On Dec. 13, Lambda Archives of San Diego will honor 12 heroes, pioneers and trailblazers at its annual gala event. In addition to the 12 honorees, the Archives will honor Cleve Jones, Founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, with the Nicole Murray-Ramirez Lifetime Achievement Award. The 12 honorees and Jones have committed their lives to advancing rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Their advocacy has carried the movement to heights once unimaginable. Join us in learning a bit more about these outstanding leaders.

Cleve Jones, founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, was born in West Lafayette, Ind. in 1954.

Jones’ career as an activist began in San Francisco during the turbulent 1970s when he was befriended by pioneer gay rights leader Harvey Milk. Following Milk’s election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Jones worked as a student intern in Milk’s office while studying political science at San Francisco State University. Harvey Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated on Nov. 27, 1978, and Jones dropped out of school to work in Sacramento as a legislative consultant to California State Assembly Speakers Leo T. McCarthy and Willie L. Brown, Jr.

In 1982, Jones returned to San Francisco to work in the district office of State Assemblymember Art Agnos. He was elected to three terms on the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and served on local and state commissions for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention and the Mission Mental Health Community Advisory Board. One of the first to recognize the threat of AIDS, Cleve co-founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 1983.

Jones conceived the idea of the AIDS Memorial Quilt at a candlelight memorial for Milk in 1985 and created the first quilt panel in honor of his close friend Marvin Feldman in 1987. Since then, the AIDS Memorial Quilt has grown to become the world’s largest community arts project, memorializing the lives of over 85,000 Americans killed by AIDS. Independent affiliates of the NAMES Project are currently operating in 50 countries around the world, including Canada, South Africa, France, Holland, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Australia, Taiwan and Russia.

A dynamic and inspiring public speaker, Jones travels extensively throughout the United States and around the world, lecturing at high schools, colleges and universities. He has met with heads of state, including Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton and former South African President Nelson Mandela. In 1989, Jones was awarded Honorary Doctorates from Haverford College and the Starr King School for the Ministry. He has also received numerous awards from AIDS and gay rights organizations, religious conferences, state and national health associations and the state legislatures of California, Indiana and Massachusetts.

On Dec. 1, 1999, Jones was a keynote speaker at the opening of the Parliament of World Religions in Cape Town, South Africa, where AIDS Memorial Quilt panels from South Africa, Europe and the United States were displayed. In 2000, Jones helped organize an eight-city U.S. tour of the South African AIDS Memorial Quilt with the support of the Congressional Black Caucus and Ms. Coretta Scott King.

Jones has served as a member of the International Advisory Board of the Harvard AIDS Institute, the National Board of Governors of Project Inform and the Board of Directors of the Foundation for AIDS and Immune Research. His best-selling memoir, Stitching a Revolution, was published by HarperCollins in April 2000. Jones’ work has been featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary, Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt and on “60 Minutes,” “Nightline,” “Charlie Rose,” “Good Morning America,” “Oprah,” National Public Radio, “Frontline” and many other television and radio programs.

Jones currently lives in Palm Springs and works as a community organizer for the Hotel Workers Rising campaign of UNITE HERE, the international union representing textile, hotel and restaurant workers.

He also served as historical consultant to Milk, the recently released Gus Van Sant film about Harvey Milk.

Theodore M. Weathers is the first openly gay man appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court in San Diego County, having received the appointment in July 2003 by then-Gov. Gray Davis. Weathers serves in San Diego’s Mental Health Court and was previously the supervising judge of the Juvenile Delinquency Court. Prior to his appointment as judge, Weathers was elected by the judges of the Superior Court to serve as Commissioner of the Superior Court from January 2000 to July 2003. He is a graduate of both Rutgers State University of New Jersey and New York Law School. Weathers has taught courses at the University of San Diego School of Law and California Western School of Law, and is actively involved in the training of newly appointed and elected judges. He also regularly contributed pro bono legal services to people with HIV/AIDS and served as member of the executive board of the San Diego Democratic Club prior to his appointment to the bench.

Kevin Tilden is active both locally and nationally in politics and nonprofit causes. In 1993 he moved to San Diego where he quickly became involved with the San Diego Democratic Club. Since that time, he has worked on a number of campaigns including those of Sen. Christine Kehoe and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. He also served as chair of the campaign for former Councilmember Toni Atkins.

