Orlando – The 4th Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast will feature a special guest this year: Ryland Whittington, an 8-year-old transgender boy who gained notoriety after his family published a video telling his unique and inspiring story, two years ago.
“This remarkable young man is absolutely the epitome of courage and authenticity,” says Miriam Richter, Education Director and Counsel for the Harvey Milk Foundation.
Whittington, who lives in San Diego, will receive the annual Milk Foundation Rosza Award May 13 during the Foundation’s South Florida event at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Then Whittington and his family will travel to Orlando for the Diversity Breakfast May 16 at Dubsdread Country Club in College Park.
“Anyone who believes that every person on this earth should be able to live their life with authenticity and proudly should be interested in coming to this breakfast,” Richter says. “Ryland Whittington is the absolute rock star of showing that.”
The event will honor LGBT activist and Orlando attorney Mary Meeks, who has been instrumental in many LGBT advancements both locally and nationally, and Scott Maxwell, an Orlando Sentinel columnist who has used his voice to further LGBT equality in Central Florida. Organizers will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for helping establish Orlando as an LGBT-friendly city.
Additionally, Milk’s nephew, Stuart Milk, will deliver his State of Global Equality address.
The Diversity Breakfast is a benefit for The GLBT Center of Central Florida and The Harvey Milk Foundation.
“The foundation is unique in that we approach acceptance and authenticity and bringing this to any marginalized community worldwide. That was one of Harvey’s original missions when he was in office in San Francisco, he always reached out to all communities,” Richter says. “When all communities realize we should be celebrating our differences and accepting each other and celebrating authenticity, all of our lives are improved, humanity is improved and the world is a better place.”
The Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Tickets are $45 for individuals, $500 for families and available at HarveyMilkBreakfast.EventBrite.com.
