Senate Democratic Leader David Paterson and the New York State Senate Democratic Conference will present special Senate Civil Rights Awards to various activists and performers. Elaine St. George — currently performing her gay marriage show, The Girl That I Marry, at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater — will sing Kander and Ebb's "Married" at the event.

Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray) will be presented his award by The Normal Heart playwright Larry Kramer. Laura Linney (Sight Unseen), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q) and Christopher Sieber (Chicago, Into The Woods) will also receive awards.

Other recipients include San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Gay Rights Activist Mark Benoit, Lesbian Activist Lisa Cannistraci, Gay Mens Health Crisis Associate Executive Director Ronald Johnson, Deputy Director of Carnegie Corporation Catherine Pino, "The Honeymooners" star Joyce Randolph and New Paltz Mayor Jason West.