McDonald (Ragtime, Master Class, Carousel) is being honored with the PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) NYC "Stay Close" Leadership Award in "recognition of her years advocating full equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and for her participation in the PFLAG NYC 'Stay Close' campaign which features straight celebrities appearing with their LGBT loved ones."
McDonald appeared in a portrait with her godfathers, Bobby Wilson and Andy Gale, who are gay, as part of PFLAG's "Stay Close" campaign. The portrait will be unveiled during the ceremony. According to PFLAG, "The campaign is based on a simple truth: Life is about relationships, and relationships with our loved ones are too precious to lose merely because someone is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender."
"Bobby and Andy have been there for me at so many important points in my life. I love them so much. I don't know what I would do without them," McDonald said in a statement.
Also honored with a Stay Close Leadership Award is City Councilmember Daniel Dromm, the first openly gay teacher in NYC and a longtime advocate for LGBT rights.
The gala benefits the Safe Schools Program, where parents and LGBT speakers work with classrooms of middle and high school students across the city.