FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY, NANCY G. BRINKER JOINS STUART MILK FOR U.S. EMBASSY RECEPTION TO HONOR THE WORK OF THE HARVEY MILK FOUNDATION ON LGBT INCLUSION

The Harvey Milk Foundation, a global organization that promotes Harvey Milk’s legacy through human rights education and global outreach efforts, announced today that Ambassador Nancy Brinker and her son, Eric Brinker, will join Stuart Milk, nephew of the late civil rights leader Harvey Milk and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation on October 9, 2014 in Budapest, Hungary, for a reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy to honor the work of the Harvey Milk Foundation. The reception with community and civil society leaders will include remarks by the Former Ambassador Brinker, Mr. M. André Goodfriend, the Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. of the U.S. Embassy Budapest and Stuart Milk.

"I am thrilled to join Stuart Milk and the Harvey Milk Foundation for this important evening in Budapest," said Ambassador Nancy Brinker. "There is much work to be done to promote awareness about the LGBT community in Hungary and Central Europe, and I am proud to participate in this reception."

The reception will bring local civil society advocates, supporters, and honored guests together at the residence of the Chargé d'Affaires to honor work by the Harvey Milk Foundation that is geared to move the Hungarian and European LGBT inclusive civil society forward.

"We have a dedicated Harvey Milk Foundation team in Budapest who have worked for some years now with great passion to ensure Central Europe and Hungary are aware and informed on the historic progress that has been made in favor of LGBT rights across the globe" said Milk. "I look forward to this important night on October 9th when I can join our friends at the U.S. Embassy as we recognize the importance of the Hungarian LGBT community in European and world affairs and seize a unique opportunity to be joined by my friend and global humanitarian, Ambassador Nancy Brinker. So much of the societal progress for LGBT people has been made by visibility and personal stories, and both Ambassador Brinker and her son, Eric, will share one such story in brief remarks that is sure to move and touch all."

The Harvey Milk Foundation works to promote the celebration of diversity across the globe and has supported LGBT advocates on the ground in Hungary. This work has included Milk serving as the keynote speaker for the annual Pride March in both 2011 and 2013, holding panel discussions, and a LGBT film series. In 2012, Milk brought Hungarian LGBT rights advocates to the U.S. Capital for substantive briefings with Congressional leadership and to participate in a White House LGBT rights forum and East Wing reception. In 2013, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Milk met with religious and civil society leaders and held discussions following an exclusive viewing of the 2009 Academy Award winning film, MILK.

Stuart Milk and Nancy Brinker will be joined by Eric Brinker, her son who is openly gay.

"My mom has always been my biggest supporter and we are very pleased to be able to share our family's story with members of the LGBT community from Hungary and Central Europe" said Eric Brinker.