Pride awards: Honoring local activists in the LGBT community

LGBT Pride honors San Diegans each year, based on their activism and support given to the LGBT community. This year’s honorees will be publicly recognized at Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall rally, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., July 15, at the main festival stage at Marston Point in Balboa Park. The 2011 Stonewall Honorees include:

Larry Baza

Champion of Pride Award

Larry Baza has been involved in political and community activism for more than 30 years, spanning the early Chicano civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements, and stemming from his first gay grassroots campaign to defeat the 1978 Briggs Initiative in California, which would have banned gays and lesbians from working in public schools.

Although never a member of the Gay Liberation Front, Baza maintains he was influenced by the activism of the early GLF activists that he met in San Diego. And despite not seeing the GLF as a major player in the fight against the Briggs Initiative, he says, “The fight against the Briggs attack on gay school workers was widespread and involved other professional groups, parents, teachers, civil servants, unions and grassroots groups. I was part of a group of men that went to bars and registered people to vote. I also went to community groups, including Latino groups, to talk about the issue. This fight was significant for all LGBT folks because if it passed, the door would be open for more discrimination against us. What other professions would we be banned from? Where would it stop?”

Over the years he has been extensively involved in San Diego Pride, adding, “Vertez Burkes, an African American woman, and I were the first people of color to serve as co-chairs of San Diego Pride.” He was also the first gay man to serve on the Chicano Federation Board.

Baza owns Noel-Baza Art Gallery in Little Italy with his longtime partner, Tom Noel, and was recently appointed to the San Diego Port Commission’s Public Art Committee.

His lifelong commitment to the arts ties in with his continued commitment to the local community. “I worked in the arts because I have been driven by the belief that involvement in and in-depth exposure to the arts helps to develop healthy individuals, communities, cities and a civilized country.”

For Baza, political activism is important, both historically and for future gains. “The LGBT civil rights movement has moved forward with great success in a little more than 40 years,” he says. “Quite simply, none of what has been achieved would be possible without social, community and most importantly, political activism.”

Speaking of the importance of the San Diego Pride awards, Baza added, “I think it is important for Pride celebrations to acknowledge and honor those who, currently and in the past, give of themselves and work for our civil rights. After all this is about being proud of ourselves as a community and part of that pride has been made possible by those who do the work.”

R. Clarke Cooper

Champion of Pride Award

R. Clarke Cooper is executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization that “was established to build a stronger, more inclusive Republican Party by promoting core conservative values while advocating for the freedom and equality of gay and lesbian Americans,” Cooper said.

Cooper, who served in combat in Iraq and is currently a captain in the Army Reserve, is a strong advocate of working within the legislative framework to propel changes to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell statute and same-sex marriage laws.

Says Cooper, “We succeeded in making political, legislative and legal gains because we consciously worked with and within institutions. The legislative repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell statute would not have occurred without our legal case or our lobbying efforts to secure Republican votes in the Congress. Further, the victory for equal access to civil marriage in New York would not have occurred without our state and national lobbying efforts.”

In addition to spearheading the Log Cabin Republicans’ national convention in Dallas, he continues to help raise money for the organization’s political action committee. Cooper has worked extensively with Republican members of Congress to advance LGBT equality.

Being politically aware and engaged in civil society is a basic responsibility of every American citizen. Says Cooper, “Regardless of sexual orientation, community service through volunteer work, military service or holding public office are further contributions one can make to society. The more LGBT Americans that are integrated into civic, religious and political institutions, the better for everyone.”

For Cooper, awards such as his Champions of Pride award are important as a way of recognizing people’s efforts and successes, as well as focusing attention on ongoing social and political struggles.

Mary Stockton

Community Service Award
Mary Stockton, a financial services professional with New York Life and Stockton Financial and Insurance Services, currently serves as co-chairwoman of the Diversionary Theatre, having served three years as board president.

Founded in 1986, the theatre produces plays with gay, lesbian and bisexual themes that portray characters in their complexity and diversity both historically and contemporarily. Stockton helped raise $300,000 for the installation of a wheelchair lift at the theatre, and with staff support, commissioned the runs of Dear Harvey and The Daddy Machine.

