by contributor Wendy Gordon
Photo credit: intern Andrew Dubbs
Last year around this time, David Hagedorn was single – same sex marriage wasn’t legal in DC or MD and many other states for that matter until 2010. David’s vision for awareness raising of this cause was to create Chefs for Equality to benefit the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
HRC President Chad Griffen and Ted Olsen
Fast forward 365 days: David is married (with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg officiating, no less) to his longtime partner; same sex marriage is legal in DC, Maryland and many more states; Chefs for Equality is back for year two to further its good work; and no one can muster the best of the restaurant scene to do that like David Hagedorn.
The second annual Chefs for Equality event, featuring many of D.C., Maryland and Virginia’s top chefs and mixologists, took place Wednesday, October 30th again featuring a night dedicated to equality and in support of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Stephane Corrett, Tim Gunn and Ashley Levi
Fashion icon and Project Runway host Tim Gunn returned again this year to host the event. There were samplings from the DC Metro area’s best restaurants; cocktails from the DMV’s most talented mixologists; confections from the area’s best pastry chefs; fabulous shoes, kinky boots; splendiferous drag and incredible frocks all dining and imbibing while rocking to the spinning of Washington-based DJ Shea Van Horn.
Many guests jumped at the $5000 opportunity to personally dine with D.C.’s leading chefs at premier personal chef tables. Teams of superstar culinary duos including Mike Isabella, Victor Albisu, Ris Lacoste, Jamie Leeds, Cathal Armstrong and Robert Wiedmaier….to name a few.
Following the main event, an after party was held at Mike Isabella’s 14th Street eatery, Kapnos, because let’s face it, after all that food and beverage, one must have….more food and beverage. Geez—we love the culinary community!
As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC’s vision a reality.
Founded in 1980, HRC advocates on behalf of LGBT Americans, mobilizes grassroots actions in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect fair-minded individuals to office and educates the public about LGBT issues.
