[News] [TX, USA] Chaz Bono to receive Elizabeth Birch Equality Award at Black Tie Dinner

[Stephanie Stevens]

Dallas Voice, USA


Chaz Bono to receive Elizabeth Birch Equality Award
 at Black Tie Dinner

Posted on 26 Jul 2012 at 8:05pm


[Photo: Chaz Bono]

Chaz Bono will receive this year’s Elizabeth Birch Equality Award,
co-chairs of the 2012 Black Tie Dinner announced today.

“While Chaz has found fulfillment in his work as a national activist,
one of his greatest values in the GLBT community lies in reaching out
and raising awareness on a grassroots level among young minds,” said
Black Tie Dinner Co-Chair Chris Kouvelis. “Via his high national
profile, Chaz continues to create visibility, increase awareness and
impact change for transgender issues.”

Chaz Bono is an LGBT rights advocate, author and speaker. Most
recently, Chaz received the GLAAD Media Award and was honored for his
OWN documentary, Becoming Chaz, which chronicled the struggles of his
gender reassignment journey. He also received the Stephen F. Kolzak
Award, which is given by GLAAD to an LGBT entertainer for promoting
equality. Chaz embarked on uncharted territory last fall when he
appeared on Dancing With The Stars.

Born Chastity, to Sonny and Cher Bono, Chaz came out as a lesbian to
his parents at 18 in 1987. He did not come out publicly until April
1995 in an interview with The Advocate, and spoke about it publicly on
the air for the first time ever on Lambda Weekly when he was in Dallas
for National Coming Out Day

Chaz has contributed as a writer-at-large to The Advocate and became
spokesperson for the HRC, promoting National Coming Out Day. Chaz also
served as Entertainment Media Director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation (GLAAD).

The Elizabeth Birch Equality Award honors national leaders, and is
given in recognition of the inspirational leadership of former Human
Rights Campaign Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. This award is
given to an individual, organization or company that has made a
significant contribution of national scope to the LGBT community.

Birch received the first award and last year decorated veteran Eric
Alva, the first servicemember injured in the Iraq War received the
honor. Other recipients have included Showtime Networks/Robert
Greenblatt, Alan Cumming, Sharon Stone, Bishop V. Gene Robinson, Judy
Shepard and American Airlines.

— David Taffet


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