EqualityMaine, the state’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, announced this week it will honor Ian Harvie with its Great Pioneer Award at its annual gala Saturday in Portland.

Harvie, who was born in Portland and raised in Bridgton, is widely recognized as the world’s first female-to-male transgender comedian. According to an EqualityMaine announcement, Harvie moved to Los Angeles and began opening for comedian Margaret Cho, and now headlines at venues nationwide.





Harvie has appeared on the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning series “Transparent,” and has anchored his own hour-plus-long comedy documentary “IAN HARVIE SUPERHERO.”

[MORE: ‘Transgender funnyman’ Ian Harvie talks show business with BDN blogger Alex Steed]

“EqualityMaine’s Great Pioneer Award is given to recognize achievement that embodies vision or courageous breakthrough in our struggle for equality,” said Matt Moonen, interim executive director for EqualityMaine. “Ian Harvie is the epitome of a pioneer for our movement.”

Saturday’s awards gala and silent auction is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, and will begin at 5 p.m. at Holiday Inn By the Bay.

Among others to be recognized at the event are the Portland Public Schools, which will be given the Partner for Equality Award, as well as Michael Snell and Steven Bridges, the first gay couple legally married in Maine in 2012.