A-LIST: Adam Lambert and Kathy Griffin appear at 2011 Los Angeles Equality Awards

The flashy singing star and the D-List comedienne were the big draws at this weekend’s Los Angeles Equality Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday night. [check out photos on Socialite's Life]

The awards recognize the achievements of the organization, its sponsors, members, staff and volunteers as well as members of the LGBT community. Other honorees included Daniel O’Donnell (Equality Leadership award) and Facebook (Equality Advocate Award).

I love how in his acceptance speech, Adam talked about missteps when he first became famous post-American Idol but now he recognizes the responsibility and the opportunity that comes along with being a high-profile openly gay star.

Adam later wrote via Twitter: “Thank you Equality California for such a lovely evening!! And @sam_sparro for a great intro.  

RIP: Betty Ford, 1918-2011

Former First Lady Betty Ford died yesterday at the age of 93.

Aside from her life as late President Gerald Ford's wife of 58 years, Mrs. Ford will also be remembered for breaking Republican ranks to back the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion rights for women and for her public battle against breast cancer, as well as alcohol and prescription drug addiction. 

That addiction led Mrs. Ford to open the world-renowned Betty Ford Clinic.

From the New York Times' obituary: Mrs. Ford brought a relaxed touch to the White House within days of moving in. She asked why the staff never returned a greeting and was told that President Nixon and the first lady, Pat Nixon, had preferred them to be as silent and invisible as possible. An immediate change went into effect, to the degree that during family meals the president and the butler compared golf scores. And when Mrs. Ford returned from her mastectomy, the staff lined up with signs reading, “We love you, Betty.”

Gaga Sued for Allegedly Ripping Off Charity?

Lady Gaga set up a charity to benefit victims of the Japan earthquake—nice, right? Not according to a lawyer from Michigan's 1-800-LAW-FIRM, who is suing the star and accusing her of ripping off that very charity, Radar reports. Gaga sold We Pray For Japan wristbands for $5, plus $3.99 in shipping and handling charges and 60 cents in taxes. The law firm claims she inflated the costs and kept the extra money raised for herself, and also notes that she won't reveal how much of the wristband money is actually going to victims.

Hello, she has raised more money for queer youth charities than anybody! Hog wash! 

OUTscene: Raja, Sammy Jo Join Terry Miller and Dan Savage at the Pre-Pride Bouncy Ball to Benefit 'It Gets Better' Project!

MK was Honored to be a Guest of OUTscene Regular and Stranger Columnist, Adrian Ryan at the Pre-Pride Bouncy Ball to Benefit, the 'It Gets Better Project'.

The event was Hosted by Terry Miller, Life partner of Dan Savage. Savage, himself was there to give Sex advice to attendees. The Headliners were Recent Drag Race winner, Raja Gemini and Scissor Sisters DJ, Sammy Jo and VOCKAH REDU

According to a statement from Miller, "What an incredible night! What an incredible crowd!"

Space Needle Releases Statement: We Will Proudly Fly the Pride Flag!

Seattle, we will have our Pride flag on the Space Needle this year! In a statement released to the public on Wednesday, the Space Needle shared:
We are thrilled to report that since Monday we have raised more than $13,000 towards our goal of $50,000 for LGBT charities.

The Needle has turned down 8 requests this year alone, but it is because of the overwhelming support for this cause that created the opportunity for us to lead the fundraising for these organizations. Again, our sincere intention is to reach out to the LGBT community to help raise money for these important organizations and to proudly fly the Pride flag on the top of the Space Needle. Please join us!

Our sincere intention is to reach out to the LGBT community to raise money for these important organizations and to proudly fly the Pride flag on the top of the Space Needle. We are on our way to our fundraising goal and will be just as excited as the community to see the Pride flag raised on the Space Needle. Please join us in this effort to raise $50,000 or more for the GSBA Scholarship Fund, Lambda Legal, It Gets Better, and Mary's Place!

This is not the first time the Space Needle has organized fundraisers for the community. We had a competition between the Huskies and the Cougars in which the school with the most donations was honored with their flag on the Space Needle. We raised more than $160,000 for the Habitat for Humanity during this fundraiser in less than 14 days. We have challenged many charitable organizations to raise money for humanitarian causes such as our Tree for All holiday project to light our tree at the base of the Needle.

This current fundraiser is a way to raise money for people in the LGBT community who especially need it, such as helping LGBT students pay for college, giving LGBT youth the support they need to keep from contemplating suicide, providing homeless women a safe LGBT friendly place, and providing legal representation to LGBT persons and causes. This was a way the Space Needle could not only raise the Pride flag, but give back even more to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender community.

If you would like to contribute towards the $50,000 fundraising goal, you can contribute here.

PRIDE: Space Needle Agrees to Fly Pride Flag if Community Raises $50,000 for LGBT Charities!

