The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has announced it will present a 2010 National Leadership Award to Tony Award-winning actor and longtime human rights activist Alan Cumming at the 14th Annual Miami Recognition Dinner on Saturday, October 2nd at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. This major fundraising event, presented by Wachovia, a Wells Fargo company, recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to the social, cultural, political and humanitarian needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The Task Force announced in April that it would present the 2010 Humanitarian Award to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, and the 2010 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award to Cindy Brown, who has been involved with many South Florida LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations.
The Scottish-born Cumming has enjoyed an eclectic career spanning theatre, film, television, music and even books. He won the Tony, the Drama Desk and the New York Press awards, to name just a few, for his performance as the emcee in the Broadway production of “Cabaret” in 1998. He has acted in films such as “X2: X-Men United,” “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” and the “Spy Kids” trilogy, and will appear alongside Cher and Christina Aguilera in “Burlesque” later this year. After filming the mini-series “The Runaway” in South Africa this summer, he will return this fall to the role of Eli Gold in the CBS show “The Good Wife” as a series regular.
His activism and passion for various civil rights causes has earned him many humanitarian awards and honors from organizations including the Trevor Project, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Lambda Legal, the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Last year he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to the arts and his activism for LGBT rights.
Launched in 1997, the Miami Recognition Dinner quickly cemented its place as the premier event for uniting the community and honoring individuals and organizations for their achievements and efforts in fostering equal rights for LGBT people. Over the past decade, it has become a vital source of funding for organizations serving the LGBT community. Since assuming responsibility for the dinner and its sister event, Winter Party Festival, in 2004, the Task Force has donated close to a million dollars from the proceeds of the two events to the Miami-Dade community.
Information on individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities is available by calling the Task Force at 305-571-1924. Tickets are available at TheTaskForce.org/miami
