LGBT Student Involvement and Leadership will host the James M. Holobaugh Honors Ceremony at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Charles F. Knight Executive Education and Conference Center at Washington University in St. Louis.
Holobaugh Honors is an annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual or ally (referred to as LGBTQIA) community recognition and awards ceremony that honors undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, faculty and community members who have contributed to LGBTQIA visibility, equality and community.
“The honorees have had far-reaching impact at Washington University, in St. Louis and beyond,” said Christine Dolan, WUSTL’s LGBT coordinator. “From individuals challenging dialogues to conference presentations to advocating for policy changes to supporting middle-school Gay-Straight Alliances, we are so proud to celebrate our honorees. In addition, I think Holobaugh Honors is a special event for all of us to gather with our loved ones and allies to recharge, reflect and recenter.”
Any member of the WUSTL or St. Louis communities is eligible to receive the award.
Holobaugh was a WUSTL student and cadet in the campus Reserve Officer Training Corps program. In 1989, after coming out as gay to his squad commander, Holobaugh was removed from the program and ordered to repay the U.S. Army for his scholarship.
Eventually succumbing to pressure from campus groups and LGBT rights organizations across the country — in addition to an impassioned response from WUSTL administrators — the Army reversed its decision. Holobaugh went on to travel across the country, engaging diverse groups in dialogue on issues of service and citizenship.
To RSVP for the ceremony, fill out this form.
The 2013 honorees are:
Georgia Binnington, associate dean of students, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts;
Brian Clark, a senior majoring in physics, with minors in economics and mathematics, all in Arts & Sciences;
KC Cortinovis Friedrich, associate director of alumni relations, class and university programs;
Danielle Greene, a senior double-majoring in women, gender and sexuality studies and psychology, both in Arts & Sciences;
Jason Heisserer, EdD, principal of Hixson Middle School in the Webster Groves School District;
Kayla Potter, an advanced standing master’s of social work candidate at the Brown School, with a concentration in social justice and human diversity;
Ellie Spitz, a second-year master’s candidate in social work, where her studies focus on clinical mental health and sex therapy; and
Pax Yarrows, a senior majoring in women, gender and sexuality studies with minors in philosophy and creative writing, also in Arts & Sciences.