GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of the Mayor
PRESS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday,
March 26, 2013
CONTACT: Sterling Washington 202.727.9493;
sterling.washington@dc.gov
The Mayor’s Office of GLBT
Affairs Announces 2013 Sheroes of the Movement Award Winners
(WASHINGTON,
D.C.) – The Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs is proud to announce the
winners of the second annual Sheroes of the Movement Awards: Diana Bruce, Ruby
Jade Corado, Ellen Kahn, Rev. Dyan Abena McCray, and Julie Ost. In honor of Women’s History Month, the Office
has joined with the DC Department of Health, the Mayor’s Office of Community
Affairs, the Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy & Initiatives, the Mautner
Project, Coca Cola, DC Concerned Providers Coalition, and Fathom Creative to honor these five lesbian, bisexual and
transgender women who have made a significant contribution to the GLBT movement
and community in the District. Nominations
for the awards were submitted by the members of the Mayor’s Office of GLBT
Affairs Advisory Committee, and the winners were selected by the women who
serve on the Advisory Committee.
This
year’s winners are extremely accomplished advocates, community members and
District Government leaders:
- Diana Bruce, Director of Health and Wellness for the District of
Columbia Public Schools, leads DCPS’s school health office, developing
policies, programs, systems and partnerships that enable local schools to
provide school health services and supports for students. In this capacity,
Diana initiated the development of DCPS’s efforts to make its school welcoming
and inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students,
staff and families. She also leads the community engagement process to develop
DCPS’s framework and approach to preventing, identifying and responding to
bullying.
- Ruby Corado is the Founder and Executive Director of Casa Ruby, an
organization that provides support services for the entire LGBT community with
an emphasis on immigrant and transgender members of the community. Ruby has been a vocal advocate on behalf of
the transgender community in DC for over 15 years.
- Ellen Kahn, Family Project Director at the Human Rights
Campaign, provides national leadership and expertise in public education and
advocacy efforts to achieve full equality for LGBT families. Ellen was formerly
the Director of the Lesbian Services Program of Whitman-Walker Clinic where she
developed innovative educational programs for gay men and lesbians considering
parenthood, and is the current President of the Board of Directors of Rainbow
Families DC, the capital area’s support and education organization for
LGBT-headed families.
- Reverend Dyan Abena McCray is the founding pastor of Unity Fellowship
Church Washington, DC and lives a life committed to social justice. She worked tirelessly and ecumenically with
her fellow clergy colleagues for marriage equality in Washington, D.C, and has
also served on the board of directors for: DC Black Gay and Lesbian Pride;
Transgender Health Empowerment; and The Mautner Project.
- Julie
Ost, Sexual Health Education Specialist at the Office of the State
Superintendent of Education, provides health education oversight for DC public
and public charter schools students and manages the local Youth Risk Behavior
Survey administration of nearly 30,000 students. Julie also provides technical
assistance and direct training to improve health outcomes and academic
successes of DC students, especially of students of color who are also sexual
minority youth, gender non-conforming and/or transgender youth. Julie also
serves on the Board of Directors of HIPS and of HBI-DC.
The
awards will be presented at a reception on Wednesday, March 27th, from
6 – 8pm at Fathom Creative, located at 1333 14th St., N.W. Reservations
are required to attend: http://sheroes.eventbrite.com
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