Queer Eye's Karamo Brown Will Bring Star Power to DNC LGBTQ Gala

From left: Rep. Sharice Davids, Karamo Brown, and Rep. David Cicilline

The Democratic National Committee's Annual LGBTQ Gala will be more fab than ever this year.

Karamo Brown, a member of Queer Eye's Fab Five, will be a special celebrity guest at the event, to be held June 17 in New York City. He will highlight the historic progress the LGBTQ community has made since Stonewall 50 years ago. Also attending will be DNC Chair Tom Perez and every LGBTQ member of Congress.

"I'm ready to do my part in helping elect Democrats up and down the ballot," Brown said in a DNC press release. "Last year, our community joined together and broke records. Now it's time to continue that momentum and help build the infrastructure our eventual Democratic presidential nominee will need to win. I'm excited to join Chair Tom Perez and our LGBTQ members of Congress to kick off the 2020 election cycle."

"The 2018 midterm election was a landmark moment for the LGBTQ community," Perez said in the release. "LGBTQ representation was boosted all across the country and at every level of government. Now, as we enter the most important presidential election of our lifetime, it's critical that we build on the progress we've made. The new House Democratic Majority is holding President Trump accountable and putting forward a legislative agenda to expand opportunities for everyone, including the LGBTQ community through the Equality Act. I'm excited to host LGBTQ activist Karamo Brown and fellow allies at this year's gala."

"Fairness and equality are core American values. I'm proud to be a member of the only political party that's fighting to bring our country closer to realizing these ideals in our time," added House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chair David Cicilline. "I'm looking forward to taking part in this event and to continue this fight until every LGBTQ American is equal in the eyes of the law."

"In 2018 we reset expectations across the country of who runs for office and who we support as candidates," said Rep. Sharice Davids, the first lesbian Native American elected to Congress. "In the 116th Congress, there are more women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community than ever before. Together we are working to ensure that everyone's voice is heard and everyone has access to opportunity. I'm proud to be a part of this new House Majority -- and a cochair of the Equality Caucus -- as we work towards these goals."

The event started as a small dinner held by former DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias in 1999 and has grown exponentially to one of the DNC's marquee galas and traditionally the organization's top-raising event. This year's 20th Anniversary Gala will celebrate the growth of not only this gala, which is a private, invitation-only event, but of the political power of the LGBTQ community. Additional speakers and celebrity guests will be announced in the coming weeks.