***UPDATED---July 7, 2010 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced today that it will present a 2010 National Leadership Award to Tony Award-winning actor and longtime human rights activist Alan Cumming at the 14th Annual Miami Recognition Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. “Alan has been an outspoken and tenacious advocate for civil rights and HIV/AIDS causes for over a decade,” says Rea Carey, executive director of the Task Force. “He has used his talent and his success to support the LGBT community and to effect real change in the world. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to honor him.”

Miami, FL - June 5, 2010 ---The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced today that it will honor Cindy Brown and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson at the 14th Annual Miami Recognition Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. This major fundraising event recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to the social, cultural, political and humanitarian needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. See photos from the kick-off event here.

“I have had the privilege of watching these two women work tirelessly in support of the LGBT community for many, many years,” says Liebe Gadinsky, event co-chair and Task Force board member. “I am overjoyed that we have the opportunity to honor them for all they have contributed to the cause of equality.”

Brown, who will receive the 2010 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award, has served as a volunteer and an employee of many Miami-Dade organizations, including SAVE Dade, Aqua Foundation for Women, Care Resource and the Miami Light Project. She holds the record for most years of service as a steering committee member and as a co-chair of the Miami Recognition Dinner. Brown launched her own event company, Cenergy, in 2008, and was contracted to produce the first Miami Beach Gay Pride celebration in 2009; it became the largest one-day event in the city of Miami Beach. The second annual Miami Beach Gay Pride was held this past Saturday and was even larger and more successful than the 2009 event.

Sorenson, who will be awarded the 2010 Humanitarian Award, has represented District 8 on the Miami-Dade County Commission since 1994 and has been a staunch advocate for human rights, a champion of regional cooperation, a leader in child welfare issues and a promoter of the arts. She championed the inclusion of “sexual orientation” to the county’s nondiscrimination laws and successfully defended these equal treatment provisions against attempts at repeal. She was instrumental in ensuring that county employees were awarded domestic partnership benefits in 2009.

 Launched in 1997, the Miami Recognition Dinner quickly cemented its place as the premier event for uniting the community and honoring individuals and organizations for their achievements and efforts in fostering equal rights for LGBT people. Over the past decade, it has become a vital source of funding for organizations serving the LGBT community. Since assuming responsibility for the dinner and its sister event, Winter Party Festival, in 2004, the Task Force has donated close to $800,000 from the proceeds of the two events to the Miami-Dade community.

Information on individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities is available by calling the Task Force’s Miami office at 305.571.1924. Tickets are available at www.theTaskForce.org/miami.