Lisa Kudrow and RuPaul present award to Michael Patrick King at Human Rights Campaign Dinner: 'We're no longer them'

The 2026 edition of the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Dinner turned into a powerful celebration and advocacy event, bringing together influential voices from entertainment, politics, and activism.

Held at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on March 28, the evening highlighted the importance of visibility and representation while honouring individuals who have consistently contributed to inclusive storytelling in mainstream media.

Honouring the creator behind ‘The Comeback’ and ‘AJ and the Queen’

A host of well-known personalities came together as Lisa Kudrow and RuPaul presented a special honour to Michael Patrick King. Known for creating ‘The Comeback’ and ‘AJ and the Queen’, King was recognised with the Visibility Award.

Also present was Kristin Davis, who collaborated with him on ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘And Just Like That…’, further underlining his lasting impact on television.Addressing the audience, King spoke about the importance of storytelling in shaping perceptions. “So we have to push back those lies about us, about people who are different and push forward empowering stories about people who dare to be themselves, stories about characters who risk being individual in the face of society,” he said during his speech.

According to Just Jared, he further elaborated on how on-screen representation can influence audiences. “In living rooms across this country, people who don’t know a queer person or think they don’t, are watching TV, and occasionally watching an LGBTQ+ character, and sometimes something that happens on a television, a certain story, a wonderful character, a joke, a heart revealed can knock down the scaffold society has forced us to build up around ourselves and reveal the soul underneath,” he continued.

“And when this happens, people in their homes, sitting on their couches, can see us and come to know us. And little by little, we are no longer ‘them.’”

Celebrities in attendance

The evening was chaired by

Niecy Nash

, who attended alongside her wife Jessica Betts. Several other notable names were also spotted, including Malin Akerman with Jack Donnelly, Erika Jayne, Marcia Gay Harden, filmmaker Paul Feig, along with ‘The Resident’ actors Matt Czuchry and Alimi Ballard, and Melissa Peterman. Karen Bass, the Mayor of Los Angeles, was also among the attendees.