Judy and Dennis Shepard to Receive 1st Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award

Judy and Dennis Shepard to Receive 1st Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award at 13th Annual Human Rights Campaign Dinner

Dinner Will Also Feature Special Appearances by Lady Gaga and the cast of the New Hit Show “Glee”; Performances by Cyndi Lauper and Hair’s Gavin Creel

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today announced part of the programmatic line-up for its 13th Annual National Dinner to be held on Saturday, October 10th in Washington, D.C. (Further event details will be made public once they are confirmed). The Human Rights Campaign unveiled that this year’s National Dinner will feature the first-ever Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award which will be presented to Judy and Dennis Shepard. The award is named in honor of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), a champion in the fight for LGBT equality. This will be an annual award handed out at HRC’s National Dinner which will be presented to a unique and valued leader in the fight for LGBT equality.

“Our community has had no greater champion for the cause of equality in the United States Congress than the late Senator Ted Kennedy,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “One of the ways we can honor that legacy and continue to share the special place he holds in our movement is through the creation of this annual award. And I can think of no better couple to receive the first-ever Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award than our heroes, Judy and Dennis Shepard.”

In addition to this highlight, the Human Rights Campaign’s 13th Annual National Dinner promises to be an evening to remember with a celebration featuring some of the biggest names in the fields of entertainment and music.

Set to make a special appearance at this year’s dinner will be Lady Gaga, an international singer-songwriter sensation, whose debut album The Fame swept the world by fire. Also making a special appearance to open the 13th Annual National Dinner will be the cast from the new Fox hit comedy, Glee. Performances for the dinner will be provided by Grammy and Emmy Award winning singer-songwriter, and one of the strongest allies of the LGBT community and past National Equality Award recipient, Cyndi Lauper. Additionally, two-time Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel, who is currently starring on Broadway in the role of Claude in the Tony Award winning production of Hair, is also set to perform.

The National Dinner will be held in the Washington Convention Center. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will be chaired by Anna Prow and Tucker Gallagher. In addition to the line-up already announced, the dinner will also feature a silent and live auction and a raffle drawing for a new 2010 Lexus HS 250H Hybrid.

WHAT: Human Rights Campaign Thirteenth Annual National Dinner

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 10th, 2009

WHERE: Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C.

WHO:

--Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign

--Judy and Dennis Shepard, Recipient of the Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award

--Lady Gaga, International Singer-Songwriter

--The Cast of Glee, the new Fox hit comedy

--Cyndi Lauper, Grammy and Emmy Award Winning Singer-Songwriter and past National Equality Award recipient

--Gavin Creel, two-time Tony nominated Broadway actor currently starring in Hair

*Further event details and programmatic line-up will be made public once they are confirmed

TICKETS: Tickets for the event may be reserved online at www.boxofficetickets.com or www.hrcnationaldinner.org. To reserve tickets by phone, call Box Office Tickets at 800/494-8497.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.