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PROP 8 OPPONENT CHAD GRIFFIN HONORED BY FAMILY EQUALITY COUNCIL AT LA AWARDS DINNER
Griffin, Prop 8 Plaintiffs, Rob Reiner, Dustin Lance Black & “Modern Family” Stars
Celebrate Family Equality Council’s 30th Anniversary.
Washington, D.C. – (Feb. 12, 2012) – Family Equality Council, the national organization that connects, supports, and represents the one million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents raising two million children in the U.S., proudly honored several advocates of family equality at the organization’s annual awards dinner in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The award honorees included Chad Griffin, the Co-founder and Board President of the American Foundation for Equal Rights – the group behind the federal court case to overturn California’s Proposition 8 amendment. Griffin’s award was presented by acclaimed writer/director and fellow activist Rob Reiner.
The plaintiffs in the case, Kris and Sandy Stier and Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo were special guests for the evening.
Family Equality Council Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler said the organization was pleased to honor Griffin just days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
“We stand together at a crucial moment in our history,” said Chrisler. “Never before have families with parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender been so visible; so united, and so full of hope. Yet as incredible as the progress in California and other states has been this past year and over the 30 years of our existence, we must acknowledge there are still many who are actively trying to deny our families their freedom, happiness, and rights.”
“Our honorees have given us renewed hope that future generations will look back on this time and know that this was the moment when we achieved real milestones in changing attitudes and laws so that our families were respected, protected, and celebrated.”
Honoree Chad Griffin echoed her hopes for the future.
“May the 2 million children represented by the Family Equality Council be part of the generation to be raised in an American where everyone is guaranteed equal protection under our laws,” said Griffin.
The evening’s other honorees included former Pennsylvania Representative Patrick Murphy, who helped lead the opposition to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; and Todd Parr, the award-winning children’s book author.
“Modern Family” stars Eric Stonestreet was among the award presenters.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Broadway actor, and star of “Modern Family” performed during the event.
The 2012 Awards Dinner marked the beginning of a year-long national celebration of Family Equality Council’s 30th anniversary and demonstrated the organization’s renewed commitment to creating a better world for the parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, friends and allies, who are part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
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