Pérez, Messing honored for gay rights efforts MyDesert.com The Desert Sun:
"Equality California honored Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez and Emmy award-winning actress Debra Messing Saturday for their work promoting gay civil rights at the nonprofit organization's annual awards ceremony in Palm Springs."
Saturday night's event drew more than 400 people.
The Palm Springs Equality Awards is one of five statewide events to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues, while raising money for the San Francisco-based nonprofit group.
“This raises the funds that allows us to do the work,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California and a part-time Palm Springs resident.
Last year's statewide events raised more than $2 million, organizers said.
Gay civil rights is an important issue in the Palm Springs area, which boasts one of the largest gay populations, per capita, in the United States.
Pérez, D-Coachella, was recognized for championing measures important to the gay community, such as supporting the repeal of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and woman, and establishing a day honoring the nation's first elected openly gay person, Harvey Milk.
"Equality California honored Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez and Emmy award-winning actress Debra Messing Saturday for their work promoting gay civil rights at the nonprofit organization's annual awards ceremony in Palm Springs."
Saturday night's event drew more than 400 people.
The Palm Springs Equality Awards is one of five statewide events to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues, while raising money for the San Francisco-based nonprofit group.
“This raises the funds that allows us to do the work,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California and a part-time Palm Springs resident.
Last year's statewide events raised more than $2 million, organizers said.
Gay civil rights is an important issue in the Palm Springs area, which boasts one of the largest gay populations, per capita, in the United States.
Pérez, D-Coachella, was recognized for championing measures important to the gay community, such as supporting the repeal of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and woman, and establishing a day honoring the nation's first elected openly gay person, Harvey Milk.