Youth earns award for leadership

Lauren Bradley, a recent high school graduate, has earned the first-ever Youth Leadership Award from the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Center, organizers of Utah Pride 2005.

Bradley is one of five Utahns who was honored this weekend at the Utah Pride Grand Marshal Reception honoring Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake. She is a member of the GLBT Community Center of Utah Youth Action leadership team.

GLBT Center executive director Valerie Larabee said all of the recipients have invested their own time and resources to help Utah's GLBT community.

"I think that every opportunity we have to recognize people who have been leaders in community, we've got to take it," she said.

• Jane and Tami Marquardt, who received the 2005 Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award. It was first presented to Ries for her humanitarian efforts in dealing with the AIDS crisis.

• Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff who received the 2005 Pete Suazo Political Action Award, presented to an elected Utah official who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the equal rights of the GLBT community through legislation, policy or declaration.

• Don Steward who was named the 2005 Community Volunteer of the Year. Among his efforts were serving as co-chairman of the GLBT Public Safety Committee and coordinating the Utah Pride Parade.

• The Salt Lake Metro Newspaper as the 2005 winner of The Organization of The Year Award.

The nonprofit GLBT Center works for personal growth, acceptance and equality for GLBT people in Utah.