The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Honors Heroes in the Fight For Recognition of Same-Sex Partners with National Leadership Awards

8/7/2002

From: Jubi Headley of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 202-332-6383, ext.3303, jheadley@ngltf.org

News Advisory:

WHAT: -- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Honors Heroes in the Fight For Recognition of Same-Sex Partners with National Leadership Awards at the:

-- Fifteenth Annual Provincetown Sunset Deck Party Weekend, Aug. 24 and 25, 2002:

-- Sunset Deck Party, Sunday, Aug. 25, The Pied, 193A Commercial Street

-- VIP Dinner, Saturday, Aug. 24, Front Street Restaurant, Commercial Street

-- Cape Cod nonprofit serving GLBT community to receive $5,000 grant; local leaders also honored

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Provincetown Host Committee today announced that Larry Courtney and Sharon Smith will receive the Task Force's 2002 National Leadership Award, as part of NGLTF's fifteenth annual Provincetown weekend.

Each summer, The Task Force hosts a weekend of events, beginning with a Friday night social event, a Saturday night dinner, and culminating with a Sunday sunset deck party. The events are organized by the Provincetown Host Committee to educate the community and to raise funds to support the national work of the Task Force, which includes providing technical assistance to communities facing anti-gay ballot measures; tracking, monitoring, and providing counsel and assistance in drafting legislation which impacts gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) communities; and operating the Policy Institute, the nation's only fully staffed think tank dedicated to research, critical policy analysis, and strategy development to advance equality for GLBT people.

Larry and Sharon will be on hand to receive the award at the 15th Annual Sunset Deck Party, which will be held on Sunday, Aug. 25. Larry, whose partner, Eugene "Gene" Clark, died on September 11th at the World Trade Center, is struggling to gain the same benefits being offered to surviving married partners. Sharon is known for her work in California, where she has fought to be recognized as the legal survivor of her partner, Diane Whipple, who was mauled to death by a dog in her San Francisco apartment building.

In addition, each year at the Deck Party the Task Force recognizes exceptional people within the Provincetown GLBT community and honors them for their contributions with Community Service Awards. This year's honorees are:

-- Jon Arterton Jon is the conductor of the Outer Cape Chorale, a founding member of the Flirtations, and a tireless fund-raiser for the UU Meeting House Restoration. -- Elizabeth (Betty) Villari Betty originally founded the Provincetown Gym. She also is a dedicated Provincetown activist and volunteer. Betty serves on the board of the local soup kitchen and participates in many other worthy charities.

In addition to presenting the National Leadership and Community Service Awards, the Task Force will award one organization a grant of $5,000 to support local or regional organizing on the Cape. The grant reflects the Task Force's commitment to strengthening local activism.

A special VIP Dinner will be held at the Front Street Restaurant on Aug. 24 (the Saturday night preceding the Deck Party) to honor the award recipients. To purchase tickets to the VIP Dinner or the Deck Party, or for any logistical information, contact Peter Larson, special events manager, by telephone at 202-332-6483, ext. 3311 or by e-mail at plarson@ngltf.org.

To schedule interviews with any of the awardees, for background information on the work of the Task Force, to obtain media passes to the events, contact Jubi Headley, director of communications, at 202-332-6383, ext.3303 or by e-mail at jheadley@ngltf.org.

------ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society.