Last night, at Family Equality Council’s Night at the Pier, I was honored to receive the Hostetter-Habib Family Award, while Katie Couric was honored for her work on the National Geographic film Gender Revolution.
I received the award from Cathy Renna, owner of Target Cue, an LGBTQ-focused communications and public relations firm, and also a friend, a parent, and someone I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the many years I’ve been doing my Mombian work. Couric received her award from the Ford family—Vanessa, JR, Ronnie, and Ellie—who were featured in Gender Revolution. (My piece on that film here.) The Fords are delightful, and it was a pleasure to meet them. Ellie, in a poufy white dress, and Ronnie, in a bright purple suit (which they apparently chose themselves), were the fashion leaders of the evening.
And what an evening it was. Over 800 guests gathered at New York City’s Pier 60 and raised over $1 million for Family Equality Council, which will help them continue their mulifaceted work, both political and social, for LGBTQ families. Also honored was Ric Swezey, husband of former Family Equality Board Chair Nick Scandalios. Swezey died suddenly last year, and the Ric Swezey Memorial Fund, created in 2017, will be used to tell the stories of everyday LGBTQ families in their struggle for lived and legal equality. The first of many videos made through the fund premiered last night—we have good stuff to look forward to!
On a related note, Scandalios is executive vice president of the Nederlander Organization (which runs numerous Broadway theaters), and his Broadway connections were in delightful evidence during Night at the Pier: We heard performances from cast members from two Tony Awards Best Musical Nominees: Jelani Alladin and John Riddle from Frozen, and Erika Henningsen from Mean Girls, and from Tony Awards Best Featured Actress nominee Ariana DeBose, who were all amazing. Scandalios himself will be awarded the 2018 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award this June “in recognition of his tireless advocacy and dedication to LGBTQ families.”
While it was certainly a personal honor for me to receive the award, what really blew me away last night was that so many people came together to raise so much in support of equality for LGBTQ families. Our children are worth it. The work of equality is not done, but we are far from alone in our efforts. Thanks to Family Equality for all they do for all of us.
Once again, too, my award rests on your shoulders. Thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing your stories for more than a dozen years now. It is as a community that we all grow stronger.
Congratulations! What an honour! <3
Thank you!