The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Austin will be giving its annual honors to Dave Steakley, Producing Artistic Director of ZACH Theater and Laura Hernandez, Executive Director Diversity Marketing, AT&T. Dave Steakley will be receiving the HRC Austin Visibility Award, and Laura Hernandez the HRC Austin Corporate Equality Award for their work as outstanding leaders in support of the LGBT community.

Said Gala co-chair Kathrin Kersten: “Given that this year marks the first season in the new Topfer Theater and Dave’s 20th anniversary with ZACH Theater this is the perfect year to honor him”. Steakley is being honored for all that he has given the Austin community in the performing arts but also in creating a venue for important conversations on topics that affect our entire community. As the nation’s largest civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights of LGBT people, HRC Austin is celebrating Steakley’s production of shows such as Angels in America and The Laramie Project.

“Leading AT&T’s marketing efforts, targeting the LGBT segment, we want to celebrate Laura’s leadership that has helped make AT&T a model for all other Fortune 500 companies in corporate social responsibility regarding diversity” said Gala co-chair Heather Beckel Luecke. HRC Austin is proud to celebrate AT&T’s tenth year of successively achieving a 100% score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index by honoring Hernandez.

The awards will be given out at the annual HRC Austin Gala, which will be held on February 9, 2013 at 7pm in the Four Seasons main ballroom. For the third year in a row the theme of the Gala, which falls on the weekend before St. Valentine’s Day is love and this year the tagline is ‘Love Conquers Hate’.

Chad Griffin, the new President of HRC will be attending the Austin Gala, and Senator Kirk Watson will serve as the event auctioneer.

About HRC: As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC’s vision a reality. Founded in 1980, HRC advocates on behalf of LGBT Americans, mobilizes grassroots actions in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect fair-minded individuals to office and educates the public about LGBT issues.

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Table Captains are the heart of the dinner’s attendance. Each Table Captain strives to fill a table of 10, creating their own guest list and spending an inspirational evening surrounded with friends and family. If you’d like to select the nine people who will sit at your table, just become a Table Captain. And Table Captains are not financially obligated to fill the table.

As a “thank you” for helping to support the drive for equality, Table Captains are listed in Dinner advertisements, invitations and program books.

If you are interested in becoming a Table Captain for the HRC Austin Gala, please contact Phillip Wright
and Scott Ertresvaag at tablecaptains@hrcaustin.org.

A critical source of fundraising at the HRC Austin Gala is the silent auction. We hope we can count on your support this year by pledging an item or service to the auction. We intend to feature many of our best and brightest items on our website and Facebook page. The sooner you donate, the more opportunity we have to advertise your generous support! Your donated item or service will be professionally displayed at the Gala, along with recognition of your support of the Human Rights Campaign.

If you are not sure what to donate, please don’t hesitate to contact one of us to discuss options.

On behalf of the HRC Austin Gala and silent auction committee, we would like to thank you in advance for your generous contribution and support!

Robin Murphy and Laura Benold.