PRESENTING SPONSOR
*Updated as of 03/20/2026
DIAMOND
List current a s of 03/11/26
*Updated as of 03/13/26
WELCOME LETTER
Thank you for joining us for the 2026 HRC North Carolina Dinner—our 30th Anniversary.
This evening marks not only a milestone, but a moment of reckoning. For three decades, this community has stood at the forefront of the fight for dignity, equality, and justice. We gather tonight to honor that legacy—but also to confront, with clarity and resolve, the urgent reality before us.
Because while we celebrate 30 years of progress, we do so in a time when that progress is under coordinated and relentless attack.
Across this nation, a wave of policies and practices seeks to strip LGBTQ+ people of fundamental rights—pushing them out of military service, forcing them from workplaces, denying them healthcare, and attempting to erase them from public life altogether. These actions are not incidental. They are deliberate. They are calculated. And they are fueled by a culture of fear— fear that has led too many to remain silent when their voices are needed most.
Let us be unequivocal: silence has never secured justice. Compliance has never protected the vulnerable. And retreat has never delivered freedom.
But here—within this community, within this movement—we do not yield.
We do not retreat.
We do not quiet ourselves to make others comfortable.
And we will not stand idly by as hard-won rights are dismantled.
At HRC, we meet this moment with conviction equal to the challenge before us. We stand firm in our belief that equality is not negotiable, that dignity is not conditional, and that every person deserves the freedom to live openly, safely, and without apology.
Tonight, we also lift up the extraordinary talent rooted right here in North Carolina. This year’s program features an exceptional group of local artists, performers, and storytellers whose work reflects the depth, resilience, and brilliance of our community. Their presence is more than celebration—it is declaration. A declaration that our voices will be heard, our stories will be told, and our humanity will not be diminished.
As you listen this evening, you will hear from individuals whose courage is not theoretical—it is lived. Their stories are a reminder that progress has always demanded more than belief; it has required action, sacrifice, and an unyielding commitment to one another.
And that is where our power resides.
Not in isolation, but in solidarity.
Not in fear, but in collective courage.
Not in waiting for change—but in creating it.
Thirty years ago, this chapter was founded on the promise of what could be. Today, that promise endures because of what we choose to do—together.
So let us leave here tonight not only inspired, but resolved.
Resolved to speak when others remain silent.
Resolved to act when others hesitate.
Resolved to stand—fully, visibly, and unapologetically—in defense of our community.
Because when we stand together—when we organize, advocate, and serve as a unified force—there is no opposition we cannot overcome, no injustice we cannot dismantle, and no future we cannot claim.
Together, we are not merely participants in this movement—we are its authors.
And together, there is nothing we cannot achieve.
In Equality,
Sarah Castleman & Brian Femminella
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.
DANA GOLDBERG SPECIAL GUEST
COMEDIAN / “OUT 100” HONOREE
As seen on ABC, TBS, and Last Comic Standing, Dana Goldberg is a force of nature on stage. With performances at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, The Comedy Festival produced by TBS and HBO, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, her quick wit and playful stage presence have earned her loyal fans across the world.
In addition to headlining theaters and festivals, Dana has performed at and emceed hundreds of high-profile events, sharing the national stage with luminaries like President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Meryl Streep, Carol Burnett, Sir Elton John and countless others. Combining her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts, Dana has raised over $70M for nonprofits around the country in the fight for LGBTQ rights, women’s health, and HIV/AIDS education and prevention...just to name a few. With over 250,000 followers, Dana was recently named to OutMagazine’s Out100 List, Curve Magazine’s Power List and GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love.
She is the co-host of the top-rated news podcast The Daily Beans (one million monthly downloads) and is currently developing her first TV pilot and one-woman show with Soto Productions (Tony Award winning Suffs The Musical and Laura Benanti’s Nobody Cares).
Learn more at danagoldberg.com and follow Dana on social media: @dgcomedy
FORTUNE FEIMSTER VISIBILITY AWARD
Fortune Feimster is a critically acclaimed comedian, actress, and host known for her upbeat style, unique comedic perspective, and infectious energy. She invites audiences into her world where laughter and love reign supreme.
She is currently in production on the Netflix film The Fifth Wheel, starring alongside Kim Kardashian, Nikki Glaser, and Brenda Song, and directed by Eva Longoria. She will next be seen opposite Will Ferrell in Hawk, Netflix’s upcoming golf comedy series premiering in July 2026, and is currently on her national “Takin’ Care of Biscuits” tour. Most recently, she voiced “Nibbles” in Disney’s Oscar-nominated animated hit Zootopia 2, which grossed $1.8 billion worldwide.
In 2024, her third Netflix comedy special, Fortune Feimster: Crushing It, debuted following the success of her previous specials, Good Fortune (2022) and Sweet & Salty (2020), both of which earned Critics Choice nominations.
