Josie Smith-Malave, Johnny Weir and Miss New York Claire Buffie on the GLAAD Manhattan Red Carpet

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s (“GLAAD”) annual event and fundraiser, GLAAD Manhattan, was held at 230 Fifth Avenue’s rooftop bar on Tuesday. Many local and national celebrities came out to support GLAAD’s mission of advancing positive portrayals of the LGBT community in the media.

AfterEllen.com spoke briefly with several LGBT celebrities and straight allies on the red carpet, including the cast of The Real Housewives of New York, out lesbian chef Josie Smith-Malave and Olympic figure skater and reality show star Johnny Weir.

Real Housewives of New York’s Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen

The cast of The Real Housewives of New York may not always be in synch on the small screen, but they are united in their support for the LGBT community. AfterEllen.com: Why are you supporting GLAAD? Why the interest in GLAAD? Simon van Kempen: It’s important to put out positive stories [about the LGBT community] and fight against the stereotypes a lot of people have.

Alex McCord: We tried to do that on Season 2 [of The Real Housewives of New York] when we had a play date with my best friend from college who is a man married to another man, and they have an adopted son.

SvK: But they have to live in Massachusetts in order to do that.

AM: And you know, I have to say, it makes me so angry that my best friend can’t leave his job in Massachusetts because of the health benefits and their child. Won’t it be great when he’ll have the freedom to move to another state?

Event host Bethenny Frankel of Real Housewives of New York and Bethenny Getting Married AE: So how did you get this gig? How did you get hooked up with GLAAD? Bethenny Frankel: Um, I applied – no, I’m just kidding! [Laughs] I have a show on Bravo and I think I’m pretty outspoken and I’m pretty honest about who I am. I think the right images should be portrayed about the gay community and be properly communicated through the media. Also, I think gays relate to me, because I’m honest about my life.

Miss New York, Claire Buffie

Ever since Miss California Carrie Prejean came out and declared that the only true definition of marriage is “opposite marriage” the tiaras of pageant queens everywhere lost a little luster. But Miss New York Claire Buffie may have restored the reputation of pageant contestants with her hard work in advancing LGBT rights. It should also be noted that Claire Buffie is associated with the Miss America pageant and not the Miss USA pageant; the former requires contestants to have a talent other than looking swell in a swimsuit whereas the latter does not.

AE: So tell us why you’re here at the GLAAD event. Claire Buffie: My platform within the Miss America organization is called Straight for Equality: Let’s Talk, and I’m here to open a dialogue about gay rights, and I feel that the Miss America organization is a very unlikely channel to talk about this issue, so I feel really privileged to have a voice about gay rights through the Miss America organization.

AE: Can you tell us more about Straight for Equality? CB: I work predominantly with PFLAG New York City, Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and I’m an executive board member there. We speak in schools to middle and high school students about eliminating discriminatory vocabulary and creating a more inclusive environment that’s safe for kids.

Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir

Johnny Weir may not have invented the pouf, but he was sporting a fierce one on the red carpet. He spoke to us about his new book, his upcoming single, and his skater-porno spectacular, but he remained coy about his sexuality. AE: Hi Johnny. So you have a lot of lesbian fans. When you received the lower-than-expected score in the men’s figure skating long program in the Olympics, queer women across the U.S. protested on your behalf and threw things at our TV screens. Is there anything you want to say to your lesbian fans? Johnny Weir: The outpouring of love I’ve gotten from them has been incredible. So many people had bad reactions to my results at the Olympics, and I can only say thank you, and I love them for having that reaction. I had the same reaction myself – I wanted to throw things, but being in that situation I could not! But my most heartfelt thank you!

AE: You’re welcome! So what are some of the current projects you’re working on? I know you have a book coming out soon. JW: I’ve got a book coming out in February with Gallery Books, and I have a song coming out in the fall called “Dirty Love” that I recorded. It’s really great – it sounds like Depeche Mode, and we’re mixing the remixes right now. I’m also producing a spectacular for the winter that will start in New York City, and it’s going to bring together singers, strippers, porn stars, dancers, and skaters. It’ll just be an incredible crazy night.

AE: I’m going to have to “go there” now. Much of the media has already assumed that you are gay even though you have not stated that you are. Would you like to address that now, or do we have to wait for the book? JW: My sexuality and my sexual past is definitely going to be part of the book. I wanted to tell my story in a way that I can control everything that I was writing, because it is so easy for people writing for websites or newspapers to twist something around. My sexual being isn’t up for discussion; it is what it is, and I want people to understand it from my point of view.

Josie Smith-Malave of Top Chef

Josie Smith-Malave may be back on television soon, but she is contractually bound not to let any details slip. We did find out a little bit, however, and it may involve both beets and beats. AE: Can you tell us about some of the projects you’re working on? Josie Smith-Malave: Right now we’re working on a TV show, so you guys get ready, ’cause it’s gonna rock your world!

AE: What’s the premise of the show? JS-M: I can’t tell you. It’s top secret. But we’re actually filming the pilot this week.

AE: And who’s “we”? Is there someone else involved? JS-M: [Laughs] I can’t tell you a lot of things!

AE: Nothing? Not even a little bit? JS-M: Ok, it’s a cooking show. It’s a music driven cooking show, so keep your eyes open for something really hot really soon!

Synchronized cooking, Benihana-style to reggaeton and hip hop? Cooking with special guest Courtney Love? I’m stumped. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be psyched about, but since she said it’s going to “rock your world,” I’m going to hold her to her word.

All photos by Grace Chu.