In 2001, Tilden was appointed by the San Diego mayor and City Council to serve on the board of directors of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCCC). He was re-appointed in 2004 and served as chair in 2006. During this time, he also served on the board of directors of San Diego Theatres, and has also been appointed to the Chula Vista Performing Arts Task Force. Tilden serves on the Advocacy Council for the California Chamber of Commerce as well as a community advisory board to San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Tilden served on the No on 8 executive committee and currently sits on the board of directors of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, San Diego Taxpayers Association and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

Tilden has received numerous awards for his professional and community work. In January 2005, San Diego Magazine named him one of “50 People to Watch.” Tilden holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a masters of business administration degree from Pepperdine University. He resides in Mission Hills and is engaged to be married.

Mattheus E. Stephens is a partner in the San Diego law firm Stock Stephens, LLP and a lecturer at the University of California, San Diego, where he teaches three courses, including Gender Equality and the Law. Stephens is currently litigating a case against the Boy Scouts of America to terminate its long-term leases with the City of San Diego, and a case against Mesa College for violation of Title IX and retaliation against the head women’s basketball coach and her partner for raising concerns.

After graduating from Rutgers School of Law, Stephens’ legal career began at Gray Cary Ames & Frye (now DLA Piper Rudnick) as a litigation associate. His community service includes serving as a two-time chair of the City of San Diego’s Human Relations Commission; serving on the board of directors for The San Diego LGBT Community Center as well as the ACLU; and he currently serves as a pro tem judge in Small Claims Court. He was recently appointed by Mayor Jerry Sanders to serve on the City Civil Service Commission. He served on the Finance Committee to defeat Proposition 8 and helped found The Center’s Public Policy Department following the effort to defeat Proposition 22 in 2000.

His awards include being named a top attorney by the San Diego Daily Transcript; San Diego County Bar Association Award for Outstanding Service to the Community; Pro Bono Publico Distinguished Service Award from the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program; San Diego Democratic Club Gloria Steinem Communication Award; California State Bar Access and Fairness Committee 2002 Diversity Award Nominee; Champion of San Diego Pride in 2000; and UCSD Chancellor’s Commendation for Dedication to Social Justice Issues.

Bridget Wilson has been involved in the struggle for GLBT rights since 1972. She was on the first volunteer staff of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, at that time called The Gay Center, serving as the co-director of military counseling. She has served in many of the GLBT community’s organizations and has also served on several San Diego LGBT Pride parade committees.

A veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, Wilson serves as a judge advocate in the California State Military Reserve. She is a founding member of American Veterans for Equal Rights. Her most extensive involvement has been her efforts for 36 years on behalf of gay and lesbian service members in the battle against the anti-gay policies of the U.S. Armed Forces, having helped fight the witch hunts that threatened gay and lesbian service members for more than 30 years. She has been a pioneer in this work and continues to work with GLBT service members as an attorney and advocate. Wilson has written numerous articles, law reviews and book chapters on the topic of GLBT service members, and has worked as consulting counsel with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network since it was founded in 1994. Currently, Wilson is the vice president of the San Diego Democratic Club, a board member for the AIDS Project, an officer of Dignity San Diego and is actively involved with a number of other organizations as a member, volunteer and officer.

On July 13, 2008, she married her partner of 27 years, Kim McAlister.

Regina Reinhardt is considered an expert in the field of bisexuality. Born in Germany, she came to California in 1970 and pursued a career in psychology. After receiving her bachelor’s and masters’ degrees from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in counseling from the California School of Professional Psychology, Reinhardt entered private practice with a specialization in sexual orientation and sexual identity. In 1993, she authored Bisexual Women in Heterosexual Relationships, and wrote the foreword to Dr. Fritz Klein’s book The Bisexual Option, which was published later that same year. She currently serves as the managing editor for the Journal of Bisexuality and a Director of the American Institute of Bisexuality. Reinhardt was the coordinator of the Bisexual Forum, a support and discussion group for bisexuals, and was on the steering committee for the 1993 and 1998 Bi-West Conferences in San Diego.

