This post comes from Tim Hanson, HRC’s political co-chair on the Austin, Texas Steering Committee:
For the past 14 years, The Octopus Club has been hosting the ever-popular Octo-Tea Dance…and this year was no exception. Cold and rainy weather couldn’t keep more than 1,300 people from The Long Center for the Performing Arts to help out with their important cause.
The Octopus Club is a non-profit, grassroots, volunteer fundraising arm of AIDS Services of Austin dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Paul Kirby Emergency Fund. Since 1991, The Octopus Club has raised more then $1 million for Fund.
For 2009, HRC Austin was a Platinum in-kind sponsor and partnering with The Octopus Club, we had an opportunity to talk to many people about our role in the community and at a national level. One of the main topics of conversation was the President’s speech to the HRC National Gala in Washington DC the night before…and of course Lady Gaga and the cast of Glee. The President’s speech brought numerous people to the HRC Booth—reinvigorating and engaging many. Other hot topics included equality battles in Maine, Washington State and California.
HRC Austin actively partners with state, local and grassroots organizations like The Octopus Club, AIDS Services of Austin and others—because together—we will bring equality to all.
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