Wilson Cruz to
Host Lambda Legal Liberty Awards

Gay rights advocacy group Lambda Legal will present its 16th Annual Liberty Awards on Thursday, October 2, at the Director's Guild of America in Los Angeles. This year's honorees are actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who has devoted her life to fighting HIV/AIDS; the law firm of Heller Ehrman, which served as co-counsel in the landmark California supreme court case legalizing same-sex marriage; and lawyer David Codell, who as co-counsel with Lambda Legal represented Equality California and numerous same-sex couples in the historic marriage case.

Actor Wilson Cruz will host the event.

Since 1973, Lambda Legal's strategy has been to secure legal precedents that solidify basic rights in all areas of life for LGBT people and people with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.

Over the past decade, the Liberty Awards have been given to corporations, law firms, and individuals whose work exemplifies the highest standards of service and commitment to the LGBT community and those with HIV. Past recipients include San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, Rosie and Kelli O'Donnell, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Martina Navratilova, Alan Cumming, Herb Ritts, Bill Jones, Margaret Cho, Dolores Huerta, Kathy Griffin, and California state senator Sheila Kuehl.

Ticket prices begin at $200 each and can be purchased by calling Levy, Pazanti & Associates at (310) 201-5033 or going online at www.lambdalegal.org/libertyawards. (Corey Scholibo, The Advocate)