CHICAGO | The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced the programmatic line-up for its annual Chicago Gala Dinner to be held on Nov. 7 at the Hyatt Regency. This year's dinner is themed "Time to Shine" and reflects our time of change, with political shifts and activism for LGBT rights. Tony Taylor will receive the HRC LGBT College Student Award and the Rush University Medical Center will receive the HRC Corporate Equality Award. The program also includes remarks by Queer As Folk's Robert Gant and a special performance by Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child.

"Between President Obama's speech at the HRC National Dinner and the inspiring crowd of pro-equality marchers who gathered at the Nation's Capitol, this is a critical time in our movement and our push for equal rights," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell and DOMA are still on the books and an inclusive ENDA has yet to become law. Real families are left without protections and people living with HIV and AIDS aren't getting the care they need. Students are being bullied in school because they're different and bi-national couples are treated like they've never met. We need you to be involved and to become a citizen lobbyist."

The dinner is set for Nov. 7. The general reception and silent auction begin at 6 p.m. and the dinner program at 7 p.m. at Hyatt Regency, 151 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago.

People at the event include:

Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign; Tony Taylor, recipient of the HRC LGBT College Student Award ; Rush University Medical Center, recipient of the HRC Corporate Equality Award; Robert Gant of Queer As Folk and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child.

Tickets for the event may be reserved online at www.hrc.org/boxoffice or www.HRCChicago09.com. To reserve tickets, call (800) 494-8497.

--For The Times