Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner officials announced that Alan Cumming will be the recipient of the 2006 Elizabeth Birch Equality Award.
The award will be presented at the 25th anniversary dinner, scheduled in November.
Activities related to the dinner get underway this week with a table captain’s party. The event is open to anyone who wants to learn more about this year’s dinner and how to become a table captain. The party is scheduled Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, 400 N. Olive St.
The award is given annually to honor national leaders in the fight for equal rights and to honor former Human Rights Campaign executive director Elizabeth Birch for her inspirational leadership.
Cumming, an actor, director and author, has previously been honored for his work fighting discrimination and advocating for equality. Last year the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation presented him with its Vito Russo Award. The same year he received a Humanitarian Award at the San Francisco Human Rights Campaign Awards. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Birkner Humanitarian Award.
Cumming is now starring on Broadway in “The Threepenny Opera.” He is the author of a novel, “Tommy’s Tale,” and he started a fragrance line called “Cumming.”
He made his professional theater and film debuts in “Macbeth” before graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow in 1985. He worked primarily in Scottish theater and television after graduation. He went on to earn his first Oliver award nomination for his role in the London play, “Conquest of the South Pole.” He won for comedy performance of the year at the 1991 Oliver Awards for his role in “Accidental Death of an Anarchist.”
Cumming starred in “Prague,” which premiered at the 1992 Cannes film festival and went on to win best actor at the Atlantic Film Festival. In 1994 Cumming made his first Hollywood film, “Circle of Friends.”
The Black Tie Dinner has raised $9.1 million for GLBT groups in North Texas and for the Human Rights Campaign. It raised $1.2 million last year.
The 25th anniversary celebration will be held Nov. 11 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. For ticket information visit www.blacktiedinner.org/tickets.html or contact Randy Ray at 972-733-9200 or rray@blacktiedinner.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, June 09, 2006.