Los Angeles Mayor to Speak at Human Rights Campaign Gala Dinner in San Francisco

Antonio Villaraigosa Will Deliver Keynote Political Address

SAN FRANCISCO, July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Human Rights
Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil
rights organization, today announced that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa will deliver the keynote political address at the organization's
gala dinner on Saturday, July 26th.
Villaraigosa is a staunch advocate of GLBT equality who publicly supported
the legalization of marriages for gay and lesbian couples in California and
who last month issued an executive directive barring employment discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"I am thrilled and honored that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will join us
for our annual gala dinner in San Francisco, particularly during this historic
fight to preserve marriage equality in California," said HRC President Joe
Solmonese. "Mayor Villaraigosa has consistently shown that he understands, as
we do, that GLBT rights are civil rights and human rights. We are grateful to
have him as an ally as HRC continues its efforts to ensure that gay and
lesbian couples are treated equally under California law."
When ordering tickets, all dinner guests will be given the option to
designate up to 100 percent of the fee to the HRC California Marriage PAC.
The PAC was established to fight against the anti-marriage ballot initiative.
Proceeds from the dinner are part of the recent $500,000 pledge by HRC. In the
past year, HRC also provided six full-time staff members and $100,000 to
Equality for All, a large and diverse coalition of civil rights, faith,
choice, labor and communities of color organizations working to stop and
defeat any ballot measure that would deny gay and lesbian couples the right to
marry in California.
The theme of this year's dinner is "Race for Equality," and it will be
held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel on Saturday, July 26th. To purchase
tickets to the San Francisco Dinner, please visit
http://sfbayarea.hrc.org/dinner or call Box Office Tickets at: 800-494-TIXS
(8497). To donate to the HRC California Marriage PAC, visit
http://www.hrc.org/california.
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization
working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By
inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination
against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness
and equality for all.
SOURCE Human Rights Campaign

Mary Placido of GolinHarris, +1-415-274-7902, mplacido@golinharris.com; or
Brad Luna, +1-202-216-1514, or +1-202-812-8140, or Rachel Balick,
+1-202-216-1516, or +1-202-246-1226, both of Human Rights Campaign