The Human Rights Campaign has announced its keynote speaker for the upcoming HRC Atlanta Dinner and Awards Gala.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wi.), who represents the state's 2nd Congressional District, will be the dinner's featured keynote speaker. Baldwin, a candidate for one of Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seats, is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and one of only four openly gay members to serve in the U.S. Congress. She was the first person to be openly gay when elected to Congress (others had come out while in office) and if successful in her current campaign, would be the first openly gay U.S. senator.

The HRC says of Baldwin:

She is a passionate advocate for her constituents, a supporter of health care for all, and a leader on women's issues. As the first (and thus far only) out lesbian elected to Congress, Tammy is a leader who is making a difference every day. This year, the Congresswoman is a candidate for U.S. Senate, and if successful she will be the first woman to represent Wisconsin in the Senate, and the first openly gay senator in the country. Getting Representative Baldwin elected to the US Senate is a key priority for HRC in 2012's November elections.

Local community leaders are also honored each year at the HRC Dinner. This year's Leon Allen and Winston Johnson Community Leadership Award will be given to Rev. Phillip Thomason of St. Mark United Methodist Church. Thomason is the Minister of Outreach and Pastoral Care at the LGBT-inclusive church.

The Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award will be given to the Health Initiative, formerly the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative, for its work in improving the health and well-being of the state's LGBT community.

The annual gala dinner, one of the highlights of Atlanta's LGBT Spring calendar, will be held on May 5, 2012, from 7-9 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel.

For more information on the event, including ticket information, visit www.atlantahrcdinner.org.