The Creative Coalition’s annual Humanitarian Awards takes place the week of the Primetime Emmys — but even though the big show was pushed to January, the benefit luncheon still took place on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the La Peer Hotel rooftop in West Hollywood, attracting a wide range of honorees and presenters.
The Humanitarian Awards recognizes talent who donate their time, resources and their celebrity to promote worthy social causes. This year, honors went to Jason Alexander, Pauline Chalamet, Billy Eichner, Wendie Malick, Arian Moayed and Lena Waithe, as well as Josefina López, who was saluted with the Your Voice Carries Weight award. Presenters included Alyssa Milano, Cazzie David, Lawrence O’Donnell, Gloria Calderón Kellet, Samantha Hanratty, Debbie Levin, Bradley Whitford and Darnell Moore.
Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton hosted the luncheon, which opened with remarks from The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk; both cited the org’s continued fight for arts funding and education.
In her acceptance speech, “Real Women Have Curves” writer López discussed the limited opportunities for Latino voices — recalling the body shaming and stereotypical portrayals of Latinos she has encountered in Hollywood over the years. Malick applauded female-led organizations at the forefront of supporting positive change, while Eichner pushed for more arts spending in schools and Moayed and Alexander recalled how the arts changed their lives. Alexander also gave a rallying cry of support to Hollywood actors and writers on the picket line, amid the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, as well as the artisans who make up each production.
“It is the working people,” Alexander said. “Right now, as our colleagues are out there in front of every studio and network in this town fighting, they are not only fighting for what is existentially important to them, but they are also fighting for every grip and gaffer, every electrician, every office worker. We are all in this together.”
Here’s a few highlights from the ceremony:
[Pictured above: Creative Coalition honorees Pauline Chalamet, Josefina López, Lena Waithe, Wendie Malick, Arian Moayed and Jason Alexander]
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