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HRC Gala

Written by Washingtonian Staff | Published on October 12, 2009
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HRC President Joe Solmonese greets President Obama.
HRC President Joe Solmonese greets President Obama.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

President Obama.
President Obama.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

As soon as President Obama took the stage, the crowd broke out their digital cameras and camera phones.
As soon as President Obama took the stage, the crowd broke out their digital cameras and camera phones.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Obama's entrance got everyone on their feet.
Obama’s entrance got everyone on their feet.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

President Obama.
President Obama.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

President Obama.
President Obama.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Every inch of space in the main room was filled with dinner tables.
Every inch of space in the main room was filled with dinner tables.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Lady Gaga in what is probably the most conservative outfit she has ever worn in public.
Lady Gaga in what is probably the most conservative outfit she has ever worn in public.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Lady Gaga serenaded the crowd with a cover of John lennon's "Imagine."
Lady Gaga serenaded the crowd with a cover of John lennon’s “Imagine.”

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

The crowd waited in long lines to pick up their tickets to the event.
The crowd waited in long lines to pick up their tickets to the event.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Hair's Gavin Creel.
Hair’s Gavin Creel.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Hair's Gavin Creel.
Hair’s Gavin Creel.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Hair's Gavin Creel.
Hair’s Gavin Creel.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Patrick Kennedy.
Patrick Kennedy.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Patrick Kennedy.
Patrick Kennedy.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Patrick Kennedy (right) presents Dennis and Judy Shepard with the Senator Edward M. Kennedy award.
Patrick Kennedy (right) presents Dennis and Judy Shepard with the Senator Edward M. Kennedy award.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Dennis Shepard, Judy Shepard and Patrick Kennedy.
Dennis Shepard, Judy Shepard and Patrick Kennedy.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Dennis Shepard, Judy Shepard and Patrick Kennedy.
Dennis Shepard, Judy Shepard and Patrick Kennedy.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Melissa Beattie and Jon Monteith
Melissa Beattie and Jon Monteith

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

LaRence Snowden and Eric L. Perry.
LaRence Snowden and Eric L. Perry.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Gavin Creel  from the Broadway production of Hair and HRC President Joe Solmonese.
Gavin Creel from the Broadway production of Hair and HRC President Joe Solmonese.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Nick Leighton and Stuart Hendler.
Nick Leighton and Stuart Hendler.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Daniel Campbell and Mellissa Conley.
Daniel Campbell and Mellissa Conley.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Brian Goldston, Bruce Frishman and Peter Balis.
Brian Goldston, Bruce Frishman and Peter Balis.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Real World: DC was in attendance.
Real World: DC was in attendance.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Gene Fox, Denise Galambos and Jon Kaplan
Gene Fox, Denise Galambos and Jon Kaplan

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Nima Taherzadeh, Ed French and Antonio Guerrero.
Nima Taherzadeh, Ed French and Antonio Guerrero.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Brad Heller, Stacey Colescott and Jeremy Woolf.
Brad Heller, Stacey Colescott and Jeremy Woolf.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

David Paul and Nick Langlois.
David Paul and Nick Langlois.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Ron Nicynski and female guest.
Ron Nicynski and female guest.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Kyle Mulhall, Darrow Vance, John paul and Micheal Sigelman.
Kyle Mulhall, Darrow Vance, John paul and Micheal Sigelman.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Gavin Creel  from the Broadway production of Hair.
Gavin Creel from the Broadway production of Hair.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Julian Clark and Mark Tristan Ng.
Julian Clark and Mark Tristan Ng.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Brad Mayer and Mark Doumet.
Brad Mayer and Mark Doumet.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Tanya Smith, Heather O'Callahan, Carolyn Veizaga and Celie Nihause.
Tanya Smith, Heather O’Callahan, Carolyn Veizaga and Celie Nihause.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele.
Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Aaron Walton, Gwen Migita and Cue Vu.
Aaron Walton, Gwen Migita and Cue Vu.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Jocelyn Hamilton and Dana Goldberg.
Jocelyn Hamilton and Dana Goldberg.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Kevin Christy, Dan Clay and Brandon Wagoner.
Kevin Christy, Dan Clay and Brandon Wagoner.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

The cast of Fox's Glee surrounds HRC President Joe Solmonese.
The cast of Fox’s Glee surrounds HRC President Joe Solmonese.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

The cast of Fox's Glee Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Amber Riley and Jane Lynch.
The cast of Fox’s Glee Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Amber Riley and Jane Lynch.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Jane Lynch.
Jane Lynch.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Chris Colfer, Amber Riley and Cory Monteith.
Chris Colfer, Amber Riley and Cory Monteith.

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

Lea Michele
Lea Michele

HRC Gala Photograph by Kyle Gustafson

More: Photo Gallery
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