|
Donna Deitch is a producer, director and writer. She segued from award winning documentary filmmaker to Producing and Directing 'Desert Hearts', the landmark hit of the 1986 Sundance, Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals. The film was picked up for worldwide distribution by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. Shortly after seeing the film, Oprah Winfrey hired Ms Deitch to direct the Emmy nominated 4 hour mini series 'The Women of Brewster Place'.
Ms Deitch directed four pilots subsequent to the success of Brewster Place, three of which were picked up for series including 'Second Noah'. She has directed the best of one hour television drama including numerous episodes of NYPD Blue, ER, Murder One, Law and Order: SVU, EZ Streets, The Visitor, Dragnet and others.
She has directed movies for HBO: 'Prison Stories, Women on the Inside' and Showtime: 'Devil's Arithmetic' starring Kirsten Dunst and Brittany Murphy for which Ms Deitch won an Emmy for her direction and 'Common Ground' written by Terrence McNally and Paula Vogel.
She occasionally goes back to her documentary roots as she did with 'Angel On My Shoulder' about her best friend actress Gwen Welles' (Nashville) experience with dying which won the Gold Hugo at The Chicago Film Festival.
She is currently working on obtaining the financing for 'Blonde Ghost' her next feature, adapted from the best seller Stella by Peter Wyden which takes place in Berlin during the war. She has recently completed the screenplay.
And she is writing a sequel to her 1986 film, 'Desert Hearts.'
The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is also honoring the co-founders of Girl Bar, Sandy Sachs and Robin Gans, for providing 15 years of service and entertainment to the lesbian community. Founded by Robin Gans and Sandy Sachs in November 1990, Girl Bar Los Angeles is the largest dance and entertainment club for lesbian women in the United States. Gans also holds a Doctorate of Psychology and has a practice in Beverly Hills while Sachs is the owner of L.A.'s state of the art nightclub, The Factory where Girl Bar is every Friday night. Sachs is also a nightclub consultant and is the buyer for the Hit Parade, a gay and lesbian retail store on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, La. Sandy and Robin have appeared on numerous talk shows including Maury Povich, Jenny Jones, Jane Whitney, Montel Williams, The Mo Gaffney Show, and Susan Powter on the topic on the topic of Lipstick Lesbians. This National publicity as "OUT" Lesbians and lovers of over 13 years has given them a powerful platform from which to speak out on Lesbian and Gay rights. For information about Girl Bar and its special events and parties, visit www.girlbar.com.
Women's Night will also present our Lesbian & Bisexual Women Active In Community Empowerment (LACE) Awards - awards designed to honor women whose leadership, commitments to social justice, and integrity have positively impacted our community. This year, we are proud to announce the following LACE honorees:
The Grassroots Activist award goes to a local lesbian, bisexual or transgender woman activist who has distinguished herself by making particularly significant contributions to the local GLBT community.
Mary Vigil has spent the past twelve years supporting HIV positive individuals through her work and volunteerism. As the co-founder of "A League of Their Own," an HIV prevention organization and the HIV/AIDS Caucus of Long Beach, Mary provides education to women on HIV management and protection.
The Professional Achievement award is presented to an open lesbian, bisexual or transgender woman who has distinguished herself locally in her profession, to the advancement of the community.
As Director of the UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center, Dr. Ronni Sanlo is a pioneer of LGBT educational advancement, encouraging hundreds of other schools to follow her model. In addition to her UCLA course, "LGBT Is Not A Sandwich," she speaks at universities around the country to raise youth awareness of LGBT issues.
The Arts / Entertainment award is presented to a lesbian, bisexual or transgender woman locally who has advanced the position of lesbians and gay men and/or promoted positive images of LGBT people in the arts or media.
Alma Lopez is a visual and public artist whose innovative digital work recontextualizes major cultural icons, bringing issues of race, gender, and sexuality into relationship with transnationalist myths and urban ecology. Her work has been featured in several publications, including Art in America, Flash Art International, and Ms. Magazine. Lopez is the co-founding member and art director of Tongues, a project of VIVA.
The Public Service award is presented to a lesbian, bisexual or transgender woman locally at some level of civil service or government who has made significant contributions to advancing the civil rights of, improving the image of, and/or serving as a role model for GLBT people within civil service/government.
The Honorable Donna Groman was recently elected as an openly lesbian Los Angeles Superior Court judge, winning with the largest vote count in Los Angeles judicial election history. With a background in juvenile delinquency and family law, Judge Groman advocates for equitable application of the law, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or financial status.
The Extraordinary Volunteer award is presented to an open lesbian, bisexual or transgender woman who has performed extraordinary service as a volunteer for local GLBT and/or AIDS service organizations.
Lisa Powell, Esq., is the Co-Founder of United Lesbians of African Heritage (ULOAH) and SISTAHfest and is currently ULOAH's first Executive Director. Dr. Powell has served on numerous boards, including serving on the West Hollywood Lesbian & Gay Advisory Council where she co-founded Lesbian Visibility Week. She served as ULOAH Co-Chair from 1990-1997. From 1996-2000, Ms Powell served on the Lesbian & Gay Community Fund at Liberty Hill Foundation and helped to award over $500,000 to lesbian and gay organizations.
Special LACE Award
In 2004, the Center lost longtime and steadfast friend, Sandy Kennedy. An active supporter of the Center since the early 90's, and an out lesbian making significant professional strides, Sandy is being honored posthumously with a special LACE award this year. Sandy was the owner of the Outdoor Room nursery and an expert on restoring historical gardens. Kennedy's carefully researched restorations included the gardens at the Getty House, official residence of the Mayor of Los Angeles. Sandy also developed many public gardens in Los Angeles, including an "urban forest" in the Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park area. She was a wonderful friend to the Center and will be missed tremendously.
(Click here for more information about our 2004 honorees.)
|
