Sheryl Lee Ralph Remembers Being Told She ‘Won’t Have Much of a Career’ For Speaking on HIV/AIDS Crisis: ‘It Was An Ugly Time’
variety.comBreAnna Bell Sheryl Lee Ralph took the podium at Project Angel Food’s 2023 Awards Gala with a powerful message showing her unwavering support as a long-standing HIV/AIDS activist.
Ralph was honored with the organization’s inaugural Sheryl Lee Ralph legacy award on Saturday. The “Abbott Elementary” star first joined Project Angel Food over three decades ago, after she stepped inside the organization’s church kitchen out of curiosity.
At the time, the food delivery service only catered to those living with HIV/AIDS. Inspired by her close relationships with several friends affected by the AIDS crisis, Ralph has since continued to volunteer her time and significant contributions to the cause. “Let me tell you about December 20 1981.
I made my Broadway debut in what has become the iconic musical of the 80s — because I say so — ‘Dream Girls,'” she said on stage, after an introduction from Lily Tomlin, who read a signed letter from Vice President Kamala Harris. “And out of all the wonderful things we did with ‘Dream Girls,’ nobody ever mentioned the fact that we lost 1/3 of our original company to AIDS.” “They were good people.
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