At the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Women’s Night event on Saturday, May 3^rd, Sharon Stone—who was about to be honored by the organization—surprised the crowd and nervous event organizers when she suddenly sprang from her seat at dinner, grabbed a microphone and wrested control of a live auction. 

The crowd of more than 600 chatty lesbians hadn’t been bidding or paying much attention to the auction, but went wild when in less than 10 minutes the gorgeous Stone—who playfully told the crowd: “You people need to shut the fuck up.  Do you think Bette Midler would put up with this shit?” —raised a record $55,000 for the organization, selling an opportunity to meet Midler and see her show in Vegas for $20,000 and a walk-on role on the final season of The L Word for $16,000. 

To spur bids for a Caribbean cruise, Stone suggested the wealthy and high-powered women in the crowd have fun by buying it for a straight friend, and “not tell them it was a lesbian cruise—or give it to your parents.”  

Later, Stone walked on stage to accept the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Board of Directors Award, presented by friend and actress Rosanna Arquette.  Stone told the crowd: “We have to be able to know that the way we’re made is right.  The way we are being sent, is our path.”  She also vowed that the struggle for equal marriage rights will succeed.  “I promise you, you will be married,” Stone said.

Singer/songwriter/producer Linda Perry was also honored at the event, receiving the Center’s Creative Integrity Award.