Post submitted by former HRC Digital Media Manager Helen Parshall

The HRC Los Angeles Dinner brought together more than 1,000 of HRC’s most active members and supporters in California to raise crucial funds in the fight for LGBTQ equality. On March 10, the greater Los Angeles area re-committed itself to the fight for equality with a night of incredible guests at the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-California) delivered a fiery speech just hours after Donald Trump launched a fusillade of disgusting attacks during a Saturday campaign rally, proving why she is a fierce leader of the resistance.

Waters is considered by many to be one of the most powerful women in American politics today. She has gained a reputation as a fearless and outspoken advocate for women, children, people of color, and the poor. Elected in November 2016 to her fourteenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 76 percent of the vote in the 43rd Congressional District of California, Congresswoman Waters represents a large part of South Central Los Angeles.

“We are counting on all of you to show up during the 2018 midterms and vote for people who will restore this democracy and uphold everything that we have fought for to advance #LGBTQ equality,” Waters said.

2017 HRC Visibility Award recipient Gus Kenworthy passed the torch to fellow out gay Olympian Adam Rippon, honored by HRC for his trailblazing visibility at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Adam Rippon made history as the first openly gay U.S. American male figure skater to compete in the Olympic games. Rippon publicly sparred with Mike Pence in the press and on social media, bringing a new focus on Pence’s long anti-LGBTQ record. Rippon publicly voiced his concern over Pence leading the diverse U.S. delegation to the Olympics.

“To all the young kids out there: You are smarter than you think. You hold more strength than you may ever know. You are powerful,” Rippon said.  

HRC-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona also spoke at the dinner. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, Kyrsten Sinema is the first openly bisexual member of the House. Sinema is running to represent Arizona in the Senate this year.

Other special guests at the event included Teri Polo and Sherri Saum from ABC Family’s “The Fosters,” Josh Duhamel from “Love, Simon” and many more. Grammy Award-winning rock band Portugal. The Man performed.