2017 HONOREES

Outstanding Transgender Advocate Award

Everett B. Arthur, 17L

Student

Emory University School of Law

Everett B. Arthur is a graduating Law School student who has spent his time at Emory working tirelessly to make the Law School trans inclusive. He has served on Emory’s Preferred Name Policy focus groups, as an executive board member of Emory OUTLaw, and advised the Law School’s Career Services office one best practices for trans inclusion. Outside of Emory, Everett has worked as a legal intern at Transgender Law Center at Southerners on New Ground, has been featured in the HBO Documentary Suited, and has a forthcoming publication Why Law Schools Need to Be Trans Inclusive.

Outstanding Ally of the Year Award

Jill Camper

Associate Director for Student Life

Emory University School of Law

With a hope of increasing visibility and resources for the LGBT community, Jill Camper has supported a variety of initiatives at the School of Law, positioning herself as a devoted ally. Her advocacy has shown in her efforts in creating a Diversity and Inclusion Coalition at Emory Law, supporting the mission and tackling funding issues for Emory OUTLaw, and working to bring speakers whose experiences address intersectional issues. Additionally, over the years Jill has worked closely with the Office of LGBT Life as Safe Space Facilitator and supporter of the Emory Pride Drag Show.

Chesnut LGBT Person of the Year Award

Marcel W. Foster, 17PH

Student

Emory University Rollins School of Public Health

As a co-president of the Queer/Trans Collaborative at Rollins. Marcel has enlivened the queer community on Rollins’ campus as an active and humble trailblazer. Leading efforts for Pride Week at Rollins, the communications initiative for the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic plan, and the LGBTQ Grad Coalition, Marcel has worked to create inclusive spaces for queer and trans graduate students.

Fierce Leadership Award

c. Holly Lewis, 17PhD, 19M

Student

School of Medicine

Holly Lewis has spent her time at Emory working diligently as a doctoral and medical school student. Both inside and out of the classroom, Holly has sought to promote inclusion for LGBT students. Through asking students their preferred names and pronouns in use in the classroom to contributing to Emory Pride’s annual Drag Show, Holly has worked to inspire the people in her sphere of influence to be more aware of the issues facing the LGBT community.

Sonia Chinai, 17C

Student

Emory College of Arts and Sciences

A senior Economics major, Sonia is a co-president of the Sorority and Fraternity Pride Alliance (SFPA), and has worked to create a community of support for LGBT and ally members of Emory’s sororities and fraternities. Giving voice to those students, her work has contributed to improving the organizations membership numbers six-fold. She is working on creating pathways to connect LGBT first year students with LGBT fraternity and sorority members. 

Alum of the Year Award

Gerry Lowrey, 81G

Alumnus

As an advocate and resource for students both while at Emory and beyond his time on campus, Gerry Lowrey has contributed to the legacy of the LGBT community at Emory. After earning Is PhD, Gerry served as the Associate Dean for Campus Life, the Senior Director of the Alumni Association, and the Director of Athletics and recreation. Throughout his time, he helped to create and support LGBT student groups, and still finds time today to advocate for students.

For more information, contact Danielle M. Bruce-Steele at dmsteel@emory.edu.