LIVEMagazine #219 October 9, 2015

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Equality California will honor its former executive director Geoff Kors with the firstever
award in his name at its annual Palm Springs Equality Awards dinner on Saturday,
October 10, 2015. EQCA announced today the establishment of the Geoff Kors Leadership
Award, which will be given periodically in the future to an LGBT Californian whose
work has significantly advanced LGBT civil rights or social justice on a national level. In
addition, Equality California is excited to honor the lifetime achievements of civil rights
legend Dolores Huerta, who has made equality and social justice for all communities her
life’s work. Also receiving Equality Awards are Desert AIDS Project Chief Development
Officer Darrell Tucci and businesswoman Lisa Vanderpump for their years of work on
behalf of LGBT people and all Californians. The event is co-chaired by Equality California
boardmember Kenny Cassady and local LGBT leader Jackie Thomas.
Dolores Huerta is the recipient of this year’s Vanguard Leadership
Award. After graduating from college, Huerta initially became
a teacher, but soon realized the best way to help her students
– many of them children of migrant farmworkers – was to
improve living conditions for their parents. Together with César
Chávez, Huerta founded the National Farm Workers Association,
which later merged with other organizations to become United
Farm Workers. Today, Huerta is a tireless advocate for the civil
rights of all Californians, and has made the LGBT community a
key part of the mission of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. She
also serves on the board of Equality California, as well as People
for the American Way, the Feminist Majority Federation and
other organizations. “It’s a privilege to honor a civil rights titan
like Dolores Huerta,” said Equality California Executive Director
Rick Zbur. “LGBT people have always occupied a key place in her civil rights vision and
California is a more equitable place today thanks to her many years of work.”
IMPORTANT
DATES TO
REMEMBER:
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
Geoff Kors helmed Equality California from 2002 until 2011, making it a major force
behind everything from electing pro-equality candidates,
to policies protecting LGBT Californians on the job and in
their homes, to the 2008 California Supreme Court decision
legalizing marriage for same-sex couples. Under his leadership,
Equality California went from being a small, relatively
unknown non-profit to the largest statewide LGBT advocacy
organization in the country. He contributed to the passage
of more than 70 laws protecting the LGBT community. Kors
currently is government policy director with the National
Center for Lesbian Rights and continues to give his time to
many other organizations. “This year, it’s a special pleasure
to present Geoff Kors with the inaugural award that bears
his name,” said Zbur. “Geoff’s leadership helped California
become the state with the most comprehensive LGBT protections
in the country, serving as the model for similar laws
across the country.”
Geoff has spent over 25 years
Darrell working Tucci for will Equality receive and this year’s State Farm Good Neighbor
is the Award. only Palm Tucci Springs is an energetic City leader on HIV, youth and other
LGBT candidate issues in endorsed the Desert by area. He is one of Palm Springs’
Council
key LGBT all of leaders the following: and has dedicated time and significant talent
to bettering the lives of the LGBT and HIV communities in the
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA
Desert. He is currently chief development officer for Desert
AIDS DESERT Project STONEWALL and has served on the board of Buddies of New
DEMOCRATS
Jersey, his home state; the National Leadership Council of the
Gay, Lesbian, THE VICTORY and FUND Straight Education Network; and is on the
national board andof Bolder Giving. “Darrell Tucci isn’t yet 40, but
he’s already DR. RAUL an effective RUIZ, advocate for the local LGBT community,”
said Zbur. “He already has years of experience as a
UNITED STATES CONGRESS
fundraiser and activist that make him a powerful force.”
Day Absentee Ballots Mailed – October 5, 2015
Last Day to Register to Vote – October 19, 2015
Ally Leadership Award recipient Lisa Vanderpump has used
Election Day – November
her
3,
role
2015as a businesswoman and celebrity to put the LGBT community at the center of
her philanthropic work. Vanderpump has volunteered extensive time to LGBT causes,
serving as a national spokesperson for GLAAD, working with the Desert AIDS Project and
the Trevor Project, and this year was recognized as a “woman of the year” by the California
M Legislature. “Lisa Vanderpump is one of West Hollywood and Palm Springs’ most
G E O F F K O R S . C O
prominent businesspeople, who does more than just create a welcoming environment
for the LGBT community at her popular restaurants,” said Zbur. “She also gives back an
enormous amount of time and energy to the community. She is one of our strongest
advocates, and uses her prominence to advance equal rights for everyone.”
Learn more, request a yard sign, endorse Geoff and more at
Integrity. Experience. Leadership.
Paid for by Geoff Kors for City Council 2015 (FPPC #995721)
Geoff Kors for City Council
PO Box 1585 Palm Springs CA 92263 United States
Each year, Equality California recognizes individuals and organizations who have made
an impact on the movement to secure full and lasting equality for LGBT people at its annual
Equality Awards — a series of formal events held in San Francisco, San Diego, Palm
Springs, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.
This year’s Palm Springs Equality Awards will take place on Saturday, October 10 at the
Riviera Palm Springs, located at 1600 N. Indian Canyon Drive. Individual tickets are $250
and up, with event sponsorships opportunities beginning at $3,500.
The 2015 Equality Awards are sponsored by AT&T, La Crema, PG&E, Sempra Energy,
Southwest Airlines, and State Farm Insurance. For more information about the Equality
Awards, visit www.eqcaawards.com. For tickets or sponsorship information, contact
Scott Gizicki at scott@eqca.org or by calling 323-848-9801.
Equality California is California’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights
organization focused on creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain
full and lasting equality, acceptance and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities,
inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of
LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral,
advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of
LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and
social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org