Youth commission to honor Boston Pride, PFLAG leaders

The Friends of LGBT youth will honor Boston Pride Committee President Linda DeMarco and Greater Boston PFLAG Executive Director Pam Garramone at this year's Sunset Soiree at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge on May 8.

Joblin Younger, the president of Friends of LGBT Youth, the non-profit that funds the annual Gay/Straight Youth Pride March, which takes place on May 10, said DeMarco is being honored for her years of support and guidance to Youth Pride organizers. DeMarco most notably stepped in back in 2006, when, just days before the event, then-Gov. Mitt Romney attempted to disband the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth in reaction to the scheduled appearance of a drag king at Youth Pride. On top of Romney's political grandstanding - which made the front page of the Boston Globe - organizers were fretting about the torrential rains that were being forecast for the day of Youth Pride. DeMarco, said Younger, was instrumental in rerouting the parade route on a day's notice, notifying the media of the change, and securing on short notice and at an affordable price, the Castle at the Park Plaza for the post-march festival. "She saved Youth Pride in 2006," said Younger. DeMarco will accept the David LaFontaine Award, named for the inaugural chair of the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth (which has since been replaced by the Massachusetts Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth).

Garramone will accept the Grace Sterling Stowell Award, named for the longtime executive director of BAGLY. "Pam Garramone is also very helpful to our organization in a number of ways," said Younger, "but most importantly the Grace Sterling Stowell Award is given for advocacy ... and commitment to GLBT youth of the commonwealth. Pam of course, is the face of advocacy for GLBT youth. She does such wonderful work with PFLAG."

The Sunset Soiree is a major fundraising event for the Friends of LGBT Youth, which was formed in 2005 to support LGBT youth programs in the wake of state budget cuts and Romney's increasing hostility to the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, which was formed and supported by three previous governors. Its signature event is the annual Gay/Straight Youth Pride. "We really need the support of the community to keep this going," said Younger.

The Sunset Soiree is at 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge on May 10. Tickets are $75.00. For more information or to purchase tickets go to friendsofglbtyouth.org.