On Thursday, February 7th we once again had the pleasure of hosting Ally Awards, an evening dedicated to honoring some of South Florida’s most inspirational and influential LGBT community leaders.

The celebration took place in the Bacardi USA Headquarters in Coral Gables; an expansive space with beautifully delicate lighting, illuminating long surfaces of dark wood and white marble. A graceful violinist played for our guests, who also enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails served by smiling waitstaff.

Cristina Saralegui, honoree

Aqua is proud of our alliance with the NAACP not only for their noble cause, but as Mr. Jealous recognizes, for our shared understanding that the social mechanisms which fuel and enable the oppressions faced by the LGBT community and so-called racial minorities are all workings of the same.

Another ally honored was Cristina Saralegui, a household name in the Hispanic community, as well as a beloved role model for women. Television show host Ms. Saralegui is a tireless HIV/AIDS activist and educator, an exemplary public figure and cherished member of our South Florida community.

Enjoying Ally Awards

Aqua is thankful to our guests for joining us in recognition of these invaluable public figures. In honoring them you have actively supported us, and have recognized that our community would not have enjoyed the kind of rich and rewarding sociability we had Thursday if it were not for activists and allies such as these.

Many thanks to GMCVB, The Perry, Wire Magazine, Ambiente, icandee Events, Pandora Events, Pride Center, Miami Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, The Task Force, SFGN, Care Resource, the Shore Club, and Silvia Ros for their support and sponsorship of this event.

“The mission of Aqua Foundation for Women is to serve as the funding catalyst for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender wellness and equality in South Florida.”

Kim Ehly, graduating scholar 2013

Receiving a scholarship from Aqua is not only of monetary value, you also gain the support of a thoughtful and inspiring group of women. After graduation, I will be pursuing creative endeavors, as well as my licensure to be a Clinical Social Worker.

Jessica E. Wilson, graduating scholar 2013

Being an Aqua Scholar has been an incredible experience. When I first heard about the Aqua Scholarship, I expected it would come with opportunities to network with other professional queer women in the South Florida area. But I did not expect that the scholarship’s mentoring program would have such an impact on my academic and professional track. Working alongside my mentor with Aqua, I began making professional connections and developing my identity as a mental health practitioner, moving beyond my self-image as a student to a professional. From the time we began, her attitude was not congratulating me on my achievements, but instead asking what more I could be doing. She introduced me to new ways to create a professional identity and make connections in my area of interest. There are publications I would have never submitted, presentations I would have never given, and connections I would not have made over the past year if it were not for my involvement with Aqua Foundation. Going off onto internship, I am better prepared to establish myself as a young professional because of my work with my mentor and everyone else at Aqua.

This is a testament to the importance and the crucial component of a support group needed to help motivate and encourage young women to contribute to their communities in whatever way they are most capable and well-suited to achieve their personal goals. Being a member of the LBT community can limit the social and professional support for many women. Aqua is a reminder to all of us aspiring leaders that there is a community willing to help make you grow as an advocate, as a teacher, and as a role-model to the generations that follow.

Charrise Alexander, graduating scholar 2013

Being an Aqua Scholar has been a tremendously enriching experience. Not only has the scholarship enabled me to focus on my studies during my last year of law school and not have to work. Being a scholar has also immersed me in a community full of inspiring, intelligent, and involved women. The connections, advice, and mentorship has been invaluable. My experiences as an Aqua Scholar have enabled me to give back to our local community in ways that I had not previously envisioned.

Sabrina Diz is also graduating this year and she shares that

My work towards the Master’s in Religious Studies with a focus on gender injustices has only fueled my interests to continue my work in social justice. Although still in the formulation stages, my plans are to move to Sydney Australia this year to complete a second Master’s in Human Rights. Both my plans for additional education and work experience with an international NGO will ultimately help me attain a position working with the United Nations in the Political, Peace, and Security Department, where I hope to work directly with issues of gender inequity.

Sabrina Diz, graduating scholar 2013

Meet Campbell. When she is not working at her Tech Support job, Campbell is an enthusiastic activist, whose dedication to social justice is what we here at Aqua Foundation invite you to join us in celebrating.

