2024 HRC Nashville Dinner Program Book

WELCOME LETTER

On behalf of the organizing committee, it is our utmost pleasure to extend a warm welcome to each of you to the 2024 Human Rights Campaign Nashville Dinner.

This evening marks a celebration of unity, resilience, and progress in the ongoing fight for equality. As co-chairs, we are honored to stand alongside you in support of the LGBTQ+ community and our allies.

Tonight, we gather not only to recognize the strides we’ve made but also to reaffirm our commitment to the work that lies ahead. In a world where discrimination and inequality still persist, our collective voice and action are more crucial than ever.

The theme of this year’s dinner, “Without Exception,” underscores our unwavering dedication to creating a society where everyone can live authentically and free from fear of discrimination. It is a call to action for each of us to stand up, speak out, and advocate for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or background.

Throughout the evening, we invite you to engage in meaningful conversations, share inspiring stories, and forge connections that will strengthen our movement for equality. Together, we can create a world where love triumphs over hate and where every person is valued and respected for who they are.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, volunteers, and supporters whose generosity and dedication have made this event possible. Your commitment to our cause is truly commendable, and we are immensely grateful for your unwavering support.

As we gather tonight, let us renew our resolve to champion equality and justice for all. May this evening be filled with joy, solidarity, and hope for a brighter, more inclusive future.

Thank you for joining us in this important celebration. Together, we will continue to make strides towards a world where everyone can live with dignity, respect, and equality.

With warmest regards,

Maria Glover-Wallace, Philip Heil and Dakerri Rhone

Nik Harris

HRC SPEAKER

Shenika “Nik” Harris (she/they), is a queer gender non-conforming attorney, activist, and speaker. She is a native of Tallahassee, Florida and obtained her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Florida A&M University and her law degree from Florida State University. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and Washington DC.

Nik currently serves as the Vice President, Strategic Outreach & Engagement for the Human Rights Campaign and previously served as the LGBTQ Consumer Advocate for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This position was appointed by Commissioner Nikki Fried and was the fi rst LGBTQ position to a member of the Florida Cabinet. Prior to this appointment, Nik served as Senior Attorney at the Florida Department of Transportation and as a prosecutor at the Florida Department of Health. Nik conducts training on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is certi fi ed by Cornell University in Diversity & Inclusion.

She was the fi rst Black woman elected to serve as Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) National Board of Governors. She serves on the boards of Ruth’s List and IGNITE Women’s Services, is Vice-President of the Dolphin Democrats (Broward County’s LGBTQ Democratic Caucus), Vice-President of the Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus, serves on the Broward County Sheriff’s Social Justice Task Force, the Broward State Attorney’s Advisory Council and is a BIG in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Pride Program. In 2020 she was selected as a Victory Empowerment Fellow, one of eight people selected from across the country. She was elected as a Biden Presidential delegate in 2020 representing Florida’s 22nd Congressional District.

One of her proudest achievements is the founding of “Thou Art Woman”, a signature open mic event, with her friend and fellow attorney Ghenete “G” Wright. The event series celebrates LGBTQ women and their allies through performance and visual art. Attorney Harris has been the recipient of countless awards, including the 2019 Ruth’s List: Women Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award; and the 2020 recipient of the LGBTQ Leadership Award by the Florida Diversity Council. She is an awardwinning Toastmaster and speaks across the country in support of equality.

Cassadee Pope

VISBILITY HONOREE

“Over the last 15 years, CASSADEE POPE has been a lot of things to a lot of people: leader of seminal pop-punk band Hey Monday. Season 3 winner of The Voice. Platinum-selling (“Wasting All These Tears”), GRAMMY-nominated (“Think of You,” a duet with Chris Young) country singer/songwriter. Ally and activist pushing for social change and a brighter future in a backward world.

But through it all – the Warped Tour parking lots, tours with Fall Out Boy and Yellowcard, CMT Awards and chart-topping singles – she’s always remained fearlessly, unapologetically herself. Now, after a few singles in (“People That I Love Leave” “Almost There” “Coma” and “Wasting All These Tears (Cassadee’s Version”) Pope returns with her most joyously authentic statement yet, effortlessly sliding into the ebullient pop-punk sound that defined the late ’00s with unbridled energy, sugar pill melodies and away message-ready wordplay. These songs kick off a brand-new era for Pope, a transition back to the sound that launched her career and made her an inspiration for a new wave of women in underground rock. All it took was a trip to visit an old friend.

“Ali Tamposi and I grew up together and went to school together,” Pope explains. “We’ve been attached at the hip throughout our lives. I was out seeing her in LA, and we wrote a song called ‘More To Me’ that felt very pop-punk and in my wheelhouse. Ali looked at me and said ‘Dude, this is what you should be doing.’ The more I sat with it, the more I felt in my gut that this song was the catalyst for me.”

