The Advocate Celebrates 45 Years of Giving Voice to Equality; Human Rights Advocates, Elected Officials & Celebrities Attend Gala

(L-R) Ashley Love, Andrea James (director & transsexual advocate), Calpernia Addams (actress & transsexual advocate)
Here Media/Advocate CEO Paul Colichman (left) and his husband, actor David Milbern

Human rights attorney Gloria Allred
Dustin Lance Black,Oscar winning director of 'Milk'
Here I am with two of the stars of ABC's 'GCB', Marisol Nichols and Mark Deklin
The Advocate's Editor in Cheif Matthew Breen
with Joe Landry, SVP Group Publisher of Here Media/Advocate

The Advocate celebrated 45 years of trail blazing journalism last Thursday evening with a spectacular gala at The Beverly Hilton. Community advocates, elected officials and celebrities all came out to enjoy the event and celebrate how far numerous diverse social justice movements have come in 45 years. The Point Foundation was the honorary charity which benefited from the event, which is good because a lot of times LGBT, transsexual and/or intersex teens are disowned from their families simply for being who they are. Without a family to protect them, many are unable to go to college. So The Point Foundation steps in and says that being authentic and brave enough to be who you are in a land of ignorance and fear is not a reason to not recieve a good education!

It was a very special night for me because I got to see so many friends and co-advocates that I have known for many years. Since I now live in New York most of the year, I don’t get to see my OG LA family as much as I’d like, which made this evening a real treat for me.

The Advocate is known to be the most credible news source on gay and LGBT issues, and they are getting better at reporting transsexual and intersex issues. In a new word full of bloggers that write first, and check their facts later, it’s comforting to have news sources like The Advocate that are committed to accuracy and ethical journalism.

I've written a couple op-eds for SheWired.com, which is the news source owned by The Advocate that focuses on women's stories. I have also been interviewed or quoted numerous times over the years in The Advocate related to transsexual, transgender and intersex stories about media depictions and legislative rights. I am very appreciative for all The Advocate has done in aiding myself and others get our activism and education out into the world. Thank you.

If their 45th Anniversary party was this fun, I can’t wait to see how the 50th will be! See you then!

with The Trevor Project's Laura McGinnis (center) and West Hollywood City Councilmember Abbe Land (right)

with Modern Family's Jesse Ferguson Jeannine Lewis (L), Western Account Director for Here Media/Advocate and Vicki Algeo Keros (R)
(L-R) Alan Uphold (Point Foundation's Development Officer) and his husband Jeff Olde (VH1)
with The Advocate's Andrea Krauss (and Macy Gray performing in the background!)

SheWired's Editor Tracy Gilchrist and The Advocate's Neal Broverman
Bill Kapfer (L) and his husband Eric Scott Baker LA City Councilman Paul Koretz (L) and West Hollywood Mayor John Duran (R)
with The Advocate's Charles Beaudry Culbert (L-R) Chris Tompkins, singer Ben Roman, Ashley Love, DJ with HBO's Entourage star Rex Lee with Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest
fashion designer Andrew Christian (left) and Marcellus (right)
Actor and comedian Jason Stuart (left) and writer/director Billy Clift (right) Outfest board member Joe Keenan (left) and radio host Cary Harrison (right) with Brody Brown with drag star Coco Peru Macy Gray gave a great performance! with The Advocate's Art & Entertainment Editor Jeremy Kisner with Ross Von Metzke LA City Councilman Paul Koretz (center) gives The Advocate a certificate to honor their anniversary. Advocate's owner Paul Colichman (left) accepts the certificate, with Advocate's Editor in Cheif Matthew Breen on stage as well (right)
with celebrity photographer Duane Cramer (L-R) Duane Cramer, Joe Landry, Ashley Love, Steve Villano, Patric Z Rodriguez, Billy Hamilton
(L-R) Longliang Lin, Urosh Pajic, Josh Eddy, Rex Lee, Spencer Collins, Ashley Love
Bruce Vilanch, comedian and writer