WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, today announced that guests attending the annual San Francisco dinner will have the option to give their contribution to the ongoing effort to protect marriage equality in California. At this time, anti-equality forces are working to enshrine discrimination into California's constitution with a constitutional amendment on the November general election ballot. In late May, HRC pledged an initial contribution of $500,000 to Equality for All, the coalition working to protect marriage equality.

&quotThe Court's ruling was an amazing victory and the San Francisco dinner is another opportunity to continue to build financial support to protect marriage this November,&quot said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. &quotWith our initial $500,000 commitment and the proceeds from the dinner, HRC aims to ensure that California remains a state where every person has the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by being able to marry the person they love.&quot

When ordering tickets, all dinner guests will be given the option to designate up to 100 percent of the fee to the HRC California Marriage PAC. The PAC was established to fight against the anti-marriage ballot initiative. Proceeds from the dinner are part of the recent $500,000 pledge by HRC. In the past year, HRC also provided six full-time staff members and $100,000 to Equality for All, a large and diverse coalition of civil rights, faith, choice, labor and communities of color organizations working to stop and defeat any ballot measure that would deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry in California.

HRC is a member of Equality for All, the coalition working to defeat the marriage ban, and these funds will support the coalition's efforts. To purchase tickets to the San Francisco Dinner, please visit: http://sfbayarea.hrc.org/dinner or call Box Office Tickets at: 800-494-TIXS(8497). To donate to the HRC California Marriage PAC, visit: http://www.hrc.org/california.