*Updated as of 05/29/2026 THANK YOU
PLATINUM
BENEFACTOR
PATRON
A LETTER FROM OUR CHAIRS
Since 1983, the Human Rights Campaign Columbus Dinner has stood as a beacon of hope and determination in our fight for equality; the Columbus dinner is one of the longest running HRC dinners nationwide. For four plus decades, we have gathered to celebrate our community, acknowledge our challenges, and recommit ourselves to the vital work that lies ahead.
What began with a small group of courageous visionaries has grown into a powerful force for change. Over these 40+ years, we have witnessed extraordinary progress: marriage equality, workplace protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, and rising acceptance across our nation. We have seen our community emerge from the shadows to live openly and authentically, building families, pursuing careers, and contributing to every facet of society.
Yet as we celebrate this remarkable journey, we cannot ignore the harsh reality of our current moment. The progress we have fought so hard to achieve continues to be under attack, with many attempts to roll back all the progress we’ve made. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is being introduced at alarming rates across the country. Our transgender community faces particular scrutiny and danger. Healthcare restrictions, book and drag bans, and attacks on diversity programs threaten the very foundation of the inclusive society we’ve worked to build.
In these difficult times, your presence here tonight means everything. Your commitment to equality, your financial support, and your unwavering solidarity reminds us that we are not alone in this fight. The funds we raise this evening are more crucial than ever – they fuel HRC’s advocacy efforts, support legal challenges to discriminatory laws, and provide resources to those on the front lines of this battle.
Tonight, we are reminded that our strength has always come from community. The hundreds of supporters gathering here – LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, families, organizations, and businesses – represent the beautiful diversity that makes our movement so powerful. You are living proof that love, acceptance, and equality will always triumph over fear and hatred.
As we look at the people gathered here tonight, we see not just dinner guests, but champions of justice. We see people who refuse to let progress be rolled back. We see a community that stands together, especially when the going gets tough.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for your unwavering support during these challenging times. Thank you for proving, year after year, that Columbus stands firmly on the right side of history.
Tonight, we celebrate our resilience, our community, and our shared commitment to equality. Tomorrow, we continue the fight – stronger and more united than ever.
Yours in Community and Gratitude,
Andy Gammill, Jiamei (JZ) Knox-Zhang, and Sara Knox-Zhang
NIK HARRIS HRC SPEAKER SPEAKER
Nik Harris is a queer, gender non-conforming attorney, activist, and nationally recognized speaker. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Nik earned their undergraduate degree in Political Science from Florida A&M University and their law degree from Florida State University. They are licensed to practice law in both Florida and Washington, D.C.
Nik currently serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States. They previously made history as the first LGBTQ+ Director appointed to a member of the Florida Cabinet, serving under Commissioner Nikki Fried at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Nik’s legal career includes roles as Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Transportation, Prosecutor for the Florida Department of Health, and Assistant Public Defender in Florida’s 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Nik is a certified DEI facilitator through Cornell University and an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) specialist. They have led impactful DEI training sessions for organizations across the country, including the NAACP, General Mills, and the American Bar Association.
Nik was the first Black woman elected as Vice-Chair of HRC’s National Board of Governors and currently serves on the boards of TranInclusive Group and the Broward State Attorney’s Advisory Council. One of their proudest achievements is co-founding Thou Art Woman, an open mic and arts event series uplifting LGBTQ+ women and allies, alongside their close friend and fellow attorney,
G Wright.
In 2022, Nik also co-founded BLINC (Black LGBTQ+ Liberation, Inc.), a nonprofit rooted in South Florida that uplifts and enriches the lives of LGBTQ+ people of color through advocacy, art, and community engagement.
