[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVISTS ALLIANCE OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in celebrating the 45th anniversary of the 
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) of Washington, DC, a valued 
organization that has long been a local leader in the struggle for 
equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) 
community.
  Since its founding in April 1971, GLAA has been a respected and 
tireless advocate for full and equal rights for the District of 
Columbia, and has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen 
enforcement of the landmark D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977. One of 
GLAA's most significant achievements, on which it worked with coalition 
partners, D.C. elected officials, and District residents, was enactment 
of the District of Columbia Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage 
Equality Amendment Act, which permits same-sex couples to marry in the 
District of Columbia.
  GLAA has stoutly defended the District's comprehensive human rights 
law; has been an outspoken advocate for LGBT youth and seniors; has 
stood up for the rights of LGBT consumers; has upheld the rights of 
transgender people, including equal treatment by police and access to 
culturally competent healthcare; has educated and rated local 
candidates on LGBT issues; and has built and nurtured coalitions with 
other constituencies to advance these causes and defend the District's 
autonomy.
  At GLAA's 45th anniversary reception on April 21, 2016, the 
recipients of its 2016 Distinguished Service Awards will be recognized, 
including:
  June Crenshaw serves as the chair of the Board of Rainbow Response 
Coalition. June is one of the original founders and continues to lead 
this all volunteer coalition. She is a board member and emeritus Chair 
of Whitman Walker Health. In addition, June is a Board of Governor of 
the Human Rights Campaign. June was the first African-American woman to 
co-chair HRC's National Dinner. She was a longstanding member of the 
Advisory Board of the Mayor's Office of LGBT Affairs. She also 
previously served on the Community Advisory Board of Lesbian Services 
Programs and Black Lesbian Support Group. She volunteered for over five 
years with Heartly House. Professionally, she is PMP certified and has 
worked over 19 years as a project manager.
  Monica Palacio has served as Director of the D.C. Office of Human 
Rights since March 2014. In that capacity, she directed a six-month 
study in 2015 that revealed anti-transgender job bias at 48 percent of 
District employers. Monica brings 20 years of experience in civil 
rights, strengthening communities in crisis and coalition building for 
social justice. She previously directed the District's Language Access 
Program, and served as a commissioner on the D.C. Commission on Human 
Rights. She holds a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and 
a B.A. from Fordham University. Monica has lived in the District for 25 
years and was born in Bogota, Colombia.
  Sterling A. Washington served as director of the Mayor's Office of 
LGBT Affairs for two years ending in January 2015. Prior to that he was 
Resource and Grant Development Manager for the Center for Black Equity; 
worked on grants, newsletters, and community relations at Us Helping 
Us, People into Living, Inc.; and led the Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay 
Organization of Students at Howard. He has a bachelor's degree in 
political science from The George Washington University and a 
bachelor's degree in music history from Howard University. He is a 
tenor soloist and section leader at National City Christian Church.
  I ask the House to join me in honoring the recipients of GLAA's 2016 
Distinguished Service Award and in celebrating GLAA's 45 years of 
contributions to the LGBT community in the District of Columbia.

                          ____________________