'Sex and the City' gals warm up for their big movie premiere!

The release of "Sex and the City: The Movie" grows closer and closer (late May).

Which is part of the reason that the original HBO series' cast quartet -- Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis -- warmed up their old red carpet act in New York last night.

But the main reason for their reunion was to see Nixon honored with a Point Courage Award from the  Point Foundation, an organization that offers scholarships to gay, lesbian and transgender youths.

SJP  -- clad in silver YSL gown and heels (and about 10 really big necklaces) -- told People: "The way she (Nixon) lives her life is good work. She leads by example."

Nixon has two children (a son and daughter) with her longterm boyfriend, Danny Mozes. The couple split in 2003. Cynthia's current life partner is teacher and education activist Christine Marinoni.

Nixon told New York mag in 2006: "I never felt like there was an unconscious part of me around that woke up or that came out of the closet; there wasn't a struggle, there wasn't an attempt to suppress. I met this woman, I fell in love with her, and I'm a public figure."

Last night, Nixon, clad in a sleek Calvin Klein gown, told the audience, "When you're a young gay person, you yearn for nothing so much as the presence of other gay people. Especially an older generation of gay people who can encourage and inspire you."

Photo: WireImage