Shonda Rhimes, Lena Waithe To Be Honored At Human Rights Campaign Dinner
Shonda Rhimes and Lena Waithe are set to be honored by the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner. The commemoration will occur on Oct. 14, 2023, at DC’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Variety reports that the two women and actor Matt Bomer will be awarded select accolades. The HRC will also celebrate Libby Gonzales, Hobbes Chukumba, Grayson McFerrin, Daniel Trujillo, and the organizers behind Trans Youth Prom.
The Bridgerton executive producer will be awarded the National Equality Award for her measures in fighting for the LBGTQ community. Shonda spoke about receiving the honor in an official press release. “I am honored to be receiving this award from an organization that does so much to combat oppression, exclusion, and hate,” she said. “I am proud to be an ally in this fight.”
Waithe will be celebrated with the Visibility Award, observing the multi-hyphenate as an LGBTQ+ leader authentically living her life. Lena spoke about her identity and being celebrated for refusing to live her life by other people’s standards. “Centering the intersection of queerness and Blackness has been at the forefront of my work and drives me to continue to share Black queer stories for myself, my community and the world,” she expressed. “I am unapologetically Black, queer and a woman—telling intersectional stories that spotlight our authentic experiences is a crucial path towards a future where equal protection and equal opportunity is not a privilege, but a guarantee.”
Matt Bomer will be given the Impact Award and stated that he is “honored” to be recognized as a champion for his community. “I am honored to receive the Impact Award from the Human Rights Campaign,” the White Collar actor said. “LGBTQ+ people are facing an all-out assault on our basic rights—putting us in harm’s way and trying to push us out of the public eye. But we won’t go back. There is still so much more to be done to reach equality for the LGBTQ+ community, and I’m so grateful to have HRC as a partner in this advocacy work.”
Along with the National Dinner, the Human Rights Campaign will hold the Equality Convention a day before the celebration. The outlet reports that the Equality Convention will “bring together political and cultural voices… leaders from across the country.”
Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign president, offered thoughts on the October event. Robinson stated that the weekend would be a moment to “bask in the beauty of what it means to be queer.”
“This weekend will be about convening bold, dynamic and powerful voices in a pivotal time for the LGBTQ+ movement—Shonda, Lena and Matt are pioneers in their field and deserve to be celebrated for the immeasurable contributions they’ve made to the LGBTQ+ community. And with next generation leaders like Libby, Grayson, Daniel and Hobbes, I know our future is brighter than ever,” Robinson said.
“The National Dinner is a time to bask in the beauty of what it means to be queer, but also to clearly communicate to our community, and the world, how we must intentionally show up for the year ahead of us. The LGBTQ+ community is living in a state of emergency—full stop. It is up to all of us to combat this hate and show anti-LGBTQ+ extremists the growing power of our community—and in 2024, the unharnessed power of the LGBTQ+ vote.”
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