The 2024 Burnside Watstein Awards beneficiaries demonstrate service to the community.

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Josh Leidy, a member of the selection committee and member of the team in the, said,” This group of consumers was chosen because they continue to reflect the work done by Chris Burnside, Sarah Watstein, and many of VCU’s LGBTQ+ group members earlier. They “acquire spaces for sincerity and development” and” they are advocates for the demands of our gay students.”

The James Branch Cabell Library hosted the 2024 Burnside Watstein Awards on March 27 and was live-streamed using Zoom. VCU President Michael Rao, Ph. D., thanked this year’s winners via picture.

” You’re leading by example, and you’re making the LGBTQIA + community and the VCU community a much better place for everyone”, he said. ” Thank you for making our VCU community stronger, more loving, and inclusive of everyone.”

The awards program was founded in the 2007-08 academic year and is named in honor of the original co-chairs of what is now Equality VCU. This week’s presentation presenter,, was the victim of the 2023, she is a doctor and consultant focusing on trauma- educated practice and LGBTQIA+ health and equity initiatives.

Jackson claimed that she was the most unhappy she had ever been when she first arrived at VCU as an academic learner. She did n’t know that what she was experiencing at the time was gender dysphoria – she just knew that she was miserable,” and I did n’t know how to not be miserable”.

” I think about my younger home, and I feel sad for all that she had to get through”, Jackson said. She remained strong, and I’m glad that she persevered.

Now she is living on her own words, describing her career as a” series of small blessings” from the people around her. Jackson said these “little things” built a base that makes the “big things” less challenging, because it shows group members they are not alone.

Do n’t give up for those of you who are still trying to live on your own terms. We need you. With you in it, the earth is a better position, Jackson said.

She continued, noting that society activism is still essential to advanceing equality and that the award winners can inspire others.

” Some of us are only here because others have been fighting this battle for years, working one brick at a time,” said one person. Folks like Chris Burnside and Sarah Weinstein”, Jackson said. ” Those of you advocating along with me, please do n’t stop. We need you, also, and we cannot do this without you”.

These are beneficiaries of the 2024 Burnside Watstein Awards:

University Pay

, Ph. D., interact professor at VCU’s and i- director of the VCU Autism Center for Education, and her family were claimants in Bostic v. Rainey, which advanced relationship fairness in Virginia.

Since Carol Schall and the other defendants in this lawsuit, LGTBQIA VCU faculty and staff have been able to add their partners and their children to VCU health insurance since 2014. It’s difficult to convey how significant this is,” her nomination read.

Schall expressed gratitude for using her story to promote inclusion in Virginia, saying it felt strange to receive an award for living her life authentically. While they were married in California, their marriage was not recognized in Virginia, which led to multiple instances of discrimination.

” We won that court case, but more importantly, we won the hearts and minds of fair- minded Virginians who said,’ Yeah, you get to be who you are and love who you are,'” Schall said.

She noted, though, that the fight for equality is not over.

” Courage is not fearless – instead, courage is seeing your fears, recognizing your powerlessness in the face of those who hate you, but living your life anyway”, Schall said. ” And so if I can leave you with one thing: Be you, live your life, and to hell with everybody who hates you”.

Student Award

For the first time, a group –, the largest LGBTQIA + organization on campus – is the recipient. Triangle Club promotes social/political awareness, volunteer opportunities, educational sessions and networking. Among its activities are the upcoming on April 13

The club’s president AJ Jain accepted the award with fellow members Caroline Perez and Aaliyah Freeman, noting that “our goal has always been to provide a safe space for the]LGBTQIA+ ] community within VCU.

Staff Award

Tre Straughter, administrative support coordinator for, has helped plan and implement programs in recent years related to Black History Month, LGBTQIA + History Month and VCU’s Cultural Achievement Ceremonies.

” In everything that they do, they emphasize the power of exhilarating joy, love, community, freedom, creativity– considering these to be radical in reclaiming ourselves and living in an unapologetic manner”, their nomination read. Tre is a model for our students and for us all by doing this and expressing this sentiment.

Alumni Award

, Pharm. D.,, a student organization in VCU’s that supports LGBTQIA + individuals and allies. Due to their current second-year clinical pharmacy resident status at the in Oregon, White, who self-identifies as gender-conforming and a member of the lesbian community, attended the award ceremony via Zoom.

White noted that by supporting and educating future pharmacy practitioners, PrideRx serves patients, too: They benefit from advocacy for equitable treatment, and they have an information resource when seeking gender- affirming pharmacotherapy.

” To create safe spaces one after another” is crucial, White said, “even if it is in the span of a hospital stay, a clinical appointment or even a few minutes at the consult counter in a community pharmacy”.

Community Award

Emmin Bickford, a counselor with who earned their master’s degree at VCU’s, specializes in supporting neurodivergent and queer individuals.

Emmin has grown and prospered as they transitioned from being a student to a practicing doctor, according to their nomination. They have remained a resource for current undergraduate and graduate students who need assistance navigating systems and queer, transgender, nonbinary, and/or neurodivergent people because they chose to stay connected to the School of Social Work and VCU in particular.

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