About

About Chefs for Equality

Chefs for Equality brings together the capital region's top chefs, pastry chefs and mixologists for an evening of food, cocktails and music to benefit the fight for full LGBTQ+ equality.

This year’s event, titled United Plates of America, takes place on Monday, October 19, 2026 with five chef-driven collab dinners.

The five collab dinners on Monday, October 19 star many of the DMV’s most notable chefs. At CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Marcus DC, Moon Rabbit, Centrolina, and Perry’s, chefs, mixologists and pastry chefs will offer a cocktail reception and a multi-course dinner paired with wines from the DMV’s finest purveyors and
shops.

The evening also features an online auction, Chefs for Equality’s signature goody bags, florals by Amaryllis Design House and other surprises we have up our sleeves.

Are you a restaurant, bar, or local businesses interested in supporting Chefs for Equality and getting involved in the event? Check out our Look Book for opportunities. 

What Your Ticket Purchase Supports

Chefs for Equality is an event to advance the fight for LGBTQ+ equality through the work of the HRC Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.

The HRC Foundation works to educate the public and provides training and model policies that alter the fundamental nature of the institutions that govern the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people everywhere. The HRC Foundation touches every aspect of LGBTQ+ life with programs that target our most sensitive and vulnerable interactions:

• Helping with equal access to adoption and foster care
• Creating respectful and supportive school environments
• Helping healthcare providers increase LGBTQ+ competency
• Engaging in dialogue around LGBTQ+ equality in faith communities
• Helping corporate America adopt inclusive workplace policies and practices
• Leveraging our domestic work to have an international impact
• The HRC Foundation enhances the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people and their families by changing hearts and minds across the country and beyond.

Chefs for Equality would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our Host Committee

David Hagedorn, Ashley Arias, Charissa Benjamin, Bonnie Benwick, Misi Cooney, Emily Friedber, Anthony Hesselius, Dara Jimenez, AJ Johnson, Christine Kim, Aba Kwawu, Jackie Ludden, Nycci Nellis, Amber Pfau, Simone Rathle, JP Sabatier, Maru Valdes, Christopher Vazquez, Adra Williams.