PHILADELPHIA—Martina Navratilova received Equality Forum’s 12th annual International Role Model Award on Saturday, May 5, at the National Constitution Center. With a backdrop of Independence Hall, Autumn Bayles, Senior Vice President of Tasty Baking Company and member of Equality Forum’s National Board of Governors, and Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum, presented Navratilova the award in front of an audience of 600, which included Governor Edward Rendell, Congressman Joe Sestak, and other dignitaries. Navratilova noted that the GLBT civil rights movement is not over and called for a national march on Washington.

Navratilova is one of the first major “out” sports stars. She holds 168 singles tennis titles, including a record nine Wimbledon championships. She founded the Rainbow Card credit card, which funds the Rainbow Endowment. “We were determined to find a way to harness the economic power of the gay community to achieve humanitarian goals,” she commented at the start of the initiative in 1996. To date, the endowment has funded more than 80 GLBT organizations.

M·A·C Cosmetics received the 5th annual International Business Leadership Award for its commitment to corporate philanthropy by donating 100% of revenues from its VIVA GLAM lip line. To date, M·A·C AIDS Fund has donated over $86 million to organizations that provide programs, services, and care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, Honorary Dinner Chair, addressed the audience after Jay Everette, Dinner Chair and Senior Vice President of Wachovia Corporation, officially welcomed guests to the International Equality Dinner.

View Photos: www.equalityforum.com/2007/gallery

ABOUT EQUALITY FORUM

Equality Forum is a national and international nonprofit, 501(c)(3) GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum collaboratively develops and disseminates high-impact educational content through documentary films, GLBT History Month in October, innovative initiatives and the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum. www.equalityforum.com