Broadway Stars and Advocates Unite at Family Equality’s Night at the Pier Gala to Support LGBTQ+ Families Nationwide
Family Equality’s annual Night at the Pier fundraising gala will feature unforgettable, star-studded Broadway performances — with 37 collective 2026 Tony nominations — and special appearances by celebrity guests.
New York, NY — On Monday, May 11, 2026, Family Equality will host their annual Night at the Pier gala — an evening for changemakers, allies, and artists to come together for LGBTQ+ families. The event is expected to raise $1.1M to support Family Equality’s mission to protect and support LGBTQ+ families across the country.
Guests include:
- Family Equality’s Luminary Award honorees, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka presented by Elton John and David Furnish
- Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, this year’s Hostetter-Habib Family Award honoree
- Dan Bucatinsky, Sophia Bush, Alina Cho, Claybourne Elder, Karine Jean-Pierre, John Lithgow, Julie Chen Moonves, Kathy Najimi, Carl Nassib, Jim Obergefell, Peppermint, Sutton Stracke, Colton Underwood, and last year’s Luminary Award honorees, Jason Weinberg and Merritt Johnson, as well as many others.
This year’s program comes at a critical moment for LGBTQ+ families and brings together leading advocates and award-winning performers to raise funds and visibility amid ongoing policy changes nationwide.
The evening will feature musical performances from four Broadway shows with a collective 37 Tony nominations:
- The cast of the 9-time Tony-nominated musical revival CATS: The Jellicle Ball
- Nicholas Christopher, Tony Award nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, from the 5-time Tony-nominated musical revival Chess
- The cast of the 12-time Tony-nominated musical The Lost Boys
- Joshua Henry, Tony Award nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, from the 11-time Tony-nominated musical revival Ragtime
To expand access beyond the room, Family Equality will host a nationwide virtual silent auction, allowing supporters across the country to participate in real time along with those bidding in the room during the event.
Featured items include:
- An ultimate Cabo indulgence package that includes a five-night stay at a luxury villa that sleeps ten – and includes daily butler service
- Exclusive private tour of the New York Stock Exchange for four people
- Tickets to some of the most popular Broadway shows
- Dugout seats at a Yankees game
- Summer stay at a Cape Cod beachfront home
- And much more!
Bidding ends at 9:30PM ET on Monday, May 11, 2026. Every dollar raised helps protect and advance the rights of LGBTQ+ families across the country.
About Night at the Pier
This year’s theme, “We show up,” reflects Family Equality’s enduring commitment to LGBTQ+ families nationwide – in moments of crisis and in moments of possibility.
Event Details
- Family Equality’s Night at the Pier
- Monday, May 11, 2026
- 6-7PM Cocktail Reception; 7-9:30PM Program and Dinner; After-party 9:30-11PM
- Pier Sixty, New York City
- Tickets starting at $550
To purchase tickets and see more details, visit familyequality.org/night-at-the-pier.
To cover the event and red carpet contact:
About Family Equality
Family Equality is the only national nonprofit dedicated to protecting and advancing the freedoms of all LGBTQ+ families through bold advocacy, powerful community building, and transformative education.
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