Welcome!

On behalf of the HRC Western and Central New York Steering Committee and our Dinner Committee, welcome to our 4th Annual Dinner and Auction. We are honored to be in the company of such an incredible group of activists, advocates, and allies dedicated to fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.

While tonight is about celebrating our community’s achievements over the last year, we also recognize the alarming rise of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and legislation. Many people in our community our family members, friends, and coworkers live in fear daily. Since our last gathering:

Over 525 legislative bills and laws across the country directly attack the lives and safety of the LGBTQ+ community; many specific bills target our trans family members by putting their access to critically needed medical care and protections at risk!

Drag Story Hours in our community came under attack.

Fifty years after Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court reversed the landmark decision, stripping women of the right to reproductive choice and access to safe healthcare.

Regardless of how you identify, now is not the time for us to be complacent—even in New York state. We cannot allow the plethora of anti-trans legislation and random acts of criminality that threaten the rights and dignity of our trans community members to go unchallenged. This year, 11 members of the Western and Central New York Steering Committee lobbied on Capitol Hill, urging representatives from both sides of the aisle to vote against hateful legislation. Many members also turned out to protest with community partners and form a human wall to protect the many parents and children attending Drag Story Hour in Pittsford.

The backlash underway is a call to action for everyone here to come together to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. Tonight, we celebrate the power of our community to effect change, overcome any obstacle, and create a more just and equit able world.

Thank you for joining us in this critical, life-saving work. Your presence here tonight reaffirms our shared belief that we will make history by defeating all legislative and media attacks against our community. Together, we will achieve full equality for all LGBTQ+ people—Without Exception!

With gratitude and solidarity, the 2023 HRC Western and Central NY Dinner Tri-Chairs

Equality Patrons

Barilla America

Alan E.

Curle, MD &

Chunkit Fung, MD &

Davie Kaplan

CPAs

Gallagher Benefit

Harris Beach