2026 HRC New England Dinner Program Book

SUSTAINING DINNER SPONSOR

*Updated as of 03/13/2026

as of 03/13/26

WELCOME LETTER

Welcome to the 43rd Annual HRC New England Dinner and Auction! On behalf of the HRC New England Steering and Dinner Committees, we are honored to have you with us tonight.

Our theme for this evening is Community = Power.

Change has never come from one voice alone. It comes from communities that stand together, uplift one another, and refuse to be silent in the face of injustice. When we gather like this, supporting, celebrating, and organizing, we remind the world that our collective strength is unstoppable.

Community = Power—

• When we defend our right to live openly and authentically.

• When we support policies that protect equality and reject discrimination in all its forms.

• When we uplift and amplify the voices of those most marginalized within our community.

• When we advocate for accurate and affirming representation in our schools, workplaces, and government.

• When we stand together—knowing that progress is built through solidarity, courage, and care for one another.

While our community continues to face challenges from rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation to acts of violence and discrimination, we remain resilient. The work supported tonight, and the action we take beyond this evening, helps ensure that progress continues and that our community remains strong.

Tonight you will hear from inspiring advocates whose work reflects the true power of community. Their stories remind us that when we come together across identities, generations, and experiences. We create a movement capable of real and lasting change.

As we look ahead to the year to come, let us continue building spaces where everyone is seen, valued, and protected because when we invest in one another, stand together, and lift each other up, our community becomes our greatest power.

Thank you for being here tonight and for being part of this movement.

Yours in Equality,

NATIONAL PRESS SECRETARY, HRC SPEAKER

BRANDON WOLF

Brandon Wolf is a nationally recognized advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights and gun safety and a survivor of the 2016 shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub. He is a frequent face on MSNBC and CNN, and an opinion contributor in Oprah Daily, Newsweek, USA Today, and others. Brandon has graced the cover of Dazed Magazine and LGBTQ publications nationwide, having been named one of the Logo TV’s 30 LGBTQ Changemakers, Huffington Post’s 30 LGBTQ Influencers under 30 and Out Magazine’s 100 Most Influential LGBTQ People.

He was a national surrogate for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Presidential Campaign and an advisory committee member for President Biden’s General Election bid. In 2019, he became the first survivor of the Pulse tragedy to testify before Congress and was returned in 2022 to testify on the rise of anti-LGBTQ hate violence before the House Oversight Committee. Brandon is a co-founder of The Dru Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers safe spaces in schools for LGBTQ youth, and currently serves as National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign.

His debut memoir, “A Place for Us”, was released in July 2023 and became an instant bestseller.

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

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PAPPAS

Chris Pappas knows what it means to serve because he’s done it his whole life.

Before Congress Chris ran his family’s 108-year-old landmark restaurant business in Manchester, working shoulder-to-shoulder with staff and serving generations of Granite Staters. He has brought that same work ethic to politics when he saw a system that wasn’t working for everyday people.

Chris served three terms on New Hampshire’s Executive Council, where he fought to expand Medicaid, invest in renewable energy, and protect funding for Planned Parenthood.

Since 2018 Chris has held one of the most competitive Congressional seats in the country by focusing on delivering results for Granite Staters. In Congress Chris has taken on the tough fights: pushing tax cuts for working families and small businesses, cracking down on predatory companies that target veterans and pollute our water, and standing up to Big Pharma to lower drug costs. He’s earned a reputation as a pragmatic problem solver who puts people first and never backs down from a fight.

The descendant of Greek immigrants, Chris attended public schools in Manchester before graduating from Harvard. He made history as the first out gay person to represent New Hampshire in Congress. In Washington, Chris is known as someone who brings people together and does what it takes to make a difference. In the Senate he’ll keep standing up to political extremists and special interests who threaten our democracy, our economy, and our way of life. Chris lives in Manchester with his husband, Vann. They enjoy running, playing competitive board games, and spending time with their nieces, nephews, and extended family.

JEREMY GREER TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Jeremy Greer originally from Houston, Texas, began dancing at the age of 8. He trained across multiple genres of dance and had the opportunity to work with many guest artists to set and perform both new and classical works. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Christian University’s School for Classical & Contemporary Dance engaged in courses centering around dance technique, choreography, dance pedagogy, anatomy, technical theatre and dance on film. Upon graduation, he taught dance classes in many styles and supported in the success of multiple competition dance teams at multiple studios in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He has also traveled across the state of Texas to teach guest classes and set choreography for both competitive dance studios and drill teams. Jeremy now resides outside Boston, Massachusetts where he dances as a New England Patriots Cheerleader, with whom he just attended Super LX.

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

WILLIAM SHERR

William Sherr is a public school leader and advocate for creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments for all students. He serves on both the Pelham School Committee and the Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee, where he is Vice Chair of both bodies and chairs the Joint Policy Subcommittee. He is also an ambassador for the Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools program.

A former teacher, William believes deeply in the power of education to build inclusive communities where every child feels respected and supported. He served for nine years on the Board of Directors of Family Equality, helping guide the organization’s growth and fundraising efforts, including raising millions of dollars through its signature Pier events in New York City.

William and his husband, Estevan, a physician and health care leader, adopted three children and fostered twenty one others over the years. With their youngest now a freshman in college, William is beginning to explore what the next chapter of service and advocacy may look like.

He is honored to support efforts that help schools create environments where every student feels safe, valued, and able to learn.

He and his husband reside in Pelham, Massachusetts and Bennington, Vermont.

RAYA SUNSHINE SPECIAL GUESTS

Brighten up your day with Raya Sunshine! HRC is thrilled to welcome Raya Sunshine, one of New England’s premier drag queens, as a special guest and program participant! Raya is the winner of DSDivas and Miss Gay Granite State 2024.

DJ BEARKILLA

Get ready to hit the dance floor because this year’s HRC New England Dinner is bringing the energy with DJ Bearkilla behind the decks!

Hailing from the wilds of New Hampshire Bearkilla has been spinning professionally since 2012 and has built a reputation across New England for keeping crowds moving. From packed clubs and major festivals to rare appearances at Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park, he knows exactly how to create a night people remember.

You may have even heard his sets at Live Nation VIP Parties for artists like Madonna, Jay Z & Beyonce, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Florida Georgia Line and many others.

Originally a classically trained violinist, Bearkilla blends deep musical knowledge with an openformat DJ style that lets him read the room and play exactly what the crowd needs. Translation: expect a little bit of everything and a whole lot of dancing.

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.

Together, we soar

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are committed to the communities we serve.

Proud to support Human Rights Campaign.

The HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN salutes our National Partners based in the NEW ENGLAND area.

THANK YOU

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