Each year the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) awards the NGLCC/American Airlines ExtrAA Mile Award to an individual who has gone the distance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality despite tremendous odds. This year, that individual is Julian Bond.
Bond, who is the current board chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has been active in civil rights movements since 1960, including standing behind the LGBT community in its fight for equality.
"It is not only a privilege to recognize the work of Julian Bond, it is an honor," said Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of NGLCC. "For 50 years, he has worked tirelessly to protect and promote the rights of disenfranchised individuals in this country and around the world."
Speaking for American Airlines, George Carrancho, manager of American Airline's LGBT sales and marketing Rainbow TeAAm, said, "of all living Americans, Julian Bond is one who knows first-hand every single mile walked by advocates for equality and social justice. We are humbled and grateful to join with the NGLCC in extending this honor to him."
When LGBT activists and allies gathered in Washington, D.C. earlier this month for the National Equality March, Bond joined them.
In an op-ed piece for The Washington Post Oct. 9, Bond wrote:
"We can no longer pretend that civil rights do not include rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Flimsy justifications for anti-LGBT bias are giving way to evidence that society is strengthened, not weakened, when LGBT people are given equal protection under the law. Where they are free to marry those they love, the sky has not fallen. Where they cannot be denied employment and housing simply because of who they are, the sky has not fallen. Where they serve nobly in the military without the burden of secrecy, the sky has not fallen. Rather, when all people are free to live up to their full potential, all of society benefits. Yet the United States still permits all these forms of discrimination... And this is why we must march."
No stranger to activism, Bond was a founder of the Atlanta student sit-in and anti-segregation organization and of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, while a student at Morehouse College in 1960.
As an activist who has faced jail for his convictions, as a veteran of more than 20 years service in the Georgia General Assembly, a university professor and a writer, he has been on the cutting edge of social change for nearly 50 years.
"Julian Bond has been one of a handful of people in this nation who has served as both conscience and guide for America during its contentious civil rights history," said Chance Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of the NGLCC. "We are pleased to honor him for his continuing service to freedom and equality."
The NGLCC is also proud to announce the honorary co-chairs for the 2009 National Dinner—Frank Kern, Patrice Knight, Jennifer Brown and Troup Coronado.
Frank Kern, senior vice president of IBM Global Business Services, has been with IBM for 30 years, during which time the corporation became the NGLCC's first founding partner. Kern has led IBM's global sales and distribution organization in the 170 world markets in which the company operates.
Also from IBM, Vice President of Global Supply Operations Patrice Knight has been a long-time advocate for diverse business owners, and currently serves on the board of directors of the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Jennifer Brown is the founder and president of Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC), a New York City-based leadership and diversity consulting firm and NGLCC-certified LGBT business enterprise that works actively with NGLCC corporate partners, Ernst & Young, Chubb, Cisco Systems and American Express. Brown helps build custom development and coaching programs for business leaders at all organizational levels, with a focus on advising clients on the changing demographics of the workforce, specifically with regard to LGBT issues.
Vice president of external affairs for AT&T, Troup Coronado, oversees the company's external, charitable and government affairs in the Los Angeles area, and serves as AT&T's lead executive in managing relationships with national LGBT organizations.
The NGLCC leadership noted that they are thrilled that this group of distinguished business leaders will be acting as honorary co-chairs for the 2009 National Dinner, and that the support they have demonstrated to the LGBT business community is invaluable.
The 2009 National Dinner: An Evening of Courage! will be held Friday, Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
Ticket purchasing and other information about the dinner can be found at the Dinner Web site, or watch a video from last year's National Dinner.
If you have any questions concerning the 2009 National Dinner, contact Rick Fowler, director of meetings and special events at rfowler@nglcc.org, or Paul Hengesteg, manager of meetings and affiliate relations at phengesteg@nglcc.org, or call the NGLCC at 202-234-9181.
