RESOLUTION NO. 220573

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Recognizing Lea Hopkins for her pioneering of the LGBTQIA+ community in Kansas City, Missouri.

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WHEREAS, Lea Hopkins was born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1944 and was the first African American bunny at the Kansas City Playboy Club, modeled with the Barbizon Agency, and became one of Kansas City's most outstanding activists even when faced with heavy resistance at the time; and

WHEREAS, Lea co-founded Kansas City's Christopher Street organization and the Gay Injustices Fund and helped to organize the first Gay Pride Parade in Kansas City, as well as in Memphis, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, Lea served in numerous activist organizations including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and she is also the author of numerous books of poetry; and

WHEREAS, Lea started the Gay Injustices Fund to raise money for gay businesses and assisted over 200 local businesses over the course of 5 years; and

WHEREAS, Lea helped to found the Christopher Street organization, named in remembrance of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, that served as a place for young adults to call for information and to decrease violence and hate crimes against the community; and

WHEREAS, Lea continues to organize Pride month even for years, bringing national speakers to come to the Heart of America; and

WHEREAS, we celebrate Lea Hopkins for her persistence for LGBTQIA+ rights, equality, and visibility in Kansas City and across the nation; NOW, THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby recognize Hopkins for her pioneering of the LGBTQIA+ community in Kansas City, Missouri; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Lea Hopkins with the appreciation of the Mayor and Council for her dedication and hard work in our community to make everyone aware o...

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