Shonda Rhimes to be honored for her 'groundbreaking portrayals of LGBT people'

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Television titan Shonda Rhimes is to be honored by the Human Rights Campaign at its gala dinner in Los Angeles March 14.

The group describes itself as the "the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization."

Writer, producer and director Rhimes is known for her hit ABC shows Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder.

"We are thrilled to honor such a fierce and longtime advocate for LGBT equality at this year's HRC Los Angeles gala dinner," HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement Monday. "Shonda Rhimes is not only politically outspoken on issues of equality, but has also created some of the most groundbreaking portrayals of LGBT people ever seen on television, helping to change hearts and minds around the world."