ACLU Award to go to IE Field Organizer

  

American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana

ACLU Award to go to Indiana Equality Field Organizer

Dino Sierp Recognized for Work on Behalf of LGBT Hoosiers

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has announced that Dino Sierp, Indiana Equality Field Organizer is the 2009 recipient of the Chris Gonzales Award for her role in advancing civil liberties for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens of Indiana.

Mr. Gilbert Holmes, Executive Director for the ACLU of Indiana, explains “In choosing Dino for the award, we felt that her work with Indiana Equality best exemplified the values embraced by the late Chris Gonzales. Her efforts, along with the work of Indiana Equality, will be essential in securing basic civil rights for LGBT Hoosiers”.

The award is presented annually in commemoration of Indiana Youth Group founder Chris Gonzales to an individual or organization that has advanced civil liberties for LGBT Hoosiers.

Sierp joined Indiana Equality in early 2009 as the organizations first Field Organizer.  The position was made possible through a grant from the Tides Foundation with the purpose of expand civil rights protections based on either sexual orientation and gender identity/expression through local human rights ordinances.

“Dino’s achievements and successes are due to creative networking, forming community alliances and working well with diverse and minority communities,” observes Kathy Sarris, President of Indiana Equality. .”She has always been a strong and successful advocate for social change.”

For over 30 years, Ms. Sierp has provided educational programming and events for gay, lesbian, mental health, health care and minority communities.  This includes serving as a volunteer, fundraiser or employee of numerous Indiana organizations including the Indiana AIDS Walk and Festival, AIDS Spotlight, Y-ME of Central Indiana, Branching Out Productions, The Julian Center, Butler University, Indianapolis Public Schools, and the Women’s Hospital of Indianapolis.  Along with her work with Indiana Equality Sierp currently serves as a volunteer with the Indiana Canine Assistant Network, a local nonprofit that works with inmates in Indiana state prisons who do the two year training of service dogs which are then placed with children and adults living with physical disabilities.

The ACLU of Indiana is the Indiana affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU is dedicated to protecting the freedoms guaranteed to Indiana residents and businesses by the Indiana and United States Constitutions.   For more information regarding the ACLU of Indiana, please visit our website at www.aclu-in.org or contact us at 317-635-4059.

  

1031 East Washington Street - Indianapolis, Indiana  46202-3952 - p 317.635.4059 - f 317.635.4105
www.aclu-in.org

Comments

[Don Sherfick]

Congratulations to Dino, a longtime personal acquaintance and a tremendous asset to our Indiana LGBT community!