
May 31, 2025
May 31, 2025
As this year’s co-chairs, we come together with a shared purpose to create something meaningful— not just for tonight, but for the movement we all belong to.
This year’s theme is Unity in Community. It reflects our belief in reaching within Houston for strength, support, and partnership. We are committed to building a coalition grounded in connection, because now more than ever, unity is essential. Houston is known for its strength in diversity and its ability to come together when times are tough. That legacy inspires us to lead with hope and determination.
Across Texas, LGBTQIA+ rights remain under attack. In response, we must stand together to protect transgender youth and adults, educate our communities, and strengthen the partnerships that fuel our collective progress. Our presence tonight reaffirms our commitment to that mission.
This dinner is more than a celebration. It is a reminder that lasting change requires all of us. Please take a moment to thank the sponsors seated near you — their support helps make this evening possible. But the true power of tonight lies in the stories shared and the connections made with those beside you and across the room. Everyone here plays a role in shaping a more just and inclusive future.
To our volunteers, HRC staff, members, donors, and the Westin Galleria, thank you for your dedication. You are the heart of this movement. In this room, we are the ones making a difference.
Together, we rise. Together, we are stronger. Together, we embody Unity in Community
With gratitude,
Christyna
Lewis, Ben Rubio, Gia Montalto
The 2025 HRC Houston Dinner Co-Chairs
At PNC, we’re proud to live and work among the people and organizations that dedicate themselves to making our communities brilliant.
Brandon Wolf is a nationally recognized advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights and gun safety and a survivor of the 2016 shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub. He is a frequent face on MSNBC and CNN, and an opinion contributor in Oprah Daily, Newsweek, USA Today, and others. Brandon has graced the cover of Dazed Magazine and LGBTQ publications nationwide, having been named one of the Logo TV’s 30 LGBTQ Changemakers, Huffington Post’s 30 LGBTQ Influencers under 30 and Out Magazine’s 100 Most Influential LGBTQ People.
He was a national surrogate for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Presidential Campaign and an advisory committee member for President Biden’s General Election bid. In 2019, he became the first survivor of the Pulse tragedy to testify before Congress and was returned in 2022 to testify on the rise of anti-LGBTQ hate violence before the House Oversight Committee. Brandon is a co-founder of The Dru Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers safe spaces in schools for LGBTQ youth, and currently serves as National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign.
His debut memoir, “A Place for Us”, was released in July 2023 and became an instant bestseller.
Congresswoman Julie Johnson comes to Washington from the Texas House of Representatives where she has served three terms since 2018. Johnson previously served on the state’s Insurance and Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committees. She was named the 2019 ‘Freshman of the Year’; by Texas Monthly, ‘Champion of Medicine’ by the Texas Medical Association, and given the ‘Big Voices for Little Texans’ Award by Texas CASA.
During her time in the Texas legislature, she passed 108 bills with a focus on patient protection, and insurance reform. Johnson also authored the first bipartisan Medicaid expansion bill in Texas history. In March of 2024, Johnson won her 10-way primary election without a runoff to become the Democratic nominee for Texas Congressional District 32 and was elected to represent District 32 on November 5th, 2024, with over 60% of the vote.
She is the first openly gay member of Congress from the South and the first woman to ever represent District 32. In Congress, Rep. Johnson wants to continue the fight for consumer protection and expanding access within our healthcare system.
As seen on TBS, ABC, LOGO, and Last Comic Standing, veteran comedian Dana Goldberg is a force of nature on stage. With performances at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, The Comedy Festival produced by TBS and HBO, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland; her quick wit and playful stage presence have her earning loyal fans across the country and abroad.
A crowd favorite, Goldberg has become a triple threat combining her comedy, hosting, and live auction talents to become one of the most sought after entertainers on the circuit. Voted one of the “Top Five Funniest Lesbians In America,” Curve magazine raves, “Goldberg is one of the brightest lights in a stellar comedy landscape.” Advocate.com named Goldberg one of the top three LGBT comedians in the nation.
In addition to headlining clubs, theaters and festivals around the country, Goldberg has performed at and emceed dozens of high profile events and has shared the national stage with luminaries such as President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, Meryl Streep, Katy Perry, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lopez, Carol Burnett, Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey, Shonda Rhimes, and many more.
