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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2007

CIVIL RIGHTS HERO CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL EQUALITY MARYLAND JAZZ BRUNCH


LGBT Rights Legend Victor J. Basile to Receive Pioneer For Equality Award at Sold-Out Event


CONTACT
Dan Furmansky, Executive Director
Office: 301-587-7500
Cell: 301-461-4900
Email: dan@equalitymaryland.org

BALTIMORE – Equality Maryland, the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization, will host its Fifth Annual Jazz Brunch at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel on October 28, 2007. Congressman John Lewis, a stirring orator and early hero of the civil rights movement, will deliver the keynote address. Congressman Lewis, who represents most of the city of Atlanta as the representative of Georgia's 5th District, risked his life and liberty in the cause of equality during the March on Washington in 1963 and the Selma-to-Montgomery Marches two years later.

"Each year at the Jazz Brunch we are reminded that LGBT rights are civil rights, and that our goals are part of a broader movement toward justice for all people," said Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky. "This was the message of [past keynote speakers] Julian Bond and Christine Chavez, and I know that our members and guests this year will draw inspiration and strength from the words of Congressman Lewis, who, more than anyone else, understands the challenges we face in our fight for equality."

The Jazz Brunch will also feature legendary LGBT rights leader Victor J. Basile, who will receive the Pioneer For Equality Award. Vic served as the first Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, and co-founded the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund to help openly gay and lesbian candidates win elective office. More recently, he has served as the Executive Director of Moveable Feast, a Baltimore nonprofit serving the HIV/AIDS community.

Also on the Jazz Brunch program are Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, who will offer introductory remarks; State Senator Gwendolyn Britt, who will announce her plan to introduce the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act in the upcoming state legislative session; and Attorney General Doug Gansler.

Earlier this week, Equality Maryland announced that all tickets to the Fifth Annual Jazz Brunch had sold out almost two weeks prior to the event, shattering all previous records. "Our phenomenal ticket sales are a reflection of the hard work of our Jazz Brunch volunteers and an indication of the concern that our community has as we prepare to step up our fight for equality in Maryland," said Jon A. Kaplan, chair of the Jazz Brunch Committee and former Equality Maryland Executive Director.

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Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest LGBT civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland. Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community. Equality Maryland can be found online at http://www.equalitymaryland.org.