FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 21, 2006

The National Center for Lesbian Rights Honors Sheryl Swoopes, Jennifer Harris, Activists, & Clients at 29th Anniversary Gala

(San Francisco, CA, April 21, 2006) — A festive, energized, sell-out crowd of 3,000 members and allies of the LGBT community packed San Francisco's Moscone Center on Saturday night to celebrate the National Center for Lesbian Rights' 29 years of legal advocacy at its annual gala. The culmination of the elegant evening was the awards ceremony honoring courageous individuals who have dedicated their time, energy and talent to creating a world in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people can live freely, without fear of discrimination or prejudice:

• Spirit Award: WNBA superstar and Olympic Gold Medalist Sheryl Swoopes (presented by NCLR Sports Project Director Helen Carroll)
• Justice Award: NCLR client and former Penn State basketball star Jennifer Harris (presented by Olympic Gold Medalist and WNBA star Natalie Williams)
• Founders Award: The late gay rights activist, psychotherapist, and bestselling author Betty Berzon (presented by Shannon writer and friend Jim Van Buskirk and accepted by Berzon's life partner of 33 years, Teresa DeCrescenzo)
• Voice and Visibility Award: Dawn McKinley and Kathy Reynolds, whose May 2004 wedding marked the first same-sex marriage in the Cherokee Nation (presented by NCLR board member Olga Talamante)

NCLR paid special tribute to Sheryl Swoopes, who after being honored with an unprecedented third WNBA Most Valuable Player award, made history yet again by publicly announcing that she is a lesbian. An official spokesperson for Olivia, Swoopes became one of the very few professional athletes to come out at the height of their careers. Accepting the Spirit Award, Swoopes said, "I'm honored to receive the National Center for Lesbian Rights' Spirit Award. I hope I can be a role model to all of the other athletes who are hiding who they really are. I hope I can inspire them to make the same choice I made: to be free."

NCLR's high profile sports project works to level the playing field fro all LGBT athletes, and special attention was paid to the project's biggest case to date. NCLR and Sharon McKee and Shanon Levin of Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin represent Jennifer Harris, who challenged nearly three decades of anti-lesbian discrimination by Lady Lions basketball coach Rene Portland. Beginning in 1986, Portland proudly avowed her "no alcohol, no drugs, no lesbians" policy to the press. Just this week, Penn State University substantiated Harris' claim of discrimination and fined Portland $10,000. Harris, who does not identify as lesbian, received NCLR's Justice Award in recognition of her courage in assuming the risk and responsibility to see that the next generation does not have to endure the same prejudice and discrimination.

The enthusiastic crowd cheered as Kate Kendell, NCLR's Executive Director, took the stage. "Jennifer Harris wasn't even born when NLCR was founded 29 years ago, but it's because of people like her that we continue to exist. We are proud to showcase our high-profile work to end discrimination in athletics-and to level the playing field for all athletes, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity."

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is the nation's premier public interest law firm dedicated to advancing the rights of LGBT people and their families. Through litigation and advocacy, NCLR is leading the charge to secure equality and protection for all members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community: parents seeking custody of their children, athletes and coaches, elders, youth in the education and foster care system, immigrants, and asylum seekers.

National Presenting Sponsors of the Gala include the Lesbian Equity Foundation, Olivia, and PlanetOut. Gold Presenting Sponsors include: AAA Travel, Wells Fargo, American Airlines, and Sarah Schmidt & Julie Matthei.

NOTE TO EDITORS High resolution images and b-roll footage are available by contacting Calla Devlin at 415.392.6257 x324; cdevlin@nclrights.org.