Combining her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts, Goldberg has raised over 20 million dollars for non-profits around the country in the fight for marriage equality, LGBT rights, women’s health, and HIV and AIDS education and prevention. As the youngest child in a single parent household run by a Jewish mother in which two of three kids are gay, Goldberg helps keep most of the comedy venues and half of the psychotherapists in the country in business.
For more information on Dana Goldberg visit www.danagoldberg.com
Along life’s journey, let’s travel together.
American Airlines is a longstanding partner of the Human Rights Campaign.
American is a proud advocate for LGBTQ rights in Washington DC and beyond.
TAMMI WALLACE
Co-Founder, President & CEO
Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
Tammi Wallace (she|her) is a Co-Founder and the President & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Her passion for economic inclusion focused on the LGBTQ+ Business Community has been a driving force in the Chamber’s growth since the launch of the organization in 2016. In recognition of the progress made in advancing the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce’s strategic goals and the need to dedicate resources to achieve the longer-term vision for the organization, the Board of Directors named Tammi to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer to lead, manage, and execute day-to-day operations. This appointment recognized Tammi’s many years of volunteer work with the Chamber behind the scenes
at the local, state, and national levels, where she has been dedicated to bringing visibility to the LGBTQ+ Business Community.
Previously, Tammi was the Chief Growth Officer at KIPP Houston Public Schools. Prior to her role at KIPP, Tammi served as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager to former Texas State Representative Ellen Cohen. She has also served as the CoFounder and Executive Director of the Houston Equal Rights Alliance (HERA), a nonprofit focused on voter education, coalition building and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, Tammi has over twelve years of experience in the financial services industry where she worked as Vice President for Bank of America/NationsBank, Project Manager at CheckFree Corporation, and Assistant Vice President at Mellon Mortgage.
Tammi utilizes her cross-sector experience to make a difference through her community involvement with various organizations. Currently, Tammi serves on the board of the Hollyfield Foundation and Montrose Management District as well as on the National LGBT Chamber (NGLCC) Affiliate Chamber Leadership Council representing the Southern region. In 2016, she was appointed by Mayor Sylvester Turner to serve on the City of Houston’s first LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and in 2021 to serve on the inaugural Houston Women’s Commission.
In 2022, she was appointed by Harris County Commissioner’s Court to serve on the inaugural
Harris County Women’s Commission. Tammi is a past member of the Victory Fund Campaign Board and she co-chaired the 2015 and 2016 Victory Fund Houston Champagne Brunch resulting in record-breaking fundraising to help elect LGBTQ+ candidates across the country.
Tammi has been a leader in the LGBTQ+ community for over two decades. She has been recognized by the Houston Business Journal as a Diversity in Business Awards Honoree. In 2019, she was recognized by BEQ magazine as a Legacy Leader in the LGBTQ+ community. Tammi has been recognized as OutSmart Magazine’s Gayest & Greatest Award for Female Business Person, Most Prominent Female Activist and Favorite Female
Community Hero and she was named Female Grand Marshal of the Houston Pride Parade in 2011 in recognition of her leadership and activism on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.
STEPHEN MIRANDA Board Chair
Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
Stephen Miranda is a Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor with Bank of America Private Bank in Houston, Texas. He works closely with high net worth individuals, families, and institutions around
the country to build and execute comprehensive wealth planning strategies. He leads a team of specialists to develop customized credit, portfolio management, trust and estate planning, banking, philanthropy, and nonprofit advisory solutions, and partners with Bank of America’s Global Commercial and Business Banking groups to provide holistic advice and comprehensive support for business owners and C-suite executives, and their companies.
With an early professional background in Strategic Non-Profit Management, Stephen regularly collaborates with the Private Bank’s Philanthropic Strategy Team, a group of 150 specialists that provide internal consulting and management support for nonprofit organizations and foundations, to assist emerging and established institutions as they scale and expand their impact – as well as advising individuals and families as they work to define and distribute their charitable legacy in a tax prudent manner.
