Congressmember Barbara Lee received the inaugural award that is named in her honor from the International AIDS Society during its AIDS 2024 conference in Munich, Germany.
Lee (D-Oakland), who serves as ranking member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, received the award July 26. It recognizes the extraordinary contributions of elected officials who have demonstrated significant political leadership and commitment in the fight against AIDS. The award was named in honor of Lee as its first recipient, a news release from her office stated.
To be presented every other year at the AIDS conference, the Barbara Lee Political Leadership Award seeks to celebrate elected officials who embody unwavering dedication, courage, and compassion in the political arena, the release noted. This award is also a call to action for current and future political leaders to persist in the fight against AIDS, the release stated.
"Receiving this award is truly such an honor," Lee stated. "This award is not just a recognition of my work but a testament to the collective efforts of many. It honors the courageous individuals living with HIV who have shared their stories and demanded action, the activists who fight everyday for progress, and lawmakers around the world, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who have the courage to step out and do what it right."
"This work has been decades in the making. I remember speaking to President [George W.] Bush in the White House, and I was gratified that he understood the need to take action," she added. "Despite us not agreeing on much of anything, I felt as though he clearly understood what was at stake and our urgent need to save lives. But even then, as the weeks went on, we needed to keep fighting to keep this at the top of the to-do list."
Lee recalled that she mobilized the Congressional Black Caucus to write to Bush in December 2002, asking him to move quickly on the response. The next month, Bush used his State of the Union address to call on Congress to pass the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR. Bush signed the bill into law that May. Since then, PEPFAR has been lauded as an effective program and has been credited with saving 25 million lives across the globe.
"I was fortunate enough to meet the first person to receive PEPFAR treatment while in Uganda," Lee stated. "I witnessed firsthand the potential for this program to save lives across the globe."
"But our work isn't over," Lee continued. "We have made so much progress. We've been able to save 25 million lives by working together, no matter the political affiliation. We haven't quite yet beat this pandemic, but I know we can reach our goal of achieving an AIDS-free generation by 2030. Let's keep struggling, organizing, fighting, until we end HIV everyone, everywhere."
According to the IAS, the criteria for future award recipients will include the following:
Leadership and Advocacy: The recipient must be a current or former elected official who has exhibited exceptional leadership in developing laws and policies that aim to eradicate AIDS, including securing funding for research, prevention, and treatment.
Commitment to Justice: The recipient must have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to social justice, particularly in ensuring access to healthcare and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Bipartisan Collaboration: Shown an ability to work across the aisle, engaging and uniting politicians from various political backgrounds and beliefs towards a common goal in the fight against AIDS.
Community Engagement: Actively involved in community engagement, working closely with affected individuals and groups, listening to their needs, and representing their voices in political discussions.
And, lastly, Global Perspective: Recognized the global nature of the AIDS crisis and contributed to international efforts, fostering global solidarity and action against the pandemic.
Horizons opens nonprofit grant cycle
Horizons Foundation has announced that its flagship community issues grant program for LGBTQ nonprofits is now accepting applications.
According to an email to supporters, community issues grants are open to all LGBTQ nonprofits and fiscally sponsored LGBTQ organizations/programs that meet eligibility criteria and are based within one or more of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties — Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.
In line with Horizons' 2020 strategic plan, the community issues program accepts applications from:
LGBTQ-primary organizations (defined as an organization whose mission includes the LGBTQ population as the primary focus of the work; whose staff and board predominantly reflect the LGBTQ community; and which primarily serves LGBTQ people) with a budget under $1 million.
Horizons will also consider applications from non-LGBTQ organizations with LGBTQ-focused programs that have annual program budgets of $1 million or less if the applicant can demonstrate that the program serves a specific area in the nine-county Bay Area where LGBTQ-primary organizations do not provide sufficient, comparable services or reach a specific LGBTQ population.
New this year is that Horizons is accepting community issues grant applications for bisexual programs that primarily serve 65% or more of the bisexual community, housed within an LGBTQ primary organization of any organization budget size (including organizations with an annual budget over $1 million).
In addition to the aforementioned bisexual programs category, Horizons stated that it would prioritize transgender-primary organizations and LGBTQ people of color-primary organizations; organizations and programs that primarily serve LGBTQ youth or LGBTQ elders; and organizations and programs that primarily serve LGBTQ refugees and asylees.
For complete information and to apply, people can click here. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 26.
Rainbow center to hold Pride in the Plaza
The Rainbow Community Center in Contra Costa County will hold its annual Pride in the Plaza festival Saturday, August 17, from noon to 6 p.m. at Todos Santos Plaza, 2175 Willow Pass Road in Concord.
The afternoon festival will celebrate the LGBTQ community and allies. This year's theme is "Colors of Love."
The Rainbow center is also working to raise $50,000 this summer to help it provide services and meet expenses for the festival, which costs about $20,000 to produce, the center's website noted. While the Pride festival is free to attend, donations are welcome. So far, the center has raised almost $19,000 of its goal, according to its website.
To donate, click here.
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!