Human Rights Campaign Announces “Artists for Equality” Auction to Help Elect Pro-Equality Candidates

by HRC staff

Post submitted by Viet Tran (he/him/they/them), former HRC Press Secretary

HRC launched “Artist for Equality,” an online art auction fundraiser taking place between September 16-30, 2020.


Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization — launched “Artist for Equality,” an online art auction fundraiser taking place between September 16-30, 2020. The event is co-hosted by HRC President Alphonso David, Sanford Biggers, HRC Board Chair Jodie Patterson, Margaret Russell, Amy Sherald and Lorna Simpson. Every dollar raised at this event will directly support HRC Equality Votes SuperPAC, HRC’s fundraising effort to mobilize voters and elect pro-equality candidates this November.

Over 45 well-known artists are donating work including Donald Baechler, Sanford Biggers, Chris Bogia, Deborah Buck, Zoë Buckman, Bisa Butler, Max Colby, Damien Davis, Vaginal Davis, Lesley Dill, Jack Early, Skylar Fein, Anthony Goicolea, Isca Greenfield-Sanders, Martine Gutierrez, Gordon Hall, Nicholas Howey, Judith Hudson, Jane Kaplowitz, Alex Katz, Louise Lawler, Glenn Ligon, Phoenix Lindsey-Hall, Kalup Linzy, Osborne Macharia, Patrick Martinez, Gio Black Peter, Kenneth Pietrobono, William Powhida, Jason Revok, Carlos Rolón, Theo A. Rosenblum and Chelsea Seltzer, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Tuesday Smillie, Kiki Smith, Jay Stuckey, Billy Sullivan, Swoon, Samantha Thomas, Jim Thompson, Sarah Ann Weber, Wendy White, Derrick Woods-Morrow, Rob Wynne and Firooz Zahedi.

“We are so inspired by the visual arts community’s support for the Human Rights Campaign’s Artists for Equality benefit auction,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “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 the Human Rights Campaign’s effort to elect Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and pro-equality candidates down the ballot.”

The auction will be powered by Artsy from September 16-30, and can be viewed at hrc.im/artsy. The auction presents an opportunity to bid on work in all price ranges and from a variety of media. The auction will go live September 16 at 5:00 pm ET and will close at 8:00 pm ET on September 30.

HRC’s mobilization efforts have ramped up as the November election approaches. HRC recently announced priority investments and the expansion of staff into key battleground states with just 48 days until the November 3rd election. HRC will be adding 100 staff across the country dedicated to mobilizing and turning out 57 million “Equality Voters” that will make the difference in the Presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and state-level elections. This brings HRC’s total number of staff organizing LGBTQ voters to over 160.

In addition to HRC’s expansive volunteer network, HRC has had significant full-time staff in seven priority states (Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin). While in person organizing has been limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, HRC has embraced digital organizing, launching a new tool called TEAM allowing our broad network of volunteers and steering committees to engage their networks personally and hundreds of virtual phone banks and text banks to engage pro-equality voters even without the ability to interact in person.

Supporters in any state can go to hrc.org/vote register to vote, request a ballot and find your polling location. For more information on how to get involved, sign up to volunteer, or join an advocacy training, visit HRC’s Voting Center.

Paid for by Human Rights Campaign Equality Votes PAC (www.hrc.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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