EQCA to Honor Dear Abby, Tim Hanlon at Palm Springs Equality Awards

Posted on September 27, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

PALM SPRINGS – World renowned advice columnist Dear Abby and long time community advocate Tim Hanlon will be honored as Equality California celebrates its 10th Anniversary at the Palm Springs Equality Awards on October 18.

The event honors allies who have helped fight for the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. EQCA will present Dear Abby, a vocal ally and supporter of the LGBT community, with the 2008 Equality Advocate Award. Tim Hanlon will receive the 2008 Equality Award for his years of commitment to ensuring equal rights for members of the LGBT community.

“This is an amazing – and critical – time for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “With our landmark marriage victory earlier this year, we now have full, legal equality for LGBT Californians. This event honors two amazing partners who have helped to empower our community to achieve that goal. Without their strong advocacy and support, those achievements would not be possible.”

Dear Abby is the most widely syndicated newspaper columnist in the world. Last year, Abby officially announced she supports marriage between same-sex couples and believes all couples should have the same right to celebrate the honor of the “highest form of commitment.”

Tim Hanlon is a longtime community advocate, philanthropist and president of the Wells Fargo Foundation. He has dedicated both his personal life and career to helping improve the lives of all Californians.

Actress and performer Lorna Luft headlines this year’s Equality Awards. Luft, the daughter of legendary entertainer Judy Garland and producer Sid Luft, is a best-selling author, recording artist and Emmy-nominated producer.

The 2008 Equality Awards will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center. To purchase tables and individual tickets or for information about sponsorship packages, contact Traci Hoffberg with Blue Room Events at (877) 252-7814 or traci@blueroomevents.com.

Lead sponsors for this year’s event include AT&T, Gary D. Soto, Olivia Cruises and Resorts, Stolichnaya Russian Vodka, Wells Fargo, Integrated Wealth Management, The Bottom Line, Harold Matzner, Joe Roman and Mark Wilson, Shadowrock, Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Burke, Rix and Hines, California Teacher’s Association, Doug Fregolle Promotions, Tim Hohmeier and Chuck Diodisio, David Lee and Mark Nichols, Susan McCabe and Antoinette Vargas, Patrick Mundt, and Southern California Edison.

Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org