Astraea Foundation's Acey Social Justice Feminist Award

Each June, LGBTQ communities take to the streets to celebrate their brilliance and resilience. Pride Month is an opportunity to acknowledge the ability to thrive in the face of insurmountable odds. It is also one to create and hold space for LGBTQ folks who have been ignored or forgotten by both policy and history -- including those who paved the way for present-day queer feminist movements.

Astraea knows that we are only here because of the trailblazing work of our elders. Lesbian feminist and trans forbears have led the way in so many social justice movements, from responding to the AIDS crisis to fighting to end incarceration. They have insisted on radical inclusion and lifting up the voices of those who are too often left behind.

"I would not be the person I am today were it not for the labor of queer feminist innovators of color like Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson, June Jordan, and Sylvia Rivera. Our ongoing resistance is built on the broad shoulders of their legacies," said J. Bob Alotta, Astraea's Executive Director. "Through the Acey Award, Astraea is able to honor the legacies of the extraordinary lesbian, trans, and queer women who are still with us and from whom we have much to learn."

This month, Astraea is proud to announce the new Acey Social Justice Feminist Award and to celebrate the inaugural recipients: Reverend Gale Jones, Angela Bowen, Ali Marrero-Calderon, and Eleanor Palacios. The Acey Award honors lesbian and trans women of color over the age of 62 who have made significant but under-recognized contributions to our movements and often have unmet financial needs as they age.

Named after and created in honor of Astraea's Executive Director Emerita Katherine Acey, who led Astraea for 23 years and who is now leading conversations about aging and activism as well as an building multigenerational relationships within and across movements the Award calls attention to the need for greatly increased community support for our LGBTQ elders.

"It's particularly poignant to be doing this Award in 2017, the year that Astraea turns 40. As we watch our founding mothers age and continue to learn from their visions, we know that so many folks are growing older and that our movements are not yet addressing their needs. We want to lift up their legacies, tell their stories, and call upon our communities to act," noted Astraea's Director of Programs, Sarah Gunther.

LGBTQ elders, particularly those of color, often face lifelong barriers to financial resources due to facing multiple discriminations throughout their lifetimes. These prevent access to a living wage, retirement funds, and housing. SAGE reports that LGBTQ elders disproportionately live in poverty and have reduced economic security, compared to their heterosexual peers. LGBTQ elders also face significant health disparities, and often struggle with mental health challenges and isolation. These issues, faced by a large and invisible number of elders, must be addressed.

Astraea is honored to present the inaugural Acey Award to one of these very individuals: Reverend Gale Jones. At 65 years, Jones has been working for decades on behalf of LGBT people of color in the New York area, particularly working to combat the AIDS crisis and to support homeless LGBTQ youth. Born in 1950, Reverend Gale attributes her social justice awakening to the teachings of Malcolm X in early adulthood.

Several years later, by then a mother, she found her way into queer organizing and the Unity Fellowship faith community. As a woman, as a queer member of the clergy in West Babylon, New York and as a Yoruba Priest, Reverend Gale has always sought to draw the margins to the center of Christianity and to use faith to spark and sustain activism.

"I am so pleased that Astraea has chosen to inaugurate this award and to as always bring to center stage the voices and visibility of those relegated to the margins. Pushing back, pushing forward and persisting is what Astraea does, Quote from Acey on the importance of the Award," said Acey.

Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice is the only philanthropic organization working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support grantee partners in the U.S. and internationally who challenge oppression and seed social change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice, because we all deserve to live our lives freely, without fear, and with dignity.