Equality Illinois Gala to Celebrate the End of Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation in Illinois
More than 1,200 guests expected to attend this weekend's historic event to toast equal rights for the GLBT community in Illinois
(PRWEB) February 3, 2005 -- On Saturday, February 5, Equality Illinois will
throw the ultimate victory party celebrating the passage on January 11 of
historic legislation guaranteeing equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender citizens of Illinois, which was signed into law on January
21.
The theme of the gala is "Justice for All: Just Say I Do to the End
of Legal Discrimination Based upon Sexual Orientation." Presented by Michael
Leppen and Harris Bank, the gala will benefit Equality Illinois, the largest
human rights organization in the state focusing on the GLBT community, the
black-tie optional event will take place from 6:00 P.M. to Midnight at the
Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Michael Leppen, Amy Maggio,
Hon. Sara Feigenholtz, and Hon. Manny Flores co-chair the event.
Hosted
by Wayne Johnson, NBC-TV’s "Domestic Diva," the evening will feature a silent
auction, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres from 6:00 to 8:00, dinner and a gala
program beginning at 8:00, followed by dessert and dancing.
The Motorola
Corporation will be the first corporate recipient of an Equality Illinois
Freedom Award, recognizing its outstanding support of GLBT employees and of the
community.
This year’s Freedom Award Recipients include Del Martin and
Phyllis Lyon, founders in 1972 of the first national lesbian organization, the
Daughters of Bilitis, and the first same-sex couple (together for 50 years) to
be married in San Francisco on February 12, 2004.
The Honorable Dawn
Clark Netsch, State Senator from 1973 to 1990 and Comptroller of Illinois from
1991 to 1995, will receive a Freedom Award for her long-time support of the GLBT
community. In 1995, she was inducted into the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of
Fame.
State Senator Carol Ronen and Representative Larry McKeon will be
recognized for their sponsorship of the historic legislation that prohibits
discrimination in Illinois because of sexual orientation.
Tickets for the
2005 gala are $275 and may be purchased online at www.eqil.org or through TicketWeb
at 1-866-468-3401. Premier tickets are available for $375 and include a Premier
Reception with awardees and major event sponsors on Friday evening, February 4,
at the Metropolitan Club on the 66th floor of the Sears Tower, 233 S. Wacker Dr.
Business attire is appropriate for this reception, which will take place from
6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
The event is made possible by the generosity of dozens
of corporate and individual sponsors.
Platinum level sponsors include:
Miriam Hoover, Bacardi, Chicago Free Press, Orbitz, BoystownChicago.com and Zoom
Vacations. Gold Sponsors include: Allied Domecq, Robert Brumbaugh, Hilton,
Sidetrack, The Morten Group, Johnson Brothers Wines, Progress Printing and
Visual Media. Silver Sponsors include: Bacardi Rum, BankOne, Bombay Sapphire
Gin, ComEd, an Exelon Company, Dewars Scotch, Gallo Sonoma Chardonnay, LaSalle
Bank, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, McWilliams Merlot,
Miller Lite, R Family Vacations, Stolichnaya Vodka & 93WXRT. Bronze Sponsors
include: Gay Chicago Magazine, The Gourmet Grape, Mumm Champagne, Steamworks,
Toolbox Inc. and Wilde C3 Design. Corporate table sponsors include: Capri
Capital, Fleishman-Hillard, Hewitt, IBM, SBC Communications and Sidley, Austin,
Brown and Wood LLP.
The mission of Equality Illinois is to secure,
protect and defend the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
persons in the state of Illinois.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb205027.htm