Eric McCormick and Debra Messing. (Leandro Justen/Patrick McMullan)
“I’d be devastated if my son grows up to be a hetero. As a parent, you just envision a certain life for your child. Just imagine the fabulous things he’s going to miss out on! When I think my son might not ever know the joys of having a quarter share on Fire Island, and walking through Judy Garland Memorial Park on the way to the Meat Rack!” Debra Messing said holding back melodramatic tears to a roaring audience last night at Trevor Live, an evening of music and comedy to benefit the Trevor Project.
“Every parent hopes for their child to not be a heterosexual! Think of all the things they’ll miss out on…skinless chicken breasts and brown rice,” Eric McCormick added sarcastically. This was the first time the duo had taken the stage together since their hit TV show Will & Grace went off the air in 2006.
The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 and has since become the leading national organization providing intervention and suicide prevention service to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Every year the foundation honors someone who has helped make progress for the LGBTQ community, and this year’s honoree was Susan Sarandon, an open advocate for increasing visibility and understanding of the LGBTQ community.
As we walked into the silent bidding portion of the event we saw many familiar faces: Brad Goreski was working the room with his partner Gary Janetti, both sporting chic skinny suits. Sylvia Tosun and Stanley Tucci strutted through the room examining each of the items up for auction carefully. We then walked over to a table with a pamphlet pushing a two-night stay on some foreign island, when we overheard a group of bid volunteers gossiping, “Oh my god, Natasha Lyonne is here,” one volunteer said to another in shock.
His friend’s mouth dropped open, “Is she still alive?”
As if by magic, the other side of the room opened up accordion style and revealed the stage and the first dinner course. As everyone migrated across the ballroom to their seats it became an impromptu catwalk-style “Who are you wearing?” game. As we sat down we were asked not only who we were wearing but, “Who do you get your work done by? You look so young!” We thanked the querier and awaited the commencement speech from comedienne, Judy Gold.
When Ms. Sarandon later took to the stage to receive her award she stated, “I’m very honored to get this award because the Trevor Project is there at the end of the line with a voice that tells you that you’re not alone. It is up to us to somehow make it clear that being different is really fabulous.” The entire ballroom stood up and cheered for Ms. Sarandon as she modestly accepted the award.
The night was topped off with a performance by the band Fun, who Ms. Gold sarcastically introduced as a “transgender band” much to the confusion of the older guests seated at our table.
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