Award annually recognizes service to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Community
CHARLOTTE, NC – Teresa Davis, Fred Thomas and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church have been named the 2011 Charlotte Business Guild LGBT Community Service Award winners.
Originally called the Don King Award (in honor of its first recipient), and first presented in 1993, the award has recognized LGBT organizations, LGBT community leaders, LGBT-friendly businesses, and straight allies for service to the Charlotte lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community. Beginning in 2008, the Charlotte Business Guild started recognizing a straight ally with a "Bridge Builder" Award.
Teresa Davis, the individual award winner, has been active in Charlotte's LGBT community for more than eight years, while serving as an Air Force Reserve Major. She has organized numerous Charlotte Business Guild events, including a program on Don't Ask/Don't Tell; she worked on the 2007 Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala Silent Auction; and she joined the Board of Directors of the LGBT Community Center in January 2008. She chaired the Community Center's Program Committee, where she implemented annual Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve events, a Women's Micro-Business Bazaar, and monthly Roundtable Discussions. She advised on the establishment of Raleigh's LGBT Community Center, and since 2009, she has directed the GayCharlotte Film Festival, which has grown into a Film Festival and Series. She launched an Employee Bootcamp for LGBT unemployed members, and she was selected Q Notes QList 2011: Best of LGBT Carolina, Best LGBT Community Leader (female). She is a cast member of the Lesbian television show LezView, is the Board Secretary of the LGBT Community Center, is a charter member of the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security DHS Pride group, and is a member of the Transportation Security Administration Transgender Working Group.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, the business award winner, has been an LGBT-supportive member of Charlotte's faith community for decades with its mission of "Loving Not Judging." Holy Trinity houses Time Out Youth, Charlotte's LGBT youth organization, and has a long history of providing space to groups that have trouble finding a home because of LGBT affiliations, including the Transgender Charlotte Gender Alliance; Agape Family Center for children (whose families are touched by AIDS); and New Life Metropolitan Christian Church (MCC), a predominantly LGBT congregation. Within its denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Holy Trinity has worked for full inclusion of all people in the life of the church. Holy Trinity continues to lead Charlotte's faith community as a mainstream protestant church offering Charlotte's LGBT community full inclusion and acceptance.
Fred Thomas, winner of the straight ally award, has been the driving force behind the PFLAG (Parents and Family of Lesbians and Gays) Charlotte Chapter for decades. Thomas has been instrumental in attracting national speakers to PFLAG Charlotte meetings, and also schedules a diverse group of local speakers from the community, including faith leaders, transgender leaders, and other parents. Thomas has led efforts to put PFLAG Charlotte in front of the LGBT community by participating in events such as Pride Charlotte, UNCC Pride, and speaking at area companies, including Wells Fargo and Duke Energy. In addition, Thomas has helped countless other parents of LGBT young adults over the years as they begin their own journey of acceptance and support.
The Charlotte Business Guild (CBG), a networking organization for LGBT professionals, sponsors and manages the annual award.
The Charlotte Business Guild Board accepted applications from the Charlotte LGBT community for the 2011 CBG LGBT Community Service Awards, and voted on the 2011 recipients.
Past recipients of the Award are: Don King (1993); David Ferebee ('94); Sue Henry and Dan Kirsch ('95); Sue DuChanois and John Quillin ('96); Kimberly Melton and Randy Votsch ('97); Diana Travis and the founders of the Charlotte Gay & Lesbian Film Series ('98); David Lari and Connie Vetter ('99); Phil Wells and the late Billie Rose (2000); Tonda Taylor and Jeff Schmehl ('01); Susan Shackelford and the late Alan Rosenberg ('02); Rev. Tonyia Rawls and Tom Warshauer ('04); Linda Breen, Shane Windmeyer, Q-Notes Newspaper ('05); LaWana Mayfield, Darryl Logsdon, Southern Estates (VanLandingham Estate, Morehead Inn) ('06); Curtis Tutt, Candice Whiteside, The Charlotte Eagle ('07); Frank Kalian, Kelley Doherty, Debbie Warren, Tyvola Design (Tom Feldman), Rev. Steve Shoemaker, Rabbi Judy Schindler, (Straight Allies) ('08); Scott Vitez, Sabrena Gray, Denise Palm-Beck (Straight Ally) and Hartigan's on Cedar ('09); and Bert Woodard, Morgan Fogarty (Straight Ally) and Time Out Youth ('10). There were no awards given in 2003.
The Charlotte Business Guild (www.charlottebusinessguild.com), founded in 1992, conducts social and networking programs throughout the year for its 100-plus members. The Business Guild is a participating member of the Charlotte Chamber's Diversity Advisory Cabinet.
