Columbus Dinner 2024

We are thrilled to welcome HRC President Kelley Robinson as our keynote speaker! In April, Kelley was named to TIME’s prestigious 2024 TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people. She has been at the helm of the Human Rights Campaign for a little over a year. In that short time, she has already cemented her place as a historic changemaker. Under Kelley’s strategic vision and guidance, HRC has taken its advocacy to bold new heights, including declaring a national State of Emergency in response to the unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation spreading across the country.

HRC is thrilled to honor Jacob Yandura with the Visibility Award. An Ohio native and Kenyon College graduate, Jacob is a New York City-based composer best known for his musical How to Dance in Ohio, a musical adaptation of the 2015 Peabody Award-winning documentary (directed by Sammi Cannold and supported by the Prince Fellowship and the Shubert Organization’s Artistic Circle).

How to Dance in Ohio first premiered at Syracuse Stage in Fall 2022 and opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre in Fall 2023. He is currently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Broadway Production.

Jacob has received numerous recognitions for his writing and contributions to the theater and holds a B.A. in Music Composition from Kenyon College and an M.F.A from New York University’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.

HRC is thrilled to honor Dion Manley with the Equality Award at the 2024 Columbus Dinner! Dion is the first openly trans elected official in the State of Ohio, having won election to the Gahanna-Jefferson School Board and taking office in 2022. He earned a full athletic scholarship to California State University Northridge and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in humanities from New College of California. Dion earned three certificates from the Gemological Institute of America before owning a small jewelry business for 17 years in San Francisco. Dion currently works as a healthcare worker in the optometry field. He has over ten years of experience in public service with the Franklin County Board of Elections and six years of nonprofit experience as acting Executive Director, volunteer coordinator, outreach specialist and board officer.

Brooke Bishop is a social worker whose work focuses on children's mental health. Brooke is a longtime HRC volunteer, having previously served on the HRC Board of Governors for seven years and held numerous volunteer roles with the organization.

Andy is a corporate partner in the Columbus office of a national law firm, where he focuses his practice on real estate and finance matters, including representing developers of affordable housing and helping businesses transition to employee ownership. He is the national co-chair of his firm’s LGBTQ affinity group and in 2018 was named one of the Best LGBTQ Lawyers under 40 in the country by the LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

With HRC Columbus, he serves as the Board liaison to the Political Action/Community Engagement Committee, the Federal Club Committee, and the Volunteer Engagement Committee.

Lucy Little is an accounting and Human Resources professional, currently serving as a payroll specialist for Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. A member of the National Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign, Lucy is a dynamic leader who effectively produces results and drives change.

She has a passion for building bridges within Central Ohio and exploring the intersections of LGBTQ people with other aspects of the community.