By: Graysen Martinez Ocasio, Publisher–
Happy New Year! We hope that 2012 is a better year for everyone, especially a better year for the economy. We, at TRT, start 2012 with a bang, for we bring you the First Annual 2012 TRT Heroes Calendar—a wall calendar that highlights the TRT Heroes nominated by, voted on and admired by you, our loyal readers.
This TRT Heroes Calendar started as a project in November 2010, and it was a hit immediately. The idea behind it was to ask community leaders and ordinary people to submit nominations of LGBT and Allied members who were selfless in their commitment, support, and betterment of our LGBT community. From the response, we started to realize that the TRT Heroes Calendar’s purpose was not just to highlight what these amazing Heroes did, but to showcase such acts of goodness to others too. In addition, it also became a project about our LGBT youth because we wanted to send youth a message of strength and positivity. It does get better and it is possible to grow older and be a member and/or supporter of our community. If only one LGBT youth could think that these role models could do it, so could they, we thought. And so, the TRT Calendar Project in all of its Glory (given to it by the Heroes) was born! The proceeds of this Calendar will go to smaller non-profit organizations to help them better further their missions and visions.
Please, take a look at the 2012 TRT Heroes Calendar and keep it, or give it to someone you love, or someone who does not know a lot about our community. Read about the TRT Hero of the Year, Mr. Stephen Hartley as Miss Kitty Litter, and thank him and all of them when you can, contact them and let them know you are grateful for their support. Some of these Heroes’ organizations sponsored the Calendar. You will see their support in the pages of it.
Please do not forget that this project was made possible by the assistance, support, and belief of our loyal sponsors: Baystate Health, The Fenway Institute/BostonisReady.org, ServiceNet, Harbor to the Bay, Red Roof Inn, The WorkPlace, LGBT Coalition of Western Massachusetts, the MultiCultural AIDS Coalition, CASPAR, AIDS Care Ocean State, Oswald Modejar & John Verlinden, and The Rainbow Times.
Please support these organizations and show them that you care for their support and loyalty to our community! They are the backbone behind the First Annual TRT Heroes Calendar.
Best in Pride,
*Graysen Martínez Ocasio is the Publisher of The Rainbow Times. He holds a journalism graduate from Temple University and an MBA from Marylhurst University. He can be reached (in English or Spanish) at publisher@therainbowtimesnews.com.
