Nearly fifteen years ago, activist historian and
writer Martin Duberman was immersed in
establishing the Center for Lesbian and Gay
Studies within the largest urban educational
system in the nation. Now, in 2005,
CLAGS’s founder turns 75, and in
commemoration of this milestone
birthday—and in recognition of
Marty’s pioneering contributions to
racial justice, sex and gender
equality, economic justice and human rights—our organization
hosted ‘The Marty Party’ on June 15, 2005.
Held in a Soho, New York City loft, the celebration
helped to honor Marty’s birthday—which coincided this year
with his retirement from teaching after 48 years in the
classroom—by raising funds that will support CLAGS’s
Martin
Duberman
Fellowship. This
annual award
offered by CLAGS is bestowed
upon a senior scholar (tenured
university professor or advanced
independent scholar) from any
country doing scholarly research
on the lesbian/gay/
bisexual/transgender/queer
(LGBTQ) experience. Since its
inception, the Duberman
Fellowship has been a major
cornerstone of LGTBQ work,
offering recipients the financial support that allows them to see a project
through, or to take time off for writing or research. Furthermore, the award
provides the institutional support that scholars have come to rely upon in a
field that is often still marginalized and underfunded.
CLAGS is grateful to the many people who made a contribution to the
‘Marty Party’ in honor of Marty’s birthday and lifetime of work. We also
want to give a special thank you to event organizers Eli Zal and Marcia
Gallo, invitation designer Ann Cammett, and party hosts Elana Michaelson
(who is Chair of the Masters of Liberal Studies Program at Empire State
College, and currently working on developing LGTBQ Studies courses) and
Penny Coleman (who compiled the photodocumentary book Village Elders
and is currently shooting a book on trans communities).
CLAGS is grateful to the many people who made a contribution to the
‘Marty Party’ in honor of Marty’s birthday and lifetime of work. We also
want to give a special thank you to event organizers Eli Zal and Marcia
Gallo, invitation designer Ann
Cammett, and party hosts Elana
Michelson (who is Chair of the Masters
of Liberal Studies Program at Empire
State College, and currently developing
an online program in Queer Studies at
both undergraduate and graduate
levels) and Penny Coleman (who is
currently working on a photodocumentary
book on now-elderly
transpeople that will be a companion
text to her Village Elders).
