December 7, 2016

Lea DeLaria Is VIP Headliner for San Diego Human Dignity Foundation Gala

EDGE READ TIME: 4 MIN.

On Saturday, December 10, The San Diego Human Dignity Foundation (SDHDF) holds their third annual Aston-Brooks Awards Gala at the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa. This vibrant fundraiser is a black-tie event where guests will enjoy a hosted cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, cabaret show, live VIP entertainment and an awards ceremony.

Joining the cause as featured VIP entertainer is two-time SAG award-winning actress, comedian and jazz musician, Lea DeLaria of "Orange is the New Black." This triple threat is known for breaking ground as the first openly lesbian entertainer to appear on television, her SAG award-winning, stand-out role as 'Carrie 'Big Boo' Black," in the Netflix hit series "Orange is the New Black;" and her jazz virtuousity, most recently on her sixth album, "House Of David: delaria+bowie=jazz" (Summer, 2015), a tribute to the late, great gender-fluid icon, David Bowie.

DeLaria was the featured vocalist at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival and has performed in some of the most prestigious houses in the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Chicago Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall, and the Sydney Opera House.

The presenting sponsor for the 2016 event is The La Pietra Foundation, who established a $3 million fund at SDHDF in late 2015, which was the largest single private philanthropic gift to an LGBT organization of that year. In addition to being the lead sponsor on the Aston-Brooks Gala, La Pietra has supported initiatives including PFLAG scholarships for LGBT students, seniors services and healthcare for lesbians.

The awards ceremony will honor three individuals making a difference here in San Diego and across the globe. The awards are named to carry on the legacy of the following:

  • Lincoln Aston Public Service Award: Named for the San Diego developer and philanthropist whose murder led to the establishment of The San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, the award honors a public figure who uses their celebrity or status to increase awareness of LGBT issues and encourage equality. Past awardees include George Takei (2014), actor and activist, in recognition of the use of his humor and talent to advocate LGBT and human rights, and Wilson Cruz (2015), who portrayed prime-time television's first LGBTQ youth as Ricky Vasquez, on "My So-Called Life."

  • Sunshine Brooks HIV/AIDS Advocacy Award: Honored for the memory and life of this generous philanthropist whose multimillion dollar legacy gift has benefitted HIV/AIDS charities in San Diego County for the last decade, the award recognizes an individual whose efforts have improved the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. Recent recipients include Cleve Jones (2014), founder of the NAMES Project and the AIDS Quilt, whose passionate messages have moved millions to action, and Bishop Carl Bean (2015), singer of the disco hit "Born This Way," and the founding prelate of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement.

  • The Richard Geyser Community Leadership Award: This award bears the name of the Founding President of the Board for San Diego Human Dignity Foundation who was also a champion for ethics in community service. In 2014 Maureen Steiner, board president of San Diego Lambda Archives, received this award in honor of her tireless efforts to document and store the history of the LGBT Community in San Diego, which has garnered national and international praise. The 2015 award was presented posthumously to Kurt Cunningham, who dedicated his life to HIV, LGBT youth and mental health services in San Diego County, with the accompanying grant supporting access to mental health services at the San Diego LGBT Community Center.

    Each of the awards includes a grant from the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation to the LGBT/HIV charity chosen by the award recipient. The charities selected will be announced at the Aston-Brooks Awards Gala on Dec. 10.

    Proceeds for this event benefit the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, one of the nation's largest LGBT community foundations, celebrating 20 years in San Diego. The organization has provided nearly $5 million to 200 nonprofit organizations in San Diego County since its founding in 1996.

    The Aston-Brooks Awards Gala 2016 will be held from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, 1775 E. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109.

    by EDGE

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