For Stockton, theatre provides a new perspective. “As far as theatre is concerned,” she says, “art forces us to see things differently. The significance of an LGBT theatre is the fact that it becomes the one place where our lives, our experiences, our stories come to life. The story is shared with the audience who walk away informed and transformed.”

She is also a board member for the San Diego LGBT Community Center, securing $25,000 from New York Life for the center’s Sunburst Youth Housing Project, and nearly $6,000 from garage sales that she conducts annually with her wife, Alison McManus.

For Stockton, The Center epitomizes community service in action.

“If you are looking at organizations such as The Center you are looking at providing support as well as services in health, both mental health and physical health, as well as advocacy in various arenas. Their work has an impact on us all, whether we directly access their services or not.”

Having served two years on the board for Stepping Stone as vice chair, being involved in providing recovery services for young, at-risk LGBT women, she is currently also treasurer on the board for a small organization called BUTCH Voices which produces annual events.

Speaking of the importance of San Diego Pride awards in recognizing people’s efforts, she says, “I think there are so many people who do the invaluable work of supporting our community efforts. To not recognize their efforts, often as volunteer effort, would be a lost opportunity to acknowledge the vital work of our organizations and the volunteers who support the work.

Ron and Linda Sanders

Friends of Pride Award

Retired elementary school teachers Ron and Linda Sanders are set to receive this year’s Friends of the Year award for their work with the San Diego chapter of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

The two active GLSEN board members have used their knowledge of the school system to raise the organization’s visibility and to disseminate information concerning laws relating to school bullying, anti-discrimination and LGBT issues through fundraisers and high school health fairs. In addition they have continued to offer support to gay-straight alliances at San Diego public and private schools.

Linda has also been involved in the development of a “safe school policy” containing a specific clause for LGBT students that was adopted by the San Diego Unified School District earlier this year.

Hoping to promote LGBT tolerance within the Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout Ron also became involved with Scouting for All in 2003.

Evelyn Thomas and Linda Sanders

Community Service Award

Legally married couple Evelyn Thomas and Linda Sanders founded Sanctuary Project Veterans (SPV) in 2009 as an activist outreach ministry advocating for service members, veterans and families impacted by Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The organization provides a number of services such as helping with obtaining Veteran Affairs medical benefits, compensation, pension and submission of claims, after a service member has left the armed forces.

Corporal Thomas and Sanders are certified veteran service officer liaisons working directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs, assisting people to obtain their entitled and earned benefits.

SPV recognizes what a devastating experience it can be when an LGBT service member is expelled from the military by the Department of Defense. Says Thomas, “All aspects of the service members’ life are based on their military career and when it is taken away – their job, friends and in some cases their family – they lose hope in themselves and in life. Our goal is first to show them love and help them develop a sense of value and self-worth in a non-judgmental, confidential environment.”

Thomas knows first hand of that devastation, saying, “I am a veteran of the Army National Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps. I hold the status of an honorably discharged combat veteran. I served in the military prior to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. But I had to serve in secret and had to compromise my integrity to be a Marine. I served during the ‘ban of homosexuals’ in the military. I was read my Miranda Rights and isolated from other female and male Marines, as if I was a criminal.”

Adds Thomas, “It was a challenging time in my life. I experienced the physical, emotional and mental trauma of being in the military as an LGBT service member. I had no one to turn to, no organization to help. I was alone.”

SPV works one-on-one with veterans discharged under “other than honorable” conditions.

Adds Thomas, “These veterans are more often than not victims of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which is the number one reason for discharge of LGBT service members.”

For Thomas, social and community activism is important both in bringing rights to individuals that would otherwise have not been available and in establishing future equality. “Without social and community activism, I, as an African American woman would not have the right to vote, hold a political position, have a library card, access to public facilities or be an educator. Sanctuary Project Veterans represents ‘new roots.’ The LGBT community must cultivate ‘new roots’ – new organizations, new views and new attitudes. Social and community activism must be expanded and nurtured to fully achieve equality for the LGBT community.”

