statement in 1998. Courtney was the ﬁ rst transgender person to serve as a Regional Director and PFLAG National Board of Directors. She served on the Policy Committee and worked to solidify full inclusion in all national policies, including amending the national policy to ensure that PFLAG chapters would only support legislative efforts that fully included everyone in the community. In 2003, PFLAG was the ﬁ rst national organization to adopt a policy.

She recognized that intersex persons’ struggles were similar similar to transgender individuals and while serving on the PFLAG National Board of Directors she led educational efforts to create more awareness and opened lines of communication to ensure that their voices were also heard.

Courtney has met with many families during the times when they needed support and someone to talk with as they supported their children who were dealing with gender issues. As the politically motivated culture wars focusing on transgender people increased during the past decade, she has brought hope to families who have been targets for the culture war.

While Courtney was providing individual support for transgender friends during the 1990s, many discussed that their struggle with gender identity was more dif ﬁ cult as they encountered rejections with their community of faith. While trying to provide insights and encouragement, some could not resolve their struggle and could not overcome the trauma they experienced. For over 30 years, she has built bridges of understanding and enlightenment with leaders in faith communities.

She supports the community effort to preserve the LGBTQ history and important LGBTQ historical landmarks. She is now in her 70s and is honored to serve with other dedicated, long time community leaders on the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s LGBTQ Fund. She joins the fund’s visionary leaders’ efforts to support efforts to increase the quality of life for LGBTQ people and to ensure that the New Orleans area will be a place where LGBTQ persons can thrive and contribute.

TONYA BOYD-CANNON PERFORMER

Tonya Boyd-Cannon falls into the latter category as a vocal musician – a Mississippi-born, Louisiana-raised singer-songwriter who radiates an unmistakable con ﬁ dence and passion, and an individual who has truly dedicated her essence to the art form. Her sound puts vibe front and center instead of containing herself to genre limitations. It’s a distinctive style that draws from her desire to give and heal others through music – ebbing and >lowing from the most heart-wrenching ballads, to jazz, funk, soul, gospel, and everything in between!

Tonya’s illustrious career has seen her release many singles, EPs, full- lengths albums, and collaborations, all of which have received signi ﬁ cant praise from media and critics alike. From performing as a Finalist on season 8 on NBC’s The Voice, to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to Colombia’s Mom Pox Jazz Festival; Tonya Boyd-Cannon’s voice leaves a musical presence on your heart, mind and soul.

A recent graduate from Tulane University, with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Black American Music, Tonya continues down her chosen path of revitalizing people through her brand of soulful, dynamic, and captivatingly robust music. When she’s not on stage, Tonya is teaching vocal music in her classrooms and communities! For her, music and performing have allowed her to heal herself and bring vitality and happiness to others.

Google is proud to support the Human Rights Campaign in a shared pursuit of building a world where everyone belongs.

T H E H U M A N R I G H T S

CA M PA I G N F O U N DAT I O N salutes our Foundation Partners with our heartfelt thanks.

ACLU

ADM

Albertsons

Amazon

Anonymous

Assurant

Baker Hughes

Bank of America

Bath and Body Works

Black Tie Dinner, Inc.

Bloomingdales

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Collingwood Foundation

Comic Relief

CVS Health

Danaher Foundation

David Bohnett Foundation

Enova International

Everytown for Gun Safety

Fortive Foundation

Fred Says

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Google

JPMorgan Chase Foundation

Kors Le Pere Foundation, The

Kroll

LEGO

Levi Strauss & Co.

Luminate

Lyft, Inc.

Marsh & McLennan Agency

McDonald’s

Morningstar Foundation, The

National Education Association

Neiman Marcus

Nestlé

Nike

PepsiCo Foundation, The Pﬁzer

PhRMA

Pretium

Pronoun

PwC

Raymond James Financial Inc.

RTX

Sempra

S&P Global

Spring Point Partners

TJX Companies

T-Mobile

Toyota

United Airlines

UPS Foundation

USAA

Vanguard

Verizon

ViiV Healthcare

Walt Disney Company

Wells Fargo Foundation

Wellspring Philanthropic Fund

Workday Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to care for their families, earn a living and live open, honest and safe lives at home, at work and in the community.

