EQUALITY FORUM PRESENTS ANNUAL AWARDS AT THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COLLOQUIUM DINNER ON SATURDAY, MAY 1

James C. Hormel, the first openly gay United States Ambassador,
to receive the International Business Leadership Award

The Hon. Martin Cauchon, former attorney general of Canada,
to receive the 9th Annual International Role Model Award

Governor Edward Rendell is the Honorary Dinner Chair

Equality Forum will honor James C. Hormel, the first openly gay United States Ambassador, and the Hon. Martin Cauchon, former attorney general of Canada, at the International Business Colloquium Dinner on Saturday, May 1 at 8 p.m. at the Independence National Historic Park, 6th and Market Streets. Governor Edward Rendell is the evening's honorary dinner chair. Sally Susman, senior vice president of global communications for the Estée Lauder Companies Inc., and business leader and philanthropist Ron Ansin are the dinner co-chairs.

Tickets for the dinner, priced $200, can be purchased at the Kimmel Center Box Office, Broad and Spruce Streets; by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1999; or online at ticketphiladelphia.org. Benefactor tables are available. For more information call 215-732-3378 or visit www.equalityforum.com

The dinner is part of the International Business Colloquium, presented in collaboration with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The colloquium will address the issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) executives from the United States and Canada and their opportunities in international business on Saturday, May 1 at 1:30 p.m. at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street. Moderated by Justin Nelson, co-founder of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the panel includes Jay Everette, senior vice president for corporate marketing at Wachovia; Lynn Greer, co-publisher at Outlook Publishing; Louis Thomas, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; and Tom Culligan, co-founder of Canada's Second Cup.

James C. Hormel has devoted his life to the advocacy of basic human rights, social justice and the well being of all individuals. For more than 30 years, working with top business, government and academic leaders, he has sought to create, fund and initiate major programs addressing these concerns and to involve others in pubic service.

Mr. Hormel is the founder and chairman of Equidex Inc., a San Francisco-based firm that manages his, and his family's, investments and philanthropic activities. He is an alumnus of Swarthmore College and the University of Chicago Law School, where he was Assistant Dean and Dean of Students. In 1986 he established the James C. Hormel Public Service program at the law school to encourage law students to go into public service.

Mr. Hormel served as United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from June 1999 to December 2000. He was alternate representative of the United States delegation to the 51st United National General Assembly in 1996 and was a member of the United States delegation to the 51st United Nations Human Rights Commission. During the last 15 years, Mr. Hormel has been instrumental in developing resources for organizations serving people affected by HIV and AIDS, substance abuse and breast cancer. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and was a founding director of the City Club of San Francisco, a club created to bring together community leaders of diverse backgrounds. Currently Mr. Hormel is a member of the Board of Governors of the San Francisco Symphony, Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Foundation and Board of Directors of People for the American Way.

Mr. Hormel has five children, fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He lives in San Francisco with his partner.

Throughout Minister of Justice Martin Cauchon's distinguished career he has supported GLBT civil rights, including his important support for gay marriage.

After being elected to his third term as Member of Parliament in November 2000, Mr. Cauchon was appointed as Canada's 45th Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in January 2002. He previously served as Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State, responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Cauchon served as president of the Liberal Party of Canada. In addition, he was vice chairman of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, chaired the Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Associate, was a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, and was a member of the 2000 National Platform Committee.

Before entering into politics, Mr. Cauchon received a Licentiate in Civil Law from the University of Ottawa and later practiced civil and commercial litigation.

Equality Forum Executive Director Malcolm Lazin said "When gay history is written, Martin Cauchon will be remembered as an important straight ally at a critical time."

Equality Forum 2004 is April 26 to May 2 in Philadelphia. For more information call 215-732-3378 or visit www.equalityforum.com.

Equality Forum is the largest regional, national and international Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) civil rights forum, working to create understanding about homophobia and its multifaceted impact on individuals, families and society. Each year, in addition to promoting and discussing GLBT organizations and issues, Equality Forum highlights a Featured Nation and explores that country's GLBT culture, social issues and advancements in civil rights. Equality Forum embraces a number of projects throughout the year, including the production of the documentary films Gay Pioneers and JIM IN BOLD.

Equality Forum is a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Philadelphia, the site of some of the earliest gay civil rights protests.

International Business Colloquium
May 1, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street
Open to the public, free of charge.

International Business Colloquium Dinner
May 1, 8 to 11 p.m.
Independence National Historic Park, 6th and Market Streets
Admission: $200
For tickets, visit the Kimmel Center Box Office, Broad and Spruce Streets; call Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1999; or visit www.ticketphiladelphia.org. Benefactor tables are available. For more information call 215-732-3378.