by contributor Wendy Gordon
It’s usually safe to answer a call in the dead of summer in Washington, DC. It’s probably your Mom—because nothing much else is happening here that time of year. But when restaurant industry veteran and freelance food writer David Hagedorn picked up his phone one lazy August afternoon, little did he know he was about to embark on what would become a whirlwind project. A big one. And time was of the essence. It was a nice summer while it lasted.
David picked up a call from the Human Rights Commission seeking his help to put together an event for marriage equality in Maryland: The vote on “Question 6,” a Maryland state referendum filed to challenge the law that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state.
The Civil Marriage Protection Act, approved in 2012, would allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, protect clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs, and affirm that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith, effective January 1, 2013.
Opponents of same-sex marriage submitted signatures in support of the referendum in June and subsequently, the State Board of Elections announced that enough were validated. The referendum will ask voters in the state to vote “For” or “Against” the law and will be held November 6, 2012 during the state general election. Just around the corner.
So David started ringing the lines of friends, acquaintances and colleagues. What he and the HRC wound up with is Chefs for Equity, an event to take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC on October 24th—a spectacular event that should have taken a year, not simply a month to put together. David can certainly rally his industry. No on said no to donating time, all products, and general fabulousness.
Why, aside from the obvious, is this issue so urgent? This is not just a gay issue, it touches all of us,” Hagedorn says. “This is the last great civil rights issue in America.“
Chefs for Equality will be an extravaganza of food, cocktails, fashion and music, plus an extraordinary auction.
The event will be designed by Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral+Event Design. Sounds by DJ Shea Van Horn. But wait! There’s more! Who will emcee? None other than fashion icon Tim Gunn. Featured guests will also include Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley.
