Home Prominent Supporters of S.V.A.   STONEWALL Veterans' Association   Former N.Y.C. District Leader Aubrey L. Lees and Former STONEWALL Vets Assn. President (2004)     Aubrey Lees overdelighted at The Stonewall with Williamson In the background is the famous '69 "Stonewall Car" in blue and the infamous S.V.A. Chaplain Reverend Magora in red! [Photo by Dave West]         2004 As a Stonewall veteran of the 1969 rebellion and a longtime member of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association Board of Directors, Aubrey Lees was eligible to be an S.V.A. elected officer.  At the April meeting of the organization, her fellow S.V.A. official and West Greenwich Village pal, Williamson Henderson, announced that due to his need of a real break from GLBT group commitments due to his own personal business, he would not be the S.V.A. candidate for President in the 2004 mid-year election (president only).  He made this surprising announcement having convinced Aubrey to "give it a whirl".  In May of 2004 at the monthly meeting of the S.V.A., with WLH's urging and backing and her agreeing, Aubrey was nominated by Storme DeLarverie, seconded by Electra O'Mara and thirded by Rose Giordano -- symbolically all women -- to be a candidate for president of the S.V.A.  The following month at the June meeting, Aubrey was, in fact, elected the new President of the S.V.A.  She, in the presence of her dog companion Harry, gave a very nice acceptance speech and touched on the future for the S.V.A.  The very next day "Mr. Lees" was with the S.V.A. -- and S.V.A. Honorary Female Chairperson Congressmember Carolyn Maloney and S.V.A. Honorary Member Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum -- and the 1969 "Stonewall Car" convertible leading the annual New York Gay Pride Parade.  New S.V.A. President Aubrey also served as an Honorary Banner Guard, carrying the familiar S.V.A. banner!  To see several other parade pix, visit:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/parade/SW-34.htm     Aubrey Lees "leeds" the Gay Pride Parade with the S.V.A. [Photo by Williamson Henderson] Pictured above are (l-2-r):  Greg Curatolo of the GLBT Community Center; Aubrey Lees, the just-elected S.V.A. President; Steven Gradman, Vice-President of PRIDE Democrats; and Storme DeLarverie, Ambassador of the S.V.A.  Outstanding in the background is the famous and gorgeous deep blue "Stonewall Car".   2003 Aubrey proudly carrying one of the "SW-Car" parade signs [Photo by Williamson Henderson]  2002

  27 June
2009