FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Philip Wier Black Tie Dinner Marketing Committee [email protected]

STAR LEGAL DUO BOIES AND OLSON AND JASON COLLINS JOIN BLACK TIE DINNER LINEUP

DALLAS–Black Tie Dinner has announced additions to its program to include a special appearance by Jason Collins, the First publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues, and Prop 8 legal team David Boies and Ted Olson, who defied skeptics by successfully challenging California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Boies and Olson will be honored with the Elizabeth Birch Equality Award for their outstanding service to the LGBT community, and Prop 8 plaintiffs Sandy Stier and Kris Perry will be on hand to help with the honor.

Collins, Boies and Olson, and Stiers and Perry will join comic Dana Goldberg, singer-songwriter Steve Grand, Dale Hansen and Kuchling Award recipient Mike Anglin for the thirty-third dinner, presented by Turtle Creek Solutions on November 15 at the Dallas Sheraton Hotel.

“We are calling the program our ‘Dream Team’ because Collins joins WFAA Sports Anchor Dale Hansen, which will undoubtedly please sports fans. Plus, we have no better example of teamwork on behalf of our community than Boies and Olson, who, although from opposite ends of the ideological and political spectrum, see same-sex marriages as an issue that transcends affiliations and labels. These straight allies have helped convince our courts and our country that loving who you want to love is a fundamental right,” said Ken Morris, co-chair.

BLACK TIE DINNER, INC.

4015 LEMMON AVENUE, SUITE 4001 PMB #321, DALLAS, TEXAS 75219 972-865-2239 BLACKTIE.ORG

Tables are still available and interested “table captains” who wish to organize a table of ten are encouraged to visit http://blacktie.org/TableCaptains/ for more information. Table selection (location of the table within the ballroom) begins September 22. Individual tickets to the event, if any, will become available in October.

ABOUT BLACK TIE DINNER

Black Tie Dinner is a non-profit organization that raises funds for , gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) supportive organizations serving North Texas through a premier event of empowerment, education and entertainment in partnership with the community. Since its inception in 1982, the nation’s largest, all-volunteer LGBT event of its kind has distributed more than $18 million.

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BLACK TIE DINNER, INC.

3878 OAK LAWN SUITE 100-B #321 DALLAS, TEXAS 75219 972-865-2239 BLACKTIE.ORG