EqualityMaine Foundation 26th Annual Awards Dinner - Remembering and Celebrating the Best of 2009

Portland, Maine (March 23, 2010) EqualityMaine Foundation’s 26th Annual Awards Dinner will be held Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.  Founded in 1984, EqualityMaine is the state’s oldest and largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization.

In 2009, Maine was the first state to pass a marriage equality bill through both chambers of the Legislature and have it signed into law by the Governor.  Veteran political experts called our legislative campaign the "best, most well-executed legislative campaign in Maine's history."  By November, nearly 8,000 volunteers were actively working to protect marriage for all Maine families.  While in the end we lost the election, 2009 brought us greater understanding of the lives of gay and lesbian families and their children. “Two thousand nine did not end the way it should have, with full equality for all Maine families” says Executive Director Betsy Smith, “but it provided us with a solid base of support and hope for the future. As more Mainers get to know their gay and lesbian neighbors, we will surely win in the future.”

EqualityMaine Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner will include a program honoring the collaborative shaping of history, bold leadership, and progress toward equality of 2009.  This year’s honorees are:

• Larry Connolly Award (recognizing outstandinglegislative leadership):
  Senator Dennis Damon, Trenton; sponsor of 2009 marriage equality bill
• Faith in Action Award (recognizing leadership for equality by a faith community):
  Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry & Catholics for Marriage Equality
• Cameron Duncan Award ( recognizing accomplishment, commitment and service to the HIV/AIDS community): Jimmy Lucibello, Ogunquit
• Out Front Awards (recognizing outstanding volunteer leadership):

Tom Reynolds & Ira Bittues (Lewiston); Ellie MacCallum (Windham); Carla Hopkins & Victoria Eleftheriou (Mt Vernon); Lucie Bauer & Annie Kiermaier (Rockport); David Cox (Orono); Meredith Hunt & Melissa Hamkins (Bowdoin); Tom Muise & Brian Dustin (Biddeford)

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour.  The dinner and awards presentation is from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.  Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased by visiting www.equalitymaine.org or by calling (207) 761-3732.

For more about EqualityMaine’s 26-year history, please call (207) 761-3732 or visit www.equalitymaine.org.