Attorney General Eric Holder to Headline HRC Greater New York Gala, 2/8

The Human Rights Campaign - the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization - and the HRC Greater New York Steering Committee today announced United States Attorney General Eric Holder will headline the annual Greater New York Gala on February 8, 2014 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

"The LGBT community could not ask for a more courageous Attorney General than Eric Holder. He has seized every opportunity to broaden the circle of freedom to include LGBT people and their families, and he continues to act with unprecedented speed to bring federal recognition to married gay and lesbian couples across the country. At every opportunity throughout his career, the Attorney General has shown unparalleled leadership worthy of the history books," said HRC President Chad Griffin.

Following last year's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Windsor v. United States, Attorney General Holder declared that the ruling meant that, "Americans in same-sex marriages are entitled to equal protection and equal treatment under the law." From this historic statement, a record number of federal rights and benefits of marriages have begun to flow to gay and lesbian couples across the country.

Attorney General Holder has been a leader for civil rights for LGBT Americans throughout his career in public life. As U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia he formed the first hate crimes task force, which has become a model for U.S. Attorneys throughout the country. From reaching the conclusion that the Defense of Marriage Act was indefensible in court to the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Attorney General Holder's leadership on LGBT issues is without comparison.

For more information or to purchase tickets to HRC's Greater New York Gala, visit www.hrcgreaterny.org.