Award Winners
Every year, Equality Arizona recognizes individuals and corporations for their contributions to the movement for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Arizona. This year’s awards will be presented at the 20th Anniversary Benefit Gala and we are thrilled to announce some VERY worthwhile recipients this year!
Barry Goldwater Human Rights Individual Award: Neil Giuliano
Neil G. Giuliano is not literally a homegrown hero, but Tempe, AZ has been his true home for more than 30 years, and almost all of that time has involved public service in one form or another. He moved here initially as a transfer student, and though his career has taken him to New York City, Los Angeles and now San Francisco, he has never stayed away for very long. Here’s a snapshot of just why is such a deserving recipient of the 2011 Barry Goldwater Human Rights Individual Award.
In 1994, Giuliano became the youngest person ever elected mayor of Tempe, Arizona, a post he held for a decade. For six of those years, Tempe (pop 175,000) was the largest city in America with an openly gay mayor. He served on the board of directors of the National League of Cities, and in 2003, Tempe earned the “All-American City” award, a coveted honor bestowed on local governments demonstrating exceptional success in problem solving. Concurrent to his work as a public official, he held numerous senior roles at Arizona State University, including director of federal relations and co-chair of the final presidential debate of the 2004 election.
He left ASU in 2005 to serve as president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and executive producer of GLAAD Media Awards. At GLAAD, he expanded the organization’s media advocacy and anti-defamation work to include religious and faith-based communities, sports and advertising media. Under his leadership, the GLAAD Media Awards appeared for the first time on BRAVO, VH-1 and Logo television networks.
In December, 2010 Neil was appointed CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation where he is now applying his three decades of executive leadership experience to one of the oldest and largest AIDS organizations in the world. Established in 1982, San Francisco AIDS Foundation confronts HIV in communities most vulnerable to the disease every day through education, advocacy and direct services for prevention and care.
Giuliano has received numerous awards and honors for his work in public policy and community activism. He was named to the “Out 100” by Out Magazine in 2005 and was invited as a distinguished lecturer to the William J. Clinton School of Public Service at the Clinton Presidential Library in 2009. He recently completed a memoir, “The Campaign Within,” to be published in 2012.
Equality Arizona Human Rights Individual Award: Steven N. Berger
Steven N. Berger has called Arizona home for more than 40 years, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona College of Law, with highest distinction, in 1984 and started his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Thomas Tang, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to a long and distinguished legal career representing all manner of clients, large and small, Steven has also worked tirelessly within his chosen profession to support those following his path. He has a long history of assisting in the activities of, and in leadership positions with, the Arizona State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and the University of Arizona Rogers College of Law Board of Visitors.
Tonight, however, it is his extraordinary service on behalf of the statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for which we honor him. For years he has been an enthusiastic supporter of Equality Arizona and its predecessor, the Arizona Human Rights Fund. He has consistently “been there” for both organizations when we have sought his help, support or guidance. His service to the LGBT community doesn’t stop here.
He currently serves on the steering committee and assists with fundraising for the Maricopa County Community College Foundation’s Out & Up GLBT Scholarship Fund, a district-wide effort to support outstanding students complete their Associates degree without incurring crippling debt. He also raises funds for the nationwide efforts of Lambda Legal, the movement’s premier civil rights litigation organization. He is also a longtime supporter of the Human Rights Campaign and HRC-Arizona as well as Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS.
From 1990-1996 he served on the board and as Chair of Community AIDS Council/AIDS Project Arizona during which time he also chaired the Drive Against AIDS Golf Tournament.
Beyond serving the LGBT community Steve’s civic activities have included leadership positions with the Friends of the Phoenix Library, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee. Steve really is a community treasure and we are honored that he has agreed to accept this year’s Equality Arizona Human Rights Individual Award.
Equality Arizona Human Rights Corporate Award: ‘N Touch Magazine
Established in 2004, ‘N Touch News has always focused on community, not only Arizona’s LGBT community, but the larger community as well. With a commitment to reporting news accurately and without bias, ‘N Touch became a member of the Associated Press, leaving commentary to columnists such as City of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and State Representative (D-15), now Senator (D-15), Kyrsten Sinema.
Early investigative pieces included exposing the double standard of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in peace time vs. wartime in 2004, methamphetamine in the community (which led to a two-year anti-meth campaign), lesbians and cancer, and homeless LGBT youth. “On the Streets” was a series of articles chronicling life in Phoenix and Tucson for these “throw away children,” and called for a town hall meeting to address the issue. The result was The GreenHouse Project which houses LGBT youth in crisis. A more recent but related development is the Maricopa Community College Foundation’s Up and Out Scholarship for homeless LGBT youth. ‘N Touch has covered everything from transgender issues, to Native-American gays and lesbians, to how it feels to be a person of color in the LGBT community.
Feature articles have not only focused on LGBT issues. ‘N Touch championed the first LGBT-built Habitat for Humanity House in the Valley of the Sun, promoting the concept of bringing the unity back into the community. Non-profit and corporate groups and a variety of individuals from the LGBT and allied communities worked side by side for months to provide a mother and her 4 children a home. After Hurricane Katrina, the magazine covered the story and how the community could help the victims of the tragedy. ‘N Touch came out against SB1070 and ran articles that included a City of Phoenix Police Officer’s perspective on why it was in direct conflict with his commitment to protect and serve all people. Environmental issues have always been important to the magazine’s staff and have been addressed through articles and by being 100% recyclable since 2008.
Recognizing that economic growth is key to any community, ‘N Touch was the first LGBT publication in Arizona, and one of the first in the nation, to have a dedicated business section and financial column devoted to LGBT and allied businesses.
‘N Touch has proudly sponsored and supported Aunt Rita’s Foundation, AIDS Walks in Phoenix and Tucson, H.E.R.O., the City of Phoenix LGBT Police Advisory, Joshua Tree Feeding Program, AGAPE, GLAD Dart League, Community Turkey Drive, the Imperial Court of Arizona, Arizona Rescue, Arizona Human Society, One Voice Community Center, HRC, the Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the GLBT Tucson Chamber of Commerce, Right to Marry Walk AZ, Southwest Center for AIDS, Northern Arizona Pride, Sedona Pride, Bisbee Pride, PEAKS Pride, Tucson Pride, Wingspan, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, TIHAN, Rainbows Festival, PFLAG Payson, PFLAG Phoenix, Prescott Pride Center, Community Church of Hope, Missing Puzzle Piece, Project Hard Hat, Man2Man, Arizona Animal Rescue League, Lost Our Homes, Tumbleweed Youth Development Services, Maricopa Community College Foundation’s Up & Out Scholarship fund, Desperado Film Festival, YEP!, 1n10, QSpeak Theatre and Equality Arizona.
Additional award winners will be announced shortly.
Barry Goldwater Human Rights Corporate Award: Cox Communications