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State Rep. Edith Ajello of Providence and former state Rep. Nancy Hetherington of Bristol are the recipients of the Rhode Island Foundation’s inaugural Pride Awards.

In 2001, the two women sponsored first-of-its-kind legislation that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity or expression in housing, credit and employment.

“Equality is a profoundly American idea. We know that most people support equality. It is our responsibility to support that sentiment – and more importantly – to shine a light on it,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “There is no better way to put the progress we have made in perspective than to celebrate the work of early leaders like these.”

More recently, Ajello, who still represents the East Side of Providence in the House, also sponsored bills that formalized wider state protections against discrimination in health care, that added gender identity to the state's hate crimes law and that banned “conversion therapy" on minors.

Hetherington was the first openly gay woman to serve in the General Assembly. In addition to co-sponsoring that ground-breaking 2001 law, the former representative from Cranston also sponsored legislation to legalize civil unions.

The award presentations were the highlight of the Foundation’s second annual Pride Month Reception, which brought together supporters of the state’s LGBTQ+ communities.

The reception ended in time for Foundation staff and supporters to take part in Providence’s PrideFest Parade.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, together with partners and neighbors, the Foundation is helping to create progress that lasts.