PFLAG NYC TO HONOR AMY SCHNEIDER, CYRUS & BABAK VEYSSI, AND CASEY MCQUISTON AT 2026 ANNUAL GALA
NEW YORK, NY — FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 — PFLAG NYC, the founding chapter of PFLAG and a longtime force for LGBTQ+ family acceptance, helping families support and affirm LGBTQ+ kids and youth, will bring together advocates, families, and supporters for its annual gala on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 6–10 p.m. at Tribeca 360° in Manhattan.
This year’s honorees are Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider, Creator family Cyrus & Babak Veyssi, and “Red, White & Royal Blue” author Casey McQuiston. The evening will celebrate LGBTQ+ storytelling, visibility, and family acceptance while raising critical funds to sustain PFLAG NYC’s year-round support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
Limited tickets and tables remain here at PFLAGNYC.org
What began in New York City in 1973 with parents coming together to support their gay children has grown into a lasting movement for LGBTQ+ acceptance. More than five decades later, PFLAG NYC continues that work where support can make a daily difference: within families, in classrooms, and across communities. The annual gala brings that mission into focus, connecting an evening of celebration with the programs that help LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones find understanding, resources, and connection.
Quote from Clark Wolff Hamel, Executive Director of PFLAG NYC:
"With relentless hope and hard work during a painful moment in history, PFLAG NYC continues to make a tangible and poignant difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ people and their families, schools, and communities. I'm so grateful we get to celebrate and uplift that work, and help keep it going for at least another 50 years, at our annual Gala."
The 2026 honorees reflect those themes through literature, public life and the relationships they share with audiences:
- Amy Schneider will receive the Jeanne Manford Trailblazer Award. The writer and LGBTQ+ advocate became the first openly transgender winner of the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions.
- Cyrus & Babak Veyssi will receive the Drew Tagliabue Stay Close Award. Through humor and candid family moments, the creator duo shares the bond between an Iranian immigrant father and his queer, nonbinary child.
- Casey McQuiston will receive the James Baldwin Cultural Impact Award. The bestselling author of queer romantic comedies, including Red, White & Royal Blue, places LGBTQ+ characters and love stories at the center of popular culture.
Jackie Cox will emcee, with performances by Jenn Colella and the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts Musical Theater Ensemble, plus music by DJ Mark Holcomb.
The evening will include a cocktail reception, dinner and awards, a silent auction, and a dessert reception with dancing. Proceeds will support PFLAG NYC’s services for LGBTQ+ people and their parents, families, and loved ones; programming that promotes safe and inclusive schools; and community outreach, education, and advocacy.
That support extends beyond a single evening. PFLAG NYC offers free support groups and one-on-one support coaching, partners with schools through classroom presentations and educator training, and provides community workshops and educational programs. Together, these efforts help families stay connected and equip New Yorkers to build more welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ people.
The gala will take place at Tribeca 360°, 10 Desbrosses Street, New York, NY 10013.
Limited tickets and sponsorships are still available.
Working press and Creators interested in covering the gala or requesting interviews should contact Morrison Media Group at Press@morrisonmediaco.com.
ABOUT PFLAG NYC
PFLAG NYC is the founding chapter of PFLAG. Founded in 1973, the organization works with LGBTQ+ people, parents and allies to create a better future for LGBTQ+ youth and adults. Through support services, safe schools programming, community education and advocacy, PFLAG NYC advances understanding and acceptance throughout New York City and beyond.
For more information, visit pflagnyc.org.
