The director of an Atlanta HIV agency and an activist who fought to overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be honored at this year's Human Rights Campaign Atlanta Gala Dinner, set for May 14.

Jeff Cleghorn, a retired Army major and Atlanta attorney, will receive the Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award from HRC. As a staff member and now board member with Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Cleghorn worked to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on openly gay soldiers.

In December, Cleghorn was one of at least four Atlantans invited to the White House to see President Barack Obama sign legislation that will repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

In an interview at the time, Cleghorn, who joined the U.S. Army in 1984 and left the military in 1996, recalled when DADT was passed 17 years ago and the pain it caused him for the country he served to say it believed there was something wrong with him.

“I had to lie as a condition for serving my country,” he told the GA Voice.

Paul Plate will be honored with the Leon Allen & Winston Johnson Community Service Award. Plate serves as executive director of Positive Impact, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides mental health and other services for people who are impacted by HIV.

In addition to the local honors, Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique will receive HRC's "Ally for Equality" award at the Atlanta dinner.

The 24th annual Atlanta HRC Gala Dinner and Auction will take place on May 14, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. You can find more information here.