Grand Marshal

Dr. Matthew Stark

Dr. Stark is a tireless defender of civil rights and equal protection for all people. He has a long history of support for the GLBT community in Minnesota and across the country.

As the Executive Director of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union (1973 – 1987), and before that from 1967 – 1973 as President of MCLU, Matt Stark was an early supporter of GLBT rights in Minnesota. He was instrumental in bringing GLBT rights cases to court, including the first Gay Marriage case in the United States (Baker v. Nelson, 1971). Under Dr. Stark, the MCLU also brought the case that guaranteed the right of gay men and lesbians to hold a block party on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis (Gay Pride vs. City of Minneapolis, 1980), and for several years in the early history of Twin Cities Pride he was the first non-GLBT person to speak publicly at the Pride Festival on behalf of GLBT rights.

“The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union was certainly a leader on GLBT rights at the ACLU. The folks there recognized that GLBT rights were an important civil liberties issue well before the national ACLU, or other affiliates did,” said Matt Coles, Director, ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project.

Other prominent GLBT cases in which Dr. Stark was involved with MCLU volunteer attorneys, include: whether a gay man could be denied the right to take the bar exam and be allowed to practice law in Minnesota; whether public utilities could refuse to hire gay men and lesbians based on their sexual orientation; whether the Minneapolis School Board could prohibit gay and lesbian speakers in public elementary schools; whether Minneapolis Public School administrators could censor a Gay Pride advertisement in a high school newspaper; challenging a probate court decision denying a lesbian guardianship of or visitation rights to her incapacitated partner; and whether custody of a minor child could be denied to a birth parent solely on account of her sexual orientation.

Matt Stark, Executive Director Emeritus, MCLU, was helpful in the founding of the Quatrefoil Library, and in lobbying at the State and National levels for the passage of equal rights laws for GLBT people. He was one of the founders and a significant Board Member of the Minnesota Gay and Lesbian Legal Assistance Center (1979 – 1989). During his retirement, he has initiated a major project of publishing documented histories about the local GLBT community.

The Grand Marshal is an individual that has had a positive impact on the Twin Cities' Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community.  Individuals may have made this impact at the local, national or international level.  The Grand Marshal will be celebrated at the annual Grand Marshal's Ball in April, will appear on the stages at the Pride Festival, as well as in the Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade.  Anyone from the public may nominate someone for the Grand Marshal.

[Download Nomination Packet]

Community Pride Award

Minnesota GLBTA Campus Aliance

Excerpt from original nomination: "In the first official year of organization under the capable mentorship of Anne Phibbs, Director of the University of Minnesota GLBTA Programs Office, the Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance already has two major events under it's belt.  The OUT! Campus Conference is Minnesota's only statewaide GLBTA college conference, featuring keynotes, workshops, entertainment and networking for GLBTA campus communities.  The fal of 2007 was a very successful Second Annual Conference.  The Campus Alliance also holds an annual Spring Dinner, a fundraiser that celebrates the accomplishments of GLBTA campus communities and offers participants an opportunity to network and share best practices. "

The Community Pride Award is meant for organizations or groups that have done great things in the GLBT community.  Previosuly, the Community Pride Award has been given to the Aliveness Project, Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, genderBLUR, the Queer Student Cultural Center at the U of M and the Church of St. Joan of Arc.

[Download Nomination Packet]

Everyday Hero Award

Adam Robbins

Excerpt from original nomination: "Adam Robbins is the Heart of the Queer Grad and Professional Student Association, as a partner to a member. He transformed this association into the successful and social association it is now.  Without Adam, this group may not exist further.

"QUORUM, the Minneapolist GLBT Chamber of Commerce, has been another association that has benefited from Adam's heart. Starting the social network for young provessionals, as well as organizing fundraisers, luncheons and further advocacy for civil rights has been the core mission of Adam through this organization.

"The Aliveness Prject holds several events to help raise money.  These events are no stranger to Adam, and their success is as well a benefit from his efforts.

:Even with the worload he has, a known advocate of Gay rights in Minneapolis, he continues to give his time to the Pride Festival.  Adam is responsible for the vendors and organizations vending at the Festival. From experience helping Adam at this event, he was crucial to smooth sailing."

The Everyday Hero Award is meant for the "unsung heros" in our midst.  Gnerally the recipients of this award have not been previously honored for their works.  Previous recipients include Eileen Scallen, Richard Voss, Officer Melissa Schmidt, Jendeen Forberg and Nicholas Metcalf.

[Download Nomination Packet]

Corporate Achievement Award

SUPERVALU

Excerpt from original nomination: "SUPERVALU has emerged as a GLBT champion because of the degree of support the company lends to its Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender associates and customers.

"SUPERVALU is an Eden Prairie-based Fortune 50 company with grocery retail stores and supply chain services businesses in major makrets throughout the United States.

"As a company, SUPERVALU understands that embracing and building a culture of difersity and inclusion is key to being the best place to work, shop and invest in its industry. By valuing, encouraging and respecting the ideas, experiences and contributions of every employee, the company builds a culture of diversity and inclusion that energizes employees, creates a competitive edge and improves employee performance.

"As part of this effort to build an inclusive environment, SUPERVALU is committed to supporting its GLBT employees and the GLBT community at large through a variety of programs, inditiatives and community involvement.

This year, SUPERVALU achieved a major milestone in its efforts to support the GLBT community when the company was one of only 195 companies to recieve a perfect 100 score on the 2008 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) published annually by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).

The Corporate Achievement Award is granted to a business or organization which has made strides in combating discrimination in the workplace in the past year. Previous recipients of this award include Colle+McVoy, Best Buy, Wells Fargo and American Express Financial Advisors - now known as Ameriprise.

[Download Nomination Packet]