Gay Today: World

Democratic Vice-presidential Nominee
to Speak at HRC

Compiled By GayToday

Democratic vice presidental candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman

Washington, D.C.--Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., will deliver the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign's fourth annual National Dinner on Saturday, October 7, at the Hilton Washington and Towers Hotel. His wife, Hadassah, will join him.

"As the first vice-presidential nominee of Jewish faith, Joseph Lieberman has broken an important barrier that will benefit all people," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director.

"We look forward to joining him on his historic journey as he continues to accompany us in our journey to ensure equality and justice for gay and lesbian Americans."

According to HRC, Lieberman has a 100-percent voting record in the 106th Congress. The two-term U.S. senator and former state attorney from Connecticut is a lead sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

He also is a co-sponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Lieberman cast affirmative votes for HCPA in June and ENDA in 1996. HCPA would extend current federal hate crimes protection--which covers race, religion, color and national origin--to include gender, sexual orientation and disability and serve as a tool to assist local law enforcement officials with federal assistance, when necessary, in the investigation and prosecutions of hate crimes.

In addition, Lieberman has consistently supported people living with HIV/AIDS and has co-sponsored the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency Act, providing funds to local communities combating HIV/AIDS.

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Also, NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume and the NAACP will receive the HRC National Civil Rights Award for their outstanding leadership and support of gay and lesbian civil rights.

Max Mutchnick, co-creator and co-executive producer of the Emmy award-winning television show Will & Grace, will receive the HRC National Equality Award.

Eric McCormack, Emmy nominee and star of Will & Grace, will join Mutchnick at the fundraising gala, which marks HRC's 20th anniversary. HRC National Dinner sponsors are:

E*Trade, Recording Industry Association of America, Shell, Viacom, IBM, IKEA, Image First and Ovations, Alignment Strategies, Blink Optical, SEIU and UAW.

National Corporate sponsors include American Airlines, PlanetOut, Verizon and Gay.com. Two years ago, Al Gore became the first vice president to attend the HRC annual event.

In 1997, Bill Clinton made history by attending the first HRC National Dinner and becoming the first sitting president to participate in a gay and lesbian civil rights event.

Co-chairs Timothy Mahoney and Mirian Saez will host this year's dinner.

To order tickets, contact: www.BoxOfficeTickets.com or call (800) 494-8497.