National Task Force 16th Annual Miami Dinner

National Task Force 16th Annual Miami Dinner

For its 16th annual Dinner, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force will honor Miami-based activist and attorney Elizabeth F. Schwartz. The Task Force will be announcing the celebrated national honoree soon. Former national honorees include Ilene Chaiken, L Word creator; Lt. Dan Choi; Alan Cumming, activist and actor; Ben Cohen, Rugby Superstar and Founder, Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation; and more.

The Task Force's Miami Recognition Dinner is presented by Wells Fargo and will take place at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. This annual fundraising event honors individuals for their outstanding contributions to the social, cultural, political and humanitarian needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Elizabeth F. Schwartz, the 2012 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award recipient, has devoted much of her life to serving the LGBT community. Her law practice emphasizes representation of the LGBT community in family formation and dissolution matters, and Schwartz frequently lectures locally and nationally about the importance of gay couples protecting their loved ones through estate planning and contract. She has served as pro bono counsel in several cases seeking to overturn Florida's uniquely bigoted 1977 ban forbidding gays and lesbians from adopting children. Schwartz is also a founding member of the Aqua Foundation for Women and has donated her time, money and expertise to numerous groups serving the LGBT community on a local, state and national level. Her contributions have been recognized by many organizations, including SAVE Dade, Equality Florida, SunServe and the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.