A Private Dinner with Patricia Arquette Honoring Alexis Arquette’s Legacy

From left, actor Patricia Arquette and President of GLAAD Sarah Kate Ellis

"Alexis was a pioneer who worked to raise awareness for social, civil and emotional impacts and causes in support of issues faced by the LGBTQ community," Patricia Arquette said, raising a toast in honor of her late sibling Alexis Arquette on Thursday evening.

Ketel One joined Patricia Arquette among company that included brothers Richmond and David Arquette, GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis, and Matthew Sanderson (aka Detox) at Neuehouse in Los Angeles to toast the life of transgender actress, artist, and activist Alexis Arquette, who sadly died at the age of 47 last fall.

"Tonight is a gentle way to talk about Alexis--it's hard still," Patricia said to us, misty-eyed, sharing memories of Alexis--like the time she dressed up for Halloween in her youth wearing footie pajamas, a stuffed belly, and toting a bottle: a "problem child." The evening also brought focus to the Alexis Arquette Family Foundation.

Organized by siblings Patricia Arquette, David Arquette, Richmond Arquette, and (spearheaded by) Rosanna Arquette, the foundation supports "grassroots groups that don't get the support they need," according to Patricia. In its launch phase now, original programming is also on the docket for the future.

Related | Trump Administration Omits LGBTQ People from 2020 Census

"There's so much work to be done," Patricia told us. "They just took LGBTQ questions off the census." That alarming government decision will leave runaway youth, 40% of which are LGBTQ, without proper support programs and funding.