Lavender Magazine Community Award – Individual: Heidi Schreiber
The lifetime of service to the community and for her work with Gay 4 Good
Heidi has dedicated her love and care to an array of LGBTQ+ causes in Minnesota since 1993. Lavender would like to recognize her for this work by awarding her with The Lifetime of Service to Community award.
She first began her lifetime of service by volunteering with the Aliveness Project in 1993, shortly after moving to Minneapolis. One of the most stunning accomplishments was as governor for HRC (Human Rights Campaign.) “We got “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” abolished in the military, and added our community to the Federal Hate Crimes Act,” says Schreiber.
Currently, she is the chapter leader for the Gay 4 Good Leadership team. Her accomplishments include being President of the business resource group “The Eagles” at Prudential, co-chair of the Human Rights Campaign Twin Cities Gala Dinner in 2006 and 2007, and Vice President for Quorum, the Twin Cities LGBTQA Chamber of Commerce.
Heidi describes her calling to us “ I have always had an activist soul. If something is not right, we need to change it and make it right. We need diversity in our lives and treat everyone with respect.”
Heidi always knew she was “different,” she jokes, “since I was at least five years old. I had a crush on Snow White!” She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, in the ’60s and ’70s and described some of her experiences growing up “being LGBT was something to be ashamed of. I have been called names and even chased down a street because I chose to live authentically.” At home, Heidi found acceptance and the person she describes as her biggest inspiration, Mom; “She was very progressive, and when I was twelve years old, she sat me down to tell me about the “birds and the bees.” There was no mixing of words with her, and when she was done she told me; “there are men who love men, and women who love women, and that’s ok.” One of her favorite sayings was “variety is the spice of life!” My homosexuality was never an issue with my Mom and Dad.”
Heidi and her wife are looking forward to a summer enjoying their new house, traveling to Europe, and volunteering for monthly service projects with Gay4Good. “Last month we helped clean Lake Hiawatha, and soon will be helping People and Pets Together, painting a space for them” Heidi encourages readers to “Check out our Facebook page “Gay For Good Twin Cities” and volunteer with us.”
You can find out more about opportunities to volunteer with Gay4Good on their website https://gayforgood.org/.
We are proud to award Heidi Schreiber our Lavender Magazine Community Award for 2022.
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