House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi — whose late father was Baltimore Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. — has been recognized by Maryland’s gay activist crowd as a leading voice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and will receive a lifetime award for her dedication to the cause, community leaders said.
Mrs. Pelosi’s “unending support for our community and commitment for equality make her the perfect choice for our lifetime achievement award,” said Matt Thorn, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore, in The Baltimore Sun. The award will be presented at the group’s Nov. 17 Hometown Hero Awards & Champaign Brunch in Baltimore, with an expected turnout of 500.
Mrs. Pelosi, for her part, is thrilled with the honor.
“[It is] a great privilege for me to come home to Baltimore and celebrate the progress we’ve made in the fight for equality,” she said, in a statement. “[I’m] particularly touched to be honored by the GLCCB and my hometown community after such a banner year for Marylanders and indeed all LGBT families across our country.”
The award is to honor her “longtime dedication to LGBT rights and her work to fight HIV/AIDS in Congress,” members of the group said, as The Sun reported.
Mrs. Pelosi is a California Democrat but hails from Maryland. Her brother, Thomas D’Alesandro III, also served as Baltimore mayor.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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