First LGBT Humanist Pride Award to Candace Gingrich-Jones
The American Humanist Association is proud to award its first LGBT Humanist Pride Award to Candace Gingrich-Jones. Mrs. Gingrich-Jones is an outspoken LGBT activist with a long history of supporting queer equality. She’s also well-known for being an outspoken opponent to some of the views espoused by her brother, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, said, “Candace Gingrich-Jones is a tireless advocate for one of the most important issues for the humanist community: full rights for LGBT Americans. The American Humanist Association is pleased to honor her vital work in the fight for equality.”
Gingrich-Jones has received much attention as an author and influential LGBT activists. Gingrich-Jones is the author of “Accidental Activist: A Personal and Political Memoir,” her 1996 biography which was a best-seller in the LGBT community. She is also frequently blogs for the Human Rights campaign, is a guest-blogger on the Huffington Post, and has appeared as a guest on Good Morning America and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. She also guest-starred as the minister in a groundbreaking episode of the popular sitcom Friends titled, “The One with the Lesbian Wedding.”
She currently serves as the Youth and Campus Outreach Senior Manager at the Human Rights Campaign, the largest organization working for LGBT equal rights. In this position, she travels all around America to promote the importance of coming out, the power of the vote, and the important role of community dialogue in changing minds. She lives with her wife Rebecca in Hyattsville, Maryland.
Gingrich-Jones will be awarded the 2011 LGBT Humanist Pride award from the American Humanist Association during the Saturday Luncheon on April 9 at the 70th Anniversary Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information on the conference and to register, visit www.americanhumanist.org/conference.