Campbell, holding the Aqua sign

Campbell has been an LGBTQ advocate and activist for the past thirteen years. She recites this number as if it were matter of fact that one would be a public servant. Whenever Campbell is faced with an admiring gaze, or commentor who points out the rarity of such dedication, she quickly and humbly dismisses: “volunteering for me is my passion; it’s not burdening or taxing.” And it is well worth it to give back, she is adamant, “Just ask our college graduates and numerous organizations we’ve given scholarships and grants to,” she says.

But the college graduates and organizations she cites here are far from being the only ones who benefit from her kindness. Aside from volunteering for Aqua, Campbell is also heavily involved in numerous Miami-based queer organizations, such as Drag It Out. And certainly, the list does not end here; she also volunteers for soup
kitchens (“all year long, not just for the holidays,” she adds jokingly), several non-profit animal rescues, and visits the elderly. “I find it rewarding,” she explains,

especially when I know that what I do is something that will positively impact not only for me but others. Yes, you will exert yourself past the limits of sanity, and be completely exhausted but it’s such a high at the end of each event because you know you’ve given it your all and it will make a difference.

We here at Aqua have, and continue to have, the great pleasure of working with and learning from Campbell. “she is a fantastic volunteer; always ready to step in and help out, even if it is a last minute request,” says Volunteer Chair, Nicole Waters. On her end, Campbell has found a home amongst friends with us, watching “Aqua Foundation grow into an organization that I fully love and support.”

Face painting fun!

A steady stream of parents, with kids in tow, began arriving at noon, and the parents quickly settled into animated conversation with each other while the kids took off to check out the brightly colored bounce house and take part in crafting activities. Our dedicated volunteers were hard at work at the grill serving up tasty hot-dogs and burgers (including veggie ones) for our hungry families. Everyone came hungry and the grill didn’t stop running until everyone had had their fill.

In-between chowing down, kids also enjoyed the spacious playground offered at Greynolds Park and also had a blast getting their faces painted – soon mini-reindeers, lions, and butterflies were running everywhere!

We also had an auction on adorable matching green bicycles from Regions, and the lucky recipient now has matching bikes for her and her future girlfriend to ride around town in.

At days end, families slowly packed up and said their goodbyes, eager for next year’s BBQ already!

Many thanks to Little Pandora, Tampico, Zico Water, Liz Schwartz, and Regions Bank for their sponsorship and support of this event.

One woman struggles on a table while five prison guards hold her down and shove a feeding tube up her nose.

Another woman, another feeding tube forced on her, and raw eggs poured down her throat.

These women, described above, endured painful indignities and intermittent imprisonment to help secure the right to vote that women currently enjoy in the U.S. today, their names were Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.

They were part of what is known as the Suffrage movement, which began in the mid 1800s and continued through the Victorian era until women finally secured voting rights on August 18, 1920, after Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th amendment.

Paul and Burns, were preceded in the movement by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, and many other women, many of whom convened the Seneca Falls convention in 1848 to put forth demands for the rights of women. One of those rights was the right to vote, and so the Suffrage movement got underway. Anthony and many other activists pushed for women’s right to vote through education campaigns, picketing the White House, attempting to vote in elections, and lobbying congress. In 1878, Stanton and Anthony drafted what would become the 19th Amendment. It was presented to the Senate where it spent several years in committee before being voted down in 1887.

It took many more years of action and the civil disobedience of women like Paul and Burns, who organized the National Women’s Party in 1917 to begin to picket the White House in protest of President Wilson’s opposition to suffrage. The women picketing, known a the Silent Sentinels, picketed every day except Sunday until 1919. Wilson eventually bowed to pressure and supported the 19th amendment, and, after a failed attempt in 1918, it passed Congress in 1919.

Today, when women head to the polls or fill out their absentee ballot, they are fulfilling the legacy left by women ready to die for the ability to have their voices heard and participate fully in the political process through voting. Remember them as you register to vote and prepare for the next election.