FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Westley (801) 539-8800 x 12
Salt Lake City, UT - Organizers of the 2010 Utah Pride Festival are calling for nominations for two annual community awards to be presented at the Utah Pride Festival. Nominations are requested from the community-at-large for the following prestigious awards:
- The Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award: Established in 1987 this award was first presented to Dr. Kristen Ries for her humanitarian efforts in dealing with the AIDS crisis, and forever named in her honor. This award recognizes outstanding service to the greater gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in Utah, and is given to individual(s) who are dedicated to continuing that legacy of service. Those who receive this award are role models for Utah's GLBT community, and like Dr. Kristen Ries "exemplify everything that the award has stood for: compassion, leadership and courage." The recipient is chosen by past winners of the award. Recent winners include Stan Penfold, Doug Fadel, Rep. Jackie Biskupski, Doug Wortham, Luci Malin, Jane & Tami Marquardt and Walter Larrabee.
- The Pete Suazo Political Action Award: Established in 2002 in honor of Senator Pete Suazo's tireless attempts to pass Hate Crimes legislation in Utah, paired with his continual efforts to remind the Utah State Legislature of the great diversity found in our state. This award is presented to an elected Utah official who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to equal rights for the GLBT community of Utah through legislation, policy or declaration. The recipient is chosen by a committee including leaders of Equality Utah, Stonewall Democrats, Log Cabin Republicans, Human Rights Campaign and the Utah Pride Center. Recent winners include Mayor Rocky Anderson, Rep. David Litvak, Sen. Karen Hale, Mark Shurtleff , Paula Julander, Rep. Carol Spackman-Moss and Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.
Award recipients will be recognized during the Utah Pride Festival's annual Grand Marshal Reception and Awards Celebration which kicks off the Utah Pride Festival celebration on Friday, June 4, 2010. Recipients will also be honored at the annual Pride Parade on Sunday, June 6, 2010. Details for the Grand Marshal Reception are located on the official Utah Pride Festival website here.
Nominations for both awards are due by Thursday, April 30 at 5:00 p.m. Nominations should include the name and contact information for the individual making the nomination, the name of the individual being nominated, the name the award the individual is nominated for and a narrative (100 words minimum) to justify the nomination. Nominations are being accepted by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or mail at the following address:
Utah Pride Center
Attention: 2010 Utah Pride Festival Awards
355 N 300 W , First Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
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The 2010 Utah Pride Festival is a program of the Utah Pride Center. The Utah Pride Center is a community-based nonprofit corporation founded in 1992, whose mission is to provide support, education, outreach and advocacy for Utah's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer individuals and their allies, through programs, services and resources.
