Chad Allen among those to be honored as part of 5th Annual Los Angeles LGBT Pride Celebration

Three years ago when I had one of the only LGBT blogs at a mainstream newspaper [Out in Hollywood at the LA Daily News], I was among those honored by the City Council as part of the city’s annual Los Angeles LGBT Pride Celebration.

It was a thrill to be honored alongside actor Wilson Cruz, fellow journalist Karen Ocamb as well as LGBT marriage activists Diane Olson and Robin Tyler, among others. I’ll forever be grateful to openly gay councilmember Bill Rosendahl for nominating me.

Rosendahl and the City Council have kept up the tradition and will host the 5th Annual celebration this Friday inside Council chambers at City Hall.

The LGBT Pride Award is given to role models in the LGBT community. Rosendahl looks for people and organizations who blazed trails for civil rights, justice, pride, and acceptance.

This year’s honorees are: Kristin M. Perry & Sandra B. Steir and Paul T Katami & Jeffrey J. Zarillo who are the plaintiffs in Perry v. Schwarzenegger; actor/activist Chad Allen; American Foundation for Equal Rights; Samuel Chu, formerly of CA Faith for Equality; Marcia Davalos of Honor PAC/Latino Coalition for a Healthy California; Christine Marge of United Way Los Angeles; Stephen Simon, AIDS Coordinator for City of LA; and Carolyn Weiss of the Community Development Department.

Congratulations to the honorees. They are in for a very special day!