Prior to joining Bank of America, Stephen was a Vice President with JP Morgan. He is a native Houstonian, a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma, and an Eagle Scout.
In addition to his professional commitments, Stephen serves on the Houston Advisory Board for Shelters to Shutters – a national organization that transitions individuals and families out of homelessness to economic self-sufficiency by providing full time employment, housing, and career training – and on the Board of Directors of the JD Doyle Archives, one of the largest independent LGBTQ+ historical collections in the world. He is an active member of Bank of America’s PRIDE Employee Resource Group, the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and recently completed his term on the Board of Trustees of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, the oldest LGBT civil rights organization in the South, where he continues to be an active voice for change.
Google is proud to support the Human Rights Campaign in a shared pursuit of building a world where everyone belongs.
Lyft supports safer spaces, and all the humans who inhabit them.
That’s
We believe that embracing inclusivity and authenticity changes the narrative for everyone.
That's why we've been proudly supporting the Human Rights Campaign since 2009. Our commitment to create brighter futures with bold representation for all. macysinc.com/purpose
The most impactful way to support H RC is through a monthly gift, because you will help fuel HRC’s fight for FULL equality all year long.
Your ongoing monthly support will provide critical resources to fight back against anti-LG BTQ+ bills, expand and protect our pro-equality Congress, invest more deeply in our grassroots efforts with strategic organizing in key districts, keep pressure to pass the Equality Act in Congress and continue to show up and fight for the multiply marginalized in our community and country.
Thank you for supporting H RC and for staying with us in the fight. Together, we are an unstoppable force for change!
pfizer.com/about/responsibility/human-rights
Transgender and non-binary people are your neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends. And when you or your friends and family are the targets of hate, violence and discrimination, you act.
The Human Rights Campaign is actively working to advocate for the rights and lives of the transgender and non-binary community–but we all must do more–can we count you in?
As LGBTQ+ people and allies, we have a responsibility to fight for EVERYONE in our movement. Now is the time to get loud, get visible, and spread awareness on behalf of transgender and non-binary people. So please take the actions below–but don’t stop there.
The more people who show they care, including allies and trans and non-binary people who speak up for the most marginalized in our community, the more hearts and minds we will change.
Sign the Pledge and Impact Change
The first step in voicing your support for the trans and non-binary community is to sign your name to the Count Me In pledge. By taking this action, you’re sending a message that you vow to go out of your way to raise awareness and uplift the lives of our trans and non-binary friends and family.
Provide Inclusive Books to an At-Need Library
Your contribution will provide a set of three books to a Title 1 school or community library serving multiply marginalized populations across the country.
Contact State Legislators
State legislatures are attacking LGBTQ+ folks, particularly trans people, left and right. Show antiequality legislators that we won’t tolerate any more bullying and discrimination.
Request and Show Off Your Sticker
Display your special edition HRC sticker on your car, laptop, water bottle — no matter where you put it, you’ll be saying you support our trans community.
Spread the Word On Social Media
Post these image shares on your social media channels and update your profile photos and let your networks know you believe in a more just and equitable world for trans folks — full stop.
Share a Voice Message of Support
State legislatures are targeting trans kids. Text HEART to 472-472 to share a public message of support for trans youth and show you’re fighting for them.
(Msg&dataratesmayapply. Recurring msgs. TxtSTOP2quit. HELP4info.)
Let Kids Play
Rebekah is a 14-year-old girl who loves school, reading, hanging out with her friends and playing field hockey. But lawmakers across the country are trying to pass laws that would prohibit Rebekah from playing sports with other girls.
Wear Your Support
From T-shirts to pins to socks to masks, you can show off your support for trans equality no matter where you are, who you’re with or what you’re doing.
Transgender Justice eNewsletter
Stay up to date on our Transgender Justice Initiative and what we’re doing to dismantle stigma and end the epidemic of violence against trans and gender non-conforming people.
99%
49% of CEI-rated employers allow employees the option to selfidentify as LGBTQ+ in anonymous employee engagement surveys or as part of data collection on confidential employee forms or in the HRIS system.
94 %
2021 CEI… major employers have adopted workplace gender transition guidelines.
87% of CEI-rated employers explicitly include gender identity as a part of their non-discrimination policy.
