The Board of Directors of Equality Arizona announces the recipient of their Human Rights Southern Arizona Activist award for 2009 is The Very Reverend Mother Maria C. "Sally" Jose, Vicar General of the Liberal Catholic Diocese of Arizona and Pastor of St. Michael and All Angels Liberal Catholic Cathedral, 545 East Palm Parke Boulevard, Casa Grande, Arizona 85222.
The Very Reverend Mother Maria C. "Sally" Jose (Photo courtesy Linda Tawney/Linda Tawney Portrait Studio)
Equality Arizona's mission is to secure, protect and defend the right and welfare of LGBT people of Arizona. The Award is given annually to an Arizona resident who, by providing time, talent and passion, has made a specific noteworthy contribution towards the elimination of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression at the state or local level. The Board of Equality Arizona believes Mother Sally’s leadership is a story worth telling.
Past recipients of the award include: State Representative Ken Cheuvront, Jayne Goldstein, Amelia Craig Cramer, Ron Passarelli, ECHO Magazine, Kirk Matkin, Linda Elliot, Micki Parsons, Linda Verdin, Representative Robert Meza, and Frankie Reynolds.
The Southern Region Activist Award will be given to Mother Sally Jose at the Equality Arizona Annual Dinner on June 13th, 2009, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Resort, 7575 East Princess Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. and black-tie is optional. Annually, more than 1,000 people attend this prestigious event.
This year’s theme, Stand Together, celebrates partnerships that build bridges of respect and understanding. By changing hearts and minds about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, we will all live happier and healthier lives.
The featured entertainer for the evening will be Leslie Jordan, actor and writer. In 1982, Leslie Jordan stepped off a Greyhound bus from the hills of Tennessee, said "hello" to Hollywood and has never looked back. With hundreds of television shows, films and commercials to his credit, he has become a familiar face on the entertainment scene. Leslie is the 2006 Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his delicious portrayal of "Beverley Leslie" on "Will and Grace."
Mother Sally Jose credits her husband, Michael Jose, for his support in both her work and her ministry. She says that without his steadfast devotion, she would not be able to accomplish as much as she has been able to. Mother Sally also wants to extend her heartfelt gratitude to her mentor, The Most Reverend Bennett D.D. Burke, Pastor, Our Lady of Peace and Hope, Bishop, Liberal Catholic Diocese of Arizona, and The Reverend Gilda Eakin, Deacon and Youth Pastor at St. Michael’s, for continuing service and support.
Equality Arizona congratulates all their award recipients for helping to make Arizona a place where everyone feels at home: living in families and communities where equality, diversity and inclusiveness are universally valued; and where government protects all people and responds to their needs, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
For more info: call (602) 650-0900 or email: info@equalityarizona.org
Comments
WAY TOO COOL MIZZ SALLY! CONGRATS ;)
Looks like Cathy Bates
I am so grateful that I can be there to see you receive this award. I am very proud of you, mom!
I have the best mom in the world! This is so amazing. I am incredibly happy for you! Love you, love you, love you bunches.
OMG!! Sister! I'm so proud of you and brother. All your hard work and devotion to others in need is a true blessing for all of us. I love you with all my heart Sis! Congratulations!
I'm very proud of you Sally+! I have a tough act to follow since you are my mentor and you continue to raise the bar. Way to go my sista and friend!!
This is a well-deserved honor to a vital member of the community, one who shows her love for all in many ways every day. Thank you, Mother Sally.
Denise Hunnell is DC Catholic examiner. She is a coward that tends to censor those who express views that she does not like. For example, she apparently finds the following too offensive to remain on her page:
"What do the bishops have to say about the death penalty? Have the bishops expressed an opinion as to what role the government should play in alleviating poverty? What are their thoughts on immigration reform? What did the bishops have to say about the pre-emptive war that the United States launched in Iraq? What does the Church teach on the subject of torturing prisoners? Why is it that you so often quote the bishops when doing so advances your own right-wing political agenda, but ignore what they have to say when their opinions aren't politically conservative?"
Tell Denise Hunnell that censorship has no place on these boards.
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