2010 Award Recipient Press Release
Media Contacts:
Ed Patterson 404-213-3106
edvol@bellsouth.net
David Grabert 678-592-2258
david.grabert@cox.com
Bravo’s Andy Cohen, Rep. Simone Bell and Vandy Beth Glenn to be Honored at the Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner
ATLANTA, April 12, 2010—The Human Rights Campaign has announced that Bravo’s Andy Cohen, Executive Producer of the hit show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” will be awarded HRC’s National Visibility Award. Cohen will join Georgia State Representative Simone Bell, recipient of the Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award and Vandy Beth Glenn, recipient of the Leon Allen and Winston Johnson Community Service Award.
Cohen is being recognized with the HRC Visibility Award for his visibility in the media as a gay American. As the SVP of Original Programming and Production for Bravo, and the host of “Watch What Happens: Live”, Cohen has selected shows and characters that portray LGBT Americans as everyday people thus bringing our cause and our community into mainstream America. Through his work, Cohen is changing hearts and minds of people across the country, bringing us all closer to full equality.
Cohen is responsible for overseeing the network's current development and production slate of over two dozen shows, including the Emmy and James Beard award-winning "Top Chef," "The Real Housewives of Orange County, New York City, Atlanta and New Jersey," "Shear Genius," "The Millionaire Matchmaker," "Million Dollar Listing," and "Flipping Out." In addition, Cohen is the host of “Watch What Happens: Live," Bravo’s late night, interactive, weekly talk show that features guests from some of Bravo's most popular series, as well as from the world of entertainment, politics and pop culture.
Simone Bell is the recipient of the Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award. Rep. Bell serves State House District 58 in the Georgia General Assembly and is the first out African-American lesbian to serve in any state house in the nation. A native of Detroit, Bell has been a resident of Atlanta for 21 years. She’s a graduate of Agnes Scott College and a community organizer. She’s worked as an activist and advocate in Atlanta and across the South and served as a community educator and community builder for more than 20 years with Emory Healthcare, ZAMI, The Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative and Lambda Legal. During that time she’s worked on many policy and legislative issues including workplace equality, access to affordable healthcare, fighting HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, safe schools for all children, youth empowerment, equality, LGBT rights, women’s issues, healthcare and issues of social justice, human rights and fairness.
Vandy Beth Glenn is recognized as the Leon Allen and Winston Johnson Community Leadership Award recipient. Lambda Legal represents Glenn, a transgender woman, in a federal lawsuit against Georgia Assembly officials who fired her after she stated her intention to live as a woman. Last fall, Glenn testified before Congress in support of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Each honoree will be recognized for their influence in the LGBT community on Saturday, May 1 at the 23rd Annual HRC Atlanta Gala Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. For more information on the award winners, dinner, purchasing tickets, and donating to the silent auction, please visit http://www.atlantahrcdinner.org
About The Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of more than more than 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. For more information about The Human Rights Campaign please visit http://www.hrc.org
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GA Voice Spotlights the Dinner Committee
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Atlanta's Dinner Committee Voted Best in the Nation
Committee achieves award for two consecutive years
Awarded to an HRC Dinner Committee that excelled in all areas of teamwork and partnership and collectively worked together to make their local dinner a success, the Dinner Committee of the Year award was presented to several of the 15 members from Atlanta at HRC's Equality Convention in Washington D.C. on March 5.
"This dinner committee works hard all year long," said Richard Gagliano, event manager for Human Rights Campaign. "They literally begin planning their dinner a week following the conclusion of the last dinner, and are true partners with their event manager every step of the way. They know how to recruit new members to join the committee and they know how to mentor these new volunteers to continue to be engaged with the work of HRC. This Dinner Committee of the Year sets the bar high. Please congratulate Atlanta!"
22nd Annual Human Rights Campaign a Huge Success!
900 guests enjoyed a inspiring comments from National Ally for Equality Awards winners Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole and Cybill Shepherd. Dr. Cole was introduced by WSB-TV's Monica Pearson who stunned the audience with her beautiful singing voice!
YouthPride was presented with the Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award and Officer Dani Lee Harris accepted the Leon Allen & Winston Johnson Community Leadership Award.