Newsletter: Red Carpet Pioneer

Actor and Activist Pauley Perrette has never been afraid to speak her mind or wear her heart on her sleeve. Some of you might recognize Pauley from her role as Abby Sciuto on NCIS or from her recent commercials for Expedia.

Those of you who watched The People's Choice Awards, however, probably remember Pauley for a very different reason.

At this year's People's Choice Awards, Pauley made a huge statement by wearing a simple, elegant white dress with the message of "NOH8" emblazoned across the front. Her dress was the stand-out of the red carpet, and even more recognizable on-stage, where she presented during the live national event. She didn't make it past one camera on the red carpet who didn't ask her about the dress she was wearing.

Check out Pauley talking about her dress in the PCA Press Room here.

With the help of designer Terri King, Pauley commissioned a one-of-a-kind dress to broadcast her unrelenting support for equality. Pauley knows how important it is to take the powerful momentum the movement for equal rights and treatment has gained throughout the past few months and wanted to do something to keep that momentum going.

She came up with the idea of creating that dress, and she wanted the dress to keep the issues of anti-discrimination and anti-bullying at the forefront of the nation's attention -- and by wearing her dress while she presented during a national awards show broadcast, we think she accomplished her goal!

Check out the video of Pauley presenting at the 2010 PCA's here.

Pauley first joined the NOH8 Campaign in April 2010, when the campaign held its very first open shoot at the Hollywood United Methodist Church. Not only did she have her photo taken during the shoot; she took the time to volunteer - mingling with fans and supporters and helping to tattoo people as they came through the line.

When we returned to the Hollywood United Methodist Church a few months later to host a fundraiser for our AIDS WALK LA Team, Pauley came to that shoot too to show her support.

Most recently, Pauley participated in the NOH8 Campaign's contribution to the It Gets Better Video Project, and helped us reach out to many of her celebrity friends to appear in the video as well. We didn't think there could be another way for Pauley to top her own involvement!

We are so proud of the work Pauley Perrette has done for the LGBT community and for anyone who has ever been bullied or discriminated against. Pauley is such an amazing example of someone who has used the media platform that her career has provided her to spread as much positivity and affect as much change as possible; and we hope that her activism inspires others like it has inspired us.

Thank you, Pauley, for all that you do!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

MINNEAPOLIS, MN OPEN SHOOT - 2/6/11

LA CLIPPERS EQUALITY NIGHT - 2/2/11