Reinhardt is also a sculptor. Motivated by the idea that love is possible outside of the traditional idea of “one man and one woman,” her themes for her sculptures depict alternative lifestyles. She contributed a sculpture-tile to Aids Art Alive and has since exhibited her sculptures at art exhibits for several bisexual conferences, in San Diego, Los Angeles and Rotterdam, Netherlands and at The Center in San Diego.

Ben Dillingham is a board member for AIDS Project San Diego, AIDS Walk San Diego, L.I.F.E. Foundation, San Diego Community Research Group and Something Special Food Pantry. He is also a member of The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Development Committee, is part of the United Way’s Diversity Committee and a member of the County of San Diego AIDS Services Advisory Panel.

Dillingham is a board chair of AIDS Foundation San Diego, board treasurer of San Diego Scholarship Foundation and sits on the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation Finance Committee. He is an appointee of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to the San Diego County Veterans Advisory Council and is part of the Wall of Honor committee.

Throughout the years, Dillingham has received countless awards for his dedication to community service and has been honored by the Human Rights Campaign Fund, Bravo! Newsmagazine, the Asian Pacific Islander Community AIDS Project, and received the AIDS Walk San Diego Hero Award, among other honors.

A longtime member of the Imperial Court de San Diego, he has received the Queen Eddie Award, the Presidential Award and has received Jose Honors by the International Court Council.

Currently retired, Dillingham served previously as chief financial officer/controller for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board and as Chief of Staff to San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor. He is a graduate of St. Mark’s School, Southborough Massachusetts, Harvard College and the Harvard University Business School. He is a decorated combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having received a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam, and was named the 2007 LGBT Veteran of the Year.

Steve Padilla is a public policy and land use consultant and a noted former California politician. Between 1989 and 1990 he was appointed to various city boards and commissions including the Board of Ethics, and Safety Commission. He served as mayor of the City of Chula Vista from 2002 to 2006 and as a member of the California Coastal Commission from 2005 to 2007. He served two terms on Chula Vista’s City Council from 1994 to 2002 prior to being elected mayor, and was the first person of Latino descent elected to that office in city history, despite the city’s diverse population. Padilla served in numerous San Diego County local and regional offices and held statewide and national affiliations during his term as mayor, including the board of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the League of California Cities and as a member of the United States Conference of Mayors.

Padilla’s first career venture was in law enforcement. After graduating from Bonita Vista High School, he became the youngest cadet accepted into the Southwestern Police Academy. A police officer for 13 years, he served as a detective, specializing in domestic violence and child abuse. While a police officer, Padilla returned to school and received his bachelor’s degree in public administration.

An openly gay Democrat, he remains active in local, state and national public affairs. He is president/CEO of Aquarius Group, Inc. a consulting business he began in 2007, and a monthly public affairs columnist for La Prensa San Diego. He is currently serving as a member of The Independent Task Force on U.S. Immigration Policy for the Council on Foreign Relations.

Robert H. Lynn is an accomplished attorney and a longtime community activist, having received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and a Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law. During his career, he has served on the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego County, the Greater San Diego Business Association, Gays and Lesbians for Programming Excellence KPBS Affinity Group, The San Diego LGBT Community Center, the California Human Rights Advocates, the Ancient Mariner’s Sailing Society and the Whitman-Radcliffe Foundation

Lynn is the founder of the San Diego Democratic Club and has worked with the San Diego County Health Services Advisory Board, the United Way Program Review panel, the California Democratic Council, the San Diego Coalition for Human Rights, the Lawyer’s Club of San Diego, and he currently sits on the Conference of Delegates of the State Bar of California Resolutions Committee, and is an active member of the Tom Homann Law Association. He has received write ups in both the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Magazine as being a prominent spokesperson for the GLBT community.

A published journalist, from 1974 to 1978 he wrote a biweekly column on politics and other non-legal matters for the Pacific Coast Times, and had a similar column for San Diego Update from 1978-1982. His name can also be found attached to countless articles published in a wide array of legal journals. Lynn is currently a partner at the firm partner in Lynn & Fortune, LLP, with a focus on appellate and trial litigation and general business and real estate law.

He currently lives in San Diego with his partner of more then 20 years, Kleon Howe.

A longtime community activist, Stanley Lewis is active in the political and health care communities. He is a former gubernatorial appointee to the California State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. He currently serves as a trustee of the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts and as an outside member of the program committee of the Alliance Healthcare Foundation. Lewis is a former co-chair of San Diego Pride, former vice president of the San Diego Democratic Club, former president of Dignity San Diego, and a member of the Gay and Lesbian Advisory Board to the San Diego Chief of Police.