The H RC Foundation is a non-proﬁt t ax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information about our work, visit www.hrc.org/Foundation

Course is FREE

Participants are paid $500 stipend ($50/week)

For LGBTQ+ Black & Brown and trans & non-binary young adults ages 18-30

Meets weekly for 10 weeks via ZOOM

Includes resume writing and job application support

Covers computer skills and digital literacy

Helps you SET GOALS and go to the Next Level

Lyft supports safer spaces, and all the humans who inhabit them.

The most impactful way to support H RC is through a monthly gift, because you will help fuel HRC’s fight for FULL equality all year long.

Your ongoing monthly support will provide critical resources to fight back against anti-LG BTQ+ bills, expand and protect our pro-equality Congress, invest more deeply in our grassroots efforts with strategic organizing in key districts, keep pressure to pass the Equality Act in Congress and continue to show up and fight for the multiply marginalized in our community and country.

Thank you for supporting H RC and for staying with us in the fight. Together, we are an unstoppable force for change!

That's why we've been proudly supporting the Human Rights Campaign since 2009.

macysinc.com/purpose

Transgender and non-binary people are your neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends. And when you or your friends and family are the targets of hate, violence and discrimination, you act.

The Human Rights Campaign is actively working to advocate for the rights and lives of the transgender and non-binary community–but we all must do more–can we count you in?

As LGBTQ+ people and allies, we have a responsibility to fight for EVERYONE in our movement. Now is the time to get loud, get visible, and spread awareness on behalf of transgender and non-binary people. So please take the actions below–but don’t stop there.

The more people who show they care, including allies and trans and non-binary people who speak up for the most marginalized in our community, the more hearts and minds we will change.

Sign the Pledge and Impact Change

The first step in voicing your support for the trans and non-binary community is to sign your name to the Count Me In pledge. By taking this action, you’re sending a message that you vow to go out of your way to raise awareness and uplift the lives of our trans and non-binary friends and family.

Provide Inclusive Books to an At-Need Library

Your contribution will provide a set of three books to a Title 1 school or community library serving multiply marginalized populations across the country.

Contact State Legislators

State legislatures are attacking LGBTQ+ folks, particularly trans people, left and right. Show antiequality legislators that we won’t tolerate any more bullying and discrimination.

Request and Show Off Your Sticker

Display your special edition HRC sticker on your car, laptop, water bottle — no matter where you put it, you’ll be saying you support our trans community.

Spread the Word On Social Media

Post these image shares on your social media channels and update your profile photos and let your networks know you believe in a more just and equitable world for trans folks — full stop.

Share a Voice Message of Support

State legislatures are targeting trans kids. Text HEART to 472-472 to share a public message of support for trans youth and show you’re fighting for them.

(Msg&dataratesmayapply. Recurring msgs. TxtSTOP2quit. HELP4info.)

Let Kids Play

Rebekah is a 14-year-old girl who loves school, reading, hanging out with her friends and playing field hockey. But lawmakers across the country are trying to pass laws that would prohibit Rebekah from playing sports with other girls.

Wear Your Support

From T-shirts to pins to socks to masks, you can show off your support for trans equality no matter where you are, who you’re with or what you’re doing.

Transgender Justice eNewsletter

Stay up to date on our Transgender Justice Initiative and what we’re doing to dismantle stigma and end the epidemic of violence against trans and gender non-conforming people.

Count Me In

Speak Out

Request A Sticker

Donate Now

Meet Rebekah

TRANSGENDER INCLUSION

IN THE WORKPLACE

OF THOSE RATED ON HRC FOUNDATION’S

99%

49% of CEI-rated employers allow employees the option to selfidentify as LGBTQ+ in anonymous employee engagement surveys or as part of data collection on confidential employee forms or in the HRIS system.

94 %

2021 CEI… major employers have adopted workplace gender transition guidelines.

87% of CEI-rated employers explicitly include gender identity as a part of their non-discrimination policy.

