amfAR’s Inspiration Gala Los Angeles, the Foundation’s sixth annual benefit for AIDS research was an unforgettable evening that took place at Milk Studios on October 29th, 2015. The event was presented by Harry Winston and M•A•C Viva Glam with MoëtHennessy has the official wine and spirits partner.

Gwyneth Paltrow hosted the black-tie benefit at Milk Studios, introducing amfAR Chairman of the Board Kenneth Cole. Mr. Cole spoke passionately about amfAR’s countdown to a cure for AIDS initiative, which is aimed at developing the scientific basis of a cure by 2020. American Horror Story stars Cheyenne Jackson and Angela Bassett then took the stage to introduce guests to amfAR’s new social media campaign. They encouraged everyone to upload their own rendition of the 1985 Grammy Award-winning song That’s What Friends Are For to social media using #SingForAIDS, with the goal of creating a worldwide rallying cry for an end to AIDS.

Julia Roberts presented the amfAR Award of Inspiration to her friend Ryan Murphy, describing him as “a person very much like this organization – tireless in pursuit of learning, healing, of correctness, connection, and equality.” Murphy then pledged his total support to being a lifelong ambassador to amfAR and the organization’s vitally important mission, stressing that “the cure is still on the horizon and we need to continue storming up that hill.”

Attendees included: Chairs. Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, Kathy Bates, Matt Bomer and Simon Halls, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jules Daly, Cuba Gooding Jr., Nayla Hayek, Cheyenne Jackson, Lady Gaga, Lea Michele, Gary and Jeanne Newman, Stevie Nicks, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Pascal and Bernie Weinraub, Sarah Paulson, Sean Patterson, Evan Peters, Alan Poul, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Rich Ross, Mark Ruffalo, and Chloë Sevigny.

The evening ended with a powerful and moving performance by Lady Gaga, who received standing ovations throughout her entire set, which included her latest emotional ballad, Till It Happens To You. The after party, sponsored by DSQUARED2, continued at 1 OAK into the early morning.

The amfAR Inspiration series, produced by Josh Wood Productions, celebrates all aspects of men’s fashion and style while raising funds for amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programs, and it continues to attract the most prominent and influential members of the entertainment, fashion, and business communities. To date, the Inspiration series has raised more than $20 million to benefit amfAR, and has been held in cities such as New York, São Paulo, Paris, Toronto, and Miami.