Program

Kathy Najimy

Actress & Activist

Kathy Najimy was seen last season as a cast member on the CBS one-hour drama Numb3rs, portraying the brilliant head of the university, Millie Finch. Najimy currently provides the voice of “Peggy Hill,” (13 seasons) on the Emmy Award-winning Fox hit King of the Hill, for which she received an Annie and 2 WIN Awards. She can also be heard in Pixar’s animated feature Wall-E. In her most important role of activist, she was named Ms. Magazine's Woman of the Year 2005.

Gavin Creel

Gavin Creel was recently nominated for a 2009 TONY ® Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical and also received a 2009Distinguished Performance Award nomination by the Drama League for his star turn as Claude in the hit Broadway Revival of HAIR. Creel garnered his first Tony ® nomination for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Gavin is an alumnus of the nationally renowned University of Michigan Musical Theatre Department and is also an accomplished singer-songwriter with his own concert and recording career.

Ellen Kahn

Ellen Kahn joined the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in November 2005 as the Family Project Director. Ellen advocates for GLBT family equality at a wide variety of professional conferences, through membership on advisory boards and through her contacts with local and national media. Ellen lives with her partner and two children in Silver Spring, MD and will be joining us from HRC.

Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor is ranked 3rd in the nation in his weight class. It's his outspoken support for gay rights, though, that makes him unique in the athletic world, where straight allies are few and far between. Not many athletes would wear a Human Rights Campaign sticker on their headgear in competition. Hudson will join us the night of the Gala to tell his story in support of equality.

MANTRYX

MANTRYX has earned the title of “New York’s Signature Aerialists”. In the last four years, the duo has given over one thousand aerial and ground acrobatic performances throughout the world. Repeatedly praised by critics, their art has reached millions live and millions more through appearances on major television networks. Together, Tad Emptage and Aaron Bonventre have been hailed as leaders of the new American vaudeville movement. Their work has been enjoyed in seventy countries, through all types of media, and in conjunction with the most recognized and celebrated celebrities, companies, venues, and arts organizations of our age. MANTRYX is thrilled to support the Human Rights Campaign in its incredibly important mission.

Schedule of Events

 

5:00 pm    VIP Reception Begins, Archie Griffin West Ballroom

6:00 pm   Silent Auction Opens, Archie Griffin West Ballroom

7:10 pm    Ballroom Doors Open, Seating Begins

7:30 pm    Program Part 1

8:10pm    Dinner

8:55pm    Program Part 2