Before long, the Nashville-via-Florida-based Pope was overnighting in LA between weekend runs of solo shows, crashing at Airbnbs and borrowing her country pal Mickey Guyton’s car for sessions with pop-rock writers and producers like Mike Pepe (Taking Back Sunday), Nick Furlong (blink-182, 5 Seconds of Summer), and Christina Galligan (gnash). Exhuming a rock-influenced musical self she’d long thought was buried, she found a comfort in the past but also a new approach informed by her days in Nashville.

“Back in Hey Monday, I was worried about everything being hyper-literal, the exact thing I was going through,” she says. “I never wanted to embellish anything in terms of the lyrics. But country music is rooted in storytelling, conversational lyrics that are universal and can span across all genres. With that experience under my belt, I’m able to combine that style of writing with a type of music I love more than anything.”

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.

Dahron Johnson

EQUALITY AWARD

Dahron Johnson , a clinically-trained chaplain and licensed minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), serves as the bereavement coordinator for a hospice serving eight counties in middle Tennessee. Throughout her career, Chaplain Johnson has advocated persistently for keeping the voices of patients & their respective communities of care central to their own journeys. She is the chair of the equity advisory council for a major national healthcare corporation, and the immediate past chair of a regional community advisory board for LGBTQ+ health. Dahron is a member of a state-wide council focused on supports for those with intellectual & physical disabilities, and serves as a community member on a board overseeing research efforts with Veterans. She was also recently elected as a board member for an organization that seeks to empower neighborhood leaders to best achieve their community’s goals. Chaplain Johnson partners regularly with the Southern Christian Coalition—a nonpartisan grassroots, ecumenical organization that speaks at the intersection of faith, values, and public policy. Her activism work, though, has its home & hub in the Tennessee Equality Project, a group dedicated for the last 20 years to legislative advocacy for the rights of LGBTQ+ Tennesseans. Through this work, Dahron has testified before TN General Assembly Senate and House committees on multiple occasions, and, in January 2024, Chaplain Johnson became the first openly trans person to speak from the floor of the Tennessee House during session, having been invited to serve as the Chaplain of the Day, offering the session’s opening prayer and invocation.

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.

Representative Justin Jones

SPECIAL GUEST

Justin Jones is an activist, organizer, legislator, representative, minister, community leader, environmentalist, and gun violence prevention advocate deeply committed to doing the justice work required to move Tennessee and our nation forward.

Justin was elected in 2022 to represent the people of District 52, a culmination of years of advocacy work around Medicaid expansion, racial justice, police accountability, and the Green New Deal. Justin is a tireless fighter for Black liberation and is deeply embedded in a tradition of resistance that comes from his familial and movement ancestors who ground and guide his work. Justin was expelled from the Tennessee legislature, daring to put purpose before title, and bringing a moral conscience to the deliberative process which puts the lives of kids against the proliferation of firearms.

Justin is a leader for the next generation and the next several to come, and brings past, present, and future into the halls of power with him. Justin is a relentless fighter for our collective freedom and an apologetic voice for a south that will rise anew.

Join Smirnoff in support for the LGBTQIA+ community, and toast to a more colorful and inclusive future for all!

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!

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

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.

Donate Now

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.

Speak Out

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.)

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.

Request A Sticker

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.

Download Now

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.

Meet Rebekah

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.

Visit HRC.org/Shop

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.

Subscribe Now

TRANSGENDER INCLUSION

IN THE WORKPLACE

99%

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

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 %

600+

OF THOSE RATED ON HRC FOUNDATION’S 2021 CEI… major employers have adopted workplace gender transition guidelines.

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 record-breaking number of corporations achieving top marks

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

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.

87%

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.

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

That’s

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.

GOAL HRC MEMBER

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

DONATE YOUR WEDDING REGISTRY

FLY A FLAG

GIVE A MEMBERSHIP

FOR HOLIDAYS & SPECIAL OCCASIO NS

DONATE IN HONOR OR ME MO RY O F SOMEONE

GIV E TH E GIF T OF EQUALIT Y TODAY

hrc.im/WaysToGive

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!

We believe that embracing inclusivity and authenticity changes the narrative for everyone.

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

Our commitment to create brighter futures with bold representation for all. macysinc.com/purpose

T H E HU MA N R I G H T S

CA M PA I G N F O UN DAT I ON

salutes our Foundation Partners with our heartfelt thanks.

