#TrevorLIVE15: The Stars Came Out Last Night To Honor Sir Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellan & Susan Sarandon

Last night was TrevorLIVE in New York City and a diverse group came out to honor Sir Ian McKellen with the 2015 Trevor Hero Award. McKellen is the co-founder of Stonewall U.K., which lobbies for legal and social equality for gay people, and is a patron of the Albert Kennedy Trust, which supports homeless LGBT youths. For his ongoing support of the LGBTQ community, the Oscar-nominated actor was presented with the award by longtime friend, Susan Sarandon. McKellen told People magazine;

“Well, as is often the case with gay people and the problems that they have because society is pointing a finger at them and saying, ‘Your difference makes you inferior,’ The Trevor Project is doing things that the government should be doing, that schools should be doing, that society as a whole should be doing.”

In his acceptance speech, McKellen told the audience:

“We know, because of The Trevor Project, that there are dark corners where it’s not easy to be yourself. And anyone who’s ever been though the painful, but in the end glorious, experience of coming out – because it’s the best thing you ever do – can sympathize with people in that situation.”

Composer Marc Shaiman performed and attended the event. He shared this on Facebook;

“OK, mind blown. Tonight, at The Trevor Project gala in NYC, when accepting his award, Sir Ian McKellen laid down his mic and – minus amplification – recited the ‘speech to the mob’ from Shakespeare’s “Thomas More” as he walked from the stage to the middle of the ballroom and back again. I have witnessed a lot of breath taking moments in my show biz life, but this was BEYOND! NO one there will ever forget it! Just ask Scott Wittman, Bridget Everett, Adam Shankman, Paul Dobie, Celisse Allegra, Michael McElroy, Max von Essen, Richard Jay-Alexander, Romelda Teron Benjamin, Scott Nevins, Alex Newell and a bunch of other lucky moth****ckers who were in that room! From stunned silence to eruption!!”

Wow. Incredible. My old pal, actor, activist, author and all-around fab guy, James Lescene, created the character of Trevor in his one-man show, which later became the Oscar-winning documentary, that inspired The Trevor Project; the first LGBT 24-hour suicide hotline, saving countless lives. It’s a truly great organization. You can find out more info here.