Press

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) was the beneficiary of an opening night fundraiser in Los Angeles for In & Out, released on September 19 and already the country's most popular movie.

The Paramount Pictures film stars Kevin Kline, Tom Selleck and Joan Cusak. It deals with the coming out of the lead character, played by Kevin Kline. Critics have already praised this movie as a giant step in Hollywood's portrayal of gay characters.

In & Out premiered in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 17, 1997. Paramount Pictures hosted a reception after the film's premiere. Kevin Kline, Tom Selleck, Joan Cusak and a host of other film stars and company executives attended the premiere as well as the reception after the screening. The Village People performed at the event.

"I'm very excited about the film and the benefit for NGLTF," said Kerry Lobel, executive director. "I am grateful that the Task Force was recognized for nearly 25 years of work to help change the political climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people as well as the images that define us."

Other corporate giants have joined Paramount Pictures in throwing major financial support behind the efforts of NGLTF, notably the Walt Disney Company and Creative Artists Agency in Beverly Hills. Both companies made significant contributions to the organization through the premiere benefit. In addition to Kline, Selleck and Cusak, Debbie Reynolds and Matt Dillon also star in the film.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.