Activist Kenneth J. Mitchell Honored

Kenneth J. Mitchell will be presented with the Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging at this year’s National LGBTQ Task Force Creating Change conference in New Orleans. Mitchell is a lifelong activist who has spent 5 decades fighting for the rights of LGBTQ people, people living with HIV & the Black community. He has made a huge impact on his hometown of New Orleans helping found the Louisiana Lesbian & Gay Political Action Caucus (LAGPAC), the Langston/Jones Society & Men of Color New Orleans. Mitchell is also a founding board member of New Orleans Advocates for LGBTQ+ Elders (NOAGE). Mitchell stated, “Ever since coming out, it has been a passion of mine to build bridges, enlighten others & to use my talents & resources to help individuals & society heal from the damaging effects of homophobia & its ripple effects. Freeing people in the LGBTQIA+ communities frees us all. While the so-called victims benefit, so do perpetrators who can free themselves of hate. Bigotry & prejudice hold a society back, interfering with unrealized & untapped potential. The more we chip away at heterosexism & other “isms” - sexism, racism, etc. - the closer we come to heaven on earth. We must remember to respond to hate with tough love, as Bayard Rustin & others taught us. When it's about freedom, justice & expanding the definition of love, what could be wrong with that?” The Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging is presented to someone whose work exemplifies outstanding leadership in their advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders. The National LGBTQ Task Force Creating Change conference takes place in New Orleans from January 17th to 21st.

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