Three queer women were honored with the inaugural Phenomenal Women Awards in San Jose.
Lesbians Leslie Bulbuk and Shay Franco-Clausen, and Anna Ko, a bisexual, were among the 50 women honored for their commitment to the community, either in their profession or volunteer work at the first Still I Rise luncheon Friday, October 14.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Sharon Chatman, who is the founder and chair of the Phenomenal Women Awards, wrote to the Bay Area Reporter that the women who received the awards, "embodied the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi when he said, 'The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of other.'"
An estimated 250 women and their supporters came out to celebrate the honorees in five categories: compassionate, courageous, inspirational, powerful, and resilient.
"There are thousands of ordinary women doing extraordinary everyday work that are rarely honored and celebrated in a public forum," said Chatman. "They deserve to be recognized as something special by their family and the community."
Bulbuk, who declined to provide her age, is the senior field representative for gay Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park). She received the award for being "powerful." Franco-Clausen, 41, who is the political campaign manager for San Jose City Councilman Ash Kalra, who is running for state Assembly, received the award for being "compassionate." Ko, 32, who is deputy district director for Congressman Mike Honda (D-San Jose), received the award for being "resilient."
"There are a lot of women who do such important vital work in the community," said Bulbuk. "Queer women, we are part of the fabric of Santa Clara County. It's great to have us recognized for all that we bring to the community."
The awardees told the B.A.R. that they were surprised and especially honored to be recognized by Chatman.
"She's really done a lot of good in the community down here," said Bulbuk. "To be someone recognized by her organization is a tremendous honor. She's a force to be reckoned with."
"I feel tremendously honored, humbled, and empowered to be one of the 50 women to be honored at the first Still I Rise luncheon," said Ko, noting that all of the women who received awards are "powerhouses in all that they do."
"It feels great to be recognized for doing something or behaving toward people that is natural to me," said Franco-Clausen.
Bulbuk, a veteran activist in the South Bay, added that she was proud to be honored alongside two queer women.
"They are up-and-coming women warriors," said Bulbuk. "It's really wonderful seeing ... the next generation and then the generation behind that coming up and really doing, not just work related to the queer community, but work related to the broader community, which ends up helping the queer community as well."
Franco-Clausen said the event provided an opportunity for women to "shine brighter."
Ko agreed.
"It's critical for women to be recognized and appreciated for the sometimes thankless work that they do day in and day out," she said. "Gems like this gala give women a boost of life and affirmation that the energy that they invest and pour into the community has a tremendously positive ripple impact on everyone."
Chapman agreed with the women about the value of the event.
"It validates my belief that the celebration of individuals is a necessary part of the human experience," wrote Chapman, who strongly believes that "our society and our community need multiple opportunities to feel joy, happiness, and pride about the people they love. Individuals need multiple opportunities to know they are valued by their family and the community and worthy of being honored and celebrated."
The gala was also a resource for women and men to get information �" including community resources and free health screenings �" to help better their families, like many of the other events produced by Building Peaceful Families, of which Chatman is the founder. It brought together women from diverse backgrounds to discuss the key issues impacting them today, including health concerns, education and training, economic challenges, violence and crime, and to celebrate the power and resiliency of all women.
The event was produced in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Women's Policy.