Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) Hosts Second Annual Voice Awards

  Honors Leaders Who Use Their Voices for Equality

Omar Sharif Jr.

The Globe Theatre at Universal Studios was brought to life on Sunday, May 19, 2013 where the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) hosted its second annual Voice Awards, honoring organizations and activists who have helped lead the charge in support of equality for the LGBT Community.

This year’s honorees included pioneers American Idol and AT&T, which have set precedents for national recognition of equality, activists Fred Arens and Jason Duguay who have helped to raise more than one million dollars for LGBT organizations nationwide, and writer/director Liesel Reinhart, the board member and creator of GMCLA’s national tour of it gets better, which visits schools and communities across America’s heartland with a message of acceptance and anti-bullying. Performances at the Voice Awards were held by the more than 200-member chorus, “Glee” actor Alex Newell and “The Voice” contestant De’Borah.

GMCLA Executive Director, Chris Verdugo, spoke to the crowd of more than 500 attendees, and said that the Chorus was an outlet that saved his life. His was not a story unique to him, he said to the attentive audience. But rather the story of many GMCLA members.

Proud sponsors of GMCLA’s Voice Awards included State Farm, Brian Pendleton & Chad Goldman, Geffen Foundation, Macias Media Group, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Athens Services, Combined Properties, HBO, IAC, Outlook Amusements, Inc. and JimmyWin.com. Hilton Los Angeles/Universal served as the Voice Awards Official Host Hotel, and Southwest Airlines was the Official Airline.

The Chorus will soon conclude its 34th Season, which was sponsored by Wells Fargo, on June 22nd and June 23rd at the Saban Theatre with two performances of “Not Entirely Wicked,” which will feature the music and an appearance of Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz along with the voice of Emmy Award winning singer Liz Callaway. For more information about the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, or to buy tickets for “Not Entirely Wicked,” please visit www.gmcla.org.

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