s gala anniversary celebrations go, the National Center for Lesbian Rights' event this month is likely to be memorable.
The headline attraction is comedian Kate Clinton, who will emcee the group's annual fund-raising dinner June 30.
"She's bold, brash and sexy," said Ruth Herring, NCLR's director of resource development. "She's able to bring cutting-edge political commentary on today's lesbian and gay issues."
Clinton is well known in the lesbian community, where she began performing in 1981. She's also gained recognition on the national stage, appearing on CNN, Good Morning America, Nightline and other shows, serving as a writer for The Rosie O'Donnell Show in 1996 and most recently performing in The Vagina Monologues at Madison Square Garden.
Clinton, who emceed NCLR's meeting last year as well, said she is glad to lend a hand to the group. "To have an organization that calls itself lesbian and does groundbreaking work -- such as immigration cases -- is something I love to support," Clinton said.
A San Francisco-based legal resource center, the NCLR works to change discriminatory laws through litigation and advocacy. It focuses on cases involving child custody and visitation, adoption, same gender marriage, domestic partnership and immigration and asylum. This year the group will issue three awards at its 24th anniversary dinner.
Sally Gearhart will receive an award for a lifetime of lesbian rights activism. Gearhart is known for her leadership in defeating the 1978 California Briggs Initiative, a statewide ballot proposition that would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. She also taught for 20 years at San Francisco State University, where she founded the school's women's studies program. Gearhart is the author of several books, including the feminist utopia portrayal The Wanderground.
Sharon Smith will be honored for challenging the state of California's wrongful death law, which does not allow domestic partners to file wrongful death suits. Smith's partner, Diane Whipple, was mauled to death by two dogs that lived with her neighbors, lawyers Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller. In March Smith filed a wrongful death suit against the two attorneys and the owner of the apartment building where the attack occurred. The NCLR is part of her legal team.
The NCLR will also present a community commitment award to Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, a statewide advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Smith also was co-chair of the 1993 National March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay & Bi Equal Rights & Liberty.
Clinton is herself a vocal proponent of lesbian and gay rights. "Just being a lesbian in the world and talking about it is political," Clinton said.
The impact that fellow comedian Ellen DeGeneres made on the world is proof of that, Clinton said.
She recalled talking to a young man at a conference on gay philanthropy who had never heard of ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), one of the first -- and most politically aggressive -- AIDS advocacy groups.
"I asked him how he came out," Clinton said. "He was living in central rural Ohio and realized he was gay. He saw [the television sitcom] Ellen, saw that she was happy and funny" and that helped him come out.
"People say they don't want to be a poster child for gay issues," Clinton said. But by being lesbian or gay "you just are."
For more information on the event, call 415-392-6257.
