HRC President Chad Griffin speaks at #HRCPhillyGala on Saturday, February 27
For the first time ever, Borgata was a corporate sponsor at the 2016 Human Rights Campaign’s Greater Philadelphia Gala on Saturday, February 27. The popular event, which featured many of the country’s premiere civil rights leaders,was held at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown and included a silent auction and dinner.
Borgata’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Joe Lupo, who was in attendance, said that the resort’s support of the HRC was natural for Borgata.
“It stems from the very beginning that we want to create an environment that promotes equality for our customers and employee base,” Lupo said. “[The HRC] fit cohesively with this vision.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney opened the formal festivities, and was later joined by HRC President Chad Griffin. Author and business innovator Tina White, who has become a strong voice in the transgender community, also provided moving remarks about her own transition and how the HRC assisted her throughout the process.
“I’m pretty sure job number one is to stay alive,” White recalled during her speech, which caused the audience to rise to their feet.
Also in attendance were Supreme Court plaintiff Jim Obergefell, the public face of the 2015 marriage equality ruling, Katherine Moennig, Thea Austin, Philadelphia’s Director of LGBT Affairs Nellie Fitzpatrick, and PA State Representative Brian Sims.
Borgata shared a table with the Mazzoni Center‘s Executive Director Nurit Shein, part of an exciting upcoming partnership between the resort and the LGBT health provider during Mazzoni’s annual Elixir fundraiser on Friday, May 20.
Borgata became a “2016 Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality” when it received a perfect score on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index in November 2015. For more information on the Human Rights Campaign, visit their website.
Bryan Buttler has covered the Philadelphia-area LGBT beat for over two years, and also reviews theater, opera, and classical music. Along with his own writing, Bryan teaches communications at a local college. He lives in Center City Philadelphia. His favorite things at Borgata? The Water Club, the Grapefruit Mojito at Bobby Flay Steak, and the Table Thai Massage. Follow Bryan on Twitter @bryanb82 and Instagram @bryanbuttler.