MIAMI, Fla.,—Broadway musical theater producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley will be honored at the 2016 National LGBTQ Task Force Gala—Miami. The annual fundraising gala will take place on Saturday, October 8, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach (4441 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140).
Rudetsky and Wesley will be presented with the National Leadership Award for their work to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people and people living with HIV/AIDS. Earlier this year, in response to the Pulse Orlando Night Club shooting, Wesley conceived the idea of the Broadway community uniting to sing, “What the World Needs Now is Love,” to raise funds benefiting the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. As part of the effort, Rudetsky and Wesley assembled a group of Broadway stars that included Sara Bareilles, Bernadette Peters, Carole King, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Gloria Estefan, among others. They also organized “Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando.”
“Every year at the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala—Miami, we honor exceptional leaders working around the clock to create a world free from violence, hatred and discrimination directed at LGBTQ people. For over two decades, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley have gone the extra mile to help the most in need in the LGBTQ community—most recently supporting those affected by the Orlando shooting. We welcome everyone in South Florida to join us in honoring Seth and James for their significant contributions at this year’s awards gala,” said Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force.
Married in 2012, the couple’s community service dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ community dates back to the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since 1992, Rudetsky has been involved with Hearts and Voices, an organization that brings weekly live performances to hospitalized people with HIV/AIDS. He has also produced concerts benefitting the Actors Fund of America, which provides programs and services to arts and entertainment professionals in need, crisis, or transition. Last year, Rudetsky and Wesley co-produced “Voices for the Voiceless” on Broadway to raise funds for New York City youth in foster care. Together and separately, the couple has produced or performed in Broadway shows such as Ragtime, Les Miz, Dreamgirls, Hair, The Ritz, Unbroken Circle, and Disaster! Rudetsky and Wesley are the fathers of a 16-year-old daughter, Juli.
“We’re very excited to bring a bit of Broadway to this year’s annual gala. Every year, South Florida’s LGBTQ community and allies raise critical funds and increase awareness of our ongoing work to advance social justice. The gala creates an evening like none other for our community with the opportunity to bond with our neighbors, forge new friendships, perhaps meet a future spouse, and certainly change lives forever,” said Charles Million, co-chair of the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala–Miami.
Also being honored this year at the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala—Miami is the Miami Herald’s Steve Rothaus. Rothaus will be presented with the 2016 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award for his work dedicated to reporting on issues affecting LGBTQ people.
Individual tickets to the awards gala are $450 and include an intimate cocktail reception, a gourmet three-course dinner and the awards ceremony, as well as live music entertainment. Attendees will also have the opportunity to bid on a variety of silent auction items. Proceeds from the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala—Miami and the Winter Party Festival support the National LGBTQ Task Force’s work to secure full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people and their families. A significant portion of the proceeds also funds multiple organizations serving the LGBTQ community in South Florida.
For sponsorship information and to purchase tickets visit www.thetaskforcegala.org.
