Saturday, May 05, 2012

2012 Esteem Awards Winners And Finalists

I was surprised and pleased to find out last year I was one of the 2011 winners for the Chicago-based Esteem Awards.   While I was unable to accept it in person, I did send my acceptance speech for it.

Yesterday the 2012 Esteem Awards winners were announced.by PrideIndex.com.

  “PrideIndex.com is pleased to announce Towleroad.com, writers Stanley Bennett Clay and Kimberley McLeod, Bella English of The Boston Globe, and Cathy J. Cohen has been named to receive this year’s Esteem Award, said Philip Esteem of PrideIndex.com. “These organizations and individuals serve as fine role models for the entire community,” he continued.

The Esteem Awards honors local and national organizations and individuals for their continued efforts in supporting the African-American and LGBT community in the areas of entertainment, media, civil rights, business and art.

The 2012 Esteem Award honorees will be recognized at a special cocktail reception on Saturday, June 30, at Sidetrack, 3349 North Halsted, from 2:00PM – 4:00PM in Chicago. The event is free.

Following is a list of the Esteem Awards finalists:

Chicago

Outstanding Service, Male: Charles Nelson, MSM Project Director, South Side Help Center

Outstanding Service, Female: Cathy J. Cohen

Outstanding Service, Transgender: June LaTrobe, Trans* Community Liaison, Center on Halsted and Vice Chair & Public Policy Director, Illinois Gender Advocates

Outstanding Service, Youth: KOKUMO KINETIC, CEO/Founder KOKUMOMEDIA

Outstanding Social Services/CBO: Affinity Community Services

Outstanding Newspaper Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: “Queer Bronzeville: African American LGBT’s on Chicago’s South Side, 1900-1985” Windy City Times by Tristan Cabello

Outstanding Magazine Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: “The Day Cole & Parker Came Into Our Lives,”Grab Magazine by Erik Sosa-Kibby

Institutional Award: The Transformative Justice Law Project

Artistic Expression: Black Ensemble Theater for Black Playwright’s Initiative (BPI)

Special Recognition Award: Bill Greaves, long time advocate for Chicago's LGBT community

National

Outstanding Service, Male: Patrick Kelly, Activist & Clinical Research Interviewer, Emory Hope Clinic Vaccine Center (Atlanta)

Outstanding Service, Female: Michelle E. Brown, longtime Civil & LGBT Rights Advocate (Detroit)

Outstanding Service, Transgender: Janet Mock, Writer & Trans Advocate

Outstanding Service, Youth: Amir Dixon, Board Member, Hispanic Black Gay Coalition & Co-Host BrotherHood TV (Boston)

Outstanding Social Services/CBO: The Ruth Ellis Center for LGBT Runaways (Detroit)

Outstanding Newspaper Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: "Led By The Child Who Simply Knew," By Bella English, The Boston Globe, Dec 11, 2011

Outstanding Magazine Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: "Taking A Lead On Faith: Four Black Pastors At The Forefront of LGBT Equality," Ebony.com By Kimberley McLeod

Institutional Award: Southern Poverty Law Center (Montgomery, AL)

Outstanding Website: theGrio.com

Outstanding Blog: Towleroad.com

Outstanding Podcaster or Web series: Clay Cane Live WWRL 1600 AM Equality Pride Radio

Artistic Expression: Stanley Bennett Clay, Actor, Author and Playwright

Special Recognition: The State Of Black Gay America (SBGA) Summit (Atlanta)

###

Since 2007 PrideIndex.com Esteem Awards has honored local and national organizations and individuals for their continued efforts in supporting the African-American and LGBT communities in the areas of entertainment, media, civil rights, business and art.

More information about the Esteem Awards can be found at www.TheEsteemawards.com. PrideIndex.com is an online entertainment guide to events, bars and parties for the African-American and LGBT communities. It features profiles of activist, authors, club promoters, filmmakers, performance artist, conferences, support groups, and health & wellness resources.

No comments: