Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance
of Washington, DC
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, DC 20013-5265

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Craig Howell
(202)667-5139

GLAA TO HONOR TYRA HUNTER'S MOTHER, OTHERS
AT APRIL 22 ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington (GLAA), the nation's oldest continuously active gay and lesbian rights organization, will be celebrating its 28th anniversary with a reception on Thursday evening, April 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School, 17th & M Streets, N.W.

As always, GLAA will take advantage of this opportunity to salute a variety of community leaders through its Distinguished Service Awards. This year's list of awardees features Margie Hunter, the mother of Tyra Hunter, a transsexual who died in an August 1995 automobile accident. Margie Hunter recently won a $2.9 million jury verdict in a lawsuit filed against the District government for Tyra's wrongful death. Margie Hunter's lawyer, Rick Silber, will also be honored for his tireless advocacy on behalf of Tyra's family.

Other winners of GLAA's Distinguished Service Awards include:

• Councilmember Carol Schwartz;
• Wayne Turner and his late partner, Steve Michael, of ACT UP/Washington, D.C.;
• One in Ten, sponsors of the annual Reel Affirmations gay and lesbian film festival; and
• Former GLAA President Rick Rosendall.

Tickets for this year's GLAA Anniversary Reception start at $35. Anyone can become a sponsor for a $75 donation, Patrons give $125, and Benefactors generously donate $250 or more.

Sign interpretation will be available.

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington was founded in April 1971 in the aftermath of the D.C. Congressional candidacy of Dr. Franklin E. Kameny, the founder of gay political activism both in the District of Columbia and nationwide. Since then, GLAA has remained at the forefront of the struggle for the protection of civil rights for lesbians and gay men in the National Capital Area through peaceful participation in the political process.

Current GLAA projects include:

• Improving relations with the police and other public safety agencies;
• Strengthening enforcement of the District's Human Rights Law;
• Lobbying for effective policies to combat the spread of AIDS;
• Resisting Congressional interference with D.C. home rule; and
• Ending regulatory abuses against gay businesses and consumers.

GLAA's present officers are: Craig Howell, President; Bob Summersgill, Vice President for Political Affairs; Kevin Davis, Vice President for Administrative Affairs; and Barrett Brick, Treasurer.

For more information, please call GLAA on (202)667-5139.