By Evelyn Bailey
During the past year there have been many members of the Rochester LGBT community whose contributions to our ongoing struggle to be free and equal under the law have moved us closer to that reality. By no means are the “shoulders” that follow all of the heroes of 2010. You have only to look in the mirror.
By definition a hero is a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal, or a person noted for special achievement in a particular field. What makes the members of the LGBTI community of Rochester heroes? Quite simply it is as basic as getting up in the morning, living our lives as members of the LGBT community and sharing who we are with our world as honestly and openly as we can!
As I said, your name heads the list of the following LGBT 2010 Pride Heroes.
YOU
Rebecca Newberry and Deb Oppenheimer
On Jan. 12, the Empire State Pride Agenda hosted its first Rochester STAR Awards volunteer recognition event, honoring Rebecca Newberry, former CampusOut Coordinator for the Gay Alliance, and transgender activist Deborah Oppenheimer.
“My goals for my life,” Rebecca states, “are rooted in the values that my mother instilled in me: dedication, passion and justice.” Rebecca is currently serving as the Development Director at Buffalo First, a grassroots non-profit dedicated to economic justice, localization, and green and responsible communities.
Honored for her exemplary role as a community activist, Deb Oppenheimer has persisted in her efforts for more than seven years, to help pass important legislation, including the Gender Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and a marriage equality bill. Deb has also been a strong advocate in the workplace.
Erik Libey
Eric and Jason, Erik’s training partner, were the Top Fundraisers for AIDS Walk 2010. For the past four years, Erik has organized a week-long health observance for LGBT Health Month. Erik said. “We wanted to do it bigger and better and this year we decided to do a full month.” Erik Libey of AIDS Care hoped the events and information presented during LGBT Health Month would make LGBT people in the Rochester area healthier, and even happier, by April.
Anne Tischer and Bess Watts
Anne and Bess have been involved as Marriage Ambassadors with the Pride Agenda, and their energy and enthusiasm have inspired those around them. Both are indefatigable activists who have elevated public consciousness of the injustices faced by people of color, the impoverished, and local laborers without fair representation, as well as LGBT people.
Anne and Bess were publicly married in Rochester’s Washington Square Park on April 29, 2004, by the Rev. Jim Mulcahy of Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church, after being the first same-sex couple to apply for (and be denied) a marriage license at Rochester City Hall. Anne is the District Coordinator with Marriage Equality New York. Bess is president of the Rochester-Finger Lakes Chapter of Pride at Work, a constituency group of the AFL-CIO, and a member of the MCC Diversity Council.
The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson
New Hampshire Bishop The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson—the first “honestly gay” non-celibate bishop in the Episcopal Church—apeared in Rochester on April 29, 2010. Bishop Robinson said positive change for the LGBT Community is that we need to reframe how we think about the problem that exists.
“When you combine power and prejudice, you get an ‘ism. It is time to talk about heterosexism instead of homophobia, to acknowledge in how we speak about the problem that power is a component of what is happening. Right now, heterosexuals have the power and the system is set up to favor heterosexuals. Legal change is just a start.”
Emily Jones
Emily, recipient of the 2010 Empire States Pride Agenda’s Community Service Award, was a member of the founding steering committee that launched the GLBT Network at Kodak in 1992. In 1995, with Kathryn Rivers she co-chaired the First Educational Event for Senior Management on GLBT issues.
Emily is Past- President of the Board of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, is a member of the Finger Lakes LGBT Workplace Alliance Steering Committee and a board member of the Rochester Chapter of GLSEN. On March 4, 2010 she was part of a 300-member delegation of HRC lobbyists from around the country who went to Capitol Hill to advocate for major bills relating to LGBT rights.
“I found the whole experience exhilarating,” she said, “even all the walking around Capitol Hill. I was so impressed with the competence of the people in the NYS delegation, and all 300 lobbyists, and also with how well prepared each legislator’s office was for our people. It was amazing. I don’t usually come back and talk a lot about these things, but I’ve been telling everyone about this!”
Lt. Dan Choi
Dan became an LGBT rights activist following his coming out on The Rachel Maddow Show in March 2009 and has been publicly challenging America’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which forbids lesbian, bisexual and gay (LBG) service members from serving openly. On July 15, 2010, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was ruled unconstitutional, although due to stays on the court ruling and obstacles in Congress, it may be some time before the oppressive policy is actually overturned.
In response to the ruling, Dan Choi said, “I commend Judge Phillips, Alex Nicholson and the Log Cabin Republicans for their firm stance in defense of the First Amendment and their unwavering support of our national security. I demand President Obama and Senator Reid do the same, as our moral obligations compel us to strike down injustice and discrimination wherever it exists.”
Constance McMillan
Constance was one of the grand marshals for the 41st annual Manhattan LGBT Pride March, this past June. Constance, an 18-year-old Mississippi high school senior honors student, fought back when her school told her she couldn’t take her girlfriend to the prom. A film on her story is now in the works.
Sean Johnson and Pam Barres
On June 30, 2010 Sean Johnson was awarded the Vinnie Cup for his extraordinary service to the community as Assistant Volunteer Coordinator for the 2009 and 2010 Pride Week celebrations. Sean spends countless hours volunteering throughout the year for the Gay Alliance Speakers Bureau, and as a gay rights advocate in the workplace.
The Vicki Cup was awarded to Pam Barres, an active member of the Rochester LGBTI community since 1994. Pam has served on the Boards of Lambda Kodak and the GAGV, and was Gay Alliance Interim ED in 2003. A former leader of the Rochester Transgender Group, she is currently on the boards of Rainbow SAGE and the Empire State Pride Agenda.
Jerry Mason and Tim Rhoads
Gerry and Tim, the organizers for Rochester Prides from 1995 – 2008, were Grand Marshals for Pride 2010. Tim founded Basically Treblemakers band, now Flower City Pride Band. Gerry and Tim, who moved to Texas in 2009, stated that they were honored and proud that the Alliance asked them to be Grand Marshals for the 2010 Living History Pride Celebration.
Shoulders to Stand On recognizes with deep appreciation the contribution to the LGBT community that these men and women have made to advance the cause of Gay Rights in 2010. Each and every one of us has a part to play in our ongoing struggle for Gay Rights. No part is more or less important than any other Collectively our shoulders are the foundation for our future successes. We are all heroes! Be PROUD