When it comes to politicians who have stepped up in the fight for LGBT equality, Senator Dianne Feinstein (above) is at the top of the list. Her long work for the community dates back to her work alongside city supervisor Harvey Milk before his assassination and more recently sponsoring a dozen private bills blocking the deportation of bi-national couples in the state, as well as her support for the proposed Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA.

On Saturday, Equality California (EQCA) awarded Feinstein the Equality Leadership Award at the 2012 San Francisco Equality Awards at the Fairmont Hotel, hosted by actor Wilson Cruz and featuring a performance by the legendary Thelma Houston. JC Penney, which stood by spokesperson Ellen DeGeneres when One Million Moms called for a boycott, was given the 2012 Corporate Responsibility Act, while San Francisco physician Dr. Royce Lin received the inaugural State Farm Good Neighbor Award.

Click through for more photos from the 2012 San Francisco Equality Awards

Photos: Misty Layne