Awardees 2014

Faces for Change

Jadin Bell attempted suicide on Jan 19th 2013 after being bullied for being openly gay at the age of 15. He passed away on Feb 3, 2013. Heather Martin had this idea to start an anti-bullying organization, Faces For Change, with the concept of providing education to students, teachers/administrators, and communities on the effects of bullying. Joined by Bud Hill, together they have created a premier anti-bullying campaign in America.

Jadin’s father, Joe Bell, was devastated, quitting his job of 18 years and began walking across America to try and heal himself. As a representative of Faces for Change, he was also sharing with schools and communities along the way how the act of bullying can devastate a family, a community, a nation and even a world. Only six months into his journey he was struck by a semi-truck and killed outside of Denver, Colorado on Oct 9, 2013. Joe said his journey would have been worth it if he knew he could save one child’s life. Those at Faces for Change believe he saved at least one child’s life. Faces for Change is in its infancy, and plans to continue their good work to, ‘STOP BULLYING, ONE STEP AT A TIME’.    [f]

Johanna Olson

Johanna Olson is a pediatrician working as a full time faculty member of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In 2012, she became the Medical Director of the Division’s Center for Transyouth Health and Development. She specializes in the care of gender non-conforming and transgender children and adolescents, and youth with HIV. Currently functioning as a KL2 Clinical Translational Science scholar, she spearheads a program of research at CHLA that aims to understand the experience of gender non-conformity from childhood through early adulthood. Board certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, she is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Payasos-L.A.

Through self-respect and self expression, Payasos-L.A. is a brotherhood of gay/bi Latino men who are committed to supporting and enhancing the quality of life for our communities and for future generations.Through fund raising, public appearances and volunteering that supports youth programs, promotes Latino presence in the Arts, and generates awareness about issues that affect the Latino community in Los Angeles, Payasos-L.A. is dedicated to a better tomorrow.

The True Colors Fund

The True Colors Fund was co-founded by Cyndi Lauper to raise awareness about and bring an end to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth homelessness, and to inspire everyone, especially straight people, to become active participants in the advancement of equality for all.

Patricia Nell Warren

1936-2019, grew up on a historic ranch in Montana. After working 20 years as a Reader’s Digest editor, Warren has authored 10 books of fiction and nonfiction, including the 1974 bestselling gay-themed novel The Front Runner, which has sold millions of copies. Warren has long been a human-rights activist involved in some key court cases on human-rights issues, including free speech on the Internet (ACLU v. Reno and ACLU v. Gonzales). Warren also served as a commissioner of education in the Los Angeles Unified School District (1996-99), working with at-risk LGBT youth. Warren has written widely for magazines, both mainstream and LGBT. Wildcat Press, founded in 1994, was her own independent publishing company. http://wildcatintl.com/pnw.cfm     [f]