OF FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES have non-discrimination protections that include gender identity, UP FROM 3% IN 2002.
Over its 19-year history, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index has been the driving force for the adoption of equitable workplace policies, practices and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in the United States and beyond. Participating companies know that building an LGBTQ+-inclusive workplace is not just the right thing to do, it is also the best business decision and allows companies to attract, retain and engage top talent. Their commitment to building inclusion has only strengthened over the past year, with a re
of c
91%
of all CEI-rated businesses offer transgenderinclusive health insurance coverage, up from 0 in 2002 and 22 times as many businesses as 12 years ago.
600+ of all CEI-rated businesses offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage while also eliminating blanket exclusions for medically necessary care in all other employer-sponsored plans.
This year, celebrate your loved ones, holidays or other special occasions by giving the gift of equality! Gift a membership to the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, host a fundraiser to benefit our work, sign up for our wedding registry or donate in someone’s memory! Each donation includes an HRC membership and furthers the fight for full LGBTQ+ equality.
GIVE A MEMBERSHIP GOAL HRC MEMBER
HOST A FUNDRAISER FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, GRADUATION, PRIDE OR MO RE .. .
DONATE YOUR WEDDING REGISTRY
GIV E TH E GIF
FLY A FLAG
FOR HOLIDAYS & SPECIAL OCCASIO NS
DONATE IN HONOR OR ME MO RY O F SOMEONE
Celebrating a special occasion and looking to further LGBTQ+ equality? Join our over 3 million supporters today by giving the gift of membership, hosting a fundraiser, donating your wedding registry to HRC and more!
ACLU
ADM
ADOBE
AIRBNB
AIRBUS
ALBERTSONS
AMAZON
ANONYMOUS
ASSURANT
BAKER HUGES
BANK OF AMERICA
BLACK TIE DINNER, INC
BRIGHTHOUSE FINANCIALS
CARMAX
CENTENE
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC
COCA-COLA FOUNDATION, THE COMIC RELIEF
COLLINGWOOD FOUNDATION
CVS HEALTH
DANAHER FOUNDATION
DAVID BOHNETT FOUNDATION
ENOVA INTERNATIONAL
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY
FORTIVE FOUNDATION
FRED SAYS
GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.
JPMORGAN CHASE
KORS LE PERE FOUNDATION, THE KROLL
LEGO
LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
LYFT, INC
MARSH & MCLENNAN AGENCY
MCDONALDS
MORNINGSTAR FOUNDATION, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
NESTLE
NIKE
PEPSICO FOUNDATION, THE PFIZER
PhRMA
PRETIUM
PRONOUN
PwC
RESET TECH
RTX
S&P GLOBAL
SEMPRA
SPRINGPOINT
PARTNERS
TJX COMPANIES
THE HOME DEPOT
T-MOBILE
TOYOTA
UNITED AIRLINES
UPS FOUNDATION
US BANK
USAA
VANGUARD
VERIZON
VIIV HEALTHCARE
WALT DISNEY COMPANY
WELLS FARGO
WELLSPRING
WORKDAY FOUNDATION
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to care for their families, earn a living and live open, honest and safe lives at home, at work and in the community. The HRC Foundation is a non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
You belong. You have all along.
We are LGBTQ+. We are Salesforce. And we won’t rest until there is #EqualityForAll.
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The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. Since 1980, we have been fighting for a better future for LGBTQ+ Americans. We are now working tirelessly to pass the Equality Act, which will soon head to the U.S. Senate for consideration, fight back against a multitude of anti-LGBTQ+ legis-lation in states nationwide and ensure everyone in our community is treated with dignity and respect. While our opponents are emboldened and on the attack, the Human Rights Campaign and our grass-roots army of more than 3.2 million members and supporters are energetically defending the rights we’ve gained and ramping up our fight for full equality across the board.
The alarming spate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country in 2020 has continued to surge in 2021. These include bills that would prohibit transgender youth from receiving genderaffirming care and bills that would prohibit transgender youth from participating in sports. This wave of anti-transgender legislation harkens back to the surge of anti-transgender bathroom bills that hit state legislatures in 2016, including North Carolina’s HB2. We remain committed to aggressively fighting these threats to equality by those who seek to undermine our rights. HRC will do whatever it takes to protect the rights and fundamental equality of every LGBTQ+ person in this country.
