Tony Award winning actor to be honored at HRC Gala
QSanAntonio.com, September 3, 2011

John Benjamin Hickey, the out gay actor who this year won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play for his role in "The Normal Heart" will be in San Antonio on October 15 to receive the Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign at their gala dinner.

Hickey, who is currently in the cast of the Showtime series, "The Big C," began his career on the stages of New York. A graduate of Julliard, Hickey has had major roles in a variety of staged works including “Mary Stuart,” “The Crucible,” “Cabaret,” and “Love! Valour! Compassion!,” for which he won an Obie Award.

In addition to his stage work, Hickey, who is a native of Plano, Texas, had had roles in major motion pictures including "The Ice Storm, " "Finding North," "The General’s Daughter," "The Anniversary Party," "Infamous," "Flightplan," "Freedom Writers," and most recently in "Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen" and Tony Scott’s "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3."

John Benjamin Hickey with fellow cast member Cynthina Nixon on Showtime's "The Big C."

Besides his role on "The Big C," Hickey has numerous television credits as well. He played ‘Philip Stoddard’ on “It’s All Relative;” ‘Roger Edens’ on the Emmy Award-winning “Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadow,” as well as guest star appearances on “Brothers & Sisters,” “Sex and the City,” several episodes of “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: LA.”

Local HRC Governor Darrell Parsons says that the Visibility Award is usually awarded at HRC's New York gala but that this year it was being given in San Antonio.

One reason for the switch, says Parsons, is that this year the local chapter of HRC is honoring Dr. Paul Boskind with the Chuck Jordan Award for lifetime advocacy. Boskind was one of the producers of "The Normal Heart," and also won a Tony Award this year for his work on the play. (Click here for related story.)

Parson's said it would be a reunion of sorts for Boskind and Hickey.

Another special guest who will be present for the San Antonio gala is HRC Executive Director Joe Solmonese who made news last week when he announced that he would be stepping down from his position after his contract expires next spring.

"This will be one of the final galas that Joe will attend and we're proud to have him here to help honor John Benjamin Hickey and Dr. Boskind," said Parsons.

The Human Rights Campaign San Antonio Gala and Silent Auction. Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, 600 Market Street. Click here to purchase tickets. For more information please contact Elizabeth Schleigh at 210-867-8325 or email eschleigh13@yahoo.com.