2019 Special Guests
Vice President Joe Biden
Vice President Joe Biden will be the guest speaker at the HRC’s 2019 Columbus Dinner.
“Vice President Joe Biden is a strong and visible ally to the LGBTQ community in our fight for full federal equality,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “His bold declaration supporting marriage equality helped change hearts and minds throughout America, and his work during the past two years as a leader of the Biden Foundation to advance LGBTQ rights at home and abroad is critical — particularly at a moment when the equality and dignity of this community are under attack across the globe. The Human Rights Campaign is honored to welcome Vice President Joe Biden to our Columbus Gala.”
VISIBILITY AWARD: Jake Choi
2019 HRC Columbus Visibility Award recipient. The son of Korean immigrants to the United States, Jake Choi is a former semi-professional basketball player turned actor, who was born and raised in Queens.
In 2018, Choi came out as sexually fluid. In an interview with The Advocate he stated, “I feel like a lot of people understand it better if you just say ‘bisexual,’ which is not the same thing, but it’s like sometimes when people say, ‘Oh, so you’re bi?’ — I don’t even want to argue anymore.
GALA ENTERTAINMENT: Johnny Manuel
Johnny Manuel is a breakout vocal star who reached the Semi-Finals for 2017’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ (AGT) TV vocal competition. Read more>>>
EQUALITY AWARD: HRC Board and HRC Foundation Board member Cheryl Rose
The HRC Equality Award is given to an individual who embodies the passion and dedication of advancing LGBTQ equality that is central to HRC’s mission. It is the most prestigious award given by HRC Columbus.
Cheryl’s volunteer experience includes over 30 years in the areas of Faith/Family, Real Estate, and LGBTQ rights.
HRC SPEAKER: TBA