OUTscene NW (NEWS) Portland Pride NW announces 2011 award winners!

Bob Speltz Via Facebook

Each year Pride NW gives out 3 awards just prior to Pride season, “Spirit of Pride” Award, Youth Award (22 years old or younger) and the “Pride In Action” Award (for volunteer work in service to the community), in addition to the Grand Marshall honor, which this year goes to La Lucha: Portland Latino Gay Pride, according to QPDX.

This year’s Spirit of Pride award goes to former Q Center board member Bob Speltz, for some largely unrecognized behind the scenes work. According to Pride NW President Debra Porta, “As one of the original founders of the Q Center, Portland’s LGBTQ community center, Bob has been instrumental in bringing Portland’s LGBTQ community together in ways that had not happened before, and giving us a home to call our own.”

The Pride in Action prize for 2011 goes to both Joe LeBlanc and Belinda Carroll. Both were chosen for their commitment to grassroots activism. LeBlanc and Carroll both played a vital role in the creation of Q Patrol as well participating in other community efforts.

Lastly, the Youth Award goes to Merlo Station High School Gay-Straight Alliance Student Leaders Samantha Tobey, Hayden Jefferson and Sarah Seashore.