Sharon Gless Talks LGBTQ Equality

Sharon Gless Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about her reunion with Tyne Daly at the Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation’s Silver Anniversary Gala event “Help Is On The Way 25 Celebrating Broadway” that takes place on Sunday August 18th with a concert and gala that benefits Meals on Wheels of San Francisco and Raphael House at the Herbst Theatre 401 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, California. Gless will be reunited with her “Cagney & Lacey” partner Tyne Daly in a reunion performance not to be missed. Also scheduled to appear will be Eileen Bourgade, Carole Cook, Franc D’ambrosio, Sam Harris, Kimberley Locke, Constantine Maroulis, Jai Rodriguez, Del Shores, Lisa Vroman, Bruce Vilanch, Paula West and the cast of the National Touring Company of “Hamilton”. Carole Cook a protégé of Lucille Ball who has starred on stage and screen for over 70 years will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at Help Is On the Way 25. For over twenty years the Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation has raised millions of dollars by producing Broadway quality entertainment events and galas to advance HIV treatments and support AIDS services until there is a cure. Since 2015 REAF has expanded its fundraising focus to the Bay Area’s growing demand for two new areas by providing food for the needy and programs that support homeless, disadvantaged and disenfranchised youth. We talked to Sharon about this tremendous organization and as a fierce ally her spin on our LGBTQ issues.

Sharon Gless has entertained TV viewers worldwide as the iconic characters she has brought to life over the last five decades. However it was her breakout role on the CBS hit TV series Cagney and Lacey that won our hearts as over 30 million viewers each week watched Gless as NYPD detective Christine Cagney in the first hour-long drama to feature two females in the leading roles that ran for six Emmy-winning seasons from 1982 until 1988. Then another generation of viewers fell in love with Sharon’s portrayal of Debbie Novotny the outspoken devoted mom of a gay son and confidant and loyal supporter to his gay friends for all five seasons of Showtime’s daring smash series Queer As Folk. We also talked to Gless about the possibility of a Queer As Folk reunion. The Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation was founded by the late Barbara Richmond and Peggy Ermet in memory of their sons John Richmond and Doug Ermet who both lost their lives to AIDS. In 1995 the two women decided not to get mad but get even when they launched a musical AIDS benefit to honor their sons by raising funds for AIDS service organizations. "Help Is On The Way 25" is Northern California's largest annual benefit concert benefiting HIV/AIDS and hunger programs. It's an elegant evening of wonderful music, delicious food and beverage tastings and most of all fun.
For More Info & Tix: reaf-sf.org

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