The Academy Legends Awards have finally announced this year’s honorees. Selected to celebrate their unique and enduring impact on the LGBT community, the Legends Archive inductee joins an elite group of iconic San Franciscans, boasting the likes of Sister Roma, Juanita MORE!, and Tim Seelig. Once selected they are asked to donate a unique personal item to go on permanent display at The Academy Social Club. This year’s event, to be held at The Swedish American Hall on November 12 from 6:30 pm–9 pm, will be the 4th annual award celebration.
The 2022 Legends Awards will be hosted by Sister Roma and will feature live music and local dignitaries such as Senator Scott Wiener and Commissioner Debra Walker presenting the awards. This year’s ceremony promises to be the most attended to date with some particularly beloved honorees.
The 2022 Academy Legends Archive Inductee
Graylin Thornton
Named International Mr. Drummer in 1993, he is still the only man of color to ever hold that title. As co-founder of Onyx Northwest, Graylin currently serves as President and Education Coordinator for the organization that represents men of color within the leather lifestyle. As an active member of The Leather Cultural District, a founding national board member of the Leather Leadership Conference, and Selection Committee Member for the Ringold Alley Leather History Walk, Graylin’s impact in the community is widely felt.
The Supporting Community Awards are given in 3 categories honoring inspiration, bridge building, and community development.
Diane Jones Solidarity Award
This award is given to those who are instrumental in bridging divides between one or more demographic groups within the LGBTQ+ community.
Race Bannon
Race has been an organizer, writer, educator, speaker, and activist in the LGBTQ, leather/kink, polyamory, and HIV/STI prevention realms since 1973. He is an author, widely published writer, active speaker, community organizer, and project leader, and has received numerous national and local awards, the latest of which was the Palm Springs Pride 2021 Spirit of Stonewall Lifetime Achievement Award. You can currently see him in a new online series, On Guard Cigar Salon. He does all this with a charm and openness that invites people of all ages to get engaged, making him one of the most recognized members across the community.
Architect Award
This is awarded to people who are instrumental in creating something new that adds to the overall LGBTQ+ community.
J MAnuel Carmona, Simón Malvaez, Serge Gay Jr., Elliott C Nathan, Xtopher J. McCutcheon
These artists have created numerous murals throughout Castro and SoMa. Their contributions to public art are defining this era as one of artistic richness and are being recognized specifically for the masterpiece established @ 298 11th Street, San Francisco (The Oasis).
The Exemplar Award
This is a unique honor awarded not just because of what they have done, but also because of how they inspire others to do better, and be better versions of themselves.
Kochina Rude
They provide harm reduction education and overdose prevention training independently as a consultant, as a professional entertainer, and as a peer. Their partnerships include the Drug Overdose Prevention & Education Project, the SF Entertainment Commission, the SF Leather & LGBT Cultural District, the National Harm Reduction Coalition, Fentcheck, the SF Transgender Pilot Program, and the SF Department of Public Health. Their work championing the increased availability of Narcan overdose reversal treatment has become the model of community engagement in San Francisco and beyond.
Tickets Available 25$
https://www.academy-sf.com
Published on November 3, 2022
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