Equality Illinois celebrates 30th anniversary gala virtually this Saturday

The 2021 Equality Illinois Gala will look and feel different this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the preeminent LGBTQ equality events each year, The Equality Illinois Annual Gala will celebrate its 30th year on Saturday, Feb. 6 beginning at 7 p.m.

This year, the LGBTQ civil rights organization will honor Imani Rupert-Gordon, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and former Executive Director of Affinity Community Services in Chicago; the late United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; and the Broadway Youth Center, a program of Howard Brown Health, for their work on behalf of the LGBTQ community.

The virtual gala will feature remarks from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and a special performance from a surprise Grammy-winning artist.

Virtual attendees can order a custom Gala meal from one of three participating LGBTQ-owned restaurants. Pre-order is available for delivery or pickup from Lady Gregory’s, The Birdcage or Wilde Chicago.

The gala’s silent auction is now open and will remain open until the end of the gala on Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. Winning bidders' credit cards will be automatically charged and they will be contacted by Monday, Feb. 8, with information on how to obtain their silent-auction packages.

Some of the auction items include collages of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former President Barack Obama and basketball legend Michael Jordan (separate); villas in Santorini and Tuscany (separate); and a Grammy Awards VIP experience.

For more information on the silent auction or to purchase tickets, go to www.equalityillinois.us/2021-gala.