Nik’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including:
2025 City of Atlanta Mayor’s Community Advocate Award
2025 Beta Phi Omega Humanitarian Award
2025 Curve Power List
2025 McDonald’s and Out Magazine National Spotlight Recipient
2025 SunServe Jason Jenkins Tomorrow’s Legacy Award
2023 Our Fund Commitment to a Cause Award
2022 Big of the Year for Broward County through Big Brothers Big Sisters
2021 Harvey Milk Foundation Diversity Honors Award
2020 LGBTQ Leadership Award from the Florida Diversity Council
2019 Women Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award from Ruth’s List Florida
An award-winning Toastmaster and a sought-after national speaker, Nik continues to use their platform to champion equity, resilience, and representation. Through every role, Nik brings their signature mix of grit, grace, and grounded leadership to create space for those historically left out of the conversation.
JORDAN LUCAS SPECIAL GUEST
Jordan Lucas is a rising collegiate volleyball player at Cal State Northridge, known for his athleticism, competitive edge, and strong on-court presence. As a dedicated student-athlete, Jordan brings discipline, consistency, and leadership to every match, making him a standout in the NCAA volleyball landscape.
Off the court, he is building a growing digital presence that authentically connects with a Gen Z audience through sports, lifestyle, and behind-the-scenes content. With a focus on performance, recovery, and personal growth, Jordan is well-positioned to partner with brands looking to align with emerging athletic talent and an engaged, sports-driven audience.
MEGAN KILGORE EQUALITY AWARD
Megan Kilgore made history as the first LGBTQ woman ever elected to Columbus’s executive branch. A fierce advocate for social and economic equity, she has used every platform she’s held to advance the public good and prove that values-driven leadership wins. She has taken that same commitment to the national stage, serving on fundraising committees for both President Biden and Vice President Harris. And now she is taking that boldness to Wall Street as co-head of BKC Group. Her story — as an out LGBTQ elected official in a major American city — is a testament to what becomes possible when we lead with courage.
PFLAG COLUMBUS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD
PFLAG Columbus , is a local chapter of PFLAG National, the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. PFLAG Columbus serves the central Ohio area and is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, not affiliated with any religious or political institutions.
PFLAG Columbus envisions a world where diversity is celebrated, and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed, inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, sex, age, or any human characteristic. We seek to realize this vision by providing support, education and advocacy.
All. Together.
At Apple, we create a culture of collaboration where different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives come together to make something magical and meaningful.
VINCINT PERFORMER
VINCINT has captivated millions across the globe with big-hearted pop music. In 2022 “Higher”, the lead single of their debut album The Will Be Tears, became an anthem for pride celebrations across the world. Since then they’ve had their first North America headline tour, supported MAX on tour, made their Coachella debut and performed to over 40,000 fans across the country. Recently VINCINT has released the first two singles off their forthcoming project, Romance and Take Me Home.
Building a future that belongs to everyone
When everyone’s included, we’re all more likely to succeed. And at JPMorganChase, we’re working toward an equitable, inclusive future for LGBTQ+ communities every single day.
See our impact at jpmorganchase.com/LGBTQ
That's why we've been proudly supporting the Human Rights Campaign since 2009.
macysinc.com/purpose
Morgan Stanley is proud to support the Human Rights Campaign
At Morgan Stanley, diversity is an opportunity — for clients, employees and the firm. Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion is fundamental to our role as a global leader striving for excellence in all that we do. By valuing diverse perspectives, we continue to expand our inclusive culture, focus on our people and deliver innovative solutions to the communities where we live and work.
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!
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WHAT WE DO
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.
ANTI-EQUALITY LEADERS AND LEGISLATION
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.
B U IL DING A ND DEM ONS TR AT ING POLITICAL P OWER
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.
ADVANCING EQUALITY IN OUR DAILY LIVES
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.
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.
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.
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.
Together, we soar
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are committed to the communities we serve.
Proud to support Human Rights Campaign.
GIVE THE GIFT OF EQUALITY
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!
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The HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
salutes our National Partner based in the COLUMBUS area.
THANK YOU
DINSMORE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!