Women’s Event 10: Lesbians Coming Out Strong

Nearly 600 women streamed into the elegant atmosphere of Pier 60 on Nov 3 to enjoy the tenth annual Women’s Event hosted by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in NYC.

Nearly 600 women streamed into the elegant atmosphere of Pier 60 on Nov 3 to enjoy the tenth annual Women’s Event hosted by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in NYC. One of the premiere gala events of its kind, the night raised more than $300,000 for the Center and its programs.

Honorees included Tony Award-winning actress Cherry Jones, recognized as the Outspoken Community Leader for efforts to increase LGBT visibility on stage and screen. Theater legend Marian Seldes introduced her. The West Village resident will play a female American president on the upcoming seventh season of Fox’s adrenaline-pumping television series, 24.

Jones described her latest groundbreaking character to GO. “She is taking a very bold, very decisive move that takes a tremendous amount of political courage,” she said. “She will not capitulate.”

Also honored was Sally Susman, executive vice president for global communications at the Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., who received the Corporate Leader award. “We consider ourselves professional lipstick lesbians,” she said about herself and her friends, media executives Hilary Rosen and Lisa Sherman, in her acceptance speech.

In fact, Susman inspired a character in the forthcoming ABC series, Cashmere Mafia, about the lives of four professional women in Manhattan. Caitlin Dowd, a cosmetics marketing executive who finds herself attracted to women, is played by actress Bonnie Somerville.

“I’m the only lesbian character on network television,” said Somerville, a Brooklyn native who has also appeared on Friends, Grosse Pointe, NYPD Blue, and The O.C. “I play a strong, successful, gay woman in a very high-powered position,” she enthused.


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