LGBA captures a 'gay academy award'

In what the Philadelphia Gay News publisher calls the "gay academy awards," the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Association won its fifth recognition award Sunday night at the 16th Annual Lambda Awards presentation. And the LGBA was among good company. U.S. Rep. Lucien Blackwell (D--Pa.) also won an award which honored his public service and his support of the gay community. In addition, Mayor Ed Rendell made a brief appearance at the Warwick Hotel ceremony in a show of support for the gay community. The Lambda Awards, which range from best community service fund raiser to best gay bar, are determined through a vote in Philadelphia's gay, lesbian and bisexual community. LGBA Chairperson Jason Walthall said its award, "outstanding performance by a student organization," was a "great honor." "It's very nice to be recognized as an organization," the College senior said. "As disorganized as we sometimes seem, I think we are a very organized student group. When it comes down to the wire, we always produce a successful BGLAD and maintain a large membership." Gay News publisher Mark Segal said Lamda Awards ballots were distributed through his newspaper and local gay and lesbian businesses. Community members then marked their choices and sent them to the paper's office. "The Lambda awards are sort of like the gay academy awards," he said. "They're given out to celebrate excellence in the gay and lesbian community." Walthall, who was nominated for "outstanding student of the year," said he was not disappointed at not getting the award. "I didn't expect to win the award, because there are a lot of students in the Phildelphia area that have done some wonderful things for the community," he said. "But I was very honored to be nominated. When you get involved in a volunteer activity you sometimes wonder, 'Why am I doing this ?' but awards like this makes it all worth while." LGBA board member and College senior Michael Sluchan, who attended the awards ceremony at the Warwick Hotel, said it was "wonderful to be recognized by the community at large by our work." A second Lambda Award also went to Bert Wylen of WXPN radio, honoring his program entitled "Gay Dreams" which focuses on gay issues. It was Wylen's second consectutive Lambda Award for the program.

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