F E A T U R E S         T H O U G H T S         R E V I E W S         N E W S SAGE’s 14th Annual Awards and Gala Denis O’Hare, Kate Clinton, Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller Provide Laughs at Gala Event Michael Adams, executive director of SAGE; Michael Nguyen, James C. Hormel’s life partner; Anne Meara, comedienne; Kate Clinton, comedienne; and James C. Hormel, former U.S. ambassador. On Monday, Nov. 2, Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE), the nation’s most prominent organization advocating on behalf of older LGBT Americans, held its 14th Annual Awards and Gala at the Metropolitan Pavilion. A crowd of around 500 supporters and allies were in attendance to be entertained by the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, Tony Award-winner (and soon-to-be star of HBO’s True Blood), Denis O’Hare – who, in true Broadway fashion, closed the awards program with a song. SAGE honored four men and women for their contributions to the LGBT community. Herbert I. Cohen, M.D. was honored with the SAGE Community Service Award. Cohen was a founding member of the New York City LGBT Community Center, and has been a board member of the Empire State Pride Agenda, the East End Gay Organization, and SAGE. He married his partner of 48 years, Daniel Cook, in Massachusetts in 2008. Comedienne and author Kate Clinton was presented with the Ken Dawson Advocacy Award by fellow comedienne Anne Meara. Clinton’s career as a political humorist and family entertainer has spanned more than 28 years, in which time she has volunteered her services for LGBT and women-focused events, helping to raise millions of dollars for the community. She has been honored by Lambda Legal, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and GLAAD, and has also been listed among New York Magazine’s “Gay 101.” She attended the SAGE Awards and Gala with her partner and fellow LGBT community advocate Urvashi Vaid. Frank Stark, co-chair of SAGE; Denis O’Hare, emcee of the 14th Annual SAGE Awards and Gala; Judith Turkel, co-Chair of SAGE; and Michael Adams, executive director of SAGE. James C. Hormel, the first openly gay U.S. Ambassador, was appointed under president Clinton in 1999 and was honored by SAGE with the Joyce Warshow Lifetime Achievement Award. For the past 20 years, Hormel has been instrumental in developing resources for organizations serving people affected by HIV and AIDS, substance abuse and breast cancer. He has devoted his life to the advocacy of basic human rights, social justice and the wellbeing of all individuals, and had been honored by the Human Rights Campaign for lifetime achievement in 2001. A father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Hormel was joined by his life partner, Michael Nguyen at the SAGE Awards and Gala. New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, the first woman and first openly gay official to hold the position, was honored with the SAGE Champion Award, presented by SAGE executive director Michael Adams. Quinn has been a steadfast supporter of SAGE throughout her tenure as speaker. In 2008, she led the council effort that successfully blocked a controversial proposal to overhaul the city’s senior centers, which could have dramatically altered available services to thousands of older New Yorkers. She is also working with the New York Academy of Medicine and the Administration on the “Age-Friendly New York City Initiative” to create a comprehensive plan for meeting the needs of an aging population. Speaker Quinn gave brief remarks upon receiving her award on the eve of the Nov. 3 election. Comedy on the Carpet: Comic performers Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara and Denis O’Hare cause a ruckus on the 14th Annual SAGE Awards red carpet. Photos by Donna F. Aceto Commenting on the success of the event, Michael Adams, executive director of SAGE said, “In times in which our services to LGBT older people are needed more than ever, we are honored that so many of our friends and family turned out to support our work and celebrate the contributions of these four men and women.” About SAGE SAGE is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit agency dedicated to serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors. Since its inception, SAGE has pioneered programs and services for seniors in the LGBT community, provided technical assistance and training to expand opportunities for LGBT older people across the country and provided a national voice on LGBT aging issues. In 2005, SAGE became the first official LGBT delegate at a White House Conference on Aging and is now the first organization to represent LGBT issues on the Leadership Council on Aging. SAGE celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2008 and is continuing to advocate for LGBT elders. For more information, please www.sageusa.com. What Do You Think? What do you think of this article? Agree? Disagree? Let us, and everyone else, know your opinion. Please share your thoughts and comments below. Published November 7, 2009   Perpetual Toxins © 2006-2011. All rights reserved. c o n t a c t s / c r e d i t s         c o n t r i b u t e         d i r e c t o r y