Babs Siperstein Advocacy Award

Jeanne is being honored for her work on Sonia Doe v. NJ Department of Corrections, the case that resulted in a new policy protecting incarcerated trans individuals by housing them in accordance with their gender identity. She will be recognized by board member Robyn Gigl, who worked with her on the case.

About Jeanne:

Jeanne LoCicero is the Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey where she leads a team of 12 people who work in venues across the state to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties. She has worked to hold government accountable, advance racial justice, and promote individual rights and equity alongside colleagues who share a vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all.

Jeanne joined the ACLU-NJ as a staff attorney in 2004 and served as its Deputy Legal Director for ten years prior to becoming legal director in 2018. Throughout her 20+ year legal career, she has worked on a wide range of issues, developing expertise in prison conditions, racial equity, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ equality. She took part in the marriage equality cases led by Garden State Equality, Lewis v. Harris and Garden State Equality v. Dow, and has worked alongside the many attorneys and advocates who responded to the legal uncertainty of civil unions and fought – and continue to fight – for the legal system to respect LGBTQ families. She represented lesbian couples from Ocean Grove in challenging the Camp Meeting Association’s decision to deny them access to the pavilion for their civil union ceremonies.

Jeanne has worked alongside the transgender community throughout her career, with a focus on the safety, health, and dignity of transgender people in prisons and jails. She served on the New Jersey Transgender Equality Task Force. In 2019, she was part of the team that successfully sued the New Jersey Department of Corrections to adopt a transformational housing policy for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people in custody. In 2014, she represented two military veterans who were the first to successfully petition the Department of Defense to change the gender marker on key military identification documents. 

Before law school, Jeanne earned a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from Douglass College. As an undergraduate, she was active in women’s and LGBTQ rights. As a student at Rutgers Law School in Newark, among her other efforts, she represented clients facing HIV discrimination and was active in the LGBT Caucus fighting against military recruitment during the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell era. 

David Mixner Lifetime Achievement Award

Gordon has been a great leader and advocate for LGBTQ older adults. His passion shows through his work with SAGE, as well as his constant commitment to showing up and volunteering his time, ideas, and resources for the Older Adults Advisory Board at Garden State Equality.

About Gordon:

A retired NJ educator with over 40 years of experience, Gordon Sauer works with a number of LGBTQ+ organizations including GLSEN (a national organization dedicated to making schools safe for LGBTQ+ students), SAGE (a national organization which supports and advocates for LGBTQ+ older adults), the Hudson Pride Center in Jersey City and GAAMC (NJ’s oldest LGBTQ+ organization). He also founded two LGBTQ+ groups: Circles NJ (An LGBTQ+ discussion group which ran for 15 years) and LGBT Babyboomers–A group which focuses on providing information to LGBTQ+ older adults.

As director of Rainbow Elders of NJ (an organization which works in collaboration with SAGE), Gordon facilitates virtual and in-person meetings for LGBTQ+ older adults and provides individuals with support and information on available services. As a certified SAGECare trainer, Gordon speaks to eldercare agencies and provides trainings to hospitals, long term-care and in-home support agencies on best practices for providing care to LGBTQ+ older adults. He is also working with the NJ Alzheimer’s Association on establishing an outreach program to the LGBTQ+ community.

Gordon testified to the NJ Senate Health and Human Services Committee in support of LGBTQ+ Senior Bill of Rights Legislation for Long-term Care Facilities. He also attended meetings with the state ombudsman’s office on what this bill should include and how it could be implemented.

As Professional Development Coordinator for GLSEN Central New Jersey, Gordon has organized and presented school workshops to teachers, administrators and student groups on making schools safer for LGBTQ+ students. He testified on behalf of New Jersey’s Inclusive Curriculum Bill and participated in meetings to assist the Department of Education in establishing the guidelines for the implementation of the law.

Gordon joined GAAMC in 1978 and has served on various committees and held different offices. As GAAMC President, he worked with other members to establish a GAAMC LGBTQ+ history archive in Morristown. Currently he and the GAAMC Board are working on a series of programs regarding book banning and have established a banned book collection at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship– where GAAMC has met for over 50 years.

Gordon lives with his husband of 29 years and enjoys music, being outdoors and having fun.

Corporate Responsibility Award

These members of the VNA Health Group are being recognized for their LGBTQ Health Center in Central New Jersey, their harm reduction services, and their response to COVID-19 for the LGBTQ+ community.

About VNACJ Community Health Center, the LGBTQ Center for Health & Wellness, and Prevention Resource Network:

The Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center, Inc. (VNACJ CHC) has been an integral part of Monmouth County for more than 27 years, providing comprehensive primary and preventative care for infants, children, and adults.

The LGBTQ Center for Health and Wellness in Asbury Park is New Jersey’s premier medical provider serving the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community with compassion and understanding. As part of the VNA of Central Jersey Community Health Center network, the Center serves everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Prevention Resource Network (PRN) provides high-impact prevention services to assist both HIV-negative and HIV-positive persons who are at risk for HIV acquisition or transmission to reduce risk behaviors and to improve overall health outcomes.

Community Partner Award

Siomara is being honored for her work in Camden as a teacher and administrator at Urban Promise, as well as her unwavering commitment to education and empowering young minds. Her leadership in the youth-focused “Street Leaders” program has undoubtedly shaped the lives of many young individuals in Camden.

About Siomara:

Siomara Wedderburn defines a Culture of Health as a community where children and families can thrive, rather than simply survive. It is holistic, trauma-informed, and accessible. Sio utilizes her experience as a social worker to support a model of youth development that is relational and focused on the whole person-mind, body, and spirit. As an alumna of Urban Promise, she understands the importance of having a safe haven in the community. At 14, the opportunity to work as a camp counselor was transformational. She learned the value of leadership, found her voice, and began to understand the power of community. UP was an incubator of Sio’s faith and love for people. Sio spent decades advocating for children and families in Camden County. During her career with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, she specialized in adoptions and finding forever homes for children who had become wards of the state. Sio leads with passion, empathy, and a unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life. As a native of Camden, she utilizes her expertise in trauma, mental health, youth development, and child welfare to offer a unique perspective on the needs of her community. While UP has been providing safe spaces for children for many years, Sio has highlighted the need to go deeper in this commitment by addressing the impact of trauma and toxic stress. She leads the organization’s commitment to being trauma-informed and providing an environment where children can thrive. This involves safety that extends beyond physical spaces and supports development through experiential learning. Through participation in the CoHL program, Sio seeks to expand her organization’s knowledge of trauma-informed practices, learn from colleagues across the nation doing similar work in urban settings, and develop an educational model that is trauma responsive.

Lived Equality Award

Jennifer, a BIPOC trans activist and community leader, is being recognized for her resiliency as a formerly incarcerated individual overcoming reentry obstacles and advocating on behalf of other individuals through the Jen Love Project, which assists LGBTQ+ people who are in custody or incarcerated.

About Jennifer:

Jennifer Love Williams is an entertainer and an activist. She is the Foundress of the Jen Love Project and serves as co-chair of the formerly incarcerated subgroup of the National LGBT/HIV Criminal Justice Working Group. Ms. Love is an organizer with Black and Pink NYC chapter. She also does work with the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls and is an organizer with the Reclaim Pride Coalition (Queer Liberation March). She is also a board member of Garden State Rainbow Sports.