Elegance, Advocacy, and Community Shine at NCLR’s Champions for Justice Gala in San Francisco

Held from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the elegant evening blended inspiration, activism, entertainment, and celebration while raising support for NCLR’s ongoing work protecting and defending LGBTQ+ rights nationwide. By the end of the evening, organizers announced the gala had raised more than $400,000 to support the organization’s critical advocacy and legal work.

Bathed in warm lighting beneath the Conservatory’s soaring glass atrium and art deco arches, guests mingled for more than an hour and a half during an energetic cocktail reception featuring flowing drinks and elegant passed hors d’oeuvres. The atmosphere balanced sophistication with genuine joy as attendees reunited, networked, and celebrated the ongoing fight for equality and justice.

The evening’s formal presentation began with host Irene Tu, the Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian, actor, and writer whose acclaimed comedy album We’re Done Now debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes comedy charts. A Netflix “Introducing” comic and festival favorite, Tu instantly brought humor and relatability to the room before introducing NCLR Board Co-Chair Dulce Garcia.

Acknowledging the classic challenge of performing comedy while gala guests were still chatting and eating salads, Tu joked that she had thoughtfully brought Tupperware so she could take home everyone’s leftovers. The self-deprecating humor landed perfectly with the crowd and set a warm, playful tone for the night.

Board Co-Chairs Dulce Garcia and Karen Bowen officially welcomed guests, thanked the organization’s board members and supporters, and presented the Voice and Visibility Award to journalist, author, and Emmy Award-winning reporter Paola Ramos.

A contributor for Telemundo News and MSNBC, Ramos is known for her reporting along the southern border, inside the Darien Gap, and on the rise of far-right extremism and identity politics in America. Her acceptance speech became one of the evening’s most moving moments.

“We are still very much that imagined democracy,” Ramos shared passionately. “Throughout every corner of this country, from Washington D.C. to state legislatures to the southern border, there are people fighting every single day, not just to protect progress, but to protect what it means to belong.”

Her remarks resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom responded with prolonged applause. Ramos reflected on conversations with LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants across the country, reminding attendees that despite the challenges facing marginalized communities, the United States still represents hope, opportunity, and the possibility of second chances for many people around the world.

“I’m reminded that this country is supposed to believe in liberty and justice,” she continued. “And that’s why we have to continue doing this work.”

Following Ramos’ speech, a representative from VOG introduced renowned NCLR legal director and TIME100-honored attorney Shannon Minter. Minter then presented the Courage Award to Captain Gordon Herrero, a proud transgender Army officer currently serving as a mathematics instructor at West Point.

Herrero is also a named plaintiff in NCLR’s legal challenge against the Trump administration’s ban on transgender military service. Facing involuntary separation from the armed forces, Herrero received a powerful standing ovation from the audience as his story of service and resilience was celebrated.

After a dinner intermission, Irene Tu returned to bring guests back into the program with more humor and warmth before Karen Bowen introduced the Golden State Valkyries as recipients of the Vanguard Award.

The recognition celebrated the organization’s commitment to visibility, inclusion, and community impact both on and off the court.

Representing the Valkyries at the podium, Andrea Fernandez emphasized the team’s ongoing commitment to visibility, inclusion, and partnership with organizations like NCLR.

“Our commitment with organizations like NCLR is deeply important to us because visibility matters,” she shared. “The Valkyries are becoming a symbol of strength, courage, and community. By coming to our games, supporting our players, and showing up for one another, you are helping create that visibility and relentless joy.”

She continued by encouraging attendees to embrace authenticity and community pride.

“Please keep showing up, and most importantly, keep being unapologetically yourselves. Together, let’s continue to be proof of what’s possible when we refuse to hide any part of who we are.”

The heartfelt remarks drew enthusiastic applause from the audience and perfectly captured the evening’s spirit of empowerment, resilience, and unity.

A representative from VOG then introduced Amy Whelan, who spoke passionately about the importance of protecting LGBTQ+ athletes and preserving inclusion in sports. Whelan highlighted NCLR’s longstanding legal advocacy work in the sports world and the importance of continuing to defend visibility and participation for transgender and queer athletes nationwide.

Later in the evening, the Voice and Visibility Award was presented to Layshia Clarendon, whose groundbreaking career and outspoken advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion have made them one of the most influential voices in professional sports today. Though Clarendon was unable to attend in person, their impact on representation and visibility was celebrated throughout the room.

Another emotional highlight came when Amy Whelan presented a Courage Award to Jazz Jennings following a heartfelt video tribute.

