- HRC President Joe SolmonesePhoto by Jon Shapley
- Lynn Yeldell (honoree) & Veronica CasteloPhoto by Jon Shapley
- Gala speakers Camille Cook (c) poses with her partner, Siri Hutchenson (l) andTexas Representative Dawnna Dukes (r).Cook and Hutchenson shared their touching story of overcoming discriminationduring Hutchenson's recent extended hospital stay. As life partners, the twowomen have learned first hand about the urgency of the HRC's work for partnerrecognition in all 50 states.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Austin City Councilwoman Randi Shade (second from left), mother Denise Shade(l), Tanya & Art Acevedo (r).Shade and her partner, Kayla Shell, were this year's recipients of the BettieNaylor Award. Shade was the first openly gay person to serve on the Austin CityCouncil while Shell is an Executive Legal Director at Dell.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Guest speaker Reichen Lehmkuhl (r) poses with friend Michelle Hardy.Lehmkuhl, a reality television star (The Amazing Race, The A-List: New York) andoutspoken GLBT activist, discussed the discrimination and abuse he experiencedwhile attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.He celebrated the victory of the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and theimportance of continuining the HRC's efforts to insure gays and lesbians one dayachieve full equality in the eyes of the law.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Police Chief Art Acevedo kept the crowd laughing and bidding during the night'slive auction. Gala attendees bid on travel and vacation packages, with theproceeds going directly to the HRC.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Photo by Jon Shapley
- Photo by Jon Shapley
- U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (l) with Tim Hanson (c) and TexasRepresentative Elliott Naishtat (r).Photo by Jon Shapley
- Jean Smajstrla and Jason Elliott.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Dan Latreille, Kevin Baab, Kaitlyn Kerrigan, Jim Currin and Heather Latreille.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Jim Martinek, John Kerrigan, Jonathan Pehl, Cleve Collings & John Ruffier.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Lori Anderson, Britt Kornmann, Becky Bills and Tiffany Tosh.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Karen Langsley, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett and Joel Baldazo.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Jill Wilcox, Craig Mesenbrink, Samantha Henderson and Libby Doggett.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell poses with Julie Byers and Texas RepresentativeElliott Naishtat.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Gala Co-chair Kathrin Kersten, Corporate Sponsorship Co-Chair Veronica Castelo,U.S. Representative Lloyd and Libby Doggett.Photo by Jon Shapley
- Tamra English and Laura Crumley.Photo by Jon Shapley
The Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) annual Austin Gala celebrated "One Love" at The Four Seasons Hotel's San Jacinto Ballroom, emphasizing unity, prosperity and caring for one another.
In an elegant backdrop of tuxedos and gowns, Austin showed up in style to demonstrate its support for the HRC, a nationwide nonprofit that backs lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans right to live their lives proudly and openly. Men and women of every sexual orientation were in attendance to raise funds that go toward increasing the influence of the HRC in legal matters including marriage equality for gay men and women.
HRC President Joe Solmonesse spoke on behalf of the recent strides in the GLBTQ community — including the overturn of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) and marriage equality in seven states — as well as the continued battles ahead. Solmonesse announced this would be his last visit to Austin with the HRC as he was stepping down as the President after seven years of service.
Guest speaker Reichen Lehmkuhl, reality star and GLBTQ activist, shared about his involvement with the HRC especially during the battle to repeal DADT. As a student at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Lehmkuhl faced discrimination and assault because of his sexuality, which he details in his autobiography, Here's What We'll Tell Them.
The night's honorees included Austin City Councilwoman Randi Shade and her partner, co-chair of Ausitn PRIDE, Kayla Shell, who were awarded the Bettie Naylor Award for their tremendous work as role models and mothers. The two women shared their recollections of the amazing woman for whom the award was named, an early pioneer of equal rights in Central Texas. "She fought for our rights before many of us were even born," Shade announced fondly. "So let's remember how one person can change the world."
The night's recipients of The HRC Visibility Award, partners and owners of Austin's L Style G Style magazine, Alisa Weldon and Lynn Yeldell, shared that message of remaining true to one's self and living proudly. Having recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of their popular magazine, which highlights the contributions of out members of the gay and lesbian community in Austin, Weldon and Yeldell are living their message every day.
"It's our responsibility to be a face for our community," Yeldell encouraged the electrified room. "We cannot sit back and wait for others to take action. Let's keep changing hearts and changing minds."