Today is the day: GLAAD SF

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) – GLAAD Media Awards – San Francisco 2009 .

Chad Allen began his professional acting career at the age of five-years-old starring as the autistic Tommy Westfall in the television series, St. Elsewhere and went on to play Mathew Cooper on the long time hit CBS series, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Allen went on to gain critical acclaim through guest appearances on leading television shows and starring roles in numerous high profile theatre productions.

Allen made the move into producing and formed the acclaimed independent film company Mythgarden, for the express purpose of turning the page on gay and lesbian storytelling, with partners Christopher Racster and Robert Gant.

Currently, Allen is starring in here! Networks’ The Donald Strachey Mystery Series, a six feature film series. Two of the films in the series, Ice Blues and On the Other Hand, Death, are nominated for Outstanding Television Movie at the GLAAD Media Awards this year. In 2008, Chad Allen produced and starred in the film Save Me which offered audiences a look into the world of so-called “ex gay” ministries. The film is nominated for Outstanding Film – Limited Release at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Save Me was selected for the Sundance Film Festival and as the opening night feature for Outfest 2007. Save Me was released nationwide in selected theatres in 2008. This spring, Allen and producing partner Christopher Racster are producing the feature film, “Spork” in partnership with Last Bastion Entertainment.

Allen also tested his determination and commitment by participating in the annual AIDS/LIFECYCLE event three times, riding his bike five hundred and forty five miles and raising more than eleven million dollars to end AIDS. He is also proud to be working closely with Soulforce to fight the bigotry and harmful rhetoric of religious intolerance, and has recently accepted a seat on the Honorary Board of the Matthew Shepard foundation.

After coming out publicly in a 2001 interview with The Advocate around National Coming Out Day, Allen has demonstrated a commitment to bringing fair, accurate and inclusive images of the LGBT community to films and television and used his presence in the media to advocate for marriage equality in interviews with media outlets including CNN’s Larry King Live.

The Davidson/Valentini Award is named after Craig Davidson, GLAAD’s first executive director, and his partner Michael Valentini. The award is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community. Previous recipients include Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, Alec Mapa, Ilene Chaiken, Robert Gant, B.D. Wong and Sandra Bernhard.
Chelsea Handler

Host
Born in Livingston, New Jersey, to a Jewish father and Mormon mother, Chelsea Handler is the youngest of six children…all good material for a career in comedy. In July 2007 Chelsea broke into the world of male-dominated late-night talk shows with her E! Entertainment series, “Chelsea Lately,” airing weeknights at 11:00 p.m. Consistently the highest-rated program on E!, the series provides Chelsea with the perfect showcase for what she does best: comment on pop culture and entertainment news while interacting with the public. Bringing refreshing new energy to the late night arena, “Chelsea Lately” is an authentic and hilarious commentary on the celebrity culture around us. Her latest book, entitled “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea,” published by Simon Spotlight, came out on April 22, 2008 and debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. In March 2009, Chelsea will receive the prestigious Ally for Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign, recognizing the outstanding efforts of those who dedicate time, energy, spirit and whole-hearted commitment to better the lives of LGBT people.

Geoff Callan & Mike Shaw

San Francisco Local Hero Award

Geoff Callan & Mike Shaw are the filmmakers responsible for the documentary “Pursuit of Equality.”  This film is an emotionally charged film that puts a face on American citizens who strive for marriage equality. From the first frame of the film, even before the press is aware, this film crew is with Mayor Gavin Newsom’s senior staff as the nation’s first same-sex couple exchange their vows and ignite the most controversial civil rights topic in recent history.

The story continues on the streets, in the courtrooms, and on the steps of City Hall, where same-sex couples clash with church groups who declare that who they are and how they love is a sin.  In Life changing moments, this film focuses on the compelling, human rights struggles surrounding same-sex marriage and captures the elation and despair of couples and families who are fighting for equal rights.

As the only film crew in the Mayor’s chambers during the most crucial of times, this extraordinary film provides a telling ‘fly-on-the wall’ view as this historic event unfolds.

Dustin Lance Black

Special Recognition

Dustin Lance Black is a screenwriter, director, film, television producer, and LGBT rights advocate. He has won an Academy Award and two Writers Guild of America Awards for his work on the television series Big Love and the 2008 film Milk.

Special Guests
Calpernia Addams	Megan Cavanagh	Gabrielle Christian
Michelle Clunie	Laverne Cox	Wilson Cruz
Robert Gant	Dan Jinks	Jason Lewis
Gavin Newsom	Suze Orman	Maeve Quinlan
Simon Rex	Eduardo Xol	Judge David Young

Performances By
New Century Chamber Orchestra	Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg	Matt Alber

Contact Tricia Wallin at (212) 219-0111 or glaad@stampeventco.com for more information.

About Patrick Michael: Patrick Baird was most recently the Creative Services Manager for Hill & Knowlton New York working in a strategic capacity to create custom design solutions for Fortune 500 companies across the globe. Patrick has extensive digital imaging and production experience and specializes in print, video, presentation, branding, and interactive design. Patrick previously worked for an international luxury furniture company where he was responsible for producing and directing photo shoots, forecasting colors and fabrics for luxury linen collections, catalog production, and e-commerce development. His efforts were dedicated to advertising and marketing projects including the coordination of press events, sales promotions, product launches, showroom design, and creating print and web collateral materials for both consumers and industry professionals. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Studies from Eugene Lang College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography & Related Media from Parsons School of Design, a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies and a graduate certificate in Media Management from The New School. Patrick is an active member of The Art Directors Club and AIGA/NY. He regularly attends organizational workshops, conferences, and forums. Patrick also works with creative and technology industry leaders to help develop, beta test products, and provide strategic insight for Adobe Systems, Sling Media, Pantone, X-Rite, Gretag Macbeth, Canon, Epson, and HP.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 at 8:19 AM and is filed under culture, entertainment, exclusive, features, lgbt, news, people. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.