Singer, songwriter and rapper Kesha will be honored at the 21st Annual HRC Nashville Equality Dinner on Saturday, March 5, 2016, with HRC Nashville’s Visibility Award, the organization announced this week.
“Kesha has unapologetically used her influence and international platform to bring attention to the challenges faced by the LGBT community,” said Blake Brockway, co-chair of this year's dinner, in the announcement. "We are proud to welcome her to the HRC Nashville Equality Dinner and honor her with this year’s Visibility Award.”
The Visibility Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of those who use their incredible talent and visibility to help better the lives of LGBT people. Kesha has used her spotlight to bring attention to the bullying and harassment that many LGBT young people continue to face. In an interview with Seventeen magazine, she said, “I'm all about standing up to gay/lesbian/transgender bullying, but it’s also about my little brother. He's 13 and he gets made fun of because he has a stutter. I just have zero tolerance for people making fun of others."
Though she was born in Los Angeles, Kesha has been a Nashville resident since 1991 when her mother, Patricia Rose "Pebe" Sebert — who co-wrote the Dolly Parton classic, "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle To You," with then-husband Hugh Moffatt — moved the family to town. Kesha later recorded the song on her EP Deconstructed.
The Visibility Award will be presented by singer-songwriter Wrabel, who will also perform at the event.
"Wrabel is an incredibly talented rising star, and we are thrilled that he will be performing at our HRC Nashville Equality Dinner," said Brockway in the announcement. "We are looking forward to an inspiring performance that will make the evening even more memorable."
The 21st Annual HRC Nashville Equality Dinner – "Stronger Together: Moving Equality Forward" – will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. To purchase tickets to the HRC Nashville Equality Dinner or receive more information about the event, visit www.hrc.org/nashville.