Annette Bening accepted Lambda Legal’s Liberty Award on June 4, 2026, at The Glasshouse in New York City, honored for her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and equality. The award-winning actress, a five-time Academy Award nominee, received the recognition alongside journalist Kara Swisher at Lambda Legal’s Liberty Awards National Dinner.
Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings said the organization was “delighted” to present the awards to Bening and Swisher. “In addition to her well-deserved recognition on stage and screen, Annette Bening is the proud and supportive mother of a transgender son and has long been a steadfast LGBTQ+ ally,” Jennings stated. “Both Annette and Kara embody the kind of professional excellence and leadership for LGBTQ+ communities that the Liberty Award aims to recognize.”
Bening’s public advocacy for trans rights has centered on her personal experience as a parent. She has spoken publicly about her transgender son and has been vocal in defense of trans youth, including appearances at rallies and events supporting LGBTQ+ equality. In her acceptance remarks, Bening called on supporters to back Lambda Legal’s work, saying “We are all inspired by the skill and heart that Lambda Legal brings to the fight for full equality for all LGBTQ+ folks, as well as everyone living with HIV.”
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The Liberty Award has previously been given to distinguished leaders including former Attorney General Eric H. Holder, actor Billy Porter, author Tony Kushner, and tennis legend Billie Jean King. Lambda Legal’s annual Liberty Awards National Dinner draws nearly one thousand supporters from across the country to celebrate advocates and allies in the fight for LGBTQ+ justice and equality.
Sources
- Lambda Legal — official press release announcing Annette Bening and Kara Swisher as 2026 Liberty Award recipients, details of the event, and CEO statement
- Variety — coverage of the 2026 Liberty Awards National Dinner announcement
- Getty Images — event photography from the June 4, 2026 Lambda Legal Liberty Awards National Dinner
