{ITAL 17th Annual HRC Gala Dinner
5:30 p.m. Oct. 21
The Royal Park Hotel, Rochester
(800) 494-8497}
An evening of music, fine dining and award presentations will attract nearly 500 community members to the Human Rights Campaign Gala Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Royal Park Hotel in Rochester.
"This will be a four-star evening for attendees," said Karen Oosterhous, co-chair of the 17th annual gala. "(Attendees) will take away a sense of purpose as we move toward the elections and they will take away a sense of power in the unstoppable force that is our community."
Senator Debbie Stabenow, rocker Barbara Payton and comedian Jason Stuart will be among the special guests, which will also include awardees.
Keith Orr and Martin Contreras, owners of aut Bar in Ann Arbor, will be honored with the HRC Equality Award.
"For more than 20 years, Martin and Keith have served the community of Southeast Michigan, providing a safe space for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their allies to come together," Oosterhous said.
Orr and Contreras opened aut Bar 11 years ago after realizing how few LGBT social groups existed.
"We had no idea how hungry people were for that community," Orr said.
The bar filled a longtime void in Ann Arbor's gay and lesbian community. Shortly after opening, Orr and Contrera's long lost friends began flooding into the bar.
"We started seeing folks we thought had moved away, or had moved on, or had no reason to go out," Contreras said.
Another leader in the community, Kenn Bing, will be presented with the Memorial Award. Bing was instrumental in leading the Michigan chapter of the HRC and his efforts have recruited more members to be part of the organization.
"His work has made a real difference and his leadership will be missed as he and his family move from the state," Oosterhous said.