One of the most recognized transgender activists of her generation, Jennings first gained national attention as one of the youngest publicly documented transgender youth in America. As a child, when she was prohibited from playing soccer in her state, her family turned to NCLR for legal representation. After two years of advocacy, the U.S. Soccer Federation adopted an inclusive policy allowing transgender athletes to participate. Now a Harvard graduate, author, activist, and television personality, Jennings received a warm standing ovation from the crowd.

Irene Tu later introduced NCLR President Imani Rupert-Gordon, who delivered one of the evening’s most passionate and powerful speeches about resilience, advocacy, and the urgent fight to protect LGBTQ+ rights nationwide.

Rupert-Gordon thanked attendees for their continued investment in and belief in NCLR’s mission, emphasizing the importance of community during a difficult political moment.

“We are at a point in our country where this moment is calling on us to shape our future and make our history,” she told the audience. “And it has to be us.”

She spoke candidly about watching major institutions across the country “capitulate” to political pressure and unconstitutional demands, expressing disappointment at how quickly some organizations abandoned values they once publicly supported.

“In the face of that kind of shameless abandonment, it’s easy to wish people had stayed in the fight,” she said.

Drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s Henry V, Rupert-Gordon referenced the famous St. Crispin’s Day speech, comparing today’s LGBTQ+ rights movement to a moment where courage and commitment matter more than numbers.

“He didn’t want to fight alongside anyone who didn’t think it was an honor to fight beside him,” she explained. “And I feel that exact same way. NCLR has never backed down from making history, and that matters right now.”

Rupert-Gordon detailed the escalating legal and political attacks facing LGBTQ+ communities, particularly transgender youth, immigrants, and families, while also highlighting the organization’s rapid legal response across multiple fronts.

“This is a coordinated assault,” she said. “And NCLR is on every front.”

She outlined ongoing legal challenges involving transgender military service members, access to healthcare for transgender youth, protections for incarcerated transgender individuals, immigration advocacy, and continued efforts to combat conversion therapy nationwide.

“We built these protections once, and we are building them again,” she declared. “And we won’t stop until every LGBTQ person in this country is safe.”

Rupert-Gordon also took time to recognize the extensive NCLR team, attorneys, communications staff, organizers, digital storytellers, IT professionals, and advocates, whose behind-the-scenes work keeps the organization moving forward every day.

“This is championship-level work happening every single day,” she said proudly. “And we are all stronger because this team makes it possible.”

Her emotional remarks drew multiple standing ovations and became one of the defining moments of the evening, underscoring both the gravity of the current moment and the determination driving NCLR’s continued fight for equality and justice.

The evening also featured additional remarks from Shannon Minter regarding NCLR’s ongoing work and achievements before an emotional video presentation created by Onyx and Ash highlighted the organization’s impact nationwide. The program concluded with a fundraising appeal led by Irene Tu that inspired generous audience participation.

As the formal program concluded, the elegant evening transformed into a lively and celebratory after-party experience inside the beautiful Conservatory at One Sansome.

Guests enjoyed a festive atmosphere complete with music by Bay Area favorite DJ LadyRyan, whose two-decade career as a DJ, curator, and community leader has made her a defining voice in Bay Area nightlife and the official DJ for the Golden State Valkyries. Known for creating spaces filled with safety, joy, and belonging, LadyRyan kept the crowd energized throughout the evening.

The afterparty featured dancing, an open bar, and an array of decadent dessert stations that kept the energy high late into the night. Interactive entertainment added a playful touch to the sophisticated gala, including balloon hat creations, live caricature artists sketching guests throughout the evening, professional photo stations by Vanity Portrait Studio, and eye-catching performances from Earth Circus, whose stilt performers and artistic visuals energized the celebration from the moment guests entered the venue.

NCLR also acknowledged the many sponsors, donors, media partners, and community organizations that helped make the evening possible, including media sponsors The Hollywood Times and Lesbian Game Changers, along with event partners, local businesses, wineries, cultural organizations, and longtime LGBTQ community supporters throughout California and beyond.

The afterparty perfectly balanced joy and community with the evening’s larger mission, reminding everyone that advocacy, visibility, and celebration can all exist beautifully together.

From laughter-filled cocktail conversations to powerful calls for action, the Champions for Justice Gala proved once again why NCLR remains one of the nation’s most respected voices for LGBTQ+ equality.

click below to see the video that was shown this evening: NCLR Gala 2026 Video