Human Rights Campaign Dinner 2025

Friday, September 26, 2025, was the HRC’s Federal Club kickoff. As a volunteer, I am always invited. It is usually held in a small restaurant and is always great fun for me. This year was no different on a beautiful and sunny day. All I can say is wearing a dress for a big part of that day was natural, joyful, amazing, real and anything else you could imagine. Everyone was so sweet to me and very complimentary. I bought the purse that week because I, well you know, had to be well put together. The best compliment I got and is always my favorite was when a wonderful woman complimented me exactly on how well put together I was. Gold! Not much more of a story here, just a few fun pics.

See the empty space above? That is where the picture of Sherry and I would be if Sherry and I took a picture together… Nonetheless, she and I shared a fabulous time at the HRC Dinner, September 27, 2025. I myself took well fewer pictures than usual, especially when I look this good. I thought I would get a bunch at the event as I have done many times in the past, but we were busy from the minute we got there. And then I met an amazing person.

I spent the better part of the opening cocktail party with a woman whom I would now support and actually pull a lever for in the ballot box, Dr. Amy Acton. She is running for Ohio Govenor in 2026. She approached me as I was wary, never trusting ANY politician. I warned here she would regret speaking to me, and she did not, and I did not. I spoke my mind about ALL politicians and implored her to be different. I brought person after person up to meet her and she could not have been more grateful for my efforts. When we left, I told her if she uses the governorship as a springboard to the Presidency, she will owe me a HUGE favor. I didn’t say what, but can you spell pardon? This is us at left, she does look like she is enjoying my company, I think.

Quick backstory, prior to meeting Sherry to go to the event, I was doing the bra shopping mentioned in a recent post. I scurried home (I got lost in that experience, losing track of time) and flipped myself from daytime Kandi to nighttime Kandi. Change of clothes, makeup touch up and upgrade, and off we went!

The dress you see here was Plan B. Plan A was spectacular; the BOGO part of a double BOGO buy I made a while back at David’s Bridal. When I tried the dress on that day, I looked great. It is a very, very short LBD. This day, I looked like dog meat, so the free dress is now in the for-sale basket. I have to be way too perfect to make her work. As you all know, I am very far from that! But we did okay anyway, I hope.

The whole evening was amazing. I have done this enough now that I am known, I am well known there, and I simply walk from waiting hug to waiting hug (BFF is a witness). The best part of the night was a young lady, who actually interviewed me some years back about a fashion show I walked. She was delightful and of course, I ended up on the cutting room floor. Taylor was honored for her proudly being open, out and visible. She is a reporter for Spectrum TV. Anyhoo, she is drop dead gorgeous and her girlfriend was an absolute head turner! So, BFF and I went out carousing with the two of them and Taylor’s Mom. I simply enjoyed every second of this day and the prior evening. I am in one of those imbalance periods where Kandi is all I can think about.

BTW, this was a sneaker soiree, hence the shoes. Pretty nice kicks, huh?