OF FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES have non-discrimination protections that include gender identity, UP FROM 3% IN 2002.

Over its 19-year history, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index has been the driving force for the adoption of equitable workplace policies, practices and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in the United States and beyond. Participating companies know that building an LGBTQ+-inclusive workplace is not just the right thing to do, it is also the best business decision and allows companies to attract, retain and engage top talent. Their commitment to building inclusion has only strengthened over the past year, with a re

of c

91%

of all CEI-rated businesses offer transgenderinclusive health insurance coverage, up from 0 in 2002 and 22 times as many businesses as 12 years ago.

600+ of all CEI-rated businesses offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage while also eliminating blanket exclusions for medically necessary care in all other employer-sponsored plans.

GIVE THE GIFT OF EQUALITY

This year, celebrate your loved ones, holidays or other special occasions by giving the gift of equality! Gift a membership to the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, host a fundraiser to beneﬁt our work, sign up for our wedding registry or donate in someone’s memory! Each donation includes an HRC membership and furthers the ﬁght for full LGBTQ+ equality.

GIVE A MEMBERSHIP GOAL HRC MEMBER

HOST A FUNDRAISER FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, GRADUATION, PRIDE OR MO RE .. .

DONATE YOUR WEDDING REGISTRY

GIV E TH E GIF

FLY A FLAG

FOR HOLIDAYS & SPECIAL OCCASIO NS

DONATE IN HONOR OR ME MO RY O F SOMEONE

Celebrating a special occasion and looking to further LGBTQ+ equality? Join our over 3 million supporters today by giving the gift of membership, hosting a fundraiser, donating your wedding registry to HRC and more!

WHAT WE DO

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. Since 1980, we have been fighting for a better future for LGBTQ+ Americans. We are now working tirelessly to pass the Equality Act, which will soon head to the U.S. Senate for consideration, fight back against a multitude of anti-LGBTQ+ legis-lation in states nationwide and ensure everyone in our community is treated with dignity and respect. While our opponents are emboldened and on the attack, the Human Rights Campaign and our grass-roots army of more than 3.2 million members and supporters are energetically defending the rights we’ve gained and ramping up our fight for full equality across the board.

ANTI-EQUALITY LEADERS AND LEGISLATION

The alarming spate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country in 2020 has continued to surge in 2021. These include bills that would prohibit transgender youth from receiving genderaffirming care and bills that would prohibit transgender youth from participating in sports. This wave of anti-transgender legislation harkens back to the surge of anti-transgender bathroom bills that hit state legislatures in 2016, including North Carolina’s HB2. We remain committed to aggressively fighting these threats to equality by those who seek to undermine our rights. HRC will do whatever it takes to protect the rights and fundamental equality of every LGBTQ+ person in this country.

B U IL DING A ND DEM ONS TR AT ING POLITICAL P OWER

HRC’s decades-long work to build political power has uniquely positioned us to reach LGBTQ+ and ally voters who prioritize equality on the ballot, also known as Equality Voters. HRC has identified 57 million Equality Voters nationwide who, if they turn out to vote, will support pro-equality candidates. HRC’s early and sustained year-round engagement in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin bolstered historic turnout in 2018 and 2020 producing pro-equality outcomes at every level of government. In 2019, HRC’s mobilization of Equality Voters in Virginia, where lawmakers had repeatedly blocked proequality bills over many years, produced groundbreaking progress for LGBTQ+ Americans in the South. These victories led to the Virginia Values Act becoming law, making Virginia the first state in the South to advance statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.

ADVANCING EQUALITY IN OUR DAILY LIVES

The HRC Foundation improves the lives LGBTQ+ people by building understanding and shaping the public debate of LGBTQ+ people and the challenges they face through innovative research and public education campaigns. We also change the policies and practices in the institutions that shape our everyday lives (hospitals, schools, workplaces, and more) and empower strategic partners, community advocates, and allies through convenings and capacity-building. Guided by these theories of change and seeking to prioritize work impacting those who are multiply marginalized, we have 11 cuttingedge programs advancing equality in the U.S. and beyond.

