At The Ali Forney Center’s Spring Gala, a Night Full of Sequins and Joy

A “queer chic” dress code may sound challenging to interpret—and yet, guests did so with gusto at The Ali Forney Center’s recent A Place at The Table gala. Throughout The Glasshouse in Chelsea, attendees dazzled in suits and gowns adorned with studs, crystals, and no shortage of sequins

“The looks are always looking,” actor and the Center board member Tommy Dorfman told Vogue, draped in a sheer Bode tunic. “The girls are always serving something really special, fishy, and fun. It’s really a mix of fashion.”

Of course, the fashion wasn’t the only draw. This year’s event began with a cocktail reception where attendees could bid on silent auction items, including artwork by various LGBTQIA+ artists. Once dinner began, a crowd including director Celine Song, Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy, designer Cynthia Rowley, and content creators Benton McClintock and Kenneth Pabon were seated for an awards ceremony and fun-filled program. Hosted by drag queen Plasma, the night honored Chappell Roan, Liev and Taylor Schreiber, and Gia Love for their allyship and volunteer work with the Center.

“The work that they do, and the scale they do it at, is truly extraordinary,” Liev Schreiber told Vogue, first learning of the organization through his wife, Taylor. “This year, we got to spend more time with Alex [Roque] and Zach [Cohen] at the base on 37th Street, and it really is an incredible program.”

The evening raising an impressive $3 million towards the Center’s mission to put an end to transphobia and homophobia, as well as provide housing, education, and job opportunities for marginalized LGBTQIA+ youth. Midway through the night, activist Marti Gould Cummings and Letitia Frye led a rousing live auction that raised over $600,000, with prizes ranging from a four-night cruise on the Nile River to tennis lessons with John and Patrick McEnroe. The occasion also found many guests reflecting on the LGBTQIA+ role models in their lives—including honoree Taylor Schreiber, who recognized her stepdaughter, model Kai Schreiber, in her acceptance speech. “She’s one of the strongest people I have ever known,” Schreiber said. “[Liev] has never asked her to be anything other than exactly who she is.”

Though Roan was unable to attend, the singer—who’s supported the Center through her Midwest Princess Project nonprofit—shared her thank you note in a video. However, her presence was still somewhat in the room, courtesy of an impersonator wearing Roan-esque sequins and makeup. “I first learned about the Ali Forney Center through Dev Doee. I’ve seen her perform many times at Hush and Pieces—my favorite drag bars in New York City,” Roan told the room. “Trans art and expression, and its impact within the queer community, is so important and inspiring to me. So many of the rights we have now came from the work of the trans community. Trans people deserve a spotlight for all the work that they do, not only for gay and queer people, but for all humans—and it’s imperative that we recognize that.”

The night was complete with a group’s vogueing performance to Katseye’s Internet Girl, plus plenty of cocktails, cookies, and miniature desserts. Ultimately, the organization aims for attendees to continue their support and education around LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as the legal and social challenges they face year-round. “My greatest hope is that guests attending tonight will understand the opportunity they have to make a difference,” Center president and executive director Alexander Roque told Vogue. “The opportunity they have to impact a life, and the moment and the calling they have to go from being allies to being accomplices in this moment that we’re in. We’re in a very unique moment that people have the opportunity to help educate those that are in a belief system that LGBTQIA+ people, legally, should be treated differently.”