George Takei, Marvel Ent. Among Nov. 8 Vanguard Awardees

Longtime actor and LGBT activist George Takei and his husband Brad Takei will join Marvel Entertainment and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky as honorees at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 45th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 8 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

Presented by Wells Fargo, the Vanguard Awards are one of the country’s premier LGBT charity events, drawing more than 1,200 supporters for cocktails, dinner and entertainment, while saluting champions of the LGBT movement. The evening also features an extensive auction that includes high-end items, packages and experiences.

“As we celebrate the 45^th anniversary of the world’s largest provider of programs and services for LGBT people, we’re excited to honor some very deserving Super Heroes in our movement,” said the L.A. LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “George and Brad Takei are two of the nation’s most visible, dedicated and influential LGBT activists. Throughout his four decades of services to Los Angeles, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has been a fierce champion for LGBT people and strong ally to the Center. And Marvel Entertainment, through its award-winning portrayals of LGBT characters and storylines that parallel the struggle to end discrimination against our community, has helped brighten the lives of LGBT kids—and adults alike—around the world.”

The Nov. 8 event begins with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., and bidding starts for the silent auction. The dinner and show begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $400; sustaining donors receive a limited number of half-price tickets. For more information visit lgbtvanguardawards.org or call TAI Events at (310) 996-1188.

Event sponsors include: Wells Fargo, State Farm, Hollywood Forever, Anita May Rosenstein Foundation, American Airlines, Comcast NBCUniversal, Cadillac, Nordstrom, Out@Warner Bros., Southern California Gas Company, UBS, US Bank, The David Bohnett Foundation, The Huntington, DirecTV, Pacific Federal, Ralphs/Food4Less, and LA Pride.