Tuesday night, the stars descended upon the Theater District to walk the red carpet at the chic Edison Ballroom to support an important cause that many of us take for granted. New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, & Safe Streets of NYCLASS held a celebrity studded Gala event in a working effort to help ban New York City’s carriage horses. Working with the ASPCA, NYCLASS has managed to move more than 200 of the city’s horses from touristy rides in unsafe and downright dangerous conditions to permanent homes with the guarantee that they will not be slaughtered. Historically, the use of horses for transportation was a necessity, but in 2012 the rides are inhumane and deplete these animals’ quality of life.

With the laudable cause at stake, the evening was titled “A Night of New York Class” with the focus on advocacy for animal rights. The evening’s esteemed honorees would be actresses Kathy Najimy (Sister Act, The Wedding Planner) and Kristen Johnson (3rd Rock from the Sun) for their efforts in fighting against animal cruelty. Emceeing the evening’s program and festivities would be buxom beauty, activist, and actress Pamela Anderson, donning a skimpy and revealing gold dress in her walk down the red carpet. Despite remaining a bit removed from the spotlight in recent years, the rows of paparazzi were falling all over each other in the midst of a thousand flashbulbs to capture a glimpse of the iconic Canadian blonde, who was accompanied by PETA Senior Vice President Dan Matthews and the tough as nails Hell’s Angel, Chuck Zito.

The list of celebrities out for the cause didn’t end there however as entrepreneur and mogul Russell Simmons was among the first to arrive, arm in arm with beautiful girlfriend, Hana Nitsche. Joan Jett was also on hand for an especially intimate performance for the lucky attendees. Other notables included NBC New York anchor Chuck Scarborough, Mad Men’s John Slattery and wife, actress Talia Balsam, Miss USA Olivia Culpo, drag queen Lady Bunny, and model Kaki West, in support of NYCLASS. With a wildly successful event, now in our rear view, it’s certainly time to take note the next time you see a couple being dragged through Central Park by a horse, likely to have been improperly cared for. For more information on NYCLASS and for ways you can get involved or to make a donation, check out NYCLASS.ORG.

- Jane Van Arsdale