The Steel City Stonewall Democrats held their annual Snowball gala on Friday evening, this year with a masquerade theme at the Hosanna House.
Four awards were given out to community members for their work advancing causes of the LGBTQ Community of Pittsburgh. State Representative La’Tasha Mayes received the Marsha P. Johnson Trailblazer Award for her work founding New Voices for Reproductive Justice and growing it to a multi-city organization and becoming the first queer black woman elected to the Pennsylvania State legislature.
Pittsburgh City Councilor Bruce Kraus received the Harvey Milk Political Achievement Award for serving 16 years as an out member of Pittsburgh City Council. The Reverend Deryck Tines received the Bayard Rustin Community Organizer Award for his work nurturing community growth and mentoring community talent.
Dena Stanley received the President’s Award for her work as chief executive of TransYouniting and for her work organizing Pittsburgh Pride 2022 with the Pittsburgh Pride Group. Through Dena’s leadership, a new Pittsburgh Pride has emerged for the region.
In attendance were Mayor Ed Gainey, State Representative and candidate for Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, State Representative La’Tasha Mayes, Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor, Allegheny County Councilor Bethany Hallam, Pittsburgh City Controller and candidate for Allegheny County Executive Michael Lamb, Pittsburgh City Councilors Deb Gross and Bruce Kraus, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, candidates for Pittsburgh City Controller Rachael Heisler and Tracy Royston, and candidate for State Representative District 32 Joe McAndrew.
The mission of the Steel City Stonewall Democrats is to advance equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, support public policies that advance that mission in the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the greater Pittsburgh region, and help elect qualified Democratic candidates that support equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. You can learn more about the Steel City Stonewall Democrats on their Facebook page and website.
Photos by G Michael Beigay.
