Jane Lynch, who plays Sue Sylvester on
Glee, will be honored for her gay advocacy at the National
Center for Lesbian Rights' (NCLR) 2012
Anniversary Celebration.
Lynch will be presented with the
group's Vanguard Award on May 5 at San Francisco's Metreon Cityview.
The group said it was honoring the out
actress for “using her fame as a platform to further LGBT equality,
and for being an outspoken advocate for creating safer, welcoming
schools for LGBT children.”
Six students from Minnesota's
Anoka-Hennipin School District who stood up against a district policy
that prohibits staff from discussing LGBT issues will also be honored
at the event. They will each receive the group's Courage Award.
“This year is especially significant,
as NCLR celebrates a major milestone – turning 35 years old, an
opportunity for us to look back on our history-making cases, and
champions who have stood up against injustice and changed the legal
landscape for every member of our community,” NCLR Executive
Director Kate Kendell said in a statement. “We're thrilled to
celebrate how far we've come by honoring those who are standing up
for what's right, becoming role models for millions of people across
the country.”