On Sept. 15, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) honored actors Sheryl Lee Ralph, Charlize Theron and Colin Farrell with the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award at The Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS fundraising gala in Los Angeles.
Grammy-winning Motown legend Thelma Houston ("Don't Leave Me This Way") performed at the event.
The gala included a seated dinner; a live auction in partnership with Christie's featuring unique works of art and luxury experiences with Tash Perrin as auctioneer; and a live performance by Houston. Gilead Sciences, Inc. Chairman/CEO Daniel O'Day presented the event honorees with the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award.
Farrell said, "This is lovely, but any time an actor, singer, artist or writer gets honored, I think the honor is obviously less about what they've done and more about what they are given the opportunity to shine a light on and so that's why we're all here today. [AIDS] is still stealing lives—too many—and Elizabeth's dream was to end HIV/AIDS forever and we haven't got there. There's still more work to do."
Ralph—a longtime HIV/AIDS activist who recently stole the show at the 2022 Primetime Emmys—said, "The truths are not easy and 40 years later people want to act like it didn't happen, but it did happen. It was horrible. It was ugly, and it was America—and it spread to the rest of the world. … Forty years later, AIDS in America is still here. Raise your voice, do the work, decriminalize it, and open up your heart and your minds to people who do not look like you."
Oscar winner Theron (Monster) stated, "[Elizabeth] was a fierce fighter, a staunch advocate, but she also always kept compassion at the heart of her messages and efforts. Elizabeth would have been 90-years-old this year and like many of us, I have no doubt she would be wishing we weren't still fighting this fight, but we are—so let's not let her down. As I accept this humbling honor, besides my heartfelt thank you to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, I only have four words for all of us: Let's go to work."
Other celebrity attendees included Paris Jackson, Evan Ross, Alexandra Shipp, Jennifer Tilly, Rob Raco and Ralph's Abbott Elementary co-star Lisa Ann Walter.
Presenting Sponsor Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Diamond Sponsor BVLGARI supported the event.
