Blog archive
June 2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Rumor of Humor #16
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
By Karen BagnardPosted: 05/01/2023
Wayne April, one of our more active members and Secretary of our Pasadena Village Board of Directors, was honored April 4th by the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire, with the Diversity Hall of Fame Alumni Award in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Gay Student Organization (GSO) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).
As a UNH student, Wayne stepped up and gave voice to the LGBTQ+ students by organizing the formation of the Gay Student Organization at UNH in 1973. The founding of this organization came during a dark time for the LGBTQ+ community. This was a period of great unrest in the country with anti-war protests against the Vietnam War, the beginning of the Black Power movement, and women’s liberation. Rights for the LGBTQ+ were not recognized. The Governor of the State took issue with having an organization devoted to LGBTQ+ rights and tried to disband the student-led organization, leading to the University filing suit against the Gay Student Organization.
With the support of the ACLU, the GSO won in both State and Federal courts. As a result, GSO has remained a force on campus for 50 years, with a few name changes along the way. More importantly, these events provided the foundation for the formation of LGBTQ+ student organizations across the country. A legal precedent was set for anyone challenging such organizations’ rights to exist. It was an enormous win for the LGBTQ+ student community everywhere at a time of important changes going on nationally.
Pasadena Village is fortunate to have Wayne April on board. He is a soft-spoken man with a keen wit and a determined will to stand for what is right. Says Wayne, “It’s hard to believe that 50 years have gone by. There is still an on-going struggle. The battle is not won.” It should not surprise you that Wayne is also the chair of our own LGBTQ+ group, The Village People. To learn more about Wayne, watch the recording of his Member Connections presentation from November 2020 here.