San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride is accepting nominations from the community for its annual Spirit of Stonewall awards, which honors individuals and organizations that have made significant, positive impacts on San Diego's GLBT community. The awards will be presented at a reception at the W Hotel on July 16 as part of this year's Pride celebration, scheduled for July 20-22.

Those submitting nominations should consider volunteers, employees, fundraisers or organizations that support the GLBT community through their tireless work or actions. "They don't have to be well-known names, but rather anyone who's performed a service to the community that deserves recognition," said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride. "We rely on members and friends of the GLBT community to tell us about those unsung heroes working among us."

The award categories are:

• Champion(s) of Pride - An individual or couple who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the LGBT community over an extended period of years, or who have made an exceptional contribution over the past year.
• Friend(s) of the Year -- An individual or couple who does not identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, but who has stalwartly supported the LGBT community over an extended period of years or the past year.
• Stonewall Service Award - A group or organization, which may or may not identify as specifically LGBT, but which has greatly supported the community over an extended period of years and/or has made an exceptional contribution in the past year.
• Community Service - An individual (or couple) recognized as an "up-and-coming" leader within the community, or whose contributions to the community over the past year carried significant impact.

Submission forms are available on the Pride web site (www.sdpride.org) and at the Pride office, located at 1807 Robinson St., Suite 106, San Diego, 92103. The deadline for turning in nominations is March 2. For more information, call (619) 297-7683.

(end)