Wishing a very happy birthday to acclaimed actress and beloved LGBTQ icon Judith Light

Please join me today in heaping a whole lot of attention and love upon the great Judith Light on her 77th birthday.

What an amazing career on stage and screen she has had winning two Tonys, a Primetime Emmy and two Daytime Emmys along the way as well as receiving all kinds of other nominations. We’ve loved her in Ugly Betty, Transparent and , of course, Who’s the Boss and One Life to Live.

But the biggest reason Miss Light is revered by so many LGBTQ people is for how she stood steadfastly and visibly with us during the earliest days of the terrifying HIV/AIDS epidemic and stayed involved during its deadliest years and beyond.

People never forget this.

One year at the Outfest Film Festival when Judith was there with the entire cast of Ugly Betty, her name was announced and the rapturous applause started and would not stop. I had goosebumps and tears. It was a spontaneous, prolonged, heartfelt ovation that, to me, seemed to saying we know all you’ve done for us and thank you.