This week, the Pride Banquet Committee announced the 2009 awardees for the 24th Annual Pride Banquet and Awards Ceremony, celebrating the outstanding achievement of people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied communities in southeastern Michigan. The event will be held June 18 at the Ukranian Cultural Center in Warren.
Awards this year go to several individuals and organizations, recognizing their commitment and contribution to the LGBT community. The Business Award will go to Gary Baglio, owner of the store Five15 Media, Mojo and More. Recently, the store has amped up its efforts, holding fundraisers and fun events for the community.
The Cultural Award will go to the black lesbian group S.P.I.C.E.; the Lifetime Achievement Award, to Melvin Marks; the MAC Award will go to Judge Joseph Longo of the 43rd District Court; the Media Award will go to Between The Lines. A Political Award will be presented to Rep. Steve Tobocman, while the Pride Award will be given to Bridie Johnson. This year's Rising Star Award will go to Michael McGuinness, and four Spirit of Detroit Awards will be presented to Karen Brown, Greg Pawlica, Alma Wheeler-Smith and Katie Brisson. The Unity Award will go to Karibu House Executive Director Reynaldo Magdaleno, while the Volunteer Award will be presented to Zip Johnson.
New this year, the Sports Award will go to Affirmations Kickball Team leader Tim McCloud.
This year also marks the introduction of two new award categories: Committee Choice Award and Queer Choice Award. The Committee Choice Award allows the reviewing committee to honor six additional individuals and/or groups who have made extraordinary contributions to the LGBT community. This year's Committee Choice Awardees will go to Lars Burkeen of C & N Party Rental, Khalil Ajami, Myra Walman, Meefers.com, Denise Brogan-Kator and Bill Greene.
The Queer Choice Award allows the community at large to vote for outstanding
individuals in the LGBT community. Ten nominations were put to community
vote and the three individuals with the most votes will be announced at the
Pride Banquet. The ten nominees are: Chris Gerlach, Maureen Jones, Jay Kaplan, Jerry Langdon, Julie Nemecek, Stephen Saba, Robert Thomas, Toya Troupe, Myra Walman and Michelle Walters.
Tickets for the Annual Pride Banquet and Awards Ceremony are $40 in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion and are available by calling Michigan AIDS Coalition at 248-545-1435. The 24th Annual Pride Banquet & Awards Ceremony is a collaborative effort between Affirmations, Al Gamea, Black Pride Society, the Forum Foundation, Michigan AIDS Coalition, Ruth Ellis Center and Triangle Foundation.
Awardees announced for Pride Banquet
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