Human Rights Campaign launches Artists for Equality auction
With so many LGBT candidates running in this November’s midterms, the LGBT civil rights group Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is setting up an art auction called the Artists for Equality to raise funds for them.
This auction is set to happen on October 22 at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York City.
Moreover, funds raised by the event will go to HRC Equality Votes, which will mobilize voters to elect pro-equality candidates.
Artists for Equality auction
This fundraiser will be hosted by Executive Co-Chairs Andy Cohen and Margaret Russell, and Co-Chairs Beth Rudin DeWoody, Andrea Glimcher, Sean & Mary Kelly, Antwaun Sargent, and Firooz Zahedi.
While the silent auction will be powered by online auction platform Paddle8 from October 8-22 here, the live auction will be conducted by auctioneer Gabriela Palmieri.
Artists who donated work in the auction include: Donald Baechler, Lynda Benglis, Jessica Craig-Martin, Ramiro Gomez, Lyle Ashton Harris, Rachel Harrison, and Alfredo Jaar.
Other artists involved include: Jasper Johns, Rashid Johnson, Deborah Kass, Alex Katz, Louise Lawler, Robert Longo, Marilyn Minter, Ed Ruscha, and Kenny Scharf.
Dana Schutz, Richard Serra, Cindy Sherman, Laurie Simmons, Alec Soth, Pat Steir, and Fred Wilson will also be taking part.
If you want to join the auction or if you want more information, check them online here.
Critical effort in Artists for Equality
This fundraising effort is of the overall effort by the HRC– called HRC Rising– for more than a year to build ground support for pro-equality candidates.
Investments will be prioritized in six key states: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. However, they are also targeting nearly 70 congressional districts across the US.
“Andy Cohen and I are so proud to partner with HRC in raising critical funds to elect pro-equality lawmakers this November,” said event co-chair Margaret Russell.
“We’ve received an amazing response from an extraordinary group of great talents who have donated artwork to be auctioned at this event, and we salute their deep commitment to social justice,” Russell said.
Meanwhile, Christopher Speron, Vice President, Development at the Human Rights Campaign, said: “This incredible group of legendary talent and emerging artists are advancing social justice through the power of art– and bringing us closer to our vision for a world in which LGBTQ people are equal in every sense.”
“We are honored to join so many creative minds in auctioning off works of art that will help to raise crucial funds for HRC’s effort to elect a pro-equality majority in Congress this fall,” Speron said.
HRC Rising in November midterm polls
HRC Rising is a coast-to-coast campaign by HRC to push voters for the midterm elections.
There is an estimated 10 million LGBT voters in the US, and HRC and Catalist have identified 52 million “Equality Voters” who support LGBT-inclusive policies like marriage equality and the equitable family law.
The organization also called their supporters in all the states to text “VOTER” to 30644 to verify their voter registration, determine their polling place, and get election reminders.
Those who want to volunteer to help can visit HRC’s Equality Voter Action Center.