Black Tie Dinner has revealed a roster of trailblazing honorees and entertainers for its 41st Annual Dinner, Power of Pride, presented by PNC Bank. The nation’s largest LGBTQ fundraising dinner returns to the Sheraton Dallas on September 24th after raising a record $1.45 million last year. Olympian Gus Kenworthy, a silver-medalist skier, will accept the Elizabeth Birch Equality Award and actor Rafael Silva, star of 9-1-1: Lone Star, will receive the Vanguard award. Black Tie Dinner just announced singer, actress and activist Denise Lee as the recipient of the Dale Hansen Ally Award and openly gay country star Cameron Hawthorn will perform. The Dinner will also honor actor Colman Domingo with the Media Award and actor Ryan O’Connell with the Visibility Award. Longtime activist Robert Emery will be recognized with the Kuchling Humanitarian Award for 35 years of tireless advocacy.
Black Tie Dinner will bring together the LGBTQ community, sponsors, and allies at a time when visibility and advocacy are critical in the fight for equality. What started as a small fundraising dinner among friends in 1982, has become a premier event that has raised more than $27 million for local organizations serving the LGBTQ community as well as The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, The Dinner’s national beneficiary.
Since its inception, the organization has been committed to representing a diverse and inclusive community and continues to seek out new LGBTQ focused non-profits that support people of color, women, and transgender identities. The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition is one of 18 local beneficiaries this year.“ Too often the needs of our constituents exceed the support and resources that are available to us,” said Carter Brown, Executive Director of Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. “Now having the support of Black Tie Dinner as a first-year beneficiary, the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition is better enabled to address some of these most prominent disparities.“
Black Tie Dinner is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit, whose mission is made possible by more than 500 volunteers and the generous and growing support of global and regional corporate sponsors that value the organization’s inclusive mission.
“This commitment is rooted in truth that our community is uniquely diverse, and it is our responsibility, and our passion to uplift and celebrate this diversity by our organization, and the sponsors who generously support us,” said Terry D. Loftis, Senior Co-Chair for Black Tie Dinner. Over the past two years, the organization has engaged more comprehensively with its sponsors by supporting their LGBTQ initiatives.“ The impact and brand partnership we share with our sponsors directly impacts the visibility and sustainability of our community,” Loftis said.
With the rights of women, transgender people, and people of color threatened in the United States, Black Tie Dinner remains steadfast in its commitment to uplift and support the LGBTQ community. As a sponsor of the Dinner, your dollars instantly go to work preserving equality and funding life-changing programs and services for thousands of the most vulnerable in North Texas. The organization encourages support at all levels to ensure its impact grows into the future. You can find ways to get involved at https://blacktie.org/getinvolved.
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