When master of ceremonies and actor Leslie Jordan hit the stage in a wig doing his best Caroline Rhea impersonation, you knew it was going to be a fun night. When he recounted his story of being permanently tossed out of the Village Station, he had the crowd laughing uproariously. Followed by the keynote speaker, actress Meredith Baxter, and honorees Geoffrey Henning (accepting a Media Award for JCPenney), fruit-of-Cher’s-womb Chaz Bono and, last but not least, community activist Lucilo Peña, dinner was a veritable who’s who of community makers and shakers. Plus, we could listen to Jordan tell “back in the day” stories all day. Photography by Maria Olivas and Doc Strange