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A Star-Studded “Evening With Women”

The annual fundraiser for women-specific services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, “An Evening With Women,” was held this past weekend in Los Angeles. Nearly $400,000 was raised, and AfterEllen.com was fortunate enough to have two correspondents, Lesley Goldberg and Sarah Witness (our L.A. Scene columnist) in attendance to provide both red carpet interviews and a wish-you-were-there overview of the night.

The benefit also honored community leader Jewel Thais-Williams and featured appearances by Gina Gershon, Sarah Silverman, Linda Perry and Pink, Clementine Ford, Heart, Renée Zellweger, Kat Von D and Jamie Lauren.

On the red carpet, Lesley Goldberg spoke to Perry, Ford, Ann Wilson (of Heart), and Zellweger.

LINDA PERRY AfterEllen: You’re continuing to raise awareness – and money – for the Center by co-chairing this event and raising the bar. What do you have planned for next year? Linda Perry: Staples Center! Just kidding. Can you imagine?! It’s about getting people really banging down the doors and wanting to come in. This year we’re still struggling to get people to come out but it’s obviously better. As long as it keeps growing, that’s all I care about. It’s all about taking your time and making sure we’re not being pushy.

AE: Why do you think it’s important to continue to grow the size and scope of events like this? LP: On a selfish note, it’s more about making it just a cool event. We’re making money for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and their legal services that they offer and the clinic, shelter, so many things. It would be great if people just started coming; it’s an all-gay event, all women. I mean, we don’t even have bars! We get everything taken away from us. I want this to be the new place to come every year.

AE: You wrote Christina Aguilera‘s “Beautiful,” which was just featured on Glee. What’d you think? LP: That was awesome. I had never seen the show before. I OK’d it because I knew what the storyline was with it because it was amazing. I just saw it and was like, “Right on!”

AE: Glee’s planning and episode of all-original material. Would you be open to writing a song for the show? LP: If they wanted me, I would.

CLEMENTINE FORD: AfterEllen: What does an event like this mean to you? Clementine Ford: It’s fun to see one of my favorite bands ever, Heart, play. But I think it’s great because it gets the word out. Having the performers that we have tonight is really going to bring (the Center) to the forefront. We’re going to make it more mainstream so people know about it. That’s one of the things that’s lacking. There was a time when I didn’t have health insurance, I didn’t have anywhere to go and had I known about it, I would have gone; it would have really helped me. I think an event like tonight not only brings in money but it also brings in awareness of what they do.

AE: Do you think coming out has helped your career? Some actors have suggested that closeted gay actors should stay in the closet. CF: I think that’s a load of horse s–t, personally, excuse my language. In my circumstance, I’m in a contract on a soap but they could have let me go, they could have treated me badly. But I have had nothing but support from everyone that I work with. They haven’t turned my character into a lesbian. They’ve let me be who I am and have been 150 percent supportive of me. If anything, it’s made me closer to the people I work with.

AE: Would you be open to having your character go gay on the show? CF: Of course! Nobody wants to be pigeonholed into that but I also think if that was the only way to get a gay character on the show, let’s do it.

AE: What do you think of how lesbians are portrayed on TV right now? CF: Where are they?! I don’t watch enough TV but I don’t see any from the little bit of TV that I do watch.

AE: Showtime has The Real L Word coming in June – CF: I know someone who’s going to be on that, I just saw a preview. But I don’t know anything about it.

AE: Who do you know? CF: I’ll leave that to your imagination.

AE: What do you think about Ilene Chaiken tapping into The L Word for a reality show? CF: On the one hand, it’s a case of, really? Do we need the tabloid garbage and drama in the real world of lesbians? No. But on the other hand, if it brings more awareness and allows you to see that we’re just like everybody else, great.

AE: Do you think the press handles celebrity lesbian relationships any differently than hetero stars? CF: They don’t really seem to care that much, which is great for us.

RENEE ZELLWEGER: AfterEllen: What does it mean to be asked to be a part of an event like this? Renee Zellweger: It’s totally flattering. Introduce my pal, Linda Perry, and come out and support this cause? Who says no to that?

AE: What do you think of the fight for marriage equality? RZ: It’s so frustrating. Give people their lives. Let people love each other.

AE: If you were going to play gay, who would you cast as your onscreen love interest? RZ: (Laughing) Is this a game you play at parties? I’ve never thought about it, so I can’t give you a proper answer.

ANN WILSON (HEART) AfterEllen: What can you tell me about your new album? Ann Wilson: It’s called Red Velvet Car, and it’s coming out after we tour for it this summer.

