FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Dan Bucatinsky Join Marriage Equality and Family Equality Advocates At Night at the Pier Awards Ceremony
New York, NY – (Apr. 29, 2013) – Family Equality Council welcomed singer/songwriters Cyndi Lauper and Melissa Etheridge along with actor/writer/producer/author Dan Bucatinsky to its Night at the Pier awards ceremony on Monday at New York City’s Pier 60.
The three were among the presenters and honorees for the organization’s annual event which honored members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community for their efforts to create equality for parents who are LGBT and their children.
Dan Bucatinsky was honored for his ongoing efforts to advance the rights of LGBT families in an award presented by singer Melissa Etheridge and writer/producer Linda Wallem.
Bucatinsky currently plays James on ABC’s hit series “Scandal” and is also the best-selling author of “Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?” Along with longtime producing partner Lisa Kudrow, he’s produced and/or co-starred in three Emmy nominated series, “The Comeback”, “Who Do You Think You Are?” and the web-to-TV comedy, “Web Therapy” created with his husband, filmmaker, Don Roos, with whom he has two kids, Eliza and Jonah.
In accepting the award, Bucatinsky acknowledged that he was part of a greater community working to secure equality for LGBT parents and their children.
“I am grateful for Family Equality Council for the work that they do on behalf of the 3 million LGBT parents and their 6 million children because one day there will be no reason for the phrase marriage equality or family equality because that’s what we will be- equal,” said Bucatinsky.
Melissa Etheridge echoed his thoughts saying the national conversation will soon move away from the novelty over which athlete or celebrity is gay. ” We have come so far. You can feel it tipping. Today it’s a gay basketball player, tomorrow it’s a gay football player. But soon, we will just be talking about (protections for) their children and families.”
Edie Windsor, the plaintiff in the federal marriage equality case before the Supreme Court case, presented an award to attorney Roberta Kaplan. Kaplan represents Windsor in the case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and argued the case before the United States Supreme Court on March 27, 2013.
Windsor praised Kaplan for helping to raise awareness about the benefits of marriage to children.
“Robbie has not only come to be like family to me, she has come to represent all our families with all of her being,” said Windsor.
In accepting her award, Kaplan said her work would not have been possible without the efforts of Windsor.
“Edie’s life tells a remarkable story of love, courage, and sacrifice and it’s one that will be told for generations,” said Kaplan. “Her case is very much about families (and will impact) all families affected by DOMA.”
Award-winning Broadway Producer Darryl Roth presented an award to Jennifer Chrisler, one of the nation’s leading advocates for LGBT parents and their children. As Executive Director of Family Equality Council from 2005 to 2013, Chrisler grew the organization into the leading national voice on issues that impact today’s modern families.
“I knew that by telling my story, by telling your story, by telling the stories of our families- that those stories would create the change we needed in this world,” said Chrisler.
The event was capped off with a performance by Grammy Award nominee Deborah Cox, currently starring in the Broadway production of “Jekyll and Hyde” and by a surprise appearance by Cyndi Lauper who introduced the closing performance from the cast of her Broadway show “Kinky Boots.”
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The Family Equality Council connects, supports and represents three million parents who are LGBT and their six million children. We work to change attitudes and policies across the country, to ensure families are respected, loved, and celebrated. For 30 years, our community has stood together to raise our children and raise our voices toward fairness for all.
CONTACT:
Steve Majors | Dir. Communications
202.664.0079 | smajors@familyequality.org
Photos available at Gettyimages.com