Dear Friends,

I'm filled with a sense of pride and urgency. Our journey continues to be one of progress and perseverance, and I'm excited to share with you the strides we've made and the challenges that lie ahead.

Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Georgia, where I connected with the Young Democrats of Georgia. It was truly inspiring to stand among these passionate young leaders, the future torchbearers of our party. Together, we rallied around our shared commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and threw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. The energy and dedication I witnessed there left me more convinced than ever that our future is in good hands.

While in Atlanta, I was proud to participate in the Global Black Pride march. As Grand Marshal, I was honored to lead a vibrant, diverse crowd through the streets. The experience was a powerful reminder of the intersectionality of our struggle and the strength we draw from our unity.

This week, our focus has shifted to what I like to call the HRC Super Bowl — our National Dinner. It's a time for celebration, reflection and recommitment to our cause. We're thrilled to be honoring the incomparable Cynthia Erivo, whose talent and advocacy have been a beacon for our community. Leslie Odom Jr. will be gracing our stage as well.

But what excites me most is the honor of having the coach who has won America’s hearts and will be the next Vice President of the United States join us. At this critical turning point in our democracy, Tim Walz’s presence underscores the importance of our work and the recognition it's receiving at the highest levels of government.

As we gather tomorrow, we'll celebrate how far we've come and steel ourselves for the battles ahead. With the election just 60 days away, we're in a crucial period that demands our utmost dedication and effort. I assure you, we're leaving no stone unturned in our fight for equality and justice.

Those of you who aren’t able to attend the National Dinner this year might be interested in HRC’s recent partnership with Special Occasion Studios, which is releasing a provocative new documentary called, Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln. This landmark film can be seen today, tomorrow, and Sunday nationwide, and if you purchase your tickets here, HRC will receive a portion of the proceeds.

Lover of Men fills in an important missing piece of Lincoln’s story and challenges us to consider why we as a society hold such limited views of human sexuality and gender identity. In this sense, it is also an exploration of sexual fluidity and gender roles — and an examination of both American intolerance and human possibility.

And the subject has never felt more relevant than it is today, as we barrel toward a consequential election in which our freedoms — including our freedom to love who we love and be who we are and live openly with pride — are on the line.

Lover of Men is a groundbreaking film. Experience this moment in theaters and celebrate our collective history together. See the trailer and buy your tickets today — and support HRC and our vital work to advance equality and liberation for everyone.

In these challenging times, I am profoundly grateful for each of you. Your unwavering support, tireless efforts and unyielding belief in our cause drive us forward.

Together, we've accomplished so much, but there's still work to be done. It's crucial to acknowledge that we face a significant backlash against inclusion work as we continue our fight. This pushback is a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect the progress we've made. We cannot and will not allow our community's hard-won rights and freedoms to be eroded. Now, more than ever, we must stand united and resolute in our commitment to equality and justice for all.

As we move into this critical period, let's carry with us the energy from Georgia, the pride from our march and the anticipation of our upcoming celebration. Let these experiences fuel our determination to fight for a world where every individual can live freely and fully, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

I am deeply honored to be on this journey with you. Here's to the battles we've won, the challenges we face and the victories that await us.

Dear Friends,

What a week it's been! Our National Dinner was truly a night of joy and inspiration, bringing together LGBTQ+ advocates and activists from across the country. The energy in the room was electric, reminding us all of the power of our community when we come together.

We were honored to have Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz with us, who electrified the room with his case for the upcoming election. He promised that he and Vice President Kamala Harris would fight to pass the Equality Act and enshrine anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans into law.

Governor Walz captured the essence of our struggle when he said:

"What this election boils down to, in a lot of ways, it's fundamentally about freedom… Donald Trump and JD Vance, their idea of freedom is that the government should be free to invade every corner of our lives — our bedrooms, our kid's schools, even our doctor's office… When it comes to personal things, bodily autonomy, your gender identity, when to start a family, marrying who you love… I think we just need to be really good neighbors. Everyone just deserves to be treated with respect — freedom to make that choice."

We were also thrilled to honor Cynthia Erivo with the HRC National Equality Award. Cynthia, a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actor, moved us all with her heartfelt acceptance speech:

"Back then, when I received this award, I received it as an ally. And this time, I get to stand here and receive it as an out and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community."

The evening was made even more special by the presence of Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer Leslie Odom, Jr., who presented the award to Cynthia. Our guests were also treated to inspiring performances from Our Lady J and Asher HaVon.

In my address to our HRC family, I emphasized that the attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans are designed to limit our basic freedoms. But we won't let them. Because pride and patriotism are the same damn thing. And in this moment, we are reclaiming both by showing up. And we know that when WE SHOW UP, equality wins.

While we celebrated our community's resilience and power, we also recognized that our work is far from over. We partied with a purpose, and then we got right back into the fight. This week, we've been tackling one of the most pressing issues facing our community: the alarming rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in corporate America.

I'm proud to announce that despite these concerning trends, we're seeing record participation in our Corporate Equality Index (CEI). As I shared on CNBC's Squawk Box just this week, "We have over 1,400 hundred companies participating, representing over 21 million employees across this country."

This overwhelming response sends a clear message: inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it's good for business. However, we're also seeing a disturbing trend of companies abandoning their DEI commitments. In response, we've introduced significant deductions to the CEI scores of companies retreating from these crucial initiatives.

Several large American firms, including Ford, Molson-Coors, Tractor Supply Co, John Deere, Lowe's, Harley-Davidson, and Brown-Forman, have received 25-point deductions to their Responsibility Citizenship Criteria. These companies are part of a growing list of firms abandoning DEI initiatives after a public backlash from MAGA bullies. Furthermore, HRC members and supporters like you have sent more than 180,000 messages to the CEOs of these companies, urging them not to abandon their commitments to diversity and inclusivity, and you can send your message here.

Let me be clear: business leaders retreating from the values of inclusion and equity are making a decision that alienates their queer employees and customers. The attacks on DEI are just one part of a broader assault on LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms. From attempts to ban books and censor education to efforts to restrict healthcare access for transgender individuals, our opponents are working tirelessly to roll back our hard-won progress.

But we will not be silenced, and we will not back down.

This overwhelming response sends a clear message: inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it's good for business. We've also taken a stand against companies abandoning their DEI initiatives by introducing significant deductions to their CEI scores. Our community brings $1.4 trillion in spending power, and we're not afraid to use it to support businesses that stand with us.

As we face continued attacks on our basic freedoms, remember this: our National Dinner and the work we do together every day are a powerful reminder of our purpose and our collective strength. In the coming weeks, we'll be ramping up our efforts to engage voters, support pro-equality candidates and continue pushing for comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.

Your support and involvement are more crucial than ever. Together, we will continue to make history and create a more just and inclusive world for all.