A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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WHEREAS, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC (GLAA) was founded in April 1971 to advance the cause of equal rights and social equality for lesbians and gay men living in the District of Columbia through peaceful participation in the political process; and
WHEREAS, GLAA ranks as the oldest continuously active gay and lesbian rights organization in the country; and
WHEREAS, GLAA has long fought to improve relations between the District's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities and the District's public safety agencies, as evidenced by its ongoing leadership in the effort to create better training for all police, fire and EMS employees; and
WHEREAS, GLAA has long struggled for effective public health strategies in the fight against AIDS, as evidenced by its effective leadership in the drive to commit the District government to implementing a unique identifier system that ! will be sensitive to the privacy concerns of people testing positive for HIV, and insuring that treatments and medicine are available to those in need and GLAA's insistence on an open and transparent accounting of District spending on HIV/AIDS services; and
WHEREAS, GLAA has long been at the forefront of the efforts for better enforcement of the landmark D.C. Human Rights Law of 1977, perhaps the strongest and most comprehensive civil rights law in the nation, as evidenced by GLAA's unrelenting watchdog role in assuring that all anti-discrimination policy statements in the D.C. government reflect the full range of classes protected under the landmark D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977; and
WHEREAS, GLAA has kept the gay and lesbian community of Washington informed about the position of candidates for public office by rating all candidates for Mayor and Council in every election since the establishment of home rule, through a system noted! for its fairness and nonpartisanship; and
WHEREAS, GLAA has been an outspoken advocate for gay and lesbian youth, including persuading D.C. Public Schools to implement an effective, enforced anti-harassment policy established to protect all students; and
WHEREAS, GLAA has participated in lobbying efforts against arbitrary federal restrictions on the District's budget aimed at lesbians and gay men, including the Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992, allowing us to finally implement the domestic partnership program; and
WHEREAS, GLAA has been a leader in advancing the rights of same-sex couples and their families in the District, including the recent publication of a report detailing the 212 rights and responsiilities associated with marriage under D.C. law, and cooperation with D.C. officials to craft an effective strategy to advance the equality of gay families; and
WHEREAS, GLAA, at its 33rd Anniversary Reception on! April 20, 2004, will present its Distinguished Service Awards to several individuals and organizations who have helped advance the causes and concerns of lesbians and gay men in the District of Columbia, specifically:
- Sarah Kellogg for her excellent service as director of DC's Reel Affirmations film festival and as member of the board of One In Ten for the past several years;
- Deacon Maccubbin for 35 years as a model community activist and business leader, including creating the first DC Gay Pride celebration, the gay switchboard, the first DC gay youth support group, and Lambda Rising bookstore's service as a de facto community center;
- The Mautner Project for support, education, research, and advocacy at the local and national levels on behalf of lesbian health;
- Cheryl Spector for over two decades of community activism highlighted by her still and video photography documenting the recent history of gay and lesbian life in Washington;
- Nadine Chandler Wilburn for her impressive leadership as interim director of the Office of Human Rights in 2002 and 2003;
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this Resolution may be cited as the "Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance 33rd Anniversary Recognition Resolution of 2004."
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia salutes GLAA on the occasion of its 33rd Anniversary Reception on April 20, 2004 and thanks its members for their long record of dedicated service that has advanced the welfare not only of the gay and lesbian community but of the entire population of the District of Columbia.
Sec. 3. The resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.