Equality California will honor Assemblymember Manuel Pérez and actor Debra Messing for their work promoting gay rights at the nonprofit organization’s annual awards ceremony next month.
The Palm Springs Equality Awards are scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs.
Perez is being recognized for championing measures supporting the repeal of Proposition 8, which defined marriage as between a man and woman and honoring the nation’s first elected openly gay person, Harvey Milk.
Best known for her role as Grace Adler on “Will & Grace,” Messing is being awarded for her helping “bring the stories of LGBT people to television and stage” as well as supporting the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and Project Angel Food, according to a news release.
The group also will honor the California Teachers Association, one of the biggest contributors to the No on 8 campaign.
The evening includes a silent auction, dinner and fashion show featuring designs from the cast of Project Runway, including Raymundo Baltazar, Kristen Ehrig and Nick Verreos.
The Master of Ceremony will be actor Doug Spearman.
Proceeds benefit Equality California.
Founded in 1998, the San Francisco-based group works for equality and legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
A general admission ticket is $250. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.eqca.org.
