Dogwood Monarchy Society among 2011 Q Hall of Fame inductees

On July 30, 2011, Q Ball, a red carpet fund-raising gala and induction ceremony will be held in Vancouver to officially honour the inductees to the Q Hall of Fame Canada.

Included in this year's inductees is Vancouver's The Dogwood Monarchist Society (DMS) which is considered the “mother” court of the Canadian drag court system. Over its 40 year history, the DMS has raised over $10 million for local charities in Vancouver.

This year's individual inductees include Jeremy Diaz, Rick Bébout, Karen Busby, Gens Hellquist, NiQ Lavergne, k.d. lang, Kevin Dale McKeown, Cynthia Petersen, Mirha-Soleil Ross, Delwin Vriend and Garth Weins, who will join former inductees who include former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury.

“Not only is the Hall of Fame about honouring our pioneers, but it is also about documenting and remembering the accomplishments and lives of these amazing members of our community,” commented Paul Therien, Chairperson for the Q Hall of Fame Canada. “They are role models, not just for members of the LGBT community, but for all Canadians. The Q Hall inductees are a true source of pride, admiration and dignity for us all. It is through the vision and accomplishments of such pioneers that future generations may better understand and embrace our community and culture.”

The Q Hall of Fame Canada is partnering with the North American OutGames and the International Human Rights Conference being held in Vancouver to host a day and a half symposium on Canadian hate crimes legislation and how it impacts law makers, law enforcement, the judicial system and the community.

Q Ball will be held Saturday, July 30, 2011 at the close of the International Human Rights Conference at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. Tickets are $90. For more info and tickets, visit www.qhalloffame.ca.

“Partnering with the International Human Rights Conference this year for Q Ball made sense to us as it fully aligns with the mandate of the Q Hall of Fame,” said Therien “This is about human rights pioneers, and what better place to honour them then at an international conference.”

Q Ball
Sheraton Wall Centre Vancouver
30 July 2011

Visit www.qhalloffame.ca for tickets and information.