Lewis has a decorated political and social service career, having served as chief of staff to former San Diego City Councilmember Valerie Stallings during her first term and as consultant to the Public Facility and Recreation Committee (now PS&NS). He has also served as director of HIV/AIDS Services for a federally-funded program that provides care to San Diegans living with HIV/AIDS. More recently he served as governmental affairs representative for the largest city employees’ union.

Lewis completed his bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and received his master’s degree in international business from Bernard Baruch College, City University of New York. He currently resides in Encanto with his spouse, Mossie.

Delores A. Jacobs is the chief executive officer of The San Diego LGBT Community Center. She is a nationally recognized and respected leader, responsible for managing one of the largest and most dynamic GLBT community centers in the country. Over the past seven years, with Jacobs at the helm, The Center has grown into a vibrant $4.5 million dollar community-based, non-profit agency that serves more than 25,000 people each year. She has overseen a $1.2 million facility renovation; created targeted programs for some of the most vulnerable and underserved; expanded The Center’s Public Policy Department; increased the overall visibility and community recognition of The Center; enhanced The Center’s Youth Services; and launched a cutting-edge supportive housing project for GLBT and HIV-positive youth. In addition, she spearheaded the effort for The Center to have its own 501(c) 4 organization, The Center Advocacy Project and has been a leader in the statewide No on 8 campaign to preserve marriage equality in California. She has brought a strong commitment to coalition-based work and has helped bring together groups throughout the San Diego region and throughout the state, most notably through the creation of the San Diego LGBT Leadership Council. Jacobs received her bachelor’s, masters and Ph.D. in psychology. She lives with her spouse, Heather Berberet, in San Diego, and is the proud mother of two daughters, Teresa and Ryan.

Christine Kehoe was elected to the State Senate on Nov. 2, 2004 and re-elected on Nov. 4, 2008, Kehoe represents the 39th District. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Kehoe served two terms as a California State Assemblymember representing the 76th District. During her first term in the State Assembly, Kehoe distinguished herself by becoming the second woman ever – and the first woman from San Diego – to be elected Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore, the Assembly’s second highest-ranking position. In her first year in the State Assembly, she carried the largest energy conservation bill package in the state’s history. Prior to being elected to serve California’s 76th Assembly District, Kehoe served seven years as the San Diego District 3 City Councilmember.

Kehoe was a pioneer activist in 1978 as a volunteer with the Center for Women’s Studies and Services. In 1980 she was San Diego County’s chair for the campaign to defeat the Lyndon LaRouche AIDS discrimination initiative. In 1984 she became editor of the award-winning San Diego Gayzette newspaper. She was an early director of the AIDS Assistance Fund, which grew into the San Diego AIDS Foundation. She served as the executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association, where she worked for small business owners to cut red tape and improve communication with city government.

Kehoe is a member of the Sierra Club, the National Organization for Women (NOW), National Women’s Political Caucus, Uptown Democratic Club, California Women in Government, the San Diego Democratic Club, and the Women’s Transportation Seminar. She is also a member of the board of directors of the California Elected Women’s Association for Education and Research (CEWAER).

Teresa Oyos’ activism began in 1970 while she was attending San Diego City College. During that time, she became involved with the Chicano Newspaper, La Verdad and MECHA. Eventually Oyos began volunteering for The United Farmworkers Union.

Several years later, she came out as a lesbian and began volunteering at Las Hermanas Women’s Coffeehouse and Cultural Center which provided a safe, warm space for all women and children. In 1986, she co-founded the first GLBT Latin organization, Orgullo, which translates to “pride.”

Throughout the years, Oyos has served on a number of boards and planning committees, including AIDS Walk San Diego, The Western Regional Conference on HIV, AIDS and Women, The HIV Care Partnership for Women Children and Families, and Vagina Fest. She is currently on the advisory council of the Latino/a Services at The San Diego LGBT Community Center and has recently been appointed to the Human Relations Commission. She has also spent the past 13 years serving as a Senior Community Program Representative at UCSD’s HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center

Oyos lives in San Diego with her partner of 22 years, Rose. She has a daughter, son and two grandchildren.