Gardner presents award to Jason Terry

Distinguished Service Award to Jason Terry

Presented by GLAA Secretary Alison Gardner Massey

GLAA 42nd Anniversary Reception
Washington Plaza Hotel
Thursday, April 25, 2013


My name is Alison Gardner Massey, and I want to say a few words before Jason A. Terry receives this well deserved recognition.

Rarely have I encountered a good young friend with such intellectual brilliance, and so laser focused on everything he does for the Trans and LGBTQ community, and our DC community at large.

But the thing that sets Jason apart, though—that makes him a breed apart—is that Jason is always there first in line to boldly go that often more difficult—and practically always crucial—second mile of unselfish service, and always with grace and good humor . . . well, at least, most of the time.

By trade and passion, Jason is a conflict resolution and human rights advocate dedicated to educating others about how to build a more peaceful world, locally and globally.

Jason holds a master’s degree in international peace and conflict resolution from American University, specializing in post-conflict reconciliation and rule of law issues in sub-Saharan Africa. This included a service learning experience at the Buduburam (boo-doo-boo-rahm) Refugee Camp in Ghana, contributing to community reconciliation discussions and teaching peace education classes. And this experience stays with him still in his work today.

Jason’s volunteerism simply has no bounds. Global Classrooms DC, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, just to name a couple.

For more than the last year, Jason has and is making irreplaceable contributions to the soon-to-be released survey of DC Trans residents, the first in over ten years, and the biggest one so far. This important study (and critical policy and advocacy tool) will at last substantiate the current discrimination that trans people experience every day in housing, employment, and healthcare access.

He currently serves as training manager at the National Council for International Visitors with country-wide responsibilities, and is an anti-violence organizer with the DC Trans Coalition, coordinating our advocacy and educational campaigns to reduce anti-transgender violence; and he also serves as board treasurer at the Association for Gender Research, Education, Academia, and Action.

Jason lives in Washington, DC, with his partner Elijah Adiv Edelman, PhD (another remarkable activist, and our lead academic investigator for the aforementioned survey), along with their pet bunny Buster, whom I hear is the undisputed leader of their household.

It is certainly entirely my privilege today to introduce my friend and colleague, Jason A. Terry.


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