In addition to stand-up and acting, Feimster co-hosts the hit podcast Handsome with Tig Notaro and Mae Martin, which has amassed over 20 million downloads since its 2023 launch. In March 2026, Handsome won the Outstanding Podcast award at the GLAAD Media Awards, recognized
for its impact, humor, and meaningful representation. She can also be heard daily on SiriusXM, co-hosting Netflix’s What A Joke with Papa and Fortune.
Feimster first gained national attention as a writer and panelist on E!’s Chelsea Lately. Her television credits include FUBAR (opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger), The Mindy Project, Champions, and Kenan, with guest appearances on Claws, Nora from Queens, and Life in Pieces. Her film credits include Yes Day, Office Christmas Party, and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, along with voice work in The Simpsons, Soul, and Bless the Harts.
Originally from North Carolina, Feimster now resides in Los Angeles.
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
ONE VOICE CHORUS
One Voice is the LGBTQIA and allies chorus of Charlotte. Through artistic excellence, One Voice Chorus works to increase understanding and acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people. Our achievement in choral music enables us to reach diverse groups to overcome mis-perceptions, and to grow personally, both as performers and as leaders in our community. When One Voice Chorus began in 1990, many of our singers were hesitant to print their full names in the concert programs for fear of persecution. Much has changed since then but the LGBT community still does not enjoy full equal rights — and even recent advances are countered by setbacks and intolerance. One Voice exists to present a public face and voice of the LGBT community as we work for social justice.
MACGREGOR VANBEURDEN YOUNG TRAILBLAZER AWARD
MacGregor VanBeurden is a bold and emerging leader in North Carolina’s LGBTQ+ movement, committed to building power in communities too often overlooked. As the founding president of the LGBTQ+ Democrats of Catawba County, he transformed a vision into a dynamic local caucus, raising thousands of dollars for advocacy and launching the Newton Rainbow Festival to expand visibility and belonging in rural Western North Carolina.
He currently serves as the Western North Carolina Representative for the LGBTQ+ Democrats of North Carolina and as the Blue Ridge Regional Director for the Carolina’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, strengthening connections between LGBTQ+ advocates, business leaders, and community partners across the region.
In Charlotte, MacGregor has reimagined fundraising through high-energy community events such as Power to the People and Let Them Eat Cake, raising thousands of dollars for grassroots organizations. His leadership reflects a fearless commitment to shaping a more inclusive and empowered South in a fearless manner.
ASHEBORO LATINXS SERVICES (ALS) DAN MAUNEY COMMUNITY AWARD
Asheboro Latinxs Services (ALS) es una organización comunitaria con sede en Asheboro, Carolina del Norte, dedicada a empoderar y acompañar a comunidades Latinx, LGBTQI+ y a personas que viven con VIH/SIDA en las zonas rurales. A través de servicios directos, educación comunitaria, oportunidades de liderazgo y acciones de abogacía, ALS trabaja para reducir barreras, fortalecer el bienestar integral y garantizar un acceso digno y culturalmente pertinente a recursos esenciales. Nuestros programas se enfocan en salud y bienestar, educación, participación cívica, derechos LGBTQI+, derechos de las personas inmigrantes y justicia del lenguaje.
Además, ALS desarrolla un trabajo constante de prevención del VIH y educación en salud con la comunidad, creando espacios seguros, accesibles y libres de juicio para conversar sobre sexualidad, autocuidado, pruebas, información confiable y rutas de apoyo. Este enfoque busca romper estigmas, combatir la desinformación y disminuir el temor que muchas personas enfrentan al acercarse a servicios de salud, promoviendo una cultura de cuidado y respeto para todas las identidades.
Somos una organización liderada por personas trans y guiada por la comunidad. Realizamos reuniones mensuales con voluntariado, personal
y subgrupos comunitarios incluyendo grupos de apoyo LGBTQI+, espacios trans y grupos diferentes comunitarios para escuchar, evaluar necesidades y tomar decisiones colectivas sobre la programación. Nuestro programa insignia, Empoderadxs, es una academia anual de liderazgo que acompaña a cohortes de translatinas y otras personas LGBTQIA+ en un proceso formativo, fortaleciendo habilidades de salud, liderazgo y desarrollo profesional para construir resiliencia, solidaridad y poder comunitario.
Bajo el liderazgo de Tania Jimenez, Fundadora y Directora Ejecutiva, ALS es una organización trans-liderada que nace desde la experiencia vivida y el amor profundo por la comunidad rural de Carolina del Norte. Tania, una mujer trans e inmigrante con raíces en Asheboro, regresó a su comunidad con la determinación de ampliar el acceso a recursos, fortalecer el liderazgo y defender la dignidad de las personas más impactadas por el estigma y la exclusión. Junto a ella, un equipo comprometido y una base diversa de voluntariado y líderes comunitarios sostiene programas que integran apoyo directo, prevención del VIH, sanación, educación y organización comunitaria, demostrando que el cuidado, la solidaridad y el poder colectivo pueden transformar vidas.
