In a gala ceremony on Sept. 9, seven San Diegans were inducted into the San Diego LGBT Community Wall of Honor, the nation’s only community memorial display dedicated to honoring and remembering important local GLBT community members.

“To our honorees tonight, I tell you, be of good cheer, because what you do in life echoes in eternity – and you all have done so much,” City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez said during the ceremony. “This wall will give testimony that you did indeed do much, and made a difference in the quality of life, but not just individuals, not just the community and the city, but in our reality, a nation.”

Located inside the auditorium of The Center, where Friday’s event took place, the Wall of Honor was introduced last year through the collaborative efforts of Murray-Ramirez, the Imperial Court de San Diego and The Center. In 2004, 16 San Diegans were inducted into the inaugural Wall of Honor. This year, they are joined by:

Albert Bell: After his time as a student activist in San Francisco during the 1970s, Bell moved to San Diego where he worked as one of the early directors for The Center, worked on the earliest Pride events in the city, produced AIDS Walk, assisted in the organization of ACT UP, and helped to create the AIDS Assistance Fund. He died in 1993 at the age of 43.

Jim Cua: Cua was a strong activist fighting for sexual, racial and gender equality. Among his many contributions, he led some of San Diego’s first forums on racism among gays and lesbians, and helped create Gay and Lesbian Asian Social Support and Lesbians and Gays of African Descent United. Cua died in 1994.

Jeri Dilno: A San Diego native, Dilno was the first female executive director of The Center from 1975 to 1977 and chaired The Center board from 1978 to 1980. Her political work includes president of the San Diego Democratic Club, co-chair of the LGBT State Democratic Caucus and a delegate at the National Democratic Convention three times. Dilno continues to work in San Diego.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m blown away,” Dilno said. “To think when I came out in 1954 at San Diego State University, I could not imagine anything like this.”

Darl Edwards: Edwards has been a successful San Diego businessman since 1959, and has bolstered the local community through entertainment and business ventures, charity work and financial donations. He resides in San Diego.

The Rev. David Farrell: The Rev. Farrell served the local community as senior pastor of the local Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) for 20 years. He is also credited for organizing a 50-hour prayer vigil and a series of workshops in response to the AIDS crisis in 1985, an event which has evolved into today’s World AIDS Day. Now retired, Rev. Farrell lives in Palm Springs.

Dr. Cynthia Lawrence-Wallace: In addition to being a member of the original planning committee for The Center, Dr. Lawrence-Wallace also founded and served as the first director for the San Diego Women’s Chorus in 1987. She has enjoyed a teaching career in San Diego, and continues her commitment to social change, especially in the educational system.

“I tend to be a modest person, so it’s difficult to accept an award like this,” Lawrence-Wallace said at the event. “I feel like I am representing a whole bunch of people.”

Doug Scott: A history teacher, Scott was active in the political realm and a member of the San Diego Democratic Club. He was not only committed to gay rights; his fight for women’s issues earned him the designation by his friends at the Democratic Club’s Women’s Caucus as an honorary lesbian. Scott died in 1989.

In addition to recognizing community leaders, the Wall is also intended to educate San Diegans about the contributions of these significant people.

“When we look at this wall, we know our history, and it’s important to understand that history,” said state Senator Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, who made the inductee presentations. “It’s a very special week to be looking back at people whose shoulders we’ve built this community on.”

“In the past, our community was so busy fighting to survive that we had no time to record our history as it was happening,” reads an excerpt from the event’s program. “The Community Wall of Honor is about remembering, honoring and educating all of us about that history. It is a visible and lasting way of reminding our community of those whose efforts have brought us to where we are today.”

The Wall of Honor is not the end to San Diego’s gay and lesbian history, but just one chapter. Edwards remains active in the Imperial Court, and is the owner of Club San Diego. Lawrence-Wallace continues to work with graduate students. Dilno said she has not retired. “I’m still active with the Democratic Club, working against marriage discrimination and volunteering for Donna Frye,” she said.

Nominations for next year’s inductees are already being considered. To nominate a local community leader, contact The Center at (619) 692-2077.