AE: What’s a red velvet car? Ann Wilson: A red velvet car is a soul ambulance. It’s that friend that comes and picks you up when you’re standing alone in the rain at rock bottom. Or if something has happened to you and you really need help and you reach out, that’s the person that comes to get you.

AE: Is that what the album is about, friendships you’ve formed along the way when you’ve needed them? AW: Quite a few of the songs are about life experiences of change and pulling yourself out and up.

AE: What does an event like this mean to you? AW: I’m really honored to be here. That Linda would have asked us to come here and be part of this. I’ve got so many friends who are gay and I know so many young people through my daughter’s crowd who have had bad troubles and have nowhere to go.

AE: If you were going to dedicate “Barracuda” to anyone here tonight, who would it be? AW: I’d dedicate it to Linda Perry.

A report from the back table at “An Evening With Women” by Sarah Witness

The always amazing annual event “An Evening With Women,” a star-studded benefit for the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, took place again this past weekend at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Established in 1971, The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center provides a wide array of social services to the LGBT community, including shelter, food, clothing, and support for homeless youth, free HIV/AIDS care for those in need, and low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services.

Celebrities come out in droves to support the cause, and by celebrities I don’t mean someone who starred in a webisode. Linda Perry and Brent Bolthouse are the big guns behind the operation and they call upon their famous friends to contribute to the night. Upon arrival, guests were treated to a hosted bar and encouraged to take a look at the items up for grabs in the silent auction. The goods included backstage passes to an upcoming Christina Aguilera concert, a Carolina Herrera dress custom designed for presenter Renée Zellweger, bass guitar lessons with Flea, and a guitar autographed by Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.

Eventually, we were ushered into the ballroom and seated for dinner. Because I’ve tricked the PR people into thinking I’m a journalist, I was seated with actual journalists, from People Magazine and US Weekly. It’s always shocking (and awesome) to have “straight” publications covering gay events. Maybe I’ll invite them to Dinah Shore next year.

The dinner menu was designed by Top Chef’s Jamie Lauren. It was delicious, but I’m still upset because one of those journalists ate my dessert while I wasn’t looking. Those straight people are crafty I tell you. I tried to remain calm and enjoy myself regardless.

Host Gina Gershon kicked off the show with a rousing musical performance and wore very high, shiny boots. Hot. The C.E.O. of The Center, Lorri L. Jean, gave an inspiring speech detailing the work they do, and then an award was given to Jewel Thais-WIlliams. Thais-Williams founded Jewel’s Catch One, originally an African American gay and lesbian disco. The club still exists (and has thankfully expanded beyond disco), and it’s proceeds benefit the Village Health Foundation, a non-profit holistic health center.

Lest things get too serious, Sarah Silverman appeared on stage and performed a typically off-color set. I didn’t need to know all that about her mom’s pubic hair, but that’s just me. Linda Perry’s assistant and friend Shannon Del took the stage and spoke about her experience of being rejected by her family upon coming out. With no where to turn, she went to The Center and was able to get her life on track. Living in such an accepting community, it’s easy to forget that some kids are completely derailed by coming out. Places like The Center are truly the only life line for so many.

A huge amount of money was raised at the brief live auction that followed Del’s speech. People bid thousands of dollars on uber-cool prizes including a private dinner prepared by Jamie Lauren and a tattoo by Kat Von D. Two winners received a recording session with Linda Perry. For the grand finale, the curtain opened and there was superstar Pink, smoking a cigarette and sitting on an autographed Vespa. The lucky winner ran on stage and hopped on the Vespa with her. I ran to the bathroom and totally missed Renee Zellweger, who did something… brief. Linda Perry had taken the stage when I returned and performed her Four Non-Blondes hit “What’s Up.” She then stated that it was not the original version of the song, and asked if anyone could remember how the original went. Pink took the stage with her and sang while Linda played the guitar. Linda was Pink’s “mentor” for many years and their relationship allegedly ended very acrimoniously, so it was stunning to see them together and the highlight of the night. The final performance of the evening was by Heart. They opened with “Barracuda.” I wasn’t yet born when they rose to fame in the 1970’s but I did have a “cassingle” at one point. I can tell you that they are still going strong and I’m going to get downloading as soon as I finish writing this. After their set, the tables were cleared away and a dance party ensued, led by DJ Taryn Manning. The night was fabulous and flawless, and I’m thrilled that all the money raised went to such a deserving organization.

For more information about the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, check out their official website.

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