Pride 2009 Grand Marshals
By Ash Bell, Fri., June 5, 2009
Lee Manford
From the beginning, for all intents and purposes, AIDS Services of Austin's Lee Manford has been the man with the plan. He was the first board chair at the organization's founding in 1987, and on World AIDS Day 1997, he became the executive director. Through his continual outreach work for AIDS and poverty causes, Manford continues his role as the man with so many far-reaching and effective plans for managing care to the more than 1,500 local folks whose lives are impacted by this ever-evolving epidemic and for community outreach to prevent its further spread.
Meghan Stabler
As if manning the helm of "global strategic marketing" for a $7 billion tech company isn't stressful enough, transitioning after having been in the field for 25 years and bringing your company's culture of LGBT support along with you is another impressive matter entirely. But that is exactly what Meghan Stabler did. Not only is she still currently an executive at the same company, BMC Software, she also serves on the board for many LGBT health and workplace advocacy issues, as well as lobbies on behalf LGBT issues.
ALLGO
ALLGO is celebrating its 25th classy, sassy year as Texas' statewide organization for queer people of color. Frustrated by racism and gay activism's lack of inclusiveness, as well as by Latino activists who wanted no part in the gay movement, Austin Latina/Latino Lesbian and Gay Organization was born. Although ALLGO dropped the acronym (keeping the ALLGO name to include all people of color) in 2005, it continues to work to improve the community's health, to advance LGBT artists of color, and to create community with the best of them.
