Initiative Recognizes NYC LGBT Community Activists Working to Improve the Human Condition.
In celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) month, AT&T* has established the “AT&T Bold Honor,” recognizing an everyday individual in the LGBT community who has made a “bold difference” during the past year. The inaugural honor highlights advocates in the New York City-area who have been “bold” for LGBT issues as part of their individual or organizational mission.
Public voting for the “AT&T Bold Honor” begins today at http://daily.gay.com/boldhonors/, where biographies for each nominee can be found. Additionally, photos and videos from the “AT&T Bold Photo Booth” at Here Media’s NYC Pride Party are also highlighted.
“Our history at AT&T is about people from all walks of life and all kinds of backgrounds coming together to improve the human condition,” said Jennifer Jones, Vice President of Diverse Markets, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “The AT&T Bold Honor celebrates our customers’ everyday achievements and recognizes the rich diversity and inspirational stories from the local communities we serve.”
The following nominees have been recognized for their steadfast commitment to promoting diversity and advocating for equality:
Rev. Carmen Hernandez, Founder and President, NYC LGBT Chamber of Commerce: The Puerto Rican native moved to NYC when she was 6 months old and is the EO/Founder/Outreach/Pastor at Stratford Community Services, Inc. As an advocate and activist in the Bronx, Hernandez has helped empower at-risk inner city kids and coordinated Stratford’s Annual Back 2 School Jam Block Parties for two decades. Hernandez has worked to enable small business owners to create a positive environment in the neighborhood and is currently the first President of the 1st NYC LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Ross Levi, Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda: Levi oversees the Pride Agenda, Inc’s legislative and political activities, as well as the education and community organizing work of the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation. He has been directly involved in every state legislative victory ever achieved by the Pride Agenda, including statewide measures such as: the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act; the Hate Crimes Act of 2000; making the state’s 9/11 relief inclusive of same-sex couples; securing more than $50 million of funding for LGBT health and human services, and many more initiatives.
Melissa Sklarz, Director, New York Trans Rights Organization; Co-Chair, National Stonewall Democrats: Sklarz became the first transgender person elected to office in New York in 1999 when she was elected Judicial Delegate from the 66th Assembly District, and became the first transgender person from New York to be part of the state delegation at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Sklarz is past president of Gay & Lesbian Ind. Democrats, and is also the co-chair of the Board of Directors of National Stonewall Democrats. She was co-chair for Obama Pride NYC in 2008, helping to organize the LGBT community for the campaign and was invited to the White House in 2009 to celebrate the Stonewall Rebellion. Sklarz was at the side of Governor Paterson in June of this year when he announced an executive order protecting the rights of transgender people employed by New York State.
Irene Tung, Supervising Organizer, Make the Road New York: Tung is a co-founder of Q-Wave, a group dedicated to supporting queer Asian and Pacific Islander women and trans people. This year she organized the first-ever queer contingent in the Chinatown Lumar New Year Parade where hundreds of queer people and straight allies participated, which garnered international press. Tung also co-authored the report, “Transgender Need Not Apply,” and has successfully combated gender identity employment discrimination. Tung has also worked with local high schools to implement policies and practices to combat homophobia and transphobia.
Harry Wieder, New York Gay Activist: Wieder got his start as an activist in the early 1980s when he came out as a gay and became involved in the rights group Act-Up. He was born with achondralasia – a kind of dwarfism – and often described himself as a “disabled, gay, Jewish, leftists, middle aged dwarf who ambulates with crutches.” Wieder was a permanent fixture at community board meetings, rallies and all sorts of political events, where he became well known to the city’s political players. Wieder passed away this year when he was struck by a cab leaving a community board meeting, but his contributions to the LGBT community will never be forgotten.
AT&T’s bold commitment to the LGBT community began in 1975, when it became one of the first among the Fortune 500 to adopt a non-discrimination policy toward sexual orientation, which was followed by the adoption of one of the first domestic partner benefits for LGBT employees. In 1992, AT&T recognized the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender United Employees at AT&T (LEAGUE) as one of its Employee Resource Groups, ERGs, which provides networking and mentoring opportunities and serves as a discussion forum for corporate awareness and addressing LGBT issues in the market place.
In recognition of this long-standing history of inclusion, AT&T has been awarded a perfect rating by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization – on its Corporate Equality Index every year since its inception in 2004.
“Being bold is an inherent part of our culture and our business,” said Troup Coronado, AT&T Executive Director of External Affairs. “The AT&T Bold Honor is an opportunity for us to celebrate outstanding achievements in diversity and inclusion, and we are grateful to all who continue to be bold in every community we serve.”
Voting for the “AT&T Bold Honor” continues through July 4th. For more information, please visit daily.gay.com/boldatnyc.
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