Out magazine’s December/January special double issue takes on an Old Hollywood theme to pay tribute to 100 actors, musicians, writers, fashion designers, politicians and social figures who have made significant strides in the gay community in 2008.
We joined Out Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin, along with Bristol Myers-Squibb and Regent Media CEO Paul Colichman, at Gotham Hall in NY City Friday, November 14, 2008. Absolute flowed, guests danced and celebrated, enjoying performances by Cirque du Soleil, Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash of Labelle, Stax Records’ artist Nikka Costa and Island Records’ Sam Sparro.
Chelsea Handler 15th Annual OUT 100 Awards at Gotham Hall
Chelsea Handler, star of Oxygen’s Girls Behaving Badly and E!’s Chelsea Lately, hosted the ceremony.
The event’s 1500+ guest list includes industry elite from across the media and advertising industry, along with tastemakers from the national gay community and Out100 honorees.
“As in previous years, the Out100 Awards reflects an extraordinary range of talent and accomplishment in almost every walk of life, including boldface names, both new and old, and many more people soldiering quietly under the radar to improve the quality of all our lives,” said Hicklin. “While gay men and women continue to face hurdles in our quest for equality, the roll call of names shows how much we have to celebrate. From fresh names like MSNBC correspondent Rachel Maddow and Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson, to living legends such as playwright Edward Albee and actor Ian McKellen, this year’s Out100 is a paean to our contribution to the cultural and social fabric of America.”
The Out100 event, presented by Bristol Myers-Squibb, offers guests the opportunity to get involved in the Light to Unite: World AIDS Day campaign. Guests can participate by lighting a virtual candle on the Bristol-Myers Squibb website and making a donation to the National AIDS Fund to help support the fight against HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
Additionally, the night launched a fund-raising program partnership between Out and Levi’s, with proceeds from the event’s silent auction going to The Hetrick-Martin Institute.
Honoring Ian McKellen, Todd Oldham, Christian Siriano, Luke MacFarlane, John Barrowman, Bruce Cohen & Dan Jinks, Dean & Dan Caten, Denis O’Hare, Heather Matarazzo, Stephen Spinella, Jamal Brown, Cory Benton, Doug & Ben Burkman, Tommy Fazio, Casper Andreas, Jesse Archer, Thom Filicia, Mathew Swenson, Marc Andreyko, Michael Bastian, Laura Virella, Francis Kurkjidian, Miriam Browning-Nance.
I never got the impression that “I Kissed A Girl” was Katy’s serious pro-gay statement, only that it’s subject was a sure-fire hit. Even if she were pro-gay, it’s easy to say you are when you’re straight but don’t have to actually live it. She does not belong on the cover of a gay magazine because she had some throw away pop song!