Outfest Toasts Gay Hollywood at Stunning Gala

If we're having a recession, you'd never know it from the absolutely stunning bash Outfest threw last night to raise money for their non profit organization.  The house was packed and it was an elegant, star-filled evening at the Directors Guild of America.

Their annual OUTFEST LEGACY AWARDS raises money for lgbt film preservation and all the work the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival does for our community year-round.

Last night, the honors went to uber-producer Alan Poul.   He is not only an accomplished producer (Six Feet Under, My So Called Life, To Wong Foo, Swingtown and the iconic Tales of the City) but also a director (Rome) and a huge supporter of our community.  Poul sat on the Board of Directors for OUTFEST for years, and continues to put positive representations of lgbt folks in mainstream film and television - something he's been doing for twenty years.  

As you can see from Poul's resume, he has always done quality lgbt work - dating back to the 

ground-breaking Tales of the City from Armistead Maupin.  MTV's  My So Called Life had one of the first openly gay characters on television.  When the actor playing that character - Wilson Cruz - wanted to come out of the closet in real life in order to lend support to other gay teens, producer Poul was there to help him.  Let me tell you - in those days NO ONE was out of the closet and there were NO representations of gays on television.  That move alone helped an entire nation of gay folks have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in not only that high school character, but also the brave actor that - at 19 - came out of the closet himself to provide a role model for struggling teens.

"I have so much love to Alan Poul," says Cruz, "I owe him so much.  He taught me what my responsibilities were and continues to live the example of that responsibility with so much grace."

I met Mr. Poul back in my previous life on the horror flick Candyman, which he produced with another uber gay, Clive Barker.  My favorite tid-bit about Alan is that when he was just out of college, he did an apprenticeship with one of my other gay heroes Stephen Sondheim!

Actress Laura Linney was there to present the award to Poul, and Bruce Vilanch hosted the evening.

The pre party and the after party were just outstanding - a packed house full of the who's-who of Gay Hollywood, and the most wonderful food from Rosa Mexico and Cake O's, with passed hor d vevours and several free flowing open bars, compliments of Absolut.

(pictured left, actor Wilson Cruz with The Totally True Adventures of Two Girls in Love director Maria Maggenti and Guillermo Bass)

I wish I had more photos, but honestly, I was sucked into so many wonderful conversations, the night got away from me!  But here's a few.

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