On October 15, more than 400 guests gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate Family Equality’s LA Impact: A Night of Heroes, which raised more than $400,000 for Family Equality’s work on behalf of LGBTQ+ families.
Co-hosted by Alec Mapa and Melissa Peterman, the benefit featured performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Nina West, accompanied by Los Angeles-area youth from Upstage Theatre Schools; singer-songwriter Debby Holiday; TikTok sensation Kelechi; The Voice alum Rayshunn Lamar; and stage and screen star Cheyenne Jackson with appearances by Rosie O'Donnell, Gigi Gorgeous, August Getty, Dot-Marie Jones, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jamal Sims, and more.
The Visibility Award was presented to entrepreneurs Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis, and author, podcaster, and musician Violet Augustine was honored with the Murray/Reese Family Award for Bravery. Family Equality also honored Clockwork and its CEO, Nancy Lyons, with the inaugural Digital Impact Award.
“LGBTQ+ families across the country are angry and afraid and they have every right to be,” said Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson. “We are often treated like fractional citizens. We shoulder all the responsibilities as other American citizens. We adhere to legal requirements, report to jury duty, pay our share of taxes and for that we enjoy half the rights, a quarter of the dignity, and respect and oftentimes zero safety.”
Stevenson added, "We are in a dark moment, but this seemingly dark moment in this country is calling us to step up in a bigger and bolder way than ever before."
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Melissa Peterman, Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson, and Dot-Marie Jones at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Melissa Peterman and Dot-Marie Jones at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Rosie O'Donnell and Leo Sheng at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Rosie O'Donnell and Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Gigi Gorgeous and August Getty at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Zeke Smith and Nico Santos at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
August Getty at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson and Dana Goldberg at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Alec Mapa at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson and Alec Mapa at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nina West at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nina West and Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Stacey Stevenson and Cheralyn Stevenson at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Melissa Peterman performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Alec Mapa and Melissa Peterman perform at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Dani Wassel at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nancy Lyons at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Dana Goldberg at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Sabrina Jalees performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Kelechi performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Wendi McLendon- Covey at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Debby Holiday performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Debby Holiday performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Alec Mapa and Melissa Peterman perform at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nina West performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nina West performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nina West Performas at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nina West performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Melissa Peterman at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Melissa Peterman performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Cheyenne Jackson performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Cheyenne Jackson performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Cheyenne Jackson performs at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Melissa Peterman, Cheyenne Jackson, Alec Mapa, and Dot-Marie Jones at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Nico Santos, Zeke Smith and Nina West at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Atmosphere at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Atmosphere at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Atmosphere at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Sabrina Jalees and guest at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Guests at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
Guests at The Family Equality Gala in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios
