Thank you for joining us for the sixth annual edition of our
Gay City News Impact Awards! We are pleased to recognize
exceptional LGBTQ trailblazers and supportive allies who have
made a difference in our community.
We are gathering virtually for a second straight year due to
the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Some of us have lost loved
ones, others have gotten sick, and we have all felt the strain of
the crisis throughout our daily lives since we were blindsided by
COVID-19 last year.
And yet, the perseverance of our community through the dark
days of the pandemic reminds us of the importance of bold
leadership in trying times. Our honorees are representative of
the determination and courage we strive to see across different
fields: They include activists, attorneys, designers, doctors, and
others who carry out important work while living their true,
authentic lives in a world that can be hostile to our community.
As we contend with the enduring COVID-19 crisis, we are
also navigating a year of change for all of us — including our
team at Gay City News. I stepped in as editor-in-chief following
the retirement last year of Paul Schindler, our founding editor.
Thankfully, Paul is joining us as host of the virtual Impact Awards
ceremony.
The year, however, has also been a time of change on so
many other fronts across our city, our state, and our nation. This
year alone has brought us a new president, a new governor,
and in January we will have a new mayor and City Council. It is
up to all of us to make sure our new leaders will deliver for our
community — including the most marginalized LGBTQ people,
people of color, homeless youth, seniors, and transgender
and non-binary individuals — especially in the face of deadly
violence and relentless legislative attacks.
Let’s stand together to celebrate the distinguished honorees of
the 2021 Gay City News Impact Awards.
Matt Tracy
Editor in Chief
Gay City News
PHOTO: DONNA ACETO
www.gaycitynews.com | 2021 Impact Awards 3
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