PAT BOND COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF PAT BOND MEMORIAL AWARDS"

Biannual event, honoring older lesbians, 60 years or older, who have not been recognized as yet. Pat Bond was a comedienne, actress, monologist, and playwright. This award is in her honor.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Suzi Kalmus
(415)759-6567

PAT BOND COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES WINNERS
OF PAT BOND MEMORIAL OLD DYKE AWARDS"
San Francisco, CA-- The Pat Bond Committee has announced the winners of the Pat Bond Memorial Old Dyke Awards. The awardees will be honored at a ceremony on Sunday, March 3, 2002, at St. Johns Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. The award honors old dykes who have made a significant contribution to their community. The awardees are: Marion Abdullah, Dorothy Fowler, Barbara Konecny, Alice Malloy and Carol Wilson. Each winner will receive a cash grant and a photo along with the award.

Marion Abdullah has been active in the Bay Area for many years. She joined the Asian Pacific Lesbian Network and began participating in women of color events. She was a volunteer for the Womens Building and PFLAG, and has been active with AIDS and Breast Cancer. Her first involvement in the senior GLBT community was in 1998, when she attended her first meeting of OLOC (Older Lesbians Organized for Change). She has been an organizer for the annual Elder Conference and has been active in ensuring an elder presence in many events, including East Bay Pride, Oakland Mardi Gras, and Creating Change," A national LGBT conference.

Dorothy Dottie" Fowler is co-founder of Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, and has been instrumental in the LGBT senior community. She is a Board member for Operation Concern and New Leaf Services for Our Community. She has been in the Bay Area since 1966, when she worked as the Associate Production Director for the American Conservatory Theatre. She also holds a Masters license for 100-ton offshore vessels of the United States Coast Guard.

Barbara Konecny is the co-founder of the social group, Women over Fifty and their Friends (WOFF), along with her partner. She has been a community organizer for many years and has been involved with Gays and Lesbians for Better Quality, Lighthouse for Gays and Lesbians, Lavender Seniors. She has also been active in organizing demonstrations against the Boy Scouts and the public school system in the East Bay. Her love and passion has been devoted to developing a community for lesbians over 50 in the East Bay.

Alice Molloy and Carol Wilson are pioneers in the womens movement, founding one of the first womens bookstores in the country in 1971. They have continued to serve the womens community-- first at A Womans Place and since 1983 at Mama Bears Bookstore, on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. For 30 years, they have created a space for women to breathe, to conspire." They have also been active in the anti-war movement and other feminist causes.

The Pat Bond Memorial Old Dyke Awards were conceptualized in 1992 to honor the great works of old lesbians who have not yet received adequate recognition. The enthusiasm with which these awards have been received reflects the importance of publicly declaring the worth and beauty of lesbian lives.

Pat Bond was a beloved Bay Area lesbian, comedienne, monologist, and playwright who died in December, 1990. She toured the country with her shows about Gertrude Stein, Lorena Hickock and Eleanor Roosevelt, and her own experiences, especially in the military. Her spirit as a trailblazer was significant in opening the doors to gay and lesbian theatre experiences. Her spirit and illustrious life inspired the idea of honoring older lesbians who have not yet received adequate recognition for their outstanding community service, significant contribution and unique achievements.

In order to be selected, the nominees had to be an out" lesbian, at least 60 years old, residing in the Bay Area. In addition, she must have not been significantly recognized for her contributions to the community.

The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. and will include music by Gwen Avery. The MC for the event will be comedienne Karen Ripley. The Pat Bond Awards is sponsored by New Leaf Outreach to Elders (formerly GLOE), a nonprofit community organization located in San Francisco. For further information or to purchase tickets to the event, contact New Leaf Outreach to Elders (415) 626-7000, ext. 828.