Public Education & Research produces written resources and conducts original quantitative and qualitative research exploring the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people.
Global Partnerships provides capacity-building and leadership development opportunities to LGBTQ+ advocates from around the world to strengthen movements and advance global LGBTQ+ equality.
HBCU Program is the only national project that partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities on establishing an LGBTQ+-inclusive campus climate.
HRC’s decades-long work to build political power has uniquely positioned us to reach LGBTQ+ and ally voters who prioritize equality on the ballot, also known as Equality Voters. HRC has identified 57 million Equality Voters nationwide who, if they turn out to vote, will support pro-equality candidates. HRC’s early and sustained year-round engagement in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin bolstered historic turnout in 2018 and 2020 producing pro-equality outcomes at every level of government. In 2019, HRC’s mobilization of Equality Voters in Virginia, where lawmakers had repeatedly blocked proequality bills over many years, produced groundbreaking progress for LGBTQ+ Americans in the South. These victories led to the Virginia Values Act becoming law, making Virginia the first state in the South to advance statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.
Health & Aging provides resources and training to help thousands of healthcare facilities adopt inclusive policies and practices to better serve LGBTQ+ patients and employees.
HIV & Health Equity develops public education and capacitybuilding programs to address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latinx communities.
Religion & Faith provides faith leaders with opportunities and tools to stand up for equality even as opponents attempt to weaponize faith against LGBTQ+ people.
The HRC Foundation improves the lives LGBTQ+ people by building understanding and shaping the public debate of LGBTQ+ people and the challenges they face through innovative research and public education campaigns. We also change the policies and practices in the institutions that shape our everyday lives (hospitals, schools, workplaces, and more) and empower strategic partners, community advocates, and allies through convenings and capacity-building. Guided by these theories of change and seeking to prioritize work impacting those who are multiply marginalized, we have 11 cuttingedge programs advancing equality in the U.S. and beyond.
All Children - All Families is the only national program dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion in child welfare (foster care and adoption agencies) that provides resource development, technical assistance and training.
Transgender Justice Initiative leads economic empowerment programs, capacity-building initiatives, community engagement efforts, and public safety education campaigns that combat the discrimination faced by transgender people.
Welcoming Schools is the only bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+-specific training and resources with an intersectional lens, developed for use in elementary schools.
Workplace Equality advances equality for LGBTQ+ workers through the adoption and implementation of inclusive policies, practices, and benefits in the U.S. and beyond.
Youth Well-Being provides professional development to over 5,000 youth-serving professionals annually, through the annual Time to THRIVE conference, webinars, participation at major national convenings, and by amplifying the stories of HRC Youth Ambassadors. The program also convenes HRC’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council.
We all have ambitions. And working together, valuing each other and respecting our uniqueness creates the best environment for us to achieve them.
Our ambition is bold, to help the world get to net zero by 2050 or sooner. That’s why we value diversity and put being inclusive at the heart of how we operate. It’s also why we’re recognized as a top employer by the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
If that sounds like a culture you would thrive in, explore bp.com/careers
Power on with luxury and capability to answer any invitation that comes your way. From a night out in the city with your chosen family, to a stargazing camping trip with man’s best friend, the Lexus GX is built for it all.
For change to happen, someone must challenge the status quo. We’re proud to support the work of the Human Rights Campaign and use our voice to uplift those left behind and those on their way, ensuring everyone has the right and advantage to fully participate in the global economy.
MGM Resorts International has a longstanding commitment of supporting the LBGTQ+ community. Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts in our workplace, policies and operations, MGM Resorts is proud to be the first in the gaming and hospitality industry to offer same-sex health benefits and has expanded supplier relationships to include LGBTQ+-owned businesses. From the casino floor to corporate headquarters, MGM Resorts strives to stand out as one of the leading companies for workplace equality and has pledged a corporate responsibility to providing resources for EVERYONE to live and thrive as their authentic selves. MGM Resorts proudly supports the Human Rights Campaign.
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