Ben Affleck and Christine Quinn were honored by PFLAG NYC for contributions to LGBT Equality at the 27th Annual PFLAG NYC Awards Dinner on Monday, October 8 at the Tribeca Rooftop. Merrill Lynch, ABC News "20/20" and NYPD LGBT Liaison Unit also received awards. Presenters at the Gala Dinner were Christopher Sieber (film, television and stage actor) and Kathryn Erbe ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent").
PFLAG NYC, the founding chapter of the largest organization of families, friends and allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, recognized the contributions of several individuals and organizations to advancing the well-being and equality of LGBT people, their families and loved ones.
Ben Affleck was honored for his participation in the "Stay Close" campaign, PFLAG NYC's award-winning public awareness campaign that features straight celebrities along with their LGBT family members and promotes the message, "Stay Close to your loved ones because relationships are too precious to lose."
Other honorees at the event were included New York City Council Speaker, Christine C. Quinn, for individual leadership on LGBT issues throughout her public service career. Merrill Lynch, as a trailblazer among financial services firms in its policies towards LGBT employees within the firm as well as its service to the LGBT community broadly. The LGBT Liaison Unit of the Community Affairs Bureau of the New York Police Department received an award for their work with PFLAG and other LGBT organizations. ABC News "20/20" is recognized for the critically acclaimed Barbara Walters Report "My Secret Self: A Story of Transgender Children," which aired in April 2007. For details visit www.pflag.org
Photos by Linda Lenzi
Ben Affleck featured in the PFLAG NYC "Stay Close" campaign with his cousin Jason Fleetwood-Boldt
Christopher Sieber (Tony Award Nominee, Master of Ceremonies) and Presenter Kathryn Erbe (Tony Award Nominee, NBC's "Law & Order Criminal Intent")
Kathryn Erbe
NYC Police Commisioner Raymond W. Kelly, Suzanne Ramos (Evening Co-Chair), Christopher Sieber and Paul Tagliabue
Suzanne Ramos, Todd Sears (VP/Diversity Director Merrill Lynch), Drew Tagliabue (PFLAG NYC Executive Director) and Daniel Whitman (Gay Center.org)
Linda Boldt (Ben Affleck's Aunt), Jason Fleetwood-Boldt, Suzanne Ramos and Glenn Connolly (Evening Co-Chair, Sothebys International Realty)
Suzanne Ramos, Raymond W. Kelly and Phyllis Steinberg (PFLAG NYC President)
Craig Hollywood, Drew Tagliabue, Suzanne Ramos, Christopher Sieber and Gefil Tefish
Glenn Connolly and Todd Sears
Margaret Stumpp (Award presenter), Joneil Adriano (Producer, ABC's "20/20") and Judith Sennesh
NYPD Detective Carl Calderone,
Kathryn Erbe of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," and NYPD Detective Thomas Verni of the LGBT Liaison Unit
Glenn Connolly,
Todd Sears and Elizabeth Wamai (First Vice President and head of Diversity/Community Relations, Merrill Lynch)
