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GayCityNews.com | APRIL 21 - May 4, 2022
BY Isabel Song Beer
The NYC’s LGBT Community
Center (“The Center”) honored
philanthropists Tim
Gill and Scott Miller with
its inaugural Edie Windsor Trailblazer
Award in recognition of their contributions
toward LGBTQ equality at the
Stonewall Inn, a place many call home
to the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ
rights movement.
Since its launch in 1994, the Gill
Foundation with leaders Gill and Miller,
have raised more than $500 million for
LGTBQ causes and fight for equality.
Gill and Miller accepted the award
outside the Stonewall Inn on April 14,
and were recognized for their integral
financial support during the peak of
the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the
historic landmark afloat.
Among those in attendance were
Judith Windsor, widow of marriage
equality icon Edie Windsor; The Center
Executive Director Glennda Testone;
Stonewall Inn co-owners Stacy
Lentz and Kurt Kelly; Gill Foundation
Board member Mary Bonauto; Gill
Foundation Board member Eliza Byard;
GLSEN Executive Director Melanie
Willingham-Jaggers; local LGBTQ
community members; and more.
“We are grateful to The Center and
the Stonewall Inn for this extraordinary
recognition,” said Gill and Miller.
“More importantly, we are proud
to stand beside them in the work to
achieve LGBTQ equality.”
In June of 2020, the Gill Foundation
announced it would match contributions
up to $250,000 to protect the
Stonewall Inn, which was on the brink
of closure due to the economic impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition
to the $250,000 pledge to protect the
legacy of Stonewall, the Gill Foundation
also committed an additional $50,000
to support Stonewall Day, a fundraiser
that benefited Trans Lifeline, the
TransLatin@ Coalition, Brave Space
Alliance, and The Ally Coalition.
“When we needed them most, Tim
and Scott were there,” said Stacy
Lentz, Stonewall Inn co-owner and
CEO of the Stonewall Gives Back Initiative.
“Because of their generosity,
and the generosity of others who followed
their lead, the Stonewall Inn’s
doors remain open today – a place
where LGBTQ people and allies from
all over the world come to gather and
support equality. We are so grateful for
their generosity and ongoing support.”
Monica Schipper/Getty Im ages for The Gill Foundation
Judith Windsor, Kurt Kelly, Stacy Lentz, Scott Gill, Glennda Testone and Tim Gill at the Stonewall Inn on April 14.
COMMUNITY
Stonewall Inn Honors Philanthropists for Saving the Bar
Historic establishment struggled during height of COVID
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