The Edwin J. Bomba Memorial Award for Advocacy: Michael Byrne
Michael Byrne, the recipient of this year’s Edwin J. Bomba Memorial Award for Advocacy, is an exceptional community advocate for LGBTQ older adults and people living with HIV. Michael’s contributions to our community include many years of service at ActionAIDS, chairing the board of Philly AIDS Thrift, providing clinical social work services to vulnerable older adults, and facilitating our Thrivers program for long-term survivors of HIV. Michael’s drag persona, Carlota Ttendant, has raised over 1.5 million dollars for HIV services in Greater Philadelphia. He is an unsung hero in our community and his work has touched the lives of so many LGBTQ people in the Delaware Valley.
The Founders’ Award for LGBTQ Equity: The Pennsylvania Department of Aging
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the recipient of this year’s Founders’ Award for LGBTQ Equity, is leading the way in making Pennsylvania a welcoming place for LGBTQ people to grow older. Under the leadership of Secretary Robert Torres, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging has become a nationally recognized example for how state agencies can become more responsive to the unique needs facing LGBTQ older adults. Recent accomplishments include: Completing a platinum SAGECare certification; Providing LGBTQ cultural competency trainings to the state’s aging services network; Naming LGBTQ older Pennsylvanians as a population of greatest social need in Older Americans Act funded programs; Implementing data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI); and strengthening collaborative partnerships with LGBTQ-serving organizations across the Commonwealth.