Israel Wright, a member of the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame, was honored as one of two recipients of the 2011 Volunteer of the Year award from the Federation of Gay Games (FGG).
Kate Rowe also was honored during the FGG's annual General Assembly, held in Toronto.
FGG also announced several other awards:
—The Straight Ally Legacy Award went to Brian Burke, president and general manager of the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs. He is straight and the father of the late Brendan Burke, an openly gay manager for the Miami University (Ohio) ice hockey team.
—The Women in Sport Legacy Award went to Angela James, the first woman in the Ice Hockey Hall of Fame and an open lesbian.
—The Legacy Award for a Local Sports Group was awarded to the Toronto Gay (Flag) Football League.
—Local Hero Legacy Awards: Stephanie Johnstone and Rob Lavery.
—The Legacy Award for an FGG Member Organization went to the International Gay Bowling Organization.
—The Social Justice Legacy Award was awarded to Ndumie Funda and Luleki Sizwe, campaign against "corrective rape" in South Africa.
"I was surprised that I was honored; it was a nice gesture. But I also have mixed feelings," said Wright, 57, who has been living in Chicago since 1975. "I was on the [FGG] board of directors from 2008-2010; prior to that, I was a volunteer with the technology department.
"I have been asked to come back on the board, and am still involved with its technology department."
The Rogers Park resident was a key administrative official for the 2006 Games, held in Chicago. He was asked to be on the Chicago 2006 board of directors by Tracy Baim, he added.
Wright also has been the FGG's officer of technology, a position he held up through the Cologne Games in 2010. He was a board member in Cologne. "It was an incredible experience, being a board member at the Games in a foreign country," he said. "Getting the award brings back a lot of wonderful memories."
Wright, who said he is "single and looking," did not participate in any sport in Chicago or Cologne. However, he's ever-present with a camera around his neck.
He also has been an associate director for the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame, and was inducted in 2000.
He had a 20-year career in banking and finance, according to his Hall of Fame bio. His Chicago volunteer work began at Horizons Community Services. Wright's photos have been published extensively and have been exhibited at museum and community venues in Chicago and Milwaukee. Wright also has held leadership posts in the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; ONYXmen, Inc.; Adodi Chicago; Chicago Black Pride 2000; Horizons Community Services; Minority Outreach Intervention Project; Gerber/Hart Library & Archives; Midwest Men's Center of Chicago; and S.H.A.R.P. (Southside Health and AIDS Resource Providers).
"That [Hall of Fame induction] was remarkable, to be recognized by my peers and the City of Chicago for services for things that I really enjoy doing," Wright said. "I'm one of those individuals who you should not tell me about a situation [that needs help]—because I will get involved."
Wright said he's still undecided about attending the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland, but likely will in some capacity.
