Good-looking men in suits crammed the room during the two-hour cocktail reception in the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers' New York Ballroom at the Empire State Pride Agenda's fall fund-raising dinner, which featured Hillary Rodham Clinton as the keynote speaker. The crowd of more than 1,600 guests--mostly men--greeted each other with kisses as they perused the silent auction items on display, which included photographs, furnishings, opera tickets and a chemical peel.
Dinner was served in the Imperial Ballroom, which was crammed with round tables decorated with floral centerpieces of red roses and light green hydrangea by Gregory Bach Design. The program began with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and the event's emcees, Party of Five's Mitchell Anderson and comedienne Elvira Kurt. The crowd refused to stop chatting throughout the live auction by actor John Burke (a.k.a. Sybil Bruncheon), which included a week-long stay at a cottage in Ireland.
Things finally quieted down for actress and singer Lillias White and for the first lady, who received a warm welcome with a standing ovation. Following Clinton's speech, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus broke into "New York, New York." A short video produced by Katherine Linton and Thomas C. Grant about the Pride Agenda's work concluded the program.
--AnnMarie Harris
Dinner was served in the Imperial Ballroom, which was crammed with round tables decorated with floral centerpieces of red roses and light green hydrangea by Gregory Bach Design. The program began with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and the event's emcees, Party of Five's Mitchell Anderson and comedienne Elvira Kurt. The crowd refused to stop chatting throughout the live auction by actor John Burke (a.k.a. Sybil Bruncheon), which included a week-long stay at a cottage in Ireland.
Things finally quieted down for actress and singer Lillias White and for the first lady, who received a warm welcome with a standing ovation. Following Clinton's speech, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus broke into "New York, New York." A short video produced by Katherine Linton and Thomas C. Grant about the Pride Agenda's work concluded the program.
--AnnMarie Harris
Hillary Rodham Clinton was the keynote speaker at the annual Empire State Pride Agenda fall dinner. The red roses decorating the podium were arranged by Gregory Bach Design.
Actress and singer Lillias White was one of the performers at the Pride Agenda dinner. Two video screens provided by the Sheraton New York Hotel & TowersNew York Ballroom made it easier for guests to see White and keynote speaker Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Centerpieces at the Empire State Pride Agenda dinner featured red roses and light green hydrangea by Gregory Bach Design.>
Party of Five's Mitchell Anderson was one of two emcees at the Empire State Pride Agenda dinner. Comedienne Elvira Kurt was the other.
