Gay political group plans annual awards banquet

PORTLAND – The Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance will hold its annual gala awards banquet Saturday, March 30, at the Holiday Inn By The Bay in Portland. This year’s banquet marks MLGPA’s 18th year of advocating for Maine’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community.

The awards banquet is an opportunity to honor those who have advocated for Maine’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community through legislative and political action, public education and community outreach.

This year’s award recipients are:

. Rep. Arthur Mayo, R-Bath, co-sponsor (with the late Joel Abromson) of the Maine Civil Rights Bill;

. Bobby Perry, chair of Positively Social, an organization that facilitates a yearly retreat, free of charge, for people living with AIDS/HIV;

. Jordan Bosse, a young transgender activist and member of the Lewiston-Auburn chapter of Outright;

. Cindy Garthwaite, youth services coordinator at Outright in Portland;

. Jonathan Lee, founder and outgoing executive director of the Maine SpeakOut Project.

This year’s banquet will include a special tribute to the late state Sen. Joel Abromson, who was a well-known advocate for Maine’s gay and lesbian community and two-time co-sponsor of Maine’s proposed sexual orientation anti-discrimination law.

Special recognition also will be made in memory of Frannie Peabody, prominent AIDS activist, philanthropist and founder of the Peabody House; and Buzz Fitzgerald, former president of Bath Iron Works and longtime civil rights advocate.

The evening begins with a social hour at 6 p.m. The dinner and program follows from 7 to 9 p.m. and the event winds up with dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. For information and reservations, call Penny Rich at 773-7393. Reservations must be made by March 20.