PFLAG Honors Sir Patrick Stewart, NFL Players and More at 2013 Straight for Equality Awards Tonight

PFLAG National will celebrate The Fifth Annual Straight for Equality Awards, hosted by comedian/writer/producer Lizz Winstead (Co-Creator, THE DAILY SHOW). The organization will present the Straight for Equality in Entertainment Award to Sir Patrick Stewart (X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST; STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION; MATCH), the Straight for Equality in Literature Award to award-winning author John Irving (THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP; IN ONE PERSON), the Straight for Equality in Sports Award to Brendon Ayanbadejo (Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens) and Chris Kluwe (Minnesota Vikings), and the Straight for Equality in the Workplace Award to Whirlpool Corporation.

Also in attendance will be Academy Award, Tony Award, and Emmy Award winner Joel Grey (WICKED; CABARET), Tony Award winner John Benjamin Hickey (THE BIG C; THE NORMAL HEART), Eden Espinosa (WICKED), former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, writer/director Stephen Belber (MANAGEMENT; MATCH), singer/songwriter Sunny Ozell and more.

The ceremony is set for tonight, April 4, 2013 in the Manhattan Ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, 8th Floor, NYC.

Founded in 1972 with the simple act of a mother supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the original family ally organization. Made up of parents, families, friends, and straight allies uniting with LGBT people, PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education and advocacy. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary year, PFLAG has more than 350 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities and rural areas in all 50 states. To find out more about PFLAG National's programs and services, visit us at www.pflag.org.

Straight for Equality is a project of PFLAG National. It was launched in 2007 to invite, educate, and engage straight individuals to have the discussions necessary to move equality forward for their gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender friends in simple, nonpolitical ways. Learn more at www.straightforequality.org.