Washington, D.C.—On October 24, 2012, top chefs and mixologists from the D.C. metropolitan area cooked together at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. as part of a final push to pass marriage equality for the state of Maryland. Chefs for Equality, the ultimate gourmet-laden benefit, was hosted by prominent food writer David Hagedorn and the Human Rights Campaign. Fashion icon Tim Gunn emceed the event and Governor Martin O’Malley delivered a fiery speech to encourage public support and for Maryland residents to vote yes on Question 6. If passed, the law will make Maryland the first state in the nation to successfully defend marriage equality at the ballot box.

Amongst all the award-winning and celebrity chefs and mixologists were Erik Bruner-Yang & Colin Sulgaski (Toki Underground), Karen Nicolas (Equinox), Kaz Okochi (Kaz Sushi Bistro), Vikram Sunderam (Rasika), KN Vinod (Indique & Indique Heights) and Steve Yoon (Sushi Rock).