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The Champions of Equality Awards Reception and Silent Auction
Presented by
SAVE Dade - Safeguarding American Values for Everyone
Scope of the Event
The SAVE Dade Champions of Equality Awards Reception and Silent Auction is an annual event established to honor members of the community who have significantly advanced the cause of equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) community in Miami-Dade County.
More than 150 civic leaders and private citizens attend the reception. The 2009 SAVE Dade Champions of Equality Award Reception and Silent Auction will be held at:
Karu & Y Ultralounge
located at 71 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136 from 6:30-9:00 PM.
Award Recipients
2009: After many months of work in the community and with county officials, SAVE Dade rejoiced when the Domestic Partners & Family Health Coverage Ordinance, passed into law by the Miami-Dade County Commission on May 20, 2008 in a historic 8 to 4 vote. Voting in favor of the ordinance were Commissioners Bruno A. Barreiro, Chair; Audrey M. Edmonson, Carlos A. Gimenez, Sally A. Heyman, Barbara J. Jordan, Dennis C. Moss, Katy Sorenson, and Rebeca Sosa and signed by Mayor Carlos A. Alvarez. The leadership of these elected officials provided much needed basic rights to domestic partners in Miami-Dade County.
Former SAVE Dade Executive Director Heddy Peña will be honored for her role in securing passage of the Domestic Partners & Family Health Coverage Ordinance in 2008 and her many years of service to the LGBT community. Heddy Peña started her involvement with SAVE Dade as a volunteer in 1997, going on to become the co-chair of the historic and successful “No to Discrimination” campaign to protect the county Human Rights Ordinance from repeal in 2002. Subsequently, under her leadership as Executive Director, SAVE Dade achieved many successes, including the passage of a domestic partner registry, gender identity discrimination protection and a procurement ordinance in Miami Beach, and inclusion of gender identity in the anti-discrimination provisions of the City of Miami Bill of Rights.
Despite the disappointing passage of Amendment 2 to the Florida Constitution last year, some good things did emerge from the campaign against the Amendment. There was a groundswell in community activism, exemplified by UM for Equality, a new student group at the University of Miami. University of Miami students did an incredible job of organizing against Amendment 2, fielding dozens of phone banks, going door to door, and fielding 75 students on Election Day to talk to voters at the polls. UM for Equality led this effort on campus in partnership with SAVE Dade. UM for Equality has continued its leadership after the November election, partnering with SAVE Dade and other student groups around the state to campaign against an anti-gay charter amendment on the ballot in Gainesville.
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Previous Recipients
2008: Celebrating it’s fifteenth-anniversary, SAVE Dade honored the 14 founders of the organization and congruently honored the City of North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns and commissioner who have been leaders in diversity and sensitivity in the workplace. The City of North Miami has provided domestic partner benefits to all city employees regardless of gender and sexual orientation, unanimously adopted a procurement ordinance requiring contractors wishing to do business with the City to provide equal health benefits to domestic partners in their companies. Mayor KeTheir actions exemplify outstanding leadership and have established the City of North Miami in the forefront as a champion of equality. The commissioners include Mike Blynn, Jacques Despinosse, Scott Galvin, and Marie Steril.
2007: The City of Miami Beach Commission who adopted three ordinances prohibiting discrimination, which insures the equal rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Their actions exemplify outstanding leadership and have established the City of Miami Beach as a national beacon of equality. David Dermer, Mayor; Matti Herrera Bower, Commissioner; Simon Cruz, Commissioner; Luis R. Garcia, Jr., State Representative; Saul Gross, Commissioner; José Smith, City Attorney; Richard L. Steinberg, Commissioner
2006: Jorge Mursuli, Florida Director, People for the American Way; Alex Penelas, Former Miami-Dade County Major; Katy Sorenson, Miami-Dade County Commissioner; Jimmy Morales, Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner; Gwen Margolis, Florida State Senator; Bruno A. Barreiro, Miami-Dade County Commissioner; Dennis Moss, Miami-Dade County Commissioner; Betty Ferguson, Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner; and Barbara Carey Shuler, Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner
About SAVE
Safeguarding American Values for Everyone (SAVE) advocates for equal rights for all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and educates the community about human rights with an emphasis on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues. Established in 1993, SAVE accomplishes this mission through education initiatives, outreach, grassroots organizing, and advocacy. Starting with the landmark passage of Miami's Human Rights Ordinance in 1998 to recent enactments of domestic partner benefit policies, SAVE continues to lead the fight for LGBT equality in Miami-Dade County.
Office Address | 6445 NE 7th Ave., 2nd Floor | Miami, FL 33138
305-751-SAVE (7283) | 305-751-9649 f | www.savedade.org | savedade@savedade.org
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