In a dramatic change of course, Seattle’s Space Needle has announced that they will fly the Pride flag again this year during Seattle Pride Weekend, if the community can help raise $50,000 for four organizations that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, according to Joe Mirabello on his Seattle P-I Blog. The news comes after 9,000 people signed a Change.org petition started by Seattle resident Josh Castle.
 

The Space Needle‘s $50,000 fundraising challenge will benefit four different organizations that support the LGBT community: the Greater Seattle Business Association (the GSBA) LGBT and allied scholarship fund; the It Gets Better Project, which supports the Trevor Project; Lambda Legal; and Mary’s Place, a trans inclusive women’s shelter in Seattle.

On June 3, the Space Needle told Seattle’s LGBT community they would not fly the Pride flag again as the organization did last year for the first time. Lifetime Seattle resident (and OUTview Friend) Josh Castle wanted to urge the Space Needle to change their mind, so he started a petition on Change.org asking the Space Needle to, “Please raise the Pride flag during Seattle Pride weekend.”

HOTTIE: Bicycle Racing AIDS Activist!

Gonzalo Garcia writes, I was born in New York City on April 3, 1980. Three weeks later to the day, and three thousand miles away, the first AIDS case was recognized in San Francisco and reported to the Centers for Disease Control. I grew up a child actor, so I was surrounded by people, stories, myths, and health lessons regarding this disease. And I’ve helped raise money over the years, starting around the age of 10. Now, 21 years later, as I turn 31, I’m doing something I never thought I would do. I’m riding my bike in one of the most physically challenging events, the San Francisco to Los Angeles AIDS Life Cycle.



AIDS Life Cycle provided by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the event, and during June 5 through the 11th over 2000 cyclists and roadies will come together to accomplish this ride.


This event also consists of riding my bike between 80 and 100 miles each day, sleeping in a tent, waking up at 5:00 AM to get back on the bike at 6:00 AM and repeating it all for seven days until all 545 miles are complete. It’s the 10th anniversary of this event and I’m super excited to try this with 2000 other people! Click Here for More!

TRAILBLAZING: 1700 Lesbians Celebrate NCLR’s 34th Anniversary!

LGR's Melanie Nathan with Stan Wright and Chely Wright

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) presented its highest honors to five trailblazers in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality at its 34th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 21, 2011 in San Francisco.


LezGetReal was there to enjoy the dinner and after party, which turned out to be a huge success. It seems that NCLR out-does itself each year. The women were magnificent. The trailblazers inspiring, speeches lending sousing aplauses and standing ovations. What a night!

BEEFCAKE: “Real World” alum Scott Herman is training HARD!

Scott Herman first became known as a cast member of The Real World: Brooklyn.

But since his time on that MTV show, Scott has stayed in the public eye as a model and fitness guru and been a visible straight ally for LGBT causes.

On his website, he writes about his participation in the upcoming AIDS/LifeCycle event:

I’m riding in this year’s AIDS/LifeCycle and created the “Scott Herman Fitness Team” of riders because the event’s goals and my goals are very much in alignment.

OUTscene America: Chicago Red Dress Party attracts hundreds, raises thousands!

 

Marcus Riley and Candace Jordan with Powell
credit :: anthony meade


They came, they saw and they wore red. With the reviews now in for Chicago's first-ever Red Dress Party, held Saturday, April 16th event was a clear success in its effort to continue an ever-expanding national tradition of raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and funds to counter its continued spread, reports ChicagoPride.com.

According to Kyler Powell, the party's executive producer, the event attracted some 300 eager partygoers -- almost all of whom decked out in their crimson attire of choice -- and raised approximately $20,000 for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Equality Project. While these numbers fell short of their lofty goals, Powell said it was an impressive showing for its first time out of the gate nonetheless.

BEEFCAKE :The New York Fire Department's Calendar is BACK with the BEST Ever!

The New York Fire Department's discontinued firefighter beefcake calendar has been continued again with the BEST Ever, apparently because the department is strapped for cash. The calendar went on sale yesterday. You can help out a hero here.

CULTURE: Philly Orchestra Files for Backruptcy!

The 111-year-old Philadelphia Orchestra is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing a "tremendous decline" in audiences. The orchestra, made internationally famous by such great conductors as Stokowski and Ormandy, has $46 million in operating costs this year, but is expecting just $33 million in revenues, reports the AP. "I feel overwhelmed and horrified by the events of the past few days, and I cannot yet grasp what the consequences of today's vote will be," wrote chief conductor Charles Dutoit in a statement.

Although the bankruptcy vote last night was nearly unanimous, all five orchestra members on the board voted against it. "I think it was unnecessary," a players' rep tells the Philadelpha Inquirer. Management "has not turned over every stone." Experts say the bankruptcy filing is unusual because, with an endowment of $140 million, the orchestra's assets are more than triple its liabilities. But despite the move, concerts will continue as scheduled for now. "It's shocking," said one regular concert-goer. "I think they do a wonderful job, and the city loves them."