Renowned activist Ray Hill to keynote April 14 event
The Houston Transgender Unity Committee has opened ticket sales for the 15th annual Houston Transgender Unity Banquet, which will be held on Saturday, April 14, at the Westchase Hilton (9999 Westheimer at Briarpark), 6:30 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Tickets are $50 in advance ($60 at the door) and can be purchased through Ticketweb at the Unity Committee website, www.htuc.org. Tickets are also available at Jewel’s Boutique (2404 Taft near Fairview) and by mail (P.O. Box 542287, Houston 77254).
Some proceeds from Unity Banquet ticket sales support the Peggy Rudd Transgender Scholarship Fund. For the second year, the Unity Committee will present a scholarship at the banquet to a transgender-identified student pursuing higher education. The Rudd Scholarship application is available at the Unity Committee website.
The 2007 Unity Banquet, which is the largest single-night transgender event in the nation, is dedicated to the memory of the transgender advocate and HIV/AIDS activist and educator Brenda Thomas (1943-2006). Thomas was the Unity Committee executive director. Among her many achievements and honors, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2002 Unity Banquet and the Trinity Award, which honors transgender heroes, from the International Foundation for Gender Education in 2004.
Ray Hill, the renowned activist for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender rights, is the Unity Banquet keynote speaker. During the banquet, representatives from other local transgender groups will make presentations about their work. These groups include Helping TransGenders Anonymous, Houston Transgender Life Connection/Thursday Night Social Group, STAG/Some Transgenders Are Guys, Tau Chi chapter of Tri-Ess, the Society for the Second Self, and Texas Association for Transsexual Support,
Unity Banquet sponsors (as of March 1) are Charles Armstrong Investments, Nechman, Simoneaux, and Frye, PLLC, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, Dr. Pierre Brassard-Clinique de Chirurgies Esthetique St-Joseph, Dr. Suporn Clinic-Thailand, Denise O'Doherty, The Princess Company, Legacy Community Health Services, Tim Brookover & Albert Mata, The Crossings-Austin, Alley Theatre, Houston Symphony, Bruce Kieler, and John Steven Kellett Foundation.
The Houston Transgender Unity Committee is the nonprofit consortium of area trans organizations. In addition to the Unity Banquet, Unity Committee projects include the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance in November and Unity Month in March. Committee representatives frequently speak to schools, businesses, and organizations.