ASHEBORO LATINXS SERVICES (ALS) DAN MAUNEY COMMUNITY AWARD
Asheboro Latinxs Services (ALS) is a community organization based in Asheboro, North Carolina, dedicated to empowering and accompanying Latinx, LGBTQI+ communities and people living with HIV/AIDS in rural areas. Through direct services, community education, leadership opportunities, and advocacy actions, ALS works to reduce barriers, strengthen holistic well-being, and guarantee dignified and culturally relevant access to essential resources. Our programs focus on health and well-being, education, civic engagement, LGBTQI+ rights, immigrant rights, and language justice.
In addition, ALS carries out ongoing HIV prevention work and health education with the community, creating safe, accessible, and judgment-free spaces to talk about sexuality, selfcare, testing, reliable information, and routes to support. This approach seeks to break stigmas, combat misinformation, and reduce the fear that many people face when approaching health services, promoting a culture of care and respect for all identities.
We are a trans-led organization and guided by the community. We hold monthly meetings with volunteers, staff, and community subgroups,
including LGBTQI+ support groups, trans spaces, and different community groups, to listen, assess needs, and make collective decisions about programming. Our flagship program, Empoderadxs, is an annual leadership academy that accompanies cohorts of trans Latinas and other LGBTQIA+ people in a formative process, strengthening health, leadership, and professional development skills to build resilience, solidarity, and community power.
Under the leadership of Tania Jimenez, Founder and Executive Director, ALS is a trans-led organization that is born from lived experience and deep love for the rural community of North Carolina. Tania, a trans and immigrant woman with roots in Asheboro, returned to her community with the determination to expand access to resources, strengthen leadership, and defend the dignity of the people most impacted by stigma and exclusion. Alongside her, a committed team and a diverse base of volunteers and community leaders sustain programs that integrate direct support, HIV prevention, healing, education, and community organizing, demonstrating that care, solidarity, and collective power can transform lives.
That's why we've been proudly supporting the Human Rights Campaign since 2009.
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NC STATE SENATOR MUJTABA MOHAMMED
A longtime Charlotte resident, Mujtaba was born in the United States to hardworking immigrant parents from India and raised in the Carolinas under modest means. From a young age, he learned the values of family, service, and gratitude. His parents instilled in him the importance of putting others before self and appreciating life’s simple blessings. These core values shaped Mujtaba’s journey, guiding him toward a career in law and a life dedicated to serving those in need.
As a product of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mujtaba knows firsthand the role a strong public education system plays in opening doors of opportunity for all families. Motivated by a strong desire to serve those most in need, he pursued his law degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law, where his dedication to service and justice grew even stronger.
Mujtaba has spent his career fighting for the rights of the underprivileged, both inside and outside the courtroom. He has worked tirelessly to connect working families to the services they need while continuing to demonstrate his dedication through leadership roles on several local non-profit boards. His passion for fairness and opportunity led Governor Roy Cooper to appoint him to the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities and the North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice.
Elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2018, Mujtaba remains committed to ensuring every child and family has the opportunity for a brighter future. When he’s not advocating for his community, Mujtaba loves spending time with his family and raising his three children in northeast Charlotte.
COUNCILMEMBER JD MAZUERA ARIAS
Councilmember JD Mazuera Arias represents Charlotte’s District 5 on the Charlotte City Council, one of the most diverse, international, and culturally rich communities in the city. Elected on a platform centered on equitable investment, community empowerment, and transparent governance, he is committed to ensuring that East Charlotte receives the resources, attention, and long -term planning it has historically been denied.
He made history as the first Latino and first Gen-zer elected to the Charlotte City Council. Born in Colombia and raised in East Charlotte to Colombian immigrant parents, JD’s lived experience as a bilingual, LGBTQ+ former Dreamer deeply informs his approach to public service and community advocacy. He is a proud produce of CMS public schools and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Queens University of Charlotte and a Master of Public Administration from NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Before his election to City Council, JD built a distinguished career at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. He supported global tech policy as a Lead in Kyndryl’s Global Government Affairs & Policy team, national policy as a Senior Government Affairs Assistant at The Century Foundation, and served as a Public Policy Fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute at the Aspen Institute’s Latinos & Society Program and the office of U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, where he focused on immigration, racial equity, and economic justice.
On Council, JD champions and focuses on transparent and communicative governance, equitable economic development, and community-centered public safety while working to ensure that every resident’s voice is heard in city policy and planning. His historic 34-vote win reflects the power of organizing and the growing diversity of leadership in Charlotte. He is a strong advocate for equitable investment, transparent government processes, and policies that protect the dignity and rights of all residents.
During his free time, JD loves to explore the global taste of restaurants in East Charlotte, listening to Bad Bunny, drinking Colombian coffee, and spending time with his loved ones.
Current Active Duty and Retiree/Veteran
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MAJ JOSHUA FONTANEZ
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CPT KATIE “KAT” BENN
1LT(P) BRIAN FEMMINELLA
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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!
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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.
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!
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.
The HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN salutes our National Partners based in the CHARLOTTE area.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!