[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVISTS ALLIANCE OF WASHINGTON, DC 32ND ANNIVERSARY 
       RECEPTION HONORING DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a Washington, DC 
institution that has been in the forefront of the lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, and transgendered civil rights movement, and that I have the 
distinct honor and pleasure of representing in this body: the Gay and 
Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC (GLAA), the oldest 
continuously active gay and lesbian rights organization in the United 
States.
  Since its founding in April 1971, GLAA has been a respected and 
persistent advocate in District politics tirelessly asserting equal 
rights and social equality for lesbians and gay men living in the city.
  GLAA has long fought to improve relations among the District's gay, 
lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities and DC's public safety 
agencies. GLAA also has long been at the forefront of the efforts to 
strengthen enforcement of the DC Human Rights Act of 1977.
  On April 15th, GLAA held its 32nd Anniversary Reception honoring the 
2003 recipients of its Distinguished Service Awards: Councilmember 
Kathy Patterson; the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit of the Metropolitan 
Police Department; longtime District activist Karen Armagost; the Gay 
Men's Chorus of Washington, DC; and former GLAA President Bob 
Summersgill.
  Councilmember Kathy Patterson has been an ally of gay citizens and a 
leading force for government reform and accountability. Councilmember 
Patterson wrote and secured passage of the law that established the DC 
Office of Human Rights as a separate, independent agency. She has 
supported strengthening diversity and sensitivity training in the 
police and fire departments and establishing an effective Office of 
Citizen Complaint Review.

  DC Metropolitan Police Department Chief Charles Ramsey created the 
Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) in June 2000. The work of Sgt. 
Brett Parson, head of the GLLU, and Ofc. Kelly McMurry, its founder, 
along with community volunteers, active, auxiliary and reserve police 
officers, has resulted in a dramatic improvement in community-police 
relations; an increase in the mutual respect of gay people and the 
police; and a focus on previously ignored problems in the community.
  Karen Armagost has been an activist in Washington, DC for over 
fifteen years. As a professional canvasser, GLBT activist, and past 
President of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, Karen has exemplified 
the dedication and hard work that makes grassroots organizing a 
powerful political force. Karen works for the repeal of the ``Don't 
Ask, Don't Tell'' policy through the Servicemembers Legal Defense 
Network.
  This year marks The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC's 22nd Season. 
The Chorus has performed at inaugurals of a mayor and a president, and 
most recently performed in tribute to Elizabeth Taylor at the Kennedy 
Center Honors Gala before President and Mrs. Bush.
  Bob Summersgill is the immediate past President of GLAA. He has led 
efforts to secure legal protection against harassment in our schools 
and workplaces; to open the DC HIV/AIDS Administration to public 
accountability; and to ensure the full rights of transgender and 
intersex people under the DC Human Rights Act.
  GLAA's thirty-two year fight to secure equal rights for the LGBT 
citizens of Washington, DC is more poignant because it is being 
celebrated on April 15th. It is a reminder to us all that United States 
citizens living in our Nation's Capital, who have fought in every 
American war, including the present war in Iraq, are taxed without 
representation.
  I ask the House to join me in congratulating the Gay and Lesbian 
Activists Alliance and its honorees.

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