LGBT COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BE HONORED AT SAN DIEGO PRIDE 40TH ANNIVERSARY
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Pride is proud to announce its 2014 Spirit of Stonewall Award winners, who will be honored at the Spirit of Stonewall Rally, taking place Friday, July 18 at 6:00 pm, at the Hillcrest Pride Flag.
The annual awards are designed to honor individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact on San Diego’s LGBT community. Nominations for the awards were received from the San Diego community and the list of recipients follows:
Grand Marshal
The honorable Speaker of the Assembly, Toni Atkins.
Community Grand Marshals
Pioneers of Pride: The LGBT Community Center, Dignity San Diego, The Imperial Court de San Diego, and the Metropolitan Community Church
Champions of Pride
Vincent Pompei – For his national service to LGBT Youth and education.
Lisa Mata – For her volunteerism and helping to bring the Human Rights Campaign to San Diego.
Friend of Pride
Patti Boman – For her dedication to PFLAG and LGBT youth.
Stonewall Service Award
Lambda Archives – For preserving the San Diego LGBT community’s history.
Inspirational Couple
Danielle LoPresti & Alicia Champion – For volunteerism and dedication to the LGBT community.
Dwayne D. & Jonathan Beebe-Franqui – For working to give a face and voice to LGBT military couples.
Community Service
Empress Candi Samples – Dedication to the LGBT community through her work at the Imperial Court.
“While Pride is our community’s largest celebration, it is also a time to honor our roots and give thanks to the leaders and organizations what work every day to make our community a better place,” said Stephen Whitburn, San Diego LGBT Pride, Executive Director.
For more information on this year’s event visit sdpride.org.
Founded in 1974, San Diego LGBT is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is: Fostering pride in and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, locally, nationally, and globally. www.sdpride.org
Fernando Lopez was the Executive Director of San Diego Pride. Lopez’s years of LGBT advocacy, nonprofit management, public education, diversity consulting, media relations, guest lectures, and organizing have made them a consistent presence ensuring the struggles of the LGBT community are ever visible.
