Some of the most visible members of Hollywood's LGBT community are rolling out the rainbow carpet for President Barack Obama Wednesday.
The President will be appearing at two fundraising events the evening he arrives in Los Angeles: the LGBT Leadership Council's gala, where Ellen DeGeneres will be speaking, and a private dinner hosted by "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy and his fiance David Miller.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE PRESIDENT'S LA SCHEDULE
The gala was originally scheduled at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills and had to be moved to the more spacious Beverly Wilshire hotel to accomodate higher ticket demand after Obama's announcement that he supported gay marriage rights in early May.
Entrance to the sold-out event started at $1,250 and topped out at $25,000 per couple, which included name recognition in the event program, a photo with the President and preferred seating for two. There are no more seats available, but hopefuls can still sign up for a waiting list. About 600 people are expected to attend.
In addition to Degeneres' appearance, TV "Glee" star Darren Criss, who plays an openly gay high school student in the show, will sing.
After the gala, the President will be appearing at Murphy and Miller's more intimate affair nearby -- a fundraising dinner priced at $40,000 per couple or $25,000 for a single ticket. Approximately 70 people are expected to be there.
Here's what's known about the President's schedule so far:
Wednesday, June 6
- 3:15 p.m.: The President leaves San Francisco (SFO airport) and heads to Los Angeles.
As usual, White House security detail and local law enforcement will not release the President's specific route throughout Los Angeles until a few hours before the events.
An alert from the Beverly Hills Police Department only warns that there will be traffic delays and "intermittent street closures" around Century City and Beverly Hills in the late afternoon and through the evening hours.
The President will spend the night in Los Angeles and then attend a breakfast fundraiser at the home of Charles and JoAnn Quarles in View Park -- a neighborhood City News Services notes is nicknamed "black Beverly Hills." Tickets started at $2,500, and 300 are expected to attend.
Charles Quarles founded the Bedford Group, a real estate development company that works in urban neighborhoods. The company's site says the Bedford Group focuses on "geographic areas that were overlooked by the traditional development community."
After that, the President is headed for Las Vegas, Nev. on official, non-campaign business, reports the Sacramento Bee.
The President's June visit comes on the heels of a trip in May to attend actor George Clooney's fundraising dinner. Clooney's fundraiser raised $15 million, a record-breaking sum for the President's re-election fund.
It looks like Obama's historic display of support for gay marriage equality is paying off handsomely. The event at Murphy's home makes 150 fundraisers for President Obama's re-election campaign, the Democratic Party or both, notes City News Service. In comparison, George W. Bush attended 86 events and Bill Clinton attended 70.
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