“Celebrating Our Communities”
Wednesday, September 29, 2004

What a night! Thanks to everyone who made Horizons' "Celebrating Our Communities" event such an overwhelming success! Hundreds of donors, grantees, LGBT leaders from the political and philanthropic worlds, and guests gathered at the Hotel Nikko for an evening of delicious food and drink, a remarkable array of silent auction items, and a truly inspiring program. Speakers included former Congressman Gerry Studds, Patti Chang from The Women's Foundation of California, and former Ambassador James Hormel. Assemblymember Mark Leno was also on hand to help Congressman Studds read the "Honor Roll" of more than 80 elected and appointed officials from the LGBT community. Photos...

Read our speakers' full remarks: Congressman Gerry Studds Patti Chang (President and CEO, The Women's Foundation of California) Roger Doughty (Executive Director, Horizons Foundation) John Bare (Co-Chair, Horizons 25th Anniversary Committee)

During his remarks, Congressman Studds took a survey of how old the audience was, and also asked how many couples had gotten married. "For those of us over 50, we never, ever in our wildest dreams did we expect to see this [marriage] question seriously posed in our lifetime." He pointed out that LGBT people are the only minority who have the option of remaining invisible – but it's an option we're increasingly declining. History has been forever changed just by being ourselves "openly, proudly, and – incredible as it would have seemed not long ago – quite routinely."

Another highlight of the evening came when San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Mabel Teng took the stage. The audience was moved as she spoke of her participation in enabling same-sex marriages to take place last February. "It changed me forever. I will walk that path with you, and I won't let anyone take those marriage licenses away." Teng and Horizons Board member Lia Shigemura then presented grants to several organizations working on marriage equality for same-sex couples. These grants were made through Horizons' new Fund for Advocacy and Political Initiatives, which was seeded through a bequest from the Charles M. Holmes Supporting Foundation:

• Legislation, Litigation, and Public Education – Equality California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and ACLU Gay and Lesbian Rights Project
• Education and Dialogue in Communities of Color – Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the Pacific School of Religion, Eyebite Productions, and Gay Asian Pacific Alliance
• Work Against a Constitutional Amendment in Oregon – Basic Rights Oregon

"San Francisco is a source of strength, of inspiration, of nourishment to me and millions of your countrymen and -women," said Congressman Studds. "I can travel 3,000 miles and still feel at home."

Special thanks to Ron Wong and Associates for all their fantastic work coordinating the event, especially in handling all the details involved with the last minute change of location.

We are also grateful for the generous support of the following:

Luminaries ($50,000+)
Levi Strauss Foundation
The Dorian Fund

Visionaries ($25,000+)
Wells Fargo
Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Advocates ($10,000+)
Paul F. Albert
David Gleba & George Beatty, MD
Jeff Lewy & Ed Eishen
James Williamson
Jan Zivic

Builders ($5,000+)
Bank of America
Northern Trust
The California Endowment
William F. Clark & Jeffrey C. Stanfield
Prescott Hafner & William Glenn
Glenn Perry & Eric Knudtson
Gary E. Roof & Douglas L. Light
Graham Schneider
Eric Smith & Mark Garrett
Jeff Wiggins
 

All photographs taken by Jane Cleland. (Please list photo credit if you post or reprint these photographs.)

Former Congressman Gerry Studds Hi-res [1.0M] / Lo-res [46K]		Dean Hara, Gerry Studds, and Mabel Teng Hi-res [1.5M] / Lo-res [65K]
Ambassador James Hormel presenting a Cornerstone Award to Congressman Gerry Studds Hi-res [1.0M] / Lo-res [52K]		Patti Chang and Roger Doughty Hi-res [680K] / Lo-res [54K]
LGBT Leaders in Philanthropy: Tim Hanlon, James E. Canales, Patti Chang, Pam David, John Killacky (for Sandra Hernandez) Hi-res [1.1M] / Lo-res [81K]		Stuart Burden draws the name of the 2004 People's Choice Award, assisted by Board Chair Margarita Gandia Hi-res [1.2M] / Lo-res [59K]
Assemblymember Mark Leno, Cornerstone honoree Jim Canales, and Horizons' Julie Dorf Hi-res [846K] / Lo-res [68K]		Delighted representatives from People's Choice winner San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Hi-res [830K] / Lo-res [66K]
Cheryl Lazar and honoree Pam David Hi-res [880K] / Lo-res [83K]		San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Mabel Teng Hi-res [713K] / Lo-res [50K]
Mabel Teng and Lia Shigemura present special grants to organizations working for marriage equality Hi-res [868K] / Lo-res [71K]		Horizons 25th Anniversary Committee Co-Chairs Jeff Lewy, John Bare, and Margarita Gandia with Roger Doughty and Julie Dorf Hi-res [1.4M] / Lo-res [68K]
Guests peruse the silent auction items Hi-res [1.4M] / Lo-res [73K]		Big wine bottle winner at silent auction Hi-res [799K] / Lo-res [78K]
Hon. Cecilia Chung, Chris Daley, and Willy Wilkinson (Transgender Law Center) Hi-res [819K] / Lo-res [81K]		Hon. Kevin Dowling Hi-res [752K] / Lo-res [52K]
Hon. Pat Norman and Hon. Richard Gordon Hi-res [796K] / Lo-res [62K]		Hon. Wanden Treanor and Carole Hayashino Hi-res [849K] / Lo-res [72K]
Hon. Yoel Kahn Hi-res [1.2M] / Lo-res [49K]		Assemblymember Mark Leno Hi-res [1.1M] / Lo-res [46K]
John Manzon-Santos (A&PI Wellness Center) and Devesh Khatu Hi-res [786K] / Lo-res [70K]		Cindy Hegger, Linda Carlson (openhouse), and Mark Garrett Hi-res [791K] / Lo-res [74K]
Stuart Burden, Jim Hormel, Timothy Wu, Gerry Studds, and Dean Hara Hi-res [852K] / Lo-res [78K]		Horizons Board members Lia Shigemura and Margarita Gandia Hi-res [1.3M] / Lo-res [77K]

• 2003 Annual Event – Honored Gwen Araujo, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Wells Fargo
  
  
• 2002 Annual Event and Awards Dinner – Honored Scott Hafner and Sandra Hernandez