All Children - All Families is the only national program dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion in child welfare (foster care and adoption agencies) that provides resource development, technical assistance and training.

Public Education & Research produces written resources and conducts original quantitative and qualitative research exploring the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people.

Global Partnerships provides capacity-building and leadership development opportunities to LGBTQ+ advocates from around the world to strengthen movements and advance global LGBTQ+ equality.

HBCU Program is the only national project that partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities on establishing an LGBTQ+-inclusive campus climate.

Health & Aging provides resources and training to help thousands of healthcare facilities adopt inclusive policies and practices to better serve LGBTQ+ patients and employees.

HIV & Health Equity develops public education and capacitybuilding programs to address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latinx communities.

Religion & Faith provides faith leaders with opportunities and tools to stand up for equality even as opponents attempt to weaponize faith against LGBTQ+ people.

Transgender Justice Initiative leads economic empowerment programs, capacity-building initiatives, community engagement efforts, and public safety education campaigns that combat the discrimination faced by transgender people.

Welcoming Schools is the only bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+-specific training and resources with an intersectional lens, developed for use in elementary schools.

Workplace Equality advances equality for LGBTQ+ workers through the adoption and implementation of inclusive policies, practices, and benefits in the U.S. and beyond.

Youth Well-Being provides professional development to over 5,000 youth-serving professionals annually, through the annual Time to THRIVE conference, webinars, participation at major national convenings, and by amplifying the stories of HRC Youth Ambassadors. The program also convenes HRC’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council.

pfizer.com/about/responsibility/human-rights

STAND OUT, STAND PROUD

Nordstrom is honored to partner with the Human Rights Campaign in our celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and commitment to safeguarding equal rights for all.

Whoever you are, whomever you love—we see you, we hear you and we stand with you.

We all have ambitions. And working together, valuing each other and respecting our uniqueness creates the best environment for us to achieve them.

Our ambition is bold, to help the world get to net zero by 2050 or sooner. That’s why we value diversity and put being inclusive at the heart of how we operate. It’s also why we’re recognized as a top employer by the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

If that sounds like a culture you would thrive in, explore bp.com/careers

CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

Congratulations on making a difference across the world for LGBTQ+ communities. Thank you, HRC, for focusing on mobilizing those who envision a world strengthened by diversity, where our laws and society treat all people equally, including LGBTQ+ people and those who are multiply marginalized.

Celebrating everyone’s unique magic.

At Cox, inclusion is much more than a word. It’s at the very core of our values. We thrive on what makes us different, empowering our people, clients and communities to build a better future for the next generation. No two employees look or think the same. And we prefer it that way!

Learn how we’re united by our uniqueness at coxenterprises.com/inclusion.

Jason Giorgetti, Cox Communications at the Atlanta Pride Parade with his partner.

www.shell.us/getconnected

STARBUCKS is PROUD to PARTNER with the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

Starbucks is dedicated to creating experiences and environments where everyone belongs and is respected. This includes our longstanding commitment to support and celebrate our partners (employees) including providing comprehensive benefits for part- and full-time partners, including affordable and inclusive healthcare coverage.

PROUD SPONSOR OF

The Human Rights Campaign Louisiana Dinner

As proud sponsor of The Human Rights Campaign Louisiana and a preferred hotel of the New Orleans LGBTQ+ community, Hyatt Regency New Orleans continues to illustrate our commitment to our core value of diversity and inclusion.

• Annual Pride Prom NOLA

• Annual Human Rights Campaign Louisiana Gala Dinner

• Annual participant in the New Orleans Pride Parade and Celebration

• Leading HyPride Associate Diversity Business Resource Group

• Associate LGBTQ+ Sensitivity Training

HYATT REGENCY NEW ORLEANS

For inquiries, email hrno.sales@hyatt.com

Touching lives. Powering the future.

At Entergy, the communities we serve are the communities we call home. That's why we stay active and involved - because we know our responsibility reaches beyond the power grid.

Thanks to our Employee Resource Groups for their commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace and in the communities we serve.