Marlo Thomas looked to be in high spirits on Monday, May 12, when she arrived in New York City for Night at the Pier, Family Equality’s hallmark fundraiser event.
The Emmy-winning actress, producer, author, and activist made her first public appearance since her husband, Phil Donahue, died. The renowned chat show presenter died in August 2024 at the age of 88, following a protracted illness.
Thomas and Donahue were married for 44 years. The lifelong pair met when she appeared as a guest on The Phil Donahue Show in 1977, and they married in 1980. Thomas attributed their lengthy relationship to the “three L’s” they practiced throughout their romance: “Love, listening, and lust.”
Thomas has kept a low profile since his death. She even missed her annual Thanksgiving Day appearance on the Today program to promote the work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the world-renowned pediatric treatment hospital founded by her late father, Danny Thomas.
However, the May 12 Night at the Pier event was unique. There, Thomas joined Demi Moore and Debbie Harry to present the Luigi Caiola Luminary Award to entertainment industry powerhouses Jason Weinberg and Merritt Johnson for their ongoing advocacy and leadership in ensuring LGBTQ+ families have the legal protections, visibility, and support they deserve.
“The power to create a family does not come from gender or tradition; it comes from love,” Moore stated during her statement.
Peggy Gillespie, co-founder/director of Family Diversity Projects, a nationwide charity dedicated to eliminating prejudice, was among those recognized at the event. Jim Obergefell, the primary plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges (the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case that ushered in marriage equality), was also acknowledged to commemorate ten years of marriage equality.
Tallulah Willis, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Jessica Lange, Georgina Chapman, Billy Eichner, Lucy Liu, Katie Couric, Ali Wentworth, Molly Ringwald, Zachary Quinto, Jessica Capshaw, Brandon Flynn, Wilson Cruz, Orfeh and Celia Keenan-Bolger, Cole Escola, Louis McCartney, Joy Woods, Fina Strazza, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, and Michael Arden and Andy Mientus were among the 1,200 guests in the room.
Nicole Scherzinger, Megan Hilty, and Darren Criss each took the stage to perform.
A staggering $1.5 million has been raised to assist Family Equality’s efforts to improve legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families statewide.
“This event is more than just a moment.” It’s a movement,” Family Equality CEO Darra Gordon said in a statement ahead of the event. “We are not merely recognizing the resiliency of LGBTQ+ families. We’re actively investing in their future. Each tale, song, and money is a key catalyst in a world where our families are not only recognized but also given a complete range of legal and social protection for future generations.”