ACLU

ADM

ADOBE

AIRBNB AIRBUS ALBERTSONS

AMAZON

ANONYMOUS ASSURANT

BAKER HUGES

BANK OF AMERICA

BLACK TIE DINNER, INC

BRIGHTHOUSE FINANCIALS

CARMAX

CENTENE

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC

COCA-COLA FOUNDATION, THE COMIC RELIEF

COLLINGWOOD FOUNDATION

CVS HEALTH

DANAHER FOUNDATION

DAVID BOHNETT FOUNDATION

ENOVA INTERNATIONAL

EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY

FORTIVE FOUNDATION

FRED SAYS

GILEAD SCIENCES, INC. GOOGLE

JPMORGAN CHASE

KORS LE PERE FOUNDATION, THE KROLL

LEGO

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. LYFT, INC

MARSH & MCLENNAN AGENCY

MCDONALDS

MORNINGSTAR FOUNDATION, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

NESTLE

NIKE

PEPSICO FOUNDATION, THE PFIZER

PhRMA

PRETIUM

PRONOUN

PwC

RESET TECH

RTX

S&P GLOBAL

SEMPRA

SPRINGPOINT PARTNERS

TJX COMPANIES

THE HOME DEPOT

T-MOBILE

TOYOTA

UNITED AIRLINES

UPS FOUNDATION

US BANK

USAA

VANGUARD

VERIZON

VIIV HEALTHCARE

WALT DISNEY COMPANY

WELLS FARGO

WELLSPRING

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 HRC Foundation is a non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

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

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.

For

Covers

Helps

Morgan Stanley is proud to support

Human Rights Campaign

At Morgan Stanley, diversity is an opportunity for clients, employees and the firm. Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion is fundamental to our role as a global leader striving for excellence in all that we do. By valuing diverse perspectives, we continue to expand our inclusive culture, focus on our people and deliver innovative solutions to the communities where we live and work.

Learn more at morganstanley.com/aboutus /diversit y

CS 828839-3710988

© 2023 Morgan Stanley.

LEADING WITH LOVE FOR ALL

As one of the few large corporations in the United States with LGBTQ+ leadership, Neiman Marcus Group is proud to be recognized as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.

We are committed to our HRC Platinum-level partnership and to leading meaningful initiatives that benefit all employees.

pfizer.com/about/responsibility/human-rights

Target is proud to sponsor HRC in continuing our shared mission of creating inclusive and equitable spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community.

THE

TO

Diversity makes us stronger.

Different perspectives bring different strengths. At Chevron, our diverse and inclusive work environment helps us find better options, make better decisions, and reach better solutions in everything we do. Whether our employees or our partners, diversity and inclusion are at the core of who we are and how we do business. Learn more at chevron.com

Chevron is proud to be recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

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!

Make your mark

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

PRIDE AT

Jacinta Jones Watson, Cox Enterprises

For change to happen, someone must challenge the status quo. We’re proud to support the work of the Human Rights Campaign and use our voice to uplift those left behind and those on their way, ensuring everyone has the right and advantage to fully participate in the global economy.

Furthering human progress through technology

Our core purpose is to further human progress through technology, and nowhere is this opportunity more apparent than amid the 4th Industrial Revolution. We believe humanity is always at its best when it produces innovative technologies that advance the ways we live and work.

In support of this purpose, our mission is to deliver amazing customer experiences with networking, cloud and security solutions that power next-gen business applications. We aim to democratize complex and cutting-edge technologies and deliver simple solutions, so our customers can focus on innovation, not their IT.

Our philosophy of continuous improvement means we tirelessly pursue exceptional outcomes for our customers, partners and team. And we do all this while boldly embracing change with a daring spirit to excite and inspire our customers to imagine new possibilities.

Opportunity for all.

When we work to facilitate a diverse, inclusive workforce, we unlock our creative spirit and create the tomorrow we wish to see. For everyone.

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.

BE INFINITELY YOU

We believe in a world that values diversity, embraces equity, and encourages all to remain true to themselves.

We stand side-by-side with the Human Rights Campaign and their support of the LGBTQ+ community in order to help create a culture where everyone belongs. Where everyone can always be… Infinitely You.

FAIRNESS. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. RESPONSIBILITY.

Guided by a strong firm-wide commitment to these founding principles, Bass, Berry & Sims continues to build and sustain a culture that is inclusive, equitable and diverse.

NOMINATED FOR A 2023 PRIDE IN BUSINESS AWARD

ACHIEVED 100% ON THE HRC CEI 5 YEARS IN A ROW

GENESCO is proud to SUPPORT HRC

Driven by Diverse Perspectives

Husch Blackwell celebrates the Human Rights Campaign and its mission of advancing equality for LGBTQ+ Americans. In Nashville and across our law offices nationwide, we are committed to supporting our LGBTQ+ team members and fostering an inclusive work environment that embraces our people’s unique talents and perspectives.