The party brought out a roster of LGBT stars to help combat homelessness, with several sharing personal testimonials from stage. From left: screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, writer and producer Dan Bucatinsky, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri Jean, and actress Jane Lynch.
Lisa Vanderpump of the Real Housewives and David Furnish pose for cameras. Furnish told the audience that he and his partner, Elton John, are concerned about the link between HIV infection rates and LGBT homelessness and are annual donors to the center. "A time will come when we won't need centers like this anymore," he said, but he said that time hasn't come.
Dustin Lance Black took the stage to share how the center "saved my life" and can help transform the lives of others.
Jon Imparto, Fabian Quezada, and Dan Bucatinsky
Russell Simmons, Alan Hergott, and Ryan Murphy
Performer Annie Trousseau entertained the crowd with some attention-getting backup dancers.
Jane Lynch on the center: "What I love ... they get their hands dirty."
Director Roland Emmerich, the host of the evening, takes the microphone to underscore the importance of giving to the center annually and pledged to increase his own donation to $200,000 each year.
Roland Emmerich and Camilla Belle
Scenes from the party at Emmerich's estate
The big moment of the night was the debut of a public service announcement that has already brought in thousands of views. It tells the fictional but all-too-real story of a young teen thrown out of his home when his parents discover his sexuality. The father is portrayed by actor David Millbern, producer and costar of Here TV's upcoming sitcom From HERE on OUT, and a roster of stars -- Jamie Foxx, Lisa Ling, James Wood, Elton John, and David Furnish -- call for donations. Center CEO Lorri Jean announced during the event -- which went on to raise $2.9 million -- that some of the money will go toward tripling the number of beds for homeless LGBT youth by adding a new facility for the center.
Watch the complete PSA below:
