Sue Bird Joins The Center’s Annual Gala Celebrating Lesbians and Queer Women
With Megan Baier, and Dr. Carla Smith in attendance, the yearly celebration honored the power of queer women and community.
Featured Image: Photo by Gia Gwin
On Friday, November 6, New York City’s LGBTQ+ community gathered at the Ziegfeld Ballroom for The Center‘s annual Women’s Event, an evening dedicated to celebrating lesbian, queer, and trans women, their accomplishments, and the spaces they continue to build together.
Sponsored by the fashion brand Theory, the elegant affair treated guests to a three-course dinner, an exclusive silent auction, and an evening of collective elation. Among the highlights was WNBA legend Sue Bird presenting the Visibility Award to her close friend Megan Baier, CEO of law firm, Wilson Sonsini.
Introducing Baier as a powerhouse corporate attorney, Bird joked that while her friend has spent her career navigating IPOs and complex financial transactions, she had “no idea what any of that is.” Beyond the impressive resume, Bird noted Baier’s dedication to her family, friends, and community.
During her acceptance speech, Baier reflected on the smaller, more intimate moments that shaped her journey, from nervously telling her parents about her now-wife, Liz, to navigating uncomfortable conversations about her sexuality in corporate spaces.
“It was a journey to get here,” Baier told the audience.
Speaking exclusively with GO, Baier emphasized the importance of celebrating women and their accomplishments, specifically amid an increasingly difficult political and social climate.
“I think it’s more important than ever that we get together, we celebrate each other [and our] accomplishments together,” she said.
For Dr. Carla Smith, CEO of The Center, the evening was also about recognizing the longstanding contributions of lesbian and queer women to the broader LGBTQ+ movement.
“The Center has always realized how important lesbians and [sapphics] are to our entire community,” Smith told GO.
“When [The Center] first opened doors, lesbians were supporting gay men…[during] the HIV crisis,” she continued. “So to have [the] opportunity to come together, especially now, in this moment, and be with each other and celebrate is crucial.”
Throughout the night, guests connected and helped support The Center’s ongoing work through a silent auction featuring exclusive artwork, concert tickets, experiences, and more.
Ultimately, the evening was a celebration of the women who have shaped the LGBTQ+ community, those continuing to lead it, and the generations still to come.
