The City of West Hollywood has begun gathering nominations for its 2018 Rainbow Key Awards, which recognizes people who have made outstanding contributions to the lesbian and gay community. The awards event is anticipated to take place in June 2018.
The Rainbow Key Awards date back to 1993. The City of West Hollywood has presented Rainbow Key Awards to individuals and groups that have gone above and beyond in their service to the LGBT community.
Contributions have come in many forms, including the arts, community service, humanitarian action, sports, medicine, armed services, leadership potential, benefit to the global gay and lesbian community, and more. Past honorees have included activists, artists, civic leaders, educators, community organizations, and many others.
More than 150 Rainbow Key Awards have been presented during the past 25 years.
Last year’s 2017 Rainbow Key Honorees were: Cleve Jones (former aide to Harvey Milk, author of When We Rise), JQ International (LGBTQ/Jewish organization); Eric Paul Leue (Mr. LA Leather 2014); LA Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; Michaela Ivri Mendelsohn (Transgender activist, public speaker, and business leader); Jewel Thais-Williams (operator of Catch One, the now-legendary discothèque, where Latino and African American LGBT people were not subjected to prohibitive door policies); and Ruth Tittle (16-year member of the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board).
Nominations are received by the City of West Hollywood’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board (LGAB). They make recommendations to the West Hollywood City Council. The City Council then choose award recipients. Nomination forms are due by Thursday, February 1, 2018.
A two-page nomination form is available as a [PDF].
A hard copy of the form can also be requested by contacting Jeff Book, Staff Liaison to the City’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board at (323) 848-6471.
Forms should be returned to:
Jeff Book
Staff Liaison, Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board
West Hollywood City Hall
8300 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
For additional information, please contact Jeff Book at (323) 848-6471 or at jbook@weho.org. For people who are deaf or hearing impaired, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.
