Austin Dinner
Saturday, January 31, 2026
at
JW Marriott Austin
Austin, TX
Organized by HRC Austin
Schedule of Events
Welcome Reception: 5:00 PM
Dinner & Stage Program: 6:30 PM
JW Marriott Austin
110 E. 2nd Street
Austin, Texas 78701
Featuring
Kelley Robinson - HRC President
Kelley Robinson is a trailblazing advocate and leader in the fight for human rights. As the President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), she is the first Black, queer woman to hold this position. HRC is the largest civil rights organization in the United States, dedicated to achieving equality and liberation for LGBTQ+ individuals. With over 15 years of experience, Robinson has spearheaded numerous successful campaigns for LGBTQ+, racial, and gender equity. Robinson was named to the 2024 TIME100. A powerful and inspiring speaker, Robinson regularly appears in national and international media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, Sirius XM, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Politico. She previously served as the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, where she advanced the movement for reproductive justice. Robinson is also currently serving as a Senior Fellow at the Kettering Foundation, underscoring the urgency of centering LGBTQ+ rights in the fight for democracy.
Julie Johnson - US Representative - Texas
Congresswoman Julie Johnson comes to Washington from the Texas House of Representatives where she served three terms since 2018. Johnson previously served on the state’s Insurance and Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committees. During her time in the Texas legislature, she passed 108 bills with a focus on patient protection, and insurance reform. Johnson also authored the first bipartisan Medicaid expansion bill in Texas history. She is the first openly gay member of Congress from the South and the first woman to ever represent District 32. In Congress, Rep. Johnson wants to continue the fight for consumer protection and expanding access within our healthcare system.
Kristen Kish - Chef & Emmy-nominated host of Top Chef - Visibility Award
Kristen Kish is the chef/partner of Arlo Grey in Austin, TX, a two-time Emmy-nominated host of Bravo’s award-winning series Top Chef, a New York Times best-selling author for her memoir, Accidentally on Purpose, and the creator of Kish Aperitif. A Korean adoptee raised in Michigan, Kristen discovered her passion for cooking at a young age. After working her way through various kitchens in Boston, she competed on season 10 of Top Chef, ultimately winning the coveted title. Following her win, she published her first cookbook and starred in several other hit shows including Fast Foodies on TruTV, Iron Chef on Netflix, and Restaurants at the End of the World on National Geographic/Disney+. In 2023, Kristen became the host of Top Chef for its 21st season. Both she and the show received nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards in Outstanding Host and Best Reality Competition Series, respectively. She continues to expand her television presence, joining The Traitors US Season 4 and returning to the Top Chef kitchen with the spring premiere of Top Chef: Carolinas. Kristen has been recognized on many influential lists: TIME100’s Next, Adweek’s Creative 100, Marie Claire’s Power, and Variety’s 30 Most Powerful Women on Reality TV list.
Dana Goldberg - Comedian / "Out 100" Honoree
As seen on ABC, TBS, and Last Comic Standing, Dana Goldberg is a force of nature on stage. With performances at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, The Comedy Festival produced by TBS and HBO, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, her quick wit and playful stage presence have earned her loyal fans across the world. In addition to headlining theaters and festivals, Dana has performed at and emceed hundreds of high-profile events, sharing the national stage with luminaries like President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Meryl Streep, Carol Burnett, Sir Elton John and countless others. Combining her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts, Dana has raised over $70M for non-profits around the country in the fight for LGBTQ rights, women's health, and HIV/AIDS education and prevention...just to name a few. With over 150,000 followers, Dana was recently named to OutMagazine’s Out100 List, Curve Magazine’s Power List and GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love. She is the co-host of the top-rated news podcast The Daily Beans (250,000 weekly downloads) and is currently developing her first TV pilot with Soto Productions (Tony Award winning Suffs The Musical and Laura Benanti’s Nobody Cares).
Las Chicas en 512 - Performance
Las Chicas en 512 is Austin’s only all-female Selena tribute band, created to celebrate, preserve, and spread the legacy of the one-and-only Queen of Tejano music — Selena Quintanilla. Founded by the late Bentley Perez, alongside powerhouse lead vocalist Delia Rosado and fellow members of Femme Rock — a music collective uplifting womxn-identifying artists in Austin — this band is both a tribute and a full-on cultural celebration. From cumbia bangers to pop-Tejano anthems, Las Chicas en 512 brings all your favorite Selena hits to life with corazón, respeto, and mucho sabor. More than a tribute band, Las Chicas en 512 proudly represents women in music, female empowerment, and Mexican-American cultura.
Take Advantage of the Small Group Discount
A night of advocacy and celebration is best spent with others - enjoy a special discounted ticket when you buy 3 or more!
Become a Corporate Sponsor!
Learn more about opportunities in our corporate brochure or contact mike.wilkinson@hrc.org.
More Ways To Get Involved
Become a Table Captain!
Table Captains invite friends, family and colleagues to sit with them at a table of 10 seats.
Sign Up Here!
Donate to the Silent Auction!
Do you have a product you'd like to promote? Make a contribution to the silent auction.
Donate Here
Volunteer to Help!
Be part of the dedicated committee that plans the HRC Austin Dinner or volunteer to help on the night of the event.
Sign Up Here!