Margaret Josephs' glitzy Pride soirée raised funds for Family Equality

Margaret Josephs put allyship into action at a glitzy Pride soirée she hosted to benefit Family Equality. “Being an ally is not passive. It is not just saying, ‘I love everyone,’” the former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star said. “It is standing next to people when things get hard.

It is defending families when they are under attack. It is speaking up when someone tries to make equality negotiable.” The gathering at New Jersey’s Allendale Social was organized with Jaimee Rizzo and her wife, Lisa Rizzo, and co-founder Lexi Barbuto, drawing queer friends, allies, families, supporters and celebrity guests.

Attendees included Meghan King, Kim DePaola, Josephs’ husband Joe Benigno, psychic Judith Turner, Jennifer DiLandro, celebrity glam experts Rosario Cannata and Jamal Tadros, and Danny Murphy. Family Equality CEO Darra Gordon delivered an emotional speech on the importance of LGBTQIA+ family visibility and representation, saying the New Jersey event had become — and would likely remain — one of her favorite Pride gatherings.

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