The Human Rights Campaign Honors Tony Winner Sara Ramirez

On February 28, 2015 the Arizona Chapter of the Human Rights Campaign honored TV Star and Tony Award-wining Broadway actress Sara Ramirez with the The Ally for Equality Award which recognizes the outstanding efforts of those who dedicate time, energy, spirit and whole-hearted commitment to better the lives of LGBT people.

Ramirez's rousing speech championing LGBTQ rights can be found here (speech begins at 4:38).

Tony Award-winner Sara Ramirez is known to viewers as orthopedic surgeon Dr. Callie Torres on ABC's top-rated television drama "Grey's Anatomy." In spring 2011, Ramirez captured a whole new audience when she performed the most prominent songs on the special music event episode of "Grey's Anatomy." The songs she sang are available on iTunes, as is her own EP which launched March 27, 2011, topping the iTunes overall chart within the first week of release. In 2011, Sara was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. The cast of "Grey's Anatomy" received a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Drama (2007), a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2007), a Producers Guild Award for Best Episodic Television Drama (2007) and a People's Choice Award for Favorite Television Dramatic Series.

For the past 3 seasons, Sara has been the voice of 'Queen Miranda' in the Disney Channel animated series, "Sofia The First."

Sara was in the Broadway smash-hit "Monty Python's Spamalot" as Lady of the Lake, for which she earned both a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, and an Outer Critics Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

Ramirez graduated from the Juilliard Drama School. Shortly after graduation, she made her Broadway debut starring as Wahzinak in Paul Simon's "The Capeman." Following that, she starred in Gershwin's "Fascinating Rhythm," for which she received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Best Actress. In 2001, she starred in Broadway's "A Class Act," a musical biography based on the life of Ed Kleban.

Off Broadway she has performed in "The Vagina Monologues." Ramirez's concerts have included "Martinis" at the Martin, "Sara Ramirez with Hollis Resnik at the Ravinia," "Bravo Bernstein" (MTW's 20th Anniversary Gala Concert) at the Hudson Theatre, and The Barrington Stage Company Gala, where she sang "Wanting Her More" from "The Game."

Television appearances include "NYPD Blue," Law & Order: SVU," "Third Watch" and "Spin City," in addition to several pilots.

Ramirez supports such non-profit organizations as California Writing Program's "I Write the Future" campaign and the Al D. Rodriguez Foundation, which provides resources, education and information related to screening, prevention of and treatment for the hepatitis virus and liver cancer.

As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide - all committed to making HRC's vision a reality. HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. www.hrc.org

Photo Credit: Walter McBride