Judith Light Is a Tireless Advocate for the LGBTQ Community - Town & Country
Tony Cenicola/New York Times
by Daryl Roth - June 17, 2020
Judith and I met in 1999, when I was producing the play Wit, which fortuitously brought Judith back to the theater, her first love. We found a deep connection, and I have been blessed with her friendship over these 20 years. She continues to inspire me today with her passion for what she believes in, her dedication to being of service to others, and her resplendent grace and warmth. Judith has committed herself to making the world a better place, especially as a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and as an early AIDS activist, when that battle needed recognizable faces and compassionate voices to stand shoulder to shoulder with those most affected by the disease.
She marched, raised awareness, and, most important, raised her voice to speak for those who could not be heard. She continues that work as an active board member of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Point Foundation, both of which help young people who are marginalized because of their sexual orientations.
She also embodies her advocacy through the film, TV, and theater roles she chooses to lend her talent to, from The Ryan White Story to Transparent, with so many in between and yet to come. In recognition of this, GLAAD honored her this year with its Excellence in Media Award.
Judith was also celebrated at the 2019 Tony Awards with the prestigious Isabelle Stevenson Award, our theater community’s highest philanthropic honor. She is a beacon of hope and advocacy for everyone in our industry and beyond. When you meet Judith, her arms extend to embrace you, her heart opens to care for you, and she is there to support and encourage you. I’m honored to have been asked to help celebrate Judith Light: the Light that my dear friend Judith radiates from within, the Light she shines on all of us, the Light she uses to lift up so many people and worthy causes that need our attention, our support, and our love. She is a woman of great compassion and humanity; we are all truly touched and blessed by her extraordinary Light. Daryl Roth is an award-winning theater producer and president of Daryl Roth Productions.