Title
To recognize Lynn Greer for her relentless pursuit of equality and devotion to the Central Ohio gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) and the establishment of The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation.
Body
WHEREAS, Lynn Greer's advocacy work for social justice began with the AIDS-related death of her brother, Michael, in 1986; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Greer has dedicated her life to raising awareness of and gaining equal rights for the gay and lesbian community and people living with HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Greer was the chair of the HIV/AIDS Community Advisory Coalition of Metropolitan Columbus, and a volunteer for the Columbus AIDS Task Force; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Greer served as an intern with the Human Rights Campaign and worked with U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and his staff on the passage of the Federal Comprehensive AIDS Bill, which became law in 1988; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Greer has worked extensively promoting AIDS-related legislation and her efforts garnered national coverage in the March 12, 1990 issue of Newsweek Magazine; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Ms. Greer served as the founding co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a national organization in Washington, DC that works to elect gay people to public office; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, Greer was appointed by Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka to the Columbus Recreation and Parks Commission, for which she served as vice chair; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, Ms. Greer founded a political consulting company, "Makin' Things Happen," which specialized in political consulting and fundraising for candidates interested in supporting GLBT issues; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Greer was also an advocate for affordable housing. She was appointed to the Senior Housing Project for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus and served on the Development Advisory Board for Habitat for Humanity Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Greer established Outlook Publishing, a media outlet for the growing gay and lesbian community. With more than 10,000 readers, the publication brings important issues to light and has connected gay owned and allied businesses to the GLBT community; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, Ms. Greer was the recipient of the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award and inducted into the Academy of Women; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Greer remains active in the Columbus community and is a board member of the Victorian Village Commission, Friends of Gooddale Park and the YWCA of Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, one of Greer's biggest lasting legacies on the Central Ohio community was the birth of the future entity that became known as The Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation enriches the gay community by providing financial support for today's needs and tomorrow's dreams; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize Lynn Greer for her relentless pursuit of equality and devotion to the Central Ohio gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) and the establishment of the Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation.