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A Celebration of Courage 2009

Celebration of Courage 2009

A Celebration of Courage – IGLHRC’s annual human rights award gala

Each year, IGLHRC celebrates the courage and leadership of a few groups and individuals who have contributed significantly to IGLHRC’s global mission. This annual fundraising gala, A Celebration of Courage, is hosted in New York and San Francisco, drawing hundreds of participants as well as global visibility for IGLHRC and its sponsors, particularly related to the presentation of The Felipa de Souza Award. The Felipa Award has been dubbed “the LGBT Nobel Prize” as the recipient is nominated and selected through an international process and given a stipend in recognition of their courage, leadership, commitment and success in challenging homophobia under challenging circumstances.

• The 2009 Felipa de Souza Award: Helem, Beirut, Lebanon

  Helem is the oldest LGBT organization existing in the Arab world. Helem’s work has brought much needed visibility and strength to the situation faced by LGBT people in Lebanon as well as in the Middle East in general.

• The 2009 Special Recognition Award: Microsoft

  A global company with locations throughout the world, Microsoft is a pioneer in promoting discrimination-free workplaces that have the effect of promoting equality in the local communities where it has a presence.



• The Host: Carson Kressley (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”)