Ugly Betty: February 2009 Archives

It brings tears to my eyes when I think about what Judith Light has meant to the LGBT community for so many years. She's given us more than her love - she's given her time and her name to countless causes.

I'll never forget a few summers back at Outfest when she was participating in an "Ugly Betty" panel and when they introduced her, the ovation was long and heartfelt and dwarfed the applause for America Fererra, Vanessa Williams or any of the show's other stars.

She is a woman who was horrfied by the AIDS epidemic and the government's lack of action when people, including her friends, were dying. She was one of the first celebrities, way back in the early 80s, to step-up and help to raise money and awareness.

"I've been part of the really dark days," Judith told me at the Ribbon of Hope event back in 2007. "How it feels now is it feels mildly better but it's not enough. I know that people are working really hard to make it be different and that's what we have to keep doing ...[HIV/AIDS is) out there and it's not over."

I love what Judith said at another awards show earlier that year about gay people: "You are my teachers, you are my role models. You risk everything to be authentic. Do you know how rare that is in this culture? ...People who are out and who are willing to risk in order to lead."

Love ya Judith!