Thomas sees the Community Service award as a way of increasing the organization’s visibility and in doing so let service members and their families know assistance is at hand. “SPV is humbled and honored to receive the LGBT community’s respect and support. This award brings prominence to the organization. The resulting publicity of this award allows others in the LGBT community in need to find out about SPV. SPV’s goal is to be the service organization for LGBT service members, veterans and their families. The importance is that members of our community know where to get help.”

San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

Stonewall Service Award

Formed in 2005, the San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence spend their time raising funds for charitable organizations and attending community events dispensing safe sex products and advice. They have raised an average of $10,000 a year for such charities as Mama’s Kitchen, the Human Dignity Foundation and The Center’s youth and women’s services programs.

Officially the members of the organization devote “…themselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment.”

Says Sister Iona, “To me the Sisters are about empowering the gay community to make better choices in life, whether that’s taking an active role in the political process, negotiating what safer sex means to them and being accountable for their health status, or just accepting all the colors of the rainbow that is the LGBT community, allowing people to express themselves as they see fit.”

According to the Sisters, who attend events in their signature face paint and nun raiment, “All people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty and use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.”

Adds Sister Iona, “We seem to host our own events about once or twice a quarter. To us the meat of our work is the personal ministry we do in the community, which causes us to be out attending and aiding other events or just going out to the bars and streets handing out play fair kits and ‘stay alive’ cards and talking to everyday queer people about once or twice a week.”

The San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have a Web site at sdsisters.org which lists information about the organization, along with upcoming events.

Corporate Equality Recognition

Sempra & Qualcomm

Sempra and Qualcomm are both set to be honored for corporate equality recognition by San Diego LGBT Pride this year for receiving the highest rating of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization.

Both companies scored 100 percent on the HRC Foundation’s 2011 Corporate Equality Index, the primary method for businesses to benchmark and evaluate their policies, practices and diversity efforts relating to LGBT workers. The index evaluates non-discrimination policies, benefits, diversity training and other internal resources for LGBT workers, as well as external support for the LGBT community.

Launched in 2002, the HRC Foundation claims the Corporate Equality Index has become a roadmap and benchmarking tool for U.S. businesses in the evolving field of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in the workplace.

Among the benefits used for rating evaluation is the availability of benefits for same-sex partners, transgender employees and dependents, the recruitment and retention of LGBT employee groups, diversity training and the ending of gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination.

While this is Qualcomm’s first year receiving the national recognition, Sempra Energy has obtained the rating twice in the past. Both companies though are no strangers to supporting the LGBT community, having sponsored San Diego Pride previously and donated to the LGBT Center. Sempra Energy has also marched in the Pride parade.

Michael G. Portantino

Special Recognition Award

In posthumously awarding Gay & Lesbian Times publisher Michael G. Portantino (1958 – 2010), Pride recognizes his decades-long commitment to the local San Diego LGBT community.

Arriving in San Diego in the 1980s, Portantino, along with business partner Jim Krupiarz, purchased the small, struggling local gay newspaper, the San Diego Gay Times, in 1989. After renaming the weekly publication the Gay & Lesbian Times, he continued to own the paper until it closed in October 2010. Under his guidance, the paper quickly changed its editorial content to become more inclusive of the community it served, covering news, politics and community news. At one time the paper had a circulation of more than 15,000.

While the publication garnered a reputation for crusading and investigative journalism, Portantino became known for supporting social service and AIDS organizations, large and small, and in doing so donated more than a million dollars worth of free advertising space over the years.

Born Nov. 11, 1958, in Long Branch, N.J., he grew up in New Jersey before moving to San Francisco and finally on to San Diego. A passionate supporter of the San Diego LGBT Community Center he was also a volunteer delivering meals for Mama’s Kitchen and hosted several political and charitable fundraisers at his Normal Heights home.

Portantino was involved in many community and political causes, including marriage equality and HIV/AIDS awareness. He also fundraised and supported a number of openly gay politicians, among them Sen. Christine Kehoe, whom he helped elect to the San Diego City Council, before she moved on to state office.