SAGE honored Stonewall pioneers and celebrated community trailblazers at its annual gala.
[NEW YORK, NY] Last night, SAGE, the world’s largest organization dedicated to serving and advocating with and on behalf of LGBTQ+ older people, raised a record-breaking $1.5 million dollars at its sold-out SAGE Awards & Gala. Nearly 1,000 attendees honored LGBTQ+ elder pioneers at the forefront of the LGBTQ+ movement, as well as notable advocates and change agents who have made a difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ elders during this monumental year, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.
“What an amazing evening. I am beyond thrilled at the level of support we received not only tonight but this entire year,” said SAGE CEO Michael Adams. “Last night was a true homage to our LGBTQ+ elders, like Stonewall survivor Jay Toole, who stood on the front lines of our community’s struggle for equality and still refuses to be invisible 50 years later.” Continued Adams, “Trailblazers like honorees André De Shields, Stacey Friedman, and Leslie Jordan—all people who have broken barriers in their fields—shared their stories of resilience and inspired everyone in the room.”
SAGE CEO Michael Adams and Leslie Jordan, Emmy Award–winning actor, recipient of the SAGE Pioneer Award. Photo: Kamila Harris
Award recipients include Emmy and Tony Award–winning actor André De Shields, Stacey Friedman, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Emmy Award–winning actor Leslie Jordan.
The night included an exceptional performance by Broadway star and Tony Award–winning performer Laura Benanti.
André De Shields, Emmy and Tony Award–winning actor, recipient of the Joyce Warshow Lifetime Achievement Award (center), with SAGE Bronx Constituents.
Laura Benanti, Tony Award–winning actress, sings at the SAGE Awards & Gala. Photo: Kamila Harris
Stacey Friedman, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for JPMorgan Chase & Co., and recipient of the Jack Watters Corporate Advocate Award, poignantly stated, “I am here because SAGE is a great organization, but I am also here because injustice is here. We have fought for decades for our constitutional and God-given rights, and over a very short period, we have seen those walked back.” Friedman then rallied the audience to action claiming, “It will take all of us together to claim back the rights we deserve.”
Stacey Friedman, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for JPMorgan Chase & Co., recipient of the Jack Watters Corporate Advocate Award. Photo: Kamila Harris
Stonewall survivor, Jay Toole, brought the crowd to its feet with their story of being homeless and living on the streets as a queer teen in the 1960’s. “If you would have told us then that there would be apartments, no buildings, meant for us,” said Toole, it would have given us hope. A lot more people might still be alive today if we could have seen this as part of our future and SAGE made it happen.”
SAGE is working to ensure that LGBTQ+ elders like Jay have the support and resources they need to age with the dignity and respect they deserve.
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SAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers. SAGE also advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBTQ+ elders, provides education and technical assistance for aging providers and LGBTQ+ community organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging, and cultural competency training through SAGECare. With staff located across the country, SAGE also coordinates SAGENet, a growing network of affiliates in the United States. Learn more at sageusa.org.
