Issuu

2026

GREATER PHILADELPHIA DINNER

2026 SOUTH FLORIDA DINNER

MARCH 7, 2026

SUSTAINING DINNER SPONSOR

*Updated as of 03/06/2026

BRONZE

SILVER

ONE COMMUNITY. ONE VOICE. ONE FUTURE.

A WELCOME FROM THE HRC SOUTH FLORIDA GALA CO-CHAIRS

Dear friends, family, partners, volunteers, and champions of equality,

Tonight, we gather as one community — diverse in identity, culture, faith, background, and lived experience, yet united in purpose.

We raise one voice — clear, courageous, and unwavering in our commitment to dignity, safety, and equality for every LGBTQ+ person.

And together, we build one future — where every person in South Florida and across our nation can live openly, authentically, and without fear.

Welcome to the HRC South Florida Gala.

In a region as vibrant and dynamic as ours, our strength has always come from our diversity. South Florida is a mosaic of cultures and communities — Black, Latinx, Caribbean, immigrant, transgender, nonbinary, queer, allied — each thread essential to the fabric of who we are. When woven together, our stories become power. Our resilience becomes momentum. Our pride becomes action.

We gather this evening at a pivotal moment. While we celebrate progress made through decades of advocacy, we also acknowledge the urgency of the work ahead. Across Florida and throughout the country, LGBTQ+ rights — particularly the rights of transgender and nonbinary people — continue to face serious challenges. Access to affirming healthcare. Protections in schools and workplaces. The right to vote. The right simply to exist safely and visibly.

These issues are not abstract. They are personal. They impact our families, our neighbors, our colleagues, and our children.

And yet — South Florida shows up.

You show up as volunteers who organize and mobilize. You show up as donors and sponsors who fuel this movement.

You show up as advocates who speak truth to power.

You show up as allies who stand shoulder to shoulder with our community.

Because of you, HRC continues to educate, advocate, and defend equality in Florida and nationwide. Because of you, young people see possibility. Families feel supported. Leaders are held accountable. And hope remains stronger than fear.

Tonight is more than a celebration. It is a commitment. Every ticket purchased, every partnership formed, every dollar raised strengthens HRC’s mission and expands our impact in the year ahead.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our Steering Committee, Board of Governors, sponsors, Table Captains, volunteers, and community partners who made this evening possible. Your dedication ensures that this gala is not simply an event — it is a movement grounded in action.

As we celebrate, we invite you to reflect on why you are here. Who are you standing for? What future are we building together? And how will you continue to lend your voice long after tonight ends?

Because when one community speaks with one voice, the future changes.

With pride and gratitude,

Krys Gordon (She/Her)

Jerry McDonald (He/Him)

Scott Lohmann (He/Him)

2026 HRC South Florida Gala Co-Chairs

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.

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

ALLY FOR EQUALITY AWARD

KATIE PHANG

Katie Phang is an independent journalist and trial lawyer. Formerly the host of “The Katie Phang Show” on MSNBC, Katie also has served as a legal contributor/legal correspondent for several media outlets, such as NBC and MSNBC. She has had a front-row seat to some of the most consequential moments in recent history, including the unsealing of multiple criminal indictments against Donald Trump, oral arguments before the United States Supreme Court on presidential immunity, and attending the only criminal trial of an American president.

After several years in mainstream/legacy media, Katie departed cable tv to dive into independent media. Recognizing the importance of fearless, fact-based reporting, Katie launched her own YouTube channel (@katiephangnews) and Substack (@ katiephang), leveraging her experience, including as a trial lawyer for more than 25 years, to provide compelling analysis and commentary on the latest legal and political issues across the globe. She cuts through the spin to deliver accurate, truthful information with the goal of creating an ecosystem of pro-democracy, “highinformation” Americans.

At a time when every minute is critical, Katie pushes for the media to meet the urgency of the moment with the urgency of the message.

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

ROBERT BOO

Robert Boo has invested his passion, humor, vision and professionalism as Chief Executive Officer for The Pride Center at Equality Park since March 2012. His dedication to The Pride Center began much earlier. Robert served as Director of Development for five years (2006 – 2010) and on the 2011 Board of Directors. During his leadership, The Center has expanded service, programs and events for Seniors, LGBT Families, People Living with HIV/AIDS, Women, Couples, People of Color, the Transgender community, and more. As Director of Development, Robert tripled the number of major donors in the Founders Circle, helped quadruple the annual operating budget and launched a multi-million dollar capital campaign. In 2008, The Pride Center, formerly known as The Gay and Lesbian Community Center, purchased a 5+ acre campus with 30,000 square feet of office and meeting space and completed a $1 million renovation of the Alan Edward Schubert Building. Prior to joining The Pride Center team, Robert worked for 23 years with ARAMARK Corporation and Sodexo, USA. Robert traveled extensively for both organizations, working his way up the operational side of the business to Regional and National positions. For over 20 years, The Pride Center has provided a warm, welcoming and safe space – an inclusive home that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ communities and our friends and neighbors in South Florida.

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!

pfizer.com/about/responsibility/human-rights

Target is dedicated to fostering inclusivity for everyone – our team members, guests, supply partners, and the more than 2,000 